Michael departs

Despite it pouring with rain when we got up for our walk on Monday we decided that, as the start point was a good hour away, it couldn't possibly continue to rain for that long...we were to be proven wrong! Our walk began at Kent Ridge and since we last walked this, a long stretch of the footpath has been roofed. Unfortunately it ran out before the rain did! We have walked this route many times but every time there is something new/different to see. This time we passed a newly installed memorial to the Battle of Pasir Panjang. The battle took place between 13 and 14 February 1942, and was part of the final stage of the Empire of Japan's invasion of Singapore during World War II. 

Memorial for the Battle of Pasir Panjang, Michael performs 'Singing in the Rain'

The walk continues through Hort Park, another favourite place, full of interesting plants and sights. 

homage to the original playground furniture, crown flower, 

By the time we got close to the end of the walk, the rain was gone!
After an afternoon rest we travelled down to Saturdays to have a farewell dinner for Michael with Peter, the Smiths and June, before making our way back to the Smiths for a tipple, or 2, of whiskey before bed.

June found another car for her list, boys will be boys!

After a quiet morning on Tuesday getting suitcases organised, Michael decided he'd like to visit Marche for lunch so we headed into Vivo city we we discovered they were celebrating their 10th birthday. I do remember visiting the area in 2005 and there certainly was not the shopping centre there is today.

Maria had invited us over for afternoon tea before Michael's departure, and this turned into a very tasty (as usual) dinner. 

At work on Wednesday I was treated to a delicious late-birthday cake, as we were all in different parts of the world on the actual day. As you can see there was a slight spelling error in my name and I now have a new nickname...a cross between 'mother'and 'Heather'!

Helen has some relatives visiting in a couple of weeks and I had been telling her about the National Gallery which she was yet to visit, so on Friday we met up in town so I could point her in the right direction. She was quite impressed and it was great to see so many different age groups enjoying the space. The Hawker Stall was part of the Common Grounds interactive program. Many people had written their memories of Hawkers stalls on food shaped notes and strung them around the stall.

We made our way up to the roof to take in the spectacular views of Marina Bay and were very grateful that we didn't have to do either of the jobs shown below!

We made our way to the recently opened Capitol Mall, comprising a number of beautifully restored buildings from the 1930s.
The Neoclassical Capitol Building was completed in 1933, four years after the Capitol Theatre. The adjoining theatre dominated the Singapore movie scene for decades after it opened as the premier cinema in the country.
With its striking façade and portico facing the road junction, the building became the backdrop to one of Singapore’s most recognisable street corners. Its giant billboards emblazoned with posters of the latest movies screening at Capitol Theatre attracted the attention of pedestrians and motorists alike and became as much of a beloved landmark itself.
Today, the Capitol Theatre has become a venue for dance and theatrical productions, film screenings and red carpet movie premieres, with its original architectural details kept intact. It boasts an Art Deco entrance, a curved cantilevered canopy, a vaulted roof embellished with the 12 zodiac signs, as well as sculptures of winged horses and their riders flanking the stage.

In the area outside, near the fountain there was a 'Snapshots of Heritage' photography exhibition. It was of interest because quite a few of the photos were of places we have visited on our Monday walks and some of places we have held social functions.