Everybody, Somebody, Nobody & Anybody

Found this among my collection of stories, illustrations and what-nots.

Once upon a time, there were four people;

Their names were Everybody, Somebody, Nobody and Anybody.

Whenever there was an important job to be done, Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

When Nobody did it, Everybody got angry because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought that Somebody would do it, but Nobody realized that Nobody would do it.

So consequently Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done in the first place.

Author Unknown

Gifts from London and Paris

I love gifts and the honeymooners are back bearing gifts from London and Paris.

Another William & Catherine souvenir to add
to my collection and a Longchamp coin purse

I'm gonna tell my grandchildren that the reason for grandma's Kate and William obsession is 'cos their mom and dad were married the same year as Kate and Will and only a mere 2 months apart.

And the Longchamp coin purse is such a timely gift to replace my already worn, shabby and grubby coin purse.

Thank you both!

Angpow and Dream Come True

Yesterday I received my second angpow for my birthday from the wonderful people at Ken Ray.

My beautiful, beribboned angpow

I'm gonna be a movie star, a glamour queen for a day. Thanks everyone for making my dream come true and for giving me something that will bring back plenty of good memories in the years to come. : )

Angpows and Wedding Gifts

Angpows are the norm nowadays when it comes to gift-giving. It's more convenient and practical both for the giver and the recipient.

In the past, the giver would have to crack his or her head to think of and purchase a suitable present within his or her budget, wrap it and lug it to the wedding venue.

The recipient then has to transport all the cumbersome packages home after the party. Since there are bound to be duplicate presents and presents that one cannot or do not want to use, storage then becomes a problem, especially if space is limited at home.

The Chinese, being smart and pragmatic people that they are, solved all the above problems with the angpow.

The practical angpow

For the giver, it saves time and effort. And no matter how big the gift is, when converted to cash or cheque, voila, it is still small enough to fit into the pocket or a purse!

Likewise, the angpow slips easily into the pocket of the recipient and the cash can be converted into something that the couple really needs or desires. It can be easily "stored" or invested and, for many couples, is a timely help to defray some of the cost of the wedding.

I am glad to say that the majority of our guests were very considerate to give us angpows for our babee's wedding and we only had one huge present to bring back with us after the dinner.

40 Green Apples

Today is Day 3 of our "Eat One Green Apple a Day for 40 Days" project.

38 more to go including the one for today

The reason for embarking on this project is for weight loss 'cos most of us (at the office) have a lot of "sai tor" to get rid off. We're optimistic that we should see results in time for my birthday bash which is a mere week away from today.

The project is going well and should be a great success because there are five of us on board and we're reminding and encouraging one another to fulfill our daily quota of apples.

In addition, the apples supplied by one of our gang are really delicious. I normally find green apples too sour for my taste but to my surprise these are crunchy, juicy and not sour at all. Yums!

And they are so much cheaper than red apples. Yay!

I can truly say that I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into my apple for today.

'Bee Was Home

She dropped by the apartment while we were at work and left a note for us on our freshly made bed.

Isn't that sweet?

Fuzzy History

It's Her Wedding But I Can Cry If I Want To

A daughter's wedding stirs up the mother's emotional pot. You feel happy, sad, excited, afraid - experiencing a whole bunch of conflicting and confusing emotions all at the same time. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster.

I couldn't help it. I burst into tears the minute I caught my first sight of my babee coming down the garden path on the arm of her daddy. The sight took my breath away. Could that lovely vision in white be my 'bee?

The glow of the moment filtered through a film of tears will forever be etched in my mind.

What a vision of loveliness!

Happiness was written all over my babee's face
as she approached the man she loves

P.S. These are lousy pictures but they are all I could lay hands on, unless some of our guests send us their pictures.

Shen + Pam Pre-Wedding, 3rd July 2011

It was raining that morning but PTL! the pictures turned out well.

My beautiful 'bee and her handsome groom

Such a romantic sight to behold!

May their lives be filled with love and laughter!

Last Nite With 'Bee

'Bee spent her last night with us tucked up between Dee and Mee at E&O Hotel's Georgetown Suite a.k.a. Room 316.

Lousy Band

We were very unhappy with the band's performance at the wedding on 3 July 2011.

In the first place, there were too many gaps in the performance. They were all talking to each other in between songs. We had already run through the songs we wanted for the night so it is inexcusable for them not to know the sequence of the songs they'll be singing. The last minute discussions make it seem as if they were some impromptu band that we have dragged in off the streets to play at the last minute.

We expected nothing less than a smooth and effortless transition from song to song but what we got were long and uncomfortable silences between numbers that only served to draw attention to their lack of preparation and unprofessionalism. Our usual Sunday worship team, who are all amateurs by comparison, put them to shame.

The bassist was still texting on his handphone when he walked on stage! That was how unprofessional they were.

One of my guest's comment was that Tracy the singer was treating the whole event as if it was her concert. What's with all the walking around the crowd and saying hi to old friends in the crowd? She shouldn't have made it personal because many of our guests don't even know what TOP or TOPian is. The wedding is about the couple, not about her or TOP. Our mistake was hiring someone we know that led to the lack of professionalism.

She also put us in a tight spot when she asked the bride and groom as well as the parents to dance. My new in-laws are NOT dancing people. They had repeatedly asked Ky-Shen and my daughter to make sure there were no surprises – worse, they were specific about "make sure no dancing" – and my daughter had given them her word that there would be no dancing in the programme.

They were our guests on the 3rd and we were appalled that we have offended them albeit unwittingly and through no fault of ours. Fortunately Ky-Shen didn't kick up a fuss but graciously agreed to dance with Pam. Kenny and I had no choice but to also oblige since we were the hosts. Kenny was also not pleased because he is also a non-dancing person.

Tracy was really a loose cannon on that night. Isn't it just common sense that the band should not ask people to do things like that? Not everybody can or like to sing or dance, especially in public.

All these bad surprises left a very bad impression on my in-laws which, I fear, would be hard to rectify. They are so afraid that they have now insisted their band give them a complete itemised list of what they will be doing for the wedding dinner on the 9th.

BTW, the name of the band is Q Jazz under the leadership of Jerome Quah. Avoid them like a plague or you'll be sorely disappointed.

My MOB Speech

Good evening loved ones, friends and relatives.

This is day of rejoicing for us and as we gather here today to celebrate the marriage of our daughter, Pam to Ky-Shen. Kenny and I thank you all for coming from near and far to share this special day with us - from India, Shanghai and Australia.

Tonight we are especially honoured by the presence of our new in-laws. Chun and Lee Ying, we thank you for raising good son for our daughter and Ky-Shen, we welcome you with open arms into our family and into our hearts.

It has been said that when your daughter marries a good man you have gained a son. Today we are overjoyed that we have gained a son. We are not losing our daughter but simply entrusting her to your care Ky-Shen. And we ask nothing of you but to take good care of our little girl, our greatest treasure on earth and our most precious gift to you.

Pam, you know how much your father and I love you. You are our special gift of love from God and we have nothing but the greatest hopes and blessings for your married life. You have always been a joy and blessing to us and I know that you’ll be a blessing to Ky-Shen and his family as much as Ky-Shen will be a blessing to you and to us.

Looking back, it’s amazing how swiftly the years have flown. I remember you Pam as a baby in my arms. I remember your first words - spectacles and cockroach. I'm probably cockroach and your Dee spectacles. Yes, you were a precocious and extraordinary child.

Then came those years when you were the most sought-after flower-girl in church. The next thing I knew I was spending hot, sunny afternoons and weekends driving you to tuition, piano and dancing classes. I will remember all those times but most of all I'll always remember the way you look tonight.

Among my treasure chest of memories I remember one day when you came back from school totally distraught because your friends had called you a liar. You had told them that your parents never fought and they did not believe you because all their parents fought!

'Bee, our dad and I are not perfect. We do have our differences but we have learned not to hurt one another by following the command in James 1:19 that says: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

Most conflicts would not even arise if only we would talk less and listen more. Always be careful with your words. You are the master of your words until they are spoken, then they become the master of you ... so let your conversation be always full of grace (Col. 4:6).

In the cartoon Bambi, Thumper’s parents taught him that “If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all.” We would be wise to heed that.

Respect one another because your spouse is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. We often fail to realize that you can have respect without love but you can’t have love without respect.

Finally if you really must have the last word, let it be “Darling, I’m sorry. Please forgive me."

Practise the JOY principle you learned as children in Sunday School. Put Jesus first, yourself last and the other in between and your home will always be a joy-filled, loving and peaceful haven.

Always honor this covenant of marriage you’ve entered into today. Be grateful for, cherish and nurture this precious gift of love you are bestowing on each other.

Claire Dempsey said, “To love is nothing. To be loved is something. To love and be loved is everything.” So, with that definition of “everything” we bless you both with everything as you begin life together.

The Lord bless you both with a family so blissful, prosperous and ever healthy, and above all, filled with love, faith and hope that is founded on Him.

May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest day of your future
Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
And your hearts joined forever in love.
May his blessings rest upon you
And fill all your coming days.

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Rain

The annual haze season is back. We wanted beautiful pictures for the pre-wedding shots so I prayed for rain on the night before to wash away the haze to be followed by clear skies on the morning of the shoot.

God sent us rain in the middle of the night. But it didn't stop. It was still raining in the morning.


Despite the rain the photos turned out well. God is good.

Acceptance

Acceptance. It is the true thing everyone longs for. The one thing everyone craves. To walk in a room and to be greeted by everyone with hugs and smiles. And in that small passing moment, you truly know you're loved, needed, and accepted.
~ Rena Harmon

It is very sad when you have to be someone you are not because the person you love cannot accept you for who you are.

It is very, very sad that when you are real they think you are faking it so you have to fake it and be someone you're not in order for them to accept you as real. What an irony!

The danger of such prolonged fakeness is that:

“There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout:
This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me... or leave me. Accept me - or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision.”
~ Stacey Charter

In The Eyes of the Law

My 'bee is now legally and officially Mrs Kan.

Pastor Felix was talking to Ken and I yesterday after the ROM. When he found out that the ceremony, which in our case would be the garden wedding, was to be held on another day he was careful to clarify that 3 July 2011 is to be recognised as the actual wedding day.

So isn't it simply splendid that one of the two wedding dinners was held on the actual wedding day itself? : )