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The scribblings for 2010 start from here …
Singapore: Monday 05/04/2010 to Wednesday 07/04/2010:
Instead of heading straight to the boat from Melbourne, as we normally do, we decided this year to visit Singapore enroute. The plane has to stop at one airport or another on the way to France, usually either Singapore or Hong Kong, but apart from the hour it takes to refuel (and lose your baggage) we don't get out of the airport. So, this year, mainly at Pete's request we spent a couple of days in Singapore. I think we could have spent longer, but at least we have something to see still if we stop again next year..
Although just a short stopover, we had a terrific time. We stayed at the Tanglin Club just off Orchard Road and from there visited the Singapore Cricket Club (where we had lunch looking out over the Pedang. We also had a look at Raffles Hotel (where we visited the Museum and later Pete had a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar. Note the automated 'punka-walla' on the ceiling.). The museum was very interesting. I knew that Raffles was on Beach Road, but until we visited the museum I didn't realise that that was because it was originally built on the beach. The whole area from Beach Rd to the new marine area is reclaimed land.
The Raffles Museum has been set up with lots of memorabilia which has been donated by previous guests. One item, a salt & peper pot, was borrowed by a guest back in the 1920's and returned recently by his grandson.
Both Clarke Quay (where we took a river boat ride on one of the old Bum Boats) and Boat Quay (where we had some very tasty Singapore Chilli Crab) were also interesting. They are in the heart of what was the centre of old Singapore's commercial area.
We spent a lot of time walking; the temperature wasn't bad but the humidity was quite high.
We also visited China Town. The shops and food there are completely different to the more tourist areas. We really enjoyed this part of our stay. It was only two days but well worth it.
On arriving in France we went directly to our home port in St. Symphorien. I say we went "directly" there, but in fact we were delayed again this year because of lost luggage. Two years ago my bag disappeared into the ether for 4 weeks before turning up in France. Fortunately this year it was only 4 hours, but again it was courtesy of Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Maybe this is my punishment for the invective I vented last time. A sort of "Terminal 5 payback!"
We did stop enroute in Champagne again this year; to pick up some essential supplies.
Since being back in St. Symphorien we have been fairly busy. We've had to clean the boat, as usual, after its winter hibernation. But we have also been doing some upgrades, adding the following kit:
The weather was quite cold when we first arrived back. It was down to around 2°C one morning and our heating, especially in the mornings, was working overtime. It has however been sunny and clear most of the two weeks we're been here. The last couple of days have actually been quite hot - especially for April; perhaps this bodes well for a hot summer.
We have been doing the usual vitalling at the local shops again this year; again to pick up some of the more essential supplies, and have caught up with a few
friends for a drink or a meal.
While we've had the hire car we've visited also Dijon and Dole - mainly shopping, but also for a lunch or two. We have managed to get to "Le Chateau du Mont Joly" to see Catherine and Romuald and the kids again. We had a very nice lunch there.
You can click here to go directly to the May 2010 web page ...
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France: Monday 08/04/2010 to Wednesday 27/04/2010 at St. Symphorien:
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