Birthday breakfast...fondue du fruits!


handmade dapquoise brithday cake by janice, courtesy of le cordon bleu


the best tart citron by far... in the shape of a b'day cake-neighbourhood patissier.


birthday present!! kermit would be proud.

birthday dinner dessert...lime absinthe souffle ice-cream


room filled with suprises....thank you Jan!! seriously....the best birthday I've had since beginning Uni-11th April is always pre-exams period....

Thank you dear friends for your birthday greetings/presents/wishes...been the most memorable 23rd....

Your call made my day Dea! Shuiyen..your birthday message was the first one i read. Thanks Geraldine for the unexpected greetings...Daph and Julia as well. Even Pop and Mom; Thanks for the lovely birthday email, means alot... and lastly, most significantly...my partner in crime on the streets these streets of Paris, for the fantabulous birthday suprises!! my salutations!!

Vietnamese Marionnettes Day - Cirque d'Hiver
This is a concrete circus tent built by Napolean so the French could have circus even in winter. The puppet show was held inside.

Us photowhores.



Vietnamese Marrionettes on Water. It was most amazing.
After which we adjourned to have dinner with our new found friends...
A crazy bunch of mult-nationals, friends of the Professor.



Sarah; kid of African and Polish friends, Roger and Anna. Paul; Francoise, our host's kid, she's a really cool Painter!

Went to church today, once again it was impossible to find, eventhough this time there was a map that we drew to find 40 Rue du Disque. I guess it was because we were expecing to find a church in a shape similar to those in Singapore. Little could we guess that service was held in a room near a Buddhist temple (which occupied the opposite room); both confined in some tunnel-like carpark establishment.

Worship songs were held in French and English; and the small but passionate congregation were truly singing their hearts out. And during prayertime, we all joined hands; Chinese, Afircan, Vietnamese, French, American, Canandian, Singaporean... a most internationally unititing moment.

Being in Church I was reminded that Good Friday and Easter happens this week.
The signs have been very obvious....
Didn't manage to link it all til the invitations during announcements..

All around me were the obvious symbols...
Chocolatiers banking in on the Season...giant CHOCOLATE easter bunnies, Foil eggs, Praline filled eggs, egg-shelled chocolates... more eggs and bunnies in dark, milk, mint and white CHOCOLATE. Didn't manage to link it all til the invitation to Good Friday service during the announcements...

Guess God really wanted me to be aware and prepare for the week of joy and sorrow, 2000 years before...
Switching on the lappie for some music, I stumbled upon a song I've never played, the melody and lyrics stopped me in my tracks...

"What can take a dying man, to raise him up to life again?
What can heal the wounded soul? What can make us white as snow?
What can fill the emptiness? What can mend the brokenness?
Brokenness..

Mighty, Awesome, Wonderful; Is the holy cross.
Where the lamb laid down His life, to lift us from the Fall.
Mighty is the power of the cross.

What restores our faith in God? What reveals the Father's love?
What can lead the wayward home? What can melt a heart of stone?
what can free the guilty one? What can save and overcome?
Overcome.

Mighty, Awesome, Wonderful; Is the holy cross.
Where the lamb laid down His life, to lift us from the Fall.
Mighty is the power of the cross.

It's a miracle to me and still a mystery.
It's a miracle to me, the power of God, to those who believe..."
(Mighty is the Power of the Cross - Chris Tomlin)

Turning 23 the same week as your saviour's death and resurrection will give much room for the contemplation of life. I pray I will come to a satisfactory conclusion. Pray with me....