I don’t normally like to celebrate my birthday. After having kids, I try not to think so much about getting older as I need to stay young for my kids. I always tell myself it is just a number and sometimes I trick myself into forgetting my age. Unfortunately, the body and face can never lie these days.

Swedes do not say Happy Birthday here in Sweden. They say ‘Grattis’ meaning Congratulations. I thought it is quite funny as there is nothing to congratulate for turning one year older. But that is their way of saying ‘Happy Birthday’.

I had a really nice birthday. My friends gave me a really nice surprise and brought me out to lunch on Friday. It made me felt really special and wonderful. Thank you Rizza, Vernetta, Jane and Elsa. I had a great time!

My family celebrated by going out for lunch. We had dimsum in one of the Chinese restaurants. I told Sharon, my sister who called later that day, that even the dimsum in our Singapore kopi tiam taste better. But such is the standard of chinese food here.

The kids sang me the Birthday song but Linn was cheeky. She added a new verse and sang it to the same tune as the Birthday song.

How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old are you now?

How to not feel old like that!