Last Year, This Day – My Birthday
June 17, 2006 3 Comments
2 weeks ago, when I was informed by Nick that I need to fly over to Hong Kong to present a proposal to a group of "key figures".. I was worried about the outcome of the presentation. And when I was told of the date of the presentation, I was laughing to myself… It is going to be my best birthday or worst one.
I was warned "it is either I made it or I screwed it big time"…there is no room for in between.. One shot, 30 minutes and be back with the good news. It will be my debut and this will be a good chance for me to strike a good impression with those key stakeholders. Afterall, the first impression is vital…and I better not screw this up.
With all the good voodoos + blessings I gathered from Singapore and Shanghai, I arrived in Hong Kong at 10:30pm, 14th June. Working until 3am, this is indeed the most unique birthday I ever have… It was my third birthday overseas (17 in Tiomen, 27 in Perth, 31 in Hong Kong).. but it was also the quietest one. No cake and no birthday song… I was too dreadful to play that "Happy Birthday to Me" by Landy Lan.
I received a couple of birthday sms on my Shanghai mobile before my presentation. It is nice to know that my friends and loved ones are thinking of me.. Putting on my confidence and aggressiveness, I went in the board room and delivered that goal that I was expected to score. Yes, I scored!!
Was it a good birthday? Yes… a fruitful one (for work). But I miss my friends + gifts back home. Guess my friends over-did themselves last year with over supply of surprise, gifts and love! So, I guess it kinda made up for this year… (I did bought myself a birthday gift – a JBL speaker for my apartment)
Man, one year passed… things looked so different back then… I still can remember having Joanne, Tracy, Elkan and Felicia sleeping over in my hotel last June. Who could have guessed and predicted that I will be spending my birthday in such manner this year? (Dinner was great..I had a very nice steak dinner at Lan Gui Fang)
Who knows what happen next year? Mm…where would I be next year this time? What I really want:
1) My friends and family here in Shanghai with me
2) Perth-Sidney backpacking with my loved ones
3) Elkan singing "Happy Birthday" to me
4) Cutting cake with a group of FHM girls in bikini at pool side
Well, time will tell.. Let’s see and compare the above with next year happenings.
Looking closer, perhaps Brazil can lift the world cup again. 🙂
12 years away from home - Singapore. Writing my stories here for my lovely mum & dad, friends and most importantly, for my wife & son back home. A self-confessed gadget freak, a spontaneous prankster on the outside and a warm loving heart inside. Enjoying a happy life with loving families, friends plus a dream job. Realising mum’s motto – “Exceed Yourself Every Day”. Always believing that “Simplicity is Beauty”.
THE WAHBIANG BLOG 
Karen, karen.. you dun expect me to give you over the MSN space rite? Haaa..look forward to see you here. You call my wife lah…for my number.. 🙂
Joe, wat u shanghai mobile? charlie going over next month…send me in email …
Happy Birthday Brother Joe!
waah, you have the same birthday as my friend in Australia now, lor!
i just webcam wif her (my friend, the Birthday girl) and it was cool, lor!
but too bad she didnt have webcam, so i cant see her face @ MSN!
anyway, so glad you had a great birthday!
God Bless,
Stella Tam