Maria's Wedding (a photoblog)

These photos were taken when we were on our way to and at Maria Ng's wedding at Raffles Marina. Enjoy! =)

Beautiful sunset vista at the marina...

And then she arrives with her dad (Uncle Dennys) on a yacht! (pronounced yaught, people).

Hahaha... my sis caught the bouquet!!!!

This is my sis trying her hand out at one of her possible future career possibilities: wedding photography.

Desmond thinking he's in a scene from 24. Reminds me of that episode of Arrested Development though... "And that's why, you never pose like you're in an episode of 24..."

Our favourite shot of the night! Looks like my sis IS cut out for wedding photography after all. She just needs a better camera to work with. =)

My parents with the happy couple (Maria and Ken).

Hands-down, the cutest shot taken tonight.

It's our turn next year!!

Lixin dear...

It's gonna be beautiful. I can't wait! =)

BLOOD!




You HAVE to watch this. There is no way this cannot cheer you up, no matter how grouchy you're feeling. I've watched this almost 10 times now, and I still collapse in a hysterical, giddy, asphyxiated fit on the floor every time.

I was just looking around Youtube for nice videos and remembered this one by SCC. It's a beautiful song and an equally beautiful video to boot... I remember listening to the song for the first time and tears streaming down my face. Yeah I know, I always cry. =)

But this is one song that holds so much meaning for all of us, don't you think? SCC wrote it for his adopted daughter from China, Shaohannah. But it could very well be a song shared between a couple (I performed this for Wilson and Wendy's wedding, and I still sing in every now and then for Lixin... I know, so romantic right! Ok, you can stop puking already), a song a parent sings to a child (whether adopted or not).

But best of all, it reminds me of God's song to us.

So while you're listening to this one, just close your eyes, and know that His love has taken you in.

And everything's changed.

She said YES!!! =)

It's kinda hard to surprise Lixin cos she has this knack for pre-empting whatever surprise I plan for her. However, I am most happy to report that this one caught her (almost) completely off-guard. Hahahaha.

So, on National Day, being the patriotic Singaporean that I was, I took Lixin out to this really nice French restaurant at Dempsey. It's called Au Petit Salut. I know, even the name sounds classy haha. Who cares what it means! Anyhow, unbenownst to her, I'd actually made prior arrangments with the staff to give me a nice table to carry out my plan. Here're some pics from the restaurant... it's really nice!

It's empty cos we reached pretty early... apparently, they're usually packed. There're some nice seats outside too, and it was a breezy day anyway so I wouldn't have minded sitting outside (they originally could only get us outdoor tables). Anyhow, the moment we walked in and I introduced myself, the staff were all nodding knowingly at me - something which thankfully escaped Lixin ha. She goes to the toilet and the staff all gather around me and ask me "how how? Ok or not? We got you the best table! And we're gonna make sure that the table next to you remains empty so you've got some privacy." How's that for service!

We order 2 set dinners. And to be nice to the staff since they were so nice to me, I'm gonna do some advertising. The pics below are what we had for dinner:


Lobster salad. Absolutely divine... the greens were very fresh and the mint sauce was tangy. Lobster claw was yummy too.


This is the famous French dish, foie gras. Or just simply, duck liver. I know, it sounds gross. But I was pleasantly surprised - it tasted really nice! I suppose as long as you don't think about it being the insides of a duck, it's pretty enjoyable. Note for the health-conscious: this baby packs a ton of cholesterol. Which explains why it tastes so good haha.

My main course: medallion of beef with shallots and mashed potato. Lixin and I loved the mashed potato so much we nearly ordered a bowl of the stuff. It's the milky kind, absolutely delicious.

As Lixin later recounts, she was actually thinking I might propose that night, but being the excellent actor that I was (somebody give the man an Oscar already), I was cool throughout the process and she gave up that idea after a while.

(She did really give up that idea but I was TOTALLY not cool. My hands were shaking throughout. Somebody give the man some points for honesty already.)

This was dessert, some orange (marinara?) souffle with chocolate truffle. The texture was a little not to our taste, but it was alright.

So by now, I'm getting extra fidgety and wondering what's the right time to pop the question. And she's getting restless too, wanting to ask for the bill and all. So I decide, it's now or never (cue music: "The Final Countdown") and I...

Send her an SMS.

Ok ok I know what you're thinking, but I DIDN'T ask her to marry me through SMS ok! It was just to distract her while I reached into my bag and took out the ring. Clever right! So finally, I ask her the all important question, and...

She takes like forever to answer me. I tell you, I've never felt more tortured in my life. But of course, she finally says YES! and I heave a sigh of relief haha. She later tells me the reason why she took so long was because she didn't know how to answer the question. Note to all girls: when you are proposed to, it's either "YES" or "NO". So don't have to think so hard and torture your man in the meantime. What, you want fries with that?

Because she's so touched (ok, just glad that I finally popped the question) she starts crying, prompting one cheeky waiter to come over and say "Miss, miss, don't cry!" So this is our happy photo after it's all over:

Isn't the diamond huge? Hahahhaa it's huge to ME. So the next time you feel something shining in your eyes, it's just Lixin flashing her ring in the sun.

Well it doesn't end there. I'll be honest and say I didn't go down on one knee when I proposed... ok ok I know I know, that's so terribly unromantic. Hahaha. Ok enough already, let's see how well you guys do the next time YOU propose!

So we headed down to Science Centre Macs to grab a drink before heading home, and to make it up to her, I took the ring from her, got down on one knee and proposed all over again. =) So I DID kneel down lah, for all you die-hard romantics out there. But I was so nervous I got the hand wrong when I was trying to slip the ring on, I pulled her right hand instead of her left! But I suppose that makes it even more romantic?? And it gives Lixin something to tease me about the rest of my life. =)

So anyway, to end off this post, here's a pic of Lixin being decidedly unglam in a very glam restaurant:

Hey, I told all the funny/embarassing things about me! So this is just me getting a little even hahahaha. =)

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship..."

=)

My Complaint / God's Reply.

Part I - My Complaint

Job 21
1 Then Job replied:
2 "Listen carefully to my words;
let this be the consolation you give me.
3 Bear with me while I speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on.
4 "Is my complaint directed to man?
Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be astonished;
clap your hand over your mouth.
6 When I think about this, I am terrified;
trembling seizes my body.
7 Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?"

Part II - God's Reply
Psalm 37
1-2 Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked.
In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun.

3-4 Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last.
Keep company with God, get in on the best.

5-6 Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done:
He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.

7 Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him.
Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.

8-9 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.
Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store.

10-11 Before you know it, the wicked will have had it; you'll stare at his once famous place and—nothing!
Down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza.

12-13 Bad guys have it in for the good guys, obsessed with doing them in.
But God isn't losing any sleep; to him they're a joke with no punch line.

14-15 Bullies brandish their swords, pull back on their bows with a flourish.
They're out to beat up on the harmless, or mug that nice man out walking his dog.
A banana peel lands them flat on their faces— slapstick figures in a moral circus.

16-17 Less is more and more is less. One righteous will outclass fifty wicked,
For the wicked are moral weaklings but the righteous are God-strong.

18-19 God keeps track of the decent folk; what they do won't soon be forgotten.
In hard times, they'll hold their heads high; when the shelves are bare, they'll be full.

20 God-despisers have had it; God's enemies are finished—
Stripped bare like vineyards at harvest time, vanished like smoke in thin air.

21-22 Wicked borrows and never returns; Righteous gives and gives.
Generous gets it all in the end; Stingy is cut off at the pass.

23-24 Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy.
If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.

25-26 I once was young, now I'm a graybeard—
not once have I seen an abandoned believer, or his kids out roaming the streets.
Every day he's out giving and lending, his children making him proud.

27-28 Turn your back on evil, work for the good and don't quit.
God loves this kind of thing, never turns away from his friends.

28-29 Live this way and you've got it made, but bad eggs will be tossed out.
The good get planted on good land and put down healthy roots.

30-31 Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone, rolls virtue around on his tongue.
His heart pumps God's Word like blood through his veins; his feet are as sure as a cat's.

32-33 Wicked sets a watch for Righteous, he's out for the kill.
God, alert, is also on watch— Wicked won't hurt a hair of his head.

34 Wait passionately for God, don't leave the path.
He'll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it.

35-36 I saw Wicked bloated like a toad, croaking pretentious nonsense.
The next time I looked there was nothing— a punctured bladder, vapid and limp.

37-38 Keep your eye on the healthy soul, scrutinize the straight life;
There's a future in strenuous wholeness.
But the willful will soon be discarded; insolent souls are on a dead-end street.

39-40 The spacious, free life is from God, it's also protected and safe.
God-strengthened, we're delivered from evil— when we run to him, he saves us.


I rest my case.