A field of crimson and scarlet gold. Poppies as far as the eye can see; a sea of flowers like opium like a dream. I am intoxicated, I am somewhere over the rainbow. Are you the Walrus or are you the Tin Man? This kaleidoscope universe begs to be crossed, to be plundered and discovered…
…right. Too much coffee, as usual. Doesn’t take much these days to get me dreamin’ and distracted. Maybe it’s the joy of life, maybe it’s the love that’s all around. Or maybe it’s these funky flowers on the placemats in this classy French restaurant we find ourselves gathered in.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let me tell you about what went on before…
.
.
Enter the Queen. She of the ‘A Whiff of Lemongrass’ fame (recently retitled ‘A Whiff of Lemon’ by her adoring udon-and-yakitori fans) yet humble ol’ me knew her back when she was simply Beautiful Meenachi. Her Royal Highness is so busy and sought after these days that it’s harder to get a slot in her tight-as-an-undeflowered-uhm-nevermind… it’s damn hard to get a slot in her tight schedule, period.
So I counted myself right lucky when H.R.H. Lyrical Lemon (formerly Lemongrass) offered me a dinner date last Tuesday (possibly the Pope had to cancel on her, the nerve of that fellow!) and it goes without saying that I grabbed it in a heartbeat.
That’s when things got strange. Devil rather casually reminded me to bring my camera with me to the dinner date. But it’s just dinner, said I, and I don’t wanna ruin it by snapping pictures all night. Plus, I’m not even a food blogger, I insisted. Devil then reassured me the photographs would be for his new and rapidly growing blog (his fanbase seem to love with equal measure his food posts and his ‘how-Kenny-screwed-up-again’ posts). But you aren’t even there, I said. I can always write about your dinner experience ma, he said. Just remember to bring your camera. Don’t forget.
Odd, very odd.
.
.
Then it gets odder.
H.R.H. Lyrical Lemon messaged me to check if I am bringing my camera. (What’s with all this interest in my camera?) She forgot her DSLR, she said. (The Queen DSLR forget her DSLR camera? That’s like Superman saying he forgot his cape, or worse, his red wear-on-the-outside underwear!)
So, don’t forget to bring your DSLR har, she said. I need to take photos for my blog, she said. And no hurry, she added, I’m probably gonna be late. Take your time.
Curious and curiouser.
.
.
It doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together, and let’s be honest here – the Queen and the Devil are horrible liars. (I need to enrol them in one of my Lying, Cheating, Deception & Deceit for Beginners classes one of these days.) But now that I knew what they were up to, what was I to do?
Have some fun, naturally.
I started with the Devil. Told him I was thinking of just going to dinner in a singlet and shorts. Make that one of those white, threadbare, old-uncle singlets. Devil nearly popped an artery. But it’s a FRENCH restaurant, he squealed. So? I said. You gotta wear something formal and nice, he yowled. No lah, I said, simple also can lah. Some more it’s Meenachi ma. Maybe we’ll go to a mamak instead.
That was the point when the Devil fainted in his office, methinks.
.
.
Then we have H.R.H. Lyrical Lemon (formerly Lemongrass) a.k.a. Queen DSLR a.k.a. My Beautiful Meenachi. Time to turn on the charm.
Do you remember when we first met, I asked my favourite royalty. Sandias, you mean? The Tex-Mex place that closed down? The one where you plied me with drink after drink, you naughty little boy? she gushed.
Uhm, no.
Not the first time we met, then. Do you remember our first proper date? When the stars aligned and the moon and the sun danced in sacred harmony? I asked. Oh, oh, she stammered, of course, I do. We chatted the whole night away (and some of the following morning too) over cup after cup of teh tarik at Devi’s Corner, that respectable and redoubtable bastion of 24-hour enterprise and food industry.
Uhm, yeah. The mamak.
I am feeling nostalgic, I said, let’s skip the French place and head there instead for teh tarik and roti tisu?
That was the point when the Queen fainted in her office, methinks.
.
.
A few hours later, I dutifully turned up at T forty two, a new and fabulously casual French restaurant at Bangsar Village (but not after threatening to switch to the neighbourhood mamak a few more times for good measure) and did my best impression of being surprised at a birthday dinner for me. So much for my solo date with the Queen.
I haven’t seen many of my friends in quite a while and it really doesn’t matter if it’s a surprise or not, whether I get to romance my Beautiful Meenachi in private or not, whether it’s French or mamak cuisine that we partake of, the only thing that mattered was that I was surrounded by all whom I love and we are happy, healthy and making more noise than the other birthday party in the next table (even though their numbers were thrice ours).
It ain’t a birthday party if it ain’t competitive, yo.
.
.
And so. The feasting is done, the shenanigans spun. The jokes and the puns, the laughter and all our fun. The evening has ended, the time has passed. Yet still I recall this night of nights, in the time to come. When those I loved best did try their best, failed happily for my own amusement to take, and for my joyous sake, came together and made an evening as light as feather, relaxed so as not to tax, but imprint in wax: Another year, and all we hold dear, gathered here, somewhere we find our gold in each other, somewhere over the rainbow ever and forever…
.
.
T FORTY TWO • Bangsar Village II, No. 2, Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
.
Copyright © 2011 Kenny Mah Ying Fye. Photography by Ciki, Devil CK & Kenny Mah.
Special thanks to FatBoyBakes for the birthday cake, Cake for Beginners.
Kenny Mah believes in the good in people. He has been blogging for over ten years. No, his hands aren't tired. Yet.
HAHAHHAHA all of them are such poor liars. but so sweet of everyone! hehe
Happy happy birthday bro! :)
@ladyironchef: Poor liars make the best friends, don’t you agree? Hehe.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, bro!
you’re just a suspicious lil creature arent ya…. no faith in your friends whatsoever that they may be telling the truth. how come the queen gets mentioned in this post more often than the pope gets mentioned when people debate the use of contraception? chis. …oh, i meant to say, why is she mentioned, and we arent! chis.
@fatboybakes: I have faith in my friends being terrible liars, how’s that? Hehe.
As to why the Queen gets mentioned more than the Pope, well, probably cos I don’t go on clandestine dates with the Pope… *chuckles*
SUPERHAPPY BIRTHDAY, KENNY!!!
LOL at how you cleverly saw through them, and gave them both heart attacks! :D
What a great party! All the riches in life can’t compare to the friendship and love you enjoy!
@Camemberu: Thanks, dear… and giving my friends a heart attack is one of my specialty. Hehe.
And there are no gold that shines brighter than true friends, true.
Why is Kenny so Special to Everybody?
Because they know they can depend on him.
Because they know when to laugh at him and when to take him seriously.
Because they sense the feelings behind his words.
Because they always see something positive in him.
Because he is never fake but is always honest with them.
Because he is a giver not only of his time but of himself.
Because he is a rare combination of strength and sensitivity.
Because he knows everybody better than most people.
Because he is not afraid to step out into the unknown.
And most of all because I also have the privilege of calling him friend.
Happy Birthday, my friend. :)
@jemima: Wow.
*sniffs, sniffs*
Thank you, my friend. You are amazing. *HUGS*
Happy Birthday my dear.
May this be another wonderful and fruitful year ahead of you! Hugsss
lol this makes for a good comedy! hahaha hilarious la the way you wrote it :P hope u’re still sober to have more fun tonite! happy bday!
Happie birthday, kenny :)
@rachel: May it be a year of new beginnings for you, dear. *HUGS*
@Jun: Me? I’m always sober, uhm, aren’t I? Hehe.
@ai wei: Thanks, dear!
Happy Birthday Kenny!
I didn’t read the whole post, but I looked at all the pictures. ;-)
The comments here remind that you are a beloved person.
Have a great year!
@Michael Stone: Useless McGyver! How have you been, mate? And yeah, I’m guessing most would just look at the pictures also, haha…
Have a great 2011 too, bro!
qoSlIj DatIvjaj!
*grins* In Klingon, if you please. I am so, so glad that I could celebrate with you, even if it was a leeeeeeeeeeettle early. May the year be beautiful, and may there be beautiful even in the things that make you want to drag bulls up trees.
@Shuku: I’m afraid I’m unable to reply in Klingon and express my thanks, but I can manage something better in grizzly bear:
*GRIZZLYBEARHUGG!!*
Heh.
happy belated birthday to you!may all your wishes come true and a year filled with joy, fun and happiness! one year older, one year crazier! bunch of great friends, is that meenachi? she has got a very sweet smile:)
@lena: Not belated… still an hour or so left on the clock. That was an early surprise birthday party after all.
And my Beautiful Meenachi does have a very sweet smile, does she not? Or Her Royal Highness as her subjects call her. Hehe.
Happy birthday, Kenny gor gor. Thanks for sticking around. =)
@Vern: Thanks, Weivern mui mui. Always glad to do so. *hugs*
oops, sorry! have you got your candles ready? probably more suprises to come tomorrow..
@lena: Haha, my birthday’s today actually… as in there’s still an hour (now less than an hour) left of the day itself.
But surprises do come every day, tomorrow will be no exception, I bet. In a very good way, of course.
Happy Birthday Kenny! The glasses are very nice. You look very much like a distinguished gentleman with them. Luckily, I know better. ;) There might not be much time left for your bday where you are, but for me, the day is just beginning, so feel free to celebrate all day again! :)
@Shannon: Me, a distinguished gentleman? Indeed, luckily you do know better, haha.
Sometimes I feel a birthday is just another day. Other times I feel like celebrating all year – for every day is a special day, is it not?
Your friends are really funny lah. Lucky I was there. I’d imagine it would have been perfectly executed. Hahahahahahappy Birthday Bro!
gosh, it seems like the only way to throw folks a ‘triumphant’ surprise party these days is to make it a completely random date. i.e. you could organize devil’s surprise birthday party in april this year, while he might plot yours for september. throw out the calendars and keep everyone guessing! we’d never know whose birthday we’d be celebrating next.
then again, i just know this idea isn’t gonna catch on, heheh. :D
@a lil’ fat monkey: In fact, I suspect you somehow masterminded the entire thing… Just need some proof… *chuckles*
@Sean: We could call it a Not-Your-Birthday Surprise Party! How’s that one sound? Hehe.
hehe. i still think u were surprised that day. pbbbbthhhhh.
@Lyrical Lemongrass: You wish! Hehe. Still… LUBS YA!! *muacks*
Belated Happy Birthday wishes to u, my dear!
@Pureglutton: Thanks so much, sifu! *HUGS*
Awww.. such a sweet friends!! :) I can see you had a splended time!!
Happy belated birthday wishes Kenny. Getting wiser!! :)
@Juno: Getting wiser? I certainly hope so!
*sniff sniff*
So schweeeeet…
*gips a big soppy bear hug*
Your story told me more that the photos did. And I haven’t even seen them all! Only the one with you gasping with surprise!! :D
I don’t know about you, but I would be totally surprised if someone threw me a surprise party in Aug for my bday in Oct.. ;)
@gfad: Ah yes, a surprise birthday party months before or after the fact… that one might actually work on me… Hehe.
*gips a big soppy bear hug back*
After this, I think the restaurant should change its name to T FOR ALL cos the more the merrier mah. Hehe. Such joy coming from the pics and the words. And you, my friend, deserve every bit of it! Happy belated birthday again!
@Black TIES White Lie: Hey bro, when did you rename your blog? Is it in honour of a certain udon-and-yakitori place we love and adore? Hehe.
T FOR ALL, eh? Gotta pass this on to the management – not sure if they will share your enthusiasm for this new name though, hehe.
And thanks, mate – we missed having you there that night, we really did. *HUGS*
wahhh! so many comments! a Lovely post.. and a lovely surprise for a lovely guy! xoxo, happy birthday mr MAH!
@ciki: Thanks for contributing to the surprise too, dear! *HUGS*
me thinks u have officially taken over the Devil title from the Devil himself… lols… I can only imagine their state of shock… hmmm… mayb I shud give em some pointers… *grins devilishly*
but bless their hearts for the thoughtful planning…
@asstha: They are the coolest bunch ever, aren’t they? And yeah… maybe I am a Devil in Disguise… Heh.
aww i think you are secretly the ‘devil’ too :P
@rokh: At least tell me I’m the cuter devil? Hehe.