HAPPY SAINT DAVIDS DAY...

...to all my welsh family and friends! Thinking of you all today! 

ARTSMUSEUM OPENING...

I decided to do some thing cultural this weekend and booked Jill and I tickets to the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. The new museum literally opened on Saturday with three blockbuster exhibitions: Genghis Khan: The Exhibition, Traveling The Silk Road: Ancient Pathway To The Modern World and Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures And Monsoon Winds. The architecture of the museum from the outside is a sight to behold. Designed by Israeli-born architect, Moshe Safdie (who we were lucky enough to meet!) it is in the form of a blossoming lotus flower. Ten fingers. The galleries are located inside these fingers. Safdie says that the design is both expressive and disciplined. "Using geometry to create such an iconic structure demonstrates how the union of art and science can lead to the creation of a thing of beauty." It took the award-winning architect four months to design the museum, the three hotel towers and the shopping mall and convention center at Marina Bay Sands which is now complete. The museum took two years to complete. Safdie said when he showed Arup, the engineering firm behind Marina Bay Sands, "they tore their hair out, but rose to the occasion." It certainly is impressive. 

The museum appears kind of upside-down and is surrounded by a reflecting pool, which will be full of lillies, so appears like it is floating on water. A massive 50,000 sq ft of gallery space spread over three floors. The fourth level are the ArtScience galleries, which house the permanent exhibitions, but unfortunately we weren't that impressed. The distinctive feature in the atrium is the "oculus" which channels rainwater from the roof down a 35 metre drop into a reflecting pool. The water is the recycled and used within the buildings toilets. 

He said the design is both expressive and disciplined, which is what art and science are: Ten petals of varying heights and width are arranged in a radial axis and spaced evenly at 36 degrees. "Using geometry to create such an iconic structure demonstrates how the union of art and science can lead to the creation of a thing of beauty," he said. 


Unfortunately, as I said earlier, Jill and I weren't overly impressed. The inside isn't as breathtaking as the outside. However, a really nice start to the weekend. It made a change to spending the morning suffering from a major hangover. Although that could have been the case had I stayed out on Friday night and continued drinking B52s with Mark for his birthday! 

SUNDAY IS USUALLY BLOGGING DAY...

... but unfortunately I'm absolutely exhausted! So you'll have to wait until next week to see what I've been up to!

SPORTS INTEGRATED...

I've been working with Nick recently on the development of his new business identity. Sports Identity launched officially last week. The website is being designed as I speak and will be up and running soon hopefully. Good luck to Nick in his new business venture! Check out www.sportsintegrated.com

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING...

...but finally! Our new Magnum packs have hit the shelves, well, freezers in the UK! I was so pleased to be able to catch a glimpse of the new Magnum core packs that I began working on whilst at 1HQ way back in September 2009. The longest project I've seen through from start to finish. I look forward to seeing the rest of the range phase in and hopefully the Asia packs will launch here very soon! 

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS...

So, in a surreal kind of way it feels like I've been home a lot longer than two weeks, but also feels like the last two weeks has flown by. What with having so many exciting things organised I feel as if I've crammed in a lot! Many thanks to Jennie for collecting me from the airport and getting me back to Wales safely. The 30 degree drop in temperature sure was a shock to my system. Nothing that a hoody and gloves didn't sort out!  Unfortunately I didn't have the sense to wear the hoody and gloves out to Cardiff that night when the girls and I went out for the evening. Absolutely freezing!!! But a fantastic first night back in Wales!

Somehow completely getting away with not suffering from jetleg (maybe it is all in the mind afterall|) I managed to stay wide awake for a fantastic day re-celebrating Christmas in the Cole house-hold. Spending Christmas away from home in Thailand was, although an amazing adventure, so different to how my last 26 (bar one in Australia) Christmases have been spent! So, back home, doing it the traditional "Cole" way was just lush!

Mum as always, put on an amazing spread and I was obviously very happy to be back as chief gravy taster...

Splitting my time between Wales and Windsor was always going to be tricky, so I decided to spend a long weekend from Thursday to Sunday in Windsor. Starting off the short break with a delicious lunch, thanks to Nick, at the Hinds Head, Heston Blumenthal's pub just across the way from The Fat Duck in Bray, where my craving for Shepards Pie was finally satisfied! A night out followed with the old 1HQ gang. And of course two days "wedding" shopping with Lauren and Jennie! The only downside...a yucky cold!

Back to Wales with Amanda to start my second week and a gorgeous day out down in Cardiff exploring the city and the Bay. I can't believe in the 9 years that I've known Amanda this is the first time that she's been back to Wales with me! I hope you enjoyed it Mands! I'm still loving the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone...

So what else have I been up to whilst I've been back? I've spent a lot of time shopping! I was lucky enough to have money for Christmas so mum and I hit the shops for work clothes, bikinis and flip flops! I've had a few lovely lunches out and spent a lot of time with the girls and the kids. Welcome to the world baby Charlie and most recently baby Mila, who put in an appearance whilst I was home...perfect timing! A few birthday celebrations...Happy 1st Birthday to gorgeous Mali, Happy 91st birthday Nanny and Happy Birthday to Carley (celebrated by a massive meal with the girls!) I also took the Mini-Coles, Megan and Georgia to see Tangled, which I really recommend! Especially in 3D!

I've struggled over the last few days starting to pack everything up say goodbye to everyone. In three weeks time it will have been 6 months since I left the UK for Singapore. And I know I keep saying it but time does fly by! Despite having a great two week holiday back here at home I'm looking forward to getting back to work (how sad does that sound!) and continuing with my asian adventure. With a trip booked to Kuala Lumpar at the end of the month, Nick visiting in just over four weeks and mum and dad in just over 8 the next couple of months will go equally as quick as the last six have. I have had the most amazing two weeks though and it has felt incredible seeing everyone again and despite me referring to Singapore as my home now, "home" is definitely where the heart is, and part of my heart will always stay here in Wales! I'm already looking forward to my next trip home, even if it might not be until 2012. There is one thing I won't miss though when I get back...the temperature! Bring on the sunshine!