Brand sparkly new year... it's 2015!

The new year seems like a good time to reflect on the passage of time and there's no better way than by sampling the glorious natural canvas that is Kings Park.

A year ago I was in pain and despair, living with post-accident uncertainty in a dental purgatory defined by specialists, painkillers, fatigue and a mash diet.  Things have moved on a bit and while I still have a very very long road before I can get my smile back, at least I'm on the right track.  Mash is still front and centre in my diet but at least it's slightly more sophisticated mash these days!

A year ago I also started my 'Saturday Sequence' - a series of photos taken of Kings Park from the same spot every Saturday morning at around the same time.  Not very high tech but in just under 5 minutes it's possible to watch the seasons change from spring (Sept 2013)  through a complete cycle to summer (Dec 2014).  A reminder perhaps that the world keeps turning, the seasons keep changing, and life carries on.

Enjoy!

Flowers before the storm

Perth toppled another weather record yesterday as it plodded through its hottest September day in recorded history (34C).  It therefore felt suitably balmy and serene as I strolled through the Park this morning.

Sunrise over the city

The golden rays were just starting to illuminate the wildflowers.  The droopy heads of the everlastings hadn't even woken up and were only just starting to stir and lazily turn towards the sun.  It was all very magical.

Kings Park wildflowers

Wildflowers in the morning sun

Kangaroo Paw

Hard to believe that the afternoon and morning belonged to the same day.  Barely two hours later, the storm clouds moved in and the temperature dropped back down to 15C.  Gotta love Spring.

Cold front approaching Perth (Bureau of Meteorology image)

Just as well I was able to enjoy some flowers indoors... courtesy of Ross, who does have his moments!

Flowers in captivity

Eating Singapore

The holiday is over, daily routine has reasserted itself and all we have left are photos and splendid memories...

... And some wonderful almond truffle biscuits from the Cookie Museum given to us by Lil.  One final chance to enjoy some authentic Singaporean baked loveliness, reminisce about the holiday that was and dream about the next trip, whenever that might be.

A memento of Singapore

Revenge of the cocoa bean

Okay so the day before my accident last December my greatest regret was not having that last piece of cake at Ross' office Christmas party.  Somehow the self-talk got the better of me and I passed up the pleasure of sinking my (then whole) teeth into a piece of chocolate loveliness.  Little did I know that less than 24 hours later I'd be miserable and spending the next 8 weeks on a puree diet.

So when the opportunity presented itself at high tea yesterday to reach for a final piece of cake, the self-naysayer got a stern rebuke and I reached out to grab the richest gooiest slab of chocolate cake possible. Never mind that this was on top of an already choc-heavy day and an indulgent high tea buffet.

Sorry self-talk, I will always listen to you from now on.  Having to take antacids at 1am in the morning and sit up in bed feeling awful is decidedly no fun.  

At least that puts that particular little regret to rest once and for all!

*********

Fortunately by morning I was feeling much better although I had to exercise considerable restraint at our final breakfast buffet.  We managed to secure a late check-out of the hotel so we navigated the City Link mall to Suntec City and did some last minute shopping before returning to our room to pack.  Having checked out and left our bags with Reception, we made one final foray across the road to my now beloved Raffles City foodhall for lunch.  We decided on a Japanese meal where we had the novel experience of placing our food order via iPad.  Ingenious really.

Mid-afternoon arrived and we bid adieu to the Raffles as our driver returned us to Changi Airport.  There was a bit of deja vu as I showed Ross the Butterfly Garden.  The last time I was here I was on my way home from Hong Kong.

Changi Airport Butterfly Garden - still a beautiful oasis

The flight home was much more enjoyable as it wasn't as packed, the air conditioning wasn't set to arctic, it was a newer plane and the entertainment system offered more choices.  And of course the crew were delightful - Singapore Girl, you really are a great way to fly.  

Garden Rhapsody

This is a very small taste of Garden Rhapsody.  It was definitely worth returning to Gardens by the Bay in the evening for what turned out to be quite a unique show.