LEWLA - Life Experiences While Living Abroad

A couple of weeks ago, me and my gal pals (more affectionately know as the 'Singapore 6') took a little ferry ride to Batam in Indonesia . A day we had all been looking forward to for some time. We played hookie from being mum for the day and took ourselves off to a Spa Resort. It was the.best.day.ever ! The day started early - alarm sounded at 5.45am and for the first time in a long time, I bounded out of bed, eager to get myself ready and on to the MRT to meet the girls at HarbourFront. One by one we found each other and then the wait for the 8.20 ferry crossing to Batam in just under an hour. We were all so excited and just couldn't wait to get there. Batam Fast Ferry Easy (ish) immigration process in Batam as long as you weren't in our queue with the dodgy HP printer! 4 of the 6 girls were through in fairly standard time, but after about 15 minutes waiting for the 5th to come through, we were getting a little worried. Had she been pulled aside and was b

Yesterday, Thomas' U11 Soccer team played against  Marlborough College, Malaysia  in the  Athletic Conference Singapore International Schools  final.  Stamford played well throughout the season in the Division 3 Red group playing National Public International School,  Yuva bharathi International School, Avondale Grammar School, International Community School and United World College.  It was a tense match, as it always is, as Thomas loves to play goalie! He did an amazing job and didn't let any goals in! He had  great support from the defenders - the whole team played amazingly well!! The first half saw Stamford score 2 goals and the boys came off the pitch feeling positive but Coach Watts kept them level headed! 2nd half was a real nail biter as Malborough came out fighting, but  luckily we scored another 2 goals!  The boys won the game 4-0 and their faces were priceless!  Thomas and Herman receiving the Shield from Coach J Both Teams  Coa

I had to pick up my iPad mini today as it stopped working, so while at Changi City Point Mall , I stopped by Five Bar  for lunch. Lots of yummy Japanese dishes to choose from and I must say the California Maki Rolls were to die for! Best I have had in a long time. As a little treat for Thomas I've ordered him some for after school snack! This is how yummy it looks...... Jx

There are many different languages spoken in Singapore - Tamal, Mandarin, Malay, English (which is the official language) and my favourite of all Singlish! Read on to see why......... I bought a new rice cooker Friday and the instructions that came with it are just too funny not to share! After you read them you too, I'm sure, will be giggling. Jxx

Happy New Year! I finally got into the spirit of Christmas about 4 days before Christmas Day. I'm usually brimming with excitement towards the end of November. It was definitely harder this year after having a cold Christmas every year (apart from 2 in Oz) for the past 15 years. Being back in a hot climate definitely threw me! I was feeling quite homesick (from where I don't know - that requires its own post) didn't know what to buy everyone, and was still trying to figure out what we were going to eat on the big day! Online shopping helps when you live abroad, and after compiling a spread sheet of what I'd purchased and who for I felt comfortable that I had everyone covered! A few presents were also hand wrapped and sent via post (next year these will be sent earlier!). I also didn't manage Christmas cards this year apart from a handful for family. I found though a great recipe for Turkey Roulades with sage stuffing in the December/January issue of the Au

A few weeks ago the boys got their haircut. Lets just say, if they were going to be enlisting into the army they wouldn't need to stand in line for the prerequisite haircut! I felt sorry for them, smiled, gave them a sympathetic look and said hey it's only hair and it will grow back! Always positive me! Then I had my hair chopped a couple of weeks later. My hair was long - between shoulder blades long. I had been growing it for years. I took the plunge as living in Sing, long hair just doesn't work. Always tying your hair back so your neck can breathe gives me headaches. Plus humidity just frizzes it out! It's now sitting on my shoulders and having lived with it for the past three weeks I've gotten used to it but at first I really really didn't like it that short. I had to give myself the same talk. It's only hair and will grow back. Now, today, as school is back tomorrow we have forced (bribed?!) Thomas to get another haircut. I have given him the de