I’m back in Singapore again, at least for a few days before I head off to Bangkok. British Airways tried to stick me in a middle seat again, but after a little negotiating I managed to snag an aisle.

I was running late. It was all the taxi driver’s fault – he arrived at the house 30 minutes early, so I went racing around the house to get everything ready. We set off about 15 minutes ahead of schedule and were making good progress towards the office when Aude phoned be to ask whether I’d left my keys at home on purpose? Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal, but my remote access token is on my keyring – and without it, I’m pretty much incommunicado. So we made a quick u-turn and were headed back to Canterbury. Aude met us mid-route, so it only cost me about 45 minutes in all.

I made it to the airport on time, thanks to a very heavy-footed taxi driver. Raced into the lounge, grabbed some dinner, then slept for most of the 14 hour flight back to Singapore. Headed to the hotel and did a little work, unpacked, basically got settled for the week.

Decided to treat myself to a Japanese steak for dinner, then a massage (how great is it that the massage places over here are open until 10pm on a Sunday?), now going to head into a hot shower and hopefully get some sleep. It’s a busy week this week and I need all the help I can get…

A Singapore Taxi

Ken Livingstone, take note: If you want me to give up my car, adopt a public transport system like they have here in Singapore. A taxi from my hotel to nearly anywhere in downtown costs less than £2 and they’re readily available. That’s cheaper than a one-way Zone 1 tube ticket, and a lot more comfortable and convenient. They’re licensed, air-conditioned, clean, smoke-free and the drivers are generally very friendly.

And honest. The driver of my cab yesterday told me that he was driving all the way back to the airport to reunite a businessman with his Blackberry. Apparently the drivers get points for returning lost property to its rightful owner, and the driver who collects the most points at the end of each month is given a prize!