The Count Down Begins.....

It is 2 months today until we set foot back on South African soil! I can't believe how the time has flown! South Africa has started to reel us back in, aided heavily by the stream of visitors that we have had and are still to welcome to our life here in Singapore.

Grootes' and Skibbe's at the Marina

Nick's folks were able to spend 3 nights with us post their South East Asia Cruise and so it happened that there was a gathering of Grootes' in Singapore over the birth of beautiful little Evelyn May on the 17th of March 2012. Although we would have much preferred to have been in JHB for this prestigious occasion, we did pop a bottle of pink bubbly and welcome the little precious into the world from across the seas.

The weather participated nicely and although sweat beads were a prominent feature on the brows of the Grootes and Skibbe Seniors, we managed to get around and see the sights including cocktails atop the Sands and a Sling at the Raffles Hotel.

Slings at Raffles

Like an aeroplane turn-around on an international flight, our guest room and amenities were scrubbed and polished and ready for Bonnie's arrival last Thursday! What a treat to have a girlfriend from home here for a week - and all to myself! We quite literally shopped until we dropped! Such fun and certainly a shopping experience to remember. My voice is hoarse from the amount of talking that we did - poor Bons bore the brunt of me being out of circulation from my girlfriends back home for almost 6 months!

Peanut butter ice-cream and toast for breakie

Some of the highlights from the week with Bons were cocktails at the Sky Bar, Marina Bay Sands; sticky rice with mango (quickly becoming my favourite Thai dessert!); yummy curry at Zaffron Kitchen on East Coast Road; meze and ice-cold Tigers on Arab Street (possibly the first time Bonnie and I have ordered beer over wine willingly); chicken satay and a Courtyard Sling at Raffles. I have new respect for my fabulous friends, Heath and Bonnie! What inspirational parents they are. Heath did a sterling job looking after Jack and Emily whilst Bons was over here on her "Me" holiday and I am astounded at Bonnie's determination to enjoy her time out even though I know how hard it was to leave her beautiful family for a week.

Cocktails at Sky Bar - Marina Bay Sands

Thanks for coming to visit us Bons! Your visit was so well timed and certainly just what we needed! I packed as many hugs and kisses as possible in between the shopping in Bons' suitcase to all our buddies in JHB. Can't wait to see you all when we get home!

Thankfully, we still have JHB coming to us in the way of Garth and Jax who arrive for a week next weekend and then Sarah and Jamie who will be with us for 2 weeks at the end of April. We have managed to book a 4 day trip to Langkawi with the MacDonald-Wynne's which is going to be FANTASTIC!!!! Very excited for that and then Nick's last day of work is the 11th of May. Where has the time gone?

I have 2 weeks of ironing to get through today! Delightful! But it's one day closer to the weekend and we have outdoor movies planned with Rafe and Jean on Saturday - should be fun!

Love to you all.

xxx