My first F1 race

Lu Meng bought us some F1 tickets as a birthday gift, so despite being slightly tipsy and dozy after the champagne brunch, we headed to the Marina Bay circuit to face the thundering roar of F1 engines. It was a fantastic experience, and although I got to see less of the race than on TV, the live atmosphere is simply electric! And I must say that standing at the Esplanade Turn 17, with a view of Marina Bay before me, I was really very proud of Singapore, for putting on a stunning show for the only night race of the tour.

Joanna with her standard F1 pose

I swear that there's a Ferarri there somewhere if you look hard enough! :-)

40 & Fabulous

Thanks to the urging of my beautiful friend, Sharon Wong, I decided to usher in my fortieth birthday in style. Since we were aiming for nothing less than the best, my friends and I headed for a champagne brunch at the Ritz Carlton in Singapore, which coincided with the Formula 1 Singapore weekend.

"Sunshine Bouquet"- a gift from Sharon, while posing with Lu Meng and her sons

Sharon flew back from Germany just to attend my birthday, while Kon and Stef were the first to arrive leading to the first of many toasts.

Posing with Li Ki and Rajen, and the whole birthday ensemble

The champagne flowed, the sashimi was sublime, the foie gras was excellent and the chocolate souffle to die for. Not to mention the generous presents ! But above all else, I walked away with an overwhelming sense of gratefulness to be surrounded by the love and company of good friends.

Here's to the fabulous forties!!

Joanna's Top 40

It's finally 26 September 2010 and I'm fabulous 40! I've been so excited about turning 40 this year. Strange considering I hated the thought of turning 30.

A week ago, I came across an article on what Oprah said about turning 40. To quote the most influential woman on earth:

"You should be out on your veranda dancing because you are about to experience one of the most magnificent, marvelous events in a woman's life. At 40, something magical happens to you--something liberating and rejuvenating and exhilarating. You acquire a healthy disregard for what other people think. You gain the confidence to define yourself boldly and on your own terms. You don't accept anyone else's judgments but your own. In short, you stop living your life for other people and start living it for yourself. The force is with you because, at long last, it is in you."

There's also a list of what every woman must have by the time she hits 40. Let's see how I'm doing...

THE TOP 40

1.) Peace of mind (and a piece of property)...CHECK

2.) A will...CHECK

3.) Willpower...STILL WORKING ON IT

4.) A savings account in your own name (and a pension fund in the name of your future security)...CHECK

5.) A mammogram...NOT YET

6.) A manicure (not to mention a pedicure, a facial and a massage--all on the same day)....CHECK

7.) A set of matching luggage...CHECK

8.) A ticket to some exotic place to unpack it....CHECK...Morocco in November

9.) A great hairdresser, gynecologist and stockbroker...CHECK, NOT YET, CHECK

10.) A passionate, fiery, unforgettable love affair...STILL WORKING ON IT

11.) A little black dress that makes you look five pounds thinner....CHECK

12.) A sense of humor, style and purpose...CHECK, CHECK, CHECK

13.) A selfish streak....CHECK

14.) A spiritual foundation that gets you through a very bad night without going crazy...CHECK

15.) A facial foundation that gets you through a very long day without going ashy...CHECK

16.) A good bra...CHECK

17.) A good spa...CHECK

18.) A library card (used often)...I PREFER TO BUY BOOKS OR READ THEM FOR FREE AT BORDERS

19.) A credit card (used sparingly)...CHECK

20.) At least one person in your life who says: "You call, I come."...CHECK

21.) Good body language (multilingual!)....CHECK

22.) A broken heart and the knowledge you can survive it...CHECK

23.) A cause celebre (domestic violence, infant mortality, save the whales--your choice)....CHECK

24.) A personal relationship with God....CHECK

25.) A personal trainer....CHECK

26.) Selective amnesia ("What Saturday morning meeting?")...CHECK

27.) Gall....CHECK

28.) A good skin-care regimen....CHECK

29.) The ability to converse on any subject without benefit of concrete knowledge or access to facts....CHECK

30.) A shocking secret...CHECK

31.) A pair of silk pajamas....TOO HOT FOR THAT IN SINGAPORE

32.) A lifetime membership in at least one organization dedicated to uplifting women or children...CHECK...WORLDVISION

33.) The phone number of someone who is good with their hands...SHHH...ITS A SECRET

34.) At least one drop-dead, don't-speak-to-me-because-you-know-you-don't-know-me gorgeous photo of yourself...CHECK

35.) A friendship that has stood the test of time...CHECK...MORE THAN ONE THANK GOD!

36.) One last chance to tell the guy you were crazy about in your 20s who treated you like cigarette ashes on the floor what you were too dumb to know when he walked out with your heart in his hands: "Thank you, thank you, thank you."...TOO MANY PLATONIC MALE FRIENDS AT THAT AGE...

37.) A soul mate....STILL WORKING ON IT

38.) Faith, hope and a good fantasy....CHECK, CHECK, CHECK

39.) A dream....CHECK

40.) A plan to make it come true....CHECK

Looking forward to the next decade - which is going to be the BEST yet!