Flesh Eating Diseases and Rooftop Dining

So had a Dr's visit this morning. Bugger of a thing!

With all the new water, food, bugs, heat, sweat, etc I started to breakout a rash on my face around my cheekbones!!! Nasty & painful!
I'm only sharing cos I care!
Turns out its a reasonably common occurance. Just a skin irritation. Low immune levels, etc.
Anyway, some antibiotics, pain killers and cream will sort me out.

So after that, I thought, Great! I'm all sorted. I dont have a flesh eating disease, the day cant get much better can it!
Well, nope...it couldnt!
I go to the office to just catch up, do some email and assist a client later in the arvo with some testing...just for a bit, nothing serious.
First time I've opened the office up.
And I try a key in the front door....click, click...nothing. It wont open! But can I get the key OUT!!!! NOOOO!
Stuck. Stucker than stuck, it wont move even a bit.

Conveniently a locksmiths sticker next to the door. Call the number, 10 minutes later he arries, 3 minutes after that I'm in...the first door. 50 bucks lighter!
Then I've lost my mind, hot, sweaty, relieved cos I'm not being eaten by some fungus I swipe my security card and nothing....a beep, but no door action. It wont open. FAAAAARRKK. I just want some water and a seat!!!


So I breathe deep. Step back and contemplate a swift size 10 to the door. EUREKA! I see there are two locks to open PLUS the swipe card. I find my keys, open the door, and collapse into my very comfortable Herman Miller Aeron chair.


10 minutes later I pop the pills, and feel great. Had a Nasi Goreng for lunch, washed down with a tiger...yeah yeah, its a mythconception that alcohol and antibiotics dont mix. Yep, MYTHconception. I havent developed a lithsp.

So, this evening I thought....shower, medicated face fash (oh so Metro I know!), apply my 'flesh eating fungi' defeating cream, cant shave yet dammit, I look like a werewolf, and head up to Breeze, the rooftop restaurant at the hotel I'm at, The Scarlet Hotel.

I needed a treat! Something to make me feel like I wasnt being eaten by fungi (no bloody jokes you smartasses), and after 10 days of eating mostly local cuisine (which is great) you need a decent nosh up.

$172.50 later!!!! Just for one! I felt like I was being eaten by the hotel staff!! S$85++ (plus gst, plus service fee) for a bottle of 2006 Devils Lair Fifth Leg Classic White ($18.95 in Oz I recall). Anyway, it wasnt a massive surprise. I have lived here before. I thoroughly enjoyed it, the meal and the wine. Overlooking ChinaTown and my first real spree since arriving.

So its a slight snooze now, and up @ 3am for the Portugal vs Germany game. God I hope that Ronaldo doesnt score. As I mentioned before, my least favourite player on the planet now. Cheating, diving teary eyed little upstart!! Such a shame he is refered to by the same name as a great player. Stand up the REAL Ronaldo!

Ciao ciao all. Chat soon.

The Last Week

Its been a long week!!

Work has been going great. We have a small but cool team. And the studio is also quite cool. Its in Tanjong Pagar, right next to ChinaTown, and is in an old Singapore Shop House.

The week has been spent meeting clients, suppliers and getting to grips with a new environment. Nick has been great. Reintroducing me to Singapore, spending evenings tuning me into what's what around town and generally catching up.

Do I need to say it....but it has also been the week that England again failed to perform at the World Cup. Beaten by Portugal...on penalties...AGAIN DAMMIT. Enough said I think.
Oh! One point. My least favourite player now is Christiano Ronaldo. Jnr'...there is no way you were blameless in Rooney's sending off. I'll let you and Rooney settle that one on the training ground. Hope someone has a video camera!!!
It made it slightly, but only slightly more tolerable that Brasil also went out the same night.

So I must be a dumbass. I've lived here before. I know the bar routine, yet I still fell for it!
So I'm in a nondescript bar, Tras Street, nearby work and close to the hotel.
I settle in to watch the Italy game. Pretty interested in the match.
This good looking girl walks up, introduces herself and sits down. Her hand on my leg.
She's Venezuelan and a Psycologist. (oh yeah!)

Interesting. "Now, do you mind, I'm watching the match"
"Oh! I'm interested too. can I watch with you?"
"Sure..."
"Is OK you buy me a drink?"
Well, I'm a generous bloke, so (MISTAKE 1) I buy her a baileys on ice.
GULP - one shot! I think, she must be thirsty.

Meanwhile Italy are comin on strong...but I'M MISSING THE DAMN GAME.

"Is OK you buy me another one?"
"No...I'm not staying. I'm finishing my drink and leaving."
"Is OK. Two hundred fifty. I come with you."
"Excuse me?!"
"Two hundred fifty. OK...how much?"
"Ummmm" - CLICK! I've seen this routine before.

Must admit, I didnt expect a latino hooker in Singapore. Maybe she got lost!
Anyway, long n short....she was left disappointed and I left with a full wallet....and missed half the match :(
I'm guessing there's a glut of Venezuelan psycologists ;)

The hotel I'm staying in whilst work permits, apartments etc are being sorted out is called The Scarlet Hotel. Its a truly fantastic hotel. The attention to detail is amazing. Was voted one of the worlds best boutique hotels last year (2005) and I can understand why. If you're ever staying in Singapore, check the place out. Very cool bar if you need a breather from the heat and humidity.

OK...that brings me just about up to date. Its been a mad week. Now hopefully its settling down I can start to blog stuff regularly. Cheerio.

5hr Overnight Flight, No Sleep and 'C'

Day One....Morning (@ Maxwell Food Centre...high on 'C')

Wow...must have had a cardboard cut-out for an immigration/customs bird...No Smile, no personality. Where was my welcoming committee? The marching band...and my Limo? Someone will pay. Hotel looks fantastic...very boutique, very cool, oh so me! I cant check-in for another few hours, so at 7am....I think I might sample some brekkie food...asian styleee. Only problem is I dont do savoury porridge...fark...I just can't even talk about it!
Back at Maxwell Hawker Centre, pretty much the centre of Singapore's ChinaTown....wow the nights I spent here, and the days also. Some fantastic food to be had. OH!! the Kopi....a kopi with condensed milk and 'c'....whatever 'c' is its bloody great. Talk about a pick up, its amazing...

I might just head down to the new office...do an early recon...actually, my NEW office!!!! U know what....dunno what it is about Asia, but I just cant help but relax when I feel the heat on my body and the sweat on my brow...bring it on Sing...bring it on.


Just met Zao's brother twice removed cousin....same style cat, no tail (must have been a heluva fight) TINY...such small heads, and oh so cunning...where do they keep their brains.

OK...thats enuff...and the 'c' might be wearing off!!!! what the f&*k is 'c'...coffee with 'c' is 10c more than without...maybe I can gat a cup of 'c' without the coffee!!!! oooo, you know I will.

UPDATE: 'C' REVEALED


dSo, I discovered what 'C' is...and now I'm disappointed! Its Condensed Cream...no mysterious chinese herbal additive. No life giving elixir. No...condensed cream...humph!