Happy Doggy Chinese New Year

I am now back in hometown in Seremban. Came back on the 25th Jan. My neighbour packed a box of mangoes and avocados to bring home. So nice.

Our family went back to our old hometown in Melaka yesterday for the annual reunion dinner. We used to have steamboat at my eldest uncle's house. However, for the past few years, we have it in restaurants. Less hassle ma.

We are in Melaka again today, the first day of Chinese New Year. This time to meet up with relatives, many whom I only get to see once a year. This year, they are saying "FINALLY... this is the last angpow for you. Next year we will be collecting from you." Scary...

Will be going back to Sabah on the 1st Feb, morning flight. Have an important appointment on the 2nd. Look out for the updates here. :-)

GongXi FaCai.

Sleeping child

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Bridal photos

Irene and I had our bridal photos taken in KK on new year eve. Now they are ready for selection. The shop gave us an album with 71 small photos. We are to choose 42 for the actual final albums, and for the ones to be framed.

The guy used film. So he couldn't possibly give me the negatives, and he has no digital file. I scanned the photos myself. If you want to take a look, click HERE. Keep in mind that those are scanned from small prints, so picture quality is quite lacking. Also, the shop stamped a blue 'Sample' on each photo, to prevent people from duplicating I think.

When I am more free, I will try my PhotoShop skills to remove the blue stamp. :-)

If you have seen the gallery, do leave a comment on which is your favourite photo. Thank you.

Wedding date is on 11th March. A Saturday on the beginning of school holidays. You are invited.

Bye Lassi

My dog Lassi passed away yesterday after a heavy evening rain.

Cause of death: undetermined. Probably poisoning due to eating poisoned dead dog-lice.

Around Christmas time he started do develop some patches of shallow skin ulcers and plaques on his ears. Then the lesions spread to involve the trunk and the rest of the body. He began to smell bad from the raw areas. He lost appetite and weight after that. For the past one week, he did not want to eat anything anymore, only took some clear fluids. My neighbour who is a veterinary officer gave him a few injections, but to no good. Ah, if only dogs accept IV drips or meds, or NG tubes, maybe the outlook would have been better. Yesterday, he started to walk around me, but was too weak to lift up his head. I though he is starting to get better. When I woke up after the rain, I found his dead body beside my mango tree. Pupils fixed and dilated, no sign of life. My neighbour came, put him into a bag, and sent him to the land where all dogs go.

I would not put up his dead picture here. Does not look good. He looked much better in my previous blog entry. And he will be remembered as such.

Lundayeh weddings

Ever attended one? I attended 3 over the last weekend. There were lots and lots of food and merry-making. Typically, it starts with the pre-wedding preparation night, which is a sad day for pigs (see the gallery). On the wedding day itself, there would be the church ceremony at late morning, followed by lunch for those who came, plus the whole kampung where everybody seems to be relatives. At night, there will be a dinner for guests, and some of those who came for lunch. Pork is the central dish(es, if you consider everything else that is cooked with it), but there will always be a portion of Muslim food as well. It is a day to forget about your cholesterol levels for a while.

Here are some snapshots of the more traditional side of a Lundayeh wedding. Click HERE to my photo gallery if you are interested to see more pics.

Bridal photos

Finally, we decided to have our bridal photos taken at the studio in Wawasan Plaza. That was on new year eve. The package was for 8 sets of outfits (3 evening gowns, 3 costumes, 2 wedding gowns). We arrived at 11.30 am, and the photo session went on till 7.30 pm.

Quite an experience it was. It was very tiring and back-aching to pose as the camera-man wanted and smile and smile and smile. And quite a torture to have lights flashing into my eyes over 7 hours (so, don't envy the artists). The camera-man must be very tired at the end of the day, having finished his collection of jokes to make us smile...

The make-up girl, she spent a whole hour with Irene... and less than a minute wiping a sponge on my face. So unfair.

Here are some shots taken outside with my Canon digicam. The real photos are not ready yet. The guy used an old camera that looked very antique. He is still diehard with film photography. Hope the photos turn out well. Should be ready for selection this week.

Entering 2006

It is into the 3rd day of year 2006 now. Hope it is still not too late to post this greeting to you who happen to drop by.

All the best in 2006.