I kind of dropped out of it all. And I don't really regret it, like how I used to lament that I'm always uninvolved. It isn't so much of losing the passion, but more of losing the time and the bonds. Yes, it scares me to have to feel this way but, no, there're no pangs to return.

Killer cramps attack on Thursday, and didn't die until Friday morning. I took just 2 Panadol Extras this time round to curb the pain, instead of the 4-hourly dosage for most of the previous months. Die cramps DIE!!!

And just as I was running out of ideas for 3rd Sis' birthday present, Jack came up with the perfect foodie's gift; Swensen's ice-cream mooncake vouchers. He sure knows how to curry favour. :P Dad took us all out for dinner (yes, future son-in-law included) at 甘家莊 at Ang Mo Kio Ave 3. I had expected the rush-hour jams on Lornie Road, the dinner crowd and the license paper-burning for the last day of the lunar 7th month, but what I hadn't expect was the 15-minute wait for the lady to come and take our order, and the 40-minute wait for our food.

And when the Lee family dines out, Mr Lee has no qualms about spending excessively and eating sinfully.

All the way from Jurong to Ang Mo Kio plus a long wait, just for those meat-junkies to try this fat slab of stewed pork belly. My meat-less diet is fully justified.

And I loved the way everyone interacted; Mum asking Jack about his burger shirt; Dad and Mum talking to Jack simultaneously about totally different topics and watching the poor guy getting torn between them; my sis tickling everyone with her gorilla joke; my sisters chatting with Jack... Surreal. And yes, even I'm finding it hard to believe that I'm sitting in the middle of it all.

And I'm fully convinced that any other sacrifice is worth it all.