It was my best birthday thus far. And the best part is, nothing was planned by me!

Due to work, I totally left out my usual birthday party gathering planning this year. No time nor energy to think about this as I do not want to grow up anymore! Time’s passing too quickly for me to catch up.

The story started a day before my Birthday. I don’t know many days in advance my dear Diana started the planning. If my memory is right, I was told about a team meeting (which I don’t recall arranging for) a week before. And than few days before the surprise, Diana told me to stay till 9pm on Thursday as she had to leave by 6pm and some bloggers will be coming late to collect stuff from our office that night. And that’s all planned and directed by her!

On the day of the surprise, she than SMS me in the morning – The maid just left. She say the fridge connector don know what spoil. so don use or open fridge until repair. repair coming later. So I was told not to go near the fridge as she’d planted my surprise in there!

The whole day passes with occasional giggling from her, she going in and out of the office and constant MSN chatting between Uzyn, Kahwee and her. I knew they are planning something, but I thought it’ll be for my actual day as we were planning to go for lunch at Science Centre at 11.30am! Yes, that’s what we planned. Of course, all part of Diana’s set-up!

At around 6.30pm, Diana entered the room and switched off all the lights. That’s when Abang entered with my birthday cake with lighted candles! And Diana gave me this beautiful bouquet of lilies and a present they got for me. All these surprises brought me tears lah! THANK YOU ALL VERY VERY THE MUCH!!! Really didn’t expect such big surprise and so many things arranged for me!! I cannot thank enough lah! This is my BEST birthday ever! Spending it with people (my hardworking team and Abang) that matters most in my life now. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!

Ever since Diana bought her DSlite, she’d been telling me how much addicted she is to it and kept asking me to go buy one so that we can challenge one another in the games. Than she keep saying if I don’t buy, she will buy one for my birthday. Which I told her not to lah! Its so expensive can? But this woman very stubborn lah! She really went to buy a DSlite for me!! A white one somemore! Matching with my PSP and my N97! If I hadn’t changed my macbook, everything would have been white! Than I would have to get a white camera to match it. LOL!

I soooo want to squeeze this woman!!! I’m going to start planning for her birthday in October! I know I sure can control my giggles and make it an even more surprise surprise for her! Hurhur!

She even planned for dinner and a KTV session! Again she’d been asking me to join her at KTV for countless time! And that night, it happened! All thanks again to Diana and Uzyn’s suggestion. And you know what? Diana, Uzyn and Kahwee all can sing one wor! Diana’s the sweet sweet singer, Uzyn the rock and country type and Kahwee don’t know what songs to choose so we had agar-agar what he knows and choose for him. We had lots of fun singing, screaming, dancing and laughing together that night! Next time, when our team grow, we can book the bigger room and party all night long!

The night ended at 12am sharp, where they sang the birthday song. Will upload a video compilation of the happenings from that night soon.

The celebration didn’t end that night. On my actualy day, July 3, it was time alone with Abang. Its a simple but heartwarming day. It made me fun in love with him again. Its the little things and actions that made my heart all warm and fuzzy.

We visited Marina Barrage for the first time and I think we will be going back there pretty often as long as they keep the parking free! LOL! I didn’t know the place is so nice and windy! There were many families and group of friends having picnic, flying kites and also there were few others celebrating their birthday too. Marina Barrage is a good place to hang out after a day at work and just lay on the grass and stare into the sky. Lovely place to chill and take photos too! I want to go back there again soon!

After Marina Barrage, Abang brought me up to Mt Faber for dinner. He’d wanted to take me for a cable car ride before that, but I chickened out. Another reason also because I don’t see the need to spend the extra $40 for a ride to see the skyline of Singapore lah. I would rather spend it on a nice dinner. Which we did.

Dinner was at Moonstone @ The Jewel Box. Another nice find for that night! Quiet and windy place with nice view of the harbour and cable cars. The food was pretty good too. Love the seafood pizza (can’t recall the name) and the jewel box fruit salad. Price will not break any arms nor legs, and quality is there. Surely a choice place to go for chilling out with friends. But if there’s no one driving, this is a no-go for me.

Spending quiet night like this with Abang is a rare occasion. It just made it even more precious and treasured. I don’t need no fancy gifts nor flowers. I don’t need no diamond rings nor candle light dinner. Just simple pleasure and quiet times like this with you, I am contented. Thank you Abang! Love you very much!

On Saturday night (last night) was a gathering with my girlfriends at my place. Our usual games of mahjong with light snacks to munch. They had an adventure with a flasher that night when they were getting their car from the carpark opposite my block. And now I am paranoid! Hope the police catch this flasher soon! For now, I am going to stay alert whenever I’m coming home late at night, and make sure I have my camera phone with flash ready to capture his face if he ever flashes at me!

In a few hours time, I will be having steamboat and papa-cooked-crab at home with my family. We are celebrating my belated birthday and my mum’s too which is just a week after mine. Going to help them out in the kitchen now. Today’s quality time with my family. And tomorrow’s the start of our one week setting up of 24seven’s new office week! Am very excited about this! Finally a place all to ourselves! More updates on this when we are ready over at 24seven’s blog.

And that’s how I spent (am spending) my birthday weekend.

With just two decades apart, we were asked if we are sisters too many times. She’s my support, my guardian angel, my bestfriend and my lovely mum. She’s why I am who I am today. I have so much to tell her, so much to love, but because of the way we are, because of the time we spend working, I hardly have time to spend with her.

Its the monthly facial appointment with her where we get to spend that good few hours together. Its on these rare nights where I will be home with nothing to work on and I will be in the living room with her watching TV and laughing together. Its on these rare occasions, where the whole family meets for a meal and spend some quality time together.

No matter how rare these opportunities may be, we always make the greatest use of our time together.

Mum, I love you! Thanks for supporting me all the way!

That’s my mum on the right, with her mum (my grandma) on her right and my godma (also my mum’s elder sister) on their mum’s right. To my three beautiful and lovely mothers. Happy Mother’s Day!

Note to self: I need to take more photos with my mum! The photo above was taken last year during CNY!

Flickr has helped brought memories and helped me see change. As I was uploading this year’s family photos up, I thought it’ll be interesting to see how much we’ve changed over the years. And thanks to my flickr pro account, this is easily done with just a few clicks.

So here, I’m going to travel back in time, to the past few Chinese New Year with photos of us…

Now, in 2009…

To our sweetest girl Min,

It’s been 203 long and miserable days since we saw you. If only you know how much pain and misses these days have brought to Ayah and Mummy. We wrote you a letter a month ago, and till today, we have not been given any chance to see you at all.

You and your birthday cake in 2007

I’ve been listening to this song over and over again. Every time I listen to Jason sings those words, it hurts me. I may not have seen the worsts, but from the years I spent in a neighbourhood school, I’ve seen quite a number of cases where the kids are neglected, uncared for and some even felt unloved by their parents.

They stay in school for as long as they can. Mix with the wrong group of kids outside school. Go out and hang around wasting their time. These are not rare in our country if you’ve not noticed. But what has causes all these to happen? Most of the time, its the lack of love and concern from their parents. I’d mentioned it before, couples should really consider much more before planning their first child.

Love for a child by Jason Mraz is a very meaningful yet simple song that tells a story. A story that is very real and should be getting more attention of.

Attended a friend’s grandfather’s wake this evening. I can see how much she cares and loves him. I felt a sharp ache in my heart when she shared her moments with him when he was around. She described how he enjoyed playing Nintendo, how he’ll record korean and taiwan drama for his wife and how he’d enjoyed his final days by eating things he want, drinking the soda he likes and continue to enjoy every minute of being alive.

In my mind, I tried to picture my Grandma, Grandpa, my parents and my love ones. I could hardly recall such details and happy moments I have with them. Especially my Grandma and Grandpa. I grew up living with them till I was in Primary 4. Returned back to stay with my parents since Primary 5 since I was old enough to take care of myself when my parents were at work.

I love my Grandma and Grandpa very much. They are the ones who took care of me since birth and they provided me home, love and many happy times during my fond childhood. They would buy my favorite food for me (hence the chubby me) and they would bring me to the arcades during weekends. They pampered me with toys, books and almost everything I wanted. I am their eldest grandchild so I receive lots of love from them.

I’m thankful that both of them are still around. But due to a complex history, my grandpa is not living with grandma now. The last time I saw him was 3 years ago. And all I could do was ask grandma if he’s ok. No one from my family could see him. He’s living with his protective and selfish family. I don’t know the truth behind this complex relationship, but I just feel very upset that we’re not allowed to visit him. He was very ill when we last saw him, and have been hearing that his condition has improved and deteriorate over the past years. I wish I could visit him, I hope he’ll still remember and recognize his lovely grandchildren if we get to see him again.

I want to be able to have more fond and happy memories with my love ones. I want to be able to tell a beautiful life story of my love ones when they’re no longer around. I want to be able to share my beautiful memories with my love ones in the future. I want to treasure them when they’re still around. I want to be able to spend more time with them when I still can.

I want to tell their life story here in my blog, to keep a record of them for me, for my children, for my family and my love ones. I want to be able to remember all these memories when I grow old. I want to start compiling their story here and keep them alive here… forever…

(Photo taken at Bro’s 21st Birthday few years back.)