Singapore - Part 1

February 2010 marked a milestone for Lavigne. For the first time since she was born more than 5 years ago, she had a real taste of Chinese New Year - in Singapore. Yes, I brought the girls back home for a short visit. I said short because trips home usually last at least 3 weeks. This time we were only there for about 2. The main reason for going home was because of my parents. My dad had a fall in January and suffered a bad cut to his head and my mum was hospitalised the same month. Tests were inconclusive and I was very worried as she's never in the pink of health in recent years. Staying so far away from them means that I don't get to see them very often, let alone spend time with them. Since half-term coincided with Chinese New Year in mid February, I decided to make the trip in order to spend some quality time with my old folks. Hence, I didn't meet up with any friends at all. I'm sorry! Will see you guys in summer though.

It was all done in secrecy at first as I wasn't entirely sure if the trip will become a reality. It was only when the girls' head teacher had approved of a week's leave and the tickets were bought that I informed my parents who were very delighted. We never had the opportunity to celebrate CNY in Singapore and it has always been a very low-key event for us. The girls were extremely excited. However, the trip didn't start off very well. It started snowing heavily in the morning on the day we were flying out. I was at work and couldn't believe what I saw. It was like a blizzard outside and I was worried about how we were going to drive to the airport in the evening. Bizzarely, the sun came out and melted the thick layer of snow. Then after dropping Louisa off at a birthday party venue (I couldn't let her miss it as it was her good friend's birthday), it started snowing heavily again. However, all was OK when it was time for us to leave for the airport.

Adrian couldn't make the trip as we will be going back again for my youngest sis' wedding this summer and he's keeping his leave for then. So we met him at the airport and he drove the car home. Our trip was blighted right from the start. I discovered Lavigne's running a temperature just before take-off. The thermoscan was in the checked-in luggage. I asked the flight attendant for a thermometer and he came back with a disaposable one. It was just a strip of paper and Lavigne was reluctant for me to put it under her armpit. After much coaxing, I managed to get a reading and it was 38.2 degrees C. Thankfully, the aircraft had paracetamol but in tablet form. My poor girl had only taken the syrup form so I was very proud of her when she chewed and swallowed not one but two. The 2 flight attendants in my cabin were very helpful and friendly. They kept asking me if I needed anything and brought me towels and water throughout the 14 hour journey. That had to be our worst flight ever. I didn't sleep much as I had to sponge her and monitor her temperature which shot up every 4 hours. It didn't help when we encountered lots of air turbulence. There was one which was particularly bad and lasted quite a long time. It happened after dinner and quite a few people were sick in the toilets. We were right next to the toilets! I cranked up the volume of my headphone in order to drown out the noises. Ewww!

We received some special treatment though. The flight attendant, upon hearing that I was going to take Lavigne to see a doctor upon arrival, radioed back to the airport in Singapore. Two ground staff came on board to greet us and helped with the hand luggages and escorted us out. There was a buggy waiting for us outside the gate and we were driven to immigration. The man asked me to go to Raffles Clinic in the basement as the charges will be cheaper than inside the transit terminal. Nice! But in the end, I got my sis to drive us to our usual family doctor instead. As Lavigne's cheeks were so red (from the fever and change in weather), the receptionist at the clinic asked if she's just had a performance. She thought she had makeup on. Haha! My little girl was unwell for 4 days and on the 4th day just as she was recovering and back to her usual active self, Louisa got the bug from her. Sigh! It was worse for her as she had it for 7 days! My dad caught the bug too and then my mum. The festive bug huh?

An interesting conversation I overheard on board the plane. There was this caucasian man and woman in the queue for the toilet behind my seat and having a chat. The woman said that Singapore Airlines in the best in the world, no doubt about it. In her opinion, Emirates' very good too but Singapore Airlines is still top. The man replied that he had flown with many airlines and agreed with her. The elderly lady continued to say that the service is excellent but the menu wasn't. She complained to the man about having fried noodles with chilli on the breakfast menu. Who can have that in the morning, she wondered to the man. The latter explained to her that's what the local eat in Singapore. Apparently, he has lived in Singapore for a few years and said that we eat rice for breakfast too! She was shocked! Oh yes! We Singaporeans can have rice/noodles for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper! Welcome to our city!