China

Well we stayed in Singapore for 1 month and have been sent to Tianjin, China for relief of another ops manager. We are supposed to be here about 2 weeks. We still have our apartment in Singapore. When we left Singapore on Thursday morning 18th of February 2009, it was about 80 degrees Farnienheit. When we arrived in Bejing at 15:00 that afternoon it was 34 degrees F. Talk about weather shock!!!! We had a couple of sweaters with us so Singapore being Singapore (expensive) we decided to wait to get here before purchasing any jackets. Let me tell you it was COLD and they had had their first snow of the year. About 10 minutes out of the plane, I started sneezing and I mean really sneezing like 20 times---as the stewardess was bringing me some tissues the PA was announcing that China reserves the right to deny admission to anyone that is sick ----- (Yikes I am thinking they are gonna put me on a plane back to Singapore) . I took some sinus meds and finally quit sneezing before we landed. As we left the airport (we had about 1 hour 45 min ride to Tianjin) began to get sleepy from the meds. I noticed that no traffic was on the road and felt comfortable enough to drift off -----I woke up about 30 mintues out of Tianjin and could not breath. Looking out I saw still no traffic but did see the roads were almost totally covered in snow as no one had been on them that day. All I could see was the paths of a few vehicles . Now I am worried about ice on the roads. Yikes I was not really comfortable again until we got to the hotel ---- Holiday Inn in TEDA -----earning more free nights ;)
The manager was a guy from Kansas of all places.
The hotel has three resturants ---one Brazilian, one Chinese and one continental. The first two nights we ate at the Brazilian one not bad and the third night we tried to Chinese ---well we will not try again until I can talk to Nancy(my Chinese friend in Ahmedabad) and see what to order!!!!! Saturday at lunch we ate at the Continental one and I told the waitress we wanted 1 order of spring rolls and a hamgurger each. Well the spring rolls came and we snacked on them and then out comes 1 hamburger ----she didn't understand each. So we have learned to say 2 hamburgers please. HAHAHAHA Last night we braved the non English speaking taxi and went out to a couple of places. Here you have a card that you give to the taxi driver and he will take you there. We originally had a magazine with an ad but have learned the card system so we are good to go. HA.
Today while Bill was at work I had the lady in the Club Lounge write the name of a supermarket for me to go do and also things I needed toothpaste, etc. I made it there and back with no problems ---- yeah me-----you all know how hard it is for me to not talk but when no one understands you --you just keep quiet. Well at least outloud anyway.
Cheers

BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!!!

Bill and I are going to be grandparents!!!!!!!!!
Bill has decided he wants to be PAPAW------other Bill says he has big shoes to fill.
Nicholas and Juliana will be having a sweet and adorable (notice I didn't say precious) little one in September. I am sure it will be the best and most beautiful baby in the whole world!!!!!
Congrats---kids!!!!

Arriving in Singapore

Another behind post but here goes ------------------
We arrived in Singapore on Jauary 19 at 6:00 but we were ready to go as we had been sleeping for about 20 hours. We were booked in Orchard Parade Hotel ( not where we wanted to be but not our choice) First room they put us in was twin beds pushed together-----well I could see myself on the floor in the middle of the night as the beds moved easily or worse yet Bill on the floor. Next room they move us to has a King bed but no chairs or couches . It did have a bench built into the wall that my feet would not touch the floor-----so much for staying in the room. Well Bill and I got out and met up with some friends of ours. It was great seeing them all after about 3 years. The next week I got busy looking for an apartment for us to be in so we didn't have to stay in the hotel for very long. I felt like I was on House Hunters----- I was shown three serviced apartments and like something about each one of them and hated something about each one of them. Finally we chose the Caribbean at Keppal Bay. It is a three bedroom apartment, it does have a washer and dryer (outside but on a small balacony), maid service 3 times a week, 3 wonderful swimming pools and a mall within walking distance.

Of course we were not able to move until the 28th of Jan because of Chinese New Year -----everything in Singapore shuts down ---really the hotel restuarant closed and we had to go out to find something open to eat dinner.

The morning of the 28th Bill went to work and I packed all the suitcases and was picked up and taken to our apartment. Bill met me there for about 5 minutes just to see where it was and get a key and I was left to start making it home. Pictures to follow later.

Cheers!

Left India in a Hurry

This is behind a great deal but those of you you know us already know but I just wanted to update any one who might be out of touch with us. Back last year we were suppose to leave India in April but due to some situations beyond our control we were asked to stay until the end of the year. Well----in Novemember Bill sent an email asking were we staying or going. No reply. At least not until December 3 and we were scheduled for our annual leave on December 13 ------10 days for us to get movers, get estimates for the move, get approval and pack a four bed room house ----that of course I had filled to the max!!!!!! The company did ask us to leave the living, dining and bedroom furniture they had purchased but I still had a ton of things I had purchased. Well I left going to the airport on December 12 @ 1400 and the movers were still loading the truck. I did leave Sophia and Arun and know they would make sure all was loaded. Then it was home to a snowy Mississippi for the holidays-----well it snowed two days before we got there anyway. We really enjoyed our time at home for the holidays but it was a very busy time for all. We left the US on January 17 and arrived in Singapore on the 19 of January for a time to be determined!!!!!!