First of all, for the birthday wishes on msn, facebook and via sms, here’s the THANK YOU namelist:

Erfa, Atikah, Weijie, Adeline, Tiffany, Yiliang, Max, Sheena, Yingle, Ps Raymond & Sis Lily, Ps Wilson, Ron, Abigail, Ray, Hongbei, Eugene, Kar Kin, Jonathan, Raymond, CJ, Sharon, Bochun, Hazimah, Najib, Amanda, Alvin, Tommy, Carmen, Yanjie, Amanda Lee, Ruth, Sherrilynn, Gifford, Faith, Jolene Fu, Siitee, Tse Yun, Jonny, Samantha, Crys, Shane, Amelia, Atika, Mattea, Lijia, Shermaine, Tan Chun <3

Meetup with the PL Clique: 27 Jan | 313@Somerset, Ion

A belated/early birthday meetup for Sara and I with Claudyne, Cathleen and Mindy. To think the last time we actually had a gathering like this was almost exactly a year ago?! Everyone’s changed – drastic or not – within the span of 12 months; and that short but sweet outing had made me realise how comfortable we could be around one another still. Counting the years of friendship – 8 to be exact? – even when we don’t meet that often, in the end there’s always something that clicks. Thank you guys for the great afternoon, the lovely messsages on the birthday card as well as the sketchbook. <3

Birthday Surprise: 29 Jan, home

Grace, Hajar, Charissa, Nural, Justin Tan, Azmi, Joshua, Daniel, Justin Lee — GAWD one moment I panicked because Azmi’s car has arrived to drive us for supper but I wasn’t done with make up, then I had to open the door for Grace (because she absolutely needed the washroom, uh), the next moment had me thinking that some freaky neighbours were lurking at the lift lobby, THEN A FULL FLEDGED ATTACK, at 2400!!! OMG it took half a second to snap back to reality :O and gawk at the birthday cake and heart-shaped balloon and the horde of ‘Bintan’ people trooping into the living room. That was followed by the real supper at simpang Bedok lol.

It’s….. the best birthday surprise ever, and I suspect nothing in the near future will surpass that. Aww XD

High tea: 30 Jan | The Rose Veranda @ Shangri-La Hotel, CQ Brewerks

I was late because it rained and there had been a jam at Chinatown where I collected the cupcakes. Speaking of which, Onicupcakes, was a disappointment; out of 3 flavours only the nutella one tasted good, while I had been misled to think the cupcakes were actually quite pretty on their website? One paltry blob of cream on a flat cupcake with a plain looking holder and that’s all? Hajar can do way better. Simply put: I will pay Hajar 70 freaking dollars for not just 15, but many more pretty cupcakes the next time.

On the other hand, we had a whale of a time (literally stuffing food in our faces, more like) having high tea at The Rose Veranda *which I misspelled as Verdana, oh designer blues* with the same people: Grace, Hajar, Charissa, Nural, Justin Tan, Azmi, Joshua, Daniel, minus Justin Lee plus Mayfen. Nural and I sneaked up on the rest at the hotel entrance because they hadn’t seen us ^^ And I received balloons again – this time in a bunch; huge and pink and red and imprinted with hearts – exactly matching my dress <3 THANK YOU LOVELIES <3 The restaurant had a real pleasant ambience and an awesome spread not including the more awesome dessert bar.

Afterwards, we managed through the evening traffic and headed to Clark Quay, sat at Brewerks and were treated to a visual feast of GORGEOUS FIREWORKS!!! Stunning *___* I knowwwwwww you guys totally planned that too.. XD

Meetup with the cousins: 31 Jan | PS Hot Tomato, lift lobby *lol*

Our gatherings have never been full of over-the-top parties, expensive meals or remotely materialistic, yet my younger cousins garner the most respect and awe from me, because they are the ones who understand what quality time is. We relished and reminised fondly our past as well as discussed about our futures over dinner and dessert. Besides the familiar topics, there’s always something more profound in their conversations and meaningful purposes I find attached to their thoughts. They share, they teach, and I gladly learn. One of the simpler discussions during that night was, “Have you found your goal in life?”, to which I didn’t have a concrete answer. The time for change will come, surely.

But what I wanted to be thankful for was the company and the knowledge that these awesome people have grown up to be positive influences. And that they’ve been in my life for about as long as the 21 years I’ve lived. <3 HEARTS TO YOU ALL <3