Wise words indeed, from the Beatles

I feel paralysed. Nicole is sweet and charming, and, of course, gorgeous, but Anna needs me. I don’t know how to explain it. Nicole is like… a really tasty wine Jell-O. But still, Jell-O. She doesn’t always understand me, either.

Anna, on the other hand, is so amazing that I sometimes feel a little intimidated by her. But she understands me. She’s like creme brulee… definitely not Jell-O.

Anna needs someone now, more than ever. I don’t know how she’s going to get through this. She made me promise not to tell John and Leng about her daughter yet, but how long can she keep this charade up?

I wish I could decide. And I wish things weren’t so complicated.

Do I want Jell-O or creme brulee?

I feel like this lonely flower...

The mysterious sms messages I have been getting finally made sense. I did not realise she is such a big girl now. She just showed up at the wedding unannounced, after the photo taking session, and asked for me. I was alone with Norman, sorting out the photography issues.

The girl just stood there, studying me. All she said was, “Mother?”

It was so long ago. I never forgave myself for giving her away like that but I was too young to look after a child.

I feel like I have missed out on so many birthdays, so many moments. What do I do? How do I make it up to her?

Look! My new desk at the office!

Finally, my career is seeing some progress! Philip has been really helpful as well, helping me to settle in at the publishing company. Copy editing isn’t the most glamourous job in the world, but it pays the bills. It helps when you have fun colleagues, like Philip. I shudder to think how boring the office would be without him around.

I wonder if Boon will go to the Jan and Elly English Awareness Pronunciation Workshop when he comes back. I think it will be useful for him.

Enough blogging! Off to lunch with Philip! I am famished!

Daniel and Theo singing my song at the wedding

I never knew my bro can write such romantic vows. I tell you, the Boonster didn’t expect to cry at the wedding. It’s not a man-man thing to do. But I used up all of Hui Min’s tissue paper. All seven packets of it.

I cannot wait for this company trip to be over. Hui Min said I should go even though I told her I wouldn’t. She said the trip was important for my career. New York is very cold! They use some weird measuring system.. inferior? No, no, imperial. Yah. They use the imperial system, and they don’t use km, they use miles. So confusing.

Boss wants to see me in his office after this trip to talk to me about the promotion. I don’t know if I am going to get it. I will have to come back to find out.

I miss Hui Min.

I miss the time we spend together improving my English. I miss her gentle laughter when I make mistakes. I miss how she never gives up on me.

I am going to join this Story-time and Reading Aloud course at RELC. I enjoy telling stories and since I started taking English lessons and working with Hui Min on improving my business English, I find myself wanting to do more. At first, I find it hard to learn English. Going for those early lessons was hard. I really wanted to quit.

Then once I got used to it, and got better, I felt more confident in class and using my new skills in life. People in the office also take me more seriously. Spending time with Hui Min when she give me “tuition” was the bonus haha!

Sure the promotion is important. Sure I thought I can impress my girl if I can be more England. Now, I am more interested in learning more because it is actually… fun. The Boonster wants to make his English more turbo! Hahaha!

And now by popular request, here is my item from the wedding. It is a slideshow with a song I wrote for them. I wrote the words of the song with some help from Hui Min. I got John’s friends, Daniel and Theo to play and sing it. The song is called “You’re the Words of My Song” and Hui Min and I selected some photos of the places John and Hui Leng used to date. I thought it turned out quite nice.

You’re the Words of My Song

We met at NTUC, you were
Just drinking bubble tea, I was
Simply passing time and you were
Like the finest wine

Took you to the skating rink, you looked
Just like a beauty queen, I was
Slipping on the ice and falling
I kept falling ever since.

You’re the words of my song
You’re the song on my lips
You’re the reason I smile
You are mine.

You’re the sun in the sky
You are blueberry pie
And the stars spell your name
You are mine

We took a cable car, you were
Dizzy and you saw some stars, then I
Held your hand, you said to me
Why are your palms so sweaty?

Took you to a kopitiam, ordered
Kopi-oh and kaya toast, then we
Walked along the sandy beach, I took
The ring and I proposed

You’re the words of my song
You’re the song on my lips
You’re the reason I smile
You are mine.

You’re the sun in the sky
You are blueberry pie
And the stars spell your name
You are mine

These are the places where we’ve been
Where we shared ice cream and laughter
Don’t know what our plans will be
Just be Happy Ever After

You’re the words of my song
You’re the song on my lips
You’re the reason I smile
You are mine.

You’re the sun in the sky
You are blueberry pie
And the stars spell your name
You are mine

And the stars spell your name

The Rest Of Our Lives Together

My wife. Two weeks after the wedding, it still gives me a thrill every time I say it.

Now that all the fuss and stress of the wedding is over, Leng and I can finally enjoy each other’s company again.

The most beautiful sight on our honeymoon tour of Thailand wasn’t what one would expect. It wasn’t sandy beaches, or clear blue water, or even the ruins at Ayuthaya.

It was the sight of Leng, in the soft light of the morning, her face quiet and peaceful as she still wandered in dreamland, fast asleep. Every single day.

The gift of love is more important than a big fat wedding

What a silly child I was, to be worried about ridiculous things like photo shoots and gown patterns. It all made sense when I saw how happy John was when I said my wedding vows.

It’s not about whether the roses are the right shade of pink, or if your gown is custom-made Vera Wang. All that matters is you’ve got each other.

I also got this letter from Mum, just before the wedding, when I was at my most stressed about it.

Dear Leng,

With all my love,
Mum

Words cannot do love justice. But Mum’s words come very close.

The ties that bind...

Oh, what a day it was!

John, Leng, I’m so, so happy for the two of you. Those vows were so sweet! For posterity’s sake, I’ve recorded both your vows here. I hope your kids will read them one day and know how much their parents love each other.

John’s Vows:
You are my sun, my moon, my stars, my everything.
I will cherish you in sickness and in health
In good times and in bad
Thank you for loving me for all that I am and all that I am not

Leng’s Vows:
I will love you in days of little and in days of plenty
I will love you through the thick and the thin
I will love you when the skies are blue and when your hair is grey
Thank you for being the man you are, and the man you want to be.

Sniff. I’m such a softie.

Boon Huat, that was a video slideshow to remember! I must admit, I was quite apprehensive when you mentioned the dancing pineapples in your special item previously so I am glad you went a different direction. I want the lyrics, please!

Leng, I’m glad you and John enjoyed the post-wedding party we threw for you. I’ve never seen you so tanned before – did you fall asleep in the sun in Phuket?

Nothing like a good moscato

Not having a job has been driving me crazy. So, I applied for a job selling wine on weeknights… at the kopitiam below my block. Yes, it sounds crazy, but I just happen to know a bit about wine , and Leng’s pretty busy in the evenings fulfilling baking orders, so this is actually a good way to keep me occupied. Plus it frees me up during the day to go for interviews. Speaking of which, I stumbled upon a website with really good tips on using language effectively in interviews. It should definitely improve my chances. I never knew that verbs could make or break your career!

Am I going to be left on the shelf like a shrink-wrapped, soon-to-expire, piece of fruit?

Maybe.
Maybe I’m too fussy.
Maybe my expectations are too high.
Maybe I’m no longer marketable.
Maybe I’m past my ‘expiry date’.

Maybe.

But.
Maybe I’m overthinking this.
Maybe I should ask him out.
Maybe he won’t be distracted by the many women in his life.
Maybe.

This is where I met Nicole C, at this tavern in Stratford-Upon-Avon, where I was doing a shoot. And now she's back.

This is crazy. I was at Starbucks yesterday, editing a photo, and guess what, Nicole C., my hottest ever ex, walks in! And she walks right up to me, kisses me on the cheek, says, ‘How have you been, darling,’ and promptly arranges a photo shoot with me next week!

All these women, just showing up from out of nowhere. And all I can think about is how much I like Anna.

But she’s blowing hot and cold to my advances.

Is it because of my age?

Is it my choice of career?

Is it my choice of deodorant?