Back At My Home Computer (Finally)
 

It's freezing here in RNO - I could do with a few more days enjoying Singapore weather. :) Thanks to everyone who organized this. It was great to see everyone, including mjm and mauld, who were at the first FT DO I attended, in Cannes in 2001. I met Sweet Willie briefly Saturday morning. Sorry you couldn't attend dinner. Thank you miles4all for leading the walk, and sailaway75 for the "car tour". After the walk, I had drinks with them and bseller, wwbgd, seanthepilot and others at the Boat Quay - a delightful way to spend an hour. Great view, sunny weather, conversation ranging from politics to miles.

A little late returning to RNO. The SFO-RNO flight (CRJ50) was weight restricted. Only 48 passengers allowed. A free ticket in the 48 states was offered, but since the flight was already 2 hours late, there were no takers. So UA sweetened the offer to a $600 voucher. I couldn't resist. :) So I managed to get on an evening flight and I'll use the voucher to go to the SYD DO in May. Thank you, UA.

SIN Run '06 or bust!
 

Well it is all done for another year. I had a fantastic time again this year and I think it is fair to say this has truly become a group event. We had several attendees bring souvenirs for the group. We had several first time attendees there with friends. We had events throughout the weekend hosted by a variety of attendees. It has really become much more than being about a great feast of Chili Crabs. And to be honest, I am thrilled at the evolution of the event.

A very warm personal thank you to all of you for joining and making it so much fun.

I saw many familiar faces and met several new people. The logistics could not have been smoother. Even a hiccup with the delayed arrival of the HKG-SIN flight was no match for the travel savvy and flexibility of this seasoned travel group. The party started for me at NRT at the RCC prior to heading to SIN. It continued without interruption at Lau Pa Sat the same night where several mini-groups arrived and departed at intervals.

The next day we had one of the main events, the Crab Fest. This year’s White Pepper Crabs were clear favorites over the Black Pepper Crabs last year. The Chili Crabs were exceptional as well and I cannot think of a good reason to change venues for next year. No Signboard did a great job. Some people moved down to Boat Quay for a few beverages later on when I left there was still a sizeable crowd still chatting and enjoying the evening on into the wee hours.

Sunday started for me at the Sheraton where a group of 12 or so had gathered and we walked to the Newton Circus Food Court for more local cuisine. I bailed after a while to go watch the Jets get undone by the Steelers and most of the rest of the group went on to the Long Bar to take the Historical Walk that miles4all had so kindly organized.

I skipped the night safari and gave way to laziness in lieu of a pool party and now wish I had gotten myself up off the bed. Still, there is next year. : )

My upgrade supplied by RTWSTARALLIANCE cleared and 5 hours of beautiful sleep in business class were just what the doctor ordered.

At NRT, as I bid farewell to all of the people heading for onward connections, I felt a bit sad that it was done, but look forward to seeing many of you again somewhere around the globe in ’05.

Thank you again everybody. This was a great weekend because of you!

Mike

So do we have a date for 2006? :D

We are sure sorry, mjm, that we missed out. Last year in Hong Kong was so much fun, but we actually worked the whole entirety of this last weekend. :( Hunki whined a couple of times about not being in SIN.

Making money is a good thing but this stuff about work interfering with travel is making us a little crazy. :p OK, OK, it is better than the last three years of economic doldrums, but at least we were able to travel whenever we wanted.

Next time around, we will have to remember to be born filthy rich so we don't have to consider letting all of this work stuff interfere with parties.

By the way, since I have Randy P's blessings, I am open to creating custom buttons for other do's as well (preferably the bigger ones, as they take a bit of time to set up and press). Y'all who were at the SIN do and wish to talk up how nice they were [;)], please spread the word.

Hmm... well, they did upgrade me to a suite later that day :D

He must have been running too :) I saw him at immigration in SFO getting off UA 852!

Thanks everyone!
 

Howdy from my home in VT where it is a cool -22°C/-7°F!

Thanks to Mike/mjm for organising this event. For an event with so many attendees, I would have to say that this was different from previous FT Dos as most people actually got to meet and talk. I enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and catching up with others. Despite the difficulty of having to balance my time between some family members I brought with me and FlyerTalkers, it was an excellent trip overall.

airoli: this makes 9 countries for us. Always a pleasure to see you. Oh yeah, despite HCD's embarrassing loss to Fribourg, they've already clinched a quarterfinal berth.
SD1K, Jan, and seanthepilot: no proper goodbyes???-- I'm glad that we actually had time to chat in the Conrad Executive Floor Lounge. Until next time-- where? MUC?
mauld: It was a pleasure meeting you for the first time. What a treat to have you and violist on SQ 22 as well!
violist: Nice to meet up with you again. Thanks for toughing it out with me in that crazy place they call EWR. Welcome back to the USA!
GK and Sean:Thanks for the educating me on the origins of "Maidenhead." Now I'll be thinking of you everytime I set foot in that city. Good to see you both again.
Foady and catwhite60156:To you crazy kids from ORD, thanks for the laughs. Sorry I couldn't party with yall as family members were present (I had to behave).
skye1: Great chatting with you and bringing up good memories of STL. I'll invite myself to visit you there sometime.
sailaway75: Heureux de faire votre connaissance. Please call me when you do end up in YUL or fly out of BTV. Don't you miss the cold weather? A bientôt.
Traveliter: I apologise for not getting a chance to visit with you but many thanks for the wonderful pin!
Kiwi Flyer: Thanks for the cute kiwis!

I hope to see yall next year!

AusTX, thank you for keeping me company in EWR, and glad to hear
that you got home ok. When I got back, My Carol picked me up, and
she was so excited when we got home that she locked her keys in
the car along with her AAA card! I had to burrow into my bags to
get my house key (it was 17F (-8C I think)), and AAA came without
her having to give a card number, and within 15 minutes, a record.

I neglected to thank Faisal (FT name forgotten) for the Tiger Balm.

Finally: guess what happened, Jan? The little creep at Changi
managed to bypass the January 2005 SWUs and take two January
2006 SWUs out of my account!

Cheers to all
M

Back home at last...unfortunately not as warm as Sin
 

After a couple of superb flights to Nrt and Ord, I am back at home freezing my buns off. What a difference 9600 miles can make.
My sincere thanks to all who made our weekend in Sin spectacular...especially Mike/mjm for organizing the dinner at No Signboard, and to William/miles4all for the lunch event, and his great walking tour of Singapore.
It was fun to meet many new faces, and to hang out with some familiar ones. Sweetwillie, we missed you at dinner, but were glad to hear that you were safe. Maud, thanks for your hospitality, beseller for being a great guide, seanthepilot for the tour of the SQ lounge at Changi, sailaway75 for all of your help, and Faisal for the Tiger Balm.
What are the dates 2006?
Boris

The wildlife wasn't the only thing on display at the Night Safari...
 

Ask and ye shall receive... (well, sometimes... ;) )
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeANmLho0buWzjg

Thanks chica!

BTW Gaz....thanks for finally deciding to stop sending me test text messages to my mobile (none since I got home)! And you really should have stayed for the rest of the pool party!

see, alcohol isn't required to be a dork in public.

Thanks so much to all

The delay in Hong Kong made me tired :( - but those white pepper crabs were worth it. :)

The Night Safari was great - not sure there is anywhere else in the world that you can do something like that!!!