After hosting a roadshow at the new Cathay Cineplex with Mary, I was off to a service apartment at Bukit Timah for Lingzhi’s birthday.

They kept me rather busy with lighting fire-starters because they had real trouble starting an actual fire for the BBQ by the pool. Two and a half hours after the virgin attempt, the pit hadn’t seen any real action besides vigorous fanning and the pretence that charcoal is Lego.

“Ok, I want a McChicken and large Coke. Anyone wants anything?”

Well, I don’t know how to start a fire, and there was nothing much I could do, besides drafting the contingency plan of calling 67773777.

While considering whether I wanted to change the McChicken to a Fillet O’Fish, someone voiced out that it would be easier to cook the food in the apartment kitchen. And so, the ever-so-helpful me, drove out with A. to get cooking oil.

Because they had managed to get a fire going by the time we returned, we formed the Kitchen Team and the BBQ Party.

Now boys and girls, the kitchen is a really hazardous place. This is the conclusion of Cruz Teng, a member of the Kitchen Team.

I got a scolding from G. for walking around with a ladle and dripping oil all over the place. H. almost disfigured me by throwing a piece of wet sotong into the pan of hot oil in front of me. And I didn’t fail to knock my big head on one of the cabinet doors. But it’s a good thing they kept the knives away from me.

Please don’t walk away thinking I’m a good-for-nothing in the kitchen. G. commented my chicken wings looked really nice.

I don’t know about the taste cos the few I fried were mixed in the pile subsequently.

Here’s wishing Lingzhi a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Pity the drinking session didn’t erupt into a puke fest like last year.

And thanks to the organisers for the planning and execution. Me, as usual, just turned up with a smile. But I fried some chicken! Hee.

It was unfortunate that everyone was so busy cooking and/or BBQ-ing, no one had time to take photos. And so, I can’t show you the SNAG image of me frying chicken wings.