After posting the previous piece, i went back in my archive to look at my life exactly a year ago when i was still bumming around. The contrast is stark to me. Thought it would make for an interesting read…
http://ludicrous.blog.com/673694/
http://ludicrous.blog.com/676555/
i feel a need to post about the past few days - string of gatherings with my closest pals commemorating my 26th. this year was particularly memorable because i hadn’t plan to celebrate, perhaps work took a lot out of me and i didn’t want to do something deliberate. there was however a nice dinner arranged in advance with my dragon mummy and siblings on the actual day.
we had italian at an obscure little restaurant that served excellent veal and pasta. my taste buds were swelling in glee through the rest of the night as we adjourned for sinful desserts at canele. there i unveiled the gifts they had bought for me: a sleek belt and a tuxedo shirt that i had wanted when we were in bangkok. i was floored by their incredible thoughtfulness and ability to restraint from telling me they had bought it as my gift a month back. *thump thump* 
the next morning saw me at work clearing my mails before peddlar whisked me off for training at kallang. i had to rush off straight after that to support an old friend who’s screening his debut photography directorial effort at the substation. htf met me there to hang out afterwards.
Curry Favour
We were here for lunch, a late one, but it was totally deserving. We had wanted to try them for the longest time but always failed to recollect this place. If you haven’t been here, do so. The japanese curry here is to die for. no point me describing how it taste, that would be like saying “i want to dance about architecture”. just try it for yourself, there won’t be disappointment for sure.
we went around shopping and i was given the luxury to choose my present, therefore it had to be “something i’ve always wanted…” haha.
this sexy pair of shades would aid me from now on during my weekly paddles. no more squinting under the scorching sun or rampant sea water impeding my sight when i do my hard strokes. complete with exchangeable uv protection and polarized lenses, this baby just made everything a lot sweeter. thanks dear for your presen(ce)/(ts)…wah, pain.
finally, the big one came in the night when b told of a surprise he had in store. i was as clueless as i was excited sitting in his car with j,c and htf. it wasn’t til we parked that i realised he had planned for a bbq by the beach for me. *tears in my eyes glistening under the moonlight* assortment of food marinated in advance lined the table as i was instructed to eat and do nothing else(no complaints there ;p), even got me a birthday cake and had his own friends come out to celebrate my occasion. what more can you ask of a buddy? i treated them to a 4-hour karaoke set thereafter and barely managed my way home at 7am.
despite not constantly keeping in contact, i had many good friends sending their well-wishes in the form of sms-es and emails this year. it made me really happy. it’s good to know that you still have a place in their hearts even though they may be miles away or involved in daily predicaments.
so from the bottom of my heart, i wish you all well and hope that happiness finds you successful in your pursues and engagements. for more years of friendship to come, thanks to one and all for making my 26th an unforgettable one.
if living’s easy, you probably have not lived. in the same way, if you think life’s hard, you probably need to look around more. nobody’s problem is bigger or smaller than others - one simply learns to deal with his/her own problems and try get by (i know this sounds mildly depressing but who’s judging?). it’s easy to whine the whole day long blaming someone else for your own ordeal. but if you do not get past that, it eats you and makes you a very very unhappy person.
i’ve witnessed the ignorance of many who constantly inflict the slightest mistakes upon themselves allowing disparaging thoughts to disarm and inevitably upset them. it usually takes the littlest of things to trigger the ugliest side to surface. someone’s bound to look bad.
in the end finding out who’s really right or wrong no longer justifies the tedious process. but people being people go on making the same mistake again and again because we forget how it even began. naturally, who thinks about problem solving when there’s none at hand?
i’m just thinking out loud: if the problem is big, make it smaller. if there’s no problem, consider one to keep you mindful.
