This is the best birthday ever. No money could buy this birthday present. It’s not just the gold and bronze medals, but also the feeling associated to it, the kind gestures (generosity) I’ve received this past week itself. The feeling was overwhelming in a way I really cannot summarize in one line.

When I first heard that Josiah won gold, I was jumping up and down. I shouted and the whole of Melburnian Apartment (was at a friend’s house) could possibly hear me. When I left, I “trammed” it home and on the tram itself, I was elated, announcing to Esther on the phone that Josiah had indeed won gold! I was screeching at the top of my voice, created many stares, but that feeling was like as if I really wanted every single person on the tram to know that my husband had won gold. I was smiling to myself. Some men probably thought I was flirting with them with my wide smile that couldn’t leave my face. I was beaming with happiness and it really came from the heart. Josiah had won before, but it had been a while since he did, for a major competition like this and what more – gold.

When I went home, my Facebook and Twitter went beserk. I had re-tweeted every single comment about Josiah Ng. I had congratulatory notes from everywhere, I finally lost track responding to them by clicking “like”. Moreover, my Facebook had been bombarded with Happy Birthday messages from previous day – about 300 wall posts. It was indeed an overwhelming week.

At work the next day, honestly I could not concentrate that well. It was as if little gremlins had invaded my heart and eventually tickling my throat making me want to laugh aloud while I tried to hold my composure. I received hugs at work with “Omg, he’s amazing!” and confirmation of some positive energy. His win became a case study for my colleagues and I of how we can achieve the same effect and apply it to our daily lives with the right focus and mindset.

I was already starting to think all sorts, if I have been doing the right thing all these while, like imagine if I were to sleep earlier, a medal at the London Olympics 2012 might not be too far away, because it takes alot of discipline to be able to stand on the podium. Winners aren’t just lucky. They strive to be where they are and that is why I think it is just so heart-warming to know and for me to admire such a beautiful person, my husband. I’m not saying this because he is my husband but if you say I’m star-struck, then yes you are indeed right. I’ve got to be star-struck to want to be with him.

I was dining alone on Thursday night before my pole class and over-ate feeling really bloated and impossible to spin, I found myself in tears during the cool-down section when Kennetta played some emotional song at the end of my session. It was a Thursday night and earlier in that class, she announced Josiah’s win and my pole-friends had all congratulated me. I was riding on my husband’s glory, and I was glad to be a part of it.

On the way back to the tram stop, I walked through a bar on Chapel St. Some guys saw me from afar smiling away to myself and in their most Aussie slang, called out to me, “Hey, smiley day isn’t it today?” I stopped, turned towards the four men having beer and said in confidence, “My husband won gold at the Commonwealth Games.” They continued asking what event with their jaws dropped and I replied in summary before walking off feeling really good. Their attempt to tease me had turned into a very “as-a-matter-of-fact” statement.

The following day, I was still smiling on the way to work, but the hype had died down a little. I overcame my feeling of suddenly laughing, crying, being teary-eyed and smiling like a mad woman. I was a little more “normal” than usual but had already thought of something new to welcome Josiah home on Saturday night. Josiah skipped the closing ceremony and he was there purely to race and not even go sightseeing.

The night before at pole, I went to buy some cardboards and coloured orange and black paper to do up some placards. My birthday dinner was planned for 8pm at Cafe Rosco, I pushed it a little earlier to 7pm. I initiated for my friends to go to the airport to surprise Josiah by welcoming him a congratulatory note (a loud one). I was rushing through dinner and did not manage to have my birthday cake at the restaurant. We reached the airport by 9.30pm for his 9pm arrival but by the time he got out of the arrival gate, it was 10.15pm.

Josiah was absolutely surprised but it was really well-deserved.

This was truly a Gold birthday for me! Ivan would say that I’m repeating myself that Kim = Gold, but hehehe… it was indeed a gold birthday, firstly with friends allowing me to stay to watch Josiah’s race, then coming to my birthday party, accomodating my invitation to the airport, holding up my placards for me, driving us there, coming to party with us, congratulatory notes, photo-taking, and so much more! And, nobody heaved a sigh at all. Thank you dear friends who put up with the diva-ness in me during the last few days.

Today, life is back to normal, because Josiah is busy preparing for Asian Games in Guangzhou, China from 21-23 November 2010. He already started his training session today (Monday). We allow for ourselves to indulge in this current celebratory hype, and yet we also remember that it is really easy to be complacent. Now, life is back to normal as I work a 9-5pm job in a digital company and on weekends still as a waitress. What’s changed? Josiah has a better portfolio and oh, more orders on our gloves website at 5bling.com.

Just do it!

My 2-hour job on Josiah’s congratulations placard. It was a long Saturday!

Dinner at night. My birthday celebration turned into “Congratulations Josiah” just before we left rushed to the airport.

My amazing ladies; Anita, Liz, Esther, myself, Celestie and Rachel.

Outside Cafe Rosco together with the ladies and the guys; Ivan, Henry and Craig.

Esther my designated voluntary photographer has the most endless legs ever, as she stood there trying to capture Josiah’s first reactions. Thank you babe muahhh!

Josiah looking so tired here after a long journey on transit in Bangkok. He was totally unprepared, otherwise he would have gelled his hair!

Diana, Aeyshah and Joshua came to support too!

Together with Matt whose eyes looked abit teary in this photo.

With Liz.

I promise to do a better one next time, but thought maybe I could re-use this next time you see. “Josiah Well Done”, “Josiah Done Well”.

Andrew and Jess.

Josiah’s team-mates; Mohd Edrus, Rizal Tisin (team-sprint team-mate bronze medalist and silver medalist in 1km time trial), John Beasley his lovely coach who has brought the team to where it is today.

My birthday cake – long story. Josiah ordered from Brunetti’s on Swanston St for it to be delivered to my office on my birthday so I could share with my colleagues. It didn’t arrive at all! Josiah was really upset about it (the day before his race) and I had to go check with the manager the following day. The cake was just sitting in the refrigerator and the manager refunded $47.00 to me as well as the cake after apologising profusely. I felt okay because I am not a fan of birthday celebrations and maybe because Josiah had won me a gold, this was minor but till this day, he is still a little bummed about this incident. He is such a perfectionist, he wanted to surprise me and that surprise feeling apparently could not be replaced. He still wants to go into Brunetti’s to ask them about it but I said that it’s really okay. So sweet of him.

Celebration after the airport arrival. He was tired, but he was high on his win, so he had all the energy to party at Bass Lounge!

DJ Chris Ooi also made a congratulatory announcement that night.

Rani, myself in Josiah’s gold medal (actually looked like a promoter girl with a lanyard!), Kerri and Jessica.

Esther, David, Ray Zhang, Mauricio and Ivan.

Henry, Rachel, Josiah and Esther.

The lovely couple.

And the sweet girl always there for me regardless.

My birthday mascot for the night – Mr. Moo Ah Kau.

Ray, Mauricio and Josiah.

The chicks digged it! L-R: Lina, Josiah, Lisa, Kathryn and Carrie.

And more chicks that night, they looked really hot! From this point onwards, our photos just got weirder.

This photo below is too funny, really. Uhmm….

No names because I don’t remember, to be honest, but they look great.

I was drunk at the end of the night after brushing my teeth and removing my make-up and contact lenses. Josiah didn’t drink too much because he said he was still preparing for Asian Games.

As I was suffering from a hangover the following day, Josiah made me his famous omelette just before he spent his Sunday afternoon replying to every single congratulatory comment on his Facebook.

I felt loved. What more could I ask for my birthday? Josiah would get me the moon. Okay, can I now demand for another gold medal at the Asian Games please?

Back to everyday life now, but lo and behold – I just want to wear my Delhi medalist scarf around town for a bit if you don’t mind. If you see an Asian girl walking in the CBD area in a Delhi scarf, that would be me thank you.

Thank you for reading this and for putting up with my overwhelming expression of happiness. I promise more normal posts soon.

Thank you everyone who has been a part of Josiah’s win – you know who you are. We will continue to work harder because Josiah’s time is not up yet, this is his peak!