Posts tagged birthday

Happy Birthday little ol’ me

January 16, 2012 · Filed under my life, thoughts, writing · Tagged , , ,

Is it the coming-of-age feeling that gets us so pensive as we turn another year older? Or is it the combination of that and the proximity of the arrival of a new year?

I left the office today at an untypical hour where the sun still shone. That perpetual guilt of “I could have done more” plagued me but I had to go. I wanted to spend the evening before my birthday with my family and I was adamant I didn’t usher in my birthday at my work desk.

Thanks to good ol’ Stars, my mood lifted a little as I plugged in and walked and I realised it’s been a while since I had this persistent sense of… unhappiness – if that’s the right way to describe it. You know, the feeling that you want more out of your life yet you know you may not entirely deserve it because you ain’t giving more anyway.

It’s probably a combination of factors. First, a relentless flu bug that threw me off track physically and professionally. From there, it was a downward spiral of feeling demoralised and in a state of isolation and self-disappointment. This whole journey is almost… expected. I’d been in a great place for months now and when I recognised its presence, I chuckled a little to myself. Life is all but a cycle, no?

Then when you ain’t feeling so invincible anymore, suddenly different sets of truth seem to make themselves more apparent. And that sense of “I could have done more” persists… I could have been a better friend, daughter, sister and aunt. I’m not caring enough. I don’t communicate enough. I’m not selfless enough. I don’t spend enough time with them. Hell, I’m not even a good enough yogi, what with just a weekly practice…

And as I witness some friendships and relationships die a slow death, I cry a little to myself as I debate between being a victim and a student. I tell myself nothing lasts forever and I can only be grateful they once were but it’s a hard pill to swallow…

I don’t mind all these pensiveness, really. And no, I don’t quite mind turning another year older either. I was telling KT last night that it’s hard to hate ageing when you love the lessons you’d learnt that could only come with age.

We all complain a little as the number scales up bit by bit, but will we really exchange what we have right now for where we were five years ago or even two years ago? I’d loved my life then but I love new lessons too much to wanna stay forever 25.

So, here I go… A happy little birthday to myself. :)

PS: Sorry if you’re expecting the usual uplifting post. I’m sure I’ll be back in no time. ;)

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The barely-awake weekend and that birthday weekend

January 25, 2010 · Filed under fashion & shopping, friends, Hong Kong, love, my life · Tagged , , , , ,

Ah… Sorry for the comatose state. Three continuous nights of sleeping past 2:30am are not good for me at all! My thinking becomes incoherent and all the social obligations every night of the week had me screaming (silently) for some alone time.

Friday night was spent with the colleagues at the KTV. I like the people I work with – they are an awfully funny crowd. However, I was so tired and deadbeat that I spent most of the night huddled up in a corner and worried about Matt instead. They boy was on his way to his hotel from the Jakarta airport and I couldn’t get him for a good two hours. And yes, I get pretty paranoid whenever I can’t reach him in that particular city.

I finally got to turn in at 4am to wake up with a jolt five hours later and had to rush for another morning movie, this time with Karlye and Ray to catch An Education. Gotta say Carey Mulligan is really quite an alluring young woman with her soft full lips and quizzing eyes. She reminds me a lot of a more youthful Katie Holmes. No?

To market, to market

It was then a day of eating, couch-surfing (from mine to Ray’s), H&M, wet market shopping and more eating. Was supposed to spend an arvo with my Japanese colleague but it was a pity she called to cancel cos of a headache. Must be all the alcohol forced on her the night before – haha! It was a pity cos I was hoping to spend some time with her but ah well, as she said, it means I have to go to Tokyo then! That girl drinks a pint of Guinness like I drink my favourite School Bus smoothie. How impressive is that?!

Oh yes, I meant to continue with the blogging of my birthday weekend. I was dragged around a couple of shops with Matt on my birthday cos that boy “couldn’t shop without” me (in his words!). And you have noooo idea how much I hate shopping with company. Honestly. No, I’m not the kinda girl you call out for an afternoon of shopping. I become a man when I shop with people. “Ugh, don’t you already know what fits you?!” “Why must you try everything?” “Just match it with whatever you deem fit!”

A very pathetic me squatting and waiting for my bf to try on outfits

Yes, I love retail therapy. Alone. If I spent more than 20 minutes in a store – it’s too long. So when Matt sentenced me to 45 mins in H&M (menswear section) and another 45 mins at G2000 and then another (!!!) at Ted Baker, I was ready to call foul. But I coaxed myself into the nice girlfriend role and tried to be patient instead. In the end, Matt ended up with 10 pieces of clothing after a couple hours – not too shabby! And I gotta pick up my two dresses at Joyce so I was pretty happy.

Birthday dinner with my boy

It was such a simple weekend but I really, absolutely loved it. So much so that I kept relieving some wonderful moments in my mind. :) I wouldn’t trade that sorta birthday celebration over anything else – honestly.

I got to the office on Monday to receive my birthday present from him!

Whee!! The bookworm me has always been fond of the kindle but it was such a rare gadget amongst the people I know so I wasn’t too sure of getting it for a long time but I’m absolutely stoked Matt did buy it for me. Now, I can bring 15,000 books with me anywhere I go! Not that I have 15,000 books already on the kindle! I just bought my first and can’t wait to devour it. :)

Over the birthday weekend, Matt also passed me something in a Front Row paper bag. When I saw it, I immediately squealed: “OMG! It’s from Karen!?” Hee! She’s the only friend I know who would get me anything from that cool boutique in Singapore so I knew it gotta be her. And before I tore open the bag, I somehow had a hunch what she got for me:

I first saw this belt with her about a year ago and we were both musing over how gorgeous it was but well, it was over my belt budget so I didn’t get it and I’m surprised the girl remembered I like it! Loves loves you pal! That was so, awfully sweet! I’m now thinking up of outfits just so I can wear the belt!

I just have to gush a little on the brand of this belt – FLYNOW. Damn, I could write an entry just on it. It’s a Bangkok-based fashion label and its Spring/Summer 2010 collection is just… delectable. I love its edgy tailoring-meets-classic sensibilities.

And in keeping up with the supposed tradition that I started last year, I got myself a new pair of brogue-inspired sandals this year!

Meanwhile, the girls got me the pair of Ray Ban and S/S 2010 Rick Owens dress, which I requested for:

And the guys here in HK got me some spa vouchers, which I love cos I always adore practical gifts like that. Thanks for all your FB birthday wishes and love!

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January babies

January 22, 2010 · Filed under family, food, Hong Kong, love · Tagged , , , , ,

January has became a special month in my family since the arrival of Kiks and Seth. The little boy is an Aquarius while Kiks and I are both Capricorns so I often attribute her likeness to me as being a fellow Capri.

Anyhow, my family and I had a small celebration for the prissy little girl when I was still back in SG on the 1st, before they had their kids party on the 10th.

Birthday cake courtesy of Uncle Matthew who had a hard time deciding

The little girl is a smart one. She’d been saying she was three years old but right after she blew the candles, she changed her tune to saying “I’m four years old” and had been religiously sticking to that number since. Well done Kiks!


Sighhh, I really love these little guys so much that nothing cheers me up as much as talking to them and thinking of them. :)

And then it was my turn becoming 27. The funny thing is, as you get older, I think you get more nonchalant about getting older?! It’s only when you’re younger (mid-20s and below?), you feel so resistant about the whole age number getting bigger deal. In fact, I can’t wait to get 30. Cos between now and 30, so much can happen and I’m incredibly excited about that!

Anyway, Matt was so sweet to fly up this year (more like I would throw a hissy fit if he missed it again this year. hahahaah) and I was more stoked about his presence more than a mere birthday. HK definitely feels differently when he’s around. I feel more like a tourist when he’s here and I could see the city through his eyes, which were wearing a rosier-tint than mine would. And somehow, the rude people don’t matter anymore and the cold felt somewhat more manageable

Brunch place on Sat

We trawled through the wet market in my neighourhood after brunch on Saturday to get some fresh food for a casual birthday celebration on Polly’s rooftop. And anyhow, OMG, what had I been missing out on all this while?!!?!?!?! I’d been complaining about how expensive grocery shopping is in HK supermarkets and I never bothered with the markets cos I was certain the stallholders would try to charge me ridiculous amounts of money once they heard me speaking in English. But noooo, they were all honest as hell and oh gawd, the food was REALLY REALLY CHEAP!

An entire fresh fish for S$3! 1kg of yong tau foo stuff for S$6! Fresh tiger prawns for S$1 each! White mushrooms for S$2/200g! I’m so going back there!!!

OK… Totally auntie of me to get that excited about shopping at a wet market…

My fave white choc cheesecake was da bomb!

On Sunday, Matt and I scrambled to get to the movies after waking up just 15 mins before showtime. :P It was a bloody early movie at 9:05am as well! But gosh, Avatar in 3D is sooooo worth it, isn’t it?! Brunch was an awfully expensive dim sum at a traditional local restaurant. But it was funny cos the next table seemed to be filled with some Cantonese opera veterans??? They were happily singing and comparing notes, I think. Well, it looked like some sorta discussion about certain notes and keys.

And then……. I’m too sleepy to continue. Hahahahaahah, bloody anti-climax, I know. But cut me some slack, I’ve been incredibly busy and tired this week! Night world!

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Funny Seth

January 10, 2010 · Filed under family, Singapore · Tagged , , ,

Today is Kirsten’s fourth birthday party with her kiddy friends! And I missed it again, just like last year. :( It was initially planned for the 1 Jan when I was still around but unfortunately, Che got the chicken pox! So all party plans had to be postponed, if not the kids might just run away thinking she was a leper. We did, however, have an intimate celebration as a family. Will post the pics when Che does email me the photos…

But then again, just like the previous year, Matt brought his laptop again and I logged onto Skype just in time to see the birthday song part. Kiks saw me on the screen and pointed me out in the midst of her little friends singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her and I got that cheap, self-important, stoked feeling for a few seconds.

This year’s ‘cake’ was three tiers of really cute cupcakes, which I think Che got Lianne (Terelle’s mummy) to make. I spied Matt eating a couple and he claimed: “Only four”. *raises eyebrows*

Being ‘part’ of the celebration was really the highlight of my boring (but extremely relaxing) weekend. I caught a huge chunk of season 3 of Heroes and did lotsa reading, cooked up quite a storm so I’m feeling rather satiated!

Anyhow, check out Didi’s outfit below!

Hehehehehe. Last year he was dressed as a bumble bee (my gift!) and this year, he’s a tiger (his daddy’s doing). Well, at least he knows how to roar now so I guess there’s a little credibility? Poor boy, his sister gets to be dressed up (she was wearing the white singlet and purple tutu skirt I got her from H&M) but Seth gotta be animals every year… :(

Poor boy but it’s OK cos it’s funny to us adults. Hur hur hur

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Cutie Kristy and the makan gang

December 18, 2008 · Filed under friends, Singapore · Tagged , , ,

When I was back in SG, I was stoked when I got to meet up with the makan girls at PF’s new place at Eastwood and most of all, Kristy! (Sorry girls, still love yall. But got chubby baby lah. A bit hard to resist.)

PF’s place is damn gorge and seriously, after being holed up in HK, I would seriously have no idea how to fill up my home if it’s that size. Then again, knowing the hoarder that I am, I may just be able to.

For the first time, we didn’t part at the usual 10pm. Since we were so cosy with aircon, hot green tea and in the comfort of a home, we chatted till 2am! Indeed a first with the makan girls. But it was thoroughly enjoyable. I love that they like my gifts to them and honestly, as a gift-giver – that’s the best gift in return. :)

Moreover, it was Germ’s birthday and we were seriously (I should stop saying ‘seriously’.) honoured that she chose to have dinner with us. Too bad she stay in the far West and had to make an early return.

And Kristy is the cutest thing ever!!! She’s so chubbs and whatevs and cute that I wanted to bring her home for a night. PF’s immediate willingness had me think twice though…

She was so cool – didn’t fuss at all the whole 6 hours I was there. Could sleep wherever, whenever and more admirably, oblivious to her mum’s incessant chatting. hahaahahah

She cooed and laughed so much that night, it was totally hilarious! Apparently, according to PF (in her own words ok!), I was the first person to make Kristy laughed like that. Woot! Yes, making kids like me is a life-long goal of mine. I would even go my way out to bribe the kids if I have to just to make them like me.

Pics!



<3

Seth, why can’t you be just as chubbs!?! Tsk.

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