Gambling Session

Unrelated picture but I think we look pretty. :)

Now, what is Chinese New Year without our customary gambling session? We really had fun gambling. We gambled from house to house. We win some. We lose some. All in the spirit of Chinese New Year!

From relatives house with cousins ...

To uncle's place ...


To friends' place ...





From BIG cards ...



To small cards ...



From sitting on the chair ...


To standing ...


From kneeling on the floor ...


To lying on the floor ...



Yes.. we did have fun, didn't we?


... until some won't even want to let go of their chicken wings. -__-"


Ending the Year of the Tiger with;
HUAT AR!!!!

Valentines 2010 / New Hairdo

As with the previous years, Bear sent a bouquet of roses to the office. I loved it! :) We didn't have any big Valentines' dinner but instead had a simple one and headed to Starbucks. I intend to celebrate his birthday together with Valentines next week. Taking him out for Japanese - our favorite! We are either heading to Saisaki, Jogoya, Kampachi, or Hakuzen. Well, I shall leave it for him to decide.

Just before Chinese New Year, I went to restyle my hair i.e. layered, dye, and highlight. The outcome? I LOVE IT!!! However, some people say I look la-la~fied. Sheesh! Oh not only that, I reshaped my bushy eyebrows too! :)



What do you think?

Love;
The Bride-To-Be

Of Families and Lion Dance

First day of Chinese New Year is always filled with laughter, wishes of Kong Hei Fatt Choy, angpows, family gatherings, an excruciation hot weather, and of course the lion dance.

Yes, I am blessed to be part of such a big, united, and happening family!

Wishing You;
KONG HEI FATT CHOI!!!!!

Lou ar!!! Lou ar!!!

What is Chinese New Year without the famous Yee Sang? The dish that is unique only to us Malaysians. Even before Chinese New Year has begun, me and my colleagues had lou sang for at least three times!

First stop - Oriental Pavilion Jaya 33. There were 15 of us and we had such a looongggg lunch break, we only headed back to the office at 3 pm.

Second stop - Maju Palace. A group of 10 of us went there for dim sum and soft-shell crab yee sang. The soft-shell crabs were fantastic!

Third stop - Japanese Restaurant in Old Klang Road (forgot the name). 4 of us went there to try their Japanese yee sang. So-so only.

Love;
The Bride-Who-Needs-To-Loose-Weight

Cinematography

Remember my quest to look for a second photographer back in August 2009? We ended up hiring Kok from Beautyshot Photography because we didn't want to invest too exorbitantly in a second photographer. All went well until a few months back when Kok called and said he couldn't be there on 10/10/2010 as his own brother was getting married. Well, of course it was frustrating because we have paid the deposit, hence the dates are secured isn't it? Initially, we were ok with having him only for our 09/10/2010 event as we have Wilson (from Red Bliss) to cover for Marriott on 10/10/2010 anyway. Then it was left as such.

Last few days, I was surfing the net scouting for good videographers to create a pre-wedding MV (called cinematography). I didn't have the intention to actually hire one (really!), more of kay poh~ing and seeing what is new in the wedding industry.

And voila! ... I bumped into Hanzfoto Productions, a relatively new collaboration of professional photographers and videographers. They are now offering Cinematography Packages in full HD video montages (can put our new HD TV into full use already :p). However, their cinematography package comes with actual wedding day photography AND videography. Not only that, for the actual day Hanzfoto will send TWO photographers/videographers to shoot the wedding!


The package details are as follows:
- Wedding day Photography/Cinematography coverage
- Two (2) Photographers/Cinematographers
- Ten (10) hours coverage
- Unlimited still photographs exposures in JPEG format
- Fast edit (either photos/videos)
- DVD containing all photos in original hi-resolution JPEG
- Three (3) copies of DVDs containing videos

* FREE OUTDOOR CINEMATOGRAPHY SHORT FILM.
- One (1) day outdoor shoot
- One (1) cinematic poster
- One (1) cinematic teaser
- One (1) DVD featuring the short film

PRICE = RM1,800
Note: For events that falls on different days, a surcharge of RM500 will be imposed.

I went stalked through their Facebook account and saw their portfolio. It was awesome! And the videos are fantastic! Most of all, they are willing to experiment, be artistic, and is open for suggestions. In other words, they dare to be different! And above all, they are very flexible in terms of the payment.



Needless to say I managed to convince Bear and we terminated Kok's contract and decided to hire Hanzfoto instead. We will be taking them for the 09/10/2010 event only, unless if Bear suddenly decided to hire them for both days. I have been liaising with Jay (the principal photographer) and we will be meeting up with him soon (after I have sorted out some personal matters first). Meanwhile, I had given him a short storyboard to work on the MV and a sample on how I wanted it to be done. Believe it or not, he had came up with the beginning and ending of the story already!! *shocked*

Quite excited to meet up with Jay and his team actually to further discuss on the details and to put in our deposit. Hopefully there won't be much changes. *fingers cross*

Love;
The Bride-To-Be

My Prayer

Dear Lord,

I don't know what else to do or say anymore. Sometimes I am angry at You for putting me through such trials, when I should be looking forward to my wedding in October this year. My Grandpa had left us last Friday and I am sure he is safely in Your arms.

Right now, my Popo has been warded to CCU and the diagnostics does not show too good results. Lord, I don't know why are there so many hurdles one after another. It is so overwhelming, I can't take it all in anymore.

Lord, I am not asking for much but please keep my Popo healthy. I would really want her to be at my wedding. I lost a Grandpa, now please at least let me have my Popo by my side to witness my wedding. Lord, You know how much this means to me. She was the one who took care of me when I was a child and now that I am getting married, I want her to be there! I want to serve her tea during the tea ceremony. I want her to be there to celebrate with me!

I will continue to trust in You. But Lord, really my faith level is wavering and is wearing really thin. Please show me a miracle. I need to see a miracle. Lord, You know my hearts' desires and I remember that You said You will fulfill all of our hearts' desires. I am trusting You for it. You also promised that You will satisfy my Popo with a long, healthy life. That you have borne all sickness and by Your stripes she is completely healed. Lord, please show me!! Please.

Lord, I am preserving and I choose to rely and trust in You. Please send your Angels to encamp around her to keep her safe and sound. And I pray Lord, that You will grant her sweet sleep tonight.


Amen.

Where is the silver lining?

- edit : My Ah Kong past away yesterday at around 10:00pm, 29 January 2010 in the presence of his children. Unfortunately, I didn't make it back in time -

Amidst the exhilarating rush of wedding planning and overseeing the renovation works of our new place, I sometimes feel a pang of guilt, sorrow, and regret. You see, my Grandad (whom I fondly call Ah Kong) is critically ill at home in Seremban, my Popo has been admitted into IJN for infection of the valve, and my uncle is in the hospital for some follow-up treatment subsequent to his major operation back in December. I have been running to and fro 3 different hospitals since last month! And will be 'celebrating' Chinese New Year in the hospital with my Popo and in Seremban with my Ah Kong, who is bedridden.

I feel guilty because I shouldn't be feeling so joyous when people close to me is in sickness. Sorrow because I don't understand why calamity has been bestowing upon my family - one after another. There seem to be no end.

Regretful because I know my Ah Kong will not be able to stay long enough to witness my wedding ceremony. I know I shouldn't be saying this but this is a fact. And facts always hurt. He is deteriorating so fast day by day. Every week when we go and visit him, he seems so much worse off. It is heart-wrenching. And above all, he won't be there sitting at the front row in church witnessing me reciting my vows. There will be one empty seat left on the VIP table in Marriott. How can this happen? I cannot comprehend.

Sometimes, I feel that God has been really cruel to me and my family. Why inflict sickness? Why let my family members go through the suffering? I really don't understand. I really don't. I know the mechanics of me needing to trust God and to let His will be done.

Let me tell you. No one will understand the current situation that I am in. I want to trust God, I really do. But I can't. I tried and I just can't. I need an explanation!! Sometimes trusting alone is not enough.

Honestly, I am sad that my Ah Kong will not be part of my big day. I really am. I am sad that I will not see him in any of my wedding photographs.

I really do hope that my Popo will be strong enough and I pray that at least she will be able to see me on my wedding day and if God willing, to see me giving birth to my child - her great grandchild.

They say in every cloud/thunderstorm/rain, there is always a silver lining. I need to see the silver lining. Desperately.

Signing Off.