Quotes

"Because I like to party"

 This was Theo's answer to his friend asking him why he arrived for dinner without any top on. 

"Daddy, I don't know how to kiss. Can you teach me how kiss? You and mummy kiss while I watch"

Theo trying to improve all his skill-sets.

Elastic time

The current circuit breaker regulations of Singapore mean that Theo is not allowed outside our apartment unless he is exercising. This means running, cycling or riding a scooter. Playing in the condo grounds, football, rolling down hills, throwing balls or any other toddler like activity is illegal. No throwing water balloons in the carpark or hunting for butterflys in our garden. No looking in the garden pond or making bubbles. 

Some days I don't know what on earth we'll do to use up his energy, stay engaged, be busy or just get through the hours. And yet its now somehow Day 10. Amanda will be available for the weekend after one more day's work and all of a sudden we're looking at week three from four of our lockdown.

It 'twas the night before lockdown

Monday 6th April and there was almost no peep. In one last outing before confinement with an energetic 3 year old, I took Theo to the zoo.

The Singapore Zoo is surrounded by jungle and the fantastic enclosures minimise or remove traditional zoo fencing in lieu of geographical barriers like moats. The jungle seemed alive with wild animals - a huge monitor lizard blocking the path, a couple of colugo awake during the day, plantain squirrels everywhere, wild macaques holding court in front of an exhibit, insects and birds buzzing to a throbbing level of noise.

Zoo animals normally dozing in the humid Singapore day, were awake and alert. The wild dogs were pacing in single file and appeared to be probing their perimeter for weaknesses. The lioness was standing and locking eyes for an uncomfortable amount of time. The red river hogs were skittish. The baboons were vocal and seemed alarmed. It felt as if they were waiting for something, waiting for tomorrow's lockdown and I don't know what.

Theo and I were two of about 8 visitors, the emptiness contributing to an eerie feeling.

I was reminded of a book from my childhood, "Taronga" and the post apocalyptic setting in Sydney's zoo where the semi-wild big cats owned the nights.

Later that day we were hit with a storm of unusual power and length. Singapore is no stranger to heavy tropical storms however this was a strong as I can remember in my 11 years. Incredible lighting and thunder, fat rain lasting all evening and into the morning. Was it washing the city clean or warning of the days to come?

The day before lockdown had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up and a feeling of great uncertainty as we retreated to hide & reflect on the weakness and arrogance of man.

............ and over 2 years later

Well maybe it is time to pick this up again. Its still not a baby blog however there are a few quotes I want to remember.

Daddy: Hi Theo, I have an idea. Lets take a bus ride.
Theo: Hi Daddy, I have an idea. Theo touches the bobbies.

Theo: I did a fart Daddy! I am stinky! Daddy smell me?

Daddy: What are you doing Theo?
Theo: I'm just a rat bag walking around Daddy.

Daddy: You're awake! Morning Theo.
Theo: Where's mummy?

The boys in Singapore

Little TG had a great time with Big TG, as did PG. Theo is a fixture at Forty Hands which apart from home, is his most visited location.

Tales from the crypt

Georgia, Nick, Paul

Ringo must be taking the photo

Hong Kong 38th Rowing Championship

Dishonourable 3rd place

Olympic rowing

Late last year I had the pleasure to get on the water with Singapore's first olympic rower, Saiyidah Aisyah. After returning from Rio Aisyah joined us to christen our new quad which carries her name.

Aisyah was patient, generous and charismatic. Good luck for the Asian Championships Aisyah.

This is not a baby blog

However my child was born at 10:18am on Jan 5th, 2017 and that probably warrants an entry.

At 2am in the morning I was woken by a fully dressed Amanda who was on her way out for a brief check-up. I was assured everything was OK however Amanda wouldn't be able to sleep until the doctor told her that. I was told to stay in bed and after a brief protest, I agreed. But I would take my phone off silent because I am a dutiful & loving husband who is invested in this birth as much as Amanda is.

5 minutes later, as I heard the front door open I came to my senses and chased her down. Arriving at the hospital there were no nurses or doctors and we were a little stressed. Apparently it was the night for deliveries. We were eventually seen to and told we would be overnighting and would see the doctor at 7:00am.

Upon his arrival we are quickly told that this was happening as soon as a room could be found. I was wearing shorts and thongs (not how I wanted to make my first impression), was due at a site inspection in 3 hours and we didn't own any nappies. Amanda had not yet handed over to maternity cover and was mentally far from ready.

With Amanda's shoes stuck down the back of my shorts I waited in the fathers' room in a hazmat suit. After discussing potential bogan names (and the potential classic name Jon Bon Gervay) with the family I was summoned. Despite the early arrival, the baby then decided the he didn't like the look of the light at the end of the tunnel. The doctors were quite tense and frantic, the forceps would end up leaving a bruised and red head, and the anaesthetist was squeezing Amanda from the chest down like the last toothpaste from the tube.

But with an imagined "pop" and a first powerful yelp, a tiny little tadpole weighing in at 2.8kg came into this world.

Theodore Zoli Chan Gervay.

Dad's 70th in Fiji

To celebrate the birthday boy's milestone, Clan Griswold went to Malolo Island in Fiji for the week. I can't quite recall the last time we had all 14 of us together - it has certainly been a while. Snorkelling, diving, kayaking, eating, sleeping, reading, partying, reading, a surprisingly busy week for doing nothing.

A tough start to the trip.

 Tough night conditions.

 And even tougher daytime conditions.

 Just like Fiji water.

 Somehow roped into refereeing the brutal inter-island grudge match. After my island team lost, I find out the tourist boat has gone home and I have to take the players boat home learning Malolo Island is back in the comp after a year's suspension for a record number of yellow & red cards.

 We're quite happy with ourselves.

 Too lovely for a caption.

 Magic days.

And magic people.

On this day, 70 years ago

Happy Birthday Dad

My place in Seoul

ANZAC day 2016

After the completion of the New Zealand and Australian national anthems, I always have such a strong Pavlovian kick-off whistle blowing in my head.

Hong Kong Masters Rowing Championship

I had mixed success in my recent trip to the Hong Kong Masters rowing regatta. I put in a gold medal effort with my four visits for Lord Stow's Portuguese egg tarts - a good effort but I left a little bit out there.  In rowing, we won our age group for the coxed four in the Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club head of the bay. The competition of "nobody else" pushed us hard yet we still managed to win.

In the masters' regatta we started at a strong pace in the coxless four, searching all over the course for a lane that suited us. Not finding one, we decided outside the course might suit us better however the concrete walls edging the river soon encouraged us back towards the course and an unrespectable fourth. Of four.

Borobudur

My first trip to Java and to some places that I love saying the names of - Yogyakarta & Borobudur. Despite being a fairly major Buddhist site - the world's largest Buddhist temple in fact - the town felt fairly untouched by mass tourism. It could be in fact that mass foreign tourism has not entirely overwhelmed Borobudur outside the immediate surrounds of the temple itself.

Our hotel was in a small village in the hills above Borobudur.  Sitting with books, watching the afternoon thunderstorms roll in and then the mists hide and expose Mt Merapi was a fantastic way to unwind from Amanda's ridiculous travel schedule and my enjoyable period at work.

Mt Merapi just visible behind the mists

Borobudur stupa

 Borobudur at around 5:00am

 Borobudur a little bit later

 And a bit later than that

 ......

 graffiti wall

 Green vine snake at the breakfast table

Larry David's admirable attitude to spending time on the unimportant

Inappropriate

I will need to check if Zoli was inappropriate. I know Dad can be inappropriate. Amanda tells me I am often inappropriate - she is clearly getting confused with funny.

credit to Kali for the image

Otters

I was very excited to see a family of otters resting on the jetty when heading out for a row today. I am not sure which species it was however the family of around 6-8 were fairly relaxed. In a number of trips around SEA I have been hoping to see otters and the last place I expected it was a man-made reservoir in a Singaporean industrial suburb.

Get it India

 

Ahoy Hanoi - September