COLONIAL DISTRICT AND RIVER CRUISE

On the second day of our trip to Singapore we had a full day touring around the city. First we walked around Little India (last post). Then we boarded the coaches for the Colonial District.
In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty whereby Johor allowed the British to locate a trading port on the island, leading to the establishment of the British colony of Singapore in 1824.

 The Padang (Field in Malay) is the recreation ground established by Raffles in 1907. The buildings were the Supreme Court and Town Hall but now they are housed in the building behind which looks like an UFO. These buildings are now the National Gallery.

 The cricket club was formed in 1860's with this club house opening in 1884.

At the other end of the field is the Recreation Club also built in 1884. Still used by many different sporting clubs.

Saint Andrew's Cathedral, the largest in Singapore. It is a very beautiful and impressive Anglican Church built in the Neo-Gothic style.

 I loved how most of the city trees have epiphytes growing on them.

 It was time to board the coach for the River cruise.

 We arrived at the river and walked to Clarke Quay.

 We piled into two boats.

 And had a relaxing cruise to Marina Bay.

 The contrasting architecture was interesting.

 It was a hazy day but the Marina Sands Hotel and the Science Centre were still an impressive sight. We were going to the top of that afterwards.

 We disembarked at Merlion Park. The Merlion is the Singapore icon. It has a lion's head and a fish's body. Singapura means Lion City. 

It was very hot and humid and we tired easily but here we had an ice-cream and found some shade to wait for the coach.

LITTLE INDIA

Last Monday week, 57 villagers set off on a trip to Singapore and Malacca with the CEO, Chiou See Anderson and 4 other staff members. We were bussed to Brisbane airport and then we flew Singapore Airlines to Singapore and the York Hotel.

 The next morning we were divided into two groups to tour the city. The oldies were bright eyed and bushy tailed at the beginning of the day. After visiting many of Singapore's attractions all day we were not so sprightly at 9:30 that night when we arrived back at the hotel. Chiou See, who organised the holiday is far right at the back.

 The first stop was at the markets in the area called Little India. Chiou See was happy to show us her country and for us to meet her family.

 An Indian trader..

The colours in the market were bright. Always good to look up.

 The videographer at work. It was extremely hot and humid everyday.

 An indoor market too.

Little India is a very interesting area but we were off to the next place, which was the old colonial part of the city. Remnants of English rule have been kept as heritage sites. Singapore people pride themselves on the fact that many different races and religions all live and work together in harmony.

ST PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS

Some residents and staff got together to organise a St Patrick's Day Dinner and entertainment in the community hall sometimes called Club Elements. Our village is called Elements Retirement Living. It was lots of fun.

 The hall was full of oldies dressed in all sorts of green outfits.

 Some of the Elements' Musos entertained us with a sing along of Irish songs.

 The Elements' singers gave support.

A couple of live wires put on a skit "Cheap Fares"

 Then an Irish Dance School came to entertain us.

They were very good and very fast.

 I found a couple of Leprechauns at the party.

We had fun.

 There were many green raffle prizes and a lucky door prize and a lucky chair prize.

I was the lucky winner of the door prize. A beautiful hand painted silk scarf and two bottles of my favourite red wine. It was a good night. Tomorrow we are off to Singapore with our CEO, some staff and 57 residents. I think we'll have some fun.

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN ARTISTS

I was lucky enough to be invited by our village CEO Chiou See Anderson to a WCEI (Women Chiefs of Enterprises International)  function held at The Phillip Bacon Gallery in Brisbane. It was a preview of a new exhibition opening of Australian Women Artists.

There was a group of us that went from our village and it was an entertaining evening. The gallery was crowded with the whose who of influential business women including Quentin Bryce a past Governor General  of Australia and Keri Craig a famous international fashion designer from Brisbane.

It was a great night night. The art was very interesting and the canapés delicious and the company grand.

The group from Elements Retirement Living. Our CEO  Chiou See Anderson is far left

 This was my favourite by Vera Möller

 This one fascinated me because the sheep are in the shade of a tree but there is no tree. It is called Mirage by Lisa Adams.

 Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye

 This one was captivating. "Home Late" by Anne Wallace

 One of our group, Chris had a chat with Dame Quentin Bryce our past Governor General.

It sure was Chris's night because she won the door prize of this huge book about Keri Craig international fashion designer. The book filled a whole carry bag and weighed so much that Chris needed help to carry it home. We came home on the village bus just as well.

 Jan enjoyed these Tasmanian Scollop canapés because all the others had wheat, which she can't eat. She even stalked the waiter to have another. He found it amusing and then bought out another platter just for us.

 Then he returned with yet another and even followed Jan downstairs to the door as we were leaving. It was so funny. We were all very happy after being plied with many glasses of Champagne and wine.

TRIP TO SYDNEY 1974/5

Continuing My Story
After Christmas in 1974 I took the girls to Sydney for a short holiday to see my parents and for them to see their grand daughters. Bill had to go to work. Carol fell asleep on the plane and Sonya cried because she had pain in her ears. It was fun trying to carry both of them out of the plane with a bag, and down stairs in those days. Finally, I got the attention of a flight attendant to help me. Grandma and Granddad took us to a park to feed the ducks.

Carol-Ann feeding the ducks.

What on earth am I wearing??? This activity probably led to my back problems now.

In grandma's garden

Grandma and Sonya

Aunt Ada and Mum enjoy the little ones.

I loved my babies.

It was hard trying to get the colour back into these 43 year old photos. Saying goodbye to Grandma and Granddad before flying back to Brisbane.

BIRTHDAY BEAR JIGS HIS EYE

It was George's Birthday a few weeks ago but we were late celebrating. George has to have a cataract operation soon so Bear had one done to show George that it is nothing to be worried about. Bear also knows that George enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles in his spare time. Bear is helping George solve this puzzle. If you are not familiar with our Birthday Bear tradition read here.

 We celebrated at Michaels Chinese Restaurant and we had a small banquet.

 Bear has had a cataract operation.

I dressed Bear for George. Bear is trying to do a jigsaw puzzle.

Unfortunately, Chris, Bob and Bill couldn't come due to illness. We had a delicious lunch.

CYCLONE TRACY 1974

Continuing My Story

The northern Australian city of Darwin was devastated early on Christmas morning 1974 when hit by the tropical weather depression that was given the name Cyclone Tracy. As the eye of the cyclone passed over the city between midnight and 7am on Christmas morning, torrential rain fell and the winds were officially recorded at 217 kilometres per hour prior to the Bureau of Meteorology anemometer being destroyed. Houses and other buildings disintegrated under the onslaught, accompanied by the sounds of flying debris and breaking glass. Records have identified 66 names of individuals who perished as a result of the cyclone (53 on land and 13 at sea), and many more were injured. Seventy per cent of Darwin’s homes were destroyed or suffered severe damage, and all public services – communications, power, water and sewerage – were severed.
When news finally arrived in the southern cities, many organisations swung into action to help the people of Darwin.   Our local Lions Club, of which Bill was the President, immediately started raising funds by members  standing at red lights on the highway with buckets for drivers to throw in their donations. They raised thousands of dollars and their actions were recorded in the newspaper.

Bill is at the right back.