In Memoriam: Fatty

I hate that I'm writing this post right now while you're still here.

But I need to write this because I know that I will be an inconsolable wreck if I had to write this once you've left us. I'm choking up and tearing up as it is, typing this while you're still here. But I have to write this, I can't not pay tribute to my grumpy bundle of joy, who I've known since I first moved to Perth in 2001.

I always say I've known you for 13 years because you were never meant to be mine. You were just the neighbourhood cat who would come up to me, tail waggling hypnotically, for a little scratch behind the ear. You eventually graduated to emotionally-manipulating me with your utter cuteness to score some calamari or shrimp off my marinara pizza.

Little did I know that you were abandoned and that you would be the reason that I'd move out of my cramped Nedlands apartment (which I needed to move out of anyway) so that I could take care of you properly.

And gosh, were you a pain in the ass when we moved to our new villa. We had to keep you in the garage while we were out and every time I drove home and opened the garage door, there you'd be, sitting right smack in the middle of it, making it impossible for me to drive. You'd then take your own sweet time to saunter up to the car (because clearly, moving out of the way wasn't an option) and if I was lucky, you'd just jump in the car, sit on my lap (or the passenger seat) and drive in with me. Other times, you'd play hide and seek around the car and give me a heart attack trying to corral you into the house.

But you know what, despite all the heart attacks, you were worth every single one of them.

You were a mostly delightful cat when you weren't trying to steal my food. While I understand that most cats are generally inquisitive where food was involved, you seemed to have advanced skills at barging your way into my face while I was trying to eat.

You loved hanging around us hoomanz. Usually on your own terms, content with being in the same room with us, or subjecting us to being nothing more than an oversized pillow for your fuzzy butt.  

 

But that was just your way of loving us. I know you loved me for you were my constant companion, always sleeping by my side, keeping me warm in winter. Curling up next to me when I'd had a particularly bad day/night.

 

Even if I did subject you to ten million and one, unnecessary selfies.

 

 

It was devastating to receive your prognosis - hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. They said you only had a year, in the best case scenario, yet you outlasted that. You stayed feisty right to the very end... even smacking the kittens when they tried to push your buttons.

And that's the Fatty I know and love... and if I had to do it all over, I would have adopted you as my own sooner. I'm just glad I saved you from a life of withering away in the streets.  

RIP my little con artist. I'm sure you'll put your skills to good use over by the rainbow bridge. Thank you for choosing me to be your person.

I'm Married... What?!

So we’ve been married for… 5 days now… and it still hasn’t really sunk in.

Maybe it’s because we’re STILL cleaning up the aftermath of the reception on Saturday – probably the only downside of having the reception in your backyard! But I am glad we went that way nonetheless; it would have been a shame to waste money on a venue when we had a perfectly HUGE backyard to host the outdoor wedding we wanted anyway!

And despite threats of rain, the day was absolutely beautiful. A few clouds and moments of overcast sky but it warmed up in the end and we had some lovely rays of sunshine. I think God heard my prayers to delay the rain because it certainly bucketed down the next day. Ant and I stood by the door on Sunday morning, watching how saturated the yard had become and thanked our lucky stars.

Repeatedly.

We were so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed themselves. Our wedding wasn’t big and fancy. But it was us.

The menu reflected what we loved to eat instead of relying on preset, generic menus offered by catering companies. Our candy buffet, was somewhat quirky – unlike the neat, colour-coordinated professional set ups you can order, we decided to use a mish mash of vintage glassware, new pieces and borrowed items. We filled them with lollies from different corners of the globe  – peanut butter cups in one jar, candy love hearts in another and hawflakes and white rabbit candies in others… to name a few.  I’m just a little annoyed we forgot to put up our mini hot air balloon to reference Around the World in 80 Days! D’oh!!!

All those hours spent decorating the mason jars were worth it too.  Even the kiddies loved using them – the special tumblers we bought for them were ignored!!

Speaking of kids, it was so lovely to see my new nieces get along so well with the clone army kids.

Both Ant and I can’t believe how well they interacted with each other. It was also lovely to see how genuinely happy they were for us – Ava and Lola (Ant’s nieces) kept coming up for cuddles. And the only JUST met me on the Thursday we were solemnised!

Wow. I’m married. Aside from getting to wake up next to my best friend every morning, it doesn’t feel much different to before being married. But maybe because my tiny little brain needs to recover from the best party weekend of my life. One that’s got me smiling every few minutes of the day because I keep getting little highlights popping up in my head – like when I surprised Ant with the caricature. Or when I remember particular lines of the speeches. Or seeing the completed wedding tree.

I’m so thankful to our family and friends who flew in to spend the day with us… and especially the ones who spent so much time and effort helping us create our special day.

I’m feeling pretty darn blessed. Even if I’m not quite feeling like a married old woman yet. Hehe.

What a Difference a Month Makes!

I’ve been away for another month. This blogging thing is starting to seem like a monthly report rather than a near daily update… oops.

But gees, what a difference a month makes! I guess the biggest news is…

I’m engaged!!!



He proposed at Sydney Domestic Airport, just outside baggage carousel 2… and I said yes!

So we’ve been spending the last few weeks basking in the glow of being newly engaged… only that’s been interrupted by random bouts of wedding planning. I’ve been advised to keep wedding planning out of the picture for at least a month (which I think is a fantastic idea)… but we all know what a paranoid worrywart I can be.

It’s a really big thing as well because so many family members will be coming down for the registration – his sister and my sister from Singapore, possibly his mum too, my dad from Brisbane and his brother’s family from Melbourne. Oh, and possibly a Pooey too! Oh  my! We’re both feeling really really touched that everyone is willing to fly down for what will essential be a low key quickie wedding at the registry office.

And no, that’s not all we’re having. There’s a doa selamat planned for when we’re in Singapore in September… and also… a celebration next year for our family and friends in Perth, seeing how not everyone will be able to make the doa selamat and how the registry marriage only allows a maximum of 22 guests.

I did say in my previous post that 2013 is going to be an exciting year right? 

And on a sort of related note… we’ve been really touched by how genuinely happy people are for us. We really feel so special having so many people offer their heartiest congrats on our engagement… how lucky are we to have such warm people around us?

Pretty Damn Lucky

Another weekend gone by, another week of catching myself mid-grin, thinking about the boy.. or rather, how lucky I am to have him. I honestly have no clue what I did to nab someone so doting but  I’m bracing myself for the bubble to burst. Seriously, his ex was an ABSOLUTE IDIOT for letting him go. But oh well, her stupidity is my gain. :D

But back to the weekend.

 It was a chilled out one with the girls (with the Lily taking quite a liking to the boy and asking if we were married/had a kid… after being shy for the first hour or so)… but ended in me getting sun stroke/sunburn and missing out on dancing. BAH.

At least I did have the boy around, who plied with mocktails – lychee mojitos and soursop mojitos.

All to keep me cool, you see. Hehehe.

There are all these little snatches from the weekend which keep entering my head – which makes for a nice distraction while working. It kinda reminds me that even though life is not perfect and that there’s lot that needs to be worked on… that a little bit of love goes a long way in making it a heck of a lot sweeter. :D

Oh. And have one of my favourite photos from the weekend. I may not have gotten my dance fix… but I was happy nonetheless.

Can’t wait for the week ahead. We have so much planned. An exhibition. Our first dinner date (long story, more on that for another time). And dinner with friends. Oh. And dancing! =D