MINIATURE KIWI...

I love all the different fruits that I am discovering around Asia. I just picked up a banana from the fruit bowl in work and discovered these miniature kiwis. So cute! A little different to a large kiwi, sweeter and not furry on the outside...

EQUINOX PINK CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH...

Brunch is one thing that I hadn't yet tried...until today! I'd be saving myself for Pink Champagne Brunch at Equniox restaurant at Swissotel The Stamford.  A series of special "Pink Themed" Sunday Brunches had been introduced here, so the girls and I booked ourselves in! When we arrived this morning at 11.30am the Equinox staff greeted us decked out in hot pink shirts and dresses, with pink balloons and flowers decorating the 70th floor restaurant. The view from here is great! And the food ... even better ... a huge selection of appetisers, soups and salads, seafood, Japanese sushi, a carving station, cheese and crackers, and a great desert selection including a pink chocolate fountain. The best bit...all served up with Pink Moet & Chandon Rose (which is also used in a lot of their cooking!)

For all those of you who know me, you can imagine that I was in my element with all that rose! Not just champagne but cocktails too! As many as you want! Amazing! To start with...seafood! Prawns, crab, lobster, salmon, oysters, mussels, scallops...

There was so much choice...too much in fact. I think if you were to eat a little bit of everything you would need a crane to come and rescue you at the end of the session...

In between the delicious food there was plenty of entertainment. Live music from a great duo. The Pink Panther...

...and a balloon modeller, who kept us entertained making bunches of balloon flowers, rabbits, elephants and for me...a dragon (although I'm not quite sure I can see the resemblance to be honest...good effort though!)

To finish, amazing little deserts from pastry chef Ming. The highlight, a pink chocolate fountain for dipping strawberries and melon! Freshly baked souffle crepes and plenty of other deserts, all looking pretty much like "art on a plate".

I can safely say that the three of us were absolutely stuffed...full of lots of delicious food and plenty of rose champagne and pink cocktails from cocktail architect Richard Gillam. Five dedicated pink drinks for the brunch. A Mary Pickford, a Rosito, Peach and Guava Bellini, the Equinox Rose Classic and the Passionista (my favourite!) I'm really looking forward to trying out more brunches around Singapore, hopefully fitting one in whilst mum and dad are here. 

GOODBYE NICK...

We've just had a great week with Nick visiting! Managing to cram in loads of stuff. Starting on Thursday with Satay Street and St. Patrick's Day on Boat Quay. Friday post work drinks at Blu Jazz and dinner at Brussels Sprouts on Robertson Quay. Saturday, Chinatown, Singapore Slings at Raffles, sun downers at New Asia Bar and an amazing buffet at the Mandarin Oriental (Mum and Dad...I've booked us in!) Sunday was Ironman day followed by celebratory drinks at Marina Bay Sands, cocktails at Post Bar and dinner at Hot Stones on Clarke Quay. Monday night was curry night in Little India and finally Tuesday we ate at Maxwell Hawker for lunch and finished his trip off with champagne and a BBQ before Nick flew home on Wednesday morning! It's was great having him here as it felt like the old crew had been reunited again, even if was only for a week. We managed to make a whole set of "Windsor gang in Singapore" memories and we're all really looking forward to welcoming Nick back again later on in the year. See you soon!

Even though I'm feeling a little deflated since Nick left, as this week has been a hard week in work. This weekend we're booked in for Pink Champagne Brunch at the Swissotel. My first brunch since I moved here! A few quiet weeks then before mum and dad arrive! I can not wait! 

AVIVA IRONMAN 70.3 TRIATHLON...

So...the time finally came around to welcome Nick to Singapore ready for his second Ironman triathlon. I've never watched Nick compete before, even in the UK, so I was really excited about being able to support him for this event on the other side of the world! An early start on Sunday saw the four of us head towards East Coast Park, the road that runs directly out of the city towards the airport. Nick had dropped his bike off and collected his chip the day before when Rachel took some great black and white of shots of Nick looking like a true Ironman. The East Coast had been transformed into an Aviva Ironman Park! 

The start of Nick's wave was a bit of a mess as the course had been set up so there were competitors running into swim as a wave of others were exciting the water...so much so that when Nick entered the water there were men pretty much taking out women quite aggressively as they were just completing the first circuit of their swim. There looked like there were a lot of very confused people in the water. It was horrible to watch but at least he was on his way! Go Nick Go!

The 1.2 mile (1.9km) swim took Nick 42 mins and we were lucky enough to be able to get as close to Nick as we possibly could every time he was in transition so as he came out of the water to head for his bike Tom, Rach and I stood cheering him on as he ran through the showers. I was amazed at this point that there were so many people taking part and so many varied people too. The oldest man was 74 and had completed 11 Ironman triathlons! What a legend! Competitors from all over the world and many running to raise money for the recent devastation in Japan.

Nick jumped on his bike to start his 56 mile (90km) ride. At this point it was starting to get quite warm and I think we were all concerned for how the temperature would effect his performance. Nick had entered the water at 8.30am. By the time he finished his ride 2 hours and 38 mins later the temperature had crept up to a very hot 31 degrees. However, he was on top form as he started his run, even if he was extremely hot! We had managed to get some seats on the path where the competitors started the run so we perched up with a few beers and sat in the sunshine waiting for Nick to do his laps clapping and cheering on the majority of runners. I can only imagine that it must be great to hear people supporting you at this stage when you must be feeling absolutely exhausted!

The elite athletes passed us first. Incredible. I'm so pleased that I managed to snap Kris Gemmell, the eventual winner, who completed the course in 3 hours 50 mins.

2 hours and 6 mins later, Nick crossed the finish line. A fantastic 5 hours and 39 minutes after he first jumped into the sea. A fantastic effort. Watching how tired he was made me realise that these guys are just incredible sports men and women. Putting themselves through such tough conditions. Just watching them was exhausting so I have no idea how they must have all felt! I had a fantastic day not just supporting Nick, but all the other men and women who were competing. So there he is. "Nick Ironman and a half Morgan" just as he crossed the finish line! Well done Nick...really proud of you!

SKY ON 57

This week I was lucky enough to be invited along to a client dinner at Marina Bay Sands restaurant Sky on 57. I hadn't been to Marina Bay Sands and was actually saving it for when Nick arrived as Tom and Rach hadn't experienced it either. However this was an opportunity I was definitely not going to say "no" too!

This is the first time I have got to experience the infinity pool which every chats about! 55 storeys and 650ft up, three times the length of an Olympic pool it is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height. The SkyPark perched atop the three towers below that make up the world's most expensive hotel. A £4 billion development. The hotel has 2,560 rooms costing from £350 a night.

The restaurant and balcony came alive with an exclusive vibe, as people chilled out with pre-dinner cocktails enjoying the spectacular view. A few bottles of wine later and we sat down for dinner pretty much sat in the clouds! 

The restaurant itself serves an array of Modern Asian Cuisine, delivered with warm Asian hospitality, in a setting that blew my breath away. Delicious Foie Gras Dim Sum to start, Aged Beef made from 300 days aged Angus Beef served in dried tangerine with oriental vegetables for main and a Symphony of Desserts to finish (a total of five different varieties displayed in a portrait design of flower petals and berries as the rim)...a very nice mid week treat indeed!

NOT A LOT OF NEWS...

Not really a lot to report this week as I had quite a relaxing weekend lazing by the pool and generally chilling out. My first quiet weekend in a long time! The weekend ahead is going to be a lot more busy as Nick arrives on Thursday to do his Ironman Triathlon on Sunday so Tom, Rachel and I have been planning a few exciting things for the four of us to do once we're reunited! 


The only news I do have really is that I've just booked a holiday for my birthday! Well, the week after my birthday. To Tioman. A small island of the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. I'm looking forward to spending some relaxing time on the beach and exploring. Can't wait!

THE HOLMES AND MARCHANT TEAM...

Our website has been updated today with everyone's pictures and mini-biographies. Have a look if you get chance. I'm in the process of getting mine changed! Apparently I like watches...although I don't even wear one. The copy should read "cwtches" but the guy who built the site ran a spell check and it changed to watches. I can safely say that cwtches are so much better than watches any day!

And here's a snap of the design team in action...well not really in action...posing for a picture postcard!

THE PALACE TOSS OFF...

Last nights pancake party was a success...with no messy accidents thankfully! 

I think the winner "tossers" were Tom and Rhys...who became very competitive over who's pancakes were the best. Followed by Rachel for innovation. We asked everyone to bring along their favourite toppings. There were a few unusual ones... Ice-cream, Baileys, chocolate chips, lemon, sugar, cinnamon sugar, marshmallows, strawberries, oranges, honey, maple syrup, cheese, tomato puree, bananas, blueberries, whipped cream, Cointreau, peanut butter...as you can imagine, there was a lot to chose from! 

Thanks to mum for supplying the recipe! 

  

FRUIT SHOOT...

Last week I did my first photoshoot out here in Singapore for a redesign of an existing juice drink. As a few people seem to think this is a lot more glamorous than it is I've captured a few shots throughout the two days. I'm not sure they quite convey how much hard word shoots can be! But the results were great with help from a fantastic home economist, Angela and a very talented photographer, Le Jen. I'm looking forward to seeing them on pack. Even better, this particular brand advertise on the local buses. My packs larger than life travelling through the city...fab!

IT'S PANCAKE DAY...

...so tonight we've having a little gathering to toss some pancakes! Watch this space for photos!

KUALA LUMPUR...

I had my first experience of Malaysia was last weekend on a trip to Kuala Lumpur with the girls. Leaving Singapore at 9pm we were in KL by 10pm and tucked up in bed by midnight! A return flight for just $50! Over the last 150 years KL has evolved into Malaysia's cosmopolitan capital city.An early start on Saturday, we caught the hop on, hop off bus to Chinatown where we wandered the market for bargains as we had been told this would be the place to find them! Central Market is housed in an Art Deco building that looks a little bit more like Miami than Asia and Petaling Street is jammed with market stalls selling everything from fake handbags and pirate DVD's to bunches of fruit and peanut pancakes. 

KL is a foodies paradise with fabulous hawker stalls and restaurants. A host of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Nonya eateries mixed with international and fusion cuisines. After Chinatown our next stop was Little India where the Middle East meets Bollywood. Our lunch was served to us on a banana leaf from large vats of food, with rice, and the local way to get stuck in is with your hands! So we got involved! 

The Petronas Twin Towers, formerly the tallest buildings in the world, and a symbol of the city are Kuala Lumpur's pride and joy. Standing at 452 metres (1483 feet) they are pretty incredible during the daytime and at night! Tickets are limited to the 41st floor where you can walk across the sky bridge so we decided to get the best view of the city we would head to the KL tower and look down from the observation deck.

Saturday evening we continued the fun with a nice dinner, cocktails and a fantastic view of the city from the top of Traders hotel where there is a SkyBar. A very cool and glamorous rooftop bar which has an illuminated central swimming pool that runs along the centre. Pretty impressive! 

We had managed to cram a good amount in on Saturday so Sunday morning we took a stroll to Times Square to check out the roller coaster which is housed inside of the shopping mall. Despite hearing that KL was cheap, in terms of shopping it's comparable to here in Singapore with all the British brands pricing stock higher than what it would be back home. I'm glad I stocked up on my recent trip back! We all managed to pick up a few bargains in Chinatown though. Jennie...this is definitely the place to get your Mulberry bag!

The afternoon was extremely relaxed. Afternoon tea at the Shangri-La. Definitely the highlight of my trip. Between us we had a traditional and a local afternoon tea and spent a few hours relaxing in the hotel before our flight home.

Another place ticked on my "places to see" list! I didn't really know what expect from KL, I had heard mixed reports, but we definitely had a fun time exploring and the girls contributed to creating some more amazing memories of my time here in Asia. Plenty more of that to come! What with our work holiday to Kathmandu being confirmed soon, more work trips to India and a long weekend in either Taipei or Hong Kong soon, my passport is looking very well travelled.