beloved bel

The week after I came back from Singapore, I was busy overcoming jet lag and meeting friends for dinners.  Firstly was K's birthday dinner, followed by a farewell dinner for a close colleague Cyrus, then dinner with K's friends and an engagement drinks for Janine and Louis, all in the same week.  It was good in a way because I had to force myself to stay awake during the dinners and got over jet lag quite fast. Cyrus was the first colleague I knew when I was new in our London office.  I was a complete newbie and my manager introduced us saying we both had just joined the team and perhaps thought it's good for us to interact since we both knew no one else.  Turned out that we became really good buddies and in fact our whole team got along so well together with Askar and Kathryn that we were dubbed the "dream team" by other colleagues haha well I guess there is some truth in there.  I would safely say that Cyrus is probably the most helpful colleague I've me

As time would have allowed very nicely, I was back in London in time for K's birthday.  However the one small problem I had - I was very jet lagged as I was back for barely two days. Worried that I would forget about planning his birthday as I would have been busy with my plans for Singapore, I made a special birthday reservation at the restaurant which he proposed last year, one month in advance.   Kiasu  right?!  hehe Well but guess what, to have a table in their beautiful conservatory, you do indeed need to make a reservation one month in advance.  There are only 7 tables in the conservatory and everyone wants to be there. I didn't tell him where I had planned to bring him for dinner so he was kept in the dark till the very last minute.  I told him to meet at Covent Garden tube station and we were "going for a show".  He was baffled and said "No food?  But we are gonna be so hungry at the end of it!"  Heehee sounding completely like a Singaporean.

"Mommy can I be part of your girly group?" "Yes I am the new addition to the girly group!"  "The new official photo with me!" "Hello I am baby Charis!" This was the first time I am meeting Min's baby Charis.  We had what we termed our girly dim sum lunch.  She is almost 9 months now and I can't believe I've not met her before!  It's something different having a kid join us - certainly made me aware that the new chapter of life has arrived.  ie we are old.  Making way for the new generation. hehe Very happy for Min :)  Don't know how she can remain so slim after giving birth.  Amazing lah!

This trip home has been all things wedding-y.  I was back for my dear friend's Corinne's wedding, and I had to start preparing for mine!  I thought it was great I could be part of her wedding so I could take some notes hehe for mine. As usual, the day started early and we were supposed to reach her place before 7am.  Us bridesmaids were to get ready the props for the "gatecrashing games" and as I told my fellow bridesmaids, Bel is very out of touch being a bridesmaid so I will just follow along.  Their suggestions on the games were really funny and the good thing is that we were all on the same page - no degrading games.  It's a happy occasion after all - there is no need to be overly difficult.  Classy games, that's it - those are the two words we used. haha I was rather nervous to be honest haha cos I didn't really know what to expect.  The couple hired a really cute vintage looking VW van which I have been swooning after for years.  Horn hor

This is a pretty long trip back home.  I have been back for almost 1.5 weeks now and I have a few more days to go.  I think my body did not like the huge drastic change in temperatures and so I have caught the flu bug *boohoo* Nonetheless it didn't stop me from my food feasting.  Eating out at posh restaurants is nice but I realise what I really like is to eat local fare at hawker centres.  Bring on the chwee kueh, fried carrot cake, braised duck noodles, yong tau foo soup, chendol dessert, fried bee hoon for breakfast and chicken rice.  Throw in the occasional Japanese ramen, unagi rice bowl, tempura and sushi.  And squeeze in some home cooked food.  Yup these are some of the food which I have eaten since I touched down on 1st March. Local breakfast - might not look appetising but this to me is one of the best breakfast to have. Fried vermicelli and chwee kueh (the chilli is important!) From grandma's kitchen.  Simple fare but they are all my fav dishes :)