Yup, it's one more March 19, and I'm one more year into life. Birthday are usually quiet affairs, my last birthday party was when I was 8, and that ended with my crying for half the party because I felt violated. Haha, looking back now, it's quite amusing, but at that point of time, I was beyond horrified.

Through the years, it became simple family dinners. In primary school, no one actually celebrates birthdays because no one knows when they come and go. In VS, it was always better to lie low during birthdays. The birthday boy usually gets stripped or flag pole-d or thrown into the school pond or a combination of the three. Thus, it's usually not very enjoyable for the birthday boy, but a treat for the rest of us. Thankfully for me, my birthday always fell during the March holidays, so I escaped. In JC, it was commemorated, only the girls had their birthdays celebrated. Army, it was birthday off-s, which was quite a reward at that time. Uni, well, it's definitely celebrated, but I tend to stay away from school on the day itself. Thus after so long, birthday-s didn't really carry much significance anymore.

So this year was something different. I had a planned birthday dinner that did not involve my family. It was at Angus Steakhouse, Ngee Ann City. It's a nice place, tucked inside a part of the building which I never knew existed. It didn't feel too 'atas' but it was comfortable, an interesting self-playing piano that played a short list of tunes. I was singing a few of them quietly, but the only one I can recall now is Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes'. Oh wait, there was Peter Cetera's song as well. Australian wagyu, chocolate mousse, fish starter, salad, and a nibble of pasta amidst good company. Winnie, Sandrine and Noel treated me to dinner as a present! Laughter, smiles, chuckles, jokes and baby babble. I had a good night, thank you!

BirthDAY itself saw a total change of plans. I was scheduled to interview a funeral director for IO Psyc in the afternoon and have dinner with my parents later at night. However, a miscommunication saw a massive change of plans and my interview was moved to the night. That meant that the usual family dinner had to make way and be on hold. A drive to Seletar Hills, and an eye-opening interview with the funeral director. Driving through such estates, I like to see all the different landed houses. I still have a preference for houses with a wide frontage and stopping at 2 stories. I digress.

A one hour interview. A simple birthday supper and a filling cream/banana/chocolate cake to bid adieu to another March 19. Thank you!

A new year, a different birthday.