Wedding

19th March 2011

Finally, the knot is tied.

I used to tease him and asked when's the big day and his cheeky reply would be : soon.

A fine young man so says everyone down the street, he's every mother-in-law's choice. He sure took time to look for his help mate but as the saying goes, it's never too late.

Congratulations Adrian for picking Judy as your wife; a fine lady of Assuntarian origin.

Somehow Assunta tugs at my heart too ; having served there for 5 years.

The marriage vow spoken so clearly in front of family and friends is a constant reminder of the covenant made for times of health and sickness.

Rare but true; the solemnization of the marriage was carried out by none other than the father of the groom. So touching when I heard Samuel proclaimed ; Adrian, my son... would you take Judy ... to the delight of the guests. So meaningful as the marriage is sealed with so much approval, love and joy. Surely a marriage made in heaven.

So the dear mother, Christine composed a poem which reminded them to love each other and that the day was only the beginning of a journey along the long and windy road. Mother dear recited that it is mandatory that Adrian looks after the wife and vice versa through peaks of joy and also through valleys of sorrows. After all that's what life is about, isn't it? To see each other through ups and downs and make earth a heaven together.

Uncle Sam finally sealed it with :

...What God put together,

Let no man put asunder...

Amen.

Wedding...

The sounds of the entourage...

No, it's not any of my girls ... yet.

It's the girl next door !

Whose daughter now?

The excited 'Ji Mui ' looking at the groom who had just arrived with his ' Heng Tai ' ... oh how was he going to win the bride now? The 'Ji Mui ' (girlfriends of the bride) looked too smart for his liking. They might have tricks too tough for him to handle. But he survived of course.

Yes, it's pretty Szi Szi.

Szi Szi married to Tho Wei.

Friends from secondary school days ; still friends and Grace is the leader of the bridesmaids.




Oh... Sunrise; Sunset

Is this the little girl I carried (knew) ?
...

I don't remember growing older
When did she?

When did she get to be a beauty?
...
Wasn't it yesterday
when she was small?

Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to flowers
Blossoming even as we gaze...

Oh, time surely flew.



We were in the company of this young family for the dinner. These boys may look young but they are real machos. Brother in the centre is eldest and when mummy was away talking to friends, he piled up food for her. He is a joy to observe for he took care of his mummy well.



This guy is in Standard 5 but he is so well-mannered. He might not have the opportunity to serve his mummy as his brother was doing that. So make a good guess...he served me. I was amazed at his polite ways and could not help but sing praises to the mum. She sure has her way with them . Perfect behaviour at the table. It was a joy to be in their company.





Once again. Congratulations to the bride and groom. Happy for them and it was a pleasure to hear the groom vowing that he would love and look after his lovely bride all the days of his life.

Vows are to be kept.

Fairuz & Hana

Fairuz Bin Yusuf ; head boy 2000-2001.

He took great pains to come into the school office and looked for us, personally coaxing us to attend his wedding. He related that he just came home from the UK after an engineering degree in Imperial College and had to rush into many things...but one thing he did not rush in without thinking ... getting Hana to be his wife. Both husband and wife will be leaving for the UK next Wednesday, he being attached to a firm in the capacity as a consultant and his wife to complete a PHD program in Cambridge University ; a great future ahead.
The wedding was simple and meaningful with both Pn Loy and I telling his wife how lucky a woman she is to have him as a life partner to which she replied..." He's lucky to have me as a wife too..."... but of course.

At the main table were guests; possibly from the UK and they were treated to a typical Malay bersanding ceremony ; perhaps to have memories that would last for quite a while.



The handsome couple cutting the wedding cake in great joy and delight.




Both Fairuz and Hana are indeed a match...Fairuz always has eyes for pretty girls !

But perhaps a very meaning ful part of the day was when we encountered so many ex-students of the school.

The Seafield boys but I must apologise for the poor memory...I could not remember all their names...faces I could place here and there but names...I am sorry.

I spoke to some of them and they seemed to have found their bearings in good vacations and life partners.

This boy or man rather is Nik ... an architect from UIA and he told me that he is already married...that's the wife beside him. His dad has a history with the PIBG of the school and I know 2 of his youngest siblings are still with us in school. The family sure has a thick connection with the school.

The bright ones of the school...Johnson Lim and Anton. Johnson, a keen lawyer is with Shearn Delamore & Co and he asked for Grace... they being contemporaries and were friends since school days. He learnt from face book about her well being and was glad that she is well in Singapore. I asked him when would be his turn and he shyly said not so soon. Anton is a HO with Ampang GH having graduated from AIMST.

This macho guy flies MAS regionally and has been flying for 5 years...wow...so when I asked if I could contact him for privileges he gave me his number immediately. Not bad.

This a sister and brother team...Nadiah and Termizi. Nadiah is a secretary but the brother...I forgot what he told me he was doing.

A lovely pose between the teacher and her protegee. Puan Loy was the discipline chief and this batch of prefects was especially close to her. Elina on the left is a trainee with CIMB and Puan Khaizamah's daughter is on her right doing an IT website project at the moment. Name...it slipped my mind. Puan Loy was all praises for the boys and girls and told me that during a prefects' camp then, both Fairuz and Asraff ( Pn Aminah's son) sat and watch the safety of the girls dormitory the whole night through. That was how resposible they were. She further reiterated that when given an assignment, Fairuz would by hook or crook see to its completion. Commendable indeed and it was really heart warming to see the young men and women coming up to us to greet us with smiles and hugs. Oh...so good to see them grow up well... like a job well done in school.

To all ex students an evening for you will be coming soon on Dec 19 2009 in the school hall to appreciate all your contributions to the establsihment. Please contact the school for further info.

To Fairuz and Hana ... may the days and challenges ahead make you strong in your relationship as husband and wife and have a meaningful stay in the UK.

Wedding Bliss

3 beautiful brides and 3 gallant bridegrooms.

What bliss.

I saw them growing up from youths to teenagers to adults and now they are husbands and wives. Praise the Lord...all from the church. They are obedient before God as they chose to be equally yoked in God...and the Lord's blessings and smiles are upon them.

Irvin and Vanessa Oh...made man and wife on July 11 2009

At Sime Darmy Convention Centre, hosting about 100 tables, the evening was graced with much spirit, joy and fun...much dubbed as the wedding of the year in Subang Jaya. The evening before saw over 300 guests rejoicing in songs and dance in the bride's home ... Hawaiian style... sungguh bergaya !

Daddy Harres is king of pops in Pikom ; so he sang in church...

...Lord, all you have taught us

We have gladly passed onto them...

Lord, help us let go of two

That they might become one...

Two hearts invisibly bound in love

By a vow that will not be undone...

(The Parents' Prayer)

A most blessed wedding... may the Good Lord's abundant blessings be upon them.

Another one in the album

Leong Yin Meng and Hsu Pao-Kai made man and wife today, 1 August 2009 (solemnization on 27 Dec 2008)

It was an evening of sweet celebration where friends and loved ones gather to acknowledge the couple's vow and love for each other. Many amateurs sang like professionals belting out also the evergreen Taiwan pop " Chiew Khan Tang Beh Boh"....any bottles for sale?

But perhaps, the most touching song and one which I could associate closely is this one in the clip below...listen carefully...girls. All mamas feel the same way. Mummy Yew Wai's special request for her little girl... and I am sure the late daddy Chee Seng's wish too.

Ayo...one whole night I couldn't sleep after listening to the song... an awakening.

The next change...the September couple

Ben Wong and Tee Su Ann ...to be made man and wife on 19 September 2009

Ben, I have not many memories though I have known the parents for years ; but Su Ann, I remember her as the most intelligent little tot as she began to sing hyms and read the bible at the tender age of 3 or 4? I discovered it when her parents put up with us for a couple of nights as they were working in Johor then. Mummy Heng Chan and daddy Wong Heng were fellow VCF comrades in UM days... 30 years ago...how time flies. Now, Dr. Su Ann will soon be wedded.

More to come, I have been informed.

At each wedding, I am always challenged...when is your turn ah?

Oh... my girls are still very young...not slipping through my fingers ; yet.

The Wedding In The Opposite House

Know why I am still awake? I am so excited that my neighbour in the opposite house is preparing the place including my garden porch for his youngest son's wedding !

Hajah Norisah approached me last week and asked if she could use part of our premises for their wedding preparation and later a wedding treat for their guests. Without a second thought, I agreed. Being brought up in a smaller town, I actually miss the closeness and warmth of a real neighbourhood and the merriment of such an occasion. Somehow, I just simply love to mingle around and share the joy of others around me.

Sara pondering forlornly at the preparation of the tents. That's a super long one!

Both Hajah Norisah and Haji Laman have been our neighbours since we first moved in during the mid 90s. We were among the first to be in this neighbourhood then and not long after , we found out that Haji was actually an old boy of Muar High School , our alma mater too.

Muar High School

Haji Laman

Hajah Norisah

This is my favourite boy - Adam. He is one of the grandsons of the couple and every morning he will wake up with the word 'fish' so I was told; and gleefully finds his way to my compound and look at them.

Fish - so colourful and beautiful and brings plenty of joy to Adam

With the hundreds of guests swarming their house, Adam and his sister found peace and fun with the piano in our house. Esther...look at them.

The favourite boy on Sara's laps.

Some of Adam's friends mesmerised by the fishes.

Wedding preparations in the night before the big day

Lovely bouquets...part of the deco for the joyous occasion

A battalion of helpers all geared for the grand buffet

A snapshot from the window of my room...oh how I love the aroma of the food...fried chicken!

Fried chicken on the spot...fresh and crunchy and no melamine!

Beef Rendang...don't salivate Wen and Lyn!

Fresh Fruits...a galore of them

There...barbecuing a lamb.

Deft fingers at work...tasted real good

Arrival of guests...you see how busy body I was? But I was really excited la...it's being a long , long time . I had a faint recollection of my childhood days when we had such occasions- this time Chinese wedding dinners - usually held at the Hainan Association beside my house in Muar when food was prepared right behind my mum's shop for the guests...exactly what is happening in my compound now!

I spotted a beauty...she is none other than Siti Wan Khatijah...the famous local artiste chatting away with the caterer in my garden

More guests...and the number hit a huge one - 2000 guests.

Arrival of the wedding entourage...the bride and groom and the Malay Kompang

Youngest son of Haji Laman and Hajah Norisah - Zureen and his lovely bride, Nanie

Zureen and Nanie ready to receive blessings from the Imam

This group of cuties...all boys... gave a splendid performance dancing to the beat of lovely tunes

When the guests left, they were given such lovely gifts.

Even the usual pour in the evening took a break...a lighter version... and the party went on. Haji and wife repeatedly thanked us and finally had our assurance of it being a small gesture after a common topic again...Muar High School...we were from the same school right? Muar, right? Hei we've been friends even from the old town...friends forever. That's what life is all about right?

We thanked them for including us in this joyous occasion.