Film - Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows.

Jude, Robert and Steven Fry. Interesting. Much more shoot'm-up in this film than the first,  but well done I think.  The film is peppered with visual clues that have you thinking, oh yes I remember that.  Bit more Sherlock Holmes in this one.  So 4 on the door.

Disappointment, then delight

Master Hawkers competition at Times Square, Penang.  This day was char koay teow day.  I was really looking forward to the tasting session......but so were loads of other people!!!  Queuing 10 deep and more at each stall.

So, I bottled it.  I will track down the winner and go sample for myself.  But the day was not all total loss.  Now have an official Malaysian driving licence.  How cool is that?

B & W progress.

 Julian Davison kindly sent me some period photos of B & W interiors.  Julian's book Black and White: The Singapore House 1898-1941 is the source of the plans for the model.

 Period house, period photographs.

This is turning into a long project.

Posh Kopi Shop

New premises for the kopi shop,

and new look.  Very B & W.

Waiting for lunch....Gek has a way with the lens!!!

Happiness is char kway teow and fresh apple juice.

Shelters.

 Things still surprise in Penang.  A typical ye olde bus stop.

But here comes a new creation,  complete with cart wheeled benches, leaning rail and recycle bins.  Is this the future look of our bottom parkers.  Wonder how many people have missed their bus whilst seated here?

Bukit Genting at dusk

 We returned to the hill...at dusk.

 Lights coming on all over the plain.

 

 As dark came the fishing fleet lights appeared on the horizon.

The garden takes on a very eerie quality in the dark!!!

Penang Philharmonic.

This is totally amateur group of classical music enthusiasts....and they are damned good!!!  We attended their recent concert at the E & O's ballroom (not in pic).

Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No.1, 
Franz Joseph Haydn: Cello Concerto No.1 in C major
Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No.6 in D major.

Impressive yes?  Russian night at the end of December.  Tickets  bought already.  

http://www.penangphilharmonic.org/main/

Bukit Genting, Penang style.

 A new place to us.

 See Rock and Pat visited Penang this weekend and with a hired car we were able to visit this hill.

 Fab views and lovely Thai food for lunch,

 with some weird and wonderful models.

Viewing sunsets are feature of the hill with the park curios lit after dark.  Must return to see the show.

B & W.

 March 31st 2010.

November 2011.  See http://david-dollhouse.blogspot.com/ for more update photos.

Relau night lights. View from the 11th floor.

 An evening beer, feet up on the balcony watching other peoples lives as they go by.

 With the food stalls doing business well into the early hours of the morning.

And to feed the mind,  a brand new college about to open.  Love Bahasa Malay.  Kolej Komuniti.  We need to spell this way. I for one would find writing in my own language a little easier.

Our New Bridge.

 Well, now I am really settled here.  Our bridge, indeed!!  But it is on track to be ready 2013.

 Close up you can see the road platform and the machine making it.  Magic.

And it appears there will be two parts that ships can pass under.  This one is just south of the airport.  Pictures taken from our condo roof.  First clear day for weeks.  Rain, Rain and then more rain.  But thankfully no floods.

Faces

 Gek has turned her brush to faces.

 A little more than life size on 20in x 16in canvases.

In oils, of course.  No prizes for knowing the first and last image.  Chris in the middle.

Surely not?

 A pre-65th birthday eve lunch celebration with Ray, who just happened to be in town.  So it must be true.  65 today.

No,  I am not wearing a wig but yes, my glasses have sustained some damage. The wrinkles are all genuine and the face does return to a zero setting......sometimes.  All in all, a pretty good 65 years I would say.

Book - At Home, Bill Bryson

 

How Bill manages all the facts he seems have in his head is a wonder of nature.  This book is more a collection of information that he perhaps couldn't find a 'home' for.........no pun intended .....than a history of Private Life.  And is a page turner.  There are hundreds of 'Not many people know that' moments.

Film- Johny English Reborn

Well,  very funny film.  You have to like Rowan's brand of buffoon comedy though and apparently a lot of S E Asians do!!!!  With 6 shows a day for the last 10 days, all being full house at Queens Bay Mall,  I can safely say,  Malaysians get Mr. Bean.  So for that reason along 3 on the door.   Good job you cannot be sent to the tower by the Queen these days!!!

New oven.

Now,  why all the excitement about an oven?  Well Gek first laid eyes on this beauty in Australia.  And it was love at first sight!!  She wanted one. Why,  I have no idea.  She just wanted it. But, baggage weight allowances being what they are on budget airlines.....no way!!!  Then, lo and behold, one turned up in our local electric shop in Bukit Jambul!!!  Would you credit it?  Could we find one in Singapore?  No.......but Bukit Jambul,?  Well, yes.

New Hawker Centre.

 I may have just mentioned, not just a few times, about the number of food opportunities on offer here in Penang.  Well,  that number just increased by 50 or more. A new HC on our door step.  Our block is the one on the right in the back ground.

And practically no over lap.  Each hawker offers something different.  5 mutton + 5 chicken satay....9 RM (2 GBP)

Char Kway Chow.......4 RM (1 GBP).  And really good.  I guess Penang apartments are going to evolve without kitchens!!!!!!  who needs them?

Singapore River, dusk

After Dali, dinner.  But first, chill by the river.

with Linden

and dinner with Toby at an interesting Indian place he knows.

Dusk over the old business district. 

and interesting perspectives on iconic buildings.

Dali Exhibition - Distortions

D'surreal 1

In the spirit of DIY,  curved mirrors, a wall of clocks and Dali piece.

D'surreal 2

D'Surreal 3

Dali Exhibition - Other stuff.

I confess to being lost in all this symbolism.  "There is more method in my madness than there is madness in my method."  Hummmmm?

But you do get the opportunity to play with Dali.  Hit the plungers and you create.

Not sure what Gek was signaling but fitted in with the place well!!!