Monday 5 January

Packing morning and J has decided that she is simply going to throw everything in her case, sit on it and close it. Somehow that worked but please don't ask me to lift her case! I have bought very little so am able to pack easily enough however I can't find a souvenir wall tile that I bought yesterday. I'm worried that J has grabbed it up and thrown it in her case but she assured me she hasn't. So I head to the downstairs Cafe where we had coffee yesterday afternoon and thankfully the assistant had found my little bag that I'd managed to leave behind. All our bags now successfully packed. Off to breakfast we go. We have late checkout so are able to relax for a while before it is time to check out and hopefully get a taxi that will accept credit cards as very few do, and I don't have enough cash for the 45 minute ride to the airport. Time to check out and wait for a taxi. Even though from 2026 all taxis must accept credit cards, apparently there are more than 18,600 taxis here but less than 500 currently accepting credit cards! We were so lucky when we arrived here and eventually got to the head of the extra long queue, that our taxi was one of the few accepting credit card for payment. Hotel staff tell us that we have to have cash and we are adamant that we don't have enough. Finally a senior person from the hotel comes outside with us and tells us that he still order a taxi that did accept card for us but it might be a wait. Our wait was only about 5 minutes so with all bags burbled into the taxi we head to the airport expecting a 45 minute ride. We were there within 25 minutes. It is a huge terminal and we manage to find our checkin counter and then work our way through the scanner where my carryon case needs to be searched. I'm asked if I have pepper spray! What??? After searching my little case we find the culprit. It is the Singapore Airlines gift cosmetic bag that they have me on a flight over that I sieved in my car and forgot about. Hadn't even opened it, but it had a tiny pump spray spritzer in it. Hilarious! I am then waved through. Will have to tell Emily about it when I give it to her. When then go through 2 lots of have scan and passport scan, where J gets stoppe at the final scan as the camera doesn't recognise her. How can it not recognise the only woman in the entire airport who has white hair with pink steaks through it! We have a laugh, shrug our shoulders and head towards the lounge where we are very happy to sit and eat and drink until it is time to board. While we imbibe I can catch up on the blog, plus add some photos that J took and has sent me. New Year's eve harbour cruise.

Learning my future by shaking the sticks.

My delicious seafood pizza!

We have had a great time and as I always say, I don't go anywhere to have a bad time! Time to board our flight to Singapore. Goodbye Hong Kong. You've been great!

Food was great as always. Loved the Laksa. No room for desserts. And soon enough we were watching the sunset as we arrived in Singapore.

About a 4 hour wait for our next flight which is due to leave just before midnight. I have to admit that I'm ready for bed now! Our flight home was uneventful and I enjoyed my lobster thermidor but only drank orange juice and water.

Easily enough through immigration and I remembered to collect the duty free. No was or wonderful chauffeur who collected us from the airport and so now safely back home. Time to throw everything in the washing machine. But don't put your passport on mothballs a we are off on our next overseas adventure in April. Safe travels!