2 lunches, 2 dinners, 1 huge party and 2 extra kilos later, I am on the cusp of 40.

This is why you haven’t heard from me – I’ve been too busy eating. Let’s see. The two-week extravaganza started with an exquisite kaiseki at Hashida on May Day, for which I bought a most beautiful cornflower blue Gucci dress with dusky pink flowers (two of my favorite colors!), only for my friend, the journalist, to ask if I’d put on weight. That was before I started the endless feasting?! Let me set the record straight – it was the dress, not me. I know the cut adds some volume, but I love the fabric too much to give it up. Even the most clear minded fashionista has her blind spots.. I’ve always enjoyed kaiseki and have come to really like Hashida for it. The sake we imbibed wasn’t quite enough though so we headed back to raid Husband’s precious whiskey, whilst cranking up the music to crazy decibels. Bet you didn’t know we middle aged aunties had that in us.

And then there’s THAT party, inspired by Youngest Uncle. Everybody turned up and what a night! Aunt G, the peerless compere, and 60 looking like 45 (I’m so praying this runs in the family), started the night by reminding everyone that Ah Ma would have been the happiest person that evening. Which meant within ten minutes of the party starting, I was my predictable (according to Bro), teary self. Thank goodness for waterproof makeup. Everyone who can, and there are plenty in the family, performed. Singing and dancing. Youngest Uncle was in top form and wowed again with his vocal prowess. Husband, even though his talents lie elsewhere, gamely went on stage and massacred “We Are The Champions”. He was everyone’s favorite ang moh that night. Me? I did my signature Britney Spears and Bon Jovi, but it was the Hokkien songs from yesterdecades that I really wanted to do, for Mum and Dad. Bet again you didn’t know I had Hokkien songs in me.

Come to think of it, it’s been 28 years since I last had a birthday party. Mum and Dad are not into parties, and neither am I. Birthdays are usually celebrated with intimate meals. Had it not been for the chat that I had with Youngest Uncle over Chinese New Year, this one would not have happened. How glad I am that it did.

The modern Chinese that we had at Ritz Carlton was great but I much prefer what we had last evening, when I caught up with Peter Pan, Equally Fierce and a couple of other friends. Teochew porridge! The “atas” version that is, at Goodwood Park. I stuffed myself with salted eggs (one of my all-time favorite food!) and had a most unconventional “cake” – my favorite cream puff from Tampopo, complete with a single candle. It was magical.

And how could I forget my team? This afternoon, I took them to Catalunya for suckling pig and tapas. By this stage, any body conscious (err, fashion speak for “form fitting”) clothes a la the Roland Mouret red jumpsuit I wore to THAT party, no longer work. So a loose, flowing Paul & Joe it was.

In case you’re wondering, I’m not done eating. There’re one more dinner and two more lunches to come. So unfortunately, I’ll keep getting heavier. Those of you who know me know that I am, shall I say, very disciplined about my diet. But as Little Swallow reminded me, I’m surrounded by people who love me for who I am. She’s right, so what’s a bit of weight gain?

Middle Age, here I come, with 2 extra kilos of love, and happiness!

 

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