Friday 22 December, Singapore to Melbourne

Singapore by night. Our hotel was at Clark Quay.

We set our alarms for 6.15. We got ready and finished off our packing, then checked out of the Park Regis at about 7.50. All went smoothly at the airport. I managed to buy plasters for my sore heel but not socks which I forgot to pack.

This time our seats were not together but behind one another. The service was very attentive as usual. We had champagne, lunch and wine. I watched two episodes of Upstart Crow. It was hard to doze off so I read the paper and my book.

For tea I had a hot chicken sandwich (rather weird) and some coffee. Then we were almost ready to land. We sped through automatic passport control but the bags took ages to come out. Then we had a fast track through customs.

We took a taxi to our hotel, the Mercure Grand on Swanston. It's in Chinatown which was a surprise. Matthew and Sarah will meet us here tomorrow morning. Maybe they can suggest a nearby breakfast place.