♒Åℚ∪Åℜ│⊔S ♒

April Fools was the day when I fooled my family with my brilliant cooking skills. Alright, I didn't fool them, I really did whip up a korean meal for my siz's sweet 16th. Not self-proclaiming I did a fantastic job, but I do think I deserve a pat on my back, at least no one spitted out anything or suffered from a stomachache. That alone should be regarded as an achievement for a first-timer who learnt the ropes from online recipes, right?

Saturday mass with Redbull & his family. A good thing the church wasn't freezing like it usually did, otherwise my arms would be suffering. 

Korean cuisine at Star Vista for future dad-in-law's 54th birthday. There was a Q but we got a table not long after. The perks of being early before the peak dinner time. 

The menu isn't extensive but we still managed to order what caught our eyes except for the absence of egg dish for Redbull. I don't get his love for eggs. Like every single meal, he NEEDS egg? It's not a want anymore. He'll go "Huh, no egg dishes?" Ahlamak, it's only egg. If HDB allows hen to be kept as pet in our future house, he'll sure vouch for that though he'll still have to pass my stage first, which is a definite no. So too bad.

I'm not amazed by the delivery of greens to our table because that is very common sight for places with korean BBQ. But I was in awe of the long tray of this many varieties of greens. Like I was in a vegetable plantation! 

Glass noodles glass noodles, my favorite! The aroma of sesame oil (?) makes this tastier than it already is. I think I unknowingly ate half of the portion though this was meant to be shared among the 6 of us. Can't blame me, blame Redbull for putting this plate of goodness in front of me. 

Pancakes which we ordered 2 plates.

We had tofu stew, some beef rice (which tasted very bland but its soup saved the day) and meats for BBQ. Aside from the meats which I've tasted much well marinated ones elsewhere like the recent visit to Kim's, the rest were sufficient to leave me grinning after the meal. I'm quite easily satisfied, as long as the food doesn't taste bad, I'll find it (not delicious but at least) acceptable. 

I've something to complain about Redbull. His lack of attention to details. As the meal was drawing to an end, Redbull was secretly discussing with me where to get a birthday cake for his dad. Note the word secretly. We were whispering to each other so his dad wouldn't hear us. He suggested Awfully Chocolate but I wasn't so sure of his dad's preference for chocolates cause many elderly don't prefer chocolate, especially those rich & heavy ones at Awfully Chocolate. We had to check with his mum instead. He tried to mouth the words to her from across the table, hoping she could read his lips which she obviously couldn't cause who can unless you've been trained to lip read right? So I had to lean across the table and whispered to her ears if uncle likes chocolate and she shook her head. 

From the somewhat tedious process of coming to a decision of getting a non-chocolate cake, I bet everyone can already tell this was meant to be a surprise, that Redbull wanted to surprise his dad with a birthday cake, right? AND, the real surprise came. Before leaving to buy a cake, Redbull announced (YES, ANNOUNCED), "Y'all settle the bills, I'll go buy cake". 

C'mon everyone, gather around, Mr Alvin Lim has got an announcement to make and that is he is going to buy a cake for his dad. 

YES, he did just did that. Ruined the surprise he painstakingly initiated to have. He was the one who whispered to me about what cake to get. Going all undercover only to announce he was gonna buy the cake, tell me what's the point of all the whispering and mouthing of words right? 

sigh. Why is my bf so clumsy? After being 'assassinated' by our ( his sis & me) stares and nagging, he said he figured out there wouldn't be a surprise cause his dad would find out at the end despite whatever the plan was so might as well just let him know.

 Of course, he'd find out at the end. Surprises are meant to be given to the receiver and have the receiver receiving it from his end right? The surprise lies not in the end, it lies in between the planning and finale. This guy doesn't get it, he doesn't. WELL~

Anyway, twelve cupcakes was our final decision. At least the choice of cake wasn't announced. 

Recalling the hours we spent at Adventure Cove on my birthday, I don't recall & harp on my stupidity of soaking my iphone in the waters. Instead, I recall the time you went into the gents to blow dry my iphone in the hope of reviving it. I recall that moment when I didn't take a serviette to hold the turkey leg because I knew I didn't even have to dirty my hands when you were there. I recall the long one hour waiting time for the ride seemed shorter with you making me laugh AND making me tear by calling me fat on purpose. I recall when I said I found a float before jumping onto your back. I recall you playing the tickling game on me before I embarked on the journey of revenge in the lazy river with everyone just staring at us, two silly adults chasing after each other. 

I recall happiness and how you're the only one I want to turn up at your door drunk looking nothing fanciful but you'd still hold me in your arms like you're holding the most precious gem ever. And perhaps occasionally chiding me off for getting drunk while cleaning up the mess I've made. The last time I got drunk was when we were 16 and I know you'll still do the same now. 

That's why I believe in loving someone despite all the changes. Love doesn't change, only people do. 

8 of Feb: my birthday

On Friday night, Redbull & I went to New Udon Thai for their mookata cause he was craving for it and has told me one week ago. Halfway through the fattening yet hard to resist supper, Shell ran towards our table, yelling 'HELLO' followed by the rest casually strolling in. Stunned. Very stunned. Swear my life took on a freeze mode at that point. I was staring at them with a silly smile hanging on my face while trying to piece the puzzle together.

Shell? Thought she was at KL? Eh, why is Freeman here? Wait, wingyin is here too. Janice too. Huh? All came for mookata? Why is Alvin grinning sheepishly as if he accomplished something? Is that something this? This surprise for my birthday? YES IT IS! My mind was processing info 10x slower than usual.

I was really taken aback as long were those days where we always planned birthday surprises for each other so for many years I was definitely not in the state of preparing myself for a surprise. A really successful surprise and I'm really touched for my gfs' presence and all these wouldn't have taken place if not for Shell's meticulous idea. 

A simple wish every single year.

The cake baked by Redbull which was also the first cake he baked for me before we were together.

Not forgetting my favorite DIY card from him.

The whole of Saturday was dedicated to a trip to Adventure Cove.

"Almost there. Almost there!"

Put my waterproof pouch to good use.
To GOOD use, that was what I thought initially.

The last few photos before I realized the real 'good' news.

GOOD NEWS WAS
I forgot to zip the pouch!
So smart I deserve a standing ovation for this.
While I was happily snapping away, my phone was enjoying the taste of Adv Cove's waters...

My birthday meal with him at Miam Miam on Sunday. Though this was at the bottom of my to-visit-list, I'm glad it didn't disappoint despite me feeling angst due to the unavailable souffle au curry that was the only one I wanted to try. 

His main

And mine. Squid ink baked rice. The saltiness isn't too overwhelming and the taste of seafood is relatively pungent. 

Who doesn't love the weekends except those who also have to work around the clock even on the 2 precious weekends? 

Last Friday which was also our nation's 48th birthday, Redbull & I bought tickets for The Conjuring! When we first saw the trailer on the big screen, our reactions were complete opposites. 

Me: "AHH, I MUST WATCH THIS! It seems like there is finally a worthy horror movie for me to watch!"

Him: "I will never watch this."

Me: "Huh. Ok lo, I will find someone else, probably my siblings to watch it with me." 

Yea, watching it with either my siz/bro/both was my initial plan but my siz is going to watch it with her ex-co and my bro is a stay-at-home-bro (on those days where we finally managed to convince him to go out with us, I'd always have this urge to buy 4D/TOTO cause a miracle has just occurred right before my eyes) 

IN THE END, 

Redbull knowing I was dying to watch it, accompanied me. And no, I didn't hint/ask him, he was the one who suggested it out of the blue. Though he kept insisting he wanted to watch it too, I knew all he wanted was to accompany me. 

The Conjuring was such a let-down, NOT!

It tops my favorite horror movie! Not to mention the fact that it was based on actual events (though there are some parts which were exaggerated for the sake of scaring the shit outta audiences). 

Undeniably I've always believed in the presence of roaming souls of people who've ceased to live, but knowing that there are souls which are filled with so much hatred definitely brought our fears of the unknown to a whole new level. 

Redbull was craving for sashimi. 

Side note: Ever since I encouraged (aka psycho-ed) Redbull to try sashimi, he has fallen in love with it just like I do and he will have sudden cravings for it. Till now, he hasn't expressed his gratitude to me, the lady who gave him a taste of raw heaven. 

Searched and found just the place for fresh sashimi - 

Fish Mart Sakuraya

Advantages

Slurping on his chawanmushi

Price: $5.80

What we came here for! 

Price: $14

Freshness guaranteed as their seafood are flown in every Tuesday & Friday. 

Two other side dishes we ordered.

Soft-shell crab

Price: $6

Prawn cutlet

Price: $6

After having our appetizers at Fish Mart, we had our dinner at Jalan Kayu Prata Cafe which is also located in West Coast Plaza. 

A pre-birthday lunch celebration for Redbull at The King Louis. I first read about this restaurant on sixpegs and first thought was

"I'm definitely going to try out their famous large platters myself someday."

But Redbull & I didn't get to try their platters as the peeps who patronized The King Louis on Thursday said unless the both of us were really famished, otherwise DO NOT try it as their portions are humongous. So we didn't and I ordered this half back-ribs instead. Couldn't finish the generous portion of fries, let alone the ribs and it was then I truly believe how overly generous they are with their platters. 

Seafood. Scallops & mussels. Love the snow white creamy sauce.