HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CONTINUED...

Well so much for me keeping up with the blog! I'm hopeless! Anyway, here's what we've been up to this week...

Went to Tesco in Greenock (big hypermarket) with Mum and Dad where I wandered around like a kid in a sweetie shop as I'd forgotten how good the choice of food, clothes, books, electrical goods etc etc is here - and how blooming cheap they are! Spent way too much on clothes for the kids but enjoyed every minute of it!

After our spending splurge we headed off to the wee cafe in Gourock that we've been going to for oh at least 25 years!! Yum yum :o)

On Sunday we headed over to my best friend Elizabeth's house to see her, her sister (and my friend too) Laura and their parents. Elizabeth's Dad was home on a weekend pass from hospital as he's just had his leg amputated below the knee after a long time suffering various infections etc due to his diabetes. I was so surprised by how well he looked. He's had a lot of illness and hospital stays over the last few years but is still going strong and was really happy to see my two little monsters. It was great catching up with everyone.

On Monday we headed off with Elliot to his swimming lesson where the boys had great fun. After a play in the playpark beside the pool we headed off to Graze near Kilwinning for lunch. And so began my usual round of non-stop eating out on holiday!

Had a visit to the dentist on Tuesday morning where Kayla point blank refused to show him her teeth LOL! I did mention that she loves to brush her teeth though so hopefully they're not in too bad shape.

James got a gold star for "still having great teeth" - yay! - whereas I'm signed up for two extractions on 1st June - boo! One is the remainder of the tooth I broke on the way to Oz a couple of years ago and the other is a wisdom tooth which is sitting at a funny angle so it has to go too :o( He wants me to have another wisdom tooth removed (insert your own joke here) but that one needs to be removed surgically so I'm not having that done during my holiday time!

Headed off to Barshaw Park in Paisley with my Mum in the afternoon. It was a lovely day so the park was full of wee people and lots of peely wally (pale) bodies being exposed to the sun for the first time since last summer! I posted a photo of FB of some boys who were playing football with their shirts off. I'd forgotten just how pale Scottish people are. As Billy Connolly used to say "we're not white - we're light blue!"

I can never get photos to work properly on the blog - but the photo above is the view from the top of the hill in Barshaw Park - looking back over Paisley (the town where both of my parents were born and brought up).

On Wednesday Mum and Dad kept the kids for the day while I headed off for some retail therapy (and boy am I cured!!) It was so nice to be shopping in shops that had clothes to fit women over a size 10 (not many of those in Singapore), with all the lovely summer clothes in (bonus for me) and with no small people moaning about wanting to go home! I got there around 1.30pm and got home just before 9pm!! Bliss!! And I haven't finished - going to head back again before we leave as there were a few shops I missed :o)

Anyway, signing off now as I have a thumping headache and I'm shattered. Mainly due to a couple of late nights over the weekend - but I'll update on those ASAP.

Nighty night all xx

Well another early morning for the Sallahs. I wakened at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep :o( James joined me in bed shortly afterwards and wriggled for Scotland for a couple of hours before he eventually got up. Kayla went til 6am - yay!!

Had a lovely afternoon catching up with Joan and Elliot at Pizza Hut yesterday. Joan and I were separated at birth!! We have such a lot in common and have been through lots of similar experiences so we always have LOTS to talk about!! Planning to go take James to Elliot's swimming lesson on Monday so that'll be good fun for them both.

My lovely friend and neighbour Marion popped up to see us later on at Mum & Dad's house. Marion made us feel so welcome when we moved to Torran Drive back in 2003 and has since become a very good friend. Lots to chat about and we're off to see Westlife next week :o) I know - I think I'm 14!

OUR TRIP HOME 2010

OMG - don't faint - I'm actually updating my blog!! Well its only been almost a year...

Thought I'd try and do a few short entries this time around for our home trip - rather than the big, rambling epics I did last year!

Well we've arrived in sunny but freezing cold Scotland. Ok its not really freezing - its 11C which feels like freezing when you're used to 32C! James went to bed wearing a fleece last night - with the hood up LOL!

Anyway give us a few days and I'm sure we'll be used to it - I'm always moaning about the heat in Singapore so I have to appreciate this nice cool air while I can.

The flights went well. The kids were both really good - they did me proud.

It was so lovely to come through the doors at the airport and find Mum and Dad waiting for us. I can't believe its been almost 1 year since we've seen them - way way too long.

The jetlag has kicked in. We were all awake at 4am and finally got up at 5am. The kids are sleeping again now but I'm too awake so I'll be shattered by this afternoon.

Never mind - off to meet James' wee friend Elliot at Pizza Hut at lunchtime (James' special request!) and his Mum (and my friend) Joan. Really looking forward to seeing them. Joan keeps me entertained with all her funny stories!

I can give her a laugh too right enough. Apologies if this is TMI for a blog posting - but I just realised last night that I forgot to pack myself any knickers LOL!!! Thankfully my Mum had a couple of new pairs she'd never worn - so I was saved!!

On a happier note...

Kayla had her first couple of mornings at Clover Kindergarten this week and seems to have thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

I stayed with her on Monday (lurking about in the background) and  she had a great time.  I took the plunge and left her there on her own this morning and she did really well.  No tears or tantrums - she happily went off with the teacher when we arrived and the teacher said she had not one tear during the three hours she was there :o)

I'm so proud of my confident wee girl - exactly what I've been trying to instil in my kids!!

I NEED A MOAN!

I'll apologise in advance as I know this post will probably come across as a bit self-pitying but I just need to have a moan.

Sometimes life in Singapore can be downright lonely.  Even though I've made some really nice friends, I don't see them often enough and some days the loneliness really gets me down.  Anyway, I'm an adult - I can deal with it - but my heart breaks for James.

Ever since we got here I've found it really difficult to meet people with kids the same age as James.  I've only met two so far and one lives in the city centre (so quite far from us) and goes to an international school so has different holidays from James.  The other lives close by but can be a little hit and miss as to whether he wants to play with James or not (I know kids can be like that but it still hurts when its your son he doesn't want to play with).

Anyway, this morning I was in tears as James was talking about who he'd invite to his birthday party.  He could only come up with two people :o(   My heart was breaking for him.  Last year, at home, he had all his little friends who he's known since birth and a couple of friends he'd made at nursery too.  Why has it been so hard here?

He does have little friends at school and I'm so glad of that - but as he goes to a local school no-one ever seems to do anything together after school (apart from more classes!!)  I want to invite some of the children from the school to his party but I don't know if they'll come and that will hurt him even more.   I know these are just the sort of things kids have to go through growing up - but as a Mum its very hard to watch.

Anyway, sorry if this just turned into a big rant.  I just want my gorgeous, kind, funny, loving boy to have some buddies!

Another World

I've often commented on how things are done very differently in Asia to how we would do things back home.  People here seem to expect a level of service (which more often than not is met) and things like having a maid to do what we would all do for ourselves at home is just the norm here.

However, I had a real laugh to myself yesterday when I was speaking to a Singaporean Mum at James' tennis class.  I've spoken to her a few times and she's very nice and chatty.  Yesterday for whatever reason we got on to speaking about when our kids were born.  I mentioned that James had been very premature and that he'd spent his first 7 weeks in hospital.  

She asked me what I did about feeding him - or did they just do that for me in the nursery?  Ha ha ha ha!!!  She was totally stunned when I told her that UK hospitals don't have nurseries anymore.  Its just a case of here's your baby - get on with it!!  Her face was an absolute picture!!

She then asked, looking more horrified by the minute, whether the nurses/midwives bathed the baby for you.  Nope!!!  

She then went on to tell me that although she has two boys - one who's 6 years old and one of 18 months - she's NEVER changed a nappy as the maid does all that for her.

It really is another world out here!!!

Here are a couple of gratuitous baby photos of my two just in keeping with the topic!!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WEEK 3

Well our third week started with a wee trip away.  I took my Mum to Stobo Castle Health Spa which is in Stobo, near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.  This was our belated 70th birthday present to her.  It was a beautiful drive down, the spa was great, it was lovely to have someone make all our meals and so good to have some time on my own with my wee Mum.  I've posted a picture of her posing in the grounds of Stobo Castle - I love this photo of her.    

My poor Dad was abandoned at home but the kids went to stay with my friend Elizabeth (Auntie Lizzy) and had a rare old time with her and her Mum and Dad.  Thanks to Elizabeth for offering to babysit so I could arrange my Mum's wee surprise.  

After we collected them from Elizabeth's on the Tuesday evening, it was a race back to the house where Joan and Elliot were picking up James and taking him to the circus.  I was shattered after all the driving but I couldn't go to bed as my party animal son (and his buddy) didn't roll home til 11pm!!  He had an absolute ball!  The mad Joan had (as usual) turned up with all the gear to dress them up - so off they went in their clown outfits!!  Thanks for taking them Joan - James is still talking about it!

On the Wednesday morning we went to visit James' old nursery as I still keep in touch with the Manager there.  It was lovely to see Mariessa and her husband Bernie - and while we blethered on for ages the kids were having fun painting etc in the nursery.  Kayla showed me that she's definitely read for nursery or playgroup - she walked in, rolled up her sleeves, sat down and got on with some painting - I don't even think she noticed I'd left the room!!  

In the afternoon I had to throw James out the car door into the capable hands of Kristen's Mum, Liz, as Joan had just called to say she'd been knocked flying by one of her dogs (she has 3 Dobermans and a Miniature Pincher).  I insisted she took a wee visit to Casualty as she was sounding really upset and feeling pretty unwell.  Thankfully Liz was available to take my James home to my Mum and Dad's house whilst Joan and I had a, thankfully, short wait in Casualty.  Diagnosis was mild concussion and bruising of the facial nerves - the poor wee soul.  

That night I was off for yet another meal out (there's a bit of a theme to this holiday!)  This time I was meeting up with some old friends from my last job - Donna, Gillian, Shona and Fiona.  Had a great laugh catching up on the goings on at TRS.  Also had a laugh in the restaurant as, although the food was very nice, there just wasn't very much of it!  Obviously taking nouvelle cuisine to a new level!!  When our main courses arrived we all burst out laughing at the size of the portion, asking increduously whether there was veg included (there wasn't), ordered some more and of course then had to fit in a dessert to fill the space in our tums!

On Thursday we had a really exciting day visiting the doctor and dentist!  Kayla got her 3rd pneumococcal vaccination.  Poor wee sausage - it was a real delayed reaction scream!

At the dentist James was so chuffed when the dentist told him "he had lovely teeth - in fact the best teeth he'd seen all day!"  Glad all my perseverance keeping him away from sweeties and juice is having the desired effect!

Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for mine.  I had to show the dentist the pitiful little bit of what was left of the tooth I broke on the plane on the way to Australia in December.  He thinks there's enough left to fit a crown.  In addition I need one of my wisdom teeth removed (insert your own joke here!) - all in all his quote for all the work was £464!!!  Unfortunately he didn't have time (nor did I) for him to do the work before I left for Singapore, so I now have the task of finding a dentist here who doesn't charge an arm and a leg.

That evening we met my friend Jeanne and her kids Emma and Alec at McDonalds for tea.  We originally met at a kids' group called Whiz Kids in Erskine when James and Emma were around 2.5 years old and they then went on to be in the same nursery so we've always kept in touch.  Jeanne was immensely relieved as her hubby, who's in the Navy, had just had his tour of duty to Iraq cancelled at the 11th hour.  She was delighted he wasn't going - although annoyed at the Navy for putting them through all the stress and build up beforehand only to cancel it 3 days before he was supposed to leave.  Only problem now is she's not sure where he'll end up.  It could even be Afghanistan - but we'll keep our fingers crossed that he gets an easier posting than that.

On the Friday Elizabeth and I took James and Elliot to the Science Centre in Glasgow.  They had a ball (as did we!)  Did my best not to nod off in the Planetarium (think I just succeeded - only just!)  The Science Centre is a great place as there are lots of things for the kids to see and touch.  My only problem with it is that its like a great big greenhouse so the heat inside is unbearable.  By mid afternoon I had the beginnings of a migraine and thanks to James' mega tantrum before we left - it was a full blown someone drilling a hole in the side of my head and feeling sick job.

Of course, this is sod's law as I was going out on the Friday night to my neighbour Marion's house (next door to mine!) and a few of the other neighbours were joining us - Gillian, Yvonne and Anne.  Marion made a lovely dinner, was plying everyone with wine as always and was making Cosmopolitans and there was me in the corner trying not to throw up and still feeling like the guy with the drill was inside my head :o(   :o(   :o(      Anyway, it may have curbed my ability to drink but not to chat.  Had a great gab and laugh with all the girls until I finally gave in when I noticed it was 1am!  Thanks for a lovely night Marion - sorry I was such a party pooper!

Are you bored reading this yet?  Promise I won't ramble on much longer!

Saturday was another busy busy day.  I went to the opticians in the morning and ordered some new glasses which Mum and Dad kindly offered to buy as an early birthday present.

In the afternoon we went to Bishopton (village next to Erskine) where they were having their annual fete.  Loads for the kids to do so James had a ball and we kept meeting people we knew which was lovely too.  Oh and bonus - I won a bouquet of flowers in the raffle.  I never win anything so that was a lovely surprise!

Took Mum, Dad, the kids and Aunt Moira and Uncle Ian out to Struthers Farm in Dunlop for a belated 70th birthday dinner for both Mum and Aunt Moira.  As always the food was gorgeous.  Its quite a strange place.  Its a real farmhouse and I don't think the decor has been updated for about 50 years!  As my neighbour Gillian said "its like eating in your Granny's kitchen!" but the food is just lovely.  

On the Sunday I went to visit my friend Karen and her gorgeous twins Jake and Riley.  It was so lovely to see them again.  They were only about two months old when I last saw them and the difference was unbelievable.  

As it was Fathers' Day we took Dad (and the rest of us!) out for dinner at Burnhouse Manor.  Elizabeth and her Mum and Dad and sister Laura also joined us.  Had a lovely meal and a great time catching up with everyone.  I love this photo of Elizabeth and I taken that night.  

Well Monday morning rolled around all too quickly and after lunch we were suddenly at the airport saying our goodbyes to Mum and Dad.  Not ashamed to admit that I cried like a baby.  I miss them so much and it had been so good to spend the last few weeks with them.  Poor James and Kayla were just really quiet and subdued - they must have been wondering what all the wailing was about!

So that's it - our action packed three week holiday finishes here.  I'll be back to posting about our escapades in Singapore soon.  (Apologies if anyone has dropped off whilst reading this - I know its far too long but I wanted to make sure I recorded everything!)