Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th February 2023

Steve’s Goddaughter Sophie was getting married in Sydney on 18th February and we accepted our invitation with pleasure.

Being already half way there compared to the UK made it easier but we would have gone anyway. With Misa and Emilka focused on studying for their IGCSE exams that start in May we agreed to go alone and enjoy two weeks of husband and wife time that we havn’t had in many years.  My Mum came to stay with us in November and had already accepted our request to please look after the children whilst we were away.

When Steve went to book the tickets he was shocked at how prices have increased post-pandemic, but decided that with the length of journey and our plans for 17 hours in Singapore but spending the nights either side in the air it was worth spending the premium on Singapore Airlines Business Class. It was – and made all the difference to our plan becoming achievable. No queuing anywhere, a superb lounge with showers and all amenities, the comfort, service, food and beverages on board, WiFi with internet connection and simply getting a few hours of proper sleep. We know that we were fortunate to be able to do this and wish that everyone could.

Our time in Singapore was spent enjoying the Botanical Gardens that we’d last visited during our tenth wedding anniversary nearly thirteen years ago (and recreating three of the photos from then!), as well as enjoying lunch at Maxwell Food Centre with a colleague of Steves, Stephen.  Typical Singapore Hawker Food served in the right amosphere to go with it.  A nice treat to experience.

After Stephen went home we crossed the stree to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, but whilst interesting were disappointed to find it such a commercial enterprise; there were even four cash machines in the temple to make it ‘easier’ to make offerings.  There are clearly plenty of believers, but to Steve in particular it didn’t sit comfortably.

From here we went to the ION Centre and then a walk down Orchard Road, just reaching our metro station in time as the heavens started to open.  By this time we were exhausted so elected to go directly to Changi Airport, collect the cabin bags we’d dropped off earlier, and then enjoy the business lounge.

Whilst transferring from one terminal to the next we came across the HSBC rain vortex that we’d seen in the press when it opened; 130 feet / 40 metres tall, it is the world’s largest indoor waterfall and very impressive.  10,000 gallons per minute of collected rain water are recirculated from a central occulus.  Wow!

The lounge was comfortable, and after eating well, a shower and a change of clothes we settled down in the silent sleeping area for a nap before departure at 00:45am local time.

Next stop, Sydney! 

Rennie