art

My female owner finally got down to planning for her Couple Frens’ impending trip to Australia. She says that this is most detailed planning she ever did for anyone, including herself. Her travel itineraries have traditionally been scanty and vague. But this time, she put in much more effort because Couple Fren is making a special trip to visit her, thus fulfilling a promise they made to her a long time ago.

*touched*

This is also the first time my female owner is playing solo host. Previously, she always had a “co-host” in the form of other friends sharing the responsibility of showing visitors around. She hopes that things will turn out alright. Already, she had succeeded in frustrating Male Couple Fren who remarked (after endless rounds of bouncing emails) that she has managed to throw up more questions than answers. But that is the way my female owner is. She presents the facts to you, and you make the decision. Her winning line: “this is your holiday, so you need to decide what you want to experience and do”.

Like that how to fight? Holiday-planning, she says, is an art.

visit

My female owner went to bed happy last night. Her Couple Frens and her Second Onli Fren separately confirmed that they would be coming over to visit her this year. Finally! In fact, Second Onli Fren is going over in two weeks’ time (pack us in the suitcase and bring us over too)! She promised to bring over some snowskin mooncakes. My female owner tried to entice her to go jogging with her (they used to jog together, despite living in different areas and not having private transport) but was outrightly rejected ("can we do less healthy things?").

Second Onli Fren used to be the sportier of the two while my female owner was more sedentary (i.e. nerd).

SOF: "you need to realise that i've changed a lot over the years"

FO: "oh dear, so have I. we are on divergent paths now"

Nonetheless, still Onli Frens.

gem

My female owner’s long-time Couple Fren finally spoke to her on MSN. According to my female owner, it must have been the first time since she returned to Brisbane that they chatted! That’s like 3.5 months of non-contact.

Nonetheless, my female owner felt that they have reached a stage where they are secure in the strength of their friendship. Hence, long silences do not represent a drifting apart of their emotional ties. Rather, they signal the confidence both parties have in each other, knowing that they can depend on each other when the situation calls for it.

Hmm.. Old friends are like gems… They add sparkle to your life.

old friends

Two pairs of my female owner's friends got married when she was in Brisbane. Each couple had just established their homes in the northern part of Singapore. As part of my female owner's homecoming, the female half of Couple Fren decided to host a dinner. The menu was decided on the spot by her and my female owner at the supermarket. Cooking took about 3 hours. The dinner was attended by the two couples, my female owner and her Ex-Er-Zi who happened to be in town (currently studying in Denmark).

It was an evening of food, fun and fellowship. Catching up with old friends has always a joy for my female owner. In addition to the food featured below, there were various goodies from Japan and alcohol (my female owner's indulgence in Singapore). And the good old Tai-Di.

Quite obviously, they overbought.

My female owner's maiden attempt at washing squid.
5-spice Chicken that didn't turn out correct
Mapo tofu that...again...didn't turn out rightSambal seafood (that's where the squid went!)
Stir-fried vegs with mushroom. In her typical blurness, my female owner cut up all the mushrooms, except one.
The entire dinner (plus a pot of soup, eggs with sausage and pineapple rice). 7 dishes for 6 people! The traditional shot - one of the husbands was late in coming home.
A surprise birthday celebration for her Ex-Er-Zi. Yes, he is only 2 years old. =)

wedding

Today is a special day. It’s my female owner’s closest couple-fren’s wedding! My female owner can’t help but try to imagine the happenings in Singapore, all the way from the morning, when the groom tries to break into the bride’s house, to the tea ceremony, and the banquet dinner.

Thinking of them brings a smile to my female owner (and me too!). Sweet memories of their friendship, love and support through all these years fill her heart. They don’t really spend a lot of time together, but they are certainly people who would rush to her side when she’s in crisis.

Seems like just yesterday when they announced that they were getting married on 24 May. In a way, their announcement in June 07 was a catalyst for my female owner to move on with her life, alone. For a long time, my male owner had been iffy about his career plans and their future. My female owner decided that it was time to stop giving him elastic deadlines to get his act together, and to move on with her study plans. If only she had been firmer and more decisive earlier on… maybe she would have completed her studies and be back with us already.

If my female owner were at the wedding, I believe she would have shed tears of joy for her closest couple-fren. Wishing them a lifetime of marriage bliss, joy and undying love.