Each Happy Event is a Color in a Rainbow

My rainbow has beautiful bright colors, especially during the past few days.

The first is the lovely color of joy on my grandchildren's return to our home for the last week of their school holidays. Their laughter, their tales of school and their holiday, their easy camaraderie with their former schoolmates as they spent the day together at home brighten and liven the otherwise stillness of a home without the presence of youngsters. They have grown so much taller.

The second is the color of wonder and awe at the beauty of God's creations. The tiny white orchids that look like birds half hidden among the leaves of my mango tree that has been giving us delicious golden fruit are a wonderful surprise. These tiny flowers last only one day before they wither.

Another is the color of love from my children as they celebrate my birthday and keeping in touch. My grandchildren gave me a lovely pink cover for my new phone. My son flew in to spend time with us and we had lovely dinners together. Pearls are my favourite and the pearl ear studs that I had selected became a gift from my younger daughter while the lovely bracelet is from my son. My elder girl is giving me an expenses paid trip to Shenzhen. The gifts are tokens of their love for their mum and I know they love me very much, as do my grandchildren, who selected their gift by themselves.

Yet another color is the love I receive from my close friend who remembers my birthday. A lovely lunch and beautiful flowers from her garden made it a great day. I enjoyed the company and table talk.

Calls and good wishes from my faraway siblings are colors that make my rainbow more beautiful. Most deeply felt and appreciated is the lovely rainbow of blessings from God who loves us unconditionally and who has given us a beautiful world to inhabit.

A Sumptious Wedding Dinner

The wedding dinner was an eight course affair where each dish was served with sufficient time in between to allow the guests to mingle with others in the grand ballroom. Instead of helping ourselves to the food, we were served with our portions by the waitress who was delegated to our table.

A renowned band played and sang golden oldies which only the older generation could appreciate and enjoy, ensuring that all of us had a good evening.

We started off with the hot and cold combination dish comprising Japanese scallop skin with jelly fish, salad scallop which was served in a pastry cup, bean curd roll with kani stick and friend yam dumpling which was absolutely delicious.

Next came the braised shark’s fin soup with fresh crab meat.

Roasted crispy chicken with oriental barbecue sauce followed.

The next dish was steamed whole garoupa fish with home-made soy sauce.

We then had a combination of wok fried live tiger prawns with butter sauce and crispy egg floss and Marmite prawns.  I enjoyed the Marmite prawns as I don’t like butter sauce.

The next dish was stewed assorted mushroom and vegetable with gluten puff and abalone sauce.

The last dish was rice fried with chicken, green peas and silver anchovies followed by dessert which was sweet red bean soup with lotus seed and Chinese pancake.

Red wine and Chinese tea flowed freely through the meal. Those who preferred hard liquor were not disappointed.

The wedding cake specially baked by the bride’s cousins was sliced and distributed to guests who enjoyed the delicious and unusual cake, very different from the usual wedding cake served by the hotels.

All guests went home replete,  with a cute souvenir of a pair of love birds salt and pepper shakers in hand.

A Beautiful Wedding

The weather is perfect, not hot and there's no rain. It's a beautiful morning, when we witness my niece Janice's wedding to Marcus Lavender. She has flown back to Kuala Lumpur for her wedding as all her aunties and uncles and cousins are here. It would be far too expensive for all of us to fly to Melbourne where she now lives.
Marcus and Janice flew in with his family members and friends so we had a good mix of both Asian and Aussie guests and relatives.

The hall was prettily decorated for the wedding ceremony. After Janice and Marcus took their marriage vows witnessed by all their friends and relatives, we had a light lunch.

Fried meehoon, fried spring rolls, samosars ( I think ) and a variety of nonya cakes and fruit were served together with fruit punch, tea and coffee. Sambal, cut red chillis in soy sauce and chili sauce accompanied the food for those of us who cannot do without chilli. I for one must have either my sambal or cut red chillis with my noodles and vegetables otherwise the food will taste bland. ( Sorry I forgot to take pictures of the food!)

After lunch we had the tea ceremony or cham cha. This is the Asian tradition which is de rigeur for weddings and it is this tea ceremony which sees the introduction of the new spouse to the family. Accepting the cup of tea served symbolises acceptance into the family. If the tea is rejected it means that the spouse is not welcome and will not be considered as part of the family. However in this modern era, no one refuses the cup of tea that is offered. In return the bridal couple receive gifts of jewellery and money.

The bridal couple serve their parents, followed by the elders according to their seniority.

Later, the couple are served tea by the younger generation and they will give the youngsters red packets which contain money.

After the tea ceremony is over, everyone retires for an afternoon rest before attending the wedding dinner which is held in the evening. It is a joyous occasion where invited guests will toast the happy couple with lots of yam sengs ( down the hatch! ).

Here are some pictures of the family. Janice's aunts and uncles. Guess which one is me?