Monday,1st Oct 2007. It marks Louie's & my 1st year anniversary. Since the unsure, tender step taken a year ago, our relationship has grown and blossomed. God had placed Louie into my life and he has made me so happy. Though there were tearful, painful moments, I don't think I would trade my relationship with Louie for any amount of gold or riches. Thank you darling, for this past year. I want us to be together, always and always, through the good and the bad.
Louie and I didn't get to do much on our special day because I fell sick. I was down with fever and a cold for 2 weeks. That didn't dampen my mood cause Louie surprised me with a cake AND A VERY FIRST BOUQUET of flowers! Throughout our relationship, he never did give me flowers cause he thought it was a little gay to carry a bouquet of flowers around. Yet, he did it. I was so touched.
Louie got me out of the room and when I came back, he was holding a cake with a lighted candle and he sprang the surprise bouquet of flowers on me. I was pleasantly surprised and smiled like an idiot, non-stop too! So sweet.. Louie told me the there were ten roses in the bouquet which represented shi quan shi mei(perfection) in mandarin. I literally melted.. awww..
Louie took Thursday off so that we could celebrate our anniversary. I begged him to let me plan something because I wanted him to feel special, just like how I would feel whenever I'm with him. I wanted a day with a series of simple pleasures so I took a week to plan the day!
11th October, 2007, I skipped marketing lecture so that we could spend the day together.
The blissful day started at 11 am where we travelled to Raffles Place by bus to have the best claypot rice ever. I didn't want Louie to drive cause it wasn't convenient to park the car. We emerged from Uncle Sam's with satisfied grins and bulging tummies. EVERY single dish was ORGASMICALLYTUMMYSATISFYINGLYGOOD!!!!
The rice was fragrant and tasty with salted fish. The chicken and beef were tender and well-marinated. The burnt bits of rice from the claypot was crunchy and heavenly. The prawn rolls were not oily, yet extremely crisp. The fish Otah was so tender, it literally melted in my mouth.. the kailan.. oh I can't stop raving about it! All in all, Uncle Sam's serves the bestestbestbestbestmostbestestbestbest claypot rice ever!!!!!!! -beams-
After our claypot rice fiasco, it was supposed to be a sweaty, exhilarating game of squash but guess what? We both fell asleep the moment we got back. So, there we were, 2 hours in A313, sleeping away - chuckles-
I woke Louie up at around 3:30 where we showered and changed up for the special evening planned. He drove down to Holland village and I brought him to Spa Espirit for a hot stone massage! -chuckles- He didn't guess that the next item planned was a massage!!!! For once, I successfully managed a surprise!!!!! Oh and I saw Vincent Ng at Holland Village ( my sister's favourite actor)
There we were, spending more than an hour, succumbing to the seasoned-well trained masseuse. I chose the Hot-Stones massage from a recommendation. (Potatomate, thanks for the suggestion to check out Spa-Espirit. It was so good!) The massage adopted the creative use of hot stones where the heat from the stones softens the muscle tissue to prepare the body for a deeper and more intensive massage. The heat coupled with a firm and long stroked massage gets the kinks out of your tension spots! Incidentally, Spa Espirit is also the original Hot Stoner in Singapore. The established Spa chain has two branches, one in holland V and the other at the Paragon. They have a new branch at Dempsey too and that branch offeres a complementary jacuzzi treat with every treatment booked. YouHaveToTryIt!!
After the most wonderful massage I've had, I brought Louie to Coffee bean to have his favourite Iced blended Pecan Praline. How could I not end the massage session with a relaxing chillax time. Pecan Praline to the rescue!!
Coffee bean offered this new cake too- chocolate toblerone cheesecake. The name says it all. It is by far, the best cake from coffee bean. :)
At 6:45 pm, it was time for the last surprise of the day! Dinner at Villa Bali with two very special guests, Flo and Viv who just came back from The Philippines. It was funny because on the way to Holland V, Louie suggested meeting them soon cause we haven't met up since they left for their Holiday. I was inwardly smiling and almost couldn't contain the excitement, knowing that they were coming!!!!! I had to mentally chant the mantra, don't slip up, don't give the surprise away!
Louie and I were early so that I could present him his hand-made gift. It was my 2nd attempt cause the first album was too ugly. I tried too hard to be artistic! -grimaces-
It was worth it cause he smiled so happily when he saw the gift. It made me feel happy too!
While waiting, we also went around Villa Bali. Villa Bali is located at Lock Road, a quiet, untouched, corner of Singapore. It was so beautiful, nicer than any villas, restaurants than Bali itself. Not many people know of the place cause it is not widely advertised to retain the tranquility. I can't describe the place in words. It makes you sigh with bliss. Even Flo and Viv raved about the place throughout the evening.
Villa Bali offeres Balinese, Thai, Indian and Western cuisine and they are all equally good. The butter chicken was one of the best I've had so far.
The mantou that came in the platter was crunchy, warm and yummy!
After dinner, we decided to get us mocktails. That was when Flo and Viv surprised us with our anniversary presents. It was our cake! Flo, Viv, Herbie, Louie, and my cake. The ones we always devour when we're together.
It wasn't just the cake. Flo and Viv made us a card too. I was so flushed with surprised and happiness, I almost teared.
Flo and Viv are such warm-hearted friends. All my life, I've been happy doing things for others, because happiness illuminating from their faces brings joy to me. Now I truly know how it feels when friends you treasure go all the way to do lovely things for you. Viv and Flo came despite a hectic day at work because I asked them to be part of my suprise to Louie. They came. It was sufficient, but they went all the way to do much more. How can I ever thank them?
Flo and Viv made the night so special. Thank you my darlings, because I won't ever forget this. Louie and my anniversary couldn't have been more special.
To louie,
I love you.
love,
Grace
Playing around with the colour accent function of my camera. The object of focus was the pretty orchid garland.
