We left home at 4.15 a.m, and had a pretty good journey to Purple Parking, despite the M25 at rush hour - slow but moving most of the time. PP is very slick and the traffic to Terminal 3 horrendous. We were nowhere near as early as we usually are but, because of having booked in online and printed off our boarding cards, a very short and fast queue to hand in luggage.
Enough time to buy some perfume and have breakfast before boarding time. Unfortunately, the board was mis-read and we ended up on a route march, walking at least as far as to the sea at Titchwell and back!! To add insult to the distress, all the moving walkways were going in the wrong direction. When we reached the lounge at last, we were immediately called to board. It took me a while to cool off......
Two very young children, a baby and an infant made sleep difficult, we try to adjust to the time at destination as does the airline, it was post lunch UK time that lights were dimmed and the shutters closed.
Changi Airport, Singapore is lovely. Light, airy and just classy looking. We bought Tshirts for the boys, had a drink and a bite and boarded the next plane. Much shorter flight - 7 hours as opposed to 12 - but less pleasant. The Airbus is not as comfortable as the A380.
I phoned Sara from baggage reclaim, she and Josh were already waiting for us. Customs clearance was good too, having declared crisps, Jaffa Cakes and stock cubes, we were waved straight through past the searching Beagle, who gave us a cursory sniff. Hugs and kisses all round, lovely to see them, and a very short walk to the car, Josh helping with the luggage as always. Well, hurtling on ahead pulling Pam's heavy cabin luggage roll on behind him.
We turned up the drive to No 9, Vanwall Rd, their new home, soon after 9, entering the main house via the two car garage. We were greeted by Mike and Harry and all our luggage was carried in to the appropriate places. A short tour of the premises was very gratifying, it looks great, they've worked hard in two and a bit weeks. Turning down food, we all sat in the lounge, the adults drinking champagne, chatting and catching up until midnight - surprisingly late.
Saturday
Harry's 13th birthday.
I woke at 4 a.m and stayed awake, Kookaburra first as always and then Noisy Miners, Rainbow Parakeets, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Brush Turkeys and Magpies making a cacophany at dawn. Josh stole past our door at 7, we shared a wave, Harry appeared soon after 8, gesturing cuppa at me, Pam slept on until he returned with a perfect cup of tea. Great. Zulu - Ragdoll cat - shared our bed on and off during the night. Plenty of room, it's a weekend bed, two singles pushed together with separate duvets. Our room is not enormous but perfectly adequate with an inset clothes hanger and shelves/drawer unit.
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| Zulu - Ragdoll, world's biggest breed |
A tour of the back garden in very warm sunshine - mini heatwave. Must take some photos, it's difficult to describe. So many mature trees and shrubs and a garden shed which looks like a cricket pavilion. Lovely.
The rest of the family drove Harry to the Mall to meet his friends and to do some shopping themselves, we decided to stay here and just chill. Seems a shame to stay in on such a beautiful day but that's how we feel. Plenty of time to explore.
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