Outburst

Last night I had an outburst of emotions (and tears)
due to the ever changing wedding plans (previous post)
the stress of wedding preparations
frustrations with visa application
anxiety of relocation and packing
our crazy worklife

But I think it was a good outburst
letting out the negative emotions
letting go of them

Thank you for the many listening ears / whatsapp
for my whining
Thank you for all the encouraging words to go on

I really need to the thank the fiancé
I was behaving like a crazy bitch
Blaming him
Scolding him
Crying
Stressed up at every comment

But he took his time to stay with me (on Skype & emails)
Asking how he can help me
Reading things to me on French website
Assuring me that it will be alright
I can imagine its not fun speaking to a crazy bitch
but he managed to do so
Im really grateful to find such a wonderful man.
Merci Beaucoup Cyril...

Our ever changing wedding plans

It has been a stressful month since I return from Paris
And it boils down to the application of long term stay visa
Which was started with our choice of where to sign our papers

Plan A) Singapore
He to fly in to Singapore
ROM in Singapore
Thereafter a meal with my family
He return Paris
and I stay here to proceed with my spouse visa

Change due to:
- His family wont be able to attend it in Singapore
- His sisters are upset that they cant be involved

Plan B: Paris (With long term stay visa)
I am to apply for the visa for November 2013 to October 2014
I fly over to Paris in November
We do our wedding in France in April / May 2014
We fly back in July 2014 to hold the Singapore wedding.
And for me to convert the visa to a spouse visa

Change due to:
- The costly and time consuming visa application
- Just the expenses on visa and flying will cost the same as Plan A (inclusive of Singapore Wedding)
- A rush to prepare for the france wedding
- Fiance's father suggested to have the ROM in Paris Townhall
  and thereafter the wedding dinner venue out of Paris to cut costs,
  which means the application of visa and all the costs involved
  is just for the 10mins in Paris Town hall
- I am really stressed out by the ëfficient" process, efforts and financial required to apply for the visa

Now we are down to 2 options, which doesn't involve the long term stay visa:

Plan 1) Singapore - Similar to Plan A
He is flying in Singapore to propose the marriage affair to my family in September / October 2013.
We have our ROM
He return Paris after a week
I stay to proceed with my spouse visa

Pros:
- Save money on Airfare and visa application
- If my spouse visa can be approved by December 2013, I can go spend Christmas
  and take my time to plan for the france wedding dinner (We can do it together)
  There will be no rush to have it in April / May 2014
- Application for spouse visa involves no cost and require lesser documents
- To apply for ROM only requires his passport number

Cons:
- To be separated immediately after getting married
- I only have like 3months to lose my fats (Okay, not important)
- France require us to go down to the France embassy in Singapore before the wedding
  To make a documents and declaration BEFORE our ROM
  Unsure how much notice is require (Fiance is calling the embassy to ask)
  If is just 1 week notice, we can still do so during his trip
  If they require 2 or more weeks of notice, it will be difficult for the fiancé to come to do this
  And come again to ROM
 - After the ROM, I will be require to have apply for 2 france wedding documents
   before I can apply for my spouse visa.
   I can do so through the France embassy in Singapore but it can take few weeks or months to process
   Which can delay my spouse visa application
- The application of spouse visa requires me to be physically in Singapore during the application,
   if is being delayed means I will not be able to go Paris for Christmas
- Our marriage feels like just administrative procedure than an actual wedding
 
Plan 2 ) Paris (Without long term stay visa)
I am to fly in Paris from November 2013 to Jan 2014
Immediately we will go to the Paris town hall and apply for marriage
To be ROM by Jan 2014
A simple signing of papers
and maybe macdonalds after (Haha)
Thereafter we fly back to Singapore with the france wedding documents
Do our Singapore wedding (Go weekend trip in Bali)
I apply for my spouse visa
He return to Paris
I will return paris once spouse visa approved
Then start planning for France wedding

Pros:
- Save money on airfare and visa applications
- More time to plan for france wedding
- No need to be separated immediately after being married
- Earlier Singapore wedding (No need to fly back again)

Cons:
- Risks of not being able to get a ROM date within 3 months
  Since my travel period involves November and December (The holiday period)
  I don't know how efficient can they be to let us get married within 3 months
  Fiance will call them and ask whether is possible to have a wedding date within 3 months of application
- Since I am a foreigner, we may need to go through an interview to prove that I am not there to cheat him (haha)
  Similar to the previous point, it can be delayed during the period and delayed the marriage application
- 4 documents I need to prepare (translated into French and certified true copies)
   which I think includes many runs to MFA, embassy etcs
  And the documents are only valid for 6 months (I think) so I cant start preparing now.
- Don't know how long spouse visa application can take

Conclusion:
I am really happy at our decision not to do the long term stay visa
I was going crazy at it and the costs involved
For the time being, I am more keen for Plan 2
It gives a balance to time we can spend together and costs involved
Just that is higher risks as well
(especially when france immigration has 90days in and 90days back to home country requirement)

Pray for us that we will not be bothered by all these administrative procedures
For strength to put through
For patience so that we will not quarrel
That all things can go as planned
And we need not prepare for another backup plan

DIY earrings

I have gauged earholes since 5 years?
I have never prepared myself how can I transformed these enlarged earholes for my wedding day.
Maybe I thought I will be happy (and look cool) with my gauges
Or maybe I never thought I will end up getting married.

Anyway, I starting searching internet on how I can make my ears more "wedding day look"
It range from using nude colors covers
to something with design

I did found something I like online
but it costs USD$30
Ehhh Im not going to spend that amount on a pair of earrings

I went around the usual shops in Singapore
Hoping to find something similar
But I cant
The shop suggested why don't I DIY
What a good idea!
so I tried

Conclusion:
- The idea worked and the flower didn't fall off
- From the back, you still cant see my enlarged earholes
- I need to find the a slimmer flower, currently is too think that seems to be too outstanding

I shall update soon..
Anyone want invest in this business?
I believe there will be a market for these...

Bride's tradition

The fiance says that the french believe that the bride needs 4 things on her wedding day.
Something New. (Signify new start)
Something Old. (Signify past life) 
Something Borrowed. (From someone with a good life)
Something Blue. (I think is part of a rhythm)

Anyway for now:

Something new: 
My wedding Dress 
(Kindly sponsored by Mr and Mrs Lim - My sister haha)

Something old: 
This was hardest for me to find.
I dont have any family heirloom.
And I didnt dare to ask my mother (Since im not giving a lot of pin jin)
But i was surprised when i asked my mother 
She told me that she prepared to give me a gold necklace
She has an old one and was thinking to exchange for a new one at the jewellery shop.
So i told her not too since i need something old.

Hmm i dont think i look good in gold
And it may clash with my wedding dress and other accessories.
But i guess others will understand at the mismatch
because is my mother's wedding gift for me...

Something borrowed:
The moment i heard this
I think of my classmate, Rosita
And she readily agreed to help.
Thank you!

Something blue
The fiance says that it is normally a garter
I have no idea where to find it
and what it can be used for after
Maybe i can think of something blue soon.

Visa Application

In the visa application list of documents required.
My criminal record clearance was required
And it states that all documents should be available at application.

So after checking on internet,
I realized its not that easy to get a clearance.
First i need to be there physically to apply.
Prepare some documents and pay $45.
Wait for 10days and collect it personally.
Its only open Monday to Friday morning.
And the fiance says that they can do so just a click on internet.
Hmmm..

Today i woke up early
Since my work starts at 1pm
I decided to head down to apply for my criminal record clearance.

I was fine to queue just to apply for a pass to enter.
I was surprised at the number of people in the small room.
Only 2 out of 3 counters were open.
Not a good sign.

After waiting near an hour,
it was finally my turn.
And in 2 minutes i was rejected.
Apparently I should apply my visa first
and the embassy will give me a letter to request for the clearance report.

Wait a minute!!!
Then why did the list of documents required (for application) includes this report?!
Can't they just add a line that it is to be apply after you apply the visa?!
So i wasted 1 hour of my life for nothing 
and need to repeat this procedure again.
Sigh.

I was thinking that it will be good to apply for it now 
since it takes 10days to apply
and fiance's documents should arrive by then
Looking at it now, means i cant do anything till his documents arrive.
Another delay..sigh
Now i know why people always say visa application is difficult.

:(

Updates: My LWD (Little Wedding Dress)

While I was really stressed at which dress to choose.
I was thinking more to the simpler dress
but needed more assurance / sign from someone
Just then, the fiance says
"I am unsure to like the (full of cyrstal) toga strap"
And that was the ah-ha moment.

But to be sure, i decided to go far east plaze
to try the simpler dress again
The worry was the dress is not in store (I tried it in early May)
And i needed another pair of eyes to help me

So, Aven was really nice to go all the way with me 
On a Sunday Morning
Okay, it was 1130am
but still early for a sunday
And the dress is still in store!

After I tried it again,
I realized i do prefer a simpler dress.
So, i paid the deposit and made my measurements
My dress will be ready end of August!
So after a big search, i went back to square one...

It feels really good to settle the major item for wedding...
Here goes: (Time to lose weight!!)

Wedding gift

In Singapore, we normally give angbao (money) when we attend weddings.
In france, they normally give wedding gifts.
If anyone decides to be more french, i will be happy to receive these:

1) Hurom slow juicer
I saw it on 1 television programme
and was amazed at how the juice looks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGqeXrCMFHA
The fiance says the residue looks like fruits' poopoo.. haha
Anyway is selling on gmarket at around sgd$350

2) Starwars lightsabers
Okay this is a little childish
But i will like to have 2 lighsaber to hang at the wall of my home (different colors)
we need 2 because we can fight with them...haha
maybe can use as a night light too
The last time i saw the glass version at Paris disneyland selling at euro150 each
I think we will be fine with plastic ones

Okay thats all for now!

Updates: Wedding shoes

Last sunday when i attended a friend's wedding
I saw her shoes was what im looking for:
-white
-covered
-lace
-low heel

Despite going many shops of the brand.
I could not find the same pair.
Today i walk into the same brand at orchard
And i saw it!

Although is size 7.5
Not my usual size 7
It was a nice fit with padding
And it was the last pair in singapore.
So i bought it.

It was a relief.
Considering how hard i have been looking for shoes
Is really not fun goong in and out of shoes shops
And not finding anythinh close to what i want
or one does not look like nurse or office white shoes
or one that is  not with super high heel  
At a reasonable price ($40)
Now i need not wait for fairy godmother to bding me a pair of shoes.

Finding the perfect dress

I wonder is there really a perfect dress.
I started the search with an idea that i want a really simple long white dress.
And it can look like a piece of white cloth with nothing.

After going many shops, trying many dresses..
(Okay maybe not as much as most brides)
It was down to 2 dresses.

Dress A is really simple 
just a tube long dress.
The back similar to a corset.
WIth a small string of crystals under the bust.

Dress B is really elaborate.
A corset back.
A dress with fluffy layered skirt.
A toga strap fully decorated of crystal.

I had a hard time deciding which to choose.
The price difference is 50%.

As I was thinking, i remembered i want a simple dress.
And coincidentally, the fiance mentioned that he may not like the crystal toga strap.
So, I guess the choice is clear...
Or it may end with I need more dress shopping.

To be continue...

For him.

Was thinking to get him some cool cufflinks.
Saw these and feels is a great idea!
To  add a lil  element of chinese in our france wedding..
Hmm his suit may be grey or navy...
So should i  get red, silver or gold?

Can i be cinderalla?

I need a fairy godmother to give me the perfect shoes!
I thought of buying a sneakers because it looks cute.
And i can wear them after the wedding.

The fiance is fine with the idea but say maybe his family and friends will think i am weird.

and my sister think i am crazy.

And considering im tall (*ahem* he is not short)

It is really hard to find a pair of nice white shoes without lookinv like is for nurses /work.

The best i found online is this but is like usd$100!

Since i dont have a fairy godmother, i just pray to see something i love soon....

QNA for this blog

Blog address
To say cheese while taking photos.
The loving relationship between French and their cheese.
Well, you get the pun intended.

Why start this blog?
The fiance does not like it when i post information on the facebook.
To him, it feels like invasion of privacy.
Even when I have only less than 50 "friends" in my facebook.
Even when i do not post detailed information on my facebook.
This blog will be good to just update what im "banned" from posting in facebook.

And, with consideration to keep my family and close friends updated
about my journey to france and new start(s) in life.
This blog will be handy.
Yes, I do have chat-apps, skype and email.
But nothing beats complaining and whining in details on a blog post (with no word limit).

So, what is happening to me?
I am going through 2 stressful events at the moment.
First, to relocate to Paris.
Second, to be finally off the rack.
So, please be prepared that you will find many whining posts in this blog.

And lastly,

Change Happens

They Keep Moving The Cheese

Anticipate Change

Get Ready For The Cheese To Move

Monitor Change

Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

Adapt To Change Quickly

The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese

Change

Move With The Cheese

Enjoy Change!

Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!

Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again

They Keep Moving The Cheese.

~Who moved my cheese ( Spencer Johnson)