A Mind of My Own

[via Flickr]

Flying kites in Singapore often means East Coast Park or Marina South. I was rather surprised that we would be at West Coast Park to fly kites. Someone was in charged of buying the kites and all we had to do was to turn up. Turn up we did.

I had the common sense to bring a bag with mats. It was a good thing too. Although my friends teased me for bringing such a huge bag, again. At this moment, it’s best to ignore when others laugh at you. However, we chose the wrong place. The sun was setting and the wind was blowing towards the sun, meaning we had to face the sun when our kites got flying.

I just let the kite go and it fly up high. Twice. Without any help. I’m a good kite flyer. Got these genes from my father, obviously. The second time, I got my string tangled with another kite and it got stuck high up in the tree. I had to break the string. So sad. Kite flying instructions here and here.

After dinner, we went to Settlers Cafe at Holland Village. It’s a fun place for small talk and board games. Officially tired from kite flying and playing exciting brain games at Settlers Cafe.

I didn’t have to spend too much today since there is someone who is very nice, drove us to and back.

The Legends in Fort Canning sounds like a fantasy. A place where legends come to life. DD’s friend was holding her wedding dinner there and I went with him. A cocktail reception was still going on at 8pm. The wedding card stated 7.30pm. Eventually, everyone arrived by 8.35pm. Sometimes, I hate Chinese style wedding dinners. Everyone is hungry.

The newly-weds had 3 changes of clothes. The first was a white gown with a long train. She looked absolutely lovely. The food started arriving after that. The food was up to standard but the timing was off. It didn’t seem to come within a certain timing. The 2nd change of clothes for the couple came up after the 3rd course arrived. The couple wore black. My parents would have jumped at my throat for wearing a black gown.

This gown had a huge can can. It suited the bride very well too. At the end of the dinner, the couple had a final change of clothes. This time, to a Pernarakan for the bride and a white suit for the groom. The couple had friends mixing cocktail of beer, brandy, red wine and some soy sauce in red wine to drink. Oh my.

I liked the ambiance at the place, just that the area was rectangular and the 2nd walk in was to be done at the other end. I wondered why the drinks weren’t refilled that promptly by the time it was near the bottom of the glass. My favourite was the dessert, honeydew sago. Nice. I do hate the dish before the dessert, fried noodles. By that time, I was already bursting at the seams, I don’t need the noodles to add on to my growing girth.

I think I’m not going to hold such a dinner. I would like to hold mine in a different way. Now, to convince the parents.

As everyone is so busy with their lives due to various commitments, I hereby announce that I will no longer try to organise events such as casual meet ups, Christmas gathering or fun at Sentosa. That Sentosa turnout was rather dismal, only one managed to turn up. I’ll be making my own Family Day if I have the resources to have mini game stalls at the beach. Wait, ok?

I’m very tired of trying my best to organise events of casual purpose because no one else is supportive enough to help out. Your only help I need is your attendance but unfortunately, I haven’t seen much because it’s either you’re tied up with work or you already have another appointment.

After more than 10 years of trying to oragnise, I realise that the best turn outs are usually during weddings, baby’s 1st month, house warming, birthdays (even that has been reduced) and funerals. Funerals are morbid but that’s when we take our time to meet up and talk about regrets. That is not what I want and that is why I’ve tried my best to organise happy events.

However, after all these years, it’s very tiring and disappointing when the take up rate is less than 50%. Therefore, we will be meeting up less because of family commitments. Finally, I will only inform all my friends that if I have any major events that need you to grace them with your attendance, please, do make time for it because we only have so much time on earth.

You never know what you’ll get in life. Even when you have planned for it. Life can be so fragile. One minute, you are there and the next, you might not be there. While I was really excited to be one of sisters for my friend’s wedding, the whole event was tiring as we had to wake up early. It was after the event was over then I started to feel a sense of lost.

It was a lost of youth and time. It felt like yesterday when we were in school teasing each other and skipping classes. Just the Chinese lessons. We would often complain about how she would tell us proudly that some elite school would do so much better. We were in a neighbourhood school, what else did she expect?

Growing and moving on in our lives have impact, both major and minor. We start dating or flying to countries for business or start our own business. We meet up in a group during a major event such as funeral or wedding or babies one month celebration. Other than that, it’s via pitiable emails and they are always forwarded.

I have never asked my friends to my place during Chinese New Year after that one time, that was eons ago when most of us could still make it. Now, I have 3 who are officially married and have to attend their partners’ family events. The rest have their own activities like traveling for free or busy with their work.

I don’t know if we’ll be able to just get together and just chat instead of catching up during major events. Sad to say, I have failed miserably for my own family gatherings.

While this wasn’t the 1st time I’ve attended a church wedding, this was the 1st time I’ve managed to view it from the start to the end. I was very late the other time. I got off at the wrong stop. That’s another story to tell. I doubt I’ll talk about it much. There were singing and the speech from the Father about marriage being life-long commitment. Yes, marriage is a life-long commitment. You don’t just say “I do” and expect miracles.

Both have to work together and sort things out. I saw a lot of young teens attending the event and they were lost about what went on. I don’t know the bride personally but she is their teacher and when they came, she kept waving to them. Shows how much care she has for them and their love for her too. There was the bouquet being throw at the end, even the guys got the chance to catch it. DD was too tired to catch it. All the guys never slept the previous night and had to reach the groom’s place at 5.45am.

Either they were too excited or they were doing something that kept them up the whole night like clubbing. I thought bachelor’s party was being held. It started to rain just as the service started. Thankfully, it stopped when we were leaving. Kriston catered the food. It looks like the favourite for buffet spread. I love the cheesecake.

I’m tired even though I didn’t join in as sisters. My hunch for the coming wedding, I’ll be beat by 3pm. And the dinner had not started yet.