Hen's Night Out

So Sue made "my solemn vow" looking stunning, and Gidz squeaked his high-pitched "I do" in his much-out-of-character nervousness - but we didn't yet let her off before, without some premarital fun! Wedding photos-sorting will be some lengthy process, but in my protest of not being a photo blog (and failing gloriously), here's some (very many) pics of a weekend prior to the Doctor earning her Missus title.

The Ching sisters work those smiles
on the Number 8 verandah -
food in the sun at Crown

Filling up to kick things off (cuz being bridesmaids is hard work,
and yes, because bridesmaids get hungry and go a-lunching, too
[for fish and chips, no less!])

Then off we go to check in, and let loose in Langhom luxury -
We bounce on comfy beds,
then jump in to test the tub out!

View provided by the room on the 17th floor -
along with complimentary hot choc, bear-shaped chocolate,
and the softest bear for cuddling ever

Spa-ing at Chuan Spa with
hot tub, pool, steam room, herbal tea, hour long facials
(and robes that I swear must be washed in nothing but softener!)

Then it's night time - everyone arrives,
and there's nothing like some *gulpgulp* to jumpstart the night with!

The girls get cosy in the bedroom to practice their best kissy faces.
Strawberries and champagne are only marginally responsible.

With a happy alcoglow, we head off to dinner,
then to hit the streets all fuzzy and smiles!

The bride's sister-in-law and sister
show us some bunny action!

The princess bride, flopsy and the tigress
get geared up for some cheeky fun!

More tigresses now, get in the act -
practicising their claws and rawrs!

The kittycats, too, join in the run,
they won't be easily undone!

The long-earred ones hop in for a snuggle.
Cuddly rabbits, they are.

With a little help from some friends in littler glasses,
we're ready for action, we can do anything!
(a certain section of the night, from this point forth,
remains known only to those present)

That is not to say we were tight with the photo-taking
...or the face-making.

Yup, we did it one way.
And then the other.
It wasn't deja vu.

We showed off our fluffy bottoms, even.
And some went so far as to be more... exhibitionist,
as the right-side bunnies care to demonstrate.

And in the spirit of showiness,
we didn't keep out excitement under,
and let our love for cute little thongs show!

I think I'm going soft

I'm tired, in pain, and therefore grouchy, more often than not. This too-constant sickly feeling is becoming really boring. What's wrong with me? I'm not (that) old, I'm not! And I'm so worn, I keep signing in to blog and coming to a halt because thinking takes too much effort, my thoughts are too random and my brain is stupidly disorganized. That, or I'm on emotionally-stupid gear, with the merest hint of dignity being the only thing holding me back from saying the dumb things I'm thinking. What is wrong with me? Sometimes, it's not even any particular incident bearing a black cloud, I'm just... well, worn out. And yet, I look at others around me, and I daren't think I have too much on my plate, because by comparison, I have zilch. What in the world is wrong with me? My only event-salvager is my trusty camera, and even then, it's been severely underused by my standards. But enough chitchat, here's some recent photos I did manage to get:

Sarah-Anne turns 19
with some veryvery good seafood,
topped off with gelati!

Our annual cold-months foodfest.
Boys are easy - easy to please
(heart through stomach and all), and easily amused.


Nothing like hot soup and hotter company on a cold night,
never mind we ate ourselves silly.
And that's not counting the mango pudding+pandan chiffon dessert!


Food-induced smiles always make me happy.
That alone is enough to make me want to feed people,
the greedier the better.

*pant*

The past month has been a whirlwind of activity, with more than my fair share of ups and downs. I should get points for breathing in and out (merrily learnt that line from Grey's.) Here's some of the happy (or is it snappy - too many photos and all, hee!) times that have been keeping me on my toes:

Joseph celebrates his not-quite-30th birthday! See him wishing in the photo? That's him praying for what happened next - the troops gathered for the real xboxation!


The sister turns 19 with self-induced kimchi overdose at Korean BBQ, muffin-pseudocake, and not-so-surprise real cake.


The mother celebrates a big birthday at yummy place with pretty lights, with yummylicious food, and yummy Laurent Bahia cake!


Hanging with the folks at St Kilda. We gorged ourselves stupid, of course - brunch, cakes, ice-cream... And then, we continued some more - coffee, fish and chips...


Lil' Joshua is 2! His littler brother Jaidan is at fullmoon!
No better reason for steamboat, yum!


Sue's bridal shower is a green affair...


Green dresscode, green food, green everything... But of course, green is the colour of fresh, and we're fresh! :P

Doll Day

Damn, I look like I've been drinking even without trying.
(For the record, no the guys didn't sneak in alcohol,
as they originally planned)

Ahhh, better.
This is while the only thing that's heating things up are the
blasted weather and growing crowd.

Early on, while everyone's still fresh, and the boys are not yet rowdy and chantin-- er, nevermind what they were chanting.

The girls sneak in a photo before it got all shovy.
Clearly, the party is yet to begin.

Yup, we're pretty much ignoring the opening act. And yep, we're already drenched. Sticky hair is so not cool.

Still ignoring. And looking happier than we really are -
the wait was long, and the heat, insane.

Finally. Lights flash, the girls strut out, fireworks explode,
and the crowd goes wild!

Who's got the pussycat fever, who?
(I want any one of those abs... sob)

In the blue light, there were many a teaser moment.
As there were many a hopeful puppy.

Like I said, many a moment. The girls get cutesy on screen.
Bop! Bop! Bop!
Rats, why is it so blur here? Grrr.

She's a tease, but she can please!
Nic's got the crowd - guys and girls - wrapped round her lil' finger.

The dolls turning up the wild. You have no idea how hard it was to get clear shots, that's how much they were shakin' movin' groovin'.

You gotta give it to them - love 'em or hate 'em,
they've got all the attention!

Meshed

It's been awhile. Something like two weeks; fourteen days; half a month... gosh, the days just seem to whizz by. So much to say, so little that's truly significant. I guess life's been little pieces of here and there: getting organized for uni, and still at it, and for work also, ultimate immersion of all things wedding (not mine), not to mention big burning of hole in pocket towards said immersion, considering the options to making most income possible to supplement quickly expiring finances, wondering what a different life would be like, wondering if I am only ever wishful but without the guts to do more than wonder, grinding my teeth hard at backneckheadaches that just won't go away, and other such orgasmic events.

If life really is what one makes it to be, then is my life only what it is because I don't make it more? What holds one back from more? Maybe it's fear - fear of unacceptance, fear of taking risks and failing, fear of having to give up something in place of something else. Maybe it's the fear of losing... losing out, losing face, losing what you already have, losing an already precarious sense of self, losing yourself to the unknown, losing your chance at getting just a little more of what it is that isn't yours to lose in the first place. That, and being unable to lose the fears. Whatever it is, having limited resources (yes, I mean money) sure doesn't help.

On a looking-on-the-brighter-side (I think) note, I'm busy every bleeding Saturday in September.

Rats, I really need to get a (third) more reliable, consistently-paying job.

----

What's sardonically funny and painfully sad at the same time, is the fact that people keep asking me. Like we're actually close. Like I know anything of relevance. I wish they were right, those people. That I did know something. Something, anything... anything at all.

----

And of course, I have - no surprise now - photos. Of concert with B, and of probably one of the best days yet since I've been back, hanging with Missa and Fie. And um, the unwanted company of many an evil pigeon. Up soon!

Over the Weekend in Photos

Delicious Time

Light delight
Shining through the bars at Delicious

Where there's food...
There's Vern!

Somebody wanted to make a point to Melburnians
about just how much fun you can too have back home

First, he ruffled feathers about my being too busy for him
Then, he backed out of our appointment because he didn't have the confidence to drive to my place. Talk some more la...

Mr Business Man whizzing from country to country
Don't forget to whizz by here as promised!

I'm a bit obsessed by the pretty things
And the notion of Imprisoned Light

Leisurely Laze

Slurp-a-slurpin' on unhealthy cream soup
and a-munchin' unhealthy puff pastry - Yum!

I overheard the waitress serving us getting a mock telling-off
from a waiter for not calling on him to serve us instead.
Then, he gave us free biscotti, sent to our table by an understudy!

Oops. Not sure who influenced who,
But when you find a good thing - on sale! - grab it!

Transport Hell turns Bonus Time with the Hainan

Malaysian Driving at its Best
Hey, we gotta do somethin' when it jams no end, right?

I'm not complaining one bit
She saved me from local-transport utter ineffeciency, and etiquetteless baffoons.

Mamak Moments

Lil' Miss Infectious Giggle
Causing nose bleeds the world over

Isaac Shmisac is all grown up
But if your status is as is this time next year, I'm calling the mail-order bride service

Putrajaya (a)Maze(ment)

My driver and company
Owe you a big one, babe!

The only non-aesthetic value bridgeybridge had for us
Was to remind us we'd pass it again. And again.
And... you get the idea.

If Miss Statue of Liberty were here
She'd be spoilt for choice! ;P

Curly light, what a sight!
Wonder if the birds ever get confused, haha.

Look at the curvy street and traffic lights!
Made me feel like I was in Willy Wonka Land!

The Palace of Justice
Dome-dy-dome-dum-dummm...

Piggy goes for a ride
Through the maze of smart archi (but maze no less!)

Uh oh. All of a sudden... someone's gone shy
Grilling session in progress, perhaps? :D I'll never tell...

Seeing through new eyes?
Perhaps not such a bad thing after my endless search upon search for frames

Finally - I find something at long last! Waddaya think?
Here, you can also see why my dad sometimes says I have Pixie Ears.

H1 Happenings

Three picks - which would you choose?
The beers, I mean. The beers.

Starting the night with alcohol, teehee.
Though here, Steph demonstrates pouring Method Fail

She quickly covers and attacks the problem with Method Fix
Note how she reaches for the bottle and has pushed the mug of froth to Jack

At last, the group sits down
Totally famished

Sel and Aaron
Give their best cheesy smiles

Stefunny - one of the girls I've spent the most time in the Water Closet with; WC - one of the funniest guys I know

Three choices times two!
Fatty sauces nyam nyam nyam!

With JonJon
One second after this, we savagely attacked our food

Boy oh boy!
The captions I could come up for this!

So Steph and I are Hainanese, my dad and her aunt were classmates, her aunt and Sel's mum are best friends, and Sel's dad has meets with mine sometimes. In fact, he meets Steph's aunt on occasion, too. Frankly, the links scare me a bit.

Nyehhh. Has Moochie Face Thomas been hanging too much around Moochie Face Wang, or is it the other way around?

Reunited with my Photo Buddy! To be technically correct, she was my photo bug - she infected me, and there was no turning back. Hee.
Eh, Miss Cheater who's standing on her toes: why is this shot blur?

We got this photo after a gazillion tries!
Don't know why Aaron is doing some macha pose over yonder.