This is really something that happened more than a year ago, but I thought I should finally blog it! Due to a combination of laziness and busy-ness, I never really got around to writing about my wedding. But over a year later, the joys of the day suddenly came back to me, and I decided to revisit all the photos taken on that day. Now only did I realise that in my haziness, i never sent any of the photos to my beloved friends :D
I never slept the night before I registered my marriage. It was really something to think about. One day I was single, and the next, no more...
Lucky for me, I had Marilyn, Shirley and Guoy who made sure I didn't put on my Nike shoes and do a "Runaway Bride" on YC. On the day of my registration, I had eyes of a PANDA. Nevertheless, I put on my best cheongsam (Chinese Dress) made of french lace and did my hair up using an Evita Peroni pin. Daddy was up by4am, and had showered by 5am. Breakfast was bought at 6am from the market. We had a light breakfast since I couldn't eat much due to nerves.
Daddy and I in the front porch - his tie is colour-coordinated with my dress!When I got to the St. Francis Xavier church, YC and his family were already there and waiting.
YC and I with his family - for some reason, his sis and mom has matching blousesAnyway, we entered the office where the Commissioner of Marriage - or whatever his job title is- was waiting. He works very slowly and carefully...
We took our vows...(to be honest, i was quite nervous when taking the vows...hehehe)
I thought ladies always went first, but it seems, the man gets to sign the marriage certificate first :( MALE CHAUVINISM!!!
We are now officially husband and wife - that is, after the Commissioner signs the document.
So we all had to wait while the guy (the one with the shiny head) checked all the signatures and identity cards. Meanwhile, Shirley was falling asleep...HAHAHA
OK, now we're officially married. At least in the eyes of the law!
I was really happy to have my Kai Ma there with me. She really is very important in my life. She's always there for all the pinnacles of my achievements and joys, and very supportive when I am down. She's a beautiful woman and a wonderful person to have! I feel so blessed!
Me and my new family. Yes, I was moving in with them! OMG OMG. Actually today, we already have our own home. But when we just got marriedm, we had stayed with them for more than half a year!
My very supportive friends. For some reason, Marily and I are always seen in pink?
Yey, the big tree!!
Anyway, that's it for my registration. It wasn't too scary. We had breakfast in delifrance after that. Of course, I can't remember what I ate exactly. Maybe Marilyn would know? Did anyone take any pictures?
Transforming a House into a Home Episode 1: From a Balcony to a Floating Room
4 comments Published by Mel on Monday, July 07, 2008 at 10:43 AMI have always liked to work on big projects slowly. It gives me time to plan, optimise my choices (Cost vs. Practicality vs. Aesthetics), decorate and ENJOY.
I never did like having balconies in the house because I am too lazy to clean anything outdoors. That would explain why my front porch is in a pathetic condition...I have not cleaned it since I moved in!!! Oh well, it can't be helped, we have a BIG porch. It's just too much trouble to clean! I figured I would start cleaning it once we get to decorating the porch. Anyway, having a balcony is a tropical country is not too wise because 90% of the time it is too damn hot to sit in the balcony during the day. And at nights if you sit there, the chances of getting bitten by a gazillion mosquitoes is 100%.
Hence, we transformed our balcony to a meditation/tea room. We call it the "Floating Room" simply because it "floats" over the garden.
I never did like having balconies in the house because I am too lazy to clean anything outdoors. That would explain why my front porch is in a pathetic condition...I have not cleaned it since I moved in!!! Oh well, it can't be helped, we have a BIG porch. It's just too much trouble to clean! I figured I would start cleaning it once we get to decorating the porch. Anyway, having a balcony is a tropical country is not too wise because 90% of the time it is too damn hot to sit in the balcony during the day. And at nights if you sit there, the chances of getting bitten by a gazillion mosquitoes is 100%.
Hence, we transformed our balcony to a meditation/tea room. We call it the "Floating Room" simply because it "floats" over the garden.
What started out as a Balcony with a View...
...became an enclosed room with a full frontal view of the 4 acre park
Sliding doors were removed and replaced with a carved wooden frame. A Bamboo mat covers the cold tiles and lace curtains frame the room
A carved teak table, white Zen stones, 3 bamboo vases, floor cushions and table decor transforms the simple room into a relaxation area that can be used for meditation, reading or simply enjoying a cup of tea
With a small bamboo table, scented candles and a bible, the Floating Room also serves as a prayer room
Cost:
1. Walls on left and right side of the balcony, windows and grills, paint~ 1800
2. Removing sliding door and replacing with carved wooden frame ~ 800
3. Bamboo mat ~ 100
4. Carved teak table ~ 300
5. Cushions. bamboo vases flowers ~ 40
6. White Zen stones ~ 45
7. Bomboo table and scented candles ~ 75
8. Lace curtains and curtain rail ~ 40
Total Cost : $3200
And this, my friends, is the first episode of Transforming a House into a Home. Stay tuned for more miraculous transformations...
Finally the Spring Festival aka Chinese New Year is over. We had 15 days of eating and eating, and now I really feel sick.
It's really no joke. I had big dinner and lunches almost everyday for 2 weeks...a far cry from my normal diet of tofu, cabbage, lettuce and 2 pieces of chicken. I can't even stand up any more. I have gained 3 pounds...
I'm so tired of eating. The worse one was the Feb 13-16 stretch. It was my Mother's birthday on Feb 13, and we took her out for western meal (since she wanted steak). We ended up eating really too much for our own good. Then Feb 14, we had a 4 course vegetarian Val's day meal: starting with fruit cocktail with honey lemon and berrys, multi-grain cream soup, vegetarian spagetti and mocha almond fudge with Hershey's syrup and FRESH cherries. I cooked, of course :) and the cherries were obsolutely delicious! It was my first time eating cherries and I relaly enjoyed them :) Can't wait for next season ^.^
Feb 15 was my niece's birthday, and we travelled to my sister-in-law's husband's house in Cheras for her 1st birthday. We were in Melbourne this time last year when She was born, and it was nice seeing her again after a year. Anyhow, we had another huge meal that gave me indigestion that night. Feb 16 was my Mother-in-law's birthday and she hosted an open house for her relatives. I spent the morning cooking and preparing some food for the evening. We ended up with a hugeamount of leftovers (some of which are still in my freezer).
Anyhow, we had eaten more than our fair share of food for more than 2 weeks. It will be hard going back to the normal diet, but I think it is a good thing. My tummy cannot keep up with my mouth, I am afraid...
Ahhh.....almost one year...it will be one full year of marriage this Sunday. On Friday, we're going for a dinner in Sheraton. Thank Goodness that will be paid for. Otherwise, we won't be able to afford an anniversary dinner ^.^
Actually, it's quite funny. We're totally hopeless at planning our finances because we do things completely differently from each other. It's only until now, when we are both having negative income (for two months now), that we realised somehow our individual methods are not working out quite like before. I know, I know...it's obvious to anyone who's reading this that finances should be discussed thoroughly...but it's not easy to discuss it thoroughly if you don't first experience it together!!! Anyway, it's quite refreshing to have a financial plan that we both can follow through with.
So on our actual Anniversary (Sunday), I guess I'll have to cook something and light a few candlelights...perhaps I can run a bath and light a few more candles in there too....AND, staying by the lake has its advantages since we can take an evening walk and watch the sun set at the lake before dinner...makes for a rather romantic environment.
Hmm...I guess I should have enough small change to buy some roses at the market to brighten up the place also! Huzzah!!!
The ant, the grasshopper and the turtle
0 comments Published by Mel on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 3:47 PMThe grasshopper lazed around all summer, hopping and singing. When winter came, he starved to death. The ant, on the other hand, worked all summer storing food. When winter came and food was scarce, he had plenty to survive on. Yet despite the cold and forlorn weather, he went out anyway in search of more food to store up.
His life seemed filled with excitement. On a good day, he may stumble upon a huge chunk of meat left behind by a young child who didn't want to finish dinner. During that time, he will rush from his nest to the meat, and back again...and again...and again...until the meat is completely stripped and all the food is safely stored. On a bad day, he will battle the cold while sniffing the air in search for some trace of food. He may hunt up to 20 miles from his nest, fighting the danger of being stomped by a passing human or being eaten up by one of his enemies, or even accidental drowning in a puddle of melted snow. Everyday, his life is full of excitement, until he has ceased to enjoy any of the excitement. It is all boring to him in the end, all lost in the pursue of more food.
The turtle sleeps comfortably in his shell, getting up only to search for some vegetation before going back into its shell. Occasionally, he searches for a warm spot of sun to sit under, or if the weather is warm, he searches for a shady tree to hide under. He learns to live in a bit of boredom, and when it is time to search for food or water, he will embrace the excitement for a while.
To be perpetually idle would make one too bored...and when one is too bored, one is prone to destrucive activities. After all, an idle mind is a devil's workshop. Yet, to be perpetually excited would make one numb to the adventure, which is a disease that seems to afflict modern society. One would need more and more excitement to stimulate oneself, and a bit of boredom or quiet seems unbearable. Yet, all the excitement will become boring in itself, and infest itself in an unendurable ennui for life which destroys the soul of youthfulness. By understanding the law of balance and accepting that boredom, like excitement is part of natural life, excitement can be enjoyed to the fullest.
Somedays I wonder if life passes me by too quickly. And somedays I wonder if life passes me by too slowly.
The day my self-conciousness fell, it became clear that the only person who notices my comings and goings is me. Like the gnat who lands on the bulls horn, one's own importance is only evident to oneself.
I started to see life passing by in different speeds. Sometimes when watching the ambitious man work, I see him working towards a goal that never seems to be attainable. Is he driven? Probably. But is he happy? Often the answer is negative. The drive that compels him to efficiency and effectiveness pushes him to greater heights, but he is too busy looking forward to fully enjoy the sights. He is rewarded for his efforts, but he punishes himself for his success with more work.
The one who appears to enjoy life fully lives in idleness. Day by day passes into another, slowly, like a dream that never ends. Leisure shopping one afternoon fades into a workout in the gym, coffee in a hotel lounge and entertainment in the local bar. The determination to enjoy life is so strong, that one barely enjoys it at all. A life that forces itself upon enjoyment will live only to seek more enjoyment, never to be truly satisfied with the current moment nor truly be happy in their own skin.
Yet, the pursuit of happiness is not for anyone else's pleasure but one's own. It is not to show others that one is happy. Calmness and happiness is not a decision nor a concious effort to hide the dissatisfaction and burst of unnatural energy. It is a state of mind.
The only person who notices my comings and goings, failures and successes is myself. No one else really cares. Hence, there lies my happiness.
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