Christmas 2014: The One Who Wore T-Shirt And Shorts To School

The Christmas 2014 series continues and I apologize if I've caused you to feel the Christmas blue in January. The bad news is that it would probably always feel like Christmas here on my blog for the whole of January as I still have got 2 more Christmas posts coming up.

*hears unanimous groans*

I was racking my brains for a title for this post and then T-shirt and shorts came to my mind.

Why?

This gal pal of mine used to stay in a hostel during university days and always went for lessons in T-shirt and shorts. I thought it was really comfortable to be clad in T-shirt and shorts too and started doing the same. TF was the first friend I made in one of the tutorial classes in NUS, not counting all other friends I've already known who went to the same university. We did a project together back then and I would sleep over in her room. From then onwards, many people assumed that I stayed in hall just from my dressing and from the fact that we sometimes hung out together.




Everywhere in Orchard was teeming with people of all shapes and sizes during the Christmas season. Hence, we decided to go to a less crowded mall and were surprised to see that Cedele at Wheelock had no queue at all. Cedele has since become one of my favourite "healthy restaurants" and it is also one of TF's favourite place.




I knew I would love the scarf that TF got me just from the muted tones of pink, cream and grey. I used it a few days later during my Hanoi trip. As for the earrings, she told me that it is supposed to be inspired from the Chanel trend which I totally had no clue about. To which she said "Yeah, I had no clue too." The best part of the present was the sweet letter that she wrote to me. I always love sweet notes, letters and cards more than any physical gifts.

TF was the only person who opened the magnet from the packaging as soon she she received it. From what I observed, many people left the packaging on and stuck it just like that. It looks pretty in the packaging but even prettier without, especially in photos with the reflection glare eliminated. I also got a Belif travel size Christmas gift set for her and other gal pals. Glad she likes the gifts but you know what, I think her nails are the focus of this photo. Lol. 

I forgot the name of the dishes we ordered but we ordered almost the same thing just that TF's one was chicken with fruity berry topping...




and mine was fish and aubergine with tangy salsa topping.




Trying to cut down on tea but it is so soothing to chat over a cup of tea.




It is really amazing how TF and I would always be able to pick up where we left off and we could talk about anything under the sun without awkward moments of silence. Time is never enough for us that we agreed that we have to meet up more regularly. We met up a couple of times over these 2 years but prior to that, the last was in 2010! And then when I was doing this post, I realised that I've not blogged about our past few meet ups and decided to consolidate all my meet ups with TF in this post.








~*Tears, Laughter and More Laughter*~


Throwback to September 2013, TF and I kept trying to arrange for a weekend meet up as we always felt that those after work dinner meet ups would never be enough for us. The last we met each other was in 2007! Although we continued to keep in touch via messaging and social media over the years, both of us had wanted to pour our hearts out face to face.

I remembered telling her that no matter what, I had wanted to meet up with all the friends I consider close in my life coz I thought I might just die. I said, "You are the last close friend whom I finally managed to meet up and now I can go away peacefully." and she went "touch wood". Well I won't be sharing much but let's just say that it was a bad phase for us in terms of whatever that lies under the umbrella of health. She, on the other hand, was so strong and I really admire all that she had gone through. But well, we would have to rise from the dumps and so aside from slight tears, there would always be lots of laughter with this gal around.




We had Nando's coz Nando's could never go wrong. This picture garnered 120 likes and was 4th 2013 best moments on Instagram from the Satigram app.




And this was the #1 top picture of 2013 best moments on Instagram with 156 likes which was quite a mean feat considering that my followers were only 200-300 back then. We both scratched our heads and wondered what was so likeable about our 2 collages of girls in nerdy glasses. And yes, TF is still the type who would pin up polaroid photos at her workstation's notice board whereas mine are currently lying on my side table collecting dust.








~*At Domani*~


Throwback to June 2014, TF and I met up a week before her wedding . I love how our eyes had a bluish tinge reflected from the blue light of a billboard in front of us.




We had dinner at Domani which looks sleek and modern now. It used to be a lot better when it wasn't called Domani and had rustic brick decor. TF's slipper lobster pasta was soooooo good.




My vongole was disappointing with no hint of white wine taste at all.








~*TF's Wedding*~


Still a throwback from June 2014 but a week after the meet up at Domani was TF's wedding which was held at Grand Shanghai. It was the first time I attended a wedding whereby I didn't know anyone else. Ok I do see some familiar faces but I'm not close to them and besides they were all in bigger groups seated with people they know. I sat at a table together with some of her good friends and made new friends that night.




It was my 2nd time attending a wedding at Grand Shanghai and I love that place. With the soothing Chinese music, smooth mesmerizing voice of the songstress and soft red drapings amidst dim lighting, I felt as if I was transported back to Shanghai in the 60s.




Food was not bad too. As we were seated at a smaller table, our food was portioned out individually for us at the side by the servers.




TF is a teacher and her Thank You speech was in the style of PowerPoint presentations! She drew much laughter from the ground with her "presentation" to her "students".




Her hubby, G, was so humorous that he even drew laughter while belting out songs for TF. He sang a Jacky Cheung's Cantonese song 每天愛你多一些 and an English song which I've forgotten the title, man he could sing really well! Ah yes, he is a teacher too and it seems the teacher tables were the rowdiest and most fun table to be at.




The candid, humorous and nonetheless lovely couple.




And finally a shot with the beautiful bride! And to quote your words in the letter, I love you a lottle too! xoxo




I'm always glad that my blog helps me keep my memory in check. I was clueless about the number of years TF and I haven't met prior to the more regular meet ups these 2 years and started using the search function of my blog to try to sieve out our past meet ups:

http://iamjolene.blogspot.sg/2010/08/unfolding-mays-folder-friends-and-food.html
http://iamjolene.blogspot.sg/2007/07/15-years-later-tf-and-me-met-again.html
http://iamjolene.blogspot.sg/2006/03/fab-feb.html
http://iamjolene.blogspot.sg/2004/11/ive-finally-got-some-social-life.html

I often relive old memories when I read my posts from long ago. I couldn't even remember some of the things I wrote about that happened so it is always a mix feeling of joy and nostalgia when I look back and reminisce.






My Internet modem was down the past few days and I was doing everything on my phone. I had initially wanted to catch up on blog stuff but doing stuff on the phone has its limits. I've replied to some but not all of your comments on the past 2 posts so do remember to check back. Appreciate all who addressed the issues in my verbal diarrhoea of ranting. It had also been a really tiring week and work would only get more this coming week. I wished I could press a pause button in life to take a break. Don't you wish there was a pause button in your life too?