My Jie-jie’s wedding in 08 Feb 04

This was a photo of me and my jie-jie during her wedding. She just had her make-up and hair-do done and everybody was queuing up to take photos with her. There is a saying that a lady looks prettiest on her day of her wedding. Though true, I believe that ladies (plus everybody) look best as long as she smiles. But, sad to say, because the society’s pace is so fast, all men and women forgot how to smile.
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My jie-jie and me. So happy for her!!! 😀
The solemnisation was held in Fullerton Hotel’s Jade restaurant. A table costs at least $1,300!!!It was held just before the wedding lunch. My cousin-in-law is a Japanese. Very courteous, well-mannered and has very good up-bringing. A role model for all husband-to-be including me. I remembered my jie-jjie told me her hubby cupped his hands to contain her vomit when she suddenly vomitted while resting on bed becuase she was unwell. I doubt not many husbands can do this. I’m sure her husband loves her very much!!!
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This is the solemnisation and the decor of the table is done with rose petals

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Yeah…now they are officially husband and wife and it had been 2 years plus.

You marry the adult; You marry the family too

Many people say marriage is two people’s business. What matter most is both of you are happy and be there for each other.
I believe that the marriage is more than two people’s business; it is two families’ business!
The reason that the older folks give for intervening in two people’s business is “for your own good.” They just tell you “they leave the decision entirely to you” but “hoping that you will follow their decision”. Soon, the business will grow from two people to two families.
Hmmmm…I’m just wondering how many of you feel the same way as I do while you are reading this post?
Before food tasting, the older folks tell you they are there to give support and enjoy themselves. Then, when it came to deciding what the final menu is, some of the older folks will give their opinions. And they will tell you 100 “No”s why some of the food you have chosen is the wrong one. Some don’t say in front of everyone. Some leave it till they reach home and they tell the child. Then the child becomes the messenger between two families.
As for me, there are times I have to screen and filter the messages from my own family. If not, the preparation can’t move on. I’m more task-focused. “Ok, let’s make up our mind and move on. No point discussing this food matter for 2 weeks. There are still so much things to worry about and to plan. Anyway, we won’t get to eat on that day.”
My gut feeling is this is just a start: meeting both families’ expectations and the children being used as messengers. I think the key is to have lots of communication plus support within the couple themselves. And constantly reminding themselves, “let’s focus on the issues; none of them is to be blame. And they still love each other very much.”

“Life being married” and other poems by guest blogger – Phyllis

Hey…today’s GUEST blogger is my friend Phyllis and this post is from her:

–.:Life being married:.–

I used to think I would be alone all my life
Who am I kidding?
As from the moment I was born
My life is already shared among those around me
My parents, my sister and brother
My relations and friends?

I used to think my love is the same for all dear to me
Who am I kidding?
As from the moment I fell in love
My life had already evolved
My family includes his family and vice versa
My space has became our joint space

I used to think in laws are difficult to get along
Who am I kidding?
As from the moment I become their son?s wife
My in laws became my parents
My position in his family is by his side
My new mission in life is to be a dutiful wife

I used to think that it is very crowded to share a bed
Who am I kidding?
As from the moment we become man and wife
My side of the bed is often empty, as it is his side that is crowded
My comfort is when I feel the warmth of his body
My lullaby is when I hear his breathing

I used to think that it is tough to make it on our own
Who am I kidding?
As from the moment we took our vows
My life is no longer mine alone
My husband and I now possess the power of 2
My happiness is his and ours to make

I used to think that life is tough
Who am I kidding?
As from the moment I said ? I do
My life is no longer the same as when I am single
My fears and my woes are no longer mine alone
My everyday is exciting from the moment I open my eyes

– to my husband whom I love with all my heart and share my life with J

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here’s another poem that i wrote abt commitment 🙂rose.jpg?

C are for The One you love… 🙂
O pportunities for true love,
M ay happen only once,
M aybe, not at all in this life !
I love thee…
T hough we may not be,
M ost compatible,
E motions draw us close…
N atural instincts and fate,
T ie us together ?n? hopefully all our life…

Food tasting

Click here to download the pdf file for this post

“WARNING: DO NOT VIEW THIS POST WHEN YOU FEEL HUNGRY!!!”

We went for our food tasting today. A table for ten people was arranged in a function room specially reserved for us. And we had a waitress allocated to serve us and to explain to us the food we were eating. I’m not used to the classy environment and for a moment, I felt “wow”.

We even had to fill up an evaluation form to rate the dishes and give our comments.

Here is the menu for tonight: Enjoy!!! :p “Hope it won’t make you hungry!”

1. Cold & Hot Platter- Roast Duck, Prawn salad, Japanese Octopus, Pacific Clams, Top Shell

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Comment: The chicken is too salty and we requested it to be changed to suckling pig. The octopus would be just nice if less salty.

2. Shark’s fin soup with crabmeat and conpoy

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Comment: Wow…it was really dense and so concentrated with shark fins…so dense that I could hardly stir…but then hor…is it like that for food tasting so we will be impressed and the quantity will differ on the actual day?

3. Cispy Pi-pa duck

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Comment: The skin was really crispy and you can let it be crunched in your mouth. :p A bit salty though but the decor was nicely done.

4. Mixed mushrooms wrapped with beancurd skin in bamboo pith

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Comment: I love it especially the beancurd skin.

5. Stir-fried prawns with apple mayonnaise

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Comment: The apples were cut too big and taste sour…”yucks”…mismatch with the prawns…maybe mango will be better. The “you tiao” is abit extra.

6. Stir-fried fresh scallops with celery in xo sauce

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Comment: The scallops were fresh and delicious and soft. Very good!!! 😀

7. Garoupa, deep fried with thai sauce

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Comment: The chilli is too hot for poor me who can’t eat chilli at all and I got choked by the chilli bits till my eyes were teary. We changed it to garoupa steamed with supreme black sauce.

8. Braised ee-fu noodles with crabmeat and chives

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Comment: By now, my stomach was very bloated and I couldn’t eat anymore. Okie, can we ta-bao back?…we only asked for half-a-bowl serving of noodles but to me, still alot. Later must walk home lor.

9. Chilled sweetcorn with water chestnut

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?Comment: Am I eatting starch or what? Very viscous…but I like to bite the crunchy chestnut bits. We change the dish to Yam Paste with ginko nuts.
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The food tasting lasted for about 2 hours and it was very fulfilling for the mind and the stomach. Really enjoyed the companion and thank you to both parents, relatives and friends who came. We had a great time!!! Now, time to sleep!!!

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Butterfly Effect

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There is a definition of “The Butterfly Effect” from a book by Ian Stewart:”The flapping of a single butterfly’s wing today produces…a tornado that would have devastated the coast…”
Very simple, it means small changes can have a dramatic effect or outcome over time. What does it got to do with relationship and marriages?
One small action, gesture, smile, kiss…any subtle body languagecan be interpreted differently by you and your partner and it can change the thought which will lead to different feelings…and to certain behaviour…and to certain outcomes.
For example, the husband had a bad day and might be recalling the day’s bad experiences in his mind. The wife was preparing the dinner and had been spending the whole day marketing and preparing the ingredients. A lot of effort was put in. The husband, having no appetite (as a result of the stresses from work) told the wife he doesn’t feel like eating. The wife felt not appreciated and become frustrated and started to quarrel with the husband.
Many times, little misunderstandings like this were not settled within that same day and the negative feeling become pent-up emotions which were eventually brought to surface in future conflicts. Today’s unsettled issues are used as future ammos for arguments.
What I want to say is disagreements are common in a relationships because both were brought up differently over the years and have different values, opinions, beliefs and so on. These leads to different perceptions of similar events.
The key to resolve conflicts is communication between both parties, with both parties taking their turns to speak out their thoughts and feelings and the other to listen with their heart, not just with the ear. Able to resolve present issues will save lots of future challenges in the relationship.