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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Highmac on March 04, 2013, 01:50:31 AM

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: Highmac on March 04, 2013, 01:50:31 AM

My brother was giving me an update on my nephew and his family who have just moved to Singapore from the UK; he was telling me about a Skype conversation, but said the connection was not one of the best.

"We're in the service department" said nephew, who was not starting his new job for another four days.

Puzzled response: "What on earth are you doing in the service department - and whose service department?"

"No, no, not service department - we're in a serviced apartment."

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: gunug on March 07, 2013, 01:39:20 PM

I didn't think much about this the first time I read it; but now I wonder just what is meant by "serviced apartment?"  Is this one where the utilities are included or they have someone come around and clean up?

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: Highmac on March 07, 2013, 02:42:04 PM

As I understand it, they are self-catering apartments but with some hotel-type services like cleaning and laundry. It's  just temporary while they look for a "real" home after moving to Singapore for my nephew's work..

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 07, 2013, 03:35:34 PM

"self-catering apartments" More confusing English speak! Or do these apartments actually go get things for you?! I'm fairly sure that the "self" part refers to the person renting the apartment... Not what I call "catered" at all. Excuse me, the doorbell just rang, I think it's the pizza guy catering to my wants/needs...

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: jcarter on March 07, 2013, 06:40:27 PM

Will have to ask our older daughter and husband about that, as they were going to move to Singapore. They loved it, its the cleanest, safest, most friendly place they have ever lived. But the kids(my grandkids) didnt want to move permanently and leave their schools and friends, so they didnt make the move.
Thank god, as my husband and I are older and didnt want to make that trip to see them.
They go over now and then to do their work, but I think I know about those apartments, they are paid for by whoever you work for(educational institution) and you get all the services that goes with that. The school would have been paid for too, but teenagers dont want to leave their friends.
Visit now and then is fine.
So thats how it ended up and we never got to see Singapore.
Jane

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: Highmac on March 08, 2013, 01:43:23 AM

Jim -          

Their 3yo daughter was less trouble (Edit - than teenagers ). She was told they were going on a very long holiday and Daddy has to work

They expect to be away five years.

Apparently they had a very good flight (with Emirates, change at Dubai) until they got to Singapore. As they were coming in a side gust caused the pilot to go round again. While they were going round, a tropical storm blew in and they were diverted to Kuala Lumpur. There they had to wait while the plane was refuelled - and the brake-pads changed. From a car driver's point of view that sounds a bit scary, but I guess they're changed routinely after a set number of landings.

Title: It may be what you heard - it's not what I said
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 08, 2013, 08:14:18 AM

QUOTE

I guess they're changed routinely after a set number of landings.

Pretty much. And it's actually a bit easier to change them than on most cars, at least ones you and I might have dealt with! It was also probably done since they were waiting for the weather to improve at Singapore. Plane's on the ground, we have an hour more than we need, put the mechanics to work.

The "gust" was probably a result of the "tropical storm" that was moving toward the airport. Those winds are often the result of rain caused downdrafts in a large thunderstorm. When that downward moving wind reaches the ground, it has to go sideways. If that gust is from behind the plane, the actual airspeed can drop by the speed of the gust. If that speed is 25 knots or more, it can easily approach the safety margins built into the normal air speed for that phase of flight. And it's the AIR speed that keeps the plane in the air, of course. The gust was probably enough of a warning to the crew that the storm was getting too close and too dangerous for safe operations. Besides, most thunderstorms are moving relatively fast; give them even 30 minutes and they'll be 15 miles away! Sounds like a great and correct call by the crew!

Only a fool argues with 'mother nature!' Pick your battles and choose only those you have a good chance of living through!