My 34th Birthday...the most fun I've had.

My 34th birthday was the most fun I've had in years. This time was really full of suprises....

23rd August: The day started out as usual.. Go to work, reach work before 8.30am, switched on my computer and do my job. Usual day.. and at 11am, started our usual calling on carpooling during lunch, asking around on who is following who for lunch. My husband called me and asked me if anyone's coming with us for lunch.

So, I asked Yaty if she wanted to follow. She said she might not be joining me for lunch as she has a lot of things to finish up. So I said Okay. I asked Shamira, and she said she had to help Yaty do the job. Yati & Eshter at another job site wanted to join us but I said it was too far to fetch them and they changed their minds. And so, Manzur, my husband and I set off to go for lunch.

We went to Hjh Maimunah restaurant near Joo Chiat for lunch. Wow a good treat today. My husband told the waiter, that we have bookings for 12 people. I was like 'Huh? 12 people? Who's coming?' And then I had a thought, 'Maybe, my husband's treating his technicians for lunch after successfully completing the electrical shutdown service?' I just shrugged and just sat at the long table reserved for 12 people as directed by the waiter. My husband went to choose the type of dishes for us to eat.. or so I thought.

When he came up about half an hour later, he brought along 4 other colleagues from HQ - Yaty, Constance, Joanne & Shamira! And all along I thought my husband is treating the workers under his care, a lunch treat. I put on my bestest pout at my 4 friends and they laughed at me. hahah! But I was so happy that they came... We enjoyed the food there and I was like all the while taking pictures and eating coz I was really, really hungry... hahah... Shamira tried to eat the 'chut-chut' - a shelled seafood which you'd have to suck out the content. They are usually cooked in spices and coconut milk. It's kind of savoury and only a little hot. And so she tried and tried to suck out the little bugger from it's shell... I've recorded it on video so watch how funny she was trying to suck the 'chut-chut'. Must have skill....

After the lunch, the 4 of them decided to leave earlier than my husband, Mansur and I. So as not to arouse suspicions or jealousy among other colleagues. (Sheesh! Give us a break once in a while!)

And so the rest of the 3 of us, went back to HQ as usual and finish the other half of the day working. A small pile of documents for me to finish. (SOMEBODY was pissed because under my boss' instructions, she must stamp the received date stamp & sign on EVERY document that she received before passing it to me. Well, tough luck, B****! That instruction comes from a higher authority! Neh neh neh neeeeh neh...! )

Evening came, and as I was finishing up my paperwork, Yaty came to my desk and asked about my husband. I thought she was merely asking if they could get a lift to the MRT station or something. So I asked my husband about it. And he said he got some work to finish up and might be a bit late. I told my colleagues... and Yaty told me to come upstairs with her and I thought why not? I've finished work and she most probably hasn't and needed my company.

And so I went upstairs, but I noticed Yati grabbed my camera along, and dragged me to go upstairs. I was puzzled. Why would she grab my camera? And WHERE IS EVERYBODY ELSE? When I went upstairs, the pantry was pitch dark. I groped around but could see some light lah.. not so dramatic sia.. Then a bunch of people started singing birthday song and I saw the lit candles and I was surprised..!! Oh My Gawd! A surprise birthday for me!! I was sooo damn *bleep* happy! Never had a surprise birthday in donno how many years!!

They sang me the song, gave me the present along with a small and sweet purplish bouquet of flowers.. how sweet.... Even SARAVANAN was there! I could just slap him.. but I didn't ..hahahah! It's a love-hate kinda thing between colleagues. He's so goondu sometimes. Eunice, Mary, Joanne, Shamira, Yaty, 'Mat Container', my hubby all there to wish me happy birthday. I waited for my husband to come up to the pantry to make my wish actually. But I did it anyways, with or without him. Made my wish.. (can't tell you), blow out candles, cut the cake, read the birthday card and open the present. Hell.. it was good fun!! But I really did not expect them to buy me a present that I've always wanted sia!!!!!!!!!!!!! They're really good friends... they know what I like! At first I thought it was a bottle of perfume or something lame like that (ahah! just kidding!). But to my surprise, it was something that only recently had found but my husband said to buy it next time when we've saved the money - Tarot Cards! I love them! Always wanted to own a set, always wanted to know how the future readers do it. Wanted to learn how out of curiosity but never get to because couldn't find those cards. It's not common here in Singapore. And even when I found it, it was dang expensive! But my friends got it for me!!!! I SOOOOOOOOO LOVE THEM! THIS WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY FOR ME!!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!Here are some goofy pictures of the birthday...! And so ends my pre-birthday day.

(to be continued... about 24th August)

Yesterday was a lot of confusions and coincidences...

Hey,
Yesterday, work was as usual... But lunchtime came and everyone wanted to join me and hubby for lunch.. and since most of us are big sized.. and my car can only fit 5 people, one by one backed out from joining us for lunch.. but I didn't mind coz we all had lunches together almost everyday. Yati A, Yati B & Shamira decided to stay in from lunch.

E.P. from one of our site offices came to HQ to do some blueprintings for submission and she joined my husband, Manzur and me for lunch.

We did some cam-whoring in the car... whaahahahah!



Did a little black and white photography of old building staircases at Geylang.

We went to Joo Chiat coffeeshop for lunch. Upon reaching Geylang and on our way to the coffeeshop after parking the car, we came across a shop named Shamira. Manzur made a joke. "Eh! Since when Shamira got shop here!?" Wahaha!

At the coffeeshop, see below..


E.P. ate rice with sambal sotong (her favourite), veggies and sambal kerang.

I eat Nasi Rawon.

My hubby ate white rice with this wierd looking fish called 'Ikan Ayam-ayam'. Ayam = chicken. This fish doesn't look like a chicken but its meat texture is like chicken. Well, they say 'Everything tastes like chicken!" wahahahah!

Manzur & hubby tucking into their lunch with full concentration.


This cute cat begged me for food.. So manja!

Then after lunch, we went to pick up my tailored Baju Kurung from Joo Chiat for a while. Here's a glimpse of it.

The receipt showed this name because my husband reminded the tailor of the so called famous 70s singer because of his sideburns. haha! What a joker!

Here is Manzur and E.P. posing at the tailor shop. hahah!



Came back to office. Did our work... Evening came...

Went back towards our home after dropping E.P. off at her home. Went to have our dinner at our neighbourhood hawker stalls...

While we were having our Mutton Soup and bread (still full from our rice lunch), I saw a drink stall named Shamira!!!



What a coincidence! All in one day... ! Maybe because this is what I get from not having lunch with Shamira! AARRGGH!!! The witch!!! HAHAHA!

Goddamned FREELOADERS!!

You know I am a generous person... but there are limits to my generosity. There's a limit when people are freeloading from me ALL THE TIME!!

I don't mind if I buy things or food for my friends and they love it and appreciate it. I'm not a stingy person like some or certain people thinks I am. I love to help people and I love to give people things or food whenever I can and can afford it.

They're my friends so.. why don't they deserve my generosity when they've been good to me? BUT FREELOADERS!? NO WAY.

I work, yes. I do favours for my colleagues, yes when it's concerning work. But some people tends to step over the boundaries and never realise it that they are being stingy and also freeloading to the extent of irritating me.

I do things for work, yes. But when it comes to personal and they are linking it with work.. then sorry.. I'm not that type.

I do freelancing photography and stuff like that. I DO get paid for my efforts and talent. After all, my cameras and my accessories and my energy are NOT FREE.

But when it comes to my doing it as a hobby and I get recognised for my talents, I don't appreciate it when people freeload from me.

Out of work context, I was doing photography as a favour to a friend for her birthday. It has NOTHING whatsoever to do with work, even though people attending the birthday are co-workers and colleagues and friends. I have no idea WHEN was I announced as the company's OFFICIAL FREE photographer.

I don't mind doing it when it's officially announced AND doint it FOR THE COMPANY! But for personal birthdays??? And asking me for the softcopy of ALL the photos! That's too much! I can give it to my friend who's birthday I took photos of as a favour and gift to her.. BUT NOT, distributing my work as some useless pieces of photos and of no value, as and when they like! And anyways, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPANY'S EVENTS! I HAVE COPYRIGHTS RIGHTS, OKAY? AND BY THE WAY, I would really like it if people appreciate my work a little bit more than just to ASKING EVERYTHING FROM ME FOR FREE!
SHEEESSSH!!! LIKE MY LIFE AND MY CAMERA AND MY EQUIPMENTS BELONG TO THEM????

Please lah..... You can appreciate my work.. but then, come to think of it... Where's my benefit from doing all the photography for them?

I get my freelance fees for my own efforts and THANKS TO MY HUSBAND, MY PARENTS AND MY FRIENDS, NOT the company where I work my day job!

And they got the cheek to DEMAND.. yes, demand, not ask or willing to buy my work - ALL THE PHOTOS FROM ME!

WHAT THE......!!!??!?!

Company events, yes. Personal events, depends on me. Whether I wanna give it to the friend I'm doing a favour for, OR to charge my work.

THERE IS a borderline to generosity when people TEND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU! I HAVE MORALS AND INTEGRITY TOO! AND I TOO AM NOT A FREELOADER! I like to pay for things when I want them.

Much to other's hissings, I DO treasure my efforts.