Forget write about Christmas...

On Christmas Eve, we went for midnight mass in St Jospeh Church, the singing was beautiful. For once, the church was crowded with people..hmm...

Although it was a short 5 minutes walk back home, it was a freezy cold one though... I was wearing my new dress with no leggings for protection.. wanted to run home!

Came back home and did Dearie's long awaited moment - unwrapping of presents. He has been bugging me to unwrap the presents since 21 Dec!

Can see that he is happy with his new Lacoste Tee, based on the fact that he initiated taking photos of him in the tee and he didn't want to take it off after that. I was of course very happy with my Tiffanuy Pen, I can bring it around and Dearie said, to sign all important documents with that Pen!

The Ring...



The "seat" / "spot" where it all happened...



Check-out the rainbow behind me!

It was 28 Dec 2005, Wednesday. He proposed and I said yes...

It was meant to be a day out at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. I enjoyed every bit of the spectacular remains of ancient Rome. (Paris was my favourite city and I think I love Rome as much as Paris - where we spent our first trip together).

We sort of completed the tour around the historical area and I kept asking Dearie if we should head towards the Metro station before it turns dark (turns dark around 5pm+) but he said that since I enjoy the site so much, we should stay there a bit longer to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the view. We did and he asked a couple of time, if I really love the city and I told him the same thing - as much as I love Paris, or even more.

Walked around a fair bit and Dearie suggested that we take a break. Though its not very usual for him to take regular breaks during our tours.. I thought it must be the cold that is affecting his knee again...

We went back to the beautiful little spot where we have rested earlier and I sat by the stairs - facing the city of Rome, with the basilica next to us and ancient Rome behind us... It was breathtaking.

Dearie hugged me from behind where I was sitted and there was silence for a while..Asked him why wouldn't he just sit next to me instead ...He said its fine and he is just "enjoying the moment". He asked how long would I love him for and I told him "Forever or as long as I live". Though there were people walking pass us and taking pictures around, everything seems to have come to a stand still for that few seconds...

He came in front of me and said that hes going to ask me a very important question... I wasn't surprise as his usual important question may be the frequent questions of "do u know that I love u a lot" or "scared of not? You will be somebody's wife someday" or "do you know that I treat you like a queen or not" sort of stuff...

He looked at me, put his hand into his blazer's pocket and took out a ring box. To be honest, I was suspicious upon seeing the box... Perhaps its just one of his usual prank... Perhaps it was simply a toy or pendant inside to make me laugh... Until I see the diamond ring, that I know that everything is for real now.

"Will you marry me" he asked.
I was stunned for a moment... Hugged him and tears of joy rolled down my face.
"YES" I replied.
Dearie slipped the ring into my finger and we both hugged and cried.

Told him I didn't expect that and all and within a next couple of minutes...The rain came (all out of a sudden). We ran for shelter at the museum nearby. In fact, it wasn't rain, it was HAIL! It wasn't that cold that afternoon but the hail came... And went, within 15 minutes. We walked back to the same spot to take some pictures of the memorable spot and the amazing thing was, the rainbow appeared! Right there waiting for us! It must be God's or Nature's sign to us...

We definitely had our fair share of storm (hail)... being apart for 6 years and all the ra-ra that happened... one of our favourite song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and the symbolic sign of good things and clear skies (rainbow)...It was simply phenomenon.

I will definitely remember this special day for the rest of my life and Rome will always have a special place in our hearts.

(I Love u Dearie. Thanks for everything.)

Though its already day 4 in Brighton, I'm still not used to the time difference. It was much easier during the past few trips but this time round, I am sleeping at 9pm and waking up at 6+ am everyday! Irritating!

Dearie made breakfast yesterday, his so-called "famous muffins". I must say that its really good and I am really amazed what a good cook he has become ever since he came to Brighton.

Took a walk to town a went to Brighton Pier. Saw the most amazing flock of birds there..there were thousands of them, flying together in circles at the pier, not too sure what was the purpose but the crowd there were all enjoying the moment.

We shopped around for a while before Dearie suggested dinner in the pub. Unlike in Singapore where the pubs serves nonsense chicken wings and fries at crazy prices, the pub-food here is great and at really reasonable prices. He had a jumbo beef burger with chips while I had chicken Caesar salad, with a coke and a coffee.. it cost us less then 10pounds! The pub has a nice setting, crowd and music.. just that its filled with smoke, like every other restaurants in the UK and most part of Europe.

Went to the supermarket at night to get a couple of drinks and newspaper and ended the night watching DVD, with Dearie feeding me Haagen Daz and oranges...Heavenly! As always, didn't managed to finish the show before I start to doze off...

Will try harder to stay awake tonight... I have to, cos we are attending Christmas Carolling Session and Midnight Mass at St Joseph today. :)

Writing this at 7.05 am here in Brighton, 3.05pm in Singapore.

The flight here was terribly long, not too sure why.Was given a middle seat for the Singapore - Dubai flight and it was almost impossible to sleep. Managed a bit of sleep during Dubai - London since I was given a bulkhead, window seat.
It really puts me off, each time I think about the flight back.

Slept in the whole of yesterday afternoon. Was really tired. Woke up at 9.30pm and went for dinner at Nandos with the guys. Love the chicken in Nandos - so well marinated and roasted, really hope that some day they will bring it into Singapore and give Kenny Rogers a run for their money!

Though Dearie said that its not cold, I felt really cold last night. And I think its just gonna get colder. Hiaz.. when its warm, complain, when its cold, also complain... never satisfied.

Its gonna be shopping day out in town today... buying Christmas pressies for friends and checking out the stores. Excited that I am going to visit the places and shops I used to go to. Just hoping that I don't overspend. Good luck to myself!

There are so many things to be done in the next couple of weeks and it seems impossible for me to clear 3 -4 days leave prior to 21 Dec.

Tomorrow is Arabian Night Party, Sunday will be a night out in Sentosa, next week will be devoted to Christmas deliveries and parties and then, follow by preparation for handover prior to my well-deserved break to meet Dearie.

Can't wait for Christmas to come when I can sing Christmas carols in church, attend mass with Dearie in St Joseph (Brighton) , enjoy home cooked meals and usher in the New Year - A brand new year always symbolise new beginning and promising things ahead and I am pretty sure its gonna be the case for me ;-)

"The Ring" is coming ...

Took a cab to work this morning due to the laptop and bag full of materials. Nearly got into an accident due to some reckless driver!

I could feel myself swirling from left to right in the cab and could almost see myself heading towards the centre road divider. It was chaos for that split second as I hear hounds from other vehicles... I was sure it was Divine intervention... I just said my morning prayer in the cab before all these happened and I remembered that I asked the Lord to keep me safe throughout the day. I would usually say my prayers mid way through the journey but today, I said it upon gettinjg into the cab as I saw the driver's Mother Mary statue and Saint Christopher's sticker.. the driver apologise for what happened and explained that he was merely giving way to the ambulance and there came a speeding vehicle from behind.
Told my cab driver that it is ok and thank God that nothing happened. I could feel that he was comforted as he probably thought I would complain to the authorities for his reckless driving.. before I alight, he said he needed a break to calm himself down as he is still shocked. He asked for my number as he saw the other driver using a phone to take a picture of his vehicle.. hope that he (Kumar) is ok.

Life is so precious and its moments like this that makes its seems even more fragile...

Streets of Barcelona... taken while we were crossing the road. Can only admire that "castle" from afar. BARCELONA!

Took less than 10 photos in Barcelona and this is one of them.

Just came back from Barcelona. Heard so much about how lively and beautiful that city but was disappointed. My friend said perhaps it becos I was there for work and not holiday. But I used to enjoy places like Melbourne and Perth though I was there for work, its just not the same this time round.

Discussed this with Dearie and he said cos he was not there! I agree, he was right! With his company, everywhere was exciting, beautiful and romantic (PARIS - my favourite!). When he was in Amsterdam with Jimbo, I asked him many times how was the trip and place and he always say "so-so lor". This time round when he asked me about Barcelona, that was the same reply I had for him. We agree that we will never travel without each other from now on - if its for work and we can't have the other party around, once the work is done, will have to rush back in the next flight back home! No more unnecessary separation is allowed after spending so much time apart! When I was in Barcelona, I even miss chatting with him online! Wanted to catch the earliest flight back possible and then continue with our frequent phone and net communication.

Wanted to buy a pair of Camper Shoe for myself and tried 3 stores - all ran out of size 7! Wanted to buy the pair of shoe that he like but that model was last season's and they no longer carry it! Didn't buy anything from Zara or Mango as the saving was not great. Bought a pendan from a museum shop for myself, a spanish fan to replace the fan from Korea for mum, FCB souvenirs for Jimbo and Lacoste gloves for Dearie. He is so excited over the gloves that he demanded that I send them over the next day! The joke is that he had bought me 2 pairs of gloves (Knitted one from Roxy & leather one from Gap) when I stay in bight & sunny Singapore while he is living with a pair of lousy gloves that cost 1.5pounds! I should have gotten him something decent more decent long ago - silly me !