There are so many insects and flies around. In fact, I think I might have swallowed a small fly by accident. It's so annoying. Anyhow, will be gone from here soon.

I'm supposed to blog about The Girlfriend's birthday today. Well, seeing how it was 2 weeks ago, questions may arise about why it took me so long? The thing is, being that most of the events that took place were part of my planning, and I thought it alittle presumptious to be blogging about my efforts. I figured that you could read about it in The Girlfriend's blog, whose link is conveninently located to the right. But she feels otherwise, so I will detail all the events leading up to, and during her birthday. Just reporting the facts!

It began about 3 weeks before the actual birthday. Well, thinking about it started more than 2 months ago, but the actual decision was made about a month ago, groundwork was done in the next week, then the actual execution was about 3 weeks before. See, baobei values effort over monetary value, so the way to really get to her heart would be to make something rather than to buy something expensive. Buying is easy, but making takes alot more thought. So, she has been dropping blatant hints about someone making a card for her, but I refused to bite the bait. Afterall, I believe I have enough creativity to think of something other than what she expects, and a surprise wouldn't be a surprise if I did what she hinted. So one day, I came across an idea; baking cookies! Only that, I would insert small messages inside them, just like a fortune cookie. I had to do so, or else she may decide not to eat them, so I had to offer her an incentive.

But I was told that that would be too complex for a total newbie to baking. I never thought I would, well, not stoop down, but there are things that I never thought I would do. Baking is one of them, sewing is another one. But anyway, yeah, I got the ingredients and promptly started practising. After all, it wouldn't do to present my first tries as a birthday gift. I also took note of the recipe's suggestion to use food colouring to write on the cookies. I think I tried like 6 batches? Or was it 8? I started to get the timing right, although I never really got the shape thing. I know I know, its just not to use your fingers and shape it. I'm a newbie.

So it was down to the 2nd day before the actual day itself. I was in a slight panic. I was in time to finish up, but I felt like it hasn't really improved much from the second or third time. I figured, well, I guess I just got to be graded on effort and not product, so I went ahead with what I already got. Until the first tray went out, and I realized my biggest mistake; I have been colouring the cookie before baking it. So simple, so intuitive, because after the cookie baked it spreads out, and along with the colouring. So I did it after the cookie baked. And it worked fine. The shape was still somewhat off, but at least the cookie looked decent now.

So I hopped on the plane back to Singapore, glad to be taking a break from Perth. Touching down and seeing her again is always one of the best feelings in the world. I think every meeting in this way will be etched permanently in my mind forever. It's knowing that, finally, the gulf between us has been bridged, even if temporarily.

We headed back home and I presented her with the first gift, something which she will be using quite often (I hope). It was a digicam, a Sony T200, in a nice red colour. Well, not many people would know how hard I had to slog for that, but I did it, and I was damn proud of myself. In many ways, it was harder to save up for the camera than it was to bake the cookies. The girlfriend loved it, and she took to it in an instant. Before long we were snapping away with the flashy new gadget.

Then we headed to AMK Hub where we were supposed to shop for clothes for the chalet the next day. But we didn't end up doing much shopping, as dinner was in Soup Restaurant. Finally, my longest craving has been satisfied! Soup Restaurant lived up to its name, just with its ginger chicken alone. OMG I TELL YOU the ginger chicken IS TO DIE FOR! I'll gladly be hung, drawn and quartered if only to have it as my last meal. If you were to go there for a meal, please do pick it up. You wouldn't regret it.

Shopping was a a minimal, but The Girlfriend managed to snag a few tops before we got tickets for Mr Woodcock. A passable movie with a few chuckles here and there, but nothing earthshaking. I'm not in the habit of giving movie ratings, because I'll never be consistent about it. But if I had to give it, I would say 2.5 stars. For reference, Bunengshuodemimi (Secret) is a 5 star, and Saw 4 is a 5 star too (even though I haven't watched it; it was just out yesterday in the US!)

Back home, I presented the love of my life with her cookies. She was awfully delighted, and the smile on her face made everything worth it. In fact, the smile she flashed me was alot more than the cookies warranted. So I figured that I should probably do something else to make the 'trade' balanced.

Next day, we went to Bugis to quickly snap up some presentable clothes before the chalet. After all, I came back to Singapore with minimal luggage. We hada simple lunch at the foodcourt, then we headed home and to the chalet. I was less than impressed with the chalet's managed. Being a country club, note: Aranda Country Club, their management was quite stingy. It didn't feel much like it was some luxurious place, rather, it felt like the board of directors were a bunch of stooges.

Anyhow, her besties tried to spring a surprise on her, but it failed, partly due to poor reception and partly due to poor coordination. I shall not focus on the contributions of other people, only on myself. At about 5, I went to the entrace of the chalet to collect a bouquet of sunflowers. This she wanted, although not from me, but I gave her a bouquet anyway. How can a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, Valentine's day) be without flowers? Although she didn't seem to like it too too too much. I can't blame her, up to now, the other surprises compared favourably to the flowers. Yeah, she's gonna say that she liked it when she sees this. Silly Yu Cui, I know you liked it (spelt it with a space!), but I would think that the other items were more surprising. But I got to say that this is the first time that I got to hand her flowers personally.

Next up, there was her birthday celebration, and while she simply collected the presents and the angbaos, I set about entertaining her friends and relatives, trying to endear myself to them to make me likeable and gain their approval. I heard that it was a success, so I can say that I didn't skive. It was mainly eating and chatting and cake cutting (points of note: the cake was gorgerous and so was the decor). Then it was mahjong after the less important guests have left, it being the third table up already.

After the mahjong, we decided to go back since there was little point in staying behind. And there ended the birthday chalet.

Come Sunday, and she knew that we going to Jewel Box for Sky Dining. Spoiler right? Never mind, your loss! She also found out about the digicam, but the flowers and cookies were a surprise. She checked my email on both occasions. Well, I think someday she's gonna tire of spoiling her own surprises, so I'll just neglect to keep it hidden, and let her skewer herself on her own sword. Anyhow, I don't think she knew for sure it was Sky Dining, but she guessed it, being the smart arse. Basically, it was dining in a cable car. It was a 3 course dinner, and you went to and fro Mount Faber to Sentosa 3 times, once for each course. We were told to expect that the food was nothing great, but I got to admit that while the appetizer was nothing spectacular, the main course was surprisingly good enough. The dessert was good too, brownies tasted great, but we were too stuffed by then. I also got a cake for her and did a solo rendition of happy birthday for her. I got to say that the ambience is indeed something; being suspended in mid air overseeing the sunset is definitely memorable.

Then we went for another movie, The Nanny Diaries? with Scarlett Johansson in it. I'll give it a 2.75 (I'm rating movies just for this entry only!). Then it was home where I pretended to pack my stuff. Why pretend? Because I was supposed to be leaving on the Monday, her actual birthday. So the next morning, we went to book our hotel for our Bangkok trip, and had lunch at Waraku Pasta. I had to pretend to skip the dental appointment, and we went over to Bugis to get something changed, only to find that we forgot the receipt. Oh well,it was time for my flight, except that while queuing up at the taxi stand, I had to tell her that my flight was actually the next day.

I couldn't possibly bear to leave her on her birthday itself. So she took a while to confirm the fact with her best friends, with whom I collaborated to ensure that she would be free for me in the evening. She was close to tears, and that's the final surprise for her birthday. We went back, then came back to Bugis to get the item exchanged, and picked up a mandatory bowl of huashenghu, all after heading to the dentist to get my gaping hole fixed again. Then we proceeded to Suntec to eat at Chong Qing Steamboat, which she suggested to her best friends. It was a filling meal, with lotsa goodies, but what was important was being able to spend another day with her.

Then we went back, and I packed for good. The next day, she rushed back from work and we had banmian and cai fan, before hopping on the cab to the budget terminal for my flight back to Perth.

All in all, I felt like I didn't really do a whole lot, because the chalet definitely took away alot of the planning for me. But I hope you had a lovely and memorable 21st birthday

Ok, I should head to bed now, but not before gushing about bunengshuodemimi. Please please please watch it. Anyone who wants the VCD just borrow it from me, I'll gladly lend it to you. I watched just the highlights again, and I could just cry right away. Didn't know when I was so emotional, but that's Jay Zhou for you, the one heavenly king to rule them all.

Alright, buttload of work ahead, so gotta end here now!