50 Shades of Wellbeing

Hello  my lovely readers,

I don't think any of you have ever expected me to be a source of inspiration for keeping fit. I am just one of those people who lounge around and complain that I am fat when my collarbones are still showing. I take my body for granted I do. But whilst you aren't seeking inspiration from me, I have been observing these two girls on their wellbeing journey and I am thrilled for them because I see the results that they have been able to achieve.

Source

I find Alina's posture has improved significantly and she has centred her core well so that she doesn't need to be constantly shifting her weight when standing still. Do you realise how much more better one comes across just by having better posture? Astounding change.

And Penny? She looks so much more radiant and I cannot beleive how much more energy she seriously has now because she has so much conviction in achieving her personal health goals, and she has so many effective tips and tricks for how she makes it all work and fit into her lifestyle which she would love to share with other women aspiring for the same thing.

Now these aren't fad diets, there weren't drastic changes to their work commitments, they haven't stopped having fun with their friends. Behind their desk jobs, amidst their active social lives, they have created a healthier lifestyle that now sees them as two normal, vibrant and most importantly, healthy individuals. I beleive the whole commitment began over a year ago now, it was 1st October when they had that last cigarette, and we kept thinking they would quit, but they haven't and they just keep achieving new health goals.

So, if you seek inspiration, please do like their FB page, and stay tuned as they share their effective methods and prove how you can still be fit whilst holding on to a desk job.

When someone embarks upon a long distance relationship

Life has been tough working on the long distance. But in truth, it hasn't really begun yet because I haven't yet gotten to begin the Skype and Viber calls.
I keep missing the boy when he What's apps me and it really sucks. For a moment I begun to believe I really suck at this game. But first let me back track a little.

Day 1:
I probably struggled a little when I came back into the room after the airport and after saying goodnight to my in-laws, being all alone, shed some private tears.

Then I decided to nurse my heart with Modern Family episodes on the TV setup Mr.HEA left me with and I slept quite alright.

Getting up on Day 1 was tender, I was fragile. I wasn't sure what state I should be in, but the in-laws acted normal so I had no reason to act otherwise. Walking to work in the new neighbourhood and learning this new routine, I kept checking my thoughts, taking deep breaths before the tears rolled down my cheeks. And this was my revelation, I kept thinking like he was never coming back...or that I had lost him. But how odd is that when I really could fare worse, it could be like the Time Traveller's wife (I don't know why but this story relates best to me at the moment for solace) when her husband dies and she knows she only gets one more chance to see him in her future. I am luckier, I have Mr.HEA to Skype, Viber and What's app and email if I so fancy. The point is, he is away, but not gone.

So I straighten myself up and carry on.

An observation though, people tend to want to offer hugs and words of kindness and support. I feel touched, but I can't take them right now. The funny thing is, Mr.HEA's cousin's done the exact same thing as Mr.HEA and left her long-term partner behind. Sharing with him, he tells me he gets that too, but they also feed him cause they are possibly worried that no one is feeding him anymore. Funny.

Thanks everyone who have tried to get in contact to help me grieve/ tide over the period, but truly, your kindness makes me weak at the moment and I need strength more than anything.

And my solution is to focus on the other things that I can do without being reminded of Mr.HEA, and thank goodness there is plenty.

I work, and pour myself into my job. I catch up with my friends that are not mutual friends of ours, I talk to my mum and brother and have a good laugh. I watch comedies and organise things around the room to make life as normal and comfortable for myself as I possibly can instead of moping around. And I take the time to take care of myself, investing time in my beauty routine and getting more exercise and beauty sleep.

Day 2:

Today I am a lot stronger and didn't have to take as many deep breaths to collect myself. I did learn that my GM views my long distance relationship as a business risk though and I do not know if I should feel honoured that I am viewed to be that important, or if I should be upset that the business could be so unfeeling about my personal life. Anyhoo, I am not making a big deal out of this until they do.

I keep missing Mr.HEA's What's App msges. I guess using the iPhone 3 does make this What'sApp thing a lot harder with all the delayed responses. I am sad I haven't been getting to hear his voice, but I just have to keep patient and vigilant for the phone notifications and not let it get the better of us.

Also got a little distracted because I had ordered mum flowers online for her bday and got jipped because the delivery was two flowers short





and there was certainly was a lot more foliage than the picture showed!
What a rort?!!!

Sometimes a little retail fury is just what the doctor's ordered for some long distance strength. That and some gin.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lucky

It has been a lucky weekend. On the way driving to the Cinema to watch Ted and we mentioned having the whole cinema to ourselves and what a treat it would be. We got there and look at this! Just us plopped right in the middle of it all. Except that as soon as the ads were finishing, more people came in so the treat was very short lived.

We also went to a Karaoke sesh, one where they rate your performance and Mr.HEA and I scored a perfect 100 for belting out Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat's Lucky . Yay!

But that wasn't where the luck ended for being married to my best friend. I took off my wedder and slipped it into my jacket pocket whilst gardening with Mr.HEA and whilst bending over, it fell out into the mulch. I spent over an hour combing the laid in mulch and was very close to tears when my Superman husband with his x-ray vision finds it after I had given up. Hurrah!

Also tried my luck at making the perfect pork crackling and third time lucky, here's the evidence. Makes for awesome beer food take my word for it.

Last but not least, we had been very frustrated with our bank and was livid with a phone call they made to us on Friday night. So much so we almost broke up with them and trust me, we ran through all the paperwork to switch over the weekend. But just as we were preparing it all to go into the envelope to mail off, I asked Mr.HEA a question about whether we would be slapped with penalty rates for exiting the loan and upon looking it up, we caught on that we would have been slapped with a $5k penalty rate/ clawback, whatever you would call it. Aiks! Close Shave.

Hugging Mr.HEA last night, reassuring him that we had saved ourselves albeit having spent all the last month investigating this refinance option, I really thanked God that we were able to listen to each other through frustrating times and that we have been able to think through these adult decisions together as we find our feet through married life.

If you still aren't convinced it's lucky being married to your best friend, then what is? :)

Do you believe in Star-crossed lovers?

No really... How many times have you had to try and give a good friend (who's had their heart broken) some story about why they should not give up on love or why someone is their perfect someone and is waiting for them?

My latest story is about my real life idol who I always share with my gal friends about because she is our Singaporean Carrie Bradshaw. She is only nine years older than me but has really captivated my imagination of the world I wanted for myself when I grew up.

Because I wanted to emulate her beauty, I used her favorite cosmetics, SK II. Because I loved her jet-setting life, I studied international business. Because I adored her style and self-confidence, I always followed her antics with the greatest interest even if she was a very private person. After several relationships, and a severe battle with depression, I see her soar again now with a story that inspires my friends who at this age want to give up hope that they might ever meet Mr. Right.

My idol met her love not too long ago and will get married this year. He's bought her a penthouse and a Cartier ring and an apartment in Paris I believe the rumors were. I was so happy that her Happy Ever After was looming as we had never gotten this close before.

This isn't the princess's dream though. It isn't something you read to little girls at night. For who ever went to bed thinking one day that she will grow up to become the stepmother? You see, her package comes with kids and that she had to wait patiently for his family to accept her before all this could happen.

I suppose this shows that sometimes, the package might not come the way you were looking for, but if you kept an open mind, you'd find your Mr. Right-for-you in a way least expected by you. I mean there is no hard and fast rule as to what Mr. Right should be like, or which pool you'd find him in.

I found mine in a man who was the shoulder I needed, the strength that I lacked and the patience and wisdom of the world I never had. I was looking to play the field when he asked me to go out having been hurt in the previous two relationships and sick of it. But S was to me all those years ago, like the pastel blue unicorn I found at school that had broken off someone's pencil, an alluring piece of throwaway that I kept because I was sure I'd need it someday but was not sure right then what I'd need it for but I didn't want another to have it. Thankfully, I was curious to see what we could have and I was curious to see if He could teach me to know that Love, you know, that as Carrie puts it," Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient , consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love."

I imagined that one day I may find out that our paths have crossed before and some sign would show that we were just meant for each other. Now, it just doesn't seem so important anymore as I know our Love is just what we want to make of it.

Random things until I find my voice

Hmmm... there have been a few things to mull over of late, amongst which are the questions of where our marriage is headed towards. Somewhere underneath the happy shopping and warm cups of Nespressos shared with the Husband, there are conversations that we are having that I have not shared with my blog or my family and friends.

That is, no we are not expecting as I have had a lovely sushi lunch today and am enjoying a casual drink tonight out of our wedding favours of Hendrick's Gin & Tonic.
When I was at Nobu just over a week ago I ordered this very drink and heard a man amongst the patrons explain to his female companion why there was a cucumber in my drink as I carried it to the sushi bar. I do not understand why it works either, but the cucumber accentuates just how smooth and almost menthol-like the finish is on this particular scottish gin. Absolutely divine.

I digress. Anyways, there isn't much I am prepared to share yet, mostly because the conversations have not led anywhere remotely concrete yet. But I can share this. There will not be any little HEAs in the horizon. I might be clucky, but there are other things Mr.HEA needs to achieve first before we head down that path and as impatient as I am, I hope to be able to support him in his dreams, pursuits and ambition. At least for now, when I can afford the time.

I promise I will share, and then explain my decision further to those of you who might judge differently. At this point in time, I am still easily swayed otherwise, so I cannot write with certainty.

There are other things to be happy about in the meantime, beyond being able to drink irresponsibly and eat without reservation just about anything I might fancy...I also am able to shop at whim and put more time into building my career. Ahhh, that next step. I have been taking a few meetings with our stakeholders by myself of late. Lotsa autonomy at work and empowerment which I treasure dearly. Today over coffee with a client, I found that my milk jug had left a rather curious stain on the wooden table and I could not resist a happy snap.

Perhaps this was life's way of letting me know that there is something happy to smile about still. Even in something as simple as the embrace of a loved one, the kiss of a friend and the smile of a milk stain.  

Recipe for the perfect day with the Husband - the inpromptu version

This recipe serves 2 but can easily be multiplied to include other couples with a few compromises

Preparation time: Less than 2 hours from idea inception

Ingredients:
Sunny weekend with no concrete plans
Good humoured spouse x 2
Live near enough to a nice beach/ park
Picnic Basket- ours come with plates and cutlery so there's less to pack
Beach Towels/ Picnic Mat
Leftovers or well stocked fridge (In our case we had a barbie the night before and had a mound of fresh leafy boccocini salad, curry puffs, chicken drumsticks, Pumpkin and pine nuts angel hair pasta and chilled Solo cans in the fridge)

Method:
1) One spouse notices the good weather and mentions to other spouse that they should go outdoors.
2) The other spouse then mentions that a picnic at the beach (substitute locale with preferred beautiful place to your fancy) is in order!
3) The spouse in charge of cooking then whips together quick meals from fridge: For us it was tossing salad, warming up pasta and meat and curry puffs before packing into tupperwares, but other ideas could be to put together a leftovers club sandwich, a quick pasta salad or bread, crackers, cheese and dips and fruit.
4) Whilst food is in oven, quickly toss on appropriate outfit that suits the locale. In my case it was a cossie and a cute purple beach dress.
5) Apply sunscreen on all exposed areas.
6) Pack beach towels into beach bag and make sure you've got your M.I.L.K (Money, Identification, Lippy, Keys)
7) Now that you are ready to leave the house, cold drinks and water are placed in a separate compartment from the hot food and picnic basket is closed up to maintain the temperature of food and drink.
8) Gather other spouse and hop into car. Optional: Wind down car windows and blast poppy happy music like Jason Mraz.
9) Drive to selected Destination and find parking
10) Find good spot, preferrably with good views (Also Optional: Put on sunnies so that Spouses can enjoy 'good views' of the buff Bra Boys sans detection) and set up towels/ blankets.
11) Unpack picnic and enjoy!






















Footnote: Apologies if you really wanted an actual recipe, I was just mucking around today. To make it up to you, I promise I will share a proper recipe post with you this week. Am deciding if it should be a dessert one or a simple weeknight meal dish. Let me know which one you'd prefer and I will happily oblige!

 - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Great Target Sales haul

We had an Uh-May-Zing shopping trip this weekend as part of our routine visit to the local Westfield.

S and I have been struggling over the subject of lamps. S being happy with his childhood one without spending exorbitant amounts on something a bit more 'adult'. His heart was set on spending our money on something more decadent, a Nespresso machine. I wasn't as excited about it as I was trying to cut down on my coffee intake. So with that 'tiff' in mind we set out to Woolworths.

I bought some ingredients for pizza baking, and for the red velvet cupcakes that I planned to make for my manager's farewell on Tuesday. I also topped up on Maldon Salt flakes and rock salt as we had run out, and put into the trolley a 'Living Basil' plant that I intended to put into a pot to add to my herd garden.

All through that, S stayed put in one place cause there were too many people around the supermarket what with the 3 minute angels and the face painters Woolies had brought in to keep the shoppers happy. It was just too hard to push the trolley around with me. He had also found a discarded Target catalogue to amuse himself with and so was more than happy to let me zip along the aisles and come back to the trolley with our groceries.

As I unloaded our last lot, he showed me that Target had 40% off all table lamps! And a whopping 50% off tin bakeware! So we hurriedly paid and left our groceries in the car before rushing off to Target. Moments later we re-emerged new happy owners of these lovely lamps at $24 each! And we got ourselves a proper pizza pan and a brand new muffin tin! Yippee!

Surely you see how much more of an improvement this is from the previous bedroom post!

We made the yummiest thin crust pizza with success this time!

And ah, you should know too that I have agreed with S that we'll get a Nespresso machine cause he dragged me to Myer to convince me that the model he seeks after will really not take up too much room on my precious little kitchen countertops. And let's face it, I do love good coffee every now and then, given S and I eat brunch at home on the weekends nowadays, it will just add another level of enjoyment to our simple married life. We get it from the Good Guys next week because they start a Cashback deal on the 19th of March.

Thoroughly spoilt

I have had the best birthday this Friday gone past. It is late and I am tired but I feel like if I go to bed, this beautiful day will end and so I must write it all down so that I can at least dream about it.
I started the day thinking oh my I have some fine lines now. Where I once thought I was invincible and didn't care about the biggest beauty faux pas of rubbing my eyes excessively, I am now paying for it. So I took action and got myself an early bday present from Strawberry net (actually my bellabox which arrived the day before would have been the first part of my bday pressies, but we'll start here). Chanel for my peepers!

Can't complain if you can get Chanel for under fifty bucks!
I got to work and saw this taped on my monitor:

And this on my desk:

Well this was all good so far but i wasnt expecting more, cause we all already had cake on thursday:

And lunch on Tuesday at Fratelli fresh:

But then my manager walks in with this!

At this point I was so flabbergasted. My team has really gone overboard already. But i read through my fifteen emails and one of it was from the mailroom saying i've got a delivery to pick up:

They also got me yummy edible blooms. Whee!
So after hugging and kissing and telling everyone about my other pressie from S being:

And being really excited over the chatter, Pete from concierge calls up for me to come down and sign for these:

I had to choke back a tear at this card:

Who'd knew that S could be even more sweet and romantic after we got married?

Sighs... If only this day wouldn't end. We went on to musashi for dinner before the show and I will blog about it another time, I absolutely loved it and am sure my thoughts on it would be another whole post.
But throughout all this, I had been getting messages and what's apps from friends and family, not thinking I needed to check FB. When I finally did, I grew weak at the knees; so humbled and overwhelmed... I had 59 posts on my FB timeline today. And America just got up, so I think there could be just a couple more. Truly truly blessed birthday and very very spoilt.
Having this today, and sharing my edible pressies with everyone, I sigh with contentment and know that even if next year's isn't as fabulous, my memories of today will suffice.
Celebrating with today's sweet:

Date night

Do we really need another reason as to why Sydney is the best place to live in?





Balmy summer nights, dining alfresco by the water gazing into the eyes of your loved one.





Watching a movie when the sun sets and sharing an ice cream sandwich.





Definitely highly recommended!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Full circle

I last went to La Perouse nine years ago when S took me a few months after we got together for a picnic that he had packed. I had been impressed with his fare little knowing then that what had won my heart was really Mama Happyeverafter's cooking.

Well, today we came full circle when he took me back there a few months after we got married, on a whim.

























I don't know what these chairs were doing there. But it looked like there had been a Deep and Meaningful session and there was a really mysterious quality about it all.

'twas nice going on a date with my husband though it ended quite quickly with me needing to come home to make dinner for us.

It wasn't much to blog about really, I burnt the crackling out of sheer impatience. But before that, my orange and Harissa leg of pork looked real promising:

















Our side was a little more successful, an egg and potato salad, tossed with corn, crab and pink salmon, in whole grain mustard and creamy mayo.








On to watching a torturing match between Nadal and Djokovic

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Our Masters of Ceremonies

Getting friends to MC your reception is a huge ask. I never thought about this until we got rejected by S's High School friend and felt a huge shock about it. I mean, we've been to other weddings of our friends where he had been emceeing for and he had been absolutely fabulous! I asked him coyly once if he would do it for us when S and I do get married and he (albeit drunkenly) did cross his heart and swear that he would!

Anyways, the search for a new MC really became a challenge as I know people have famously put the fear of public speaking right up there with the fear of dying. I did think that S being a lawyer and having been in the Debate team in school would have several contacts suitable for the task, but we got rejected two more times in the process.

Then we approached two friends from our really close knit group, heart filled with anticipation of rejection and they surprisingly said yes! We never told them that they weren't our first pick. I mean we hadn't thought of them as someone who would be keen to speak publicly before, but they made asking them so easy that we were really thankful for it and didn't make any more demands from them.

On the day itself though, R and C really came through for us. The first guy who rejected us was in the audience as our guest and I think he hung his head in shame as R & C showed him down and did a really personalised performance that outshone anything he could ever have done in his MCing career.

So I know I alluded to their performance before, but after getting yet some more rave reviews from some other guests yesterday, I really wanted to explicitly note down how awesome my friends were in what they did for us.

R & C introduced us by telling everyone why we had chosen a NYC theme (and both sportingly braved hat hair by putting on Yankees caps), being that S had proposed to me there.

They then went on to explain that the first song we were dancing to was from Jersey Boys, the play we watched in NYC on the very same trip. And then whilst introducing the bridal party, they did little spiels about the bridal party because we were all friends and so they had some really lovely things to say about each bridal party 'couple'.

Whilst there was a lull in the reception as I was getting changed, R & C came out into the crowd in I Heart NY T-Shirts and backpacks. They then went to each table which were named after boroughs and places in NYC pretending to be lost tourists and interacting with our guests, asking for directions to Central Park which was the name of our Bridal table! When they finally 'found' Central Park, R cracked a joke about how C got caught up in Broadway because of all the pretty girls that were there which was an inside joke because C's girlfriend was sitting on that table.

Then, as we were performing our first dance, they quietly slipped away for a third costume change of the night and came back in Broadway splendour!

I loved how much effort they had put into the whole night. They also shared little insights into S and I with the guests as R & C has known us throughout the last 9 years and did have many funny stories to tell.

To top it all off, after all that when they were finally let off their duties and could finally enjoy the reception like every other guest, they cajolled our photographer to take pictures of them in each of their costumes at our Crazybooth so that we could have them as a keepsake for our happy memoirs from the wedding.

Better friends I could not have asked for and I know we were truly blessed and undeserving because of how much fuss I kicked up after the first guy rejected us. I know, I owe R & C a lot and we hope that one day we will be able to pay them back for their great efforts.

Kibera Paper

I got a late Xmas Card at work in the mail this week. It may be the last, but it was definitely the best one. It was made for me by a woman called ElPhridah Ngori from Nairobi under this beautiful project called Kibera Paper.

I think receiving Christmas cards is already something really thoughtful and lovely in this day and age. On top of that, knowing that what I held in my hands has probably helped improve the life of another human being in poverty somehow just made it more sentimental.


From the website:

The project was started to assist the women who live in Kibera Slum, the largest slum in Nairobi; majority are widows. The women are engaged in making handmade cards from waste papers.They recycled the papers and produce cards, by selling the cards they earn some income.Helping them to escape from some of the extreme problems of urban poverty. The Project started with 6 women and now has grown to accomodate 24 women who make cards.

I will be sending my Christmas cards 2012 from them. Watch for it!

There's a new boy on the block: Weber Q!

The Weber finally made S as keen a cook as I am and now there is actually a chance that he will be able to put dinner on the table for me! *wink*

Seriously, everyone that loves a good barbie should get one. S couldn't cook until today and we weren't full believers in the Weber Qs, but we are true converts now. I ~heart~ our new Weber. If only we could get some true summer weekends or evenings now so that we can lay back with ice cold beers and just enjoy a good meal cooked by Weber... I mean Mr.Happyeverafter.

Simple life simple musings

We are coming into summer days now. Every morning is sunny going into work. The flowy floral dresses showing off tanned legs and arms are everywhere in the city and there is a cheer in the air as people having had a good Melbourne cup are now planning their Christmas parties and booking NYE plans.

S and I are working hard on our house now that we are back. We spent the weekend mowing, weeding, raking and replanting the lawn. I am so excited at the prospects of the new lawn that I could sit there and watch the grass grow...literally! S has caught me once.

We also went to Moore park supacenta and scored this grand tv entertainment unit from Nick Scali in the sales. S was stoked I can tell. For it really did tick every box of ours. It was white, high gloss, the right height, good quality and just the right price. And it has enough slots for all of S's gadgets and gizmo's! Twas a good weekend that just went past.

Well I wondered last night if I could be happier if we had posted our engagement on Facebook so that 78 or so people can 'like' it? Or if he could make me feel more secure by changing our Facebook status to include our relationship. Or if he could do grand gestures so that the voyeur in me can post up details along with pictures so that our friends can gag on our romance. Perhaps tis true what Lady Fairfax says: that Jealousy is the last resort of the insecure.

But when I do reflect on the little things he does do for me, like folding my laundry and putting them away, or like marinating the chicken so that it's easier for me to make dinner when I get home from work, or just him taking the initiative to research council law to find out how to get rid of that tree that really annoys me in the backyard...I know I don't need Facebook affirmation to help me articulate his affections for me. We are happy just the way we are.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Perfect template for an Australian-Malaysian Chinese Wedding

It's official! And we have had a beautiful day on Saturday... S is so happy and I am so glad we pulled it all off without any big glitches.

I can't believe we pulled it off! All the year's hard work and planning all really paid off on the day and we were so showered with gifts and compliments that we were really humbled to have been able to share this beautiful moment with such close friends of ours...

What worked well:
- All our wedding vendors were fantastic and very professional. They have proven that they were worth every penny paying for and all arrived when they said they would and did everything as we had discussed and made sure everything was running per schedule... we were always ahead of time for the day!
- All of our relatives and friends that S and I hand-picked for specific tasks, they were really responsible and made sure they took care to be able to make our special day that much more of a delight for us.
1) Our MCs took our NYC theme and our personalities and totally ran with it which blew us away. We could have paid a professional and not achieved this effect in a million years!
2) The ushers who made sure the guests were well attended to and that all the gifts, bubbles, programs were handled and handed out properly
3) The aunty who cooked all the delicious food and made sure we all had enough to eat! I ate more than I have been told Brides get to eat on their special day cause everyone took really good care of me. I got nutritious food, water, caffeine and alcohol all at the right moments of the Day to sustain me and help me pull through the whole day.
4) Our priest who made sure I didn't end up crying a single drop throughout the ceremony and was told afterwards that I was the happiest bride the guests had ever seen. It was one of those weddings!It was my secret wish; I am so glad!
5) Our friends who helped us check into the hotel so that all we had to do after such a long and exhausting day was to siddle up to our room and relax!
6) Our bridal party who gave us refreshments, carried umbrellas, constantly supplied me with lip gloss when I needed it...and drove us around on the day. They even saved us on the dance floor when no one would join us on the floor to dance and unrehearsed...they did a fantastic job!
7) My fabulous cousins, MF and G and the plus ones they roped in to help, Y and A, for the wedding day from the start to the finish of the day. They might not have realised it at the time, but they were my angels in helping us pull together the strings that made the event seamless and picked up the pieces that I didn't manage to catch...
8) The Cake, Music, speeches, outfits, jellybeans, Crazybooth, restaurant food, wedding cars...all worked a treat and were big hits!

What I needn't have worried about after all:
1) My reception dress's length! Surprise surprise... cause the tulle got caught inside the dress and never fell out to cover my shoes after all and in the buzz of the night, I never knew better and the guests were none the wiser... so focussed were they on the details and the design of the dress...no one figured out that it was too short!
2) The weather. We really were blessed...as many of the other brides we bumped into at The Rocks and Observatory hill would attest to... there was no rain until the pictures were done and by then we were safely indoors!
3) Accomodation for out-of town guests.... they all sorted themselves out and found free accomodation with friends and relatives and I never needed to have offered!
4) Budget...of course I couldn't have been a spendthrift either and gone overboard...but we were so blessed with our guests' generosity that we are not in debt post-wedding and all up, probably only spent $10k max on everything wedding and honeymoon related.

S says this day has raised the bar for all multicultural weddings and we were able to create a day that was truly us and enabled our guests to really enjoy what we stood for and our heritage, that being Australian-Malaysian Chinese. I am sure this is a biased opinion....but the fact that I received this wedding card during the reception, it was really the only thing I hoped for... and I did it!