First Chinese New Year as a wife!

Tian asked me how it felt today, on the first CNY being WW's wife. Actually I have been thinking about this question all day too. Perhaps it's me being comfortable with WW's family, or perhaps it's coz these days I don't feel as much anymore, I thought it's quite a normal CNY day.

In past few days, I would look forward to CNY as it brought along more time spent with the family as well as a break from work. This year, I still can't figure out if I had been looking forward to the lunar new year. To me, it really doesn't matter anymore. I don't read the horoscope predictions anymore, I don't bother counting down and don't even reply to CNY smses except if they are from a close friend.

Perhaps MFE has made me a cold-hearted person. Maybe I have changed. Or perhaps I have been neglecting myself and refusing to listen to my heart.

Despite all, I'm grateful to have WW beside me and showing his care for me (through the little actions). It hasn't been a smooth day today, having to deal with headaches, back pains and aches, heartpain from missing my family.

WW's family at 光明山庙 this morning
Us with my in-laws
My new mama & papa
Me and WW

WW's younger sis and his mama
WP and Zining at Grandma's house later in the evening
WW tied a red ribbon round Summer's neck, making her look like a X'mas present!


Lovely little Summer

家的感觉

Keke, gotta thank HC for renting me his car from Mon-Thu. Now I have the chance to come back niang jia (old home) and spend my time with parents or just do my assignments in my room. The feeling's different - I don't have to be too concerned about how PILs think and I can enjoy a little more freedom.

Life's been good so far. I got back some free time after our wedding since it's only the second week of school. This time I'm a little slacker, taking three modules instead of the usual four. But these days I keep thinking about the soon-coming time when I have to report back to work, although it is some half a year away.

Anyway, play to our heart's content in the coming CNY period first!

Wedding photos - from Shou Bi's album

The day before the Big Day

Am feeling excited! And now I think it's a good thing we've gone through our ROM as it has prepped us on what is to come.

Through the wedding preps, both WW and I have gotten to know of the customary traditions and what each of them means. For me, the facials, beauty treatments and special hair treatments exposed me to a wider spectrum of a woman's world - beauty. I didn't used to believe in facials and the like, thinking being natural is the most beautiful. But after going for facials in preparation for the Big Day, I realised it could be such a pamper to both my soul and skin. (Except that it's straining my pockets.) It's true that there are some things which once you start on, you can't stop.

I have gotten used to people calling my English name, which I use consistently in dealing with the wedding vendors and service providers. Some may find it hard to pronounce or spell initially, but they will get it right after a while. (No, I don't have a modern and complicated English name; it's actually just a simple five-letter word.)

I have also seen the other side of WW - the serious boss who makes the most practical decisions and challenge people on their stand. It can be quite pressurising working with him; perhaps because I want to be perfect in his eyes. We can be very efficient workers together - partly because he is likely to do things last minute thus we really have to be fast!

With tomorrow, new and more beautiful things and changes will come.

And I'm going to sleep early now to embrace them :)

过大礼 - 28 December 2008

It's the turn of the year but honestly speaking, I'm quite indifferent to such occasions now. It's not that I don't envision a better 2009, but some things you can never predict (like the economy) and it could be better to go with the flow. Make full use of every opportunity rather than carry with yourself a baggage of expectations which at the end of the day may not be fulfilled.

2008 has seen me through many changes - from my decision to enrol in MFE in Feb, then our ROM in June, then my taking of leave to take up the full-time MFE from July and the busy wedding preparations in December. It has indeed been enriching and fulfilling. And 2009 will be an extension of that, plus the actual living together with WW after our customary two days later. Compared to the times before WW flew to Aussie for work in late Sep, things are much more settled now and I feel comfortable living together with him and his family.

WW's family and mine did the 过大礼 last Sunday, with both families exchanging betrothal gifts. Let the pictures below explain the process:

Washing basins, wooden clogs, sewing kits and toothbrushes. These were part of the gifts from the bride's family to the groom's.

My bro placing our side's betrothal gifts into the basket from the 男方. We were supposed to return gifts.
Mama & Papa helping out in the packing
WW brought along his sister and his aunt, who acted as the 媒婆. Fluffy merrily joined in the fun.
WW showing the 四点金. Modern gold pieces which I will be wearing out.
Sesame candy bars

Reaching for my Happiness
The Wong siblings :)


Two more days to customary, banquet and lunch reception (the day after). Then off to Bali for 4D3N honeymoon!

Random

I'm in the midst of exam period, with the first paper of this mini-term down three hours ago. And with my heart dismayed by many degrees. I flunked a huge part of a 25-marks question while it was supposed to be an easy paper! All those late nights made me more stupid. So I resolved to sleep early and if need be, to wake up earlier to study instead. After talking to WW on the phone, I felt better and felt I shouldn't think too much about that paper. Two more to go!

Come Friday night I'll be free! At least for the next three weeks, where we'll be taking our much-deserved break. All those 4.5 months of cheong-ing have been pretty tiring on our mind and soul.

Some pictures taken in the past two weeks below:

Summer in my arms. She's not quite used to people carrying her, but so far she's been quite guai in my hands.
Bak Kut Teh dinner with WW along Joo Chiat road. Good stuff!

WW says only black-soup bak kut teh tastes good.
WW the Happy :)

Bliss

Looking up into the sky, imprinting the fine intricate outline of each leaf and each crown onto the murky-white sky canvas, breathing in the air of freedom, looping the current favourite song in my ears. What a beautiful moment to relish. A moment worth the stop of time.

Wedding Preps

On Sunday WW and his mum accompanied me to Chinatown Middle St to get 过大礼 items for our wedding. Not knowing exactly what is needed, we went ahead with the shopkeeper's recommendation and bought all the potty, basin, bedside lamps and stuff. There was a part during the choosing of the fan (扇子) that got me quite irritated. Being the overly-considerate me, I was listening out for both WW's and his mum's opinions on which color to choose - gold or maroon - that led to some indecisiveness. When I chose maroon, I heard WW's mama said gold and I thought to myself "who's the one supposed to hold these fans on the wedding day?". So, you have to make some decisions by yourself and stand by it.

However, I do appreciate that they got me along in buying 四点金 after getting the 过大礼 items. WW's mama let me choose the jewellery I like and WW gave good recommendations based on his solid judgment. WW's mama got me a set of modern gold jewellery set which I can wear out on usual days. Happy!

With just one month to the wedding, things definitely need to be stepped up and any advance preparations wrapped up. I can feel the excitement seeping in already!

I.Want.This