One of the first things we did after moving to Singapore was visit all the different sporting clubs to find the place where Kingsley could join a squash league.  Though many of the clubs we visited had more facilities than the Singapore Cricket Club, Kingsley knew that the SCC was to be his new squash home the minute he walked inside.  The rich history and central location of the Cricket Club cannot be surpassed and we have enjoyed our membership there during our time in Singapore.

A bit of history....The SCC was established in 1852.  The Club built its first wooden-hut pavilion in the 1860's and completed its second pavilion, a single story bungalow, in 1877. Membership then numbered at 98, but increased to 378 members by 1891. 

Although the early members were ordinary British merchants, the Club soon grew in standing. Governors of the Straits Settlements were some of the Club's early Presidents. During the Second World War, the Japanese used the clubhouse for several activities, including the Military Administration Department and a Japanese officers' tea-room. It served as an important meeting place, with the Japanese calling it Syonan-ko Tonan Club. Since independence, the club has opened its membership to locals.

Timeline
1837 : First game of cricket played in Singapore at the Padang.
1852 : First meeting to formalise the setting up of a cricket club.
1853 : A total of 28 members from the British mercantile community signed on with the club.
1860s : A wooden pavilion formed the early clubhouse.
1870s : Lawn bowl was introduced with regular tournaments by 1898.
1875 : An annual tennis tournament was initiated.
1877 : A second version of the clubhouse was built.
1884 : This third structure forms the core of today's clubhouse.
1892 : Hockey was introduced to Singapore not long since the game was introduced to England in 1849.
1927 : Charles Gordon Macartney and his Australian cricket XI visited the club.
1937 : Sir Julien Cahn's XI became the first English cricket team to visit the Singapore Cricket Club. They played a three-day match against Malaya.
1964 : A Commonwealth XI team's visit brought in eminent players. It included cricketer E. W. Swanton, captain Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie and great players such as Gary Sobers and the Nawab of Pataudi.
1980s : The Rugby Sevens became an international game although it had be played competitively at the Padang since the 1940s.
1992 : Inaugural game of the SCC Hockey Sixes.
Oct 1993 : First international Cricket Sixes played at the Padang, organised by the Singapore Cricket Association.
2009: The Wood's become members of the SCC

We have a new family of otters that now live in the Kallang river right by our condo.  It isn too often that I am able to spot them as I walk across the bridge to and from the MRT station.  They are nimble swimmers and can stay underwater for a long time making it challenging to catch a glimpse of them.  However, a few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be on an evening run as the mama otter brought a fish she caught to share with all her babies.  The whole clan was together and in playful spirits which was sweet to watch.

Otters in Kallang River from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

Baby otters in Kallang River from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

Mr. Marmalade and Polar Bear meet from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.
Feeding time at the zoo from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.
Kittens play with new toy from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.
Mr. Marmalade, Polar Bear, Bessie and Essie play from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

Little Luna from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.


Luna crawling from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.


Luna Bottle Feeding from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

Luna, Polar Bear, and Essie play from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

Our latest kitten, Mr. Marmalade was found by the side of a major freeway (PIE) at the age of 3 weeks old. Skin and bones with no mother in sight, a good Sammaritan brought him to the SPCA, who promptly called me to see if I was ready for another kitten project.  I don't normally agree to take only one kitten. They are SO much more work than two or more as you have to be their everything and they become very very attached.  In fact as I am writing this now Mr. Marmalade is taking a nap at my feet and will sleep happily as long as he is touching me.  The minute I move he will wake up to follow me to wherever I am going next.  It may sound endearing but it gets old, fast!

But something about how the SPCA was asking, I knew I was meant to care for this kitten.

To celebrate Kingsley's birthday this year I made arrangements to try out two new trendy spots in the city. Smoke and Mirrors is a rooftop bar perched on top of the Old Supreme Court Building with unblocked panoramic views of the Padang and Marina Bay.  That alone is reason enough to visit, but in addition the drinks are unique and delicious.