The Singapore F1 Race

Staying in a hotel certainly has it's merits. Not only do I get free use of the pool and gym, I get a free paper in the morning too. I hadn't read newspapers in London for god knows how long. Save for the occasional Metro chucked on the seat next to me in the tube, of course.

Whilst the it's free, I thought it'd be good to learn about Singapore and what it has to offer by reading the paper. Good job I did! This week I found out a day earlier that the Singapore F1 race tickets would be on sale with general admissions, no seating tickets, pretty affordable. (I had to put my GBP-SGD conversion rate hat on to make it look affordable!!)

Next day, in the office, as soon as the clock hits 9am, I hit the website to get the tickets. It was bound to be busy and I was convinced the tickets would sell within the first day. And I was right on the first bit. I could hear neighbouring co-workers dialing the hotline on loudspeaker and getting engaged tone whilst I simultaneously went on the website and rung the hotline in a desperate attempt to secure some tickets.

One person pretended to be calling colleagues by looking at the phone directory whilst dialling the number. Dude, there's no pretending needed, we're all doing the same thing, trying to get through!

It wasn't until 11am before the website magically let me through and purchase my tickets. I was the excited proud owner of 4 tickets to the race in September. The first night F1 race in history. Although some smart arse pointed out that Valencia would be the first to hold a night race in August (Thanks NH!!)

In the afternoon I could hear the yank in the next row yelling down the phone to someone on the hotline who never bothered ringing him back for him to purchase some tickets. I was quietly laughing to myself having secured some tickets.

After sending a round-robin email back to the UK, I realised 4 tickets might not be enough what with the hype over here, my dad and a couple of Brunei mates might want to come over and watch it too. I promptly went back online the next morning to get another 4 tickets.

So now I am the proud owner of 8 F1 tickets. If no one wants it, I'm sure ebay will assist in recouping the money and some!