Happy Birthday to Leonard!

My birthday was yesterday, and yes - I turned 34, mid-thirties already?? What happened, I thought I just graduated last year. Darn.

Fred and Celest organised a surprise party last night. Everyone was in cahoots, including Celest who seemed to senselessly drag me out of the house to go and buy chocolate ice-cream from faraway Katong Mall - it all made sense to me after that. But at that time I was like - what's up with coming all the way here?? I have an ulcer in my mouth and I haven't taken a bath yet - I stink!!

So, when I came back, I didn't suspect anything. Everything was as it was - nothing suspicions; no extra cars parked outside, no extra footwear, no funny sounds, nothing different. Until I got into the house and the sight of a dark dining room with drawn curtains kinda made me curious - why would someone draw the curtains and leave the lights off - maybe the birthday cake was in there taking a nap (I sincerely thought that about the cake). What more, while I was driving home, I was wondering what type of cake Mum bought (she did tell me there was a cake) and that we'd have a simple small ceremony where Nigel would blow out the candels and clap crazily.

I peeped through the curtain and woah there were people sitting in the dark! I saw Raymond specifically because of the angle and his while GAP T-shirt - and was caught off guard. Not that I was scared of the dark or anything, but I just backed up and was thinking - oh yeah, it's my birthday, but what are they doing here - I just SMSed some of them thanking them for their wishes, thats's really strange, they're in the kitchen! So I went in and they shouted "Surprise!" and I didn't look convinced because I had already seen Raymond and was expecting a napping cake. So we did it again, better this time, and more convincingly!

As one gets older, friends typically get lesser - but those that are still with you are the ones that count. Quality takes over quantity, so to speak. Thanks to Tse Chong & Daphne, Gene & Sharon, Mervin & Debbie and Raymond for coming down late at night to shout at me. Also, thanks to Fred & Bihye for getting them together. To my dear Celest, going out to buy the chocolate ice-cream was a good idea, else I would have been in that dark dining room too and we'd be shouting at Daddy when he came back. Thanks to my little monster son for blowing the candles and baby Shanny for coming down later to say HI! and BYE! to everyone. Thanks to Mum and Dad also for their continued guidance and support from the very beginning.

Baby Gabby, you get to participate soon - maybe during your dad or mum's upcoming birthday parties!!

Oh, and Gene and Raymond have been revealed to be the GAP brudders!