SINGAPORE

 Julia drove me to Heathrow and guided me through all the intricacies of self-service in the departure area.  I rather suspect I would still be there, wondering what to do, without her.   I thought Christchurch airport was awkward but it’s got a lot to learn about making the self-service department more complex.  However, once through that maze, I found the Assistance desk and life became much easier.

As a result, after a quick look at the shops, I was taken (with 2 younger people in plaster casts and an older lady) to 3 separate “layovers” in different buggies.  I was grateful not to be having to walk all those distances - according to the notices normally it takes about 20 minutes.

The Singapore Airlines pillow and see-through blanket were much the same quality as on the way TO the UK - and my window seat gave me a perfect view of one of the wings.    But at least this time I had only half the distance to travel - which was just as well, because one of the stewards came to me just before take off, to tell me they had only just been advised about my mushroom allergy, no ‘special meal’ had been provided, and they were not provided with any lists of the ingredients in each meal.  Always a good start.

However, the service on arrival was again excellent and after a slight hiccup when I was told that my arrivals card (which Julia had painstakingly sorted out for me) had to be filled out again, because it had not been received, my “assistance” person sorted it all out for me, without me having to raise a finger and then took me on to collect my bag and deposited me at the gate where Julie was due, an hour after I landed.  She duly arrived, followed shortly afterwards by a little man with an iPad indicating he was there to take us to our hotel.

The ride into town was amazing, colourful bushes lining both sides of the street and everything clean and tidy.  This morning (Sunday) at 6.30 am there was a lot of noise 10 storeys below and I think the pavement and road were being scrubbed clean or leaves being vacuumed up - it was either that, or the hotel cleaner decided to scrub the hallway outside our room with an electric cleaner.  Either way both were very clean when we eventually went down to breakfast at around 9.00 a.m.

There was an interesting assortment of food offered for breakfast ranging from toast and marmalade to turkey bacon … after which we walked over 10,000 steps (according to Julie’s mobile app) and Julie went for a swim when we got back to the hotel.  Somehow the gold lame bathing costume I “modelled” earlier in the blog, stayed on its hanger in the shop - and the bathing costume Julie brought for me, hasn’t seen the light of Singaporean day either.

We decided to go to the Fullerton Hotel after breakfast.  My “uncuz” Christine had given me money for us to go there (or Raffles) for a ‘gin sling’ - first we went to a street vendor to change the £ to $ as instructed but when we got there the very pleasant consierge told us that Raffles was the place that invented it - they did a similar thing - but anyway their bar didn’t open until 5.00 pm.  And so instead we will keep that treat until tomorrow.

These photos of the Fullerton will have to suffice, meanwhile.

In the afternoon we walked to Raffles and booked afternoon tea for tomorrow (Monday) at 2.00 pm (and now a gin sling) which fits in nicely with a “hop on, hop off” open topped bus tour which we have also booked for the next 2 days.   At least, with the 2 hour bus tour, the step count should be a little lower and any accidental weight loss from today’s efforts will be quickly rectified.

The rain has eased but the high temperature and humidity hasn’t.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings!