The sweetest things in life are free . (Thank you, baba)

Priceless.

The world is a strange place today. People put value on everything, on friendships, on relationships, and despite so many saying that "money isn't anything", truth be told that wealth does act as a key access to many areas in life. Sad but true. However, cliche as this may sound, there is one thing that money can't buy. Something that is intangible, something that is truly priceless. The everlasting sweet memory of the simplest deed done for you, and only you, at practically no cost at all. Except for another person's time, sweat and effort.

And that, my friends, is worth more than all the millions in the world.

Why my sudden lashing out at materialism? This year marks (or marked, rather) my turning a Quarter of a Century. Ok, so those of you out there above this 25-year mark may think I'm simply blowing this whole aging process a tad out of proportion, but I beg to differ. For me, I've said this too many times before and I'll say it again - I'm a gust of wind. A seasonal breeze that may blow hot or cold, depending entirely on my mood and given situation. Anyway, this year I turn 25, and it's the second year I'm spending it with my sweet V.T. And what a celebration it was. Not only was this my Q.C, but it was also our 1st Year Anniversary. One whole long year together, and it's been a marvellous one year, with so many beautiful memories etched into my memory for this lifetime and next.


We celebrated my birthday on the 5th April (on a Saturday this year, how convenient) by meeting in the evening for a splendid dinner at Keyaki Restaurant at Pan Pacific. Loving my Japanese with a pet weakness for yakitori skewers, I ordered up a storm and was pleasantly surprised when this place actually had the ox tongue I've been so desperately craving.

We finished up in time to head over to the Singapore Flyer to get a bird's eye view of Singapore and despite much criticisms about the Flyer, I must say I enjoyed myself. Thoroughly. Amidst the hustle and bustle of speeding cars and bright lights, we stood, 165m elevated above ground level and time stood still. Everything went on a pause, and nothing seem to be bothering me at that point. She continued to maintain a level of secrecy about this enormous paper bag she was carried and adamantly refused to let me peek in to see the contents hiding within. We went to this quirky teahouse in Chinatown (by chance I might add) called Global Sounds and had some pots of tea while waiting for the clock to strike 12.

Midnight fell upon us, and she asked me to close my eyes which I promptly did. When I opened them, there was a sight that I'll never forget, and my silly eyes welled up with heavy tears of emotion. See below picture as words cannot describe the happiness I felt that night.


This was my night and it was dedicated to me. Thank you baba, for the magical spell you've woven me this one year and for continuing to light up each day with the mere thought of you.

Lost in time (Leave me there, reality bites hard and fast)

Can it really be past the middle of March already? Am i almost going to turn the big 2-5? Almost impossible it seems, but yet, it is real. Aging has become a part of my life that I can't believe has set in. I had this thought, that you know you're old when you say "Oh i just sat for my O Levels awhile back" but then you realise, that your younger sister is actually done with HER O Levels, and just bought a spanking new lappie for Poly. Wow. Time flies huh?

And as all old fogies do when they realise that the precious sands of time are beginning to slip through their fingers at an irreversibly quick speed, I too, have begun to do much reminiscing. With so much of my time spent at work, I find that each moment has become all the more special and to be cherished. I no longer am able to take my three hour naps as often as I wish, or watch some random MTV, I no longer can go for the many coffees, have the many glasses of wine. Movies aren't a regular outing, but a rare treat I indulge in every 3 weeks or so. And my fave activity of supermarketing has cut down to about once a month. Tres sad, I daresay.

I'm missing my Life. I'm missing it so greatly at times, I wish I woke up, and the present was gone, and I somehow was placed back in the past. If for but only a moment in time. I'd do it. For that one minute, I can walk down Bank Street and pop into Peko Peko for the world's BEST cafe latte and Honey Chicken. For a drive down St Kilda Road, and a simple sketch by the beach. I long for the day, when I enjoyed my cigarette (one good thing, is that I've kicked the habit now!) with nothing but a book and a hot G.T. I miss the time when personal space was not a luxury that I had to fight to enjoy, but rather, a daily life that I was living.

Will I ever feel that freedom again? To be cut loose and left out there alone, to fend for myself. Where the choice of getting out of bed, and to DO something was solely up to me. I wonder, i ponder and I wait. And until that time comes, I can only dream. For dreaming takes me out of this world, and back into time where there were no boundaries. And my dreams were real.