Matt's Mystery Birthday Drinks!

The day after Matt's actual birthday, I secretly organized Matt's birthday drinks, inviting his friends and my girlfriends who know him.



It was not very 'secret' because Matt knew I was throwing him a party, but he didn't know where and exactly who were coming.














I chose No.5@Emerald Hill because it is Central enough for many people to come on Wednesday night.
And boy! did they turn up!

Many people came and stayed til late! I think it was a success!!

Matt's 32nd Birthday!

September 1 is Matt's birthday!
So we went to have Pepper Crab & Durian for dinner!!

Conveniently, there is one of the best Chili & Pepper Crab place in front of our house, and next to it is a Durian/Fruit shop.











Very Singapore and very yummy!

From Lucy...

From UK







Ned O'Leary (almost 2 years old)
What a lovely boy he is!
And good to see Paul doing the dad thing too!

Anniversary Weekend in Jakarta - Sunday

Sunday morning, mom, Daichan & Emi came with Rikki to Dharmawangsa Hotel pool.
It was not crowded, sunny and beautiful!
Rikki was so cute too!







After that we went to Il Mare @ Mulia Hotel for Sunday brunch!

The interior and atmosphere was very nice and cozy. Of course, I indulged myself with food, especially the ice cream and sorbet! :) Only now....only now...
And the surprise Anniversary singing from the staff who brought a cake with 1 candle on was nice:)













The boys had a lot of drink and girls had too much sugar, so we all took a lazy afternoon nap.

This trip was very fulfilling... meeting the people we need to (want to) meet without rushing and done the things that were meaningful. Thank you all for making the Anniversary weekend so nice.

Anniversary Weekend in Jakarta - Saturday

It was also Sam & Alice's Engagement Party!













We were told it is a 'tea ceremony' and were only given the date, time and the place.
Luckily Matt did not turn up with shorts and sandals because it was a full-on Chinese/Indonesian engagement party @ Ekaria behind Gajah Mada Plaza, Kota.

Because Sam's family is from Sri Lanka and they do not know the Chinese custom, it was funny to see Alice's family arranging it but the actual meaning of the ceremony is from the Groom's family offering to the Brides' family.

Everyone was in smiles, food was nice, Karaoke is on and it was a nice Saturday afternoon. And it proves again, mix marriages are getting more and more common today.
















At night, we went to Daichan's newly opened restaurant "Don" @ Kyoei Prince Plaza.

This is one of the most centrally located restaurant he has ever opened.

It was good to see Daichan's dad and our dad healthy.
We were so proud for Daichan, the iron chef! and honored to be treated with such delicacy!




Fugu sashimi and live Unagi always fascinates us, especially Gaijin ...

Anniversary Weekend in Jakarta- Friday

Matt & I flew to Jakarta for the weekend of our 1st Anniversary!
It was an eventful but relaxing weekend.

We took Friday off from work (I took Thursday off too) and arrived to Jakarta on Friday morning.

In the afternoon, Emi & I went to take "Maternity Photography" a semi-nude, artistic photo session to mark our pregnancy together.


In the evening, we went to dinner @ KiraKira Ginza and met, Tammy! and Nerry.
Joy arranged the cheeky reunion.
It was intense and funny in a way.
Memorable for sure.



After Joy, Tammy and Nerry left, we went to KushiGin with Daichan and had a cozy family ending to the night.

Picnic @ Botanical Gardens

Went to a picnic organized by the Wanderers but open for friends, family and pets.

I invited Jacque & Mark who came with daughter Amelie and son Reiley.
I also invited Ling whom I had not seen for 2-3months so it was nice.

The picnic started off cloudy around 5pm and we were skeptic but it turned out fine and we stayed there until 11pm.


Because people who come to picnic is different from those who go clubbing (many new mothers, mothers-to-be or those who like children), it's a good place for me to get information.
And this time i got to choose the BGM songs... (nice to know DJ Dumpling)
And we get to taste some home made food by our friends :) Surprisingly many are chefs in their own way...!

I love picnic! (and i promise to take more photos next time!)

Mini reunion

Prindi & Dave came back from a month holiday from Australia. Silvia was also in Singapore with Clara, staying at Prindi & Dave's place so we met up for dinner. Cindy & Alexis dropped by for few minutes too.














We had dinner at Far East Square because the boys (Wanderers) were drinking at Harry's next door, so Matt could join them later.

It was really nice to have good old friends back, and see all our friends in one relaxing Friday night. Everybody wins :)

Saraceno Ristorante

Matt took me to a surprise lunch (well, not surprise but he just doesn't say where we are going, keeping me in suspense.

It was an Italian restaurant at Berjaya Hotel @ Duxton road - Odd but quaint place for a classic hotel because it is on the same street as those dodgy pubs known for SEA imported girls. anyway.

Food was delicate, clean and beautiful.
For example the dessert: Pineapple ravioli with sorbet inside... (can't see here but it's got strawberry sprinkled). Even after the food is gone, the plate looks like an abstract oil painting.

Chanko Nada & Karaoke!

Masami and I wanted to do a Japanese thing, so we booked dinner and Karaoke at the original Japanese area: Cuppage.

We had dinner at Chanko Nada (a steamboat restaurant owned and run by a former Sumo wrestler).
It would have been quite a healthy and cheap meal, if not for the shochu, sake and Asahi beers.... oh well!













Then walked across to Cable Car's 2nd floor Karaoke where the Margarita was strong and music so loud!

It started off civilized, then Matt & Calven's friends from rugby joined with their friends with bottles of vodka and more beers!
The rest is history.

29 weeks

Ok, I know this looks wierd.


The scan photo is actually upside down.
Yes, the baby's head is at the bottom so that's a good thing.

And seeing the doctor takes only 5-10min because everything is going as it should.

He sure moves a lot now.

Sunday easy brunch

with Calven












at P.S Cafe.

Milton & Nichole & Oreo & Noah

Milton is Matt's rugby mate and they were leaving to Sydney so there were many things up for grabs.

We bought a solid pine wood baby cot (toys and many other things) on their last days. All the furnitures were gone so we had a quick lunch on kids tables, chairs and plates etc. So cute.

Moving to another country is already a big thing, doing so with 2 small kids is another... I wish them good luck and happy new life again in Sydney.