Basket.

Ah, October. My favourite month and traditionally to me the beginning of the end for the year, here once again.

A gang of close friends tried and dismally failed to surprise me with a birthday cake and candles today. Their plan floundered due to a miscommunication. I think we've all spent too long in the SAF, because this is curiously reminiscent of how things usually go in the army. But honestly, it was a very sweet gesture anyway, and my sincere thanks to you lot for taking all that effort, as well as for the lovely little present.

More on the events of the night. I thought it would be a dinner with Winston. Once he turned up with Keng Piang, I began to suspect something was up. Then he asked for a table for five when we only had three, and refused to tell me who else was coming. Hmm. Then Zihao and Yen Yeong turn out to be the missing two people. Completes the puzzle for me. But the clincher was when we ran into Winston, who had ostensibly gone off to meet a friend, later - holding a cake, no less. By the time Yen Yeong asked me to accompany him to the toilet, I knew what it was all about and what was going to happen the rest of the evening. And so I played along.

Unfortunately, while they failed to surprise me, they succeeded in smashing cake into my face. Twice. The result? One pair of spectacles that was a bitch to clean and some priceless photos for them to laugh at for all eternity. Man, it was worse than being dunked at Sean's house last year. At least that was cooling.

Despite that, this was one of the best birthday celebrations I've ever had. I'm honestly touched. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all ever so much, guys. You people are wonderful.



AND I WILL HAVE MY VENGEANCE UPON ALL OF YOU. ONE DAY. JUST YOU ALL WAIT.