Hi Everyone Aileen Here!

[georgina114]

Hi Everyone! I just stumbled over this thread and thought of signing up. My name is Aileen, a Filipina married to a British. We are currently in Singapore but we still maintain residence in Norfolk, UK and, of course, the Philippines (Naga, City). We travel to the UK at least twice a year to check on my elderly in laws in Kent and our house tenant there.

I love living here in Singapore although we might have to finally move to the Philippines because my husband is retiring soon. My husband works as a Financial Adviser of expatriates here in Singapore The move might also be good for us because I will already be able to personally attend to my business there and also make use of my Law degree, which is of not much use outside the country.

I have just started a blog on Filipino-Western Relationships a few days ago. Do check it out when you have time. It's fairly new so there isn't much there yet. I'll do some more work on it. My personal homepage is in www.******.info. This is what I do when I'm idle, I create sites. hehehe!

Ok have to catch up on the forums now. Bye everyone!

[ginapeterb]

Welcome Georgina,

Glad to hear about your husband in Singapore, you may tell him I was also an FPC in Hong Kong for 2 years back in 2000 to 2002, thanks for telling us all about it, I am also FPC 1 2 and 3 in UK, but in another industry now, I was based in Mid Levels in Hong Kong for De Vere and Partners, I came back to UK in 2002, and have been here ever since.

Best wishes.

[KeithD]

I haven't been to Singapore for over a year , must have about 10 visits stamped in my passport.....

[georgina114]

Hello Peter! It's nice to know you worked in the same profession as my husband. He was an IFA there in the UK when we got married but the regulations there got too difficult for him (he's becoming old you know) so we decided to go offshore. Work here is easier and opportunities here in Asia is better and we get good clients here in Singapore.

Now he's 60 and wants to retire. We're thinking of either moving back there since we still have a house in Norfolk and at least there's NHS but I think I's still young @ 30 so I might as well use my degree and practice law in the Philippines and run our business there. Besides, after Singapore Norfolk would feel a bit too lonely for us especially Kings Lynn. hehe!

Cheers!

Welcome Georgina,

Glad to hear about your husband in Singapore, you may tell him I was also an FPC in Hong Kong for 2 years back in 2000 to 2002, thanks for telling us all about it, I am also FPC 1 2 and 3 in UK, but in another industry now, I was based in Mid Levels in Hong Kong for De Vere and Partners, I came back to UK in 2002, and have been here ever since.

Best wishes.

[georgina114]

Singapore's lovely isn't it? I mean the place. It's clean and tidy and efficient but the people, i dunno... I just seem unfriendly because they don't smile a lot. Filipinas are warm by nature so I'm not use to them. Fortunately, my husband and I doesn't have to deal with them that much. But I love living here. Give me a buzz when you're around and maybe we can meet up.

Welcome Georgina,

Glad to hear about your husband in Singapore, you may tell him I was also an FPC in Hong Kong for 2 years back in 2000 to 2002, thanks for telling us all about it, I am also FPC 1 2 and 3 in UK, but in another industry now, I was based in Mid Levels in Hong Kong for De Vere and Partners, I came back to UK in 2002, and have been here ever since.

Best wishes.

I haven't been to Singapore for over a year , must have about 10 visits stamped in my passport.....

[aromulus]

Singapore's lovely isn't it? I mean the place. It's clean and tidy and efficient but the people, i dunno... I just seem unfriendly because they don't smile a lot.

You haven't seen much of the Uk, then.....

[KeithD]

I found everyone in Singapore great, although they have no understanding of sarcasm, so it's easy to take the pee......mind you....too busy perving on Orchard Road to notice

[georgina114]

Well, I wouldn't I've seen much of the UK but we lived in Norfolk for 2 years pretty much seen areas around there and Kent and most of the sights in London. People there might not be as friendly as Filipinos but at least they are civil. They greet you when they meet you or something.

I didn't say people here in Singapore are sarcastic. They just seem unfriendly because most of them are poker-faced. I'm use to friendly people around me and the Singaporeans just dont strike me as warm.

I don't fancy living back in Kings Lynn, Norfolk though because it's too rural for my taste and the climate in the UK makes me feel very depressed especially in the winter when daytime is short. My husband thinks I'm too "americanized" because I like modern, new & shiny things. hehehe! I'm thinking of selling our house there. I told my husband if he wants to move back to the UK, it'll have to be in London or somewhere near the big cities where I can go to the theatre all the time.

You haven't seen much of the Uk, then.....

[nigel]

Singapore airport and my "toilet" experience! No! I'm not going to say "ooh isn't it clean in Singapore!!" (Although it is of course) I am baffled by a toilet that seemed to flush itself! I sat on the loo to do the big jobs, you know, number two's, and I finished my business, I stood up and the toilet flushed itself!! I'm not kidding! Whether the thing knows you've finished by the weight coming off the seat, or wheather it's done on a timer or something I don't know!! And why haven't we raeched this space age technology in England yet? Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, your my only hope..

[JAMZ]

Singapore airport and my "toilet" experience! No! I'm not going to say "ooh isn't it clean in Singapore!!" (Although it is of course) I am baffled by a toilet that seemed to flush itself! I sat on the loo to do the big jobs, you know, number two's, and I finished my business, I stood up and the toilet flushed itself!! I'm not kidding! Whether the thing knows you've finished by the weight coming off the seat, or wheather it's done on a timer or something I don't know!! And why haven't we raeched this space age technology in England yet? Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, your my only hope..

Hahahha, that flush in the toilet is already very common in the Philippines. I think it has a sensor whatsoever opposite the flush...

Most of the toilets in Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls in Ayala are like that...

[andypaul]

Singapore airport and my "toilet" experience! No! I'm not going to say "ooh isn't it clean in Singapore!!" (Although it is of course) I am baffled by a toilet that seemed to flush itself! I sat on the loo to do the big jobs, you know, number two's, and I finished my business, I stood up and the toilet flushed itself!! I'm not kidding! Whether the thing knows you've finished by the weight coming off the seat, or wheather it's done on a timer or something I don't know!! And why haven't we raeched this space age technology in England yet? Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, your my only hope..

Maybe they watch you incase you drop some chewing gum and the cctv operator presses the button when your done.

You see these hi tech karzzies all over the place

[aromulus]

Of all the airports I have seen in my life, I have to admit that Changi is a world apart.
The relaxing areas with koi carp ponds, orchids and plants around them, take some beating.
The overall cleanliness of the place is something else.

I never had the pleasure to experience the self-flushing bog, as everytime I was there all I needed to do was to empty my bladder.
But I will make a point of trying that one in future...

It sounds better than the waterlogged facilities in Doha.... I wonder if my page 3 of the Sun is still there.....

[jonnijon]

Could not agree more Changi is the best.I only get about 30 mins there on my inbound flight to Phills,but I get 4 hours on my return.Its a pleasure to be there,clean tidy and comfortable and prices in the shops are resonable.

[KeithD]

And why haven't we raeched this space age technology in England yet? Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, your my only hope..

We don't even have public toilets in the UK anymore, and yet you get arrested for peeing in public

Let's all go to No.10 and do a dump on the step

[andypaul]

In westminster council area (thats most of the middle of london from baker st to victoria (next door to where the queen lives) and gordon browns digs.
You can now text a number with the words toliet and they will tell you where the nearest one is, maybe if you put "toliet with flash flush" it will show you nigel

You can pee in public in the Uk there is some daft law unless repealed that It is legal for a male to urinate in public, as long it is on the rear wheel of his vehicle and his right hand is on the vehicle.

[georgina114]

My husband and I are laughing out loud reading the replies here. This is what I love here, convenience on eveything. When we got back to the UK my in laws after living here for 6 months of living here my husband used the toilets in Heathrow and he came out and told me he was disappointed because he had to turn on the taps. hehehe! Spoiled brat!

But is does make a difference wherever we go, it always makes me look forward to coming home. Although it is not really home because were not here permanently. I can't picture myself finally leaving Singapore. But maybe I won't mind so much if my family and friends are around.

I have a question by the way, I dunno how to ask this and my husband couldn't answer my question well. It's just that whenever I go around Changi to fly I usually see western people sleeping on the floor. I very seldom or don't see asians do that. It always amazes me because there are plenty of vacant seats (as the airport is seldom full) that they can stretch themselves into, why the floor? Is that a common practice?

[KeithD]

I have a question by the way, I dunno how to ask this and my husband couldn't answer my question well. It's just that whenever I go around Changi to fly I usually see western people sleeping on the floor. I very seldom or don't see asians do that. It always amazes me because there are plenty of vacant seats (as the airport is seldom full) that they can stretch themselves into, why the floor? Is that a common practice?

Obvious answer? Asians are just hopping between local countries, with usually a max 8 hr flight, Western folk are travellin back home, 16hrs in some cases, 24hrs from Aus.....ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[nigel]

I once slept on the floor at changi airport, my connecting flight to Davao was another eight hours, so I thought I'd try and get some sleep by lying on the floor. I later discovered they've got a proper rest area where you can lie down in comfort! The reason we lie on the floor and you don't, well it's because we're slobs isn't it? hahahaha

[joebloggs]

well for a brit, where ever he lays his hat, thats his home

never slept on any floors, but the ones i've seen, most look like students on a year out back packing, and being students they'll sleep any time and any where..


like scouser keith said, if you've got hours to wait for a flight might as well

[georgina114]

yeah i know... but why the floor

[georgina114]

Really? as in anywhere?

well for a brit, where ever he lays his hat, thats his home

never slept on any floors, but the ones i've seen, most look like students on a year out back packing, and being students they'll sleep any time and any where..


like scouser keith said, if you've got hours to wait for a flight might as well

[georgina114]

I dunno about that. It just amazes me because I would much rather prefer a row of seats or chairs when there's plenty around since it's more comfy & clean.

By the way, Changi Terminal 1 has swimming pools and spas and free internet, etc. the use in case you get delayed next time. Haven't used the pools but the spa and the internet is great.

I once slept on the floor at changi airport, my connecting flight to Davao was another eight hours, so I thought I'd try and get some sleep by lying on the floor. I later discovered they've got a proper rest area where you can lie down in comfort! The reason we lie on the floor and you don't, well it's because we're slobs isn't it? hahahaha

[KeithD]

yeah i know... but why the floor

So we can't fall any further!

[ervenescence]

So we can't fall any further!

and floor has got bigger space compare to chairs.

[nigel]

I think there's a fear that they're will be someone telling you off for lying on the seats like that...

[georgina114]

you all make me laugh. thanks for trying though

[KeithD]

and floor has got bigger space.....

A bit like women's mouths then?

[nigel]

If you try to lie down across the seats in a British Rail train, the nasty old ticket inspector man always turns up and tells you off!! "Don't put your feet on the seats!" that's what he says! He always turns up when you try to lie down or something. I still fear the nasty old ticket inspector man that's what it is! Even when I'm in Singapore! (Why doesn't the nasty old ticket inspector man do something about the chewing gum on the seats? Or the graffitti?)

[andypaul]

Sleep on chairs you might fall off sleep on the floor your unlikely to fall well one hopes.

Like Mr admin says the westners are traveling further and also there is the great and wise saying. Why stand up when you can sit down and why sit down when you can lie down. you never know when its your last chance for some kip.

Also most westners have bigger frame and the seats on planes are just to small to kip on for a lot so better to strecth out and kip on the floor.

[KeithD]

Seats are just fine in my plane