rome part I

best 21st birthday week ever. (if you think about it, only 21st birthday week.) 21 only comes once [in a lifetime]. the celebrations started on tuesday, with the surprise cupcake birthday party followed by pre-party drinks and proper clubbing on friday night in london. lastly, the weekend in rome.. ending with our flight back to uk last night. 7 days in total, 7 days well spent.

rome was... an experience.


i recall getting off the bus at the train station; at the sight of all the roman gods milling around, mandi and i simultaneously turned to each other. i exclaimed "ooh my day is improving already.." cue: the look. grin. more laughter.


there is nothing quite like being in rome; walking down the cobble-stoned city, brisk winds whipping your hair back, stylish fur-clad ladies strolling past, men calling out "ciao bella!" at every corner, vespas lining the street just begging to be ridden (under the tuscan sun anyone?), dogs/horses and dog/horse poo littering the streets/roads, consuming gigantic portions of genuine sicilian ice cream with the same frequency as our meals (twice a day.. or more), eating PROPER pizza & pasta out on the streets like the italians do, ohmygod espresso shots & cappuccino, hot chocolate (as in real chocolate, melted) done right...

i'm convinced the entire city is shrouded by a cloud of smoke; be it exhaust or cigarette. every breath you take feels like you're lighting up yourself, so much so that one night in libreria - quaintly charming little over-underground tea room/wine bar near our hostel - watching leatherjacket man (our nickname for him) smoking sexily, i was suddenly overcome with the overwhelming urge to grab his cigarette and inhale deeply. SHOCKING, tell me about it!

yet somehow being in rome... it even explained the smoke.

victoria is feeling... twenty one. (and lovin' every inch of it)

surprise 21st birthday party photos

i'm looking forward to my 21st birthday celebration in london (tonight) - PARTY HEARTY PEOPLE! - for reasons that vary, one of which i shan't elaborate. we'll just have to wait and see how it goes *wink* this afternoon, i felt the tiniest fluttering of butterflies in my tummy. hmm..

next up, ROME! (saturday morning flight: 650am) basically we're going to have to make a mad dash from the club scene (drunk as skunk) back to alex's, change out of our partygear, grab our luggage, set off for victoria, hop onboard the gatwick express, board the plane (hopefully sobered up) and we're home free!

so far the crew includes: lili mandi angie me alex rachel nicky ngr & co.
maybes: anastasia & friend, madlen, isabelle

alright, time to move it move it! right now: mandi/lili's, preparty drinks.

xoxo

my sweetest 21st.

in all my 21 years of existence, i have never...

i. am. speechless.

even now, i find conjuring up the right words difficult. there are no words to express how i feel/felt. when i saw all those familiar faces that filled up the entire room, standing before me, the 21 candles lit for me, the 52 cupcakes (yes, fifty-two! or more) spelling out "happy birthday vic!" in pink icing, laid out before me... i was, for lack of a better word, speechless.

i stood there, gaping like an idiot before i managed to sputter an "ohmygod". classic vic, classic. after which i launched into a spiel of chinese words (i was that shocked) which no one understood *laughs* hence lili had to play translator, because i was beyond doing it myself. heh heh

lili the subtitle-r
chinese: "wo zhen de shi bu gan xiang xing!!"
english: "i really cannot believe this!!"

for those of you who lost the plot: my bfffs mandy and lili *HUG* organized a special super secret silent sunset surgery surprise party (greys ref.) and a CUPCAKE themed one to boot!! they know how much i absolutely ADORE cupcakes, been craving them since portobello. multicoloured balloons strung up everywhere, cupcakes on tiered serving dishes everywhere, 21-shaped confetti littered everywhere, people ohmygod people everywhere.. all my beloved new friends.

note: sweetie, babylamb! i got my wish: cupcake!

i recall, when i first arrived in the uk, i was so sad about being away from my loved ones on my 21st (only the most special birthday ever), and the thought of spending it alone was just too depressing to even consider. yet today, i was surrounded by all these new friends of mine who genuinely seemed happy to celebrate this special occasion with me!

once i got over the initial shock (which took quite awhile, believe me) i had to blow out 21 candles, almost setting my scarf on fire in the process.. i just couldn't believe, i still can't believe it actually. those two managed to pull the wool over my eyes for roughly 2 3 weeks! a remarkably difficult task given that i'm always around them 24/7, in their house, on their couch. and there they were, secretly blowing balloons and baking cupcakes in the middle of the night, running off to the supermarket without me, inviting everyone behind my back, plotting and scheming to keep me away from the house.. etc.

the fact that i didn't see the signs, i didn't suspect A THING, god i must be dense. pity, i didn't wear makeup today and my attire.. ugh. in-appropriate. luckily i didn't go home and change into track pants or something far worse, lili wouldn't have allowed me to anyway *grin* it was her sole mission to keep me in the library for as long as possible :) her stalling tactics - hilarious!

NO ONE in my ENTIRE LIFE has ever put in that much EFFORT for me before. (not even my friends back home) i repeat, NO ONE.

seriously, seriously! (amanda and i usually turn to each other and share a look at this point) this is what i've dreamt of for the longest time; my secret wish - for someone to care enough to actually organize a surprise party for me. i waited 21 years, and finally, someone DID care enough apparently. tonight, even before i made my wish and blew out the candles, my dream came true.

oh mandy, lili, i simply can't thank you enough. words are not enough. thank you, i love you. now you've set the bar up so high, no one else can compare. i'm humbled, grateful, and incredibly touched.

what can i say? i have the most amazing friends in the world.

p/s: a huge thank you to everyone who came! i wish you guys could've stayed longer - everyone had to go write their essays - but i'm so touched you showed up at all! *HUG*

p/p/s: my real birthday - 7th december friday night, 6:30 mandy/lili's place for pre-party drinks then clubbing in london! be there!

hugs, kisses and cupcakes
(i ate at least 10 tonight. ugh stomachache)

xoxo

i just got back from a recently increasing roebuck-run (like you know how people have coffee-runs?) at lili & amanda's (who live over at roebuck house. duh). we put our pretty little heads together to brainstorm! for my 21st birthday party! just what i need - something to look forward to plus inject some life into my _life_? (for lack of a better word) - to take my mind off the fact that the majority of my loved ones won't be in attendance this year *pout*

big life-changing events like 21st's entail careful/detailed planning months ahead of schedule, it's not something that can simply be thrown together you know. i have to be extra careful not to let the cat out of the bag, shan't divulge any top secret information until the time is ripe. whee!

annual birthday spankews

*third edition

A BIG SPANKEW TO:
everyone who came and rsvp-ed in due time (you know how i'm a stickler for such things). as for those who fell ill/had to work/couldn't make it for miscellaneous reasons. MEH!

too bad, too sad. *evil cackle*

and for all the lovely lovely presents.

i shall now commence the prize-giving ceremony

for the TOP THREE gift-givers

with the most delicious presents ever - YUM.

1. jobi pauline cindy [makeupgroup**] manda:
stila lipglaze in starfruit*,
set of 4 superprettygirly&veryme! badges,
apple mint candy, pig-cookie
and esprit 50% discount voucher*

2a. pp [COT**]:
moleskine leather-bound notebook
aka my newly christened little black book,
agnes b. heart badge,
box + card from prints,
and the words...

inside:
a little black notebook to jot down
your thoughts &
a badge so you may or may not wear
your heart on your sleeve (literally).

sorry folks, but a package just arrived in the mail today, and it without a doubt deserves an honourary mention

2b. mat:
white lacquered frame with my new fav photo
- yep, the 'coffee tea or me?' one - enlarged,
topshop giftcard*
and the sweetest loveliest poem
(which shall remain private) within a card

last but not least, it's a tie-up between...

3. deb and nicky:
a) grey's anatomy season 1 dvd*
b) strawberry-marshmallow cake,
3/4 complete handmade earrings
and barbie stationery set

[respectively]

a) so that i can whinge relentlessly about my pathetic lovelife a la meredithgrey-fashion.
b) nobody has baked me a cake, EVER! plus it was absolutely fingerlickin'-ly sinful to boot.

not forgetting the following people,
[in random order]:
carol: nautical-inspired ruffled empire top and bum-huggers in all colours of the rainbow
mum: swatch watch
jess: pink esprit notebook + pen
gen: photoframe and bonds' undie (singular)
[BIG HAHA - you know why]
sarah: handmade heartshaped jewellery box
joshua & joleen: nike pu case
laukoh: the birthday lunch and angpow
jason: malibu coconut-rum-thing
andrea: navy blue & white polka-dotted fabric stud earrings and a pucci-inspired headscarf/band

special category

anny & jacky: topshop heather grey v-neck button down cardigan!! (it's exactly what i've been lusting after for AGES, anyone who knows me knows i'm obsessed with heather grey.)

love, the snobbish slut.

* items on the wishlist.

nicholas leong, please?

of the 20 years that i've been around, this has to be the most i-don't-give-a-shit birthday ever.

(as in like, bochap.)

no one rsvp-ed properly? meh.
not enough food? tough luck charlie.
no music or speakers? who cares.
no fun? there's good ol' monopoly.

can i have nicholas leong, 24, featured in both cleo's 50 most eligible bachelors and female magazine's 50 most gorgeous people as my birthday present, please?

hahaha.

20th birthday wishlist

20th BIRTHDAY WISHLIST 2006

.mp3 player/camera. 1

narcisorodriguez for her. 2
.starfruit lipglaze, stila. 3
.girlboxers, topshop. 4
.brown leather thong-sandals, GAP. 5
.gift vouchers from topshop/forever21/zara. 6
.grey's anatomy DVD + OST season 1&2. 7
.little miss sunshine DVD + OST. 8

.gold unicorn brooch, tattydevine at tang+co. 9

.**** ***. 10

note:
i probably won't get half the items off this list,
but hey, a girl can dream.

love, the snobbish slut.

isk's 21st

isk's 21st birthday @ changi village hotel.









p/s: i'll upload the rest another day. toodles.

birthday smirthday.

SHIT PEOPLE. i forgot...

my birthday's coming up. i'm celebrating it on the 7th itself. so, try to..

1) stay in the country
2) make yourselves available
(at least for dinner)
3) yes, i'm aware that zoukout is around the same date.. (fret not. different days.)

I TURN 20 THIS YEAR. AHHH. IT'S THE BIG 2-0.

i seriously have no great big plans or any expectations, really. i know i've been known to make a big hoo-ha over my birthday, what with feeling like a goddess for a day and all that crap. well, not this year - revelation!- could i be growing up, for real?

hang tight folks, i'll get round to sending out the official letter/email/sms.

party descript: small gathering, close friends, at the house, probably bbq (if i can find the pits and undust them)

p/s: i gave up on dresscodes ages ago, though i might pick one for this one.

hey, it's not everyday a girl gets to be 20.
my first non-teen-two-digit birthday. whoopdeedoo.

p/p/s: added bonus: someone told me the birthday cake's from awfully chocolate :)

birthday week!

BIG P/S: the pics from the 6th of Dec have been uploaded onto my imagestation. just click on 'i love my digicam!' on the sidebar under Photos. many spanks.

updates (new)

1. many many pink presents -> bag, shoes, top, watch, roses.. etc plus topshop gift voucher, peacock embellished wedges and 2 angpows! WHEE!


my almost-19, but actually-20 pink roses from glenn!

- PICTURES! to be uploaded asap, hello is giving me hell right now.

2. got drunk for the first time (the night before the B-day), courtesy of christy, the ADMers, the 2 guys at the serangoon gardens cafeslashpub, a flaming lambourghini and a drop-something (barcardi 151 and something 133) -> this really took the cake man.

3. many spanks for ALL the lovely presents and the fun we had :) and to manda, christy and lijing for making special mentions of ME on their blogs :)

Who told you they love you last?
"No one. I lie, it's Vicks. Happy Birthday."
[manda's blog]

"and i love the 19 year old vick!"
[christy's blog]

"decide to get a cake for vicks from cartel.
got her a slice of auntie amy's chewy chocolate fudge cake... etc"
[lijing's blog]

here's a big MAHA from me to you.
"use it wisely, child." -me.

my 19th

although my relationship with my family is, on most days comparable to a yo-yo/rollercoaster; at times tumultuous yet sprinkled with abruptly sweet moments, it always surprises me to find out that they care.

that people care. about me.

last night, i found out that my girlfriends had met up the night before (without me finding out! ME! the queen of gossip! kudos to their sneakiness/stealth *grin*) to buy my birthday present. sarah even said that she/they wanted to plan something for me next saturday! this is the first time anyone's ever planned anything for me. it's usually me practically going down on my knees begging them to coordinate their schedules/be in the same country at the same time/be free and turn up on my birthday.

merely 10 minutes ago, in the car ride home, i discover that my mother brother maid snuck off and bought my birthday presents; once again, without my knowledge, or persistent bugging.

according to verrell, they were trying to 'co-ordinate' my presents. that was the cutest thing ever, and it warmed my heart tremendously.

carol called me up in school and inquired if i was coming home tonight, so that i could see her present, (just in case i didn't like it. it has a 3 day exchange policy, you see). she sounded so excited it made me smile :) FYI, I LOVE IT! it's a lacy pink (chiffon & lace) lingerie-like top, something i've always had in mind (with sleeves, though) but never came across.

she told me the salesperson said it was perfect for clubbing and she nodded, replying that i always go clubbing and (since i tried it on immediately) that it looked good with my jeans *smile* (plus, she said she knew i always wear jeans)

i dug deeper; verrell and mummy bought me a pair of shoes and a bag :) a month ago.

tsk. i'm getting rusty at this gossip queen thing.

i took the pretty coral-ish pink lariat necklace that aunty linda gave me awhile back and held it against my new top, it's a perfect match!

AND, my baby just gave me a white & pink Baby-G as a sort of birthday present, (in case he doesn't have time to get me one) he said. i love it! i've been wearing it to school the past few days. even if he gave me a trash bag, i'd still love it, because it's from him :)

moral of the story: I LOVE PINK.

[i think people have finally gotten the message that my favourite colour is pink, NOT purple.]

heh. i think i almost have a head-to-toe prettyinpink outfit: top, watch, necklace (bag, shoes?)

i'm really touched. this year, my friends and family are being real nice and pulling it together, i've honestly been too busy to plan anything or even harbour the hopes of celebrating it. maybe after 18 years of me making a fuss about it, [everyone knows my birthday is BIG DEAL to me, miss it and suffer my wrath. hah. it's the one day i wake up (at a godly hour, mind you) feeling like a goddess, walking on air.] i don't know..

i'm actually looking forward to a quiet 19th; spending time with the ones near and dear to me, that is all i ask for; special moments with the special people in my life.

love, the girl soon-to-be-sweet-nineteen.

my 18th, part II.

outside zouk.

belated pictures from

my 18th birthday celebration, part II.

spankews

belated spankews:

to all the birthday wishers through sms. too many to mention all. [1st prize goes to isthiqlal who msged at 12 midnight on the dot.]

to my dudettes: gen, sarah, sherl, drea. i couldn't imagine my 18th any more perfect than it was that day. for the new york metropolitan ballerina doll you got me [you seem to think of ballet whenever you think of me, even though I AM retired. but that's ok :)]-with its lacy granny underpants. it looks just like me! and for the pink and black von dutch bag and the borders folder. all very much appreciated. and for spending the day with me *smile*

to my dearest: jobi, pauline, cindy. for the adorably baby pink billabong wallet you gave me. hah. yes, i know my former wallet was in pathetic shape. *hug* i love my new one! can't bear to touch it for fear of soiling it :) for hanging around this past year, listening to my gossip 24/7 and all our bitching sessions about a certain you-know-who CM!

to my darlings: manda, quek, shanee!! for being there when i needed you! for being my shoulder to cry on, for so many everythings' that i can't even remember. for constantly calling around sch for me. hah. for being the most huggable bunch of people EVER! and for dedicating yours blogs to ME ME ME!

to the unmentioned: for all the lovely presents, no matter how un-user-friendly *grin* my family- carol, mum, verrell, grandma- for the makeup, money+card, rose soap, money respectively. aunty geraldine+uncle raymond&co.- the birthday figurines. aunty mei+uncle cyril&co.- money+earrings. laukoh#1+laukoh#2- money, money+food.

special spanks to my sister in UK for the journal that i shall receive SOON!

caught in a moment. *b'day version.

wow. i'm so overwhelmed.

for the first time ever, i'm lost for words. i don't know how or where to begin.

my 18th birthday was the most 'happening' birthday in my LIFE. it wasn't so much the happening part, more like so many things were happening at once (mostly unexpected), and i got caught up in the moment. i was so overwhelmed; i was scared, upset, PMSed, depressed, disappointed, excited, happy, in pain.. you get my drift.

i don't know if i can do my birthday justice simply by writing about it. you know how sometimes you go to the most fantastic party ever and have a GREAT time, but you try to write about it and you can't? you had too much fun, there was too much to write, in the end you were content to leave it in/at its best and most perfect form; in your memory.

my birthday was meant to be a HUGE deal for me, everyone knew why i wanted to turn 18 *grin* and how badly i wanted it. i had an ulcer under my tongue, i was recovering from my sore throat and flu, i had a bad allergic reaction all over my thigh, i was not in my best shape and i had somehow gotten a 2-tone suntan on my face by staying under the shade all day long. weird. and I GOT MY PERIOD. after 2 months of PMSless-ness, it came. gee.

long story short; this was NOT the way i had planned it to be.

i was supposed to be alot of things, but i was none. i cried ALOT. this was the first time i had cried so much about my birthday. i cried during and after the party on saturday because it really didn't feel like a birthday party; the people that mattered the most to me were not there and it just went all wrong. i was so unhappy. i was about to cut the cake but all i really wanted to do was cry. but i called my sis and cried on the phone to gen, then i was ok.

after the clock struck 12, i opened up all my presents. i was happy. i really was. then when i lay in bed thinking, i started tearing. which then led to full blown sobbing; i was in disbelief over the way things had turned out. i was scared about my rashes. it's terrifying seeing this fungal-bacteria thing literally consuming your entire thigh.

the next morning (birthday), the yelling commenced. i was 15 mins late, i didn't have class but i went to alter my timetable. my mum screamed all the way to school. you know the rule: you cannnot upset the birthday girl. well, she SO went there and back at least 5 times. for the absolute FIRST TIME in my life, i made a decision and i stuck to it. she thought it defiance, but it was just the practice of self-control. i shut up. funny how she's always telling me not to answer back, but this time, the more answering-back she DID NOT GET, the more enraged she got. i reached school and the dam was about to break. i was desperately calling everyone, anyone. i just needed to get it out of me. i called manda and she was cheerful as ever. then she picked up on the weird tone in my voice. she was in the next room. i went over and proceeded to cry all over her. you know, she being roughly 3/4 my height and all. after that, i calmed down. msged my mum, explained things. i made it right.

i was in this ultra zen-like mode, almost as if i was gliding along instead of walking. it was as if i KNEW that god was trying to intentionally place these challenges before me as a means of distracting me from the actuality of the situation; that NO MATTER WHAT, at the end of the day i would still get my greatest wish fulfilled. i would be 18! (unless i got knocked down by a car or something.. *touch wood*)

i went to meet my best friends. andrea and i were busy playing the roles of taitais, with our Christian Dior bags [hers bangkok, mine hongkong]. orginal? OF COURSE NOT! firm believer in imitations here! hah. she even came up with a taitai joke as part of the lightbulb series:

"how many taitais does it take to change a lightbulb?" "zero. they'll get someone else to do it for them."

to fulfil my craving for cheese, we went to NYDC at wheelock. we ordered the pasta heaped with cheese. yum. andrea and gen shared theirs. sherl came later on. took tons of pictures. posed with my presents. we ordered the... get ready for this:

"jedi mudster." may the force be with you :)

haha.. for some reason, i found this supremely fascinating and hilarious. so i laughed nonstop until my eyes shut. [small eyes, natural response to laughter] i was high. my friends were so embarrassed when occasional shrieks of laughter carried over from our table to the rest of the place, for no apparent reason somemore. hah. suddenly everything seemed funny. after i read the brief synopsis-like thing on the menu about the jedi mudster, i started chanting,"jedi mudster.. jedi mudster..." in the hopes that the waiter would somehow read my mind a la the mighty yoda. what rubbish. hah. yes, my state of mind right then was.. unexplainable.

my friends were bemused and bewildered.

make like yoda and say,"bemused and bewildered my friends were" -? sound familiar? "begun the cold war has." -star wars episode 2.

*snort* and so, the saga continues... sarah came over. by that time, we were stoned shitless. headed over to starbucks [my fav place for its armchairs. tock seng's hospital has the BEST!] only to walk out after deciding we were hungry. off to BK. settled down noisily with the commotion that comes naturally with us rowdy people. hah. ate and ate until we were sick of onion rings. literally stuffing them down each others' throats. snapping shots like supermodels on steroids. --until this weird guy asked if he too could take a picture of us. to which i said N-O.

too bad. i would've loved to post up the pictures. pictures say a whole lot more than words. they're with vivagen. new nickname! anyway, we planned a whole lotta zouk outings; when everyone comes back from their respective holidays, we shall all go and wreak havoc. *evil grin* i was excited. i AM excited. can't wait. hugs and promises to meet again were exchanged. we parted ways and i went to see a doctor. talk about anticlimax.

11078906 you guys.

you know, i never meant for my birthday to be so drama. THINGS HAPPEN.

i came to PAR-TAY!

Theme song for the 7th of December

Homeboy, I came to party, yo girl was looking at me. She's a haggler naw I'm not tagging her. But you don't want them boys to come over and start asking ya

What you wanna do, nigga? (Nothin')
What you trying to do, nigga? (Nothin')
What you wanna do, nigga? (Nothin')
What you trying to do (Nothin')

La la la la la la la la la (oh)

birthday blues

it makes me sad. everyone goes away around my birthday. no one really remembers. i know my friends love me, but.

i know you can't rearrange your holidays because of me, but somehow i'm always rearranging my birthday for everyone else. if i didn't, the probability of me spending it alone would be sky high.

oh well.

happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me.

i would just like to be surrounded by the ones that i love. everyone in one place at the same time. my 18th birthday. my special day. the day i've spent every other day stuck in limbo "i am seventeen, going on eighteen.." hoping, wishing and praying for. now that it's here, i don't even want to think about it. i should just sue the administration, how could you even THINK of having school in december? IT'S NOT RIGHT! you'll forever be known as the people who stole christmas.

it doesn't really matter anymore, does it?

no one really cares. why should i?