We have been back in Bali since the night of Saturday October 6, but have been caught up in a constant barrage of chores, leaving me too drained to pen the many thoughts I have.

For one, the house was in a mess when we returned. Although we had a friend staying there for about two months, and she had it cleaned on the day she left about three weeks before our return, the entire property looked as if it had been deserted for many months.

Dead leaves and branches had formed a thin blanket on the garden soil; a thin film of dust covered the ground inside the house as well as the furnishing; there were dead bugs and cockroach eggs littered around the house; some dead insects and animals were in the roof; utensils and crockery were either covered in dust or rusted.

While we managed to get a part-time maid to come and do general cleaning once a week, the house requires daily maintenance due to the amount of dust and debris that comes from the garden and roof.

Besides cleaning the property, we have begun minor refurbishment works starting with the electricity cables in the house and garden.

An electrician has been working the past two weeks on installing lamps in the garden, and some of the lights have started working last night. The lit section of the garden emitted a lovely, romantic glow. We cannot wait for all the lights to be completed so that the ambience is spread throughout the garden.

The S.O. has also shifted furnishing around the house so that the living room is transformed in to the study cum office, and the previous study cum office will become the nursery for our baby.

Additionally, the former dining area now has a proper dining set occupying half of the space, with the other half being allocated for watching television.

There was previously a table in the former dining area holding the drink dispenser, mugs and bread basket. This has been moved outside of the house, to a small sheltered area outside the kitchen, creating a warm and cosy ambience in that section.

Currently, the only room without change is our bedroom but we are leaving it as is until after the tukangs or workmen, who arrive two weeks later, finish with the other refurbishment works in the house.

Loads more work still has to be done on the nursery and dining/entertainment room before they are ready for the baby’s arrival next April. We are hoping to complete everything by February 2008, before I return to Singapore for delivering our little one.

Another thing missing from home at the moment is an Internet connection. We are hoping to get this remedied by the end of this month.

On the plus side, besides getting the dining set, we have also made new purchases of a spin-dry washing machine, cutlery and various cleaning agents/tools for the home. We are so proud that our house is getting self-sufficient, rather than always bringing things to the laundry or always having to eat out.

Looking back over these three weeks, much has been achieved, one small but sure step each time. We shall maintain the pace and things will fall in to place when they are meant to.

This is a post-dated entry, written so that the 14 days spent in Singapore will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Sept 22, Saturday

Touch down at Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 6pm after a 13 hour flight from London in uncomfortably cramped seats on Qantas. Head straight to my mother’s place in Yishun for some hot and nourishing black chicken herbal soup.

Early to bed as both the S.O. and I slept fitfully during the flight. We will spend most of the following days either heading out or staying at home with my mother.

Sept 24, Monday

First visit to the gynaecologist, Dr Teoh Eng Soon, in Singapore. He will be the one monitoring Baby Capodieci’s growth and his hands will be the first to hold our little one!

Sept 25, Tuesday

Although I have not totally embraced my Chinese roots thanks to my denial and alienation of certain traditions during Chinese festivals (think boisterious wedding banquets with at least 300 guests, or strict observances of customs during Chinese New Year), I am particularly fond of the lanterns that are brought out en mass for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Thinking that there will be less crowds on a weekday, we make our way to the Chinese Garden for its annual display of cloth lanterns for the festival.

Huge mistake – we had chosen to go on the very day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, discovering it only after we had arrived and witnessed some fireworks to mark the day.

Although not nearly as busy as it would be during the weekends, we still had to navigate through the crowds and wait for our turn for taking pictures with the lanterns.

After I gave away my complimentary paper lantern to a tourist possibly from Ireland or England who had accidentally burned hers, the S.O. had the honour of carrying the sole paper lantern between us. It was fun to partake of the festive mood.

Sept 28, Friday

After the excitement and gaiety of the Chinese Garden, we spent half an hour wandering around parts of Chinatown before meeting friends for dinner.

An exhibition of plastic and cloth lanterns did not manage to stir much interest in us, while post boxes painted with colourful murals caused us to pause and take pictures.

Dinner at Fong Kee was delicious and managed to satisfy my cravings for steamed dumplings. For more on that experience, click here.

After which, we adjourned to a stylish bar at the Red Dot Museum for drinks and animated conversation with three of my male buddies from junior college days.

Oct 01, Monday

The day began with something exciting! Find out more by clicking here.

Cravings for beef kway teow were satisfied when good friend Darius brought us to Geylang Famous Beef Kway Teow Stall. Even the S.O. enjoyed the meal! For more on that experience, click here.

However, the colourful part of the night came after, when we took a stroll among the even numbered lanes of Geylang, where the red light district is. Ladies of the profession were stood abreast neatly along designated lanes.

The change from one nationality (mainland Chinese, Thai, Indonesian etc.) was obvious from the physique of the ladies, as well as their dress sense.

The Chinese ladies favoured dresses or top and skirt combinations, completed with low heels. The Thais and Indonesians favoured tops with sequined patterns paired with tight shorts or skirts, and the only way to differentiate them was by their facial features.

Most of the men checking out the goods ranged in age from their 40s to 60s. There were a sprinkling of those in their 30s and those past their 60s.

This would not be the final entertainment of the night, which was topped by an extremely friendly and funny Indian man selling pocket tissues at Newton Circle Food Centre. For more on that experience, click here.

Oct 03, Wednesday

Soon after the Mid-Autumn Festival would arrive Hari Raya Puasa, which also marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month.

As the S.O. had not seen the festival village at Geylang Serai before, we decided to pop down for an evening of Malay sights and flavours. Joining us was my previous flat mate and her boyfriend, my previous salsa dance instructor, and another one of my previous salsa dance mates. The latter even managed to gather another four other people and this added to the fun of the outing.

It was an absolutely memorable night!

Oct 06, Saturday

Our last day in Singapore. My brother treats us and my mother to lunch at Fish & Co. in AMK Hub. It is always fun when we have an outing with the family.

We take a taxi to Changi Terminal 1 and board our flight for Bali that departed around 9.30pm.

We arrive half an hour before to midnight and are greeted by the S.O.’s business partner and close friend, who is happy to see us again after our eight-and-half month absence from Bali.

We arrive home, take a quick shower and crash out immediately. Everything else can wait until tomorrow…