Organised a ‘surprise’ birthday dinner for a friend, Purpledot recently. It’s the kind of routine surprise that isn’t really a surprise but everyone pretends that it is after years of conditioned learning.
Come to think of it, the whole birthday thingy is pretty standard every time, it’s beginning to look like a protocol. Very scary…
- Send out a mass email to the usual crowd to discuss when, where, who (to ask) and what (to buy).
- Together, shortlist a number of venues (including websites whenever possible – for a more informed decision) and presents.
- Vote for your preferred choice and the item with the highest votes will be selected. We believe in democracy (and if the place turns out crap – it’s nobody’s fault).
- Nominate the persons-in-charge of restaurant bookings, calling people, buying presents and cakes.
- Always remember to inform the birthday person early to make sure she’ll be available on that day. Try not to call on the day before the actual day.
- Birthday cakes are pretty standard and usually from a particular cake shop, unless inconvenient to do so. Always rotate different cakes for every birthday, depending on birthday person’s preferences.
Yah, very routine but it works, it’s easy and efficient.
Venue this year was nowhere fancy but food was quite good, reasonable and near my place. Everyone acted casual that evening like it’s just another dinner with the usual crowd plus a few others. Card writing was done right under her nose, this time ‘protected’ by an oversize menu. This is usually a cue for the birthday person to shift his/her gaze away and acted as if it’s a normal part of any dinner. Entrée, main meal, write card, desert and coffee – pretty standard. Desert was a beautiful chocolate + cream + liqueur + strawberry birthday cake from a nearby café that tasted pretty good. Of course, when the waitress brought her cake out, she was sporting enough to act surprise...... one of those priceless Mastercard moments.
(*in whispers*)
Purpledot turned 3+0 that night.
But if you asked her, she’ll tell you that she’s 21 + GST...
GST is fixed at the annual inflation rate. So in a way still getting older, but still 21. Go figure.....
Oh, we’re the same age, by the way. Remember ya
-daisyboo-
