Week One - A New Home

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Hi all,

Since I'm not likely to be able to keep up with everyone properly (over the phone) the next 4 months and have grown tired of posting photos on facebook, I've decided to try out this new-fangled 'Blogging' thing that I heard about on that BBC news show, Click!

By the way, I feel like its been about a month since I left London. It was a bit of a whirlwind towards the end with work (and a cold) in Chicago, an amazing weekend in New York, some great rocking out to rock band in Shepherds Bush and several nights of pretending to clean and pack up the house while drinking far too much red wine!

After nealy a week here in Singapore I am finally starting to settle in a bit. I only got about an hour of sleep on the plane over and was feeling pretty knackered by the time we arrived at the new flat. When I say 'we' I am referring to my flatmate on this adventure - known to at least one guy at work as my 'wife' for the next few months, Colin. Say hi Colin!

Awaiting us at the flat when we landed on Saturday night (12.5 hours in the air plus a 7 hour time change means a long day) was another Zebra employee and Siebel team mate, Alvin. He was kind enough to give up his Saturday night to take us out for a few little-needed beers and food. In true expat style, we chose a western-style bar and initiated the Singapore adventure at Henry's Jazz Bar (no jazz anywhere in site I must say) over some incredibly tasty hot wings, quesadillas and nachos...you just have to love the asian experience :)

On day 2 I got to have a better look around the flat (lovely as you see in the photos) and to take a dip in the pool. There truly is no better feeling than taking a dip in the pool when its in the 90s and muggy outside. For those who have been here, I am living on the west side near Buena Vista on the MRT - about a 20 minute walk from Holland Village, aka expat central.

By Monday, still not sleeping well, I was getting cranky...but have been eating fabulously all week- local food every day at lunch (about £1.50 for a nice plate of chicken rice) thai and japanese at dinner - though I did demand a burger one evening. It was only when I gave up the beer that sleep started to come - and quickly started to settle in here.

I have to say that jogging in heat like this must be good for the detox - though you have to be careful to drink lots of water for fear of passing out! I hope I get used to it though, as I've taken some advice and signed up for Tennis lessons at the start of July - (Cathy, if I end up in hospital, I'm blaming you!!) - having never played before it should be pretty entertaining.

My attitude also improved remarkably when I bought tix for a weekend getaway - headed to Kuching, Borneo for a long weekend of beaches and (hopefully) some orangutan spotting! Only 1.5 hours away and under 100 quid return - it didn't take long to remember why I was really here!!

This weekend, however, its gonna be time to explore Singapore and who knows, maybe even meet a few of the many expats around town (or even a local or two?) Keep an eye out for photos and stories and hopefully I'll keep you all entertained from the other side of the world this summer! ;-)

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