Rugby, birthdays and Ray

After work on Saturday I met Kathy, Helen June and Pip at the Stadium to watch a rugby match between South Africa and Japan. Under Kathy's direction we were on the side of Japan and they certainly played a better game. Due to one disallowed try (for Japan)and SA scoring on the bell the final result was a 17 all draw. Still it was worth going to see the stadium and amazing how quickly everyone is transported away so efficiently at the end.

My "weekend" was a busy one starting with a walk around Joo Chiat an area named after Chew Joo Chiat, a wealthy Chinese landowner in the early 20th-century. The area’s identity is especially shaped by its unique pre-war architecture – colourful two-storey shophouses and terrace houses with ornate facades, intricate motifs and ceramic tiles.

Plantains in the marketplace, local details

Last time we did this walk the area in the left photo was being painstakingly restored.

A variety of restorations

Many local community centres offer tuition classes for kids during the holidays. Some of those on offer are certainly a bit different. Another place of interest was the funeral shop. At funerals here paper replicas of items the deceased may need on their journey are burnt. Despite the fact that the items are burnt a great deal of care is taken in their creation and they are often very colourful.

tuition classes, local scene, funeral offerrings

As it was Jo's birthday we gathered at BluJaz in Bugis to celebrate on Monday night. Jack, who also works at Tampines shared the celebration as his 30th birthday was just a week away. Eric and Peter had a penned a new version of Mr BoJangles...Mr Jo Bangles to serenade Jo. It was a fun night but not too late as Helen and I had an early start the next day.

Jo, Jack and the last 4 kiwis left at Morris Allen (plus Jack, an American)

On Tuesday Helen and I headed off to Malaysia for the day to catch up with Ray. In my first year at MAE Ray was the EA at Punggol, before transferring to Ang Mo Kio where Helen was placed at the time. We hadn't seen her for a while with our work schedules difficult to organise around so as she was on holidays we decided to catch up. The journey over is simple but does take a long time 2 and a half hours over , about half an hour less to return. Unbelievably they have a shuttle train which Helen has used once, takes about 10/15 minutes , but it goes every 2 HOURS! It was great to see Ray looking really well and mostly enjoying her job with the Tanglin School. 

Maria had been in Australia for the last week for Anna's graduation and also managed to catch up with Duncan and Bianca who were having a weekend together in Sydney. Before work on Wednesday I caught up on the news from home over lunch.

On Friday morning I went in to the ArtScience Museum to have a look at Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems exhibition. 

There were over 450 pieces of jewellery selected from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection displayed over seven themes illustrating the poetry and ingenious craftsmanship of the Maison: Couture, Abstractions, Influences, Precious Objects, Nature, Ballerinas and Fairies, and Icons. Some of the items were simply stunning and I shudder to think what the insurance costs would be to have such an exhibition.