Botanics

 

Poor Simian is down with the flu AND conjunctivitis. After a visit to the doctor, we did manage to go to the Botanics with T and Simian.

Tea with D

 

D is back for a short break so we went to Max Brenner's at the new 112 Katong Mall for tea. I ate too much :(

Presents and food

 

Food and more food - we've just been eating non-stop essentially. Simone also fell and hurt her paw on Chinese New Year that necessitated a trip to the vet. Nothing is broken but she's hobbling around sadly.

K's present just arrived - she got me gloves, a book and a huge chocolate cat!

Reunion Dinner

 

T arrived yesterday - just in time for Reunion Dinner. I am so full from eating that I'm about to burst.

Dad's surprise party

 

It's been a busy week. Right after Simian got back, G & M came in with their children and G's parents. We took them out for lunch, dinner another night and the Night Safari. We had a day afterwards to rest, before it was time for Dad's surprise birthday party. The best thing is I don't think Dad had a clue and he really was surprised! I made a chocolate banana cake. We got food from Chilli Padi and also rented a karaoke system. Who knew that PlanetofSound and Imp were so good at karaoke? I think everyone had fun!

Presents from Singapore

 

My lovely friends donated to various charities for my birthday. However some of them were sneaky and got me stuff. Simian got me a new Nikkor lens which can go from closeups to Zoom Lens. It looks awesome and I can't wait to try it out. M and Baby E got me a filter and rings to go with my camera. I also got a lovely pouch to put in 'gadgets' as the bag declares :) They also gave a donation to charity. D got me a gorgeous garnet necklace and handcream (which I always need), and J got me a pepper mill which I asked for. Imp and PlanetofSound donated to two different charities which I mentioned I liked. Baby E also drew in my birthday card :))

I'm lucky - I get presents from different countries! Thanks for my wonderful presents!

Presents from the US

 

Thanks Suntaneye and husby, Will and A and HJ and E for these great presents that Simian brought back for me. Sadly, I am clearly a cat lady according to the book Suntaneye and her husby got me! Suntaneye's giftwrap was so cute I took a photo of it too!

Lunch at Casa Latina

 

Simian got in very early this morning. We came home, went to sleep, and then went out for lunch at Casa Latina. I popped in and said hi to Baby E as well - she had to stay home for a nap and couldn't come.

Lunch was pretty good though the queso burnt for some reason. I wasn't quite used to the Chile Rellenos either - perhaps I'm thinking of Tex Mex instead of authentic Mexican! Still, it was all tasty and the company as always, made it fantastic. Thanks everyone for coming for lunch! The kitchen was also super nice - they prepared a little birthday cake when they heard it was my birthday!

Sandwiches

 

Mom and I went to the club for their gorgeous sandwiches. I love the salsa that they serve inside a scooped out tomato as a side dish. We tried their samosas too which were pretty good.

Day out with the Imp

 

Imp and I went to the Ford Factory yesterday after lunch at Blu Kozina. I liked the food at Blu Kozina - and Imp knew exactly where to park and how to minimise the inconvenience too. The place is very cheery and Mediterranean looking and was crowded for a weekday lunch. I loved the dips and the pita bread had a nice charred flavour to it.

The Ford Factory was even more interesting than I expected. The table where the surrender document was signed is no longer there - but the room it was in still stands. Some of the chairs from that era are still there. Imp and I thought it was much better than the Sun Yat Sen Museum - considering neither had much in the way of 'exhibits' related to the main event, this was far superior. It was also fascinating to see how the British POWs refused to sign a document saying they would not try and escape because of the Kings' Orders that states every captured soldier has a duty to escape. I also learnt that people were expatriated to Malaysia, in places like Endau, and told that they would be able to eke out a living there - many died.

Afterwards, Imp took me to Tiong Bahru - the whole place is so hip now. We had a drink at Orange Thimble and stopped in to look at the gorgeous cakes at Drips. I bought a tart home for Mom and she said it was good.

Botanics with M and Baby E

 

M and I went to the Botanics on Wednesday with Baby E - Baby E was fascinated by the life sized elephants and made a beeline for them after lunch!

Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year! May 2012 be full of everything wonderful.

Simian left for the US early this morning. I took some photos at the airport of the Angry Birds exhibit and we were both awed by the Merlion with steel wires spewing forth from its mouth. We knew Suntaneye and her husby would approve :)

Mom and I went to the Page One sale this afternoon - it's the first time I've seen people line up to go in for a book warehouse sale. The place was small though, and a little haphazard. It was also scorching hot inside because there is no AC. If you like design and architecture books though, it's definitely worth a visit.