So I've just celebrated my birthday (no prizes for guessing my age because it's so explicitly pictured below haha!), and I'm so glad that most of my important friends and my family members remembered. This is gonna be a long long wordy post so I suggest you read on if you're really bored. Penning this down for memory's sake. :)
One thing that I hate about social media platforms like Facebook is that not everyone on your friends' list remembers your birthday but most of them will still write you a wall post to say "Happy birthday". Not that I'm trying to say that they're insincere or something, but it takes away the true meaning and the joy of receiving birthday messages. Back in those days when we all hold Nokia phones with the blue screens and all playing "snakes" on our little handphones, people who remembers your birthday are the ones who jot them down onto their small little notebooks, autograph books, or diaries. Back then, the number of messages you get could be counted with your fingers and toes (or you might need to borrow some from your best friend), and it was a simple affair of cutting a cake, blowing the candles, coupled with some handmade cards and small little handmade gifts like the box of paper swans that I still keep.
So this year, I've decided to disable my wall posts function. I don't get as much wishes as I did last year, but that's okay. Turns out that Facebook still doesn't give up and instead of having the small little box where you can type a simple "Happy Birthday" and it gets directed to that person's wall (you don't even have to visit that person's profile at all, goodness gracious), they put up this link that says:
"Click here to send Esther a message".
For those who are always actively on Facebook, you'd have known that sending a private message equates to chatting to them person on FB chat. So not everyone would want to do so, but I still get some messages from my not-so-close friends, but they're friends whom I still meet up with when I get back to Singapore. This allows me to chat with them a little, catch up a little; it's this more personal touch and talking to the person up close that makes me feel like I'm still connected with them.
Then there're my very good friends who called me, sent me a message through my personal phone number. They're people who remember, or at least bother to pick up their phone to send me a text message. It's like going back to primary and secondary school, and I kinda like this feeling. You know that you matter to these people, and that's what it matters. I don't need 200 wall posts on my profile, I'm perfectly fine with just 20 people texting me, because I know at least that these 20 people will hold me close to their hearts. & that they bother.
Then there're my very best friends who actually sprung surprises on me. I'm someone who, quote my friends, is very hard to surprise. I always spoil my own surprises, HAHA! But this time round, my friends got better and they really did surprised me! Although I did suspect here and there, but I just brushed it off me.
Flew over to Tassie over the weekends (that shall go into another blog post) and my best friend threw a little surprise for me. I was truly taken aback because I was about to shower when she shouted for me to come down and take a look at Mai mai (her dog) and when I walked down, there's a cake waiting for me with them singing the birthday song! I was really really very touched and happy that I couldn't stop smiling. :)
Then there were my melbourne friends and cousin. I don't have a lot of friends here because honestly, I hate socializing and making new friends and stepping out of my comfort zone. So I'm really very blessed to have these people with me. Just a day before my birthday I went out shopping with Qiu and I was craving badly for a blackforest cake that I went into a shop and almost wanted to get a slice. And she went, "Eh this shop not nice one" so I didn;t get it. Spotted another bakery across the street and wanted to go when she said "I don't think they have la, don't bother!". I thought nothing of it even though I suspected a little but brushed it behind me.
So on that day I was supposed to have dinner with them, and was waiting for my cousin to get back home from school. Was literally rotting at home and I was so hungry that I had 3 sandwiches and tons of eclairs and kit kats. Then my cousin suddenly came home, and behind were Qiu and Sarah singing Happy birthday song and guess what!! CARRYING MY BLACKFOREST CAKE HEEHEE! I was so touched because they actually went looking for it and reserved it for some time! Was so so so so happy that they went to such great lengths to get a cake that I wanted so badly for me!
Then we went for dinz which I enjoyed very very very much. Halfway through Kennedy was like "Did the jacket fit?" and I'm like "What jacket?!" and then... awkward silence. Ken decided to salvage the situation by saying "Neh Qiuling you know that day I told you my friend wanted to get a jacket..." hahahah and I couldn't stop laughing, and kept asking them what jacket on the way home.
When I got home I was so tired that I just showered and headed for bed. Next morning when I woke up, I was rushing for school and went to grab my coat when I realized, eh there's a new jacket on my rack ley?! Turns out they sneakily snuck the jacket and hung it on my rack before we went for dinner! & it was the superdry jacket that I loved and contemplated on buying!! :D
Went home that day after school & decided to pop by the mail room to see if my Asos parcel was delivered already. Got the card that the parcel was at the post office so I decided to drop by since there's still time before they close for the day. Went to get it, and the woman passed me a box. Those of you who shopped at Asos would've known that clothes usually come in the grey bag, so I asked the woman to double check for me because mine's not supposed to be in a box and she said it was the correct one. I was so puzzled and left the PO, holding the box and shaking it periodically.
TURNS OUT MY FRIENDS GOT ME MY BAG FROM ASOS! That I really wanted to get!! It was such a pleasant surprise and I really felt so touched and loved and blessed. What have I done to deserve all these special treatment?! The girls were really sweet and Cheryl sent me the whatsapp group chat, and I saw for myself how they;ve been planning and anticipating this surprise. Was so touched that I almost teared.
Yknow how when you're studying in a foreign land, you tend to miss your friends and family more often? Simple words or texts from them will just brighten up your day, and I think I just hit my cap for happiness for the month! I'm easily contented and this was beyond what I've expected, didn't expect them to get me stuff and I was truly elated.
Just wanted to post this up, to remember how I felt when I was alone here, and how my friends managed to make me feel all the love from miles away.
If you all are reading this, know that I love you all! :)
First surprise in Tassie!
With my bestfriend!
& mai mai!
My blackforest cake yums!
& birthday dinner. Nothing beats a meal that reminds you so much of home!
This desert platter is THE BOMB. The banana fritters, sticky date pudding and mango pudding ARE THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD!
Those who made my day! <3 p="p">
& this is the bag that my lovely girls got me!
Thank you all for loving me unconditionally and making me feel like I'm the happiest girl on earth on my birthday. :)
& even though 2 of the most important people in my life didn't get to wish my happy birthday, I know you would if you could, and that you'll still remember. Just to let you know that I miss you, and I know you're happy with your own life now and that's all matter, even though we don't talk anymore. & for you, please visit me in my dreams soon because I miss seeing you and talking to you, even if it's not real. I just wanna feel your presence like you're here with me.
