F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Visited Marr's bachelorette pad today. Dinner was a few simple (but splendid!) dishes she's bought from the hawker stalls. Marr and I have been classmates since Primary One. She and I were probably the only two people who's remained classmates through our six years in HPPS. The rest? Well, they've either remained in A class or gone down to E, F classes... but what's more significant, is how we've all re-connected, thanks to the wonders of Facebook.

We've been trying to rope in new faces with each meet-up, but have not been entirely successful. Almost everyone's married with kids in tow, so making an effort for dinner would involve some kinda logistical arrangement with their spouses, which in most cases, seem to be an uphill task.

So here we are, just the few of us. Oh, with one kid in tow.

L-R: joseph, marilyn, ME, leon, kevin, serene and daughter whose name i have forgotten

The next dinner-do is already in the works, but I may unfortunately not be able to attend as date is in conflict with an ongoing shoot...

Oh, and just for the sake of having more photos in this post, here's Marr's very concise instructions that got me to her pad:

the instructions

the daunting flight of stairs

the walk



All Hail The Queen

The girlfriend's just completed her stewardess training in the UK and bought this pair of bling for me. It's so comfortable, I can't wait to wear it out! Thanks, D!

union jack slippers

here's a closer look at the bling

love the emblem too!

   

The one about Olivia.

All babies are cute. Until they learn to speak (too much) and demand for things. Little Lexie turns 1 month this Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing her in person. Soon.

Happy Labor Day!

I'm glad I didn't have to labor today. Woke up according to my body clock, enjoyed a nice long shower, and then caught an episode of Desperate Housewives, in between games of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook. I wish everyday was like that... oh! Hang on, perhaps not. Cos if I were not doing anything everyday, it means I would not have the means to not do anything!

Went out for a short while today with the dollies. Shopped a little, dined a little... it was an overdue do for W's birthday. All of us are now officially into our *coughs* late *coughs* 30s *coughs* but 30s is the new 20s right? Speaking of which, I should really start jogging to maintain shape. Or whatever it is I have left! Heh heh. Did I also mention I've already bought the shoes!? Now I just need to get my ass downstairs and move those legs.

Moving along... here are the better photos from today:

the "bling" (Chomel)

more "bling" (Swarovski pen)

sandwiches and chips: Robert Timms

bacon and mushroom fettuccine: Robert Timms

I hope everyone's well-rested and ready to conquer the rest of the week!

Kin Ngid Ngai Hee Sentosa.

Thanks to @Sentosa_Island folks on Twitter, I got Boo entry into their newly-launched Port Of Lost Wonder (POLW). The aunties and uncle were there early to soak up the sun but by the time Y and I arrived, all we soaked up was the rain (ok, I'm exaggerating but it did pour).


Port of Lost Wonder, Palawan Beach, Sentosa

rain, rain, go away!

To stay out of the rain, we had lunch at Port Belly. Food was so-so, service was blah, but I take it it's the first day of its opening? So all's forgiveable.


my Cappuccino (that came with a free bottle of mineral water - WHY?)



my penne pasta/bolognaise

the boo and the number tag she wanted to bring home!

the sleeping boo

It was a veeeery long day... but not a bad thing though. I got to see my aunties and uncle whom I don't usually meet. And at moments (which were alot of moments actually!), the uncle seems to have forgotten I'm no longer 13.  It's amazing my cousin and I still remain kinda close, even after all these years (largely due to the wonders of msn), and it's more amazing to see an almost split-image of the cousin in boo (although not in terms of mannerisms - as you can see the next few photos to follow!)

with the boo, everything's a blur!

unlike her younger cousin, K, boo does not understand the concept of "look at the camera and smile"

Here's a little boo trivia:
Boo buries face in her mother's iPhone 3/4 of the time.
Boo loves watching Pocoyo on repeat.
Boo calls me "spider yi" (the spider aunt).
the cousin thinks boo is a sam-seng (gangster!)

I like boo. I think you would too, if you've met her.

{kin ngid ngai hee sentosa = I went to Sentosa today, in hakka}

Happy Birthday, Dot.

Here's what we did to celebrate D's birthday today, after we walked 15min from where we parked, to Halia @ The Botanic Gardens:

iced cold drinks to cool us down
L-R: iced cappucino, infusion tea

the uninvited guest

the spread

the lemon meringue was too lemony for my linking, but the chocolate macaroon was deeeeelicious!
L-R: lemon meringue tart, chocolate macaroon

these shoes are made for walking... guess which one am I?

Took us another 20min (and map), to find our way back to the carpark! And then another 15min before we decided where to head to next: Dempsey Road. We stumbled across this Korean BBQ restaurant and was immediately drawn to it > only because we haven't had Korean cuisine for a while. Time check: 630PM, and we've just had high-tea not too long ago. But we figured the stomachs could take on more food, so we decided to stuff our faces again (or as the boyfriend would say "feed my ankles")

CHANG Korean BBQ Restaurant @ Block 18C Dempsey Hill

assorted meat: beef and pork

ginseng soup

fatty pork and corn

the very tasty sauce that I eventually cleaned out at the end of the meal!

So we walked and ate, and walked and ate again. And although it poured earlier in the afternoon, we're glad it stopped in time and the weather was kinda breezy/cool (albeit a little humid!) I hope you enjoyed the day, D. Cos I sure enjoyed the food *burps*

Happy Birthday, Yvonne.

The cousin and I are born in the same year, which brings along this competitive streak amongst the relatives, to see who does better in what and when. I've never been a bright kid. She's always the smart one next to me. Don't get me wrong, I love and adore my cousin. Sundays at the grandma's was fun only because I knew she was going to be there. Growing up, we would visit the playground at grandma's, we would jump on the grandma's bed (when she's not looking of course), bathe in the grandma's big ceramic urn and play with water until we've been screamed at to come out of the bathroom! I even had an exclusive cookie club that had only two very important club members! Me and her! Even her brother wasn't granted access/membership (that he still remembers till this day).

And then we grew up. She went to Australia for her studies. We sorta stopped being in touch for a while. And then she came back. I don't remember how or when, but we started writing each other through cards/snail mail. She told me once her dad thought shes's been writing letters to herself cos the handwriting on the envelope looked just like hers!

We grew up some more. Her parents brought me on my first plane ride: to New Zealand and Hong Kong, when I was just 16. There's just so much between us to share and I could go on and on... but for now, I'm so happy she's living a wonderful life with a beautiful girl (and another one on the way!) and a doting husband.

So to you, Yvonne, HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I love you!

Colours

Never got a chance snap pictures of these. Thank You, my dear cousin, for all the lovely cosmetics! I love 'em! (Although I haven't gotten to use any of them)

L-R: Ed Pinaud Ombre A Paupieres Lumineuse Luminous Eye Shadow in 02 (blue) and 06 (green),
Paul  and Joe face/eye color 064, Cle de Peau cream eye color 1, Shu Uemura rouge in 786, eyebrow gel in hazel brown

Hoorah or Blah?

I have lived thirty seven years of my life as of today. I am single. I am financially-independent. I am healthy (or so I think). I have friends. Some good ones, I'm glad. I have a life (as in I'm breathing, I'm living, kinda life. Not so much of a balanced life kinda life, which I totally do not have. Ha!)

Birthdays don't hold much meaning for me these days. As with Christmases, new years and valentine's... I wonder if I've outgrown all of these celebrations, or I'm just headed down the pessimistic route of nonchalance. Or maybe I just don't celebrate enough of such occasions to love it (hmm... this explanation sounds kinda logical now that I think/am writing about it). Now if you think you can save all your presents because of what I've just said; hell no. Please keep the presents coming, thank you very much. Not wanting to celebrate the occasion doesn't equate to not welcoming the gifts. It's always nice to be remembered with a little token of something. It doesn't have to be expensive. It's really the thought that counts. Actually, even a written card of sorts will work for me.

The girlfriends bought me a House of Harlow cocktail ring! (Well, truth is, I actually told them to buy it for me!) THANKS MUCH, you and you! I totally dig it. It's gorgeous. Like freaking huge gorgeous.

I also had dinner with the gang and it was nice... it's been quite a while since we needed a table for 6 (+ a baby chair) :)

The boyfriend stayed up to apps me "happy birthday" and then he probably @FellAsleep.

The girlfriends apps me about shopping and cordyceps and welcoming the God of Wealth, and then I had to remind them to wish me "happy birthday" amidst all that excitement - HAHAHA.

I'm happy. But I supposed I could always be happier.

Another round of feasting.

I think long weekends, public holidays and not going to work is a bad idea. All I do is eat and sleep and eat and sleep. I feel totally restless at home plus I get a stiff neck from watching dramas off my laptop while half-lying on the couch...

I had two rounds of lou hei today; once at Dan's and then at Crystal Jade La Mien Xiao Long Bao, with the gang. Eating is actually pretty exhausting business, especially when we kept getting reminders to scoot off at 7PM (no thanks to limited seating and dinner reservations at the restaurant).

too slow to whip out my camera so I only managed to catch the lion's ass!

lou hei

"the ritual"

"the suspicion" as D looks on and wonders if the staff is doing/saying it right

tian tian mi mi

xiao long baos

dessert @ haagen dazs

fondue

MJ ring we bought for D's birthday! I loved how heavy it felt on my finger.

mine!

my awesome House of Harlow sunburst cocktail ring!

 *bliss*