My exploration in life… (diary for baby!)

This morning, Yen and I went to the Registrar after Coleman Street to get our particulars verified.  We were told to go down either on today or tomorrow, between 8.30 - 11.30 a.m., and to bring down our solemnizer’s consent form, a photocopy each of our witnesses’ (our mums’) NRIC, and our own NRIC.

We reached at about ten odd, and there was no available parking lots.  All were taken.  After waiting for about ten to fifteen minutes, one car finally moved.  And so I drove backwards to take the lot.  Only to find an idoit in a cap taking the lot faster than me!  I was VERY VERY ANGRY, and I blew my horn at him super many times; he and his lady partner in his car seemed oblivious to us!  What the *@+/&%!!

I was ready to get down our March to pick an argument with him, with his pregnant lady partner or not, if I weren’t stopped by Yen.  Besides, there were another two vehicles leaving and the priority was to get a lot for ourselves first, so I let it go…  By the time we were done with tearing our coupons, they were gone in the Registrar.  Lucky b*%&%d!

And so we took our queue number and waited.  It was about 45 minutes before our turn.  I guess what ROM does is to hold such a verification once every two weeks or so, so that they needn’t do this every day??  And after the verification of particulars (which lasted not more than ten minutes), we were issued with a Certificate of Marriage which was to be used on the date of the ROM and a confirmation of marriage licence issued from ROM.  We could finally register our marriage!  =)

In a bid to make the dinner a memorable one for all, and an impressive one for everybody who attends it, I want to go all out during this period while I’m on leave to ensure that happens. I’m going to get even the last detail right. And so, I got my friends to help me taste the wines I got.

It started out with my chancing on this wine shop in Bukit Timah area. I got one red and one white from them. Yen and I proceeded to another wine shop at China Square Central as I’d seen the shop being mentioned in some bridal magazine before. So there, we got 2 whites and 2 reds.

And finally, we went to the Macpherson area to get wines, 2 reds and one white from this recommendation that Yen got from her friend. Turned out that we could order from this merchant and return if the wines are unopened and in good condition.

I got my buddies and regular mahjong kakis from Shao Er Zu to meet up one fine Sunday afternoon at my place. I treated them to lunch of KFC and Pizza Hut and wine tasting. Of course, we couldn’t do without some mahjong! =)

So all thanks to them, I’ve got a red and a white picked. =)

You know the normal type of things you see after the emcee announces, "let’s now see a presentation the couple prepared."  And a cheesy (or not) powerpoint slideshow comes on, showing photos of the since they were young, their days together etc.

Find that a little cliched.  I don’t want our wedding dinner to be every other dinner you’ve attended.  Plus I do not take many photos, as I’m not photogenic.  Ok lah, I’m not handsome;  happy??  =(  grrr…  (haha…)

And so I met up with my pals (and NSF boys) KENNY and JINWEI (a.k.a. LAI).  These guys are great guys, talented in their areas with great attitude to get things done, therefore sought after by the current NDP committee as well.

We picked up from where we left off of our discussions in camp months ago before they left HQ 2 SIB for their current ones.  We had decided that KENNY would do a separate, out-of-the-box thingy for my wedding with YEN.

After wild ideas of videos thrown in, we decided against it eventually and KENNY told me, "We will shoot CHOON YEN and you a wedding MTV.  My friend would compose you a piece of music that you can call your own."

So we met up for a couple of times more to decide on locations to shoot, conversed through mail on the stuff to say on the script etc.  Ended up a few times that I told them rather than sitting at LOT 1 struggling to recall what was at the various locations, we might as well go see them!  And so we went of in RYEN’s MARCH (our car!), to do a couple of late night recce and stuff.

Due to time constraint on all our ends, we decided to keep the video to a couple of locations and three changes of clothes.  And we would only use one day (only daylight times was used!) to wrap up everything.  KENNY would get editing done later.  What did JINWEI do?  He was like a producer, or assistant to KENNY, providing a pair of hands needed.  They are a great pairing at work.

I’m really thankful I’ve great friends like them who did all that for us.  And I’m looking forward to the end product, really…  =)

The Banquet Manager(ess) from Meritus whom I am dealing with is Ms Adeline Tay.  A seemingly amicable lady and remains to be so till now, after my first contact with her in February this year…

My last meeting with her was a couple of days ago.  We went through points needing attention from both our sides.  Told her I’m bringing my own wine in (perhaps I’ll share about that separately on the wine tasting) and she gave inputs of needing to have them brought over at least two days earlier and so on.

That was when the military side of me set in as I’ve organised (or participated) quite many events in the SAF in my span of close to 8 years in the SAF.  Told her I wanted many signages on the way to our Ballroom, where I think the registration tables should be set up etc.  Could see that she became a little exasperated at my military style of working, and I decided that it is different in the civilian world, gave in a little to her views.

Explained to her that it is important to me, that the night is as impressive as I could get it.  Thus, I got the contacts of the wedding card designer (my mum still wanted some traditional style cards, sigh!) and florist.  I would talk to them and negotiate with them further on my expectations and wants.

I want to pleasantly surprise everyone who attends my dinner, though it may be more costly…  ("/)

Ok, a few things have happened so far and i’m gonna share them with whoever that reads my blogs.  =)

I’ll start off with a short one - touch on ROM first.  We had decided earlier to have our ROM on 7 Jun 05, with the help of the calculations of a Budhist Priest.  Yen’s mom is a devout Buddhist and she got our "eight characters" to the Priest to ask for his help to ensure the day is a good one for a longlasting and sucessful marriage.  You could never argue with elders, especially when she’s gonna be your mother-in-law!

I did a e-filing at the ROM website for the notice of intention of filing our marriage.  Turned out that the day was one that other couples already took to ROM at the Registrar proper.  So, we had to solemnise our marriage anywhere outside, with the help of a Justice of Peace.  Went through the list of them as they were broken into the different areas they covered.

Yen and I decided to choose one near where I stay; so the Justice in JURONG SPRING COMMUNITY CLUB was picked.  Gave him a call, he told us to file in with his registration number and he would meet me closer to the date.

Met him just 2 weeks ago, and paid for usage of the room.  Instructed us to go to the Registrar at the stated date to get our particulars checked.  Told us to remember our rings.  =)

Can’t wait for the actual day to come, where I’ll marry the woman of my dreams!  =)  =)  =)

Hi!  Today is the start of my annual leave - one whole shot until 9 Jul 05, the last day of my service in the SAF.  I’ll be joining MOE as a PE teacher after that.

Amongst the many reasons on why I leave the SAF, none of them points to the organisation being at fault.  The SAF is a very big oranisation that you could leave if you don’t fit (after the bond periods, of course).  I really don’t think it is fair for me to pinpoint the organisation.  Even if i’m unhappy with the many rules it has, the rules are started by people too!

So from now until 8 Jul 05, I’ll concentrate on making my biggest night yet a total success - one that Yen and I would look back on fondly later and say we have no regrets doing it the way we did it.  =)