Spring in here!

Planted some daffodil bulbs last autumn and its in bloom.

It is amazing how little things can start the day off with a cheer.

p/s: First try at gardening - hopefully the tulip bulbs come out too.

Life lessons

I've been browsing through for my usual lazy Sunday blog reads and stumbled across this write up by a popular Singaporean blogger.

To cut the whole story short

1. She is currently living with her boyfriend who is Caucasian.
2. She is wanting to settle down, have the big wedding, diamond ring, mixed kids etc
3. He is saying that since they are living together already, why rock the boat as in his own words "We are as good as married"
4. Due to that, she in her mind thinks that they are "engaged"
5. She has logged on HIS Facebook account and changed his rship status to engaged.
6. And has accepted and both Facebook status now reads as "engaged".

But SERIOUSLY!

I don't know really. Is marriage really needed these days? I have been doing quite a bit of thinking now that it has come to a point where I have to start planning the logistics of my own. I have 12 mere months before I become a Mrs (I am planning to keep the Ms thank-you-very-much) and even though it is not freaking me out *yet*, a small part of me does wonder sometimes. After all, I have been independent and living on my own since 16, I have travelled the world, I have/am working abroad, am used to calling the shots.

I already see changes in pattern.

It is not so easy wanting to just drop everything and get away from it all. I have the other half to think of (living together has its responsibilities).

I cannot simply just say "Honey, I am wanting to go off now, see ya later!"

The old (single) me would have just went away without care and reason.

Getting married is not simply about the wedding, it is about the marriage.

It is about compromise.

I have started thinking about the wedding prep though; am still uncertain whether I will have a celeb here in Melbourne but the slightly bigger traditional do will be held in Malaysia. The guest list here will be just family but the traditional wedding will also still be small for Asian standards. Nothing more than 180 ppl with only my close friends invited and the rest being from my parent's guest list.

The date has been set, the countdown now starts.

Barcelona, Spain

I'm going here! So excited, tickets have been booked and paid for and all its awaiting are the departure dates and I am off!

Side note: It has always been my dream to go to Spain someday. It was suppose to be with my girls last yr but somehow or another, it did not work out. After all, trying to organise 4 ppl from 3 countries to meet in another country ain't easy. BF remembering my disappointment from last yr suggested a side trip to Barcelona whilst we are in England and I jumped at the opp.. :)

Also planning to go for a Barca match at Nou Camp.

Winter wonderland - VIC snowfields Aug 2008

I'll let the pics do the talking this time. No action shots but as am going up to the snowfields again this weekend, will try to snap some.

Money money MoneY

I'm feeling very guilty.

In this recent months of dire straights and financial difficulties (where depending on the bank ) the standard variable rate home loan is at 9.58 per cent , BF and I have been spending like there is no tmr.

Things spent over the past few weeks -

1. Golf set - for him (from me)
2. A golf putter - for him
3. A golf driver - for him
4. Snowboarding boots - for him
5. Snowboarding pants - for me
6. Snowboarding hoodie - for me
7. Snowboard bags - from me for us
8. Flight tickets to Japan for 2 (from him for us)
9. Accommodation deposit for Japan for 2 (from him for us)
10. Leather boots - for me
11. Snowboarding trip - Mt Buller for 2
12. A Hugo Boss suit - for him (I'm expensing 1/2)
13. A Hugo Boss shirt - for him
14. 5 sessions with the personal trainer - for me
15. Some beauty products purchase - Kose, Clinique, Benefit

This does not cover my unexpected trip to Malaysia and the medical and other miscellaneous expenses that came with.

On top of that, my best friend is coming to Mel later on for a month, a mates wedding, a few more snowboarding trips, our trip to Europe coming up in October, trip to Malaysia next Easter for the wedding preps and the trip later the same yr for our wedding.

On top of that we both want new snowboarding jackets and have yet to finalise our tix and accommodations for Bruges and Amsterdam and football tix for a Premier League match in England. OMG!

Don't get me wrong - it is not like we are strapped for cash and we have all this debt on credit - we don't. The credit rating is still pristine and we are not struggling to pay the mortgage + bills. We also put away money monthly although saying that, without all these "expenses", the bank balance would have been much healthier if you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah - I know that we can't take it to the grave yadda yadda but perhaps.. mayhaps.. hmmm..

Yeah it will be nice to have a bigger place but that means getting a bigger mortgage. Or if we go down the other track of saying it will be nice to go out on every weekend like what I used to do before, it literally means drinking the money away PLUS most probably feeling like shit the next day.

It is a lifestyle choice now isn't it?

Living in "sin"

Coming from an Asian background, it was never in my grand scheme of things to feasibly think that there would be a point in time in my very degenerate future that I would be living in sin (or so would my relatives think if they ever find out) before *gasp horror* marriage.

*Yes*, I miiggght have on a few occasions (in my terrible 20's) mentioned to my folks that living together was a much more appealing option rather than being shackled in matrimony but never in their mind (and mine!) did I ever think that I would be one of those who would. I was a "good girl" after all ... albeit a few discretion's here and there.

Fast forward 10 yrs later and I am now very much ensconced in a rship, my parents are aware that we are living together (my relatives do not, his do) and after close to a yr of being...I now understand why a lot of live-in-couples never do make it down the aisle of matrimony. Hell, I would be happy to remain as is if it wasn't for these reasons:

1. The disapproval from my parents would be thaaaat high
2. I already have the rock on my finger

In my opinion, (of which I completely understand) is that lot of my friends who are in these said rships are that either 1 or both parties are afraid. After all, why rock the status quo? It is an interesting discussion this one? I mean, why is it that we are afraid of change? My rationality is, if one can get along NOW..living together, seeing each others good and bad, getting used to each others idiosyncrasy etc, why not make it permanent?

Yes, I understand the argument where it might be suggested that ppl change - but hell, what is one (or both parties) looking for? Looking (or waiting) for something better to come along perhaps? It simply does not make sense!

Furthermore, if one is to bring a child into the equation - yes, I understand that its all "acceptable' now for 2 ppl to have kids without marriage but I personally am old-fashioned that way. No kids without marriage. Side note - we still haven't decided whether we want kids at this point.

Anyways, yes - I am living in sin... here.

No - I think if I was still in Malaysia, it would not have happened. *shhh..ppl will talk after all!!*

This June I am into....

Busy busy period so taking a note of a fellow blogger who keeps things short and sweet... this June I am into:

Wearing: Tights especially fishnet ones. Its winter, its colder but that doesn't mean I have to be wearing pants all the time.

Eating: Home-made chicken congee made with my slow-cooker. A bit of spring onion, plenty of ginger, a dash of soy-sauce and white pepper and away we go!

Listening: Estelle feat Kanye West - catchy; with plenty of hooks to keep one captivated.

Watching: How I met your Mother season 3.. its the new Friends!

Enjoying: Just living. Sometimes one takes things for granted. Its the lil things that matter, really.

Planning: Whether I can afford to go on another holiday in Japan in January09 when I'm going to Europe in Nov08 and trips back home for wedding plans next yr.

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Am currently in Sydney and sneaking a breather ...