Just after our arrival back from Bali, it was the beginning of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar. This, according to Taoists, is the month when the gates of hell are opened and the spirits roam the earth. Having not done this for a year, they are hungry and bored. Incense sticks and offerings of food are placed all over the place and during the evenings we frequently hear music meant to entertain them.
Hannah was most concerned the other day when she saw some birds eating cakes left for the ghosts. She also wanted to know what a hungry ghost looks like. Like any other ghost, but rubbing its tummy? I suggested. Oh, it's good to experience another culture!
The week before last, the children attended a tennis camp each morning. This was at a location I had heard of, but had never been to, called Turf City. It is the most odd shopping centre, more like a market, and the whole thing is in the grandstand of an old, disused race course. It is, however, a great place for kids' activities. Along with the small tennis school, there is a covered football pitch, a judo centre, two childrens' gymnastics centres and a childrens' art centre. There is also a dance school called Swingapore. I mention this in case anyone from our early Ceroc days remembers a little Singaporean girl called Sing, who was the most phenomenal dancer. Swingapore is her enterprise and now does all kinds of dance classes for chldren and adults alike.
The tennis was a huge success. Both loved it and they have great coaches there. Hannah's coach for 3 days was gorgeous Swedish blond with an awesome figure. It would be so easy to dislike her if she weren't a good coach and such a friendly person. David is considering taking up lessons again....I can't imagine why.
We are now booked in for Saturday mornings next term. As Adam's class is longer than Hannah's, Hannah is also now booked in to a Hip Hop dance class at Swingapore. Hannah really wanted to do ballet (only because she wanted to wear the pink ballet shoes) but the class times don't work for us. She was so disappointed when she learned that for hip hop they wear trainers, a green T-shirt and black leggings and went off the whole idea.
However, when we asked for a description of Hip Hop (my attempt at an impression at home hadn't quite hit the spot), it was described as "like High School Musical dancing". At this point, not wishing to loose face, she said "OK. I'll do it .... if I must".
The idea was made even more appealing when we made a family outing last weekend to see "High School Musical on Ice". It was a great show and there, with us, was practically every other little girl in Singapore.
Last weekend, after staying up to watch the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday it was Singapore's National Day on Saturday. It was unfortunate timing for their show and parade - the Olympics were a tough act to follow!
This last week, a whirl of playdates and a visit to the zoo culminated in Hannah's birthday on Friday. We went to an indoor play centre (at Turf City) which is really good. It may seem odd here, but there are times when it's nice to be cooler! We went with one of Hannah's school friends and a great time was had by all.
On Saturday, Hannah had her party which was a bowling party, followed by lunch. 6 school friends and 2 new friends from her tennis group came along and displayed a range of interesting techniques, pushing or throwing (if only) the balls, often missing their toes by inches. The lucky ones managed to get the ball to the other end AND with sufficient momentum (just) to knock a skittle down. They all seemed to have fun. Lots of lovely presents, then a visit to the bird park on Sunday (dodging the rain storms) concluded a very busy fortnight.
This week (before we take our last short summer break) we are out getting the bits we need for next term, which starts next Tuesday.
Tomorrow we have be out before 10am. Why? Because we've just received a letter from the condo management telling us the power will be off from 10am til 1pm. This means, as they point out, that the lifts won't work, so we'll "need to use the stairs instead". WE LIVE ON THE 25TH FLOOR!!!! Well there's an incentive to get up and out tomorrow morning, if ever there was one!
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