TamPoPo

Third daughter celebrated her birthday in December.  She had completed her degree overseas and will starting work after a week rest.  We held the celebration in Tampopo at Ngee Ann City branch.

Wagyu beef noodles to go with yuzu wasabi, which was spicy hot

Sukiyaki set

Tonkatsu set

Mont Blanc cake from Rive Gauch

THE WEDDING

The wedding day of my eldest girl has finally arrived on 28th December.  Everything has been prepared and ready for the big day.

The house was fully decorated with flowers, buffet catering and extra chairs and table has been set up to cater for family and friends on the big day

An emotional farewell

The "beetle" was the bridal car and arrived at 8am to be received by youngest brother (cousin) of the bride

A whole suckling pig with basket of sweets and fruits were presented by the groom family.  The bride family to return the head and back of the pig plus half the sweets and fruits back

Poor groom and best men had to go through food torturing first.  Imaging vinegar coffee and eggs, pancakes and chicken wings to go with coloring sauce!

         Testing singing and manual dexterity

Buffet catering for friends and relatives

Serving glasses for tea ceremony when the pair returned at 12 noon

Dinner at Grand Hyatt Singapore with total of 25 tables by Groom and Bride Family

BETROTHAL（过大礼）

Time flies, in 4 days' time my eldest girl will be somebody's wife and daughter-in-law.  It is hard to describe my feeling now - happy that she had found a comparable match whom I very much hope that he will be able to go through "thin and thick" with her.  At the same time feel sad as I have lost a child after nearly 30 years of together.

A week before the wedding day, the groom delivered the betrothal gifts to the bride's family on an auspicious date.  The betrothal (過大禮, also known as 納彩) is an important part of the Chinese wedding tradition.  The gifts are often in even number for the meaning of in couple and in pairs. Food items include wine, oranges and jewelry for the bride while jewelry includes gold earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings.

During this exchange, the groom's family presents the bride's family with betrothal gifts (聘礼) to symbolize prosperity and good luck. Moreover, the bride's family receives the bride's price (娉金) in red envelope.

The bride's family also returns (回禮) a set of gifts to the groom's side.  A pair of trousers were presented to the son-in-law by bride's mother to symphonic prosperity. Additionally, the bride's parents bestow a dowry (嫁妝) to the bride.

ROM

8th June was a joyous occasion for the family. It was the day my 1st born had her marriage solemnized.  The ROM (Registrar of Marriage) and lunch was held in the Masons Restaurant at  Gillman's Barrack with close friends and relatives.  The solemnization was held on a fine day at the courtyard.   The wedding dinner will be held in December.

The Justice of Peace Professor Lee who solemnized their marriage was their tutor in Neuroscience during their university days

Housed in a restored colonial bungalow, European dining establishment Masons charms with its surrounding lush greenery.  The interiors of the restaurant is modern Colonial fashion, with white and black tiles, teak tables and glass front windows.  The walls were laced with old photos of 50-60s Singapore scene.  It provides a stylish and elegant dining environment.

Food was European cuisine buffet-style, simple and light