Singapore Sling - Four Parallel Perspectives

Ooooh yes! An airplane! I love them! Colouring books, cuddles from my Mum, wearing my best jeans and not sweating to death, getting my hair put up in pigtails so that it tickles my face when I swagger through the departure gates. I'm so happy I could probably burst. I wonder if my smile is touching each ear? It certainly feels like it. I probably look like that picture in my Charlie and Lola book, when she gets a pink birthday cake and it is a big surprise. She looked like a princess, too. My fingernails are sparkly. Mum painted them so that I would look nice on my 5th birthday. Tomorrow! Amazing. I've waited so many sleeps to be 5. I wonder if I'll be soooo huge, my feet will pop out of the bed when I wake up tomorrow? Dad said if I ate all my vegetables I would grow really big. I don't really want to be a giant though. My new pink 'Hello Kitty' crocs would be too small, I expect. That would make me cry, cry, cry. If I'm really good on the plane, and wait to sleep until I'm in the hotel, I wonder if Mum will let me have chocolate sauce on my pancakes for breakfast? I'll squeeze her hand really tight like a snake and then she'll feel the love going from my heart, up my arm, through my fingers, into her hand, up her arm and into her heart. I think it floats like bubbles in her veins. I saw that in my Amazing Body book. I expect that she can feel it now - I'm sending loads and loads! She loves it when I do that. I can tell by the look on her face. She might even light up like a Christmas tree! That would be really funny. I would have to tell Ana all about that.  Mum said that the lights will be on when we get to Singapore, and I am so excited about seeing all the Christmas things. I love satay, but I think there should be more Christmas decorations in KL because they are glittery and make me feel happy. We are going to the zoo, zoo, zoo too! At nighttime! Later than my bedtime! I'll know I'm really grown up because it will be dark and I'll still be outside, and I'll have my bedtime milk really late because the night animals will be waking up and I'll be on the choo choo train at the zoo taking pictures of them with my birthday camera. I hope Freddie doesn't swipe it like Swiper. Sometimes he isn't fair and he makes me feel really cross. If I share a bed with him in the hotel I hope he doesn't wriggle like a worm and wee in the bed. Yuck.

Come on! Why am I struggling here with all these bags? Couldn't she leave her laptop at home? I mean, seriously, is she going to do work whilst Christmas shopping, entertaining the kids, going to the zoo and everything else on the itinerary for this weekend? I know it will sit tucked in the wardrobe under the complimentary slippers the whole time. I'll try not to sigh every time I open the wardrobe doors but really, its bloody lunacy to bring it all this way and here I am doing a juggling act with it rammed in my armpit and Freddie wants to go on my shoulders and now Ruby needs a wee and where is she? Ah...checking out perfume. Ha! I'm not sure she really grasps how many Ringgit that hotel room cost and that's before we've done anything in Singapore and now I can see a bloody toy shop on the corner and they're all making a bee line for it and  -  I have to have a sit down. Nice one - Guinness. This might be fun after all. Organized and clean and I reckon there's even time for a swift pint of the dark nectar before they realize I'm not there. Look at Ruby's face. Bless her. Hang on a minute...is that Freddie on the escalator? CLAIRE!

Super. Great. Brilliant. Big red taxi. Big red airplane. Sweeties. Apple juice. Big grey bus. Big hotel with shiny lights up on the top and lots of Father Christmasses on horses. Oh! Super. Great. Brilliant. Big shiny lift. I'M PRESSING THE BUTTONS!!!! NO!!!! RUBY!!!!! Ha! I won. Er, did I get her eye? Oh no, she's ok. Just a little owie. What!? Ow! My bum hurts. I think Dad's angry. Sorry! Oh! Super. Great. Brilliant. Big heavy door. Sorry! Is she ok? Yes, just a little owie on the finger. Sorry! I SAID SORRY! Ow! My bum hurts. I think Mum's angry. Oh! Super. Great. Brilliant. A big white bed to bounce on. Like my trampoline! Ow! My head. It's ok! Just a little owie. I think Mum's sad. Oh! Super. Great. Brilliant. A big black TV with cartoons on it. What are Mum and Dad doing? Who's going to open the suitcase? I think my T Rex is in there. I need milk. I need a wee. RUBY! GET OUT OF MY WAY! Ha! She can move fast. Ow! I think Dad's cross. Oh! Super. Great. Brilliant. A big white bath! What does this handle do? Oh. Sorry. Mum...there's water on the floor. Sorry. I think Mum's angry again. OK. I'm finished. When are we going home? Where's Teddy? I'm NOT going to bed! I need to get in the wardrobe first. What's that? Oh! Super amazing fantastic - slippers! Oh! What's that! Mummy's computer? I think Dad's cross again. Maybe he can have a Tiger Beer. And Mummy. This is great! Where is Ruby's camera? I want to take a picture of my nose. Maybe two pictures. I want to show Charlie.

Blimey. The minibar is locked. Can you all move off the bed so I can unpack please? Blimey. I forgot to pack nappies. Cor, this room is titchy. Can you lot please all move off the bed so I can get to the pajamas please? George, did they say this was big enough for a family? Freddie, get out of the cupboard. No, I didn't pack your T Rex. Ruby what are you doing with that camera? No, he won't find it if its in the bin, but the ladies might think it is rubbish and throw it out. Just put it under your pillow. Yes, I know you don't want nostril pictures on it. Put it in my computer bag, he'll never find it there. Hey guys - its really late and we have tonnes to do tomorrow. Bed? Blimey. I forgot the dinosaur book. No, now don't cry, I think I can remember the story off by heart. Its OK. Hang on, I think I can feel it, yes there it is, oh no! Freddie put that camera down. What do you mean the floor's flooded? Blimey. Ruby stop crying, I can delete it, or we can tell your teacher its a 'lion nostril' from the zoo. What do you mean, your tummy hurts? Did he hit you again? Blimey. George, what time does the 7-11 shut? Reckon a beer, nappies, milk, medicine run might be a good idea? Did she really say this room is big enough for a family? No, Freddie. We just got here. Get down from there. Ruby put your pajamas on please. Yes, of course I'll hold your hand. OW! Blimey, that's a bit of a hard squeeze, lovie. Its OK. Just a little owie. (Blimey). No. There are no monsters under your bed. Please just lie down. Freddie - don't wet the bed until Daddy comes back with a nappy. Blimey.

Mad. Hectic. Lunacy. The usual weekend away for the family. 4 people. 1 small room. Lashings of chocolate sauce for breakfast, nostril photo ops, Guiness hunting, and window shopping. Plenty of pavement admiration, expat jealousy and day trips. Ooodles of temper tantrums and owies. A few tiger beers in the dark, after can opening in the bathroom so as not to wake anyone up. Ruby had a super time despite being ill and vomiting in the restaurant, and not going to the zoo. Freddie wiped all her photos. We all returned to KL still speaking to each other and quite tired!