My Blogs

Hi there!

Do visit me at my existing/past blogs at the following:

My Life - The Next Chapter

My Walk with Jesus

Officially Married! So goodbye to Diary

Yes....I'm officially married on 5th May 2007. Hence won't be writing anymore on Diary of a bride-to-be. Thanks to all of you who've shared this part of my life with me. Will continue to journal about my life on my cookiejar of cookies blog...once my internet connection is up at my home.

So it's good-bye to diary!

12 more days...

Just 12 more days to my wedding...but I don't feel the excitement at all. Most of the time I just feel tired and hope that it can be over and done with. I'm more excited about my honeymoon actually...haha :) Cos my sweet sweet Hun is planning a surprise for me! Yay! I love surprises, big or small :)

The house is almost done...got a few mistakes tho...wrong colour, wrong lamination....except for the shoe cabinet which was obviously wrong, the rest were at least "uniformed mistake"...means the whole item is wrong lah....when everything is wrong, it looks right lah

The shoe cabinet tho was quite obvious...the laminate on the inside is the right one, but the outside and top portion is wrong...it's very obvious cos the bottom portion, which is part on the inside of the cabinet, is exposed....so at one glace, u can see 2 different tones of brown. But we're nice people and decided to just get him to change the exposed portion to the match the rest instead.

The feature wall also....colour abit wrong...we thot we wanted cream...but it seems pretty yellow creamy kind of colour to me. But contractor said he ordered according to the code number....he say like that then what can we do? I'm actually quite ok with it lah....cos it looks unconventional...and I'm one that prefer things that are simply different. But tink Hun is not very satisfied with it...but he oso trying to accept it.

Got some problems with the electrical points also...wrong positioning...I didn't notice cos Hun was the one liaising all along. Haha...dunno how I'm gonna handle all these without Hun...the aircon also positioned wrongly...it's like half a meter out from where we originally wanted it to be!! Hun was quite shocked to realise he didn't notice it...but it was too bad cos we had already paid up.

Anyway...when I saw the mistake (ie there's an extra length of aircon trunking), I'm already thinking of what small decorations we can put on the trunking to decorate it...haha...that's hoe different we are...he's so meticulous and detailed while I'm just too happy-go-lucky....guess that's why we click so well...as of course clash big time at the same time too.

No pictures for our house yet....cos nowadays really too busy...didn't think of bringing the camera along to track our progress...hope to take some pictures when we officially take over the flat, which should be sometime soon!

Am praying for the best for the house....and believe by faith that God is in control and the contractor has put in his due effort and more in making our home a nice nice place to live in!

Funny Conversations....

When Hun tried to describe a character he liked about me...

"Why do you love me?"

"....because you are soft."

"Soft?? Yar...I'm fat liao...I know..."

"Nonono...I mean your character....soft-approach....no head on clashes..."


Another random conversation we had in a cab on our way to Clarke Quay....

"My throat feels dry and heaty...I need some beer...Ang Moh Liang Teh"

(me breaking out in giggles) "That sounded like something coming from an alcoholic!"

"..."

Even the cab driver laughed....haha...

Funny little moments we share in the midst of our wedding preps stress.

Perhaps I'm just trying to see everything in a comical light...helps to relief the built up stress and conflicts which we're experiencing more of recently...

I can't believe it....

I can't believe it....I'm getting married in 27 days!! So unbelievable! It feels like it's not real and it's not really gonna happen...can't really describe it...haha! Just feel so unreal...

People have been asking me how I'm feeling. Frankly, I don't know how to answer that really...I just feel tired and maybe stressed most of the time. Tired from going so many places to try to buy furnitures and electronics, stressed from doing all the wedding preps stuffs like invitation cards, guest lists etc...

1001 things on my mind right now! But mostly just tired...tink it's the same as Hun. Both are just too busy and tired to really realised that we're getting married...haha...maybe 2 days after our wedding then will the reality of our "married" status start to sink in...haha...

It's strange how something that I've been looking forward to for so long just suddenly seems so unreal. It's like we're so busy preparing for IT that we have no time to look forward or be excited about IT. I think we are lah...but it's not like when we were first talking about it...the excitement is at it's max! But now is like "yea, we're getting married...there's so many things to do!! Not enough time!!"

Guess that's why a honeymoon is so important....guess we need that break to realize that we're married..haha...

The little ironies of life...I'm amused :)

Updates...bought many things!!

It's been a fruitful weekend :) We made the following purchases...

Furnitures & Furnishings:
- Bedframe (From BarangBarang)
- Orthorest Mattress (From BarangBarang)
- Coffee Table with 4 stools (From BarangBarang)
- Wooden tiles & fence to spruce up the dust bin area (From Wihardja)
- 1 Quilt Cover Set & 1 Bedsheet Set (Compliments of mom)
- 2 more Bedsheet sets

Electrical Items (All from DAV's):
- Brandt Cooker Hood & Hob
- Mitsubishi Refrigerator (Stainless Steel)
- Brandt Washing Machine
- Fisher & Paykel Dryer
- Philips 37" LCD TV (from Aunt)

Items still not yet bought:
- Sofa Set
- Dining Table
- DVD player
- HiFi System
- Telephones (Haven't apply for home line yet!!)

I'd like to settle the sofa set and dining table soon....as for the rest, maybe not so urgent yet. Once the place is ready, there'll be quite a few smaller items that we'll need to get! Like hooks, holders for the toilets, pots & pans, cutleries, utensils, crockery, curtains, curtain racks etc...

hmm...seems like quite alot. Shall make a list tonight when I go look at my house...haha...

Upgrading Boo Boo

They replied our 'complaint letter'...and clarified that we didn't need to pay for the upgrading as it has already been factored into the cost when they sold the flat. That's great news for us! But also made me wonder if we hadn't written in to complain, would we have ended up paying for nothing? hmm....Just shows how disorganized they are in handling things...the hand dunno what the leg is doing...sigh *shakes head*

Now they tell us....

After the sales of flat was complete....now they tell us we need to pay for the upgrading fees...it's over $16k!! One of the rare times in my life that I'm so upset that I joined Hun to write a complain letter to HDB.

On our Official Sales Order, it states "Upgrading Costs: $0"....now they want us to pay over $16k. Not fair!!

I mean they definitely know that upgrading works are being done to the unit what...can't they just be abit more hardworking and work out the cost for us and inform us officially? Even if they can't determine the exact cost, as least give us official notification before we buy the unit that we will need to bear upgrading costs right?

How can they just call up one fine day as tell us "oh btw, u need to pay $16k for the upgrading"....hello...our OFFICIAL SALES ORDER states $0 leh! Quite pissed at the whole thing...

Not that we dun wanna pay...but u gotta let us be prepared right? $16k leh! Not $16 dollars! we just signed an agreement less than 2 weeks ago, and now u tell us we need to pay $16k more? Just 2 weeks ago your agreement states $0!!

Very pissed...this is not the kind of standards I expect from a government body at all...not that something unexpected cropped up...the upgrading works have been going on for months lor...u mean u can't even just give us a simple letter to say we need to bear upgrading costs? U mean during the WIS u still cannot decide whether we need to bear the upgrading costs? Can u just add a simple line to the handbook "Unit price excludes upgrading works" or "Upgrading costs to be paid by owner"

Anyway, wrote in liao....let's see who reply and what they say...

Wedding Stress...

Undeniably, I'm stressed about the wedding. Not that I wasn't stressed previously, but previously the stress comes from the preparation and what we have to do.

This time it's different. It's the emotional stress of this whole event. It's not easy playing a supporting role I tell you...cos you have to support 2 persons, the one you're supporting and yourself too. So all you gals out there who are stressing about your wedding, remember to always thank God for the good health and well-being of all your family members and your partner's family members too!

Why the stress? I guess it comes from repeatedly reminding yourself of the situation now and how it's not the time to give in to your own temper tantrums or expect your partner to give in to you. It's the pains of learning to manage your own emotions so that you can truly be a support and not a liability to your partner in his time of need.

It's a painful and often lonely place to be. Knowing that you are giving so much more than before but telling yourself that not to expect returns...and not getting upset with him about it. You think you are suffering? Think about him...he's not any better, if not in a worse situation than you are in. But always remind yourself to see the efforts that he is still putting in to love you as best as he can though he's in pain. And learning to overlook slip-ups from him. He's not perfect, and you just gotta accept that! No point letting something small trigger a big reaction.

Assure him as much as you can that he has your permission to take his time to do the things he need to to. Learning to let go perhaps? Yes, you'll feel the loss, but that's temporary. Remind yourself that perhaps years from now when you look back, you'll be glad you gave him space, and he'll surely appreciate you for it too.

He's also learning...and I see his growth. He's learned to handle multiple stresses at the same time, and learning to see the needs of others through his own pain. And he's learnt to appreciate his loved ones even more! And in brief moments, tho we seem to be letting go of each other more, we also seem to be loving each other more...in actions, not just words.

It's a learning journey...perhaps we just had to learn it earlier than others. But again, if I had a chance to decide, I wouldn't want my wedding preps any other way.

Look on the bright side.....it's a storm we're facing, with Christ in it. Not everyone has a chance to weather such a storm and learn from it. It's a precious lesson from God. After the storm comes the rainbow...only if I hang on all the way till the storm blows over. And that's what I'll do! I certainly don't wanna go through all this heartache and pain for nothing! I'll make sure I get something good out of it :)

More milestones

Did I blog about getting my keys? I don't remember...

Anyway, we got the keys to our flat last friday :) And the next day, we showed our potentiona contractor the unit and also cleared out mailbox which was jammed with mails for the previous owner.

Yesterday, we signed with our contractor and paid the deposit. He'll be doing the bank loan thingy for us. So for now, we'll wait for his drawing to be out. Wonder how it would turn out :) Before we finally decided, we went through a few rounds of calculations and discussion to decide if we wanna take out more things to cut cost. But in the end we decided to keep everything...we won't be saving that much anyway....and I feel maybe we can just pamper ourselves a little lah...hehe

This sat we'll be having our electrical supplies turned on, after which the reno work can officially start. We'll be getting pastor to bless and sanctify the house first before the reno works begin. Just to seek God's blessings to oversee the whole renovation works.

Things seem to be getting better, and our spirits are slightly lifted since 2 weeks ago. 2 days ago when I went to see Hun's mom, I was so happy to see that she is more alert now compared to the last time I saw her. However there's a bit of swelling on her head where her op was done. Today Hun told me that the docs would need to drain the fluid out...shan't go into details of how it would be done. Felt my spirits dampened...just when we saw improvement, something like this happens.

Guess if I could feel it, Hun and his family would feel it even stronger. We can just hope in the Lord and keep putting our faith in Him.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and 6 my God.

My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you

from the land of the Jordan,

the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

But I'm still glad we're going through this...cos I feel that we've both grown in our relationship. This experience will surely prepare us for a possibly even bigger challenge that we might face after we're married. For now, I feel I'm learning what love is really about...what is it to put the other person first, what is means when the bible says "Love is patient, love is kind". How it feels to give when you know the other person is not able to give as much.

I can't say that I'm the happiest bride-to-be, but certainly learning to be peaceful and trusting the Lord, and finding my strength in His joy. I won't say I'm happy, but yet I rejoice for this precious experience, and rejoice that I have to priviledge to weather this storm with Hun. It's not easy, but it's not beyond our ability to cope either.

With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm"...is not longer just a sunday school song to me :)

Wedding preps are underway...

Yes, the preps are still going on, and we're likely to proceed as planned. Yesterday we showed Hun's dad the wedding invitation cards proof. I was given the green light to proceed with the printing.

This friday, we'll be going down to HDB to complete the procedures and get our keys to the flat. Thereafter, we'll be going down to BE to confirm the layout of our wedding album before it is sent for printing. In the evening, we plan the meet the ID to see what he has designed for our home.

It's a very different feeling this time. Not as exciting and over the top as previously. It's a mixture of happiness in the midst of sadness. I can see Hun is really trying hard, and I believe he is happy but yet sad at the same time. Guess it's the same for me too...happy that we got the flat we want, happy that our album actually turned out quite nice, but yet I'm sad to see Hun so sad and moody.

It's really a tough time for him, so I really appreciate every effort he makes in making sure that our wedding can still go on smoothly. I pray that he will continue to be strengthened and comforted by the Lord in the midst of this challenging period. I also pray that Hun's mom will get better by leaps and bounds each day and be blessed with a miraculous recovery to health in Jesus' Name!

Meanwhile, I also pray for myself to have to strength to support Hun through this difficult time and help him with the preps as much as I can.

"With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm..."

Faith

"Faith" = "For All, I Trust Him"

This is what we really need now...or maybe I need it even more. Thank God for Hun's mother quick recovery from her surgery. It is already a testimony to God!

Right now, we're faced with uncertainties about our wedding plans. We do not wish to cancel or postpone it. So we're praying and believing that God is in control of our wedding. Yesterday I was encouraged by Dad's prayer for our wedding during family prayer time.

He reminded me that our wedding date, venue and guests were appointed by God himself. So He will provide the means to bring it to completion. Provision means a whole lot more to me now...previously, it was simply finances. But now, I'm believing that my Jehovah Jireh will provide ALL our needs for the wedding: Finances, Good Health, Joy for everyone that's involved in the wedding, from us, our families, our helpers, our friends to all our guests.

I stumbled yesterday by arguing with Hun at the most inappropriate time. Was overwhelmed by my own fears and sense of loss that I didn't see his pain anymore. I guess that in the time of stress and heartache, Hun has also misunderstood me. Thinking back, it's funny how we both got upset with each other over the wrong things, we heard each other wrongly and got angry with what we have perceived inaccurately. How the devil will make use of every little opportunity to create strife!

But thank God we reconciled before the end of the day. God's grace was with us, and we prayed together and made up. It's so much easier to focus on God. At least we both have a common source of comfort and we look forward to the same God.

We prayed for our wedding to be an event that will shout His fame and bring glory to Him, and we believe that it will be so!

Frankly, I still don't "feel" assured and settled and still have fears about my wedding not being able to proceed. But I guess faith is not about feelings, I don't have to feel confident to have faith in God. I need to just trust Him. What's facing me now is a wall, and I can't see through to the other side. But if God and bring down the wall of Jericho, I believe He can tear down this wall I'm facing too.

I'll just need to practice FAITH: For All I Trust Him. He is able to do the impossible for us, and I'll just trust that He'll do it :)

Handling things by myself for the moment

I'll be handling the wedding and housing preps by myself for the moment. Hun needs to be with his family to take care of his mom. Praise God for a successful operation and we'll continue to believe for a speedy full recovery!

It's a funny feeling to "man the fort" alone...guess I've become rather dependent on Hun to make the decision...and I'm actually a little nervous about the responsibility. Will I make the right decisions? Will Hun like it? What happens if I do something wrongly? But still I wanted to give him space as it is indeed a very very difficult and trying time for him right now, and he needs to be there for his family too!

Hun also passed the baton over to me yesterday and told me to make the decisions. We have discussed it before and he said that I knew what we wanted, so just go ahead. Still feeling jittery, but well, if I've gotta do it, I've gotta do it!

Things which I've achieved by myself without Hun:
1. Liaised with and went to the printers for our invitation cards

Things which I'll have to do without him:
1. Meet up with the contractor to look at his drawing plan for us
2. Decide if we wanna engage him as our contractor
3. Meet the sound & AV technician of MM Hotel

Maybe to other brides, it sounds like normal and simple stuff...but I just can't help feeling a little scared. Afterall, I'm so used to doing things together with him and letting him make the decisions while I play the supportive role. But now, I just dun wanna give him additional stress, so I've gotta learn to take the lead for the moment in our wedding preps. But I believe I can do a good job out of it lah...just hope that Hun is happy with the choices that I make...The "big man" gotta listen to the"small woman" for the time being.

Really hope Hun can join me again real soon...I want you to take back the lead! But meanwhile, dun worry about me...give all the attention you need to your family now. When your mom's better, we can continue to prepare for our wedding together :)

Busy Busy Busy!!

Less than 70 days to our wedding....

Things are moving really fast now...almost everyday we have something to do!

Thing done (or almost done)!!

1. Completed 1st draft of the AD time-table
2. Got helpers we need: Worship Team, Reception, Wedding Coordinator, Bridesmaid, Page Boy, Flower Girl, Best Man, Photo Montage
3. Talked to banquet manager from MM
4. Wedding Album: Seen the design layout...gave instructions on changes...almost done!
5. Settled on videographer (from BE)
6. Talked to a likely contractor for our flat...meeting him this fri to look at his drawing for our MBR, TV console cum feature wall, and kitchen.
7. Bought our wine!
8. Filed for marriage at ROM website
9. Confirmed pictures for Photo Montage
10. Selected our songs for march-in, montage, house music etc

Things still left to do:

1. Settle on contractor
2. Confirm guest list
3. Seating arrangements
4. Get more flower girls
5. Buy furnitures
6. House Renovation
7. Print invitation cards
8. Book honeymoon
9. Bridesmaid and Flowergirl dresses

Working on something together as a couple isn't easy...we had our fair share for fun, laughter, quarrels, tears, sweet moments, ugly moments...basically everything lah! It's really quite an experience for us! At times, we each insist on our own ways...but most of the time, conclusion is "No time liao! Just get over it and move on!!"

In a way it's good to be busy I guess...no time to dig each other's weaknesses...really have to stay united in spirit so that things can move on!

Overall, I would way it's alot of excitment and fun :) I can't wait for my honeymoon....we'll need that break man!

WIS Drama

Well...as some of you may have read in the papers...the recent WIS that happened on 2nd Feb 2007 caused a big hoo-hah in Singapore. Many were very unhappy that news of the WIS of matured estates somehow leaked and people were already Q-ing up 2 days before the launch!

For us, we might have become one of those who went to camp outside HDB. Someone I know works there and gave me a call the day before the told me that there's a long Q outside HDB already. She told me to quickly go down and Q. But I told her that I wouldn't wanna spend a night Q-ing for something which I am not even sure what it was. So I decided not to do it. As for her, she was informed that she had to report work the next morning at 7am because she would be involved in whatever was going on the next day.

So the next morning, I received a call from her at about 7am and she told me it was the WIS for matured estate. So I called Hun and we both rushed down to HDB Hub as soon as we could. We reached about 8am, which supposedly was the time the counter opens officially....but lo and behold...our Q number was like 496!! Nonetheless, we submitted the application and took the booklet of the units up for grabs.

Next, we sat down and shortlisted the units that we were interested in...came up to about 45 units in total. Then on sunday, Hun's dad drove us around to look at the units (only on the outside though) that we've selected. They are mainly from Redhill, Tiong Bahru, Clementi and Holland V area. After a tiring day, we managed to shortlist further which are the ones we really wanted.

Monday was the start of the selection exercise. It was an unforgettable day as I was logged on to the HDB website the whole day, watching the units we shortlised being taken. We lost many units because of the ethnic quota...so even though there are quite a number of empty units left, we couldn't apply cos the chinese ratio was full. After the first day, I must say I was very discouraged :(

The next 2 days, we started to select more units and look at the Depot area. On the day before our selection, we went in the evening again to take a look at the units that were left, after that night, we narrowed down to 5 units and prioritized them:

1. Holland Ave
2. West Coast Rd
3. Clementi West
4. Bukit Merah View
5. Depot Rd

We really really wanted the Holland Ave one and we prayed. The night before, I couldn't even sleep! But we thank God that our appointment time was 8:30am, which makes our chances quite high.

On thursday, 8 Feb 2007, we arrived at HDB at 8am. The television screens there were showing the units that are booked, and those that are still available. We saw the Holland Ave unit and were keeping our fingers crossed that no one before us wants it!

By 8:30, it was our turn. We told the officer which unit we wanted and she took our documents. However, we can't choosed yet cos the person before us is still making a selection. So we gotta wait for them. The officer told us they are considering Holland too! Our hearts were really pumpin fast!!. After what seems like forever, she came back and told us the person has made a choice, and it was not Holland Ave! So we confirmed with her again if we could book the Holland Ave unit and she said yes. Praise the Lord!

After that, we went to make payment and left the place...on cloud nine. It was so surreal...can't exactly describe the feeling.

So yes, here ends our house search in the most unexpected way, but a very very pleasant outcome...We are going to be Hollanders!! Yeah!

Still viewing houses...

Yes, we're still looking.

So far made our offer for a 2nd unit (5A, need major reno, less than 5mins walk to MRT, 7th floor, N/W facing, valuation not done). And it was a very interesting I must say...here's the sequence:

1. Owner asking $12K above value
2. We offered at value
3. Owner agreed provided we pay their 2% agent fee
4. We rejected and offered $3K above value
5. Owner wants $20K cash but willing to sell below value
6. Owner willing to release at $6K above value
7. We maintained our offer of $3K above value

Now we wait...no news from owner yet. Meanwhile we're still looking around. Hope to find one really really soon!

Wedding Photos!!

Hey Hey! Here are some of my photos....some will eventually be rejects...keeping the good stuff in suspense first..haha!

Wedding Photos!!

House Hunting

Went to see 2 units at Bukit Batok yesterday. First was a 4-rm which we both didn't like. 2nd was a 5A which we both love the location and space...but it was renovated so strangely that we couldn't make out what the original shape of the house was like!

But still, I had a good feeling about that place..and it's not just because of the price. I can say this is the first house that I like without any major concerns! Of course, if we get it, we're gonna need a major overhaul for some parts of the house.

Dunno why I like this unit so much...maybe cos it's so unique...and I like things out of the ordinary. Am already starting to fantasize about what I'm gonna do to the house if we succesfully buy it.

We quoted an unbelivable offer of having it at value (owner asking a little more than $10k), but hey we need to spend tonnes on the reno ok? I must admit I regretted offering so little cos I think it might blow our chances totally for this house, but then again, we'll need to be spending alot of money on reno...so we're really offering something which we can afford in view of other expenses that will come along the way. But we didn't close all doors...we did mention that we're open for negotiation, cos I really like it. So now just waiting for the owner's agent to get back to us.

We prayed that if this was the place meant for us, God will make the transaction possible. Best if they accept at value, or at least to the amount we're comfortable to pay cash-over-value for it. If not, we'll just move on from there lor.

Feeling loads of anticipation now...=S

Photos!

Here are some shots we took on our photoshoots day...with Hun's camera lah...not the photographer one...hehe...


Beginning my make up...


Me in my actual day wedding gown :)


Can see abit of the train here...didn't lay it properly tho...


Finally u see the groom...haha...


Close up shot of us...I like this one :)

Me in my outdoor photoshoots wedding gown

This is my actual day evening gown! :)


Last but not least, me in the tea dress for photoshoots only.

Really can't wait for the photographer's one to come out!

For the rest of the pictures we took that day, can view them here:

Wedding Photoshots

Milestone!

Went for our wedding photoshoots on 15 Jan 2007. Praise God for the milestone! And praise God for the wonderful weather too :)

It had been raining the past few days before our wedding shots, but on 15 Jan, the sky was clear when we both were setting off from our respective homes to the studio. It started to rain when we first left for our outdoor shoots, so we prayed. Thank God that whenever the car arrived at our destination, the rain would stop. And when we proceeded to our next location, it would rain in the car and then stop again when we reached. The result is no rain when we take our photos, but yet it's cooling because of the rain that just stopped.

Really thank God His blessings and watching over us that day! Now I can't wait to see how the photos turned out :)

Our progress in 2007

Counting back...

8 Jan (Mon):
Going for fitting for Hun's tailored suit and shirts (Suntec)

7 Jan (Sun):
Gowns fitting for photo shoots & viewing of flats (two 5-rm & one 4-rm)

6 Jan (Sat):
supposed to view flats but cancelled due to some emergencies, but Hun managed to email and get quotations from some videographers for our AD videography

3 Jan (Wed):
view a 4-rm flat in Clementi

30 Dec (Sat):
Went to tailor Hun's mom a cheongsam (Far East Plaza)

Conclusion: I'm tired...haven't really had a break since my musical...busy with watchnight, and now D&D and wedding preps concurrently...but still, it's fun :) just tired...