Seven Days of Cakes

'Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday... Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday... get, get, get, get, get with us, you know what we say, say 'Party' every day, p-p-p-party every day!'

Before this week began, I always thought those words would only apply to crazy clubbers who would literally party every day and not work. Well, this week, I found myself living life to those same words. No, not that I partied at the club every day of the past week but it was a whole week of parties - my birthday parties, that is!

Oh boy... what can I say? Surprised? Touched? Overwhelmed? I was all of these and much more... grateful and moved beyond what my face could express in their midst.

It all started on Saturday night at Uncle Chilli's. My Heng Tai - Shan, Seong, Teej (and Ai Leen), Jun Fey (and Cynthia) and of course my 'twin' brother Yengs, celebrated my turning a year older with an absolutely smashing meal. I was so full, I nearly burst - and I do mean burst as in I could feel the food coming up to my throat. Okay, that's a bit disgusting but just to illustrate how good the food was and how much I had! I even ended it by sharing a Molten Lava Chocolate Cake. There's always space for dessert! Thanks guys!

Next up, a quick stop at Steffi's house to receive an awesome gift of classic comedy in 'Mind Your Language'. It was something which never crossed my mind. All the more awesome! Then, it was to meet my ex-students, Ying Shien, Seah Ni, Nian Sin, Chi Wah and Pei Sun from Mega Yakin Class of 2008 at Station 1. The surprise was really last Sunday when they booked me one week in advance. Now, that has to be one of the earliest bookings I've ever had. I felt like an eagerly anticipated new movie in the cinema. Haha! Well, it was really good to meet them again as our reunion plan in December had failed to materialise. Thanks dear friends for organising and for the Tiramisu.

Now, on Monday, I really wasn't expecting anything. This turned out to be the biggest surprise for me, especially since my students were such good actors, giving lines like, "Eh, yesterday was your birthday ar? Oh, sorry I forgot!". Yeah, RIGHT! This bunch nearly made me blow my top by purposely not paying attention and then in the next moment, nearly made me cry by presenting me with a coffee cake, a hilarious but meaningful and touching song performance and a huge box of Liverpool merchandise. I was dumbstruck to say the least. Thank you so much Wawasan Form 5 friends. I feel vindicated!

On Tuesday, I was still feeling the after-effects of Monday's wonderful surprise. I set-up my laptop and projector as usual to begin the class and as I turned on the first slide, I breathed a quick smile to myself. My mind rewound to this very same moment yesterday when my dear student Wann Jhuin, walked in with my cake. I quickly brought myself back when suddenly, the lights went out and in walked my dear student Chuan Liong, singing 'Happy Birthday' with a vanilla cake in hand. I couldn't believe it! It was deja-vu! I had to blow the candle out more than a few times though as they naughtily placed one of those trick candles that were impossible to blow-out. It was good fun. Thanks, my friends from Mega Yakin Form 5.

I was smiling all the way as I walked into the hall of Alam Gemilang on Wednesday. After what had happened the past two days, there was no reason not to. The students were late in coming to class but I was happily smiling away. Some were even walking in and out, preventing me from starting my class properly but I was still smiling away. Then, the smile got even bigger. 'Happy birthday to you...' they sang as my dear student Yee Wei, walked in bearing an American Chocolate Cake. It was like a dream. Thank you Alam Gemilang Form 4 friends. This is the 2nd time you've surprised me.

By Thursday, it was all getting a bit sentimental for me. I kept shaking my head at the surprise birthdays of the past three days. I just couldn't believe my students had done all these for me. Surely, nothing was going to happen tonight as I was going through grammar lessons with my Form 4 bunch. By the time the last fifteen minutes of class arrived, I was sure it was back to normal. And then... the all too familiar song filled the air yet again. This mischevious bunch had me blowing the candles three times as they re-lit the candles each time I went out after I had blown them! Haha! You just gotta love them! And so, we shared a Vanilla Koko Crunch Cake that night. Thanks, dear friends from Mega Yakin Form 4.

Early Friday morning. It's the last day of my working week and I was looking forward to hanging out with my ex-students after class. I delivered my introduction to Phantom of The Opera in my usual hyper-self and didn't even smell anything coming. It possibly couldn't. This bunch had already wished me last Friday and two of them had even given me presents. So, no more celebrations. I was sure! That was until my dear ex-student Qao Shaun, walked into the darkened room with my Vanilla Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake. On top of that, I received two cards (one of which was hand-made) and a huge box of Ferrero Rocher. There were no thoughts of crying now. It had been too wonderful a week to cry about it. No, I could only smile from ear to ear. Thank you Alam Gemilang Form 2 friends. For the laughter, the love and the hugs.

For the past seven days, some of them have been filled with a tear or two as I lay myself down to sleep... but for the most part, there has been a huge smile in my heart that will be forever etched into my memory. This has been, quite simply, the most unforgettable seven days of my life so far... and I think it just might get better... I gotta feeling.