20th Celebration

20th.

On my birthday, I cooked for my guests, all 25 of them. To make my own birthday cake would be the last straw. I do like cooking, really. I like cooking for small parties, being able to seat and dine with my guests. Casual, intimate. Which was the original plan until my loving mother decided that 10 was the weirdest party number ever; she thought 5 people on each side of the table was weird. Hence, I called some, she called more, and my brother brought back surprises, we settled for 25.

I freaked out in the afternoon. I was so afraid there wouldn't be enough food for the people. Had to do some last minute additions after I ransacked my fridge, which means more rush! I lost my head at about 6pm. I went to play the piano.

At 7pm, the food went out. Whew!

My salad spaghetti, maki sushi, garlic baked potaotes, honey mustard baked chicken, sweet sour prawns and freshly baked pizza (not in picture).

After the food, we had singing sessions with live accompaniment and all. That was enjoyable! Thank you Eddie for the beautiful playing, and my brother for your guitar show.

Chef Yamashita made my birthday cake! Thank you! I wished they could've made it to the party, chef and Ami-chan.

Obligatory birthday shots.

Brother, mother.

Cousins who I grew up with.

Cousins who I grew to adore.

My brother's best mates.

My best work mates.

Incidently, my brother and my mother thought it would be funny to smash the last piece of cake into my face. Ha. Ha.

Team Glace

Erm, thanks for the extremely adorable apron.

End.

Happy 20th.

When I was still schooling, there is this thing called the report card at the end of the year. The report card will tell you what have you accomplished in that year, it will reflect on how hard you have laboured for your grades and probably your general behaviour towards your peers and teachers. I dislike report cards immensely and I was a good student, mind you.

Birthdays have since taken the place of the report card. I sort of dread birthdays now.

20th is a significant number. It is a quarter of 80, which is the average life span of a human being. Which means a quarter of my life have passed. Gosh! What have I done so far?

By the way, I want to thank Chef Mashita and Ami chan for the cake. And my colleagues for gracing my party with their pressence. And my family and family's family for coming. And my brother, mother, and Aida for helping. Thank you.

Comrades

To have colleagues who will shout at the top of his lungs: GOOD MORNING! early morning in your face,
Who will kindly request you to take a deep breath when he passes you in a narrow space, so that he may get to the other side,
Frankly tell you you are gaining mass,
Teach you useful survival phrases like: 有你的事吗? (hokkien style with bobbing head action to your boss),
Address you in the most friendly manner: 笨蛋!

I term them as comrades.