Mum's Wisdom: The Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer

My first experience of a giant Ferris wheel was back in April 1968, in Vienna. I have never had much of a head for heights, so it was with some trepidation I went to the Prater, and had my first view of the Riesenrad.

Whilst I was dithering about whether or not I should buy a ticket, I got chatting to a lady and she said she enjoyed going on the wheel; she had not been on it for some time, so would be happy to join me, and keep me company! So, thus emboldened, I bought a ticket; my new friend bought her ticket, and as the next available car came around, we climbed aboard.

I immediately realised the Viennese Riesenrad was nothing like the big wheels I'd seen in ordinary fairgrounds - the open ones, where you sit two abreast in seats, with legs dangling into thin air - this was enclosed, cosy, and felt very safe; and the views were spectacular!

I watched as we rose higher and higher, and enjoyed the changing panorama as we neared the apex, chatting away to the lovely lady who had given me confidence to go on the ride. Once we were over the top and started the descent, I was really delighted to have overcome my fear, and by the time we reached the ground, I had made a good friend, and we had exchanged addresses.

Over the years, even though I was back to Durban, we kept in touch, writing regularly to each other. After I returned to England in 1970, I was also able to visit her in Vienna, and meet all her family - a very happy reunion! and I still correspond with her wider family, and have visited them in Vienna as well.

Since then, I've also enjoyed various "flights" on the London Eye - that's a great experience, too, and we have booked trips both during the day and at night. It's a completely different experience when it's dark, a wonderful time to enjoys the changing nights scenes, looking over London and up and down the Thames, watching all the lights twinkling on the river and all the buildings lit up; so when Wendy said we should take a trip on the Singapore Flyer, I was very keen to go.

Wendy has enjoyed several trips on the Singapore Flyer, and soon organised the tickets for us. There are information halls which provide a history of the creation of the Singapore Flyer, and we took a little time to read about it, but we were more interested in enjoying the actual flight! and I hope the following photographs will give my readers some idea of what we saw during our journey. As I expected, the views were superb; and on any occasion when I enjoy a ride on a giant wheel, I am reminded of my friend all those years ago in Vienna, who first gave me the confidence to step aboard!