Parvis

5 mesi di vita asiatica e finalmente abbiamo una TV! Evviva!

Grazie ad alcuni amici molto generosi che ce l’hanno regalata, altrimenti saremmo stati ancora lì a sceglierne una…

La nostra casina sta prendendo forma, e anche se ancora abbiamo 6 forchette di numero, viverci è un piacere J

Abbiamo passato tutta la giornata di sabato nella piscina del condominio, sembrava di essere in un resort… siamo riusciti a rilassarci quasi come in vacanza.

Benedetto sia Parvis!

Anche se poi il lunedì arriva e quella camminata fino alla fermata dell’autobus è un pensiero fisso e non molto eccitante. Ultimamente io e M guardiamo le macchine come un bambino che mangia una mela guarda il pane e nutella. Vogliamo resistere e immergerci in questo nuovo stile di vita, ma a volte è dura (ecco perché poi abbiamo bisogno dei sabati a bordo piscina!).

E’ dura quando fare la spesa vuol dire portarsi le buste pesanti su per la salita verso casa, che la distanza è troppo breve per un taxi o quando ti senti figo, fai la spesa online e la metà delle cose che hai ordinato non sono in stock… e l’omino alla porta ti lascia solo il latte e la carta igienica.

E’ dura quando ti prepari fresco e bello per una giornata di lavoro e poi ci arrivi sudato, stanco e coi capelli che gravitano come un’aura intorno alla tua testa.

E’ dura quando fai fatica a capire e farti capire, e dopo 9 anni in terra inglese quello che non parla bene la lingua sei tu (perché qui sono tutti ‘madrelingua’)… ah ma con me sta cosa non attacca proprio!!

Però per quanto siano dure certe cose, altre sono facilissime.

Non devi fare il test allergico per farti la tinta ai capelli (evvai!!), non devi fare mille prove più una per comprare le lenti a contatto.

Il medico lo vedi quando vuoi senza doverci parlare prima per telefono e poi come se ciò non fosse abbastanza ti da’ le medicine di cui hai bisogno senza dover andare in farmacia.

La non-birra Tiger Radler e’ buonina parecchio, così come il cibo Thai e quello Giapponese.

Il Durian non mi piace. Affatto. E neanche quel brodino che ti danno con tutti i piatti cinesi.

Il bimby mi manca sempre.

Awesome Australia

One of the first things I noticed in Melbourne was people walking in the street without staring at their phones..

Eclectic city, quirky shops and coffee bars, diverse people and dress codes, it was a breath of fresh air. It felt like Hackney with US dimensions and a certain European charm.

Didn’t expect much and have been totally surprised.

The vicinity of Great Ocean Road meant I could do a day trip to the 12 Apostles. The weather and the view were dramatic.

Work, work, work and then finally a few days off in my beloved Sydney.

Went back to revisit all the places I have been to 15 years ago. It was really emotional seeing the house in Epping, the telephone box near Boronia Park and the Zappi’s Pizzeria across the train station.

Suddenly I was there. Breathed deeply the dear and familiar scents, I felt dizzy.

Spent a few days going around the city looking for an Aboriginal piece of art to bring home, but I succeeded, and not only I found something special, but managed to bring home lots of new memories, beautiful moments with dear friends and the confirmation that the sand on Bondi beach it really is like flour and butter and it was not my memory making it sweeter!

Love you Australia and I am not done with you.

Life in Singapore

After Bintan and all the itchy bites we went back to our ‘normal’ life in Singapore; it’s made of work (loads), trips to work (which involves lots of taxis) and shopping.

And here I must admit my disappointment. There are hundreds of shops and shopping centres EVERYWHERE. There are more clothes and shoe shops than coffee shops. But I struggle. There is too much choice. Everything is crazy expensive and I work in Jurong East, which means zero motivation in dressing up.

Many of you know my biggest weakness, shoes. After a few weeks of walking around, running for the bus and swollen feet, I needed to replenish my collection.

All my purchases seem to be wrong, not only are functional more than pretty, but are uncomfortable too! A DISASTER!

Not to talk about tights!

I need tights as tomorrow night I am travelling to Melbourne (massive grin!) where it’s barely spring, couldn’t find anything decent. Shops, shops and more shops with very little interesting in. Cannot say I miss Cornmarket street (that is simply not possible), but I miss knowing where to buy stuff (God bless Westfield, and Liu Jo in Italy, and Nero Giardini and Intimissimi and Calzedonia).

Anyway, shopping aside, we do try and enjoy Singapore and we do what Singaporeans do, for example cycle on the East Coast.

On Thursday last week we went with work people to the famous East Coast, and armed with helmets and water bottles we started cycling towards Marina Bay Sands.

Gorgeous sunny afternoon just before the haze started, pedalling with the breeze of sea (well, port) was truly refreshing and especially enjoyable because it was a school day!

I got very excited and pedalled all the way to Marina Bay Sands shopping centre and was so focused that did not pay attention to the tumbling sound behind me… stayed positive and pushed on.

Went back 1.5h later very proud of myself (20 km done!) and before crushing onto the floor trying not to pass out I had to comfort a scratched husband that faithful to his uncoordinated nature was responsible for the tumbling noise I ignored, in my positive thinking that surely that wasn’t Marco!

So we continued our evening (like adults do) having dinner at the East Coast Fish Hawker Centre having DELICIOUS prawns, stingray and satay.

The injured husband held together with dignity, only to moan once in the familiar Parvis flat.

Days have passed, the injured husband is still very tender and sore. I feel no longer guilty for having neglected the nasty feeling that suggested Marco could have gone off the bike and for having cycled faster than him and in so doing, having offended his male ego.

No ribs are broken. Now we know for sure.

So we are off to opposite sides of the planet for the next 2 weeks.