The Penultimate Wedding

My high school friends married early, leaving me, the sole unmarried one of the group. Now with Parthy getting married, I think I may now be the sole unmarried one of the university friend group now. I feel fairly neutral about this statement. In any case this post is more about coming back for what could be the last wedding I attend from somebody in my immediate circle of friends. They had wed earlier on the the Thursday but had decided to host a wedding reception on the Saturday at the Ivy. Great seeing all the group, but also the university crew I haven't seen since, probably university. The Computer Science and Engineering crowd that I haven't seen in years. The group moved to a Mexican restaurant, only to be kicked out and we found refuge in the only place where you can consume alcohol and sleep without anybody batting an eyelid. Karaoke. 

The talk of the wedding was however the groom who endured a 50, yes, 50 day water fast. Read, not eating anything for fifty days, managing to lose 30 odd kilos before tying the knot. Really fun wedding, great seeing the group, and people that I haven't seen, hung out with, had a beer with in ages. Really enjoying the trips back to Sydney.

Year of the something Dragon

I have come to terms with not having any annual leave, I really have. With the four day long weekend I headed off to Sydney. It's funny to talk to people from Sydney, and they hear that I fly back every couple of months "Don't you get tired?" yet when you talk to people in Hong Kong, they don't even bat an eyelid. Sure, I'm a little tired when I arrive in Sydney and promptly send myself to bed for a couple of hours. I have figured out how to maximise my sleep, it requires and isle seat in the middle section (although I have been re-thinking this stratagem), an eye mask, ear plugs and a neck rest. This formula, not always, but for the most part does ensure some level of sleep before waking in either Hong Kong or Sydney.

2024 is the year of the Wooden Dragon. Chinese New Year, family time, however this year's CNY would be slightly different. Meeting her whole family. The previous sentence isn't short for any reason other that emphasis. I had met her sister and some of her nephews but this was the whole family, siblings, in-laws and parents. Meeting her whole family. There were some nerves, but quietly, I was given a lay-up. Gifts were pre-prepared, heads -up on attire, games for the kids. It would take a monumental stuff up to make a bad impression. Sorry not interesting end to the story other that it all went well. Gung Hei Fat Choy!