Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe it but 2008 is now upon us. I hope that this year proves to be one filled with happieness, health and good fortune for you all!

We decided to see in the New Year in style this year, forgoing the usual fireworks parties with neighbours in Lochem to join the party at the Equinox Restaurant 70 stories above Singapore's Marina Bay. As this may be our last chance to expierience a New Year in this wonderful island nation it seemed only appropriate to make the most of it.


Following a sumptous six course dinner with friends at the restaurant, we moved up two floors to the New Asia bar to wile away the final hour or so of 2007 before looking out through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls to enjoy the specatuclar fireworks display at midnight. From ground level the huge explosions of fire and colour would have been amazing enough, but imagine what it was like having them explode literally at eye level! With the Singapore River and downtown laid out below us in a glittering carpet of lights it was a very special night which we will always remember.

Two bottles of champagne and a couple of hours later we declared the night a huge success and grabbed a taxi home to our weary baby sitter.

Both Niels and Carl were awake to greet us, as they are still trying to shake off their jet lag following our through-the-night flight from Holland on the 28th.



Today (after a very gentle and hushed start to the year this morning) we headed off to West Coast Park, our current favourite and a big hit with the kids, to kick back with the locals. The park was packed with literally thousands of people but becuase it is so vast it really didn't matter. The grass was liberally sprinkled with families enjoying the cooler weather, the chance to let their kids run wild in the various playgrounds, and of course to eat. The smells of Indian, Malay and Chinese picnics wafted around us and frankly suggested that whatever they were eating rivalled what we had indulged in last night. It was a great, relaxing way to usher in the year, wishing "Happy New Year" to the kids and their families of every shade and hue. The boys ran around playing with new friends and inventing games before we headed home for a swim.

Who knows what the new year will bring but I'm sure it will be as full of surprises and opportunities as the last one. Grab it with both hands and enjoy every minute because remember: if life hands you a full glass, make a Singapore Sling!