It's Sept already?

It has been more than a MONTH since my last post! Time is zipping by faster and faster than I can keep up. We've been busy getting things sorted out with Husband working in SG (again!).

I was in SG for work from 6-9 Aug, and from 13-17 Aug. We were staying in the Oriental Hotel which, I must admit, is still my favourite of all the hotels in SG - not because of anything specific about the hotel building itself (I mean, all hotels worth their name, all have great facilities), but because the PEOPLE at the Oriental are really great. They go out of their way to ensure that your stay with them is comfortable - they are friendly, courteous, helpful, and really very nice. Husband commented that after staying at the Riverview regularly for 6 months, they never ever remembered his name and kept asking for the same details every time he checked in... but even just the SECOND time we went to the Oriental they remembered us by name, and had all our details recorded so we didnt have to go through the whole check-in process!

Collected the keys for our condo in SG on Aug 15th - which was the first time Husband actually saw the place for himself! I am not sure what he was expecting but at least he agreed that it is a nice apartment. Our landlady has bought very nice sitting and dining room furniture, nice carpets and very nice beds with good mattresses!

We were on leave the whole week of 20th Aug - took an easy drive to Cherating, where we went to the Holiday Villa Eastern Pavilions. Let's just say that we checked out one day early to go back to KL. As usual, people are lovely and friendly, but the Pavilions themselves, if you are looking at it from the international tourist expectations perspective, left a LOT to be desired. Sent their main office in KL a LONG LONG email giving my feedback and, am sorry to say, have not had a SINGLE email from them in response - no email, no phone call, no nothing, not a single acknowledgement. Very disappointing for a hotel which is trying to present itself as "international standard". Next time, at the recommendation of my boss, we will check out Awana Kijal, but will definitely avoid all Holiday Villa hotels.

We drove back to SG on 24th Aug - as our landlady was having some furniture delivered on 25th, and the StarHub people were coming in on 25th as well, to set up our broadband access. I headed back to KL (Aeroline bus) on Monday 27th, had meetings on Tuesday 28th, and headed back to SG (Aeroline again) on Wednesday 29th, as I had meetings in SG on Thursday 30th. Had a busy Malaysian National Day on Friday 31st August, as I had to go do some shopping to get the nitty-gritty stuff for the apartment - bedsheets, kitchen stuff, etc. Husband also got his Emp Pass in SG during this week, so now he is not allowed to drive our Malaysian car in SG - so I am his chauffeur. We will take a hire car in SG from 17th Sept, otherwise it will be too difficult for Husband to get around for meetings, shipyard visits, etc - I cant drive him all the time as I will be back in KL on regular basis, and he can't rely on taxis for evenings and weekends and when he goes to way out places like the shipyard.

Am heading back to KL again on Sept 4th, as I have meetings in Cyberjaya on 5th and in KLIA on 6th, and then driving back to SG on Sept 6th after the KLIA meeting. On 7th Sept there is a get-together in the evening organised by the company that Husband used to work for in SG - used to be called Nortrans. It is kind of an "alumni" get-together - all the folks who used to work there (most of whom have kept in touch with each other, as they were a GREAT bunch of people) are meeting up to catch up for dinner and drinks. Definitely looking forward to that :-).

So, my friends in the hi-tea gang, let me know when you are ready for a visit to SG and I'll time myself to be here when you are here.

Till the next time, have a great life everyone.