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Road Trip Europe, Day 4: getting ready for Koninginnenacht

We are in the kitchen of Hasan's Dutch home, resting from the day out.

Hasan getting our Canon Legria HFS10 HDV camcorder mounted on his monopod, ready for our evening at Koninginnenacht, or Queen's Night.

Koninginnenacht is the eve of Koninginnedag, or Queen's Day. Queen's Day celebrates the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands.

We needed the monopod because we are all short Asians amongst the tall Dutch. Hasan also mounted his 35mm adaptor on the flash-based Canon camcorder too, so see if we can take even nicer videos.

We are a bunch of gadget geeks, gathered here in Holland.

Road Trip Europe, Day 3: Amsterdam!

It was a rainy day in Holland but we still wanted to explore Amsterdam by bike. We could not wimp out because the residents were still riding what!

Road Trip Europe, Day 2: riding around Zoetermeer

Hasan took us for a lovely ride around his estate and we got to see the slowest sunset ever. Netherlands is really great for riding.

Road Trip Europe Day 2: Den Haag

We go to The Hague in the Netherlands for a day of food and sightseeing.

Road Trip Europe, Day 1: driving from London to Zoetermeer, the Netherlands

We drove all the way from London to the Netherlands, crossing via ferry from Dover to Dunkirk. It was a fun little adventure! (Thanks for the car, Hertz!)

Road Trip Europe, Day 1: on our ferry to Dunkirk

We met Jane and Andrew, two nice students in for breakfast on Sunday morning at the hotel. Andrew traveled TWO hours by coach from Cambridge to meet the mrbrown show gang!

Then we checked out of the hotel and picked up our diesel Mercedes 220 CDI rental car from the Hertz at Marble Arch (thanks to our sponsor Hertz). After a look at my Nokia's Google Maps, Ryan and I drove 140km from London to Dover.

We drove our car into the Northfolk ferry to Dunkirk, France, and checked into our VIP Lounge. First Class is only an extra £8 per person more, so we thought we'd give it a go. There is free wine or beer, a coffee machine, fruits and biscuits and even free wifi! And our car gets priority getting on and off the ferry.

You can see the White Cliffs of Dover in this shot from the lounge window.

It's a two hour ferry ride for the car and the two of us. Then another long drive to Zoetermeer, our final destination.

Singapore Day, London: Pre-showtime Qik video

I did a short live video of us, just before we were to go out on stage.

I know. Bloggers. Simisai also shoot. Even just before a big live performance. Haha!

Singapore Day, London: Pre-showtime

Here are some photos of us, backstage, minutes before we were due to do our live show. The crowd outside were warm and friendly. And we were as ready as we could be. Marc and Ivan is in costume, ready to go.

These are our costumes placed backstage, ready to be worn between the numbers.

These are the three stools on standby, ready to be placed on stage for our last song.

Marc's guitar, waiting to be played for our show.

Singapore Day, London: final rehearsals

Here is a little preview of Singapore Day premises when we were there on the eve of the event, for our rehearsals

Singapore Day, London: at Hampton Court on the eve

Here is a little preview of Singapore Day premises when we were there on the eve of the event, for our rehearsals.

Singapore Day, London: seeing the sights with the boys

We had the day off before the big rehearsal day, so the whole team went out for a full day of walkabout. I showed them some of my favourite sights.

Singapore Day, London: some photos from the airport

Shirley took some shots of us when we were at Terminal 3, and posted it at the podcast site. I thought I'd share a few with you.

You can see the rest at mrbrownshow.com.

Singapore Day, London: the day before D-Day

We're at Hampton Court premises, gearing up for rehearsals and sound checks. During lunch, we snuck over to the food stalls and er, tested the food. This is where we used our charm am shamelessly sucked up to the hawker aunties and uncles for a taste of the fare before Singapore Day. The food was goooood.

Singapore Day, London: riding around Kensington Gardens

We were extremely jet lagged on the first night we arrived in London, and got up at 4am in the morning. After doing some internet stuff, we had breakfast at 6am and then got on our bikes to explore the London around our hotel. We were most pleasantly surprised at how good the riding experience was. Bike lanes, good weather, and a heck of a park made it a great start to our stay in London.

Singapore Day, London: foolin' around in the SIA Airbus A380

When you have a swaku person on a swanky plane, this is what happens.

Singapore Day, London: chillin' at Changi Terminal 3

The mrbrown show team are just hanging out at the Changi Terminal 3, waiting for our ride to London.

Singapore Day, London: Pam and I on the SIA Airbus A380

Pam Oei of the Dim Sum Dollies and I check out our huge seats.

Sometimes, your dream job eludes you

From TODAY online, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong was quoted:

For instance, Mr Gan revealed his “dream job” had been to teach, but the closest he got to it was as Minister of State for Education.

Poor thing, Mr Manpower Minister. Want to be teacher, but only end up as Minister.

Singapore Day, London: We are getting to our plane!

The mrbrown show team is on the way to our Airbus A380. We heard got shopping onboard!

The kids at the Esplanade for The Little Green Frog

When I was away in the US, the wife took the kids to the Esplanade for a performance under the PLAYtime series, called The Little Green Frog.

Isaac, Joy, Mummy and Grandma had a grand time on a Saturday afternoon, watching this interactive performance, sitting on the floor with the rest of the kids.

The Little Green Frog, by Brian Seward, is about a defiant little frog who refuses to do what his Mama Frog asks him to do. Woven into the middle of the story, there is a segment for interacting with the kids in the audience.

The wife told me that the kids were really into the performance. When the performers asked for volunteers to show the audience how to fold clothes, my Joy, all of three years old, shouted "Me! Me!" and the Mama Frog asked her to come up to the front. And Joy really folded the clothes gamely.

If only we can get her to do the same at home. Hmmm.

Isaac volunteered an answer when the performers asked the kids what they like to do in their free time. My boy said, "Read books!"

Grandma said, "Really meh? I thought he prefers to play with his toys more?"

Just so you know, there is free parking with a minimum spend of $30 at the Esplanade mall, anytime between 12 — 5pm.

The next PLAYtime! show is on the 28th & 29th of June 2009, on a Sunday & Monday. The title of the June performance is "Tiger Loses his Stripes plus other stories with Tick, Tack, Tock". This is performed by ACT 3 Theatrics at the Recital Studio. It will last about 40 minutes and tickets are at $15, or $50 if you get the package of 4 tickets. More details at the Esplanade site.