Whirlwind Weekend in Singapore

Had an absolutely fabulous, wonderful, great, superb and everything nice weekend in Spore. Attended Sharon's wedding. She's a great friend. She was probably my best friend while I was working in Woodlands Primary School. Sharon, I have to say, is the opposite of me. She's calm, collected, patient, cool headed, everything that's opposite of me. When I used to work with her, she calms me down and reminds me to reflect before shooting off my mouth. She was almost my rock that pulls me back to earth! When I left Woodlands, she was the person that I missed most. When Sharon met Kenneth, I was overjoyed. I was so glad that Kenneth met someone that just as nice as her. Seriously, Sharon has no mean bone in her, don't think she'll even kill an ant! That's why, she's the opposite of me.

When Sharon broke the news to me that she was getting married. I was beyond being elated! To me, come snow, hail, typhoon, cyclone or whatever, I'll make sure that I'll be there. But as time came close to her wedding, things started happening but well, God made sure things will turn out well that I'll be at her wedding. Praise God!

Sharon getting ready. On Friday before I left Hong Kong, Sharon reminded me not to be late. When I arrived in Spore, I had supper with Lina and when I got to the hotel room, I was excited that I couldn't sleep and at the same time, I was worried that I might oversleep. Anyway, I woke up before the alarm rang and made it early, way before the appointed time.

Kenneth, the dashing groom arrived right on time. Isn't he handsome? Kenneth unveiling Sharon.

Small Faith meets Big Faith. This is Faith, Sharon's twin sister, Karen's baby.
Flowergirl's basket, hand bouquet and rings on the pillow.

Sharon, Kenneth and the both dads. The service was so meaningful, touching and it was absolutely wonderful. Sitting through the service reminded me so much of my wedding vows with Babe. It was a shame that Babe couldn't make it to come with me.

A reunion of ex-colleagues. This was the group that I used to hang out with. Except for Juliet, she's retired from teaching. Miss Yati, Zali and Mazzy, we used to go clubbing all the time. Had so much fun. Doreen was another teacher that I used to spend lots of time with. Two years ago, she invited me to witness her wedding too. I really miss these people that I used to work with.

Sharon had wedding dinner on Sunday night. I stayed in the suite three floors below her. I went to her suite before dinner started. Helped her get ready as well.

These are the ladies that I used to work with. Used to go clubbing with them as well. Well, we have since retired our dancing shoes. Veron and Soo Leng have kids and Jing has one on the way. I really miss these ladies.
Veron and her Ashton. Well, I guess little Ashton must really love me!

It was great catching up with everyone from WDP. It was like a reunion for some of us. Sharon, I'm so glad to have made it for your wedding and to be part of it. I couldn't ask for more. It was one of the highlights of my year. Sharon, I really enjoyed every moment of your wedding. Thanks for also making time for me despite of your busy wedding schedule. I feel really touched that you made the effort to sit down and chat with me in the midst of all the craziness. It was such a beautiful wedding! Love you, girl! Take care! And I'll see you real soon again!

Thanksgiving

The wonderful thing about being in HK is meeting friends from different cultures. Last night I had Thanksgiving dinner with Kim and David. It was my second Thanksgiving dinner. Had one with the Carlsons last year. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to remind myself to be thankful for the bountiful blessings that God has showered upon me. I admit that I get caught up with my life and I forget to thank God for heaps that He has provided for me.

Yesterday was pretty apt as I met Michelle Pang online. I've known for a long time, almost forever. But we somewhat lost touch as we got older but at Stan's wedding, we reconnected. We started chatting and it was very encouraging to know that we're not alone in life's journey. Michelle, will pray for you and thanks for your wonderful encouragement too.

Today is also our wedding anniversary. It's our 5th! Ya! Thank God that we survived this far. God has been great and good to us. Everyday, I'm thankful that I married my best friend. A marriage is never easy but with the help of God, we are taking this life journey together hand in hand. Babe, love you heaps!!!!

Tomorrow, it's Sharon's wedding. I am really excited for her. And it's especially special as her wedding is so close to our anniversary. Can't wait!

My Best Friend's Wedding

There's no one at work this morning except for me and another teacher. The teachers went out for a professional development class and since it's conducted in Chinese, I get to sit at my desk and blog. Not really, I've got stuff to do but I'm just procrastinating away. Anyway, I started listening to the sound track of My Best Friend's Wedding which is actually one of my favorite CDs. Then it hit me, next Sat, another of my best friend is getting married! Sharon, I love Sharon, probably one of the sweetest person on earth.

Okay, people must be thinking, gee, how many best friends do you have? Let me count, I've got Babe, Eve, Lina, Stanley and Sharon. I know, best friend is meant to be one but I guess my ultimate best friend is Babe and then the rest of my best friends will follow. When I look at myself, I count myself fortunate that I've got quite a number of best friends. But at the same time, it can be hard not being near my best friends. I'm glad I made it to 3 of my best friends' weddings and all my best friends were at my wedding. And the only one left out, is Eve. Rain, shine, snow, hail or whatever, I'll be there for her wedding as well.

When Stanley broke news to me that he proposed to Dorcas, the first thing I said to him, please tell me way in advance when is your wedding, we want to be there. So he did and we were there. It was a little easier with Stan's wedding because I was on summer holidays. Magical is all I can say about Stan's wedding. It was the same with Sharon's wedding. When she told me that Kenneth and her are planning for their big day, I told her the same thing. With her wedding, it was a little difficult as I had to plan time off from work. Praise God everything turned out well.
I can't wait to attend her wedding. So Eve, when you get married, remember to tell me way in advance.

I love weddings. Especially my best friends' weddings. It's always comforting and nice to know that they found someone to share the rest of their lives with. Almost shed a tear at Stan's wedding but with Sharon's wedding, I'm going to be strong. Well, another interesting thing about Sharon's wedding, she's getting married a day after our wedding anniversary. With weddings, it always reminds me of my wedding vows that I took with Babe. And I can't wait to hit Spore to eat again. Yes, I miss food from home, always missing Sporean food. Can't wait to see everyone again. Will see you at Sharon's wedding. It'll be a great time catching up with ex-colleagues. And I must remember to bring my camera.

Learning to Let Go

Letting go has never been a forte of mine. I actually suck at letting go. I hate letting go of my clothes, bags, shoes and my material stuff. I've got loads of things at home. I hate letting go of my material stuff and it's even harder to let go of emotions. Recently, I've been pondering over a number of things. Friendships is one of them. Over the years, I've accumulated friends. I've been thinking maybe it is time to declutter my friendship wardrobe. If there's such a thing.

Friendship wardrobe is like a clothes wardrobe. There's always a comfort piece of clothing that is always there for me and is my comfort when I feel fat and the moment I put on that piece of clothing, I feel great instantly. So that's liken to my comfort and favourite friend. That's probably Babe or Eve. Whenever I feel shit, they are there for me.

And then there is the pretty elegant dress that I wear once in a while. When I'm fat, it points out my flaws and not accept it, and when I lose weight, it makes me look great. This is the superficial friend that I've accumulated. Met plenty of these people in my life. Whenever I declutter my wardrobe, that sort of dresses always go out first and that's the same with my friendship wardrobe now. Why keep them in my wardrobe, they are just taking up space and my time? Have better things to do with that space and time.

So, this is what I've resolved to do. Declutter! I'm going only to make time for people that I deem is worth my friendship wardrobe. People who are superficial and not worth, well, sorry buddies, I've got better things to do. I'd rather spend time with my family than to ask them out for dinner, makes me feel stupid always trying to fit them into my life when clearly they have no time to fit me into their lives! This is even more so now that I've realised like what some of my friends mentioned, I've wasted time on people that clearly didn't deserve my time. And most of my friends, yes, you are in my friendship wardrobe! I love you and you know who you are!

Ironies In Life

So yesterday on CNA, Sandra Yeow and Kevin Lee won the Subaru Challenge and good for them that each gets a car. And each of them spent more than 70 hours with a hand stuck on the car. Well, good for them!

Walking to work and today, something gnawed at the back of my head. So much time wasted just for a car. This was also Sandra Yeow's third attempt. I wonder if all the time is worth it. Maybe for the winner, it was worth the time. But what about the losers? Sorry, no pun intended. Would these same people who placed their hands on the cars, place hands on packets of rice or whatever to raise money for charity? Have people, including me, turn into people chasing after material stuff without looking inside?

I know, I sound like a hypocrite now. Yes, I know. Sure, I'm one of these people chasing after frivolous crap in my life. I love designer bags, shoes, watches, clothes and loads more. When I moved to HK and cleared my flat, I realised how much stuff I accumulated and some of the stuff, I still had price tags on it. Yesterday and today got me thinking of my life. I have some much for myself and what do I give back to God and the society and to charity? Am I returning myself back, just a little portion of my life?

I don't think I'll be able to give up everything and lead a simple life but maybe it's time to look inside of me and ask myself if all these material things in life will make me a better person.

Friends and life in a Transient Life

Life is a transient life can be full of ups and downs or exciting if you look at it from another point of view. Everyday brings a new experience and everyday is a new day from yesterday. Gee...that sounds so cliche.

Let's talk about friendships. Friendships in a transient life is very random. One can never ever know if over dinner, lunch or coffee, that friendship can be cemented and it can last. I met Eve at uni. I would probably say that it was very random that we met. So random that I don't really know how we met and the friendship cemented over lots of dinners, lunches and coffees in uni. We used to walk out of lectures when it gotten so boring. But over time, the friendship lasted and hopefully, I'll never lose her a friend. And there's Susan, that I met at grad school, didn't think that the friendship will last but it did.

In Hong Kong, it's the same. But like what Marina says, sometimes we spent time getting to know the wrong people and then we realise that damn.....a year wasted on that person....what a bloody waste! And Carmen also mentioned that in a transient life, we make friends and expect to have an express friendship building. Friendships that take 5 years to build up, we expect to build it in 3 months. I always have problems with making friends. I always see the niceness of everyone and Babe calls me a naive person and when the friends do not turn out what I expect, my heart gets broken. But does that stop me from making friends? No, it doesn't. To me, it's another experience for me to collect.

This weekend, we had an unexpected guest again. Kum Hoong, Babe's cousin popped by in HK again. We had dinners with him. Very glad that we had dinner with him. Ate way too much with him. We shared with him our intentions to adopt and he was very open and supportive about it. I am very thankful that he didn't judge or ask us why but rather accepted our decision. It's always comforting to find support in family. We are still praying for the adoption and for God's direction and guidance.