12 more days to go...

I bought my laptop to work last Friday, 8th May, and show some of my colleagues the montage. Received good comments from the audience. So happy.

Met Raymond, Zhen Ping & Eileen to test the connectivity from the laptop to the LCD TV, and I was quite satisfied with the outcome. In fact, I think it will be better than the projected image from a projector.

Went to book one more hour of the buffet room so our friends can mingle till 1.30pm. Then we went to Raymond’s house to discuss on the food to order.

Called the caterers yesterday to order the food and finalized the order. So what is left is the confirmation of flowers. Yanting hasn’t revert to me on the price of the flowers.

12 more days to go…

Blooper!

Flora is meeting her Toyota friends today. She smsed me saying that her phone’s battery is going low. So I smsed Ivy telling her that Flora might be using her phone to call me, so I asked Ivy to delete my contact and whatever smses I sent to her to avoid suspicion on the operation.

But I did not expect that Flora to be beside her and she saw the sms. Instead of avoiding suspicion, I arose more suspicion!

Sigh… I think this is one big blooper I made. Hopefully, she did see more than that message.

I think the worrying part sets in already. I don’t know if other guys had this phobia before they propose but I am quite worried of a negative answer. I think this feeling will be with me for 20 days more, and the feeling will be very strong on that very day.

Immediate Actions

After knowing that the function room at Raymond’s parents’ condo is not available, I went back office to do research immediately on Monday,27/04/09. Thought of Safra initially but quite inaccessible. I contacted the community centre behind Flora’s house and they inform they may be able to help.

So I went to the CC with Raymond and Emma to take a look. The area the CC staff showed me is very nice. In fact, they used it for solemnization. I mentioned to the staff that I need to include food for my guest and they suggested the classroom beside it. I can also hide all the friends there. I’ll try to come out with a sketch of the place and post it here.

Anyway, they informed that I will have to contact their solemnizer to confirm the place. Had dinner after visiting the place with Raymond and Emma and had more discussion. I think I will not be able to get 25 friends since most of them are not free. I have updated the confirmed friends list of the right with (C) meaning Confirm, (P) meaning Pending.

Therefore, we decide to go with 5 roses in the small bouquet and get 15 bouquets.
Went to office to call the solemnizer and confirm the place on Tuesday, 28/04/09. He told me to go to the CC to book the room soon. So I had to make another trip down, this time with another purposes, to check whether the LCD TV can be use as my projected screen.

The initial plan was to have the projector and projector screen which cost $300/- to rent. But upon discovering the TV, Raymond suggested it could be use for projection of the video-photo montage. Luckily, the staff there mentioned other couples whom had used the area for solemnization had use it to connect to their laptop before.

So I book the room, including the class room beside, at $130/- for 2 hours. On second thoughts, should have book 2 more hours for the class room so as not to rush hor. Nevermind, I will check the availability again.

Finally completed the PowerPoint slide yesterday and quite happy with the presentation. However, I think I am lousy with words and have to let some friends comment on it before I call it the final draft.

Flora went out with Yi Qian today. Although I sound quite sad that I have to send the night before a holiday alone, I am actually glad that I can finish the slides.

The days left to the “Operation” day is nearing and I guess the only outstanding is the food.

Got to source for caterers to confirm the food soon. So happy that I’ve got so many things completed this week. Will update soon…

Super Major Hiccups

Some major hiccups happened and I am still in the midst of shock.

Raymond just informed me that the function room at his parents’ condo had been booked! Previously, he told me that they only allow the residents to book the place one month before, however, when he tried to book on the 24th Apr, it was already booked! I thought I was the only kiasu one!

So now, we have to look for another place. My campmates suggested the function rooms at Safra. However, none of them are easy accessible. The only place I can think of are the function rooms at the community centres, i.e. the one behind Flora’s house. Raymond did commented that the place lack ambience.

Well, I don’t think I have much choice right. Anyway, the function room may have projector and screen, which I do not need to rent if they really have. I think I will visit the place with Raymond to see if the place is possible. Meanwhile, I welcome any suggestion for places which is accessible to all our friends.

I think I need to confirm the friends who are turning out for the proposal. Like what was mentioned in the briefing, I need at least 25 friends to present the roses. Joo had just told me she will be on standby on 24 May. I have to keep my fingers crossed. Jayven also has flight that day and can only make it in the afternoon.

Tomorrow will be the day I finally make my decision to leave the company. This may not be a good time to pop the question but, 24th May is such a good day where the numbers met, if you know what I mean, i.e. 75 roses + 24 roses = 99 roses…

I think my idea is more or less stone casted and what is left is all the loose ends to tie. Got to find another place for the proposal and confirm the number of people attending to reach 25. So please give me feedbacks on the people that you think Flora will be happy to see but I’ve forgotten to call.

Hope all things goes smoothly from here…

Updates. Time is running out...

Did some follow up on the flowers and audio/visual equipments.

Li Qin gave a good suggestion on the number of flowers. Was actually discussing with Jayven on the color of the roses and the number to represent our relationship. Then Li Qin call on Sunday, saying that her friend supply roses.

We discussed the matter on Monday and she suggested that each of the friends can hold 3 stalks. After we reach office, I did some calculation and gave out with perfect numbers. If each friend hold three stalk, then I can get 25 friends. That will total up to 75 and 24th May is our 75th month.

Then, I will hold a bouquet of 24 roses which signifies the date. The total number of roses will total up to 99 roses which stands for 长长久久. I’ve already contacted Li Qin’s friend to give me a quote. Should be hearing from him soon.

Called Smith, to follow up on the equipments. He informed that it is not possible to lower the rental of the equipments. After checking around, the speakers rental cost is around $400/-, projector around $150/- and screen $150/-.

After thinking for a while, I decide to forgo the speakers and will decide if I want the projector screen when I visit the site. Can’t do this this Friday since its our 74th month and we probably go out and have dinner.

The outstanding matters are the buffet and the slide shows. Will try to finish the slides so I can post on the blog for comments.

Slow Progress

Went to Detai house for his little girl’s满月. Luckily, no one spoke of Zhen Ping’s birthday. Zhen Ping was also late that day.

I was planning to ask Raymond to bring me round his parent’s condo but his parent-in-law was in Singapore. Maybe this Friday or next Saturday when Flora’s busy, then
I’ll visit the venue to come out with a blueprint.

Progress is slow this week. I have not received reply from Smith, my friend from the event co, regarding the quotation for the equipments. I think I should also start to think about the flowers and the buffet for all the friends who will be present.

Also, I'm still stuck with the power point. I think I will have to complete the draft before May, so I can show it to some of our friends for further advice.

Some photos of the Ring!

I finally sent out the address of this blog to all our friends. From now on, comments are welcome to fine tune that special day.

Joo ask to see the ring and I took some pictures just now. Due to the unprofessional phone camera and lousy photography skills, I took some “great shots”. Joo, thanks for the website for the flowers. Will discuss with you further on that issue.

Had talk to my friend in the event organizing line to quote me the price for renting the speaker, projector and projector screen and he quoted me $600\-. That’s quite expensive and he said he will talk to his boss regarding the rental rates again.

Also got him to quote me the price of renting a video cam. I think he can even convert the video to DVD. Of course this may cost some $$ la… just want to see the price 1st before I really decide.

Almost let the cat out last Friday when I was talking with Flora on the phone when I met Emma. Emma asked me whether I will be joining them that night as it was Zhen Ping birthday. I then replied: “Oh, it’s really Zhen Ping birthday ah”.

After Emma left, I continued talking with Flora and she ask if its Zhen Ping birthday that day. I was caught surprise, but I answer quickly that it’s another friend’s birthday and Zhen Ping will be joining. Then I added: “Zhen Ping birthday is 24 May, remember?” Phew.

I will be going to De Tai house this Friday for his daughter 满月 with Flora. Just sms them to remember not to bring up how they celebrate Zhen Ping birthday last Friday else the proposal will be expose.