Happy Birthday my big baby

Only God will know how hard it was for me to try to keep his Surprise Birthday Dinner a real surprise for him this year after what I prepared for him the previous year.


I gathered his friends again, the usual gang that he mostly hung out with and also, people that I know and have dropped by the house before.


I started off with sending everyone the obligatory mail of asking if everybody is free on the 19th, since its a working day and these people are mostly busy with attending events or closing magazines.


Positive replies start pouring in and I started making the necessary arrangements for a dinner place, and cracking my head to think of somewhere he has never try before and wanted it to be something special as well, which goes the same for the birthday cake.


It was then, I remembered reading about this dinner concept that is quite a hit in town now, underground dining. I quickly called the owner/cook up and made my reservations because it seems that his diner is packed almost daily and reservations has to be made weeks/month in advance. I was lucky to get a place.


Then, it was the cake.. I have to admit that I remembered Hubby commenting on how good the red velvet cake was at Beatrice Looi's cafe -Hummingbird Cafe @ Bangsar Telawi.


So I do what I do best, everything done through the net and phone, make a few calls here and there, and everything was set, nicely planned.


Now, how do I get Hubby not to be suspicious because he knows me too well, and was anticipating some secrets to get kantoi-ed.


So, to avoid his suspicions and let it go to rest once and for all, we staged a SURPRISE 12am Birthday call at my place where the guys came and sang to him at our door and had the cake-cutting/candle-blowing thingy. SURPRISE!!! 


Thankfully he bought the whole staged idea and totally let his guard down. So, the next day, he asked where to go for dinner, and I said its up to him to choose and he invited the same list of people to dinner at New Paris. At least he thought he was organizing it and in the afternoon, I took Jaden out on a run with me, claiming I had to pass my stuff to a friend to help me bring back to Penang first as he is leaving the first thing in the morning the next day.


Told him to get Eddy to fetch him to the dinner place while I shall go in my own car. 


and there he was, so happy, looking forward to his deep-fried pork legs, in his t-shirt and shorts and slippers, he was send to where we all gathered.. 

You can imagine the surprise on his face.. well, lets just say I really did it this time.

Food, service was great.. company was awesome and well, whats not to like about a birthday celebration when you get to have two cakes too. In fact, I think Jaden had more fun blowing the candles and hearing everybody sing the Birthday song.


The cake I got him? 

1) Rainbow cake for the 12am candle-blowing session
2) Red Velvet Cheesecake for the birthday dinner


*sigh* 

and then, he was allowed to join the boys for a couple of DOTA gaming sessions while Jaden and I headed home first. Planning and running around with a 4 year old in tow is a tough tiring job, especially when you are stuck amidst the after-working hour/CNY rushing home traffic jam. Its crazy ...


These planning gets tougher each year because I try to come out with something unique but maybe, just maybe I shall take a rest next year and let him plan his own for real this time round. =p

St. Regis experience

It was an experience never to forget. At least for me. It was truly top service that after I have stayed there, it has spoiled all the market for the other hotels, unless I have another opportunity to come across to such luxurious service once again. For now, the best hotel experience goes to St. Regis Singapore for me.

Each floor have their own personal butler and boy, that was awesome. 

We touchdown in Changi Airport at about 6pm,  and the after-working-hour jam, we got to our hotel at about 7pm. 

and that was the beginning of the never-to-forget-once-in-a-lifetime experience. From doorman to bellboy to reception desk to butlers and concierge. *sigh* Thinking back about last three days is enough to put a smile back onto my face.

Hubby was down for a business meeting and I thought since he already had accommodation and they were like one of the best rated hotels, why not bring Jaden down together and have Jaden do a re-test on his IgG and also, to let Dr Erwin reassess him from the last 1.5 years ago when Dr last saw Jaden. I also needed Dr Erwin to show me how to perform the MB12 shot on my little boy's butt.

So, after some discussion with Hubby and a green light ahead to go book the flights, I rushed over to Kelana Jaya Immigration Department to have my passport done on the day we were rushing off to Melaka for another 3days2nights getaway. Main intention of the Melaka trip was of course to have a Chinese New Year meal with my mother-in-law too and to take Jaden to experience Melaka for the little one has never been to Melaka before. It has always been up north to my hometown, so down a little central & south we took the little boy.

OK, back to the Singapore trip ... :)

Security was rather tight as they needed my information too at the reception desk so that if I do require anything, then they do not have to keep calling Hubby for permission. Then they have someone send us up to our room, and the very moment I stepped into the room, it took my breath away. It was elegantly designed and with all the buttons, switches so high-tech, I did not even know where to slot my room card in until the bell boy showed me. *shy* heated mirrors? how cool is that? heated mirrors.. I am so suaku I tell you. I even slipped into the dry bathtub to surf some channels while waiting for Jaden to wake up from his nap, which he fell asleep in the cab on the way to the hotel.

Quickly, I messaged PC that she has to come up to my room the next day to see it all for herself .. when a knock took place at the door and that is when, I discovered that you can ask your butler to do almost anything. Legit of course. but still ... 

We have two butlers. One in the morning and one in the evening, Alva and Shermann. They are both good in their own way but somehow I think Shermann is much more efficient than Alva because he never lets me wait and he is much more mindful of what to clear from the room the instant he sets into the room. For Alva, she is a great smiling girl but she has to be told every single thing to get it done, like taking empty trays out from the room and such but I have to give credit to her for helping me run a warm bubble bath for Jaden in the afternoon. She does meet my needs only a little bit slower than Shermann. 

Lets just say Shermann has got everything done right spot on, and even went all the way out during the evening when I was out having dinner with PC to make the bed again, after Jaden messed it up and lets just say, he prepared the room the way it should be, curtains drawn, bathrobe and bath mat placed where it should, water at the side of the bed, remote on the bed for easy access and chocolates for both Hubby and me. The sweetest gesture of all was a personal note to us, hoping that we have a pleasant experience with them and that we should not hesitate to  call for them if we need them at any hour. How sweet can all that get? My room gets done about twice a day.. =) =)

and not to mention, even the doorman knows Hubby and addresses him as Mr Yap each time they see him walk in and out of the door. Nice but sometimes you wonder, where did they hide the hidden camera? LOL Just kidding. 

We really have a great St. Regis experience, at least for me, who made the most out of it. 

I was quite sad to leave but well, holidays do have to come to an end so we can all come back to reality and here I am, in my reality world now, waiting for my chicken to be stewed nicely for Jaden and back to the grind, hoping that this year, after three great holidays with Jaden and Hubby, everything will turn out positive for our family. 

For me, I am personally wishing that Jaden will have more progression towards recovery and that Hubby's work will always be abundantly good and best of health for all my loved ones. 

It has been a great Chinese New Year for me this year. Thank you Hubby for making it all possible.