Singapore O Singapore
Trip Start
Aug 06, 2007
1
6
Trip End
Aug 06, 2008
Singapore, Singapore
Thursday, October 25, 2007
I am sort of getting used to giving up my secure job, nice house, hockey , friends and family etc in the UK but sometimes my resolve wavers; it's all very well having the whole day to do dinner or clean the apartment from top to bottom and exercise whenever I like but long days spent largely on my own (Simon is, of course, working long hours) are starting to take their toll. Rose tinted memories of my 'office jobs' come back to me and there are times when I'd kill for a bit of office gossip, noise and a purpose to my day. Working full-time I used to dream of having more spare time, imagining all the ways in which I could fill it (get my golf handicap down, do some voluntary work etc etc.) Now that it's limitless, bizarrely, it doesn't feel like freedom. Sometimes I feel melancholy and I don't know why; I don't have a stressful job (I don't have a job full stop), I have a beautiful apartment, I'm never going to have to complain about being cold... so what's the problem???
I think the problem is that I need a purpose to my life and am not content with just filling my days with going to the gym, doing lunch etc. I have desperately been trying to find something to channel my energy into and have looked into doing a fitness instructor course, teaching English as a foreign language, voluntary work, but everything seems to take so long or there is just nothing suitable. I was actually due to start some voluntary work this week, but unfortunately I've had gastroenteritis so wasn't able to go along. So when all is said and done I have done the unthinkable and started applying for jobs!!! Like everything else out here, that takes a long time too, so if I'm lucky I might start something in the new year.
Starting in the New year is ok as I have a fair bit going on until then; off to Hong Kong and Indonesia and then mum and dad here for two weeks and then to Australia for Xmas and New Year. So as you can see it's not all doom and gloom and there are great opportunities for travelling.
Reading the above, I sound like I'm really miserable; I'm not at all but just wanted to put down in words some of the things that have been nagging away at the back of my mind. One of the good things about moving out here is that I've been able to re-connect with one of my old school friends; Danielle Khan nee Tasker. She moved out here with her husband 6 months ago and her sister spotted that I was living in Singapore on facebook. Good old facebook; it's worth every penny of the £117m that Microsoft has just paid for 1.6% stake in it's business! We have had fun catching up on 10 years plus worth of gossip as well as exploring Singapore: we have been to the French film festival and reminisced about our A Level french lessons, hit the night spots of Singapore (not that many), watched the rugby and chilled out at the spa.
I have also met some nice girls, believe it or not through a book club. Michele, one of the Aussie's I've met doesn't work either so together we've been lunching our way through the vegetarian restaurants in Singapore as well as hiking up Singapore's highest peak; a monstrous 163m (photo attached!) We were sweating like little P.I.G.S's when we got to the top, so good job it wasn't any higher!
My October entry wouldn't be complete without giving an update on our marathon/half marathon training. Simon and I have been dutifully getting up at 7.30 on Sunday mornings and hitting the trail. We have found a really great run round MacRitchie reservoir; we have to cycle about 10k to get there then it's a 12k circuit through the forest; much nicer than pounding the pavements. This weekend Simon will have to do it twice! I'll just stick to the once I think!! I ran a 10k last week and came in 89th out of 2900 women! Not bad considering I had to make an emergency toilet stop at the 5k mark!! I was a bit gutted as one of the people I overtook before the toilet stop came in in 51st place. I still have some way to go to beat the winner; Leah Malot a kenyan athlete they'd flown in for the event, who ran it in 33mins!
Simon and I have also been busy furnishing our flat- I've attached some updated photos.
We also went to the Black Eyed Peas concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Monday (see photos), which was great fun. It's their national stadium but was more like a small concert hall- so great for getting up close and personal.
This weekend we're off to a Halloween party, and of course have the customary weekend long run! We are also going to watch the International Rugby Sevens at Singapore Cricket Club and may even go to the botanical gardens where they have an outdoor screening of a Hugh Grant film. (music and lyrics)... so you see it ain't all bad, really :)
ps if anyone is on skype give me a call. I think I am the only Ails or Aileen in Singapore!
