15th Anniversary

I had the afternoon off on our fifteenth wedding anniversary, and also the following day. There was quite a lot to fit into this short break, but having just had a longish holiday over Christmas we felt it could not be extended; quite apart from the lack of cash following Christmas! (But at least Alistair got his PSP, which appeared to have totally supplanted every other such thing, until yesterday when he spent the entire afternoon on computer games - this does not worry us too much since he likes things like the Sims and other planning games).

So it was "get collected from work, rush home, get showered and changed and head for the Wedding/Graduation Photographers for some pictures, one of which would be later framed into a big hang-on-the-wall job, rush home, get changed from evening dress into a suit (Alice) or grab a large Tio Pepe (me!), and head out for dinner".

We had booked at the Halia, next to the Ginger Garden in the Botanical Gardens, we walk there so often that a meal there in a decent restaurant (rather than a snack or an ice cream at the fast food places) seemed worthwhile. We had been to the Halia one evening earlier, dropping in with Alistair on an evening walk, not have realised that it rather upgraded itself in the evenings, and thought it would be pleasant. How right we were!

We were taking photos of each other and were kindly approached to have further photos taken by the very helpful and pleasant staff. The one at the top of these whitterings shows us holding up the free pudding they gave us as it was our anniversary. To the left is Alice, pleased with our "free". What a kind gesture, and although we were quite full, just look at my great main course, we managed to demolish it completely with great pleasure.

And I was impressed by the wine list having a reasonable Chablis, usually not available except in the most expensive places since it is a little dry for the Singaporean taste (this came direct from the waiter warning me how dry a wine I was ordering!).

Finally, back home, where we found that Alistair had lit candles around the place just before we got back to give us a romantic setting! Not a bad finish to a great day.