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It's funny how it's been mistaken on both celebrations that I'm turning 26 this year... haha yeah I know it's hard to imagine by looking at my face that I'm growing old. Haha...

It's been some time since I've felt so overwhelmed. And it's the first time that I'm not playing the photographer... didn't take a shot with my camera at all. And so I won't have any photos to show until those who've taken them send me theirs... haha. It's been one of the most memorable birthday celebrations, and one of the most meaningful ones I must say, given that this shall be my last one as a bachelor.

The day started at 12am with Zisong and Gordon already in my living room. Quite amusing I must say, with Zisong asking me all sorts of weird questions from half an hour ago, trying to keep me 'occupied'. Then when 12am came random sounds started to appear near the entrance... the birthday song came... the cake came... a self made new york cheese cake baked by Zisong and Alex. I didn't manage to count how many of them came into the room... but I think it was quite a handful. Think I can only count when I see the group photos taken. Haha... Then came the gift... which was really unexpected - 26 ikea PINE wood photo frames with a photo of a student and a message that he has for me each. I didn't want to read them then in front of everyone not knowing how I would react there and then... haha.

Managed to read them after everyone left... and seriously, it's been some time since I've felt so affirmed. Some of their messages were really heartfelt... and for some, I really didn't know that they actually took notice of the things I did or said... since I had no real chance of knowing all of them individually. Especially for this year when my portfolio took a little change and when I know myself that I've not been as interactive with them as compared to the previous year, I really wasn't expecting anything much.

To the 26 whose words and pictures were selected by the panel (Zisong?) to be worked out into the photo frames (Wei Xiang, Derrick, Yong Xiang, Alex, Si Heng, Timtam, Ng Peng, Yong Hwee, Darren, Chong We, Alwyn, Yang Cheng, Nic Heng, Sze Yuan, Ying Cong, Kuah, Ben Chin, Troy, Shane, Wen Hao, Meng Ying, Jon Foo, Zhao Hong, Jason, Bing Lin & Kenneth) - thanks so much for the words of affirmation. You guys have spurred me on indeed. (:

Zisong insisted that the "best has yet to come", so I went to work in the morning, a little expectant. It turned out that the bunch of them had gotten some of the classes to write notes to be consolidated for me. Some of them were really meaningful... thanks guys. :)

To Zisong, Alex & Darren (again): Thanks so much for everything... you guys sure did made it a really memorable one. :)

To Weilin my hao bang shou: Thanks for the card and gift! :)

Dear dear arranged a spa appointment for us in the evening... a wedding gift from two of her friends. I was actually bought into the idea of us spending the evening there already... then I started feeling a bit weird when she was not for the idea of meeting her somewhere near there earlier to have dinner, etc. She said it was early and she wanted to drop by the apartment first... and even offered to buy me the empty dvds which I said I needed. Haha... yeah she came by with cheese fries and a bart simpson cupcake! Haha... she started talking about having craving for potatoes and wanted to eat rosti at Buddy Hoagies located at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre before heading down for the spa after dinner. As the venue wasn't exactly the most convinient for us to head down for the spa thereafter, I suggested we go elsewhere but she seemed quite insistent. So I started smelling something fishy... but decided to keep my suspicions at bay.

We eventually reached Buddy Hoagies... Frankly? I was prepping myself to see familiar faces there but nopes, it wasn't to be. We settled down, ordered and ate our food. I was looking at the time, mindful not to be too late for our spa appointment... then I noticed her looking out and laughed slightly. I couldn't help but turned around toward the direction where she was looking at... and there I saw Mark and Sue outside. Ah hah. Haha... This order of appearance was rather important - it made me think that dear dear probably organised a triple couple dinner... but it wasn't to be too! A little while after chatting with Mark and Sue, she pulled me out of the place and told me that something rather embarrassing had happened to her and she would like me to accompany her to the toilet for her to check it out while I wait outside the toilet.

She smsed me not long after she went to the toilet, "Galvs is done with food you can mk him do whatever!".

FWA HA HA. Hahaha... as per tradition, a boo boo occured. She smsed it to me instead of the rightful recipient, whom I assumed to be Mark. But yeah... I started wondering who else would be turning up... then I gathered that the dear ones who hadn't sent any message the whole day... I probably would see them... there was this little hope la.

To cut the long story short, I played along and there was quite a long drag... but eventually she came out... and we walked back to Buddy Hoagies. Even though I'd prepped myself to see some people... the impact of seeing them there was still strong. And the turnout was really, really unexpected. It wasn't some... it was many. And it's especially meaningfully because in my heart I was thinking that there wouldn't be such a gathering ever anymore since it's been some time I've really connected with this bunch of people... so yeah. Was extremely touched that all of them took time off to celebrate for me... extremely touched that my dear dear went to such great lengths... extremely touched that 5 did all the contacting.

Thank you all who've made my 27th birthday such a memorable and meaningful one. You guys have done more than you can imagine.

And in all these I see His faithfulness, His love... once again.

Mmm. :)