Journal - March
Friday - 1st Mar
The builders replaced the broken tile on porch on the front of my house. My porch is complete (hurrah).
Saturday - 2nd Mar
Sunday - 3rd Mar
Monday - 4th Mar
I started planning for my business trip to Singapore.
Tuesday - 5th Mar
Wednesday - 6th Mar
Thursday - 7th Mar
I packed all my things into my suitcase ready for my trip.
Friday - 8th Mar
I travelled to work via taxi. In the afternoon I took another taxi to Manchester airport.
On the flight to Amsterdam there was a group who appeared to have drunk too much before they boarded the plane.
Amsterdam airport is huge, the laptop computer I was carrying got heavier and heavier while my new shoes which gave my feet a hard time.
From Amsterdam I flew to Singapore on a Boeing 747 which carried passengers and freight. There was more leg room that last time I flew to Singapore :-)
Saturday - 9th Mar
I arrived at Singapore late in the afternoon. Last time I was in Singapore I didn't spend all my Singapore dollars so I would have some money to pay for the taxi to the hotel.
Sunday - 10th Mar
I checked that the laptop was working OK. I discovered that a few of the short-cuts where pointing to the wrong place and I setup some test data so that I could demonstrate the new features I had implemented.
Monday - 11th Mar
I arrived at the clients office. I decided to take the lift... going up the stairs to the 14th is taking keep fit a little too far, espcially since there is no air conditioning on the stair wells.
After a long day at work I went out for a meal with out client project manager. We had a Turkish meal which was certainly different.
Tuesday - 12th Mar
Wednesday - 13th Mar
I must have worked too hard? I felt too tired in the evening to have a meal out, so I just had a sandwich at the hotel.
Thursday - 14th Mar
The work I had done was presented to the computer users and their managers. They seemed pleased with the functionality.
In evening I went out for a meal with some colleagues from work. This time I had my appetite back. I enjoyed my main course which was Salmon.
Friday - 15th Mar
Saturday - 16th Mar
I missed the Grand Prix timed laps... the hotel only had one of the sports channels and the Grand Prix qualifying wasn't on the one they had!
In evening I went out for something to eat and met another work colleague (who I thought was in Hong Kong). Obviously he was back in Singapore. We went to a bar where his girl friend works. I only fancied a light snack so I had an omelette.
Sunday - 17th Mar
I went on the great search for a pub showing the Malaysian Grand Prix. Last night I had been given a list of pubs with big screens who normally show sports events. The first place I checked was going to show the grand prix hurrah.
Now that was sorted I had a bit of time to do some shopping for birthday presents for my Dad and one of the brothers.
I dropped my shopping off at the hotel and got back to independent brewery in time to see the grand prix.
The place was full of Europeans, I even managed to get some imitation 'Irish' beer with my lunch. Several Germans joined me, as the table I was on had a good view of the wide screen tv.
It was surprising to see Ralf Schumacher finish the race ahead of his older brother.
Monday - 18th Mar
I posted of several cards at lunch time. Getting back to the office I got slightly wet as it was raining.
Tuesday - 19th Mar
I was unable to email anyone back in the office at Liverpool as their email server had gone down. As there is an eight hour time difference between Singapore and the UK I knew it would be the end of the day before the situation was rectified.
I paid a brief visit to our office in Singapore which is in one of the tallest buildings. The office was on the 36th floor and the view of the sea was amazing. I didn't have my camera with me, so I wasn't able to take a picture of the view.
The email server back in Liverpool came back on line so I could collect and send all my emails.
Wednesday - 20th Mar
At lunch time I went with come colleagues for a Japenese Succi meal. We went the whole way with nemerous types of raw fish and to make it authentic we even drank saki.
I posted some more post cards, which was a bad idea. The rain turned into a thunderstorm and I got soaked getting back to the office.
Thursday - 21th Mar
I discussed any additional issues and changes with the client.
Friday - 22th Mar
Our company MD came out for a meeting with the client. He took me and several colleagues out for lunch.
I left work earlier than normal, I had to get all my things packed into my suitcase.
I had quick drink then got a taxi to the airport.
Amazingly I managed to get some sleep on the flight from Singapore to Amsterdam.
Saturday - 23th Mar
This time I was prepared for the walking, I was wearing comfortable trainers.
The flight from Amsterdam to Manchester was a few minutes late leaving. The view of Amsterdam when we took off was really unusual... there are lots of illuminated greenhouses and the light from these was making the clouds below the plane light up almost like a false sun-rise.
I was relieved to see that my taxi was waiting for me when I arrived at Manchester airport.
In evening I celebrated the birthdays of my Dad and one of my brothers. Not surprisingly I was feeling tired.
Sunday - 24th Mar
I managed to get up in time for church and found myself doing the mixing desk, which is quite tough when suffering from jet lag.
Monday - 25th Mar
Back in office at Liverpool. Still not used to UK times... woke up too early again.
Tuesday - 26th Mar
Slept a little better but an eight hour time difference takes a little getting used to.
I think I overdid things... I went to the monthly Advanced Motorist meeting after having tea at my parents house. The speaker was talking about his hobby... restoring a MG Midget car. Jet lag caught up with me and I couldn't stay awake. I left half way through the meeting as I was so tired. By the time I arrived home I had woken up (aaaagh).
Wednesday - 27th Mar
Finally I woke up at about the right time.
Thursday - 28th Mar
My photographs of Singapore arrived.
Friday - 29th Mar
Good Friday - the day the Christians remember Jesus died for our sins.
As I had the day off work I worked in my garden. Part of the my front garden had suffered from the construction of my porch so I started turning the soil over in preparation to plant grass.
Saturday - 30th Mar
I turned the soil over again in my front garden. Turning over soil is hard work! I planted the grass seed and gave it a watering.
Sunday - 31st Mar
British Summer time started today... an hour less sleep as we get up earlier until Autumn.
Easter Sunday - the day that Christians celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death.
I went to my parents after going to church.
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