Happy birthday to us!

One more down

So happy! We've just booked our photographer for pre-wedding and actual day shots. Phew.. another thing off the list. This photographer was one of those recommended by the bridal shop but it was the only one that we both liked very much. Somehow when we looked at all the albums, this photographer stood out to us as being the best in terms of his style. We went down to have a chat with him (Robin) last Friday after coming back from Bali and had a feel of his packages and pricings.. thought about it over the weekend.. did try to check out some others, but they either did not reply, or were already booked on the 26/27 Jul. So on Tues evening we thought we should just go for it since we really liked his works. Went down yesterday evening to pay the deposit. So da tah!!! Happy happy! Apparently he received 2 other calls to do wedding shots on 26/27th July AFTER we called him on Tues evening but he'd already promised us so he turned them down. Sounds a bit like marketing talk but I'm not surprised if it's real because that weekend is really quite popular given that it's the last weekend before lunar 7th mth. Oh well, we're happy that we booked the photographer that we both liked. Initially we were not sure if we wanted to do the pre-wedding shots as we all know how weird it can be to be standing in positions trying to look romantic. But well... we reasoned that I will only wear the gown during this season and the album will be a good memory to keep and it's something that we will never do again (no matter how duh we look) so we should just try it and have fun!

Anyway, it's deepavali today. Time to slack. Hope my diarrhoea will stop.

Baliiii

My first trip (and kenneth's too) to Bali!!! A rather short one.. less than 4 days but it was great nevertheless. We didn't do any sea sports so it wasn't as nice as what other people had described. Spent a day doing sightseeing.. went to the monkey forest, some old palace, a nice temple, an active volcano, and Tanah Lot (temple by the sea).. and passed by some really really really nice paddy fields. Also spent some time at the beach relaxing, and a lot of time at the villa which was just awesome! Not to forget the massages and pedicures.. :-) Some pic here that were taken.

(1) The volcano in the background and other pictures at Tanah Lot



(2) Temples and some nature reserves (didnt want to go too near the monkeys..)



(3) The villa (it's fantastic -- esp the tall trees that line the driveway... really creates a sense of tranquility) and the beach nearby

Turned 25

Turned 25 last Friday.. started off suprised by Kenneth's visit at 12midnight with a cake in his hand and a birthday song!! This, by the way, was kinda like the 3rd attempt (of him trying to bring me a birthday cake over the night before) over our relationship and the 1st successful one. Long stories over how the other 2 didn't work.. but this one finally did! So sweet! Guess that just made my day. Didn't have any fancy birthday presents this year.. more practical stuff instead (one of which is my very first manicure!). Spent the rest of the day pretty much relaxed. Went for DA Carson's seminar at night on reformation.

Pictures below on the night before and friday itself. The cake was from Zenden at Gallery Hotel where I went with my mum for dinner on Thursday. And this just adds to the list of cakes I have. I have 3 cakes this yr - this one, kenneth's one, and one from my parents. Not to mention I was just finishing the tiramisu I made last week!! My fridge has nothing but cakes!! Lastly, a really sweet bouquet of flowers from my colleagues.. it was the first time I carried flowers back from work (embarassing embarassing..)! The flowers came with a card that carried 12 signatures and notes too. Thought that was one of the best things that I'd ever received! :-)

Been cooking lots

Last week has been an exciting week.
Mum and dad were not in town!!! Maid was sent home after her contract ended.. so basically I had the whole house to myself!! Was quite a task cleaning it (once in a while), watering the plants (thank God it rained on most days, saved me the job), swept the leaves once a week, washed the car, swept the leaves from the car porch, washed my clothes, spent an hour to chop up a lot of garlic yesterday, and cooked dinner almost every day! Kenneth had dinner with me every day so that was fantastic. Am amazed at myself really (ah-hem). Finishing work at 6ish 7, trodding back in the bus, arriving home and finish cooking in erm.. 45 min? Not too bad. In fact I also tried making my very first tiramisu on thursday night in preparation for the weekend. It's almost gone now.. but I'm so happy that my first tiramisu actually worked out well!! :-) And oh, if you haven't tried it. Go try it! It's SO easy. Even someone like me can make it. I think everyone else who can read can make it. Now I will never spend $5 on piece of tiramisu again!!! Check out recipes onlines.. google like "how to make tiramisu". I think that will work. Comes with steps and pictures. Cant go wrong.

After a long week.. Weekends were crazy again... cleaning up, going to the supermart etc. Man.. I miss my afternoon naps!!! Guess that was because I watched quite a bit of tv too. Anyway, decided to reward myself with my favourite belgium chocolate ice cream!! Yummy!!! It's the best thing you can have after doing some cleanup and pespiring like a tap. I just love it.. yummy yummy.

And just to share my joy once again... am going on leave next week!! Can't wait. I bet it's going to fly pass.. but work life is such. Sigh sigh... accumulated leave is so precious but just gets snapped up like that. Going to be busy still.. meeting my pastor to get started with the marriage prep course, deciding on my evening gown, having lunch with friends, going for a short hol.. and maybe make more cakes?!

Counting down!!

I don't wanna move

Was such a sad day. My colleague/ team leader who came back from maternity leave today told me that I had to move out of my desk and sit in the empty seat next to her for easier discussion. :( That was a piece of news that I guessed was on the way... but I still didn't like it.

I love my desk now. I love sitting at that spot, the people at the table. Maybe I'm better working with men. But I'll definitely miss the one who makes me (any everyone else) laugh with his witty jokes, I'll miss the one who shares cooking skills and recepies with me, I'll miss the one who looks serious but cracks stupid jokes at times, I'll miss the one who guides me in my work and talks about getting my bf drunk, and I'll miss the one who is quiet but friendly.

In this new table, there are only 4 pple so far. No nice comments to say about them so I'll just keep my mouth shut. Anyway, pastor preached last week on James 3 (the untamable tongue) so I should not say anything. But yes, you get the point. I am upset.

Well, the only consoling thing is that the weekend is coming and I have a slew of activities.

Fri night - dinner with Diane

Sat morning - clean the house
Sat afternoon - buffet lunch with uni friends at carlton
Sat night - thinking of cooking something yummy

Sun morning - church
Sun afternoon - brunch with colleagues and thier family at paulaner brauhaus at millenia walk. no suprise that it's a german place i guess.. although i only have 2 german colleagues. but well, i heard that this place is quite good for brunch. their beer is really good!
Sun afternoon - visit zarina for hari raya

Mon - back to work.. again?!?!? Oh well, it's pay day so it's not so bad. Haha.
Can't wait for 26Oct to come.. I'm on leave for 10 full working days!!! Yipppppeeeeee!!!!!

Bridesmaid dress

Janice, have you found anything in Melbourne?

Bridesmaid dresses are actually quite difficult to find (in Singapore).
Jan and I walked for about 2 hrs last week and couldnt find anything for Jun's wedding.
We have the plan as follows
1) Jan will check out Blackrose in Melbourne (where my sis made my bridesmaid dress). She took along my dress for size purposes
2) If (1) fails, option (a) Jan will ask her friend to make the dress in China (where her friend did for her bridesmaid) or option (b), Jan will leave 1 of her dresses with me and I will continue to hunt for something in Singapore

Hmm.. I think we have a good plan in place.

Well, as for my wedding.
1) confirmed 2 friends who have agreed to be MCs for dinner and chairpersons for service (1 of them is a gal whom i've known for 20 yrs)
2) confirmed more or less the design of my evening gown (can't tell you yet until my tailor/ designer actually starts working on it)
3) confirmed with my colleague that she will take outdoor photos for me
4) still looking for shoes
5) still looking for a place to stay
6) met up with Joy for dinner as we both count down to 26 Jul 08!

It's the weekend!! Yippee!!! This week's been a good week cos I bought a really cool and comfortable pair of shoes (for some reason my left foot was hurting a lot) and a really nice skirt yesterday. Happy happy!