Birth Day.

Things that have made me smile:

1) Having been booked a month in advance by the Boyfriend for a birthday dinner.

2) Finding out that the birthday dinner was actually a front for a rather elaborate secret surprise party orchestrated by A, A2, R and the Boyfriend a month in advance which apparently everyone was in on but I somehow managed to remain clueless.

3) A2 engaging me in a random conversation about cake which, at the time, I did not realise was actually a secret fact-finding mission to discover what kind of cake I'd like.

4) Singing at the top of our lungs, Part 1.

5) Campagne and chocolate cake.

6) Opening my email inbox to find 22 emails (from Facebook) from well-wishers across the globe.

7) Coming back from lunch to find a fan on my desk from the associates.

8) Chocolates from the boss.

9) Team drinks.

10) Flowers from my sister.

11) Birthday presents :D

12) Chinese dinner and more cake.

13) Having my grandparents here for my birthday.

14) Ferrero Rochers that proclaim every conceivable gift-giving occasion and a post-it flag pointing at 'Happy Birthday'.

15) Birthday Halwa.

16) Friends who are way too good to me.

17) My family.

18) Being 24 and having successfully survived the last 23 years.

So I am sitting at my laptop, working away on that affidavit I'm supposed to get out by tomorrow when a little MSN window pops up declaring that RS is online. Don't ask why he's still on my MSN list, I'm honestly not sure and I certainly don't speak to him anymore.

But of its own accord, my mind suddenly remembers that tonight is the one year anniversary of our first "date". Ok, so it wasn't officially a date but it definitely was the start of the drama between us.

I remembered how we went to a really great Indian restaurant (which I sadly never went back to) and then had a drink or two before sitting down at the bay where we watched the lights flicker over the water for hours and hours as we talked about life and love and everything else in between. I remember how I got into trouble for coming so late and how I had glowed for days afterward.

I can't believe its already been a year since that night when I first felt myself falling for him. Things had started out so well and yet turned so ugly in a matter of months. We don't talk anymore but every so often, I still do wonder if he's OK.

Up until now, I had been thinking of bringing the Boyfriend there this Wednesday when he asked what I wanted to do for my birthday. I had wanted to bring him to that same place where RS and I spent hours sitting on the ledge. But I don't think I ever will. As much as I want to replace the bad memories I have of certain places with new good ones, this is one place that will always belong to RS.

I had a rather rude awakening this morning. As it turns out, last night, I had parked my car on the kerb not realising it was in the path of someone's gate. I had planned to move it during the night but fell asleep and hence didn't do it.

This morning a fat, ugly chinese woman comes yelling at our gate, ringing the bell repeatedly, shouting the neighbourhood down. When I rushed downstairs, I apologised for what I had done, told her I'd move it immediately and that I'd only ever done it twice. She just shouted some more! Rather than just saying 'can you move it right now' and walking off where I would have quickly followed, she just screamed, 'you stupid! no brains! parking in front of my house! i can't get out, you want me to bang your car is it?' and shouts off down the road about how I have no brains.

So I take my time, get my flip flops and slowly stroll to where my car is.

Obviously, it pisses her off. "Can you walk faster?" she screams. "I'm late for work because of you!" I'm thinking, in that tight strappy top thats too small to cover your large belly and that ridiculous amount of make-up? What do you work as, a hooker??

I keep strolling. "I'm getting there," I say coolly. "There's no need for you to shout and be rude when I'm already on my way there."

"How dare you? You want me to bang your car is it? No brains! Young people like you...." I'd slammed my door in her face, blocking off her bleating.

Up until now I'd always admired the Silver BMW 6.45 that was in our neighbourhood, never knowing who it belonged to. Now the next time I get a chance, hope she doesn't get too shocked if she sees a nice long key scratch along her hood.

The Boyfriend just called to tell me that he can't make it to my colleague's wedding next month. I know its not a big deal but I'm still slightly annoyed. I had asked him to be my date for it over a month ago and had been consistently reminding him of it so he knew we were going. But he just made plans to go to Phuket with a couple of his buddies and really, who wouldn't pick a weekend on the beach with the boys over going to his girlfriend's colleague's wedding and mingling with a bunch of people he doesn't even know.

I know I shouldn't be peeved. I know I should be understanding and supportive and encouraging.

But I'm still slightly annoyed.

Hence I've called in my replacement man :D Nothing like having my not-actually-gay gay best friend A coming with me instead.

Although then again... we all remember what happened the last time A stepped in on behalf of a dude I was seeing as my replacement friend at an event. The dude went ballistic and we didn't speak for a week. Let's hope the Boyfriend doesn't share these similar insecure tendancies. At least he actually likes A which, I suppose, is already a vast improvement from the last guy.

While waiting for my caffiene to kick in (i'm soooooooooooooo sleepy! Curse you Burger King and your ridiculously affordable $1.95 breakfast deal that includes a croissant sandwich and a coffee!) I'm going to write a post for my blog.

I was a really good girl today (until the Burger King part) and woke up super early to drag my fat ass down to the gym after weeks and weeks of making excuses and being lazy. It felt so good to work up a sweat while on the treadmill, I can't believe I was letting myself miss out on this for so long. I long for those days when I was so disciplined and would wake up ridiculously early and trudge through snow and sleet just to go to the gym every 2-3 days for a run as my body would get restless from the inactivity. In those days I could run 5.5km comfortably and still have the stamina to go on. I like to think this morning's 4km wasn't half bad considering how long i've been inactive but I'd really like to get back into my fitness regime. I've put on weight lately and I hate it. I want to be able to eat what I like without feeling guilty and the only time I was able to do that was when I was exercising regularly.

Of course, eating Burger King directly afterwards probably negated the goodness of this morning somewhat, what I'm more concerned about now is getting that habit back. The losing weight part will take care of itself.

I went to the prison this morning to interview our client. I was genuinely excited about going, probably from having watched one too many episodes of prison break. In truth, it was nothing like that. The prison was a huge imposing structure from the outside with its high cement wall and barbed wire, armed gaurds manning the entrance. But on the inside, it was very spacious and not much going on. We walked in and did the relevant security checks before we proceeded to another building where we were led to a small interview that was divided by a desk that stretched to meet the length of the room and a thick sheet of plexiglass separating us from our client.

He looked better this time than the last time we saw him. Slightly more cheery and suriving prison as best he could. Your heart goes out to him when you see him. You can tell he's a simple person, trying to keep his chin up and making the most of what he can. He was a just a guy who was at the wrong place at the wrong time and has somehow found himself in a bigger mess than he should have been.

His case has made the news recently and there are a lot of people talking about it, talking about the injustice he has had to suffer and sitting up to take a closer look at the criminal justice system in our country.

Updates:

1. Yesterday I got a text message at 8.25 a.m. All smiley and glow-y, I reached over to check my phone, thinking it was a message from the Boyfriend confirming what time he'd be picking me up so that we could go shopping. Turns out, it was from the Boss, asking me to come in to work at 11.00 a.m. So unimpressed. Contemplated pretending like I had never received the message or that I'd only woken up around noon but then I felt bad. So I cancelled all plans to go shopping with the Boyfriend and that pedicure I'd been dying to get. Worked till about 7.00 p.m. only to discover later that the Boss had left around 5.00 p.m.!!!!!!!! Grr!

2. Received a random telephone call from The Dude (who shall henceforth be referred to as the Muppet). He Said he'd been thinking about me so he just thought to ring and say hello. Right. He then asked if I ever still thought about him and jokingly, I replied, sure, every once in a while, I think ____, that muppet, he was such an ass. Surprisingly the Muppet laughed, thinking I was just being teasing and candid when really, I do think he's an ass. Or at least he was to me way back when. Anyways, the conversation proceeded as usual, about whether I believed in fate and that we were fated to meet each other and how I felt about relationships and cheating. I've given up questioning what he's really trying to get at. If he's harbouring any secret hopes that there might ever be anything between us again, I hope he realises that that ship sailed a LONG time ago.

3. My mom's parents have arrived in Singapore and are going to be staying in my room. As such, I've been temporarily evicted and I'm currently taking up residence on the third floor, in the TV room. I think given my limited resources, the room is actually rather cozy after my little touches.

The Boyfriend and I almost had our first fight today... to date, everything has been rather peachy and lovey-dovey. But over the last couple of days, the Boyfriend has been whining about certain ailments and yet refusing to see a doctor about it.

Frankly its frustrating me. I wish he would take it more seriously and at least get it checked out. He keeps saying he's fine and everything will be alright but then yesterday was half limping around and today he had a nose bleed twice... how is that fine?! Perhaps it really is nothing but I'd feel better if a professional checked him out and said so. And he's covered by medical insurance anyways, I just don't understand why he's putting it off.

On top of that, it doesn't help that I just generally can't stand people who have a problem which they complain about but are just not doing anything about it. Grr!

She slipped out from the office that evening, earlier than usual. Luckily for her, the boss had an important meeting which took him away from the office, leaving the door unguarded for her quiet escape.

The train journey took mere minutes and she met him at the foot of the hill that led to his town club. They exchanged a brief hug, then holding her at an arm’s length, he looked at her appreciatively. “You look beautiful tonight.”

The Girl smiled, feeling pleased. “You look pretty good yourself.”

His hand wrapped easily around hers as he led her up the path to the club. A short walk later and they found themselves being seated at a cozy restaurant.

The buffet spread of food boasted cuisine from around the world and the Girl filled her plate with a little bit of everything, just so she could try it all.

“So,” the Girl started after they’d sat down, taking a small bite of her chicken and chewing slowly. “Aren’t you going to ask me how my day was?”

“Nah,” he joked, brushing the topic away.

The Girl felt a bit miffed, but hoped it didn’t show. Admittedly, her day at work hadn’t been all that interesting, aside from the usual news about her boss and her work, but she would have liked to have been asked how she was doing, especially while the boy had been yapping away about a new phone he was contemplating getting.

Midway through their first course, the waitress presented the Girl with a single red rose. She accepted it graciously but the surprise on her face was evident. She looked at the man seated across her, seeking an explanation. “It’s from you, isn’t it?”

A grin sparkled in his eyes but he feigned innocence.

“Tell me,” she begged, fingering the velvet petals. “I thought you didn’t believe in giving flowers.”

“Well,” he said, shrugging his shoulders, “I like to make exceptions when its for someone special. You deserve the best baby. Tonight I want to treat you like a princess.”

She fought to control the smile that was rapidly stretching itself across her lips. “Is that so, Mr. _?”

“It is indeed. Everything has been taken care of. I just want you to relax and enjoy yourself tonight."

And so she did as she was told. Dessert followed their sumptuous dinner and when they were both too full to move, the bill was paid and they slowly walked hand in hand to the cinema nearby, where they had tickets to catch a new movie that was out. They enjoyed themselves immensely as the movie turned out to be better than the reviews had made it out to be.

The boy had also secretly made reservations at Ben & Jerry’s so after the movie, they adjourned for some ice-cream (even though the Girl thought she would explode if she ate another bite) and they cuddled on the leather couch in the corner, listening to the live band crooning soft melodies of old love songs. At one point she looked up at him and wondered how she got so lucky to have met a man who she not only felt safe and protected with, but also incredibly comfortable. He always could make her laugh, even when she was trying her darnest to keep a straight serious face and gave her warm tingles in her belly when he kissed her. He caught her looking and when he prodded as to what she was thinking about, she shook her head.

“No one’s ever gone out of their way to do something like this for me on Valentine’s Day before,” the Girl admitted.

“You deserve it baby.”

When it was all over, they strolled back to where their cars were parked and he pulled her into a tight hug. Whispering into her ear, he said, “Now baby, I’ll ask you how your day was.”

She kissed him gently. “It was the best day ever.”

Happy Valentine's Day World!!!!

Ok, so I'm not exactly delightfully cheerful this morning. I'm still half asleep and spent a good 40 mins of my morning drive stuck in 2 traffic jams. So not fun.

My office colleagues have been in a frenzy these last few days (seeing as everyone sitting around me is attached!) as people have tried to come up with innovative gift ideas for today. Phones were continually buzzing with dinner plans being made and flowers being ordered.

For some reason, its assumed that we are all supposed to have exciting after work plans and while everyone else is exchanging details of their romantic night ahead, I really have nothing much to share.

The Boyfriend and I are going to spend the evening doing what we love best when we’re together: hanging out in our own little world. We’ve never been the clichéd sort of couple, full of grand romantic gestures and extravagant presents. There certainly won’t be any gifts/chocolates/flowers, etc. Instead, we’re going to eat fish and chips and then go and see a movie.

Part of the perks of having a boyfriend who is also your best male friend :)

Work has been manic lately and I've been working all day and going home only to crash for the last couple of days, I haven't even seen my sister or the rest of my family for that matter, despite living in the same house! I did get to see the Boyfriend yesterday though and that was quite nice. He picked up my car for me (a very thinly veiled excuse I might add. Claiming to want to pamper me and pick me up from work when really, I know he just wanted a go at driving my new car) and came to pick me up from work after adding his own touches to my car, including sorting out my lights and getting me a little car freshener :)

I ended up running into one of our client's last night when the Boyfriend and I went to get some food. The dude has been charged with molesting a woman and while we are defending him and believe he's innocent till proven guilty, I clung onto the Boyfriend just a wee bit tighter than I might have normally done. I can't help myself (though I try to make it as unobvious as I can). He has been shifty about coming clean with the whole truth and it makes you wonder just what exactly he might have done.

I woke up at 8.15 a.m. this morning, 45 minutes before I was supposed to be at court for the same molester client's pre-trial hearing. I was in and out of the shower by 8.20, a personal best I am proud to say. I poured the contents of my make-up drawer into my handbag and ran out of the door. Jumped into my shiny little red baby and pelted towards the highway, pausing at red traffic lights to swipe mascara over my eyelashes.

I never made it to court in the end. at 8.43 a.m., got a call from the boss and I confessed I was running late. Thankfully he didn't blow his top (I wasn't really needed in court anyways...) and told me to get to the office and get onto researching for our new druggy client.

Ah, the joys of being a legal apprentice.

Today was one of those days at the Firm where there just wasn't any time to breathe. In a good way I suppose... I worked from 9.15 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. without even feeling it. And its looking to be like this for the next two days at least, seeing as there will 4 court appearances in the next 2 days.

:-O

On the upside, the best part of today was getting to drive home at the end of a long hard day at work. It beats taking the bus and walking up a hill in heels any day :D

I've been thinking about the Boyfriend a lot lately. And not in the way you would expect an adoring girlfriend to be constantly thinking about her man. More specifically, I've been spending a lot of time with my family lately as my dad's little sister is in town and everytime we settle down to another meal or pass more cups of tea around, I try to imagine what it would be like to insert the Boyfriend into the picture. There would be my dad, his dad and his brother, all arguing about medicine (the price we have to pay to have a family full of doctors) or politics (both Pakistani and Singaporean) or religion (go figure) while the rest of us carry on our own polite conversations about what we've been up to since we last saw each other.

And lately, the more I've tried to think of it, the more I wonder whether or not he would fit in. I don't doubt that the family will eventually come to accept him as he is, but I wonder whether in the long run, he won't stop to resent my family gatherings where most conversations are not entirely in English and the topics discussed aren't easy to keep up with unless one really knows about them.

But then I think about Auntie A, the family friend who's always around at these family gatherings of ours. We've come to get used to her presence at these events, including her as one of the family even though she's not related to any of us either by blood or marriage. She's the Chinese lady who's been the nurse at my grandfather's clinic since before I was born. I've never been quite sure why she's still with us but I can't help but notice how she's always there, politely seated to the side, smiling even though she can't understand a word of that urdu joke someone just made.

Perhaps one day the Boyfriend will be seated politely next to her too. Or the family will just start telling jokes in English.

My folks have the worst timing. Was going to sneak the Boyfriend up to my room as all my friends left after our game of poker when my parents returned home from their night out on the town. So we made small talk and he got into his car, as if he was just about to leave too when they arrived.

Drat! Foiled again by the parental units!

Pet peeve No. 468: I hate it when people cancel on me last minute, especially when you're already dressed and almost out the door. You think they would have had the decency to let you know earlier that everyone else who you were supposed to have lunch with had already cancelled.

My baby has arrived:

I just got her yesterday :) :) :) And, yea, she will cost me an arm and a leg but for a girl who values her freedom of movement as much as I do, it'll be worth it.

Since my last post, which seems eons ago now, I've worked a month at The Firm, took five months out to sit for and pass the PLC and then gone back to The Firm where I've just completed almost 2 months. Like all jobs, there have been ups and there have been downs. About a month into working I was seriously questioning the choices I had made and considering changing jobs as soon as my pupillage was over. My boss is a moody man. He's quick to lose his temper and it got to a point where I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to deal with his tantrums. But I'm still standing and I have no intention of dropping out of the programme that I fought to get into.

In other news, the Boy I was involved with in June is no longer a part of my life. I haven't heard from him since late November and while I do think its sad that our once close friendship has ended so abruptly, I think perhaps things happened for the best. Since then, I was introduced to someone new by my cousin. The Referral Guy and I went on a series of dates and for the longest time I just wasn't sure about him. We got along tremedously but I think a part of me just wasn't over the other guy yet. The Referral Guy was incredibly patient and never pushed me and somewhere along the way, I noticed just how adorable he really was. As you can probably guess, The Referral Guy eventually became the Boyfriend and that was about 3 months ago now.

In short, things have been good and I have nothing to complain about :) The Girl is back and has much to write about after her overly long hiatus.