Birthday Wishes
When you pass a certain age, birthdays start meaning a lot less. They become different and you don't really celebrate like you used to.
For me, this turning point was 29. That was two years ago. I still felt like celebrating and having drinks with friends. Today, I almost forgot my birthday.
I'm not saying that I am upset about getting older or that I want to conceal how old I have become, but things have just changed. I no longer have wish lists of what I might want for my birthday and even the husband has a hard time figuring out what to get me.
When I was six, my parents made out like they forgot my birthday. They picked me up from school and didn't say anything. They then took me for lunch and then to Toys R Us to pick out any toy I wanted. At the time, I thought that was the best day in the world.
This birthday, everything had changed and I wanted for nothing. Hubba had a really hard time figuring out what to get me and eventually got us something we could do together. But expecting a present from my husband was the extent of what I would want. I wondered - What does this day even mean anymore? I didn't want a fuss but I wanted it to have meaning.
I woke up and decided that I would focus on birthday wishes.
Every time someone called, sent me a text, emailed or left me a Facebook message, I would jot it down on a piece of paper and be thankful that they had kept me in their thoughts. I would count these thoughts at the end of the day and this would be the most meaningful birthday present I would have.
But by the end of the day, I had lost count. There were so many names that I had to stop counting.
There was no Toys R Us but Mummy and Daddy calling and just wishing me made me feel very loved.
I also got three birthday songs.
My two lovely girly colleagues insisted on taking me out to lunch. When my birthday cake came, I shushed them, made a quick wish and blew out the candle. They insisted I light it again for a birthday song. I appreciated that they kept it down and just felt very warm and fuzzy inside.
I also went for Muay Thai before my dinner date with Hubba and thanks to Facebook giving me away, the whole class ended up singing me a birthday song right at the end. Felt very embarrassed but very cared for and couldn't help but feel emo and mushy inside.
The icing on the cake was when Hubba sang me a birthday song quietly over a fudge brownie. Sigh. Loved is I.
It might not have been a lot to some but it's really felt like the best birthday ever and I wouldn't have spent it any other way :)
What did I do?
I think I've sprained my wrist.
It could have been the push-ups I was doing today or the sprawls, I'm not sure. But argh it hurts when I so much as lift a water bottle.
Ees no good at all!
Oh my golly have a holly jolly Christmas this year!
Merry Christmas, all!
Our first Cookyn Session
Some of us are born with a gift in life - For the very talented Mervyn Phan<a href="">Mervyn Phan</a>, this gift was to cook. As a kid, he grew up with the charismatic Martin Yan working his meat cleaver magic on telly. As an adult, Mervyn has come into his own giving lessons to those who wish to go further in their cooking experiences than just overly dense cakes and overcooked meats.
Enter Mervyn, the modern day Jamie Oliver of Singapore.
All his tricks he's learnt from watching the masters on the tube, and all his ingredients he sources from The Green Grocer where him and his wife, Amanda, work. Attending a class with Mervyn is interesting and so totally worth it. For a mere $80, you get an elaborate menu to work with and chow down, as well as an unlimited amount of wine and juices to guzzle. The work tables are covered in white mahjong paper for a no muss, no fuss experience and everyone gets an apron to protect their clothes and wipe their grubby paws on.
The class that Hubba and I attended yesterday was a meat session, so the menu was extremely heavy. At first, I thought I'd brought Hubba along just for the clean up (nomnomnom) but I was soon tickled to see him completely absorbed in Mervyn's lesson and taking notes conscientiously like a star student. Yes, even the men got involved in the session! I guess Mervyn made it look 'cool' :)
Here's what we made:
- Beef Carpaccio with sauteed Chanterelle Mushrooms and Ice Salad
- Roasted Kurobuta Pork with Miso Orange Sauce
- Braised Lamb Shank in Red Wine Sauce and Truffle Mash
- Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Berries
And how did it all turn out? YUMYUMYUMYUMYUM!! It was fantastic!
We all got our hands dirty during the 4 hours - From beating egg whites till they were solid enough not to fall out of the pan, to marinading our own slabs of shank before wanton-wrapping them up for the oven. It was a superb dinner, indeed. And the best part is, Hubba and I met lots of different people during the session and had fun! Oh, and I got to do a quick catch up with Candice too, who was there with hubby Keat.
Soon to come.... Gourmet Burgers and Shakes... Sounds like a perfect lesson.
Hubba and I are so gonna be there! Thanks for inviting us, Amanda. It sure was fun!
attentive people
a very hungry hubba
organic stock and sundried tomato paste
separating the yolks from egg whites
It truly was a great way to spend the day together.
Days Gone By
Wandering Eye
