There's something about the year-end holidays and the festive season. Particularly how Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are so close together.
I love Christmas. It's the most romantic holiday ever. Even far more romantic than Valentine's Day. The commercialised hearts and flowers pasted and hung up everywhere cannot be compared to the season of giving, love (including that for the family AND friends) and above all, sacrifice.
Christmas would be nothing if not for God's greatest gift to us; Jesus Christ, who led a faultless life only to give it up willingly so that we need no longer bear the punishment for the sin that runs in our blood, through our very veins.
And then there is something amusing about this festive season. I am particularly dreamy and hopeful during this time of the year. It's like I can literally smell romance in the air...mmm... but that's beside the point. My point is, there is no other holiday that is as wonderful as Christmas - one that brings people together and brings out the joy, love and generosity in all of us.
J'adore Noel
Day 0: Christmas Eve
I slept the entire afternoon away, hoping to regain at least part of my voice so as to maintain some sort of conversation with my friends whom I were to meet that evening (it'd be pretty boring if i couldn't speak the entire night. i'd imagine that to be a rather painful experience).
I only got back about 25% of my vocal ability.
The evening was really awesome. If I had to sum it up in a single word, I'd say 'Whoa'. Think Neo from The Matrix.
The weather was terrific; I was in the best company (my best friend was there and so were my pals from JC), in the best mood, at a fantastic bistro with the best blues music.
What more could I ask for?
Timbre wasn't as packed as I thought it'd be, since it was the eve of a public holiday. In fact, we were there so early, I'm quite sure we were one of the first few patrons.
Although things didn't get as hyped up as usual when the band played (most customers were more interested in their food and drinks), I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I've waited like 5 months to hear the band play again; it's been a long and painful interval!
My mates and I talked, played bridge and the infamous Zhong Ji Mi Ma (the drinking game we ALWAYS play), drank and drank but only got high on music (particularly yours truly) and just soaked in the atmosphere of warmth and familiarity (we HAVE been to Timbre a couple of times).
It was a pity that one of my pals got wasted before the night ended and some guys had to leave first to send him back. I do hope he's feeling a whole lot better. It must be really sucky to have a hangover on Christmas Day.
Day 1: Christmas Day
Functioning on only 4.5 hours of sleep, I headed for the Christmas service with my family at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, afterwhich I came home to nap for an hour before all hell broke loose.
Well, something like that.
We were preparing for our Christmas dinner (with the turkey and all, remember?) and it was chaotic.
My dad collected the smallest turkey he'd ordered from Cold Storage and realised that it was uncooked. We had to pop it into the oven ourselves. The only thing is, it wouldn't fit. It was pretty hilarious, watching my dad trying to squeeze the turkey into the microwave. It reminded me vividly of a scene from Mr. Bean. Alas, my dad had to saw (yes, SAW, but with a knife la) the turkey into two. This wasn't a pretty sight. The turkey ended up looking brutally murdered, but at least it solved the size problem.
Then there was an awful lack of space. Given a tiny kitchen comfortable enough for one person (who is usually my maid) to prepare a meal, 5 people in the kitchen makes cooking and preparation extremely squeezy. My maid and sister were washing and slicing up the vegetables for the salad, my dad was cooking the turkey, I was slicing, whisking and layering for the scalloped potatoes and my mum was standing around (still with her face mask on), watching us work and vie for space at the same time.
Oh and did I mention, we were working desperately against time.
It was already 6.45pm, dinner had to be served by 7.30pm cos we were going to catch a movie thereafter, AND my potatoes needed an hour to bake, but the turkey was still occupying all the space in the oven.
*sweat*
Fortunately we got everything ready in time and gave out our presents before digging into one of the most sumptious and heartwarming meals in the entire year (my family usually doesn't eat together at mealtimes).
Our dinner...
... and dessert
Presenting my gift to Mum and Dad
Present from Sis
After stuffing ourselves silly, the bunch of us headed to Shaw@Beach Road to catch The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The movie could not have been more appropriate. It was almost like the story that I've read years ago came to life as I had imagined then. The biblical truth that was embedded in the essence of the story is like a metaphoric representation of the Christmas Story of Christ's sacrifice. Simply excellent!
It was almost 12mn when the show ended but the night hadn't come to an end for me.
My mum dropped me off at Timbre (which was nearby) and I joined Christian, Jordan and PJ for the last set of funky, live-wired blues with Ublues.
It sealed my perfect day perfectly.
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