With April over, I sigh with relief, knowing the big birthday month is over. So, it is time to reverse the Fat Week. We are into May, and there are fewer birthdays to celebrate within my circle of friends and family. And when there’s no birthday gathering, this means no big meals or sinful cakes!
Golf has resumed full swing upon our return from the recent Singapore Escapade. And I give myself a month to shape up! Perhaps I should also consider doing some morning walks within the estate on non-golfing days to shed the fat and stay fit. Hmm, something to think about. One month to see the results! Yes, I can do it.
Every year, we go away for a twosome celebration for my birthday. Typically, it would be a golf game or two and a fancy dinner. There was one year, we went to Awana Genting.
This year, I opted not to include a golf game for the birthday escapade. Instead, it was a sightseeing and gastronomic trip. Where did we go? Singapore!
Taking the Aeroline bus to Singapore
It was pleasant, not needing to drive and deal with traffic for a change. We took the Aeroline bus, which was quite comfortable despite taking six hours to arrive.
The Jewel rain vortex waterfall
We had a super fun weekend exploring the Jewel at Changi and being mesmerized by the rain vortex indoor waterfall. Being a tourist at Marina Bay Sands, it was hot and superhot outdoors, trying to capture the perfect shot of the area when we ventured out from the air-con mall.
The perfect Singapore skyline shot?
But we were also super tired from the walking and being in the super humid outdoors. I guess you can’t have it all good. Humidity aside, we had some mouth-watering food discoveries. However, there was only so much we could eat as the short escapade ended too soon.
We managed to cover fast food, community food court, mall foodcourt and fancy restaurant.
I’m glad this year we did this for a change. I look forward to next year’s birthday celebration!
One year older, five pounds heavier is the reality this year. I stood on the bathroom scale this morning, and I was a pound off, small consolation, I guess.
Impending birthdays are a day of reflection. I try not to be too wordy and will keep it simple. So here goes. I am thankful for my life, my family, and my friends.
And I look forward to spending more time with family, hanging out with friends, and playing better golf! I hope to achieve my Hole-in-One this year. Who knows? After all, I had my Eagle Achievement last year.
April is the birthday month of several family members and friends besides myself. And year in and year out, it’s the same situation, especially during the week leading up to my birthday. I call it the Fat Week because there are so many dinners to usher in the good day.
There are dinners with family and then with friends. On top of this, there are friends whose birthdays are around the same time, so all the more reason for the feasts and merry-making. And of course, when the occasion is a birthday, there is cake after the meal! So many cakes, mind you. That’s extra calories so many times over. Seriously, how often does one eat cake regularly? The sinful dessert is only on birthday occasions, thankfully.
You would think the saying – a year older, a year wiser applies, but it has not been so as far as birthday celebrations are concerned this year. So it’s more of a year older, five pounds heavier. Hahahaha.
It is only Tuesday, and there are several more birthday dinner celebrations to come before the actual day of my birthday. I shouldn’t stand on the bathroom scale every morning to feel guilty. After all, I have accepted that it is Fat Week. But I vow to start dieting right after my birthday, and keeping my fingers crossed, I can follow through on this vow.
Just when we thought we were down to one last public holiday (Christmas Day) on a weekday, Monday was the Sultan’s birthday, and thus, a public holiday! Yay. Another welcomed holiday to recuperate from the busy weekend.
But as always, the extended weekend threw off the mind frame, and I thought it was a Sunday. Nevertheless, with the year ending soon, the welcomed break was good to catch up with neglected things, like Christmas shopping and house chores!
Every year, when our wedding anniversary comes around, it is a public holiday. We chose the date to coincide with the country’s Merdeka Day celebration, 31st August, so we don’t have to work on this special day. When Malaysia celebrates her birthday nationwide, we celebrate our anniversary with a trip or a dinner.
This year, we decided to have a low-key dinner. We didn’t even order a bottle of wine to pair with our meal, just a glass each. But it was just as lovely despite the boisterous ambiance of the restaurant.
Lovely anniversary dinner
I have lost count of the years, but does it matter? Happy anniversary, and a toast to us!
The days leading up to my birthday went by so fast! We had an early birthday dinner celebration last weekend with the girls. It was such a gastronomic indulgence.
A toast to a good year ahead!
Then hubby and I played a round of golf at Royal Perak Golf Club on Wednesday. I had the shot of the day on Hole 5, a Par 3, landing my ball a foot and a half away from the cup for a birdie. Perhaps my Hole-in-One shot is coming soon?
Prelude to my Hole-in-One soon?
But the actual day of my birthday, the day went by so slowly. We were back in Alor Star and it was like a furnace. I could feel my body fat melting away, which was good because I’d been feeling a bit chunky, eating so much leading up to my special day.
And then it rained, no, it poured and poured and poured! Mother Nature was relentless. The outside perimeter of the house was flooded. Oh no! It was sometime before the rain subsided, and we had to clean up the place. Not the ideal activity to do on one’s birthday but it had to be done.
I was sweaty, I was tired and hungry. Sigh. It could be worse because look at the bright side – I am healthier now after my recent hospitalization, and I feel the love of my family and friends for their good wishes on my special day. That’s all that matters. Happy birthday to me regardless of the circumstances!
What a difference with another year passing by for birthday celebrations! The existence of Covid-19 makes it hard for us to predict what can happen with its spread making daily situations so volatile. We cannot plan special occasions so far ahead because things are constantly evolving. Even as I write, the SOPs will change again come next month.
Two years ago, my birthday dinner celebration was a muted affair. We stayed home because of the pandemic and had food delivered. There were scores and scores of containers for the meal. It wasn’t the best in presentation, but being at home made up for it, given the virus fear and lockdown circumstances. Last year, it was a blur, and honestly, I don’t remember what we did on my special day.
This year, things are a little bit different. A spontaneous four-day gastronomic journey that began on Sunday to celebrate instead of a golf getaway like we usually do. Moreover, we just went on a golf trip to Forest City recently, so another trip now is too soon. This mission to discover new food to savor in the run-up to the actual birthday is much appreciated for the chef in me to have the week off from making dinner nightly! Woo hoo.
Lovely fine dining Japanese dinnerWe ate to our fill!We came home to cut my yummy Lemon Pistachio birthday cakeWe played a post-birthday round of golf!
The birthday dinner was also a welcome change for various reasons. It was the first fine-dining experience after the many lockdowns we had during the pandemic. Secondly, it’s the first year with M1 joining us, being away for her education, and missing my birthday celebrations for the last six years. All in all, a welcome celebration. A toast to a good year ahead for me, and be in the best of health and mind.
Mother Nature was good to us, for it didn’t rain on the big double celebration day. It was cloudy and did threaten to rain a little, but the hot weather held for us to have the outdoor barbecue as planned.
There was a constant stream of deliveries that morning. From my usual online shopping items to dessert cakes, more cakes and pastries, and the ultimate cake towards the evening, we were busy receiving all the deliveries. The fridge was almost bursting with all the delectable goodies, on top of all the barbecue food.
All sorts of mouth-watering yummies!The funniest 4-inch tall birthday cake!Our private garden birthday partyA colorful spread
It was a lovely garden dinner affair for the three of us. The birds left us alone, unlike our last barbecue for our Reunion Dinner. Even the mosquitoes did not disturb us. As our little one turned 20 that day, I guess we have to face the fact she is not so little anymore. Happy birthday M2, and many happy returns! Love you to the moon and back.
Now that M2 is back safely at home with us, we plan to have a double celebration party with a garden barbecue tomorrow. Firstly, to mark her return and secondly, to celebrate her birthday, which falls on Wednesday.
However, the skies and weather have other ideas to thwart our plans. It has been raining a lot, unusual during this time of the year. Even today, it rained this morning and looking very gloomy. And there is a forty percent chance of rain tomorrow as well.
How are we going to have a garden party with such unaccommodating weather? We’ll have to cross our fingers and hope Mother Nature will be kind for a lovely double celebration.
Angieneering 
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