I've had a really exhausting yet fulfilling four days of sailing and I can finally sit down with my Mac. It's been more than two weeks since my 19th birthday and I still look back on it fondly because it was a really lovely one.

So it started out with Vega4 locking me in the GSR and making me watch this tear-jerking video of the memories we've shared thus far since our camp together before school started. Thankful for this group of friends because we still hang out almost every week despite everyone's busy schedules. They've been the most genuine bunch of friends I've made in school. And a special shout-out to Nora for planning this whole thing, our friendship means a lot to me.

_______________________________

And then my sailors tried force-feeding me 6 slices of cakes they bought from different shops (ok I willingly ate them afterwards). Really touched because I spend the most amount of time with them in the library and I never expected this from them. To a million more silly library conversations, lunches, dinners, suppers, gym sesh(s) and water trainings.

_______________________________

I spent the last few hours of being 18 with Cheryl: eating (that's what we do best), watching a movie and just being ourselves (the usual laughter, silliness and talking about everything and anything). Any time spent with this girl (even if it wasn't my birthday) is very much cherished. We've become so much closer this year and being in different schools now won't change anything.

Had dinner at a really pleasant French restaurant which we both agreed scarcely felt like Singapore because they were great at creating that comfy European feeling although the place wasn't that big.

Goat's cheese for starters (I really love cheese).

Some really good lamb shank (stewed to the perfect tenderness).

Cheryl, being thoughtful like she always is, had the waitress bring in our creme brûlée with some writings. I was delightfully surprised.

I have this habit of trying the perfect dessert of that kind (if I hadn't tried it before) so that I'd really know what it tastes like. Finally tried creme brûlée and we were definitely not disappointed. The crack of the burnt caramel on top and the soft custard... And the vanilla beans spread on the bottom of the bowl (that was the best part).

And we didn't stop at one; ordered molten lava cake (I always appreciate oozy fillings).

Words cannot express how eternally grateful I am for this friendship. I've always said how similar we are because we never seem to run out of things to talk about. So very glad we decided to work at Jones together because that definitely brought us even closer. Thank you for tolerating my annoyingness and silliness and blondeness and how sailing is taking away half my life and how I'm neglecting you because of that (hahahaha I still love you).

_______________________________

Although we're both in the same school (and same building), I barely see Iris around and it was very nice of her to come over to the library to wish me a happy birthday. I really miss our JC days where spent week after week together be it studying, eating, playing frisbee, taking walks, or just being stupid around school. Those were the days I'll never forget.

_______________________________

Yun gave me the hugest surprise of the day because she appeared all of a sudden in front of me while I was studying in the library that day. It was extremely lovely of her to come all the way down to SMU just to give me cake and gifts. Yet another very very very cherished friendship I'd hold close to me.

Yun entered the library with Crystal's help (who was also in on this). What else do you need when you have friends like these? Some days I browse through our UK photographs (we had more than 3000 pictures) and think about the best 12 days spent in London (and outside of it); that was easily the best holiday I had.

_______________________________

Had dinner at Artichoke with my favourite girls after a whole day of studying. It was a charming little Middle-Eastern restaurant with great service.

The girls know I've always liked trying out new and exotic things and thus we had Middle-Eastern fare. It was delicious and we wiped the plates clean.

And of course what more can be said about these treasures. From little 10-year-olds to becoming girls enjoying and struggling in our school lives. It's been such a long time but our friendship grows stronger as each year passes. These are my wonder-walls and I would definitely not be who I am without them.

_______________________________

With my best friend of 13 years. We've been so far apart all the time but that never changes anything about our friendship because we start where we left out whenever we meet. You're like family to me.

And of course I'll wrap up my 19th birthday with the most most most important people in my life: my family (missing --- my older brother and sis-in-law). Thank you for always being there for me regardless. University life is taking me a bit further from you guys but I know you'll always support me in whatever I do. I'm always me whenever I'm around all of you: no pretense but only the real, unglam, silly, ugly Weina. Thank you for accepting for who I am.

I had a really good sleep that night, sweet dreams and all. Thank you for making it wonderful.