I'm back..

The warm and humid weather is killing us.. and we have to stay in the aircon room most of the time.. i missed the cooling, dry and sunny days we had in europe.. supper outside at kopi thiam was unbearable.. this is 1 of the things i hate it here.. *pout*.. of coz i missed my fishball soup and the local food here.. the chinese food we had in europe was at chinatown in paris and london.. wantan noodle soup (chicken rice for my dear) and roast duck noodle (rice for him).. yum yum.. big portion and tasty.. of coz ex oso.. think 4 or 5 euro and pound respectively.. definitely taste diff from here.. *drool*..

Full english breakfast..

was wat we had for 3 mornings (including today).. 2 from b&b at the farm stay and 1 here in hilton.. it includes sausages, egg, bacon, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, coffee, cereal, yogurt and juices.. these lasted us till late afternoon.. so far was the best meal for the world trip.. escargot and croissants in paris still our favourite.. paella in barcelona was not that great.. still prefer japanese rice.. sangria almost "knock" me out.. even my dear cannot take too much of it.. spaghetti in venice.. yummie.. esp the fish soup.. *drool*..

Yosh..

we are now enjoying the sunset in london from the executive lounge at the hilton canary wharf.. it's gorgeous.. we redeemed a free night stay and got upgraded to the executive guestroom.. with free access to the executive lounge for free snacks, drinks (including beers/wines/liqueurs) and internet for all time.. breakfast for 2 as well.. so lucky and we are so glad to end our honeymoon with such treatment.. hehe in a blink we are flying home tomorrow.. time just passes by so quickly.. we are now walking in london city.. it seems like yesterday when we just had our wedding.. really dun feel like going back to work.. geeeeeee.. my dear beloved hubby can i just quit and be taitai????.. plssssss.. *pout*..

Caving..

in gough's cave at cheddar caves and gorge was really exciting and interesting.. we were crawling thru really tiny holes and crevasses (hehe my dear managed to squeeze thru.. i was worried he may get stuck =P) and climbing up and down the ladders.. some parts involved near vertical head first crawls.. the chambers were huge and cooling.. very dark and "muddy".. too bad no pics as no cameras allowed.. really not for claustrophobia.. i doubt i will ever go caving again.. i had bruises now on my knees and i was "stressed" by my dirty hands, legs and body.. luckily everything was provided but still the thought of crawling with my bare hands in the "mud" again freaked me out.. definitely a good experience with a cost of 16 pounds per pax.. no more mulu caves in my to-do-list.. yuckssssss..

Hola...

Finally i can access the internet.. we are at barcelona now and leaving for venice later..

Everything happened pretty fast and we are now half way thru our honeymoon in europe.. the wedding was great minus a few minor hiccups.. thanks to my dearest crankygal as the main coordinator.. muikian, jiawei, seowwen, weiling, tianlong and janet who helped out in the morning and lunch.. as well as kellin and kat.. we had a "special" solemnization as the JP is my folks' friend from bishan cc.. our guests were punctual and fun.. the day before we were still busy with the trip booking and packing.. as well as last min wedding prep (esp the montages).. now we have seen chateaus in loire valley, abby on mont st-michel and d day beaches from world war 2 at normandy.. paris.. barcelona.. famous of gaudi works and football match at the nou camp (fc barcelona vs deportivo).. the 3 months effort for the wedding and honeymoon really pays off..

So far we are lucky.. almost got pickpocket for past 2 evenings.. 1 in the train on our way for football match.. 1 at subway.. this one was scary and it happened in a blink.. if he succeed i would have lost my camera.. we saw them walk out in a hurry.. young chaps.. the person behind saw everything but din tell us until they walked away.. i was still in shock when we back to the hostel.. drive trip in france was great too.. just a few kisses of the curbs and 1 of the hub cap dropped at amboise.. lucky the man from hertz din spot any.. the view was scenic.. greeny and vast..

I had fun at the football match.. 1st time was in singapore.. a boring game and i was dying to go home.. this time since we din manage to get tickets for game in london we paid 48 euro per pax for fc barcelona.. i actually watched the game hoping to see a goal.. the stadium was huge and packed with ppl.. the atmosphere was exciting and "loyal".. supporters were cheering hard for fcb (barca), messi and ronaldino.. final score was barca 2 deportivo 1..

Alright have to end here.. will try to blog if i have access again.. meanwhile we will watch our pockets tight and venice here we come..

Chateau des Ormeaux

We pick this over Chateau du Guerinet after many days of comparing and researching.. this chateau has won Best Hidden Gem (world and europe), Best Bargains (europe) and Best for Romance (world and europe) from tripadvisor's 2006 travelers' choice.. dinner will be provided at 48 euro per pax with minimal 8 pax.. i hope there will be enough guests for that night.. looking forward..

http://www.chateaudesormeaux.fr/

ROM

We have collected our certificate of marriage.. 3 days to the wedding..

Excited.. finally..

We have been busy with accommodation researching and booking.. itinerary planning.. some highlights are as follows:

1. chateau stay in loire valley with dinner and breakfast (255 euros and i'm still thinking..)
2. mont saint michel and D day beaches
3. farm stay in uk

Will be renting car in paris and road trip to loire valley and mont saint michel.. 2 days rent is more ex than 3 days.. weird.. same for london.. 2 days rent and road trip to southern wales.. hehe.. our budget is getting more and more with all these special stay.. *stress*.. anyway.. need to settle all by this week..

Had my last fitting last evening.. hehe din lose much.. so sad.. but EG will be altered.. slimmer waist :P.. it keeps dropping.. album reviewed and will be ready on friday.. my MUA cannot make it at 630am.. need to sort out the actual day schedule.. montage still on the way.. haven't decide on match in songs.. geeee still plenty to do.. OMG..

Itinerary

After few days of searching and researching we have fixed on the cities that we are going in 2 weeks.. between rome and venice we picked venice.. we dropped geneva bcoz of the limited time and ex flights.. the budget airlines (ryan and easyjet) fares kept increasing since last week.. its complicated and tedious to find and compare fares and routes.. but still my dear managed to sort all out.. thanks dear *pat*.. about 300 euro in total.. accommodation is next.. goodness the rates are even more scary.. peak season.. spring and easter *pout*.. kinda tedious oso.. as i need to check the location, rates and reviews of the hotels.. hmm mayb it's better to join tours.. but i dun think so.. still fun to do free & easy despite of all the troubles.. flexible and interesting esp when we got lost :P.. geeezzz i'm getting excited..

Paris (26-30 mar)
Barcelona (30-2 apr)
Venice (2-5 apr)
London (5-8 apr)

Honeymoon

Yippie.. after sourcing high and low for cheap air tickets and package tours for so long.. we have booked sin-paris london-sin by emirates for 2 at 2426.. depart 26 mar 12:30am and return 8 apr 8:30pm..

Was considering qatar at zuji and emirates online.. the flight schedules are not so ideal.. emirates online is better.. luckily i have been lazy and indecisive.. keep delaying on the purchase.. last weekend we went suntec to check out sa tours, chan brothers and asa holidays.. so crowded and super long queue.. we gave up.. then later at night found out that chan brothers was offering 750 fare by emirates at the suntec fair.. geeeee was quite disappointed.. then i found this fare from misa travel on wed.. booked sin-paris-sin online on wed night and next day the fare was increased to 780.. luckily my booking locked the earlier fare.. after many queries and verifications we changed the outbound to london-sin.. the airport tax is ex.. difference about 180.. but to reduce traveling time we decided on this itinerary.. so excited.. think more excited over my honeymoon than the wedding :P.. but more planning to do.. itinerary, accommodation, car rental, etc etc.. another 2 weeks *grin*..

Clash

well.. this 24th mar must be an auspicious day.. we are having service centre move.. call centre application major upgrade.. pabx upgrade.. so most of my colleagues won't be able to attend.. so sad but still i will appreciate those who can turn up..

Fotoshoot pic selection

It's ready and took us about 2 hrs plus to select our 25 pics.. hehe no extra pics.. it's either get extra 10 pics and negotiate better price or none.. somehow after many rounds of viewing (lost count) we decided to keep to the given.. well.. personally just not used to how i look after the makeup and styling.. dun think i look good.. so anyways.. i may appreciate it when i grow much older :P

Guo da li..

another task down.. we are glad to have mk as our mei ren.. accompany and help him carrying some stuffs.. she went trekking with us on separate trip to pelepah.. with him on vday with xtrekkers and 2 weeks later with me and another gang.. so technically speaking she knew us both when we first met.. and so coincidentally we all work at alexandra.. hehe we often meet up for lunch.. or should i say my dear always make effort to arrange lunch *grin*..

my mom invited the relatives and cooked lunch.. we have prima deli sliced cakes and cans of pig trotters.. 12 boxes.. 2 vsop.. 12 oranges with xi stickers..ang baos and etc.. only went bedok south and north to pass invitation cards.. all and all.. everything went smooth and nice.. *peace*..

The Kissing Cat

An ex-co set up a store at klang valley and online store to sell bags and accessories.. so those who are keen juz check out the link.. it's quite decent.. so no worries..

The Dating Loft

A JC fren has set up a dating company to help singles to find the right ones.. well most of my frens are already married but we can always pass the message on.. simply click on datingloft under my links and check out the service..

i believe in fate.. it's about meeting the right person at the right time and the right place.. so share with your single frens and who knows.. he/she might meet the ONE.. for those who know us.. know how we met.. it's fated.. for those who dunno.. will know on our wedding day.. hopefully the montage can be done on time.. else i will try to blog it instead..

Happy birthday crankygal

You are the best.. i wish that only good things happen to you and all bad things to go away.. stay happy and bubbly always.. plenty of hugs and love..

See things thru...

Strongly feel that a wedding is a project and a process where you will see your hubby/wife-to-be, folks, relatives, frens, colleagues and ex-colleagues in a different light.. no wonder ppl say you will lose some and gain some.. always not to have expectations.. so glad to have a wonderful and supportive hubby-to-be.. love you dear..

Next to-do-lists

Still printing in process.. including envelops and some special cards (i hope it works *crossing my fingers*.. dear jiayou)..

Facial mask twice a week.. this watson brand really revitalizes and moisturizes my skin.. cheap and good.. montage.. buy cakes and "zhu jiao" for guo da li.. guo da li on 3 mar.. confirmation on number of tables on 16 mar.. appointment at rom for verification and statutory declarations, and confirmation with JP on 20 mar.. bed delivery and packing, and manicure and pedicure on 23 mar..

Aaaahhhhh... wat else did i miss out?!?!?!

Printing in process..

Yeah.. we have printed invites for our folks.. hehe red wordings for red cards.. so not tat tuff.. now test print for our frens.. tried many colors.. few colors are suitable for the insert paper color and card design.. lavender, peach, pink, lilac, sky blue etc.. finally we have decided on 1.. really sweet and soft *grin*.. but this is not done yet.. still need to tie ribbon on all these cards *pout*..

Busy day

Wash car.. reunion lunch with his family.. pack his room.. reunion dinner with mine.. bz bz bz..

Happy ZHU year.. may u and family blessed with happiness, good health and wealth.. gong xi gong xi..