It all ends in glory

Having gone MIA for the last week we came back with a bang! Whilst the wife is soldiering on in 'Pore, the brothers and I decided to join her in her bravery and attempt a soldieresque challenge. The scene: Zolder, in Flanders, 25+ degrees and 15 km as well as 30 obstacles ahead...

We had the pleasure of being joined by 4 of Kevin's friends and one friendly giant, Adrian. With the mammoth task ahead it would have been inappropriate not to dress up for the occasion. Adrian and I had the great idea of getting dressed up in John McEnroes but ended up looking more like Greek Liverpudlians!

Stellios and Christos

Gunning for glory...undefeated doubles champions!!!

The result after close to two hours was that we all finished the race, in a slightly different tint than we had started...but not to worry, a cold shower would wash off most of the mud! Great day, great fun, a lot of heat, water and mud...but would definitely do it again. Might even grow my own afro for next year's event. Kevin's girlfriend also deserves a mention for putting up with a lot of male banter and takinh some great pictures!! Thanks again.

Don't remember my shoes being that colour...

The heroes of the hour... yes I am indeed only wearing underwear...

After a great day basking in the sun with my brothers and friends, an early night was on the cards! A couple of drinks and an engagement announcement later I was in bed. Congrats to Charles and Selma on their engagment...may they have loads of lovely tanned, ginger babies!!! Vive la France... or at least la Bretagne...

 

With all of that excitement, it wasn't difficult to fall straight asleep... just to wake up again at 09:00 for the usual Breakfast Club... As always, it was great and the two little monkeys were on great form!

Two little monkeys enjoying the sun...and fishing.

Sneak peak - last day

This was the last day of my one week visit of the wife. A lot happened and it was extremely exciting to be here and with her again... But as I am now off to the airport, this might not be the ideal time to write a novel.

Here then is a picture, which should give you a sneak peak of what we did today, on my last day... It involved a 13 km trek, some monkeys, dehydration, buying some plants, food and a last swim in the pool... More to follow, but enjoy the picture from MacRitchie reservoir... somewhere we will be bringing our visitors...

Over to you wife.

Red

Red was today’s chosen colour! But as is customary on this blog, we will make you wait to find out why… Patience, patience…

It has been a few days since you have had news from this side of the Indian Ocean, so here we are again… With a long and tough week behind us, we were very much looking forward to the weekend. The week involved studying, working, the occasional swim in the pool, some eating out and oh yeah, sleeping. Some would call that routine… 

A night out at the restaurant

Our new local, more to follow in time...

So I ask you this. How do we start Friday nights? Well the usual answer would have been the Hairy Canary, but as that is over 10,000 kilometres away it seemed a little unlikely… Off we headed, well actually the wife was already there, but that doesn’t sounds as good… so off we headed down the quays to find out what a Friday night in Singapore looked like. Drinks were waiting as we (read I) arrived. GREEN BEER! Can you believe that? Tasted the same, but it was green… Next thing you know, Elli’s colleagues were leaving, we got chatting to some French people, who were duly invited to the future housewarming party and we ended up in Burger King… nice. We then proceeded to meet another of Elli’s colleague before heading home…

Elli enjoying herself

BK, hell yeah!

Saturday, started the way Saturdays should… Then after some breakie the day could start. First thing was to pick up the bikes, which were naturally still where we had left them…remember what we had said about the safest place on earth…well they take it to a whole new level here. Signs even go up for a stolen bike….Awesome and safe all at once. Sounds geeky I know…

Bikes in our possession and with the temperature souring to over 30 degrees celcius, drinks and a spot of lunch were in order. 4 Singapore dollars, which equates to about 2.5 euros gets you rice, two meat dishes and 2 vegetable!

The lunch

The sign

Fuelled up the plan was to hit the beach. We hadn’t yet enjoyed the beach or simply put our backsides down on the sand, so that’s just what we did. But being Irish, or at least partly-Irish, my skin has a tendency not to want to react to the effects of the sun in the desired way. And naïve as I am, sun lotion was spread over the scalp and shoulders only…you must be safe after all! Little did I know that the sun on the equator has the same effect as the one on the Mediterranean…they don’t write these things in books you know… So as you may have guessed, I ended up looking like a reverse-hillbilly with white shoulders and scalp but red legs, arms and chest…easy enough to cover up with a shirt then! Red was thus the colour the day turned after seeing the damage in the mirror…  

On the way to the beach

Still going, going...

There

Beach mission complete, Starbucks mission hadn’t yet been completed, so that was the next step before going home to get ready for the evenings activities.

Unfortunately pictures of the evening’s events are not (yet) available. But fear not, the paparazzi will be chased down tomorrow and all the evidence will be recouped… But suffice to say that it was a great night out with Martin and Johan and a very mature and adult evening ensued, whereby the wife and I managed to get home before midnight.

Sorry for the sketchiness, just a bit tired and off to bed… Voila. 

Swing of things

Just getting into the swing of things again, so knowing that I will be leaving on Sunday is kind of a downer... But let us not linger on such thoughts...

The last couple of days have been quite busy and hectic, even if nothing too exciting has happened. Same old story, the wife is working and I am trying to study, whilst swooshing around the city meeting schools. But as I had mentioned to my better half last night, it feels natural being here and being around her. It is as if I had never really been away, which is a good sign I guess... it means we must still be getting on quite well.

Things are becoming a bit of a routine now and I see myself settling in quite well, so I will have no issues when I come back in mid-June hopefully...just a couple of more hoops to jump through to hopefully get my teacher's diploma...what a relief that will be.

As has been mentioned on this blog a few times already, food can be very expensive or cheap here, but the quality is always good. The other night we had the below dishes, all for about 8 euros ( and that is not per person, but together).

Fair enough, doesn't look the healthiest, but tasted oh-so-good

As well as that, we finally had the bikes delivered the other day...it is slowly coming all together. Still waiting on a few things in the apartment, but it is definitely livable...

The wife visibly delighted with her new toy...looks a little like Phoebe out of Friends, to her own admission 

Another picture, with the large tower out back where the metro is

Last but not least, it has become a bit of a routine for us to go for a dip in the pool at around 20:00 or 21:00 every night. It is just great after a long, sweaty day, to be able to have a quick shower (as that is a must before getting into the pool) and then jump into the pool for a 15 minute swim. And, and... the temperature is not only perfect on the outside, but the water temperature is as well... Ideal.

The wife doing a few laps in our 25 meter-long pool...oh and it has a jacuzzi corner and some other relaxing-shower thingy...well you will have to see it for yourselves... 

Home office

Despite the fact that this place is super exciting and a lot seems to happen, this week won't be seeing too many of that, as I will be studying from at home and the wife has a busy week as well. The positive thing I guess is that I have a nice enough view... still a few bits and bobs missing in the living room, but at least when I look over the balcony I can see an awesome pool...

So yesterday was study, study and study, whereas the wife was working, working, working... she only got home at 19:30 the poor thing and me being, well, me, I hadn't done what I had to and thus went for a run to grab some take-away... Fair to say it was nice food after which we both went for a dip in the pool... aaaaaaaah, what a way to finish the day by relaxing in our pool which has nice little lights at night... To be enjoyed by those coming over!

Today, like every other day this week I walked the wife to the MRT, a nice little 15 minutes there and then 15 minutes back to start the morning. After which I went off for a meeting with a school, which seems super exciting and a lot of fun! They are big into renewing everything about teaching and involving kids in all kinds of activities...would love to be part of that...fingers crossed.

Now back to the good stuff... I mean studying...

The home office

View from the balcony

Our neighbour...trying to accidentally walk into him at some point, but haven't yet succeeded ...

The Lion of Waterloo is still looking after us... Thanks Adrian...

Why must it all end in tears?

 Why must a day that was perfect in so many ways, have to end in tears? Well I say tears, but maybe disappointment would be a more appropriate word... we'll get to that in a minute though.

So I have taken time out of my busy morning to keep the fans happy and write a little about day 2 back home. Home is after all where the heart is to use a cliche.

There I was, waking up next to the wife again for the first time in a month and truth be told, it felt like I had never been away. It did take a little bit of getting used to and we both admittedly didn't sleep very well, but it was still comfy...

First things first then, breakie! Where to get it? How far to walk? What to do? With the weather quite mild, 30 degrees but slightly overcast (believe me, that is is perfection) we set off on our search for some morning glory (no not that one!). Having spent a half hour looking for a supermarket that didn't exist anymore we decided to wing it and go for some 'local' food. Food market entered and we exited with a couple of fresh fruit juices and the oh-so-local croissants...well at least we tried. But the funny thing is that Singaporeans, and it seems Asians in general, eat warm food (rice, noodles, meat and coffee) in the morning, something we aren't too unfamiliar with, since we all indulge in a healthy Irish breakfast at times, but just cannot get myself to eating noodles just yet. Give us a little time and who knows.

So calorie intake and energy levels sorted, off we marched to the next stage of our journey, the mall! A mere 15 minutes walk we found a massive mall, with every kind of shop in it. It is so big that it contains a whole Carrefour like hypermarket in it and that's only part of one floor, there were 4 other floors. Anyway, long story short we picked up some breakfast and necessities and headed back to the apartment.

Having bought the Ikea furniture the previous day, it was my task to slap it all together, whilst the wife took a well-earned nap. A sweaty and sticky hour later I had put together 3 Ikea units and packed them away in our bomb-shelter, where they were to find their new home. I make it sound extravagant, but they were simply some staking shelves!

Another thing sorted and the apartment is slowly starting to look like a livable place. All we are still missing is our new sofa, the garden furniture and a little barbecue (yeah we could use the BBQ pits, but then again, it's always nice to have your own...just imagine sitting on the balcony, enjoying a cold beer or wine, depending on your preference and a spare rib in the other hand).

Next phase of the day: relax! It was Sunday after all, the day of rest. So guess where we headed...

No that is not photo shopped, our pool really is that awesome...

A few naps and dips later, we decided it was time for a nice little stroll and where better than heading down to our back yard...

On the way to the beach, this is the connector...the little path and 'river' that leads us there...not bad

Nice...

The wife strolling away...

The next mission consisted of finding a pub to watch the football in that night...the last day of the Premier League season. So much promise, so much emotion and the potential for heartache...

Having found our new local, our new Hairy Canary, only 15 minutes walk from our place (pictures to follow, well when we actually take pictures of the place), it was decided that the dramatic finale would be watched here later on in the evening. But first...some grub.

This place is magical when it comes to getting cheap and good food and so we headed for a corner stall/restaurant and ordered three dishes, a Coke Light and an ice-tea... Little did I know that when I ordered an Ice-Tea, I would be getting just that. No messing around here with chemical additives or sweeteners, when you ask for iced-tea that is what you get. Boiled water, added to a tea bag, with milk and sugar, refrigerated and served with ice = ice-tea.

Literally, iced-tea

Naturally, we got some lovely food with that as well. Crispy noodles, some sesame pork and spicy stingray...Great food.

Delish

Spicy

And now to the tears... What a great day. Lovely weather, relaxing with the wife and then finally meeting up with Martin, great guys! With a bright start for United in the North East of England, where they went up 0-1, it seemed everything was on track for United hopefully winning the title. City were still drawing 0-0 against relegation threatened QPR, until 2 minutes from the break...City scored and advantage City it seemed. But miracles do happen and so it seemed they would again. QPR somehow managed to score 2 goals and go ahead in a crazy match, before their thuggish midfielder Barton got himself sent off. 

But no worries yet. QPR will still leading and with the clock winding down, it seemed as if the premier league was yet again destined for the red part of town. But then...City scored a goal in the 91st minute...heart starts pounding harder, but not too worry yet, as they needed another to win it...and they had had difficulties over the last 30 minutes, so belief was still very much there. 

The final whistle goes in the United match and it seems United would be lifting the trophy for the 20th time... but like a cruel twist of fate City would score with 10 seconds remaining in their match a rip all of the hope and dreams away. A cruel twist of fate, because over the years it has become a trademark for United teams to snatch victory in the dying seconds, in what journalists have suitable called Fergie-time (the time allotted to United teams to score a final goal) ... it all happened in a second...it was all over. Numb, silent, stunned... A day that had started so brightly, suddenly felt so dark...

Tomorrow is another day I guess...

Boom!

Yep, you guessed it, I'm back in town! After a 4 week hiatus, the lion is back in his den... Strange old day though. The plane was meant to leave Brussels airport at 19:20, but after some delay we finally hit the sky (see what I did there..) by 20:00, a bit of a worry since I had my flight leaving to Singapore at 21:35 in Frankfurt> Upon landing about 20 of us were shuttled in a private bus to an underground passport control it seemed, hushed through in about 2 minutes and sent back on the same bus racing down the runway, waving our hands like mad clowns trying to get the plane to wait for us. Ok I made that last part up. But we were sent on the same bus back, where overheard a stewardess worryingly saying that the plane wouldn't wait for us... So in double speed another male steward said, 'follow me' in his delightful German accent...So follow him is what we did, looking like a race-walking championship flowing through Frankfurt airport...

And arrived we did, with 10 minutes to spare I might add. So after all of that drama I was pleasantly surprised to see the flight was only half booked, meaning yours truly got two whole seats to himself...although I had hoped for 4, but maybe that's just greedy.

I must say that it was one of the most pleasant flights I have ever taken, though it did take 12 hours. This was partly helped by the fact that I had 2 seats, but I must also commend the on board staff, then again what did you expect, it was Lufthansa... On a side note that should be there new slogan... 'Lufthansa, what did you expect'... Oh and before any smart asses out there try and steal this, it's just been trademarked ®. Boom, that just happened!


So enough about the great flight and back to the action. SO I hadn't heard from the wife in about 15 hours, so I wasn't sure if she would turn up to great me...but as ever she never disappoints! Standing there with a big  grin on her face and hopefully happy to see me and not just all of the things I had brought with me!


Back in town and it felt like I had never left. A functioning metro, warm weather, friendly people...ah bliss I tell you, bliss. After a sweaty metro ride and a nice little refreshing drink on the way home, the wife brought us back to OUR home... It only took us a half an hour and you know what happened next...


No you sick perverts, not that (though in all fairness I was hoping for it), but the wife said the inevitable words all men love to hate... 'Baby, wanna go to Ikea?'... Jesus, have barely had the time to wipe the sweat off my brow and off we were again. It wasn't all bad though, as I got what I wanted and so did the wife. A few things for the apartment and a great, and might I add classy, meal later and off we were again to our humble abode.


Day one complete.

The siglap, or road to our apartment from the metro

A few duderinho's playing some basketball in our back yard...to be continued.

Not the best picture, but still happy to see one another again.

The classy meal...yet oh so delish!

The wife, visibly delighted to see me again!

This way home please...

2 more days

Two more days till I see the wife...it's been a while...

I must say, it hasn't always been easy, but with good friends and family around, it makes things that much easier...going out with the boys from football, hanging out with Kevin and Bjorn on a near day-to-day basis has all made time fly...

I still have two lessons to prepare before heading off east for a week, which will be intense...it won't be all beach, pool and sun, although I would very much like that. I will need to study and write up a load of things whilst the wife is at work. So Starbucks will probably see a downturn in it's turnover...

Either way, very excited and a little sad to be leaving some of the people behind...then again, I will be back after a week for a busy last month in Belgium.

Here under is a collection of random pictures taken over the last week. From going out with the football boys on Saturday night in Anderlecht of all places with only Flemish people, to random black-and-white pictures of objects in my second home (Kevin&Bjorn's...come to think of it, it should be called Chez Kevin & Bjorn...lovely little Bed and Breakfast....to be recommended) and the food preparation by the eternal guest Malcolm (or should I say Malchhhom - he's Scouse). Last picture is one of the little bro, who will be staying with me for the next couple of days...good to have him over and had a great night over at Kevin & Bjorn's...where else...

Out with the boys and some random dude in the middle that fancies himself becoming famous...

Chocolates...niiiiiiiice

Wine at the usual...not mine though...I

Food at the usual place...

The lil bro...

Breakfast at raffles hotel

I think it is once a month or so I have to turn up to this breakfast we are sponsoring... I was told it starts at 7am but sitting here waiting at 7.09 I am not so sure! Either way, you don't see me complaining! It is a beautiful morning in a beautiful place...

The sky is a lot bluer than the photo would have you believe!

This song just does it for me...

Great movie, but even better soundtrack...

I have just tried to write a description, but it is really difficult to put in words...I guess it's slightly different for every person...

Listen and make up your own mind.

Calm before the storm

It has been rather quiet on the blog of late, Elli's fan club even commenting on it. But I tell you people, it is only quiet before a storm!

The wife has been so busy, she hasn't had the time to hardly breathe, let alone taking pictures or updating the blog... So it is left to I, the creative soul in this relationship, to charm you with my words...

Enough bullshit I hear the crowd shouting out from the coliseum stands! Let us hear the truth or we will throw you to the lions... Well the truth is that I will be in Singapore in a weeks time, where I will no doubt be able to update you on the latest offerings on the Starbucks menu and possibly lounge by our pool...

Can you believe that the wife has been in the apartment for one week today and hasn't yet enjoyed our brand new pool! Poor petal has been so tired...

But let me assure you people, we will be enjoying the pool and the beach as of next weekend and we will be making you feel jealous!!! And that is seemingly a threat...

In the meantime, well I am over at my fathers for dinner, with the mobile curse having hit us early... Both of us playing a game against one another over the wireless network and not bothering talking... What has the world come to!

So whilst the wife is enjoying the sunshine, we are enjoying the last of the spring rain... Well here's hoping. In the meantime I am readying myself for the big move and our apartment, or should I say soon-to-be-ex-apartment, is emptying out... Less and less stuff in the place which is making it more and more bare! But fear not people, this isn't turning into a sob story... It's just a reality...

The last note on this entry should be dedicated to my team... No not FC Irlande but Man Utd... Tomorrow is going to be a stressful day and by the end of it we should know whereabouts the premier league title will be heading! Come on boys... Believe...

So this has been a rather strange entry, but knowing the fans... They need to get fed...;-)

Busy little bee...

So it seems people do still have an interest in my life and what is going on in this part of the world. Back after popular demand, Monsieur De Groote! I trust it my wife has a much more exciting life than I do at the minute, but I must keep the fans entertained...

The saying goes "time flies when you are having fun", but they (well I don't really know who they are, but ye know... the people that invent sayings and stuff...the sayingers??) might have to check their facts, as it seems that time flies twice as quickly when you are busy...or is it just that it happens when you get old?

Anyway, enough bla bla...what have I been up to? Seems like all eyes are on me...and let me disappoint you straight away. Take the suspense out of it, because honestly it has been work, work and work...but no housework...(check out the pile of dishes below).

Having been thrown in the deep end since I have come back from my new home in South East Asia, I have been giving classes and following a few, whilst trying to organise myself and sort out a few interviews for when I shoot back over to visit the wife...

The weekend was fun though! Well I say fun, but should probably say LEGENDARY!!! How did it all kick-off? Where else...? No not Starbucks, but Le Hairy Canary with Bramdingo... A few drinks and dinner later I headed off home to get a good night sleep before my emotional farewell match for FC Irlande.

What a club! I have officially been part of the club for 12 years and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. From a young sprinter, with hair I might add, to an old Jason Statham (even though I say it myself) look-a-like the years have flown by. I guess the 'sayingers' might be right after all! With kick-off at 14:00 and the meeting point at 13:00, my aim was to arrive early for the first time in a decade, but alas my timing as many of you know hasn't always been the best...and I arrived at 13:10. Let me keep this short. A great match against one of our biggest rivals was won 4-1, with yours truly not only scoring with a famous salmon-leap goal from a corner (my firs this season) but also taking the man of the match plaudits! All in all a great way to close this chapter of a memorable footballing career with FC Irlande (for now, I might add...you never know what can happen in the future...). It was all rounded off with a BBQ provided by FC Irlande and a few drinks, whilst enjoying a couple of photo snaps with the trophy we had won last year. Merci beaucoup FC Irlande, et a bientot! No names need to be mentioned here, as it might end up as long as an Oscar winning speech, but everyone who has played a part in the memorable decade-plus in FC Irlande is being thanked for their support and above all the fun we have had!

Saturday was rounded off with a celebration at Sigve's house for his birthday, after which we turned our attentions to the over-priced aLoft hotel... Great night, too much to drink and awesome dancing!

Suffering from a slight hangover and sleep deprivation I was expected at the now weekly breakfast club at the Demnert's. As always very welcoming and fresh food, pancakes and the whole shebang! I expected nothing less... 

All in all a great weekend and I had hoped that it could have ended with a Man Utd victory last night, but unfortunately the boys didn't turn up and disappointment followed...but at least I had a good night drinking and chatting with the lads...special mention to Nick The Stick for putting up with me shouting at the screen!

Over to you wife...

The Hairy, where else...?

Back to school....My awesome 'schoolbag'...

Well the wife isn't around, so no one to give me a kick up the hole...

Yep the European School, the old stomping ground...and the inevitable beautiful weather...

Happy, yet sad to be leaving a great bunch of lads behind...

Stephen, as requested, you're 5 minutes of fame...

Iwan, looking, well...

The boys on a night out...

Breakfast club at the Demnert's...