Venereal Diseases, VD, V-Day

I’m a pessimist when it comes to bloody Valentine’s Day.

The traffic, the commercialism and lovesick couples never fail to bore me to tears every year. Some put it down to the fact that I’m still stuck in a long distance relationship but in all honesty, I’d rather have VD stand for venereal diseases.

However, surprises of all surprises, I actually had the best V-day this year!

I cleared up work, battled the (already) growing traffic at 5pm and caught up with Su Li for coffee and gossip.

That, my friends, is a date.

Party of a Lifetime

Mum’s 50th Birthday Committee – comprising my godmother, a couple of my Mum’s closest friends, my siblings and I – decided that for Mum’s 50th it would have to be celebrated in a BIG way. Huge. Retro-style. With balloons, helium, streamers, a male jumping out of a cake, a retro fashion parade – the works!

We worked undercover feverishly for a couple of months and there developed heightened senses to tell many lies, deceits and basic bullshit. With our tall tales, we succeeded in transporting many decorative items, a projector, a digital camcorder and a fake cake (measuring 4 ft x 1 ft) right under my mother’s nose.

My sister, a bad liar by nature, aged 10 years in the process.

Although I consider myself an accomplished liar (and managed to train a few committee members along the way), I still have not recovered from the party. Looking at the pictures, I can’t quite imagine how we managed to pull it off exactly one week ago.

Party mode. We flew over 400 balloons; helium and non-helium.

Jumping-out-of-cake boy in rehearsal

Mafia Boss (and Godmother), Annie

Helium-happy boy, Andi

Caterers arrive at the party venue; we decide where to put them

Decorations had started as early as 10am

Last minute, frantic phone calls (read: lie-telling)

One of the many surprises throughout the night; Grandma with my Aunty Ling who traveled with Aunty Belinda from Melbourne to celebrate the Big 50th.

My wonderful, kooky-retro family

Celine ready to party

The series of surprises; Mum’s colleagues surprised her at the gate; her close friends jumped out at the front door. Family members entered via the kitchen.

Birthday cake: Cute eh? Mum’s has a liking for chookies.

The exhausted committee!

Top row, left to right: Dad, Cheh, Sunny, Mum, Annie, Shu’, Ngat Har

Bottom row, left to right: Noel, moi, Yen Yi, Sharon, Celine, Andi

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Note: If you are friends with Celine on her Facebook, you’d be able to spot more photos on her album!

Say bride!

Left to right: Sue Ann, yours truly, Noel, Audrey (bride), Danny (groom), Hillary, Joanne, Zilin, Lena.

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Yes, that was what I was up to over the weekend. Great company.

Ok back to work!