Yesterday, Sunday 5th April was my father's 62nd birthday. We decided to try the food at Tony Roma's at Pavvy. I have to admit here that I was totally unprepared for it, camera wise that is! I didn't plan to bring my D60, thinking that my brother would bring his camera. He didn't and my compact, died on Nayli after a shot or two, totally dissapointing. Luckily, the food wasn't. We might just have to go back to that place to relive the experience, with pictures taken this time!!! Anyhow, Happy Birthday Abah, love you!!! I did take these few shots with my phone cam, thinking that it might not come out good, but as it turned out, it came out quite acceptable. Should have taken pictures of the ribs that Jack had, the chicken salad, the grilled cod, my TR Burger, and the super duper TR Chocolate Avalanche and the Colossal New York Cheescake at the end of the meal. Yummmm!!!! Definitely worth going back to that place again.

Birthday Dad!

Zaim, contented boy, with his straw.

Nayli devoured her Kids Burger, share with Zarif.

My brother, trying on my sling, complete with nappy on his shoulders... Neng for the day!

So after the meal, I sent the kids off with their grannies, we then went to queue for movie tickets for tonight. Yes, I have heard of online booking and purchase, it's just that we were supposed to use, Jack's free ticket voucher because this month is his birthday month. It was quite a shame that the movie that we (or rather, I) chose to watch is still a new movie, so the ticket voucher cannot be used. Since we were already there and I just had to watch that show we went on ahead and purchased it. Should have known better! Sigh, a lot of "shoulda" moments yesterday.

What movie was it that just cannot wait. Well... it was Confessions of a Shopaholic!!!!

I loved it! I am such a fanatic fan of Sophie Kinsella's books all of them. I first read the Shopaholic series I don't know perhaps when it first came out in paperback! It is really really such a crazy book! After reading it, I became hooked to the character immediately, I can totally relate to Becky Bloomwood, though I am so relieve that I am not in such a deep .... as her in terms of shopping debt! I do live in a real world after all, well most of the time. Ha!ha!

Anyway, the movie, yes it was a little bit off from the original book. I don't know why SK agreed to have Becky B to be an American in the first place. It is supposed to be set in London. It was like Conf of a Shopaholic meets Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. Luke is not supposed to be a magazine editor!!! It makes me want to read the book all over again and have a checklist by the side, as to which facts they got it right in the movie, and which they have totally sidelined. A quick check at the Official Website, shows that there is in fact another book that is supposed to be Confessions of a Shopaholic - Movie Tie In. This I don't have yet, must check it out in Times the next time I'm there.

Here's a preview:

Confessions of a Shopaholic (Movie Tie-in Edition)
January 20, 2009 Dell Paperback 978-0-440-24487-5 (0-440-24487-0) $7.99
Buy the Book:

Random House Other RetailerMillions of readers have come to adore New York Times best-selling author Sophie Kinsella’s irrepressible heroine.

Meet Becky Bloomwood, America’s favorite shopaholic—a young woman with a big heart, big dreams…and just one little weakness.Becky has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it—not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from the bank—letters with large red sums she can't bear to read—and they're getting ever harder to ignore. She tries cutting back. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something....Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever. Sophie Kinsella has brilliantly tapped into our collective consumer conscience to deliver a novel of our times—and a heroine who grows stronger every time she weakens. Becky's hilarious schemes to pay back her debts are as endearing as they are desperate. Her "confessions" are the perfect pick-me-up when life is hanging in the (bank) balance.

However, the movie was not a total let down at all, on the contrary. I thought (well, perhaps I am biased), it was totally hilarious, fun, wacky, feel good, my kinda of movie and it managed to capture the very essence of Becky Bloomwood the shopaholic, the very bit of the character in the Shopaholic series into real life. Isla Fischer played the part really well. I'm glad they didn't cast that girl Anne Hathaway of the Princess Diaries as Becky B, her wide eyes would be just sooo wrong for it, I think. No, Isla was perfect. Great movie! Lots of funny moments, not just funny it makes you smile moments but funny it makes you L-O-L funny. Honestly! I am not just saying it, hey, come on, I went with my husband, this is SO not his type of movie (in fact I don't think he appreciates me saying that he enjoyed the movie for everyone to see, ha!ha!), and yet he did laugh his head off at the right moments, that's a good sign, ok. Take my word for it! So, all you Shopaholic Readers out there, don't miss this movie. In fact I have a strong feeling, or rather I have a strong hope that there would be a sequel soon. Can't wait!