Concert

Very busy day yesterday. Had Beatrice's friend here for sleepover after concert rehearsal on Friday and the girls had a whole Saturday for playing together before the concert in the evening. We had to go there early for another rehearsal, so the night was long as well. Had a glass of wine with two other mums while we waited for it to start - kind of like a girls night out! Then finally finally they were on! As the first act of the show, must have been quite daunting. The girls already had butterflyes in taxi! They did remarkably well though, considering that some half of the choir were new kids and they had only had their once weekly rehearsals since the last 6 weeks. Some were wriggling a bit but that was quite sweet really. Just a few last high notes came out unintendedly multitonal!
The rest of the concert that we had to sit through was a big mix. Didn't start very promising - a ladies choir that wasn't much betterthan Dover Court's but lacked our sympathy factor. Rather painful really. And more of the like. Japanese ladies choir in the second half was even worse and probably due to the Japanese associations big donation they were allowed to do 4 long pieces! But there were also a few quite nice things - the absolute highlite the Japanese ladies drum performance - the Daiko. Very powerful and in a way masculine. I had always thought that it's menm who do the drumming in Japan unlike KOrean lady-drummers. But these were women that you would coke across shopping at Isetan and Takashimaya and never even emagine that they could do anything like that. Big drums, big sounds, big coreography. That alone made it well worth suffering through the rest of the concert. But of course it was for a good cause - the hospice care - so everybody appreciated the efforts. The kids joined the rest of performers at the grand finale after having waited for 2 hours. They were so hungry and exhausted when it finished at 10.40. But nevertheless Beatrice up at 7 am as usual and our Sunday is full on ...

Still in Singapore

Have been such a bad writer and it's not because there is nothing to write about here! But it has taken a while for us to get a clear view of the situation we are in - moving or not and if then where? Now at least we have our leaving date fixed and will be heading back to the cold Estonian winter in the beginning of December. For good.
It makes little sense for us to stay in Singapore if Robert is working half way around the world and the extended families are so far away as well. Even though we have made good friends now here and kids are so happy in school.
For the next 2 months will have to make the most of the warm weather and the pool and spend time with friends here. That's what we have been busy doing already.
A few weeks ago had a great experience at the Forest Adventure (well the setting is more a park really). Beatrice had been there for a birthday party already and enjoyed it so she talked us into it. The boys are tall enough now to go on the kids trail with ropes and harnesses and helmet etc. Beatrice finished at monkey speed, surprizingly both boys quit before finish. They might have been braver if I would have stayed and encouraged them more but I was already hooked up and dangling 10 meters above water on the zipcord! My first time on the flying fox - had to be 39 to get there... The first ride was quite daunting about 200 meters long over the Bedok reservoir, high up. The whole course had 4 of those! But really enjoyed it and the whole climbing business. At first the hooks and ropes seemed very confusing but got the hang of it quite quickly and it felt like a great adventure. Especially as I was reading the Jeffrey Archer's book about George Mallory conquering Mt. Everest at the time. (An artistic exzageration that of course.) My friends and neighbors did quite well also (that "also" being a clear Singlish influence). Although they were impressed by my speed, ha ha. I guess the hours in the gym and sweating in yoga have to pay off somewhere.
I probably haven't even written since my birthday, so haven't reported on the nice day my friends made for me. Corina and Patrick took me out for an early lunch of Indian fish head curry to a very local curry house. You are really expected to eat with your fingers scooping up the sauce with rice but for "ang moh's" like me they do provide fork and spoon. It looked rather impressive - the fish head the size of an average chicken. Nice and spicy tomato based sauce, excellent veg and other sides. And of course the lime juice to go with it. Just yummy!
From there I went to town to pick up a birthday cake from Mariott - a kind present from the bank to Robert's birthday which he couldn't retrieve of course. And then to the bookshop - Dan Brown's Lost Symbol was released on my birthday - what a nice present!
In the evening we got together at the BBQ pit with neighbors, Corina had baked a cake as well and decorated it with the kids really nicely, candles and all. Really sweet!

Today was the UN-Day at Beatrice's school. After having done that last year this time felt much less daunting. Beatrice was very confident and proud marching alone in the 30+ heat in her thick full length woollen skirt! And as all the materials from Estonia had arrived too late for last year we had plenty to diplay this time. Played a DVD of the Tantsupidu (this summer's big Dance Fest), had a puzzle and booklets to give away etc. Raoul was a very good border guard - sat nearly an hour and stamped the Dover Court passports of the children. So that I actually could nip away and have a quick wonder around the other rooms this time. The stall was still manned! Most people of course didn't have a clue where Estonia was but there were a few who had been there - our class teacher's partner 6 times! the school's headmistress 3 times! Hopefully a few others will go. Beatrice and Roisin were excellent company for eachother and went around the rooms together. They even brought some icecream back for the boys from USA! Very kind indeed. Some had made incredible efforts - like the African room, all dark and full of fantastic displays.
Now Beatrice has a choir rehearsal for a charity concert tomorrow so I am rewarding the boys for their good work this morning with a few hours play at gogobambini until we go and pick up Beatrice and her best friend for sleepover.