Billy the acrobat

Just back from an island off the Singapore coast, called Bintan where we had 4 glorious days after a very rocky start indeed.

Mild histrionics by me when we arrived at ferry port at Singapore to find we had 3 hours to wait til next ferry. Mark saved the day by getting out his laptop, connecting it to the power supply in the cafe (illegally) and whipping out a dvd of Toy Story.

Boys happily occupied for 2 hours and after a swift visit to the toy shop in the terminus to get us through the last few hours, we headed for the ferry.

One hour later we descended into the chaos that is Indonesian immigration at Bintan. After nearly a day travelling we were faced with a sea of faces and one solitary man at the booth. No movement in the queue, except backwards - faced with Asian indifference to queuing.

Half an hour later and we can't take much more of Archie and Billy bickering and trying to keep them apart. Archie to the rescue... he lets out a bellow of rage when I refuse to carry him any longer, followed by howls and attempts to pummel my face with his fists. An angel escorts us right up the queue and out through customs and fasttracks our passports. phew..

After another hour sitting on a bus, wearing a club med dog tag and lots of muttering about never coming here again, amid enforced jolliness we arrive 45 minutes later at Club Med Ria Bintan.

But the next day dawned bright and there followed 3 glorious days. Staff there are just brilliant and infectiously cheerful. No cheesiness, just fun, great with children and very happy go lucky. Also incredibly talented.

Billy went to circus school. Harnessed up, he climbed up to a platform about 30 feet above us and then swung off on a trapeze. Archie had juggling and tennis lessons - the former rather ambitious since he can barely catch even one ball; we spent hours every afternoon alternating between the sea and the pool,and Archie (rather too happily for my liking) relinquished his mickey mouse armbands. Mark had some sailing lessons - and got becalmed - and I discovered some new muscles in my arms on the driving range.

Weather blissfully hot and considerably less humid than Hong Kong, a great break and would definitely think about going back if it weren't for the ferry and immigration. M says we were unlucky that day....

J