The past weekend

I thought I'd update you on what we've been doing (besides cross-stitching).

We are having a great visit with Mom & Dad.

I took Friday off, and we went to the zoo. We rode the tram for the first time, it was quite nice. We also rode the elephant! Well, not Mom, Dad and Martin. But the rest of us did. Oliver was not scared at all. I was a little. And in case you don't know, elephants are quite uncomfortable to ride. The head must be more comfy, as that's where the elephant handlers always sit.

Mom and Dad were quite impressed with the zoo and see why we go all the time.

On Saturday, Joe, Oliver and Dad went to the Singapore Air Show. They had a really good time, and Oliver had "good behavior".

Mom and I went shopping at Vivo City, where my two new favorite stores are Zara and G2000. I got three new skirts and four new shirts for work, plus a tshirt and two tank tops. I felt like it was back to school shopping like we used to do in Minneapolis. It was a really good time.

Martin stayed home with Basil. Poor guy.

On Sunday, we went out for Dim Sum with Gary, Linda & Adam, and did a little bit of shopping. We then just hung out at home for rest of the day.

Well, that was a bit of a bust

I went shopping after the boys were in bed with Jane and Annabelle. We were going to buy supplies for the Christmas party. We thought, let's go to Mustafa. Mustafa is this large department store in Little India, with loads and loads of cheap goods. Like an Honest Ed's if you are from Toronto.

So we take a cab and set out. We get there and start looking around. Can't find anything, I finally ask a worker. They only have Christmas cards, no Christmas supplies. Hmm, I guess Little INDIA is not the place to go shopping. So we decide to head to Plaza Singapura.

Can't catch a cab, so we walk about 20 minutes through Little India at night to the MRT station. That was nice. Something I wouldn't normally get to do. And oddly enough, none of the little stores had Christmas decorations either. You'd think Indians don't celebrate Christmas. Maybe we should try Arab street next. Or Chinatown.

Get to Plaza Singapura at 10:00. All the stores are closing except Carrefour. You know, the big French chain that's the equivalent to Wal-mart. They have one tiny aisle with really ugly Christmas decorations. I guess they celebrate Christmas in France, but they don't like it.

So we headed back home. Stopped at a bar and had a drink and called it a night. But the company was excellent.

Score!!

We had a trip to the mall today that would make Todd envious. While at Vivo City, there was a promotion for Singapore Golf Digest, we wondered over. Turns out to be a pretty good deal, so Joe signed up for a subscription, because, he signed up, he got a welcome gift, consisting of Nivea face moisturizer, and some golf balls. He also got three free Tiger beers. Then because we have our Visa cards with a certain bank, he got another two free Tiger beers. So I showed my Visa card, and I got two free beers. That's seven free Tiger beers (they are in the can).

Then we got four chances at a putting contest. I did it, and sank the ball twice, and one Joe two bottles of Nivea moisturizer.

We then went to Thai Express for lunch. As we bought the discount card, you get a $15 voucher to use within a 10 day period of your birthday, so we got $15 off of lunch. As we were leaving, they came running out with a bottle of wine.

So for those keeping count:

• For the price of a magazine subscription we got:
• a magazine subscription
• 7 cans of Tiger beer
• 3 bottles of Nivea moisturizer
• a little golf package with a towel, a sleeve of balls and a golf tool (fixes divots, etc)
• For $20 Thai Express discount card we got:
• 10% off every meal for the year
• $15 off today for Joe's birthday
• a bottle of wine

So Todd, are you jealous about the amount of alcohol we got?

Today

Today I decided on tough love and left the house without Martin. I felt like I was missing something the whole time.

Joe and I met up with Linda to eat at Din Tai Fung, which has yummy wan ton soup. The only thing is the one at Wisma (shopping mall) has poor service.

I went shopping - everything was so high end and expensive. Even the Gap was expensive - S$39 for a tshirt - I don't think so. Plus, it was all winter clothes!! Stupid globalization.

I did get a ruby red cotton dress shirt, short sleeves, with an interesting diamond design over the button holes. It's from Raoul, but again I can't find it on the website. I did see some pale pink shirts that Lana would like.

Oh, and what you really want to know. Martin did take the bottle, he didn't drink much, but wasn't fussy and slept a lot.

Spoke too soon

about Mom being right. Well, she is almost always right, so I'm not taking that away. I spoke to soon about Martin going on the bottle. He refused again today.

I think what I'm going to do tomorrow is leave the house. I have a tendency to rescue Basil when Martin gets too upset and then give him the boob. I know, I know, I'm defeating myself, but I hate to hear him cry (what can I say - I'm a soft touch).

So, I'm going to go out for lunch. Nearby, so if he just won't eat, I can get home pretty quickly.

On a happier note, I bought new shoes. Can't easily find a picture on line. They are Hush Puppies, dark brown, slip on, with white stitching and a wedge heel. They are casual to wear with shorts. Best part? Half price at $35!!