Today we did a lot, compared with the boring Saturday we had just had!

First there was riding in the morning, which we made in record time, thanks to Mario Andretti at the wheel. Twenty five minutes to Pasir Ris, not bad at all. Though it's far away enough, it's always pleasant to sit at the cafe and enjoy the quiet and greenery while the children have their lesson. Jonathan had the nasi lemak but I saved my stomach for Jones the Grocer later.

That's where we had brunch, after riding class. The children loved the candy and the big white hall. We had scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage with sourdough toast. Afterwards we bought some cheese, Turkish delight and caramel fudge. Then it was home to studying, or more like squeezing blood from stone.

I made chicken noodle soup for a late lunch, then we left J behind and went for dinner at the Straits Kitchen with the Muirs and the Alsagoffs. It's a splendid spread, isn't it, and very popular during Ramadan, I noticed. Around 8.15 we rolled out of there and headed to Chinese Garden for the lantern festival at Rabia's behest. She and the kids were the most enthusiastic. The men simply envied J for escaping the torture.

The lantern exhibition was predictably cheesy but the kids got to light lanterns, play with sparklers and take a ride on the mini-Viking. Even so, Isabel sulked that they didn't get to do all the rides. There's no pleasing some people!!!

It was 11 before we got home and then of course I got some hints that I shouldn't have stayed out so late with the children. THERE IS NO PLEASING SOME PEOPLE!!!