Flying High and the Wizard of Oz

Since we have arrived here, Hannah's confidence seems to have grown and she often seems less shy. Some of this is probably down to dealing with so many new people and situations successfully - maybe some of it from school, but either way, she is becoming braver about new things each day.

This was demonstrated last Friday when she was invited to a birthday party at a beach at Sentosa Island. It was a Trapeze Party. At this particular beach is a full scale trapeze swing and (fully harnessed and supported) people can have a go. Hannah was so excited and all ready to start swinging. I thought I'd believe it when I saw it.

First, all the children practised hanging upsidedown from their legs on a raised bar, supported by one of the staff. Hannah did this with no hesitation, then put on the large safety harness belt ready for the trapeze session. She looked at the vertical ladder that had to be climbed up to the platform which must have around 25 feet up, then looked at the swing, suspended high above a safety net.

I wasn't too surprised to hear "mummy, I don't want to do it". I told her to go to the man in charge to ask him to take the belt off and, expecting to hear "will you come with me please?", and was suprised that she went off and asked alone.

The birthday boy went first. Up the ladder, a rope clipped to him that meant if he slipped he couldn't fall more than a few inches. Part way up the ladder, at the safety net, he had to go around the outside so he climbed the last part on the otherside of the ladder above the net. From the top, he was helped to the platform, where a different harness was clipped on. He then grabbed the trapeze and off he went, swinging from it. After a few swings, he was told to let go and run. Whilst running like mad in the air, he was lowered slowly to the net where he could then slide down a pole to the ground (with help) rather like a fireman.

Hannah watched a few of these, then said she did want a go. I sent her back to the man in charge, expecting my presence to be required, but again, she went off alone and said she did want a go. I saw the man say, "are you absolutely sure?" and she said yes. The belt was put on and she joined the queue. As her turn came closer, I reminded her that she couldn't fall for her to reply "yes, I know, mummy", clearly unimpressed with my powers of observation.

Well, her turn came. She skipped up the ladder, round the outside and on to the top like a little monkey. She got to the top and off she went. Video clip attached! (Hope it works).

Here's the photo of her face straight after - she couldn't wait to have a second go. She wants to go back and do it again for Daddy to see now!

Whilst Hannah was honing her circus skills, Adam was in the first night of the school's big annual musical, The Wizard of Oz, along with the rest of the junior and senior parts of the school. They had been rehearsing all term.

They did two performances, 2½ hours long. I have to thank the parent who attended of Friday and warned us to take a cushion to sit on - that was a great tip.

Adam was a munchkin and performed beautifully. The production was on a huge scale for a school production, with fantastic scenery, costumes and music and we have to commend the leading characters, because Dorothy and her friends were hardly ever off the stage. Their parts were huge and the whole thing went very well.

Adam was on an exhausted high after each performance but has thoroughly enjoyed being involved. The school managed to make sure everyone did something, a few chose to be back stage, but everyone was included which was great to see. We wait to see what musical they will choose next year - maybe Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, complete with flying car?

Bad Hair Days - they are hoovering my husband !!

Everyday here is a bad hair day - the humidity sees to that very effectively. Fortunately, I brought a selection of hair-slides, which are necessary here to gain a semblance of control over the toilet brush that I seem to have on my head these days. However, soon after arrival, we all needed our hair cutting.


Our hairdresser from St Albans, Man Ling, who used to visit the house, did offer to come here to continue cutting our hair, but we had to conclude that, realistically, it wasn't going to be economically viable, so we had to find somewhere new. Not all hairdressers here are used to cutting caucasian hair and anything that has any waves or curls in can be whole new territory to the locals. So it was with great trepidation that I ventured into the salon in our local shopping centre.

I did a terrible mother thing there. Before letting them loose on my own hair, I tested them out on the children as they both needed haircuts before starting their new school. Adam gained a slight variation on his previous style and was left with slightly longer side burns than before, but after several attempts to get it all shorter, I finally gave up as it was looking reasonably presentable. They did do a very nice job of trimming Hannah's fringe though.


David, in a moment of bravery (or complete madness) tested out a local phenomenon - a high speed haircutting booth "$10 for 10 minutes" ($10 is approximately £3.50). They cut it very short, doing all the lower parts with a razor, then snipping at highspeed around the top. I think the hair line at the back altered slightly, moving upwards, but overall, it wasn't too bad. But the final part was interesting and unexpected. Having trimmed and shaved, they then attacked him with a flexile hose. It turned out to be a vacuum which cleaned him up by hoovering his head, neck and shoulders.





For Adam's second hair cut, the first only lasting about 3 weeks before he was desperate for another with the sideburns having reached the bottom of his ears, I left David in charge. So, it was off to the local $10 place, not a booth this time, but a small establishment in the local shopping centre. I have to say, they did a better job than the salon and Adam didn't even mind being hoovered at the end! Sometimes, his bravery surprises me!




And what did I do? Well, after a little market research with mums from school who have lived here longer, I booked an appointment at Toni & Guy. A new friend here went first and reported back, nice haircut and lovely hairwash and head massage, all done lying down on reclining bedlike seats, but she wasn't sure about the ear scrub that she received. On my visit I didn't get my ears scrubbed so felt just a little deprived (and dirty) but overall, they did a good job. It looked great (until the humidity got to it about 30 minutes later).

When I arrived, it was raining in true monsoon style and even though the walk from taxi to front door was only 50m and done with an with an umbrella, I managed to arrive soaked, so before starting on my hair, they kindly dried me off with a hairdryer first!

Down t’ pit.

A few weekends ago, we booked a BBQ “pit” here in the condo's garden, to have lunch with the Carr family (the family that we met them on the Ducktour). What a great arrangement! The pit is a brick built BBQ, surrounded by acres of granite-topped serving and cooking areas (much bigger than our actual kitchen worksurface) a sink and mains power. You book it together with the required number of tables and chairs and then simply turn up with your coals, lighters and food.

We chopped, marinaded and threaded skewers of chicken, fish and vegetables and then took them, salads and drinks down the 25 floors in our fab new super-de-luxe “oldies” shopping trolley. Oh yes! We know how to live! (Actually, it is invaluable for doing the local shopping as we have no car and carrying anything any distance in this heat is not a lot of fun.)

We had our first decent BBQ result ever, thank goodness (but had it been one of our usual failures, there is always the electrical point so, we could have taken the microwave down and plugged it in!). Then, when done, we clear our stuff up, throw away our rubbish and walk away. The condo staff then come round and clean up the actual BBQ, grill and work surfaces. How good is that!

The kids all swam and played on the climbing frame while they waited. The BBQs are right by the jacuzzi, swimming pool and kids playground. Fantastic! A great recipe for a successful afternoon.

This is such a good arrangement that we did another a couple of weeks later and have yet another planned for this coming weekend. However, as I am type this, it is raining. This plan is great if it's dry, but there is always a danger that two families and whole lot of kebabs will find themselves dashing back inside to our small apartment where, of course, there is no pool, jacuzzi or climbing frame.....

However, weather permitting, there are some things that we'll really miss when we finally leave here!