Birthdays BBQ

for Wei, XL and me

the singing

The cake-cutting

The toast

all of us

with Wei and Kay

The Faces of Super-Formaggio

Unidentified cheese at Wine Garage - some say it tastes like giam hur (salted fish), others say 皮蛋 (preserved century egg)... This must be what durian is like to angmos!

Wedding Bells

Our dear friend registered his marriage today at a lovely, intimate ceremony at Windows East, Four Seasons. It looked like a page right out of Martha Stewart's - tall floral centrepieces, gold-rimmed bone china, sterling silver teasets, crisp white linen and homemade cupcakes topped with white, baby pink and frosty yellow icing. Sweet!

A Lovely Weekend

One of the best weekends I've had for some time. Now that the bid we were working so hard on has officially fallen through (quite a waste, considering all those hours we put into it, and that it could've potentially been one of the biggest M&A deals to have happened this year), and a couple of my other transactions are winding down, I've been having a pretty good week at work. Took the opportunity to plan an activity-filled weekend.

Woke up bright and early on Saturday morning. SY came by to my place and we cabbed down (up?) to Punggol Marina where we'd booked a boat for our 4-hr wakeboarding session. It was overcast and looked like it would pour at anytime. Thankfully, by the time XL and Kay arrived and we set out to sea, the sun began to peek out of the clouds and by 11am it was scorching hot.



It took some persuading to get XJ to go with us, cos he has bad memories from the last time he wakeboarded. But a day out in the sun is just too tempting to resist. ;p Thankfully, this time around, it was less traumatic than his first time. Nonetheless, he has concluded that wakeboarding is not his cup of tea and will henceforth gracefully decline any further invitations... ...

Being out at sea always puts me in a good mood. The vast expanse of space and water, the sun on my face and the wind in my hair... mmmm... no cares in this world. Shiraz (our friendly powerboat driver/wakeboard coach) was blasting cheesy retro music from his stereo. The lucky guy just got married and will be flying to Hawaii for a 2-month honeymoon! *envious*

Four hours went by quickly and soon we had to head back to the marina. Perfect timing too, I'd add, for it started to storm not long after. I had a really enjoyable time chatting, catching up with my pals and just chilling and suntanning on deck. Must do this more often. :)

XJ gets ready for his turn...

... taking instructions ...

... and shows us his brilliant boarding skills... hyuk...

My turn!

Whee!

It got way too hot after more than 3 hours and we had to jump in to cool off. Trying to look 可怜 here.

* * * * *

A little indulgence for me after church on Sunday. I went for my regular facial at Clarins, but this month, I decided to throw in a massage. It was bliss! So relaxing the session, I was soundly asleep for most part of it. Eeesh.. what a pig... Nevermind, I tell myself. Wedding is barely 5 months away. I'm entitled to some luxury.... need to prep for the big day, must look every bit the radiant bride, right? :)

Ended off the evening with dinner at the Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro in honour of Dons and Iky. Hidden behind the non-descript "supermarket" store front, was a cosy little dining area. The food was pretty yummy - we shared a large seafood platter and I thoroughly enjoyed my entree of pan-fried foie gras and grilled wild prawns. *slurp* We also managed to get away without paying corkage for our 2 bottles of bubbly and lingered over the rich chocolate cake we brought for our little celebration.

Am truly happy for Dons and Iky. I think they make a lovely couple, and I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside, seeing how sweet they are with each other. :)

Also got a coupla books while browsing at Borders late Fri night. What No-one Tells The Bride and Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. Can't wait to get started.

Goodbye (doesn't mean forever)

This is a week of farewells.

Weis left for Brisbane on Thursday and Alex will be flying off to Sydney mid-next week.

Here we are at the airport, catching last few minutes with Weis at BK. Sitting around at fast food restaurants with these besties reminds me of our secondary school days at Pizza Hut/McDees. Yech to the food but the company was (and still is!) great.

Kay, Xuanli, Weis & Siyun

Weis & I

Another night of nostalgia - yesterday, we went to the teppenyaki restuarant that Dad used to take us to when I was a kid. Nothing much has changed - the winding drive up Jurong Hill, the spiral walkway down the tower to the restaurant, the waiting area and the smell of fried garlic. It's not a stylish place, rather old and slightly grimey and grubby from the oil, and the decor is less than inspiring. But it serves hearty portions of fresh, quality food at prices way below those you find in town - to make up for the long drive there! And it holds many fond memories for me. Seeing the chef whip up a meal in front of my very eyes always thrilled me when I was just little girl and when the orange bib they made you wear was too large and reached my knees. I used to get especially excited when the chef did a flambe... Some things never change! *grin*

The bib fits now:)

Happy Birthday Hils!

Hils turns xx! No celebration is complete without alcohol and more alcohol. We started early at 5.30pm with our regular BYM (bring-your-mug) sessions in office before heading to Brewerkz for pub grub and beer. Only the brave ventured on to MOS where 4 bottles of the strong stuff was waiting...

Late dinner at Brewerkz

Our inebriated three-some: Hils, Len and Kwok Aun stumbling to MOS

It was crowded! But ha-ha, we're on the VIP list, so we whizz right past. *smug*

My poison...

...his poison

Part of our stash. There's still half a bottle of gin left behind in MOS with Len's name on it I think.

Tequila shots - no one is spared!!

Retro at 54 - brings back memories of MAMBO nite

Hed Kandi playing at the Arena so they put up some fancy schmancy hologram. Didn't think the music was too hot though.

*glug-lug-lug-lug*

With Pauline and Weems

So there... suaku me finally made it to MOS. Demographics were kinda weird - you get teeny-bopper wannabes and middle-aged half-balding ah bengs all under one roof. Not cute either...

Methinks Zouk's much better.

"It will be your turn next..."

In 2004, we had XL with her famous line "You are all my bestest friends ... *hic*... and I wish you eternal happiness... *hic*....."

The Hen Party gets bigger and better in 2006 with us celebrating BM's last vestiges of bachelorette-hood at Zouk. Needless to say there was copious amounts of alcohol, raunchy Truth-or-Dares and a checklist of tasks for the bride-to-be. All this caught on camera AND video. Woo-hoo!..... But we're all bound by a Confidentiality Agreement, so all I can say is, I hope they let me off easy come August! yikes.... yes, BM... it is my turn next....

Wei: No Paparrazzi!!!

Post-alcohol overload, Pre-Zouk