Month: March 2010

A Wedding Festival

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Perth felt like a dream.  One of those really good dreams where you wake up all warm and fuzzy.  That’s the effect my parents have on me, so much so I’m keeping an eye out for cheap tickets to Perth … even if it’s for a weekend, more moments like the times spent back home in Perth, I’ll be bouncing around like Tigger on acid 😉  good thing for me, not so sure for the people around me :p

Anyway, I came back to Singapore and into a flurry of activities for yet another wedding.  This time for Sharan, who I’ve known for the last 8years now 🙂  Congrats Sharan and Dinesh!!  It’s about time, is all I have to say 🙂

Copyright of Tess, it was truly a wedding festival with fringe events every other day starting from her hen’s night 🙂  The partying started while I was in Perth and as soon as I came back, it was party party party.  Just check out the pictures from the various cameras and from across the days of celebration, like they say the proof is in the pudding 🙂  Starting with the Sangeet.

Then it was the ceremony proper where most of us were initiated into the world of Sikhism.  My Punjabi is about as good as my Hindi so I was glad that there was a nice lady seated next to Daph and me who explained what was happening through out the ceremony.

Sharan was all decked out like I’ve never seen her before.  It made me feel  like putting an Indian theme party together so that we get an excuse to dress up just like she was.

It’s amazing what brides go through 🙂  but it sure paid off.  Doesn’t she look amazing?  Here’s wishing Sharan and Dinesh a lifetime of happiness and love!!!!

The Revisit

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Resh and I were at Murdoch at the same time but never really knew each other.  It’s so strange how life turns around and puts people together again … we wondered why we were not meant to be friends then but now?  I just say, later better than never 🙂  So it was really fun returning to our university together and sharing our experiences we both had.

It was like sharing it with someone who was listening to it all for the first time but could totally relate 🙂  So we sipped our flat whites and ate brekkie on Bush Court, telling each other about the many afternoons we sat at the same spot and pondered what our lives had in store for us.

After 12years, it hasn’t quite gone as we planned but it’s all good  🙂  We watched students stroll by and spotted the newbies from Asia who were still wearing jeans on a 30degree day in Perth.  I do miss the days of tank tops, shorts and flip flops.  We then checked out the library, the revamped refectory now called the food court, the new book shop and of course, Nexus Theatre where I had spend many many hours rehearsing and performing.

Besides the fact that we had different majors, the biggest reason that Resh and I never really hung out back then was because she lived on campus and I lived off campus, like way way off campus.  Listening to her share about her escapades made me realise how our lives were so different and even though we went to the same school at the same time, we had very different experiences of Perth.  Despite the difference, we both fell in love with the city 🙂

Here’s where Resh called home while in Perth.  According to her, nothing seems to have changed … after 12years, everything looks the same.  We will never be able to bring those times back but us walking the routes we did then and being in the same places definitely brought back emotions … strangely, for a couple of hours she and I were shy of our 21st birthday, dreaming up dreams all over again and that’s when we realise … after 14years, we still believe in love, in the goodness of people, in everything turning out ok 🙂

So Resh, thanks for a lovely lovely time.  Here’s one for the road, I Will Remember You 😉

The Birthday

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A little secret, this Perth trip was also to celebrate Resh’s birthday and an even bigger secret is how Resh has been an inspiration to us all.  She doesn’t know it but she’s had to deal with a lot in the last two years and I don’t know many who would have pull through it all with the grace that she did it with. I hope that when life throws me a curve ball that I take page out of her book.

In Perth, she and I shared that we’re both going through some sort of metamorphosis at the moment.  Only because at the end of this roller coaster ride, we hope to be the butterflies we’re meant to be :p  Meanwhile, we aren’t who we always are and we’re not quite sure how to get back on the wagon or off … I’m always not sure how that saying works but you kinda get what I mean.  We both know though that we’re EXTREMELY grateful for family and friends.  I for one wouldn’t know where I’d be without them.  So here’s to our dear parents who may not always understand why we do what we do but fight for our happiness nonetheless, our siblings who put up with us, our other halves who make us who we are and our friends for their crazy company regardless the time of the day 🙂

With that in mind, we did what we do best, hang out, eat, drink and basically just enjoy each others company and headed to Barchetta in Cottesloe.

It was Michele’s idea and it was such an excellent choice.  The food was great and the ambiance perfect.  With a completely reasonable pricing policy, it’s a place I’d recommend to anyone who wants a perfect date place, hang out place, family place.  Yes, go go go and I’m sure you’d agree with me 🙂

What would have made the afternoon perfect would have been Zack and HM being there too 🙂 yes, we missed you both!!  Can’t wait for our next trip together!!  Till then you guys will have to take our word that the food was good and the drinks totally yummers.

After like a 3hour lunch, we decided to take a stroll along the beach … share our life’s experiences … more of Michele sharing and us wondering if we’ll ever have the same experiences 😉  and take in the last day of the Sculptures on the Beach.

It was a lovely stroll back to the car where we chanced upon this car.  Only in Australia would someone relate pee to friends 🙂

So with that, we shared yet another great one for the memory books.  If only there were more days like this … wonder if we would start to take them for granted :p  Meanwhile, it’ll be one we’ll talk about for years to come.

The Hail Storm

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There were warnings of a thunder storm when we woke up on Monday morning.  Coming from Singapore, Resh and I weren’t the least bother at all.  Here’s a little trivia about Singapore, we have the highest incidence of lightning strikes in the world.  So we weren’t worried.  After all it was a BEAUTIFUL day and we were in need of a red dress for Part 2 of the wedding so we left home with a mission.

Then in the midst of our shopping, we hear the rain come down and slowly it sounds like rocks are plummeting the roof.  It’s so heavy that rain and HAIL STONES start flying into the shop.  The girls run frantically to close the shutter doors.  The power go out twice.  I’m by the window taking videos and photos.

I’m all excited because the last time I was in Perth experiencing a hail storm was like some 15years ago.  I turn around and look for Resh, half expecting her to be as intrigued with the storm as me but she was no where to be found.  I looked around the store and was wondering where could she be hiding when I found her trying outfits in the fitting room 🙂  She is a true Singaporean … nothing will get between her and a good buy.

After the hail stopped, the rain kept going and the flood waters were rising.  My Dad called to tell us that the roads are all messed up and that we should drive safe, better yet find a good restaurant and sit the storm out.  That was our exact intention but we were not at all ready for what we had to face.

It was a scene from a disaster movie.  The traffic was NOT moving.  It took us an hour and 10minutes to move what would normally take 8mins to drive.  We did eventually, thanks to the newly minted Mr and Mrs Christian, find a Thai place to have dinner and sit out the aftermath of the storm.

Like all good storms, there’s always a rainbow at the end of it.

You can barely see it from the picture but the smidgin of it is there in the background between the buildings.  So I guess all’s well and ends well, with Resh and I driving home safely with a day to remember 🙂

The Wedding

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Resh and I started the day early and since we had to be the first ones at the wedding venue and knowing that we’d pretty much be running around the whole day, we decided to do a decent breakfast 🙂  Another favourite from being a student, Fast Eddys where you can actually get breakfast 24hours a day.  We walked in with our pretty dresses and there were about 8 other people in the restaurant who was probably wondering if we got the right place :p

After our hearty meals, we were off to the venue where everything was getting in place.  We wanted to take a walk around park but before we could, the groom and his mates arrived.

Time flew by and in the midst of running around I actually missed the call from the bride :p  Thankfully I’m constantly looking at my phone so I didn’t miss her call for too long.

Once it was official, they were whisked away for some couple shots.

As maids in waiting, Resh and I who was responsible for helping the bride with her gown was left to our devices in between takes and had to entertain ourselves.

After the photo taking, it was back to the party.  Thank goodness for our hearty breakfast 🙂  Resh and I were starting to get into the thick of things 🙂

With the Perth wedding out of the way, we’re now full steam ahead for the one in Singapore 🙂  Now that’s going to be quite the party.  Like all Chinese weddings are 🙂

The Day Before The Wedding – Part 2

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After my parents left us to our own devices, Resh and I headed to a usual coffee hang out for us students way back in the 90s,  Ginos but after 12years, the wear and tear of time was a little more than obvious.  That took us to the good ‘ole Dome.  I never drank much coffee till I came to Perth and it was at Dome that I had my first flat white.  Till today, I drink flat white whenever I go to Dome 🙂

Like All Saint’s Never Ever, Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn, Cadbury Hazelnuts and Raisin chocolate bars, the smell of lavender, star filled nights, ice cream in winter … flat whites will always remind me of Perth.  So there we were taking in the sights and sounds of Freo, enjoying our first afternoon in Perth reminiscing about the things we did as students and how incredibly young and naive we were 🙂  Good times 🙂

We did snap out of that quick enough and went on to yet another thing we love doing together, checking out clothes and trying them out 🙂

While Resh bought both the dresses she tried out, I only bought the black one.  I loved the white little dress but it’s just … a little … how can I put it … it’s a little young for the 30something that I am :p So I went with just the black one 🙂

Then it was dinner with the bride to be and a last minute briefing to make sure we have everything covered.  That’s when we saw her gown for the first time 🙂

She was all excited, nervous and happy.  That’s why I love being around brides 🙂  It’s good energy to be around.  We were all set for the big day and quietly, Resh and I were wondering what they’ll think when they open our gift to them.

At least we know they’ll have an exciting first year 🙂

The Day Before The Wedding – Part 1

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If you only have one weekend to spend in Perth, where would you go?  Fremantle markets for sure 🙂  We woke up to a simply beautiful Saturday morning and was already enjoying the fact that we were in Perth.

So together with my parents, who Resh thinks are so great, she wants them to adopt her :p  Yes and I couldn’t agree more … they are really really cool parents … when I get my turn to be one, I hope I’ve learnt all I need to know from them 🙂 Well, even if I haven’t, my kids will at the very least have GREAT grandparents 😉

We found ourselves in Freo and headed towards Old Shanghai food court … it’s all in a bid to reminisce what Resh and I did as uni students hanging out in Freo 🙂

After a huge meal of this and that (yes, I think it is a Singaporean syndrome to over order), we were off to the famous Fremantle markets.  Though quite a bit of it has had a revamp of sorts.

That’s just the first bit of the day … stay tune for the second bit where Resh and I took in Freo slowly in a girly style that’s all me and her 🙂  And my parents decided to take in a nap at home 😉

From Perth

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It’s been 12 years since Resh has been back to Perth so I’m honoured and glad to be sharing this trip with her. My only gripe is it’s too short :p

First night down, four to go. Way too too short. So I’ll soak it all up while I can 🙂

With everything happening at work, nothing like coming home to recharge … What’s the old saying? Home is where the heart is or something to that effect … I’m learning home is where my parents are 🙂

She’s a Little Miss Tan

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I’m referring to my niece, big sister to my God daughter, better known as Mabel.  Most people who meet her for the first time tells me she’s such a quiet and pleasant little girl 🙂

Don’t let her quiet and sweet demeanor fool you though.  She has our blood running strongly through her veins and like all her aunts, she’s one true little Miss Tan.  In other words, mess with her and you’ll soon realise you wish you didn’t :p

That pretty much sums up us girls in the Tan clan. Us, Miss Tans have been known to be the very antithesis of what a demure Asian girl should be but ask anyone of us and we’ll tell you that we’re pretty happy with the way God made us 🙂  Ask our other halves and I’m not quite sure you’ll get the same answer :p

Lately though, this Miss Tan aka Mrs MacLaughlan seems to have lost her mojo … I think I need to hang out with my niece a little more and remember how we usually kick ass 😉

Tell me that smile doesn’t just warm your heart.  Mabes, I miss you so much right now!!!

p/s: we were trying to take a photo of our fierce faces … didn’t quite work but we had fun doing it anyway 🙂

A Little Catholic Girl

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In the Christian faith, there’s the whole idea of rebirth through the rite of baptism.  Most of us don’t remember ours because like my little God daughter, we were all baptised when we were wee little babes.  After last Sunday, it’s all official 🙂  She’s going to have to go to Sunday school, try and figure out how did Noah get all the animals on the ark, why Jesus has to die for everyone’s sins and get over the fact that the Church and God don’t always go hand in hand … errr … ookkaayyy … yes, I’m essentially writing about myself  and my own struggles growing up Catholic :p  This blog is about me after all 😉 but back to my precious little baby of a God daughter, Rachael.

That’s my little Shaolin monk of a Catholic God daughter 🙂  We’re hoping the old wives tale is going to pay off and that she’ll have long luscious hair … if not, she’ll never forgive us for shaving her little head in time for her baptism.  I may be bias but I honestly think she’s a cute little button with  hair or no hair 🙂  Can’t help but want to squish her when I see these pictures.

I’m not sure what Godmas are suppose to do exactly and will be winging it for now, till then Rachael can be sure that whatever it is, I’ll be doing just that and fighting for her happiness 🙂

Here’s my first foray into Godmother-hood.  Okay, little one, one day when you’re old enough to read this, despite what everyone says about your relationship with God, remember it is just between you and Him and if you ever doubt anything in life, the one thing you never have to doubt is His love.  Yep, coz that much I know is true 🙂