Count down 3 weeks to AD, GDL stuffs

Last weekend was quite hectic. In the sense of mentally.

 

Part 1:

"四点金"~ Initally we already agree that we would not buy the "四点金" as I m not a daughter of Teochew. But lately, we were pressurised that we should get least get a simple set as a form of "look better" for Nick. Cos its like U marry ppl's daughter should at least get her "something".... I wanna faint liao... hahaha.. actually counting all the jewelleries that Nick has given me for the past 3 yrs. Its more than "四点金" loh, somemore its "钻" not "金". I cheekily suggest that if we took all these "钻" clean it up put nicely in a box ppl also wont know de lar. But violently objected by Nick. So in the end, last Sat, we went to look for "金".

 

I wanted a simple set that comprise of necklace, pedant, earrings and braclet. And know wat! Uncle Nick want me to choose the big big Obiang "金手镯"!!! Somemore need to wear as a pair. Kaos! Really Obiang lei... even the most modern design we can find is Obiang! So after my violent objection and strong powerful "撒娇", he gave in. Hahah *Victory! But which ever piece I choose, the comment I get from Nick is "woh lau, very small lei, woh lau, very light lei"... Then I say "Uncle, let be more practical, wanna buy also buy something I will wear in future wat." Then he say "keep for our daughter in future loh". Before I could reply, he ownself reply "Scally she say "老爸, u bery old fashion lei, give me cash can" Hahaha... *Faint!!!

 

In order to keep things tradition, all the items are really yellow gold.... pick a set of orchid design pendant and matching earrings. The braclet is a much modern design that comprise of gold with a bit of white gold plated, with matching necklace. Overall its still very GOLD. "Kim dang dang"!

 

Part 2:

Order the GDL items like cookies and cake. ***Faint…. It was quite an “experience” :P

We arrange with Nick’s 姑姑 to bring us to this shop at Lorong Ah Su on Sunday. Before we went there, I did a research on net on the items we need to get, verify with my 姑姑as well.

 

For Nick side, Teochew traditional items (cookies), (read in teochew)

v      “dao tiao豆条”~ peanut strips

v      “mua tiao嘛条” ~ sesame strip

 

For my side, Hokkien traditional items includes,

v      “冰糖” ~ Rock sugar”

v      “当瓜”~ Melon sugar

v      “吉饼” ~ orange colour kind of pressed fruit

v      ”坚红” ~ traditional “糕点” cubical soft and chewy comprise of pink and white colour in flour dusting

 

Why I say it was quite an “experience”??? We reached this shop that face the main road, sign say “cake house” so we went in. I think Nick’s 姑姑 is not quite sure if this is the shop. So we ask for the items. They say we can order item by item cos they dun have package. So we told them the items and we want small pack. The ger who attend to us say cannot. Then she went to call her boss out. A 小胡子 came out. He say we can order minimum 1kg but anything less than a kg, they wont packed with red paper for us… wanna * faint … he say minimum 2 kg. Then we ask for the big basket. He say cannot use for free unless with purchase of minimum $200. As for rental its $25 with depoit of $50… *double faint! In the end we decided that we go for 1kg per item. It was quite expensive. He charged us $9 for 1kg of rock sugar!!! I think they do this kind of biz, knowing that its happy occasion, ppl seldom will mind the cost, he really carrot us.

 

As we left the place, we saw another shop and that was the original shop that Nick’s 姑姑 wanted to bring us. But too bad, we already paid for the stuffs. On our journey back, Nick’s 姑姑 was talking abt the traditional ”坚红” ~ traditional “糕点” , she say that cake has another name call “老妈糕”. Its meant for great grand mother to eat de cos soft soft de…hahha… she continued if Nick’s grandmother is still around, we would have to buy that for her.  Then she ask me if my grandmother still around. I said my paternal grandfather is around. Wat about maternal grandmother? We need to give anything? Then she shocked….. She say I din mentioned b4 that my maternal grandmother still around, we have to give her that  “老妈糕” !!!!! ….Hahahaha…. then we say ok we can go back and order.

 

So after sending Nick’s 姑姑 back, both of us went back to Lorong Ah Su again. This time, I decided that we should go to the “original” shop that we wanted to go and ask abt their pricing. The minute we step into the shop, bad experience. I ask if they do package for GDL. The middle aged lady give me a suck up face (she din even use her eyes to look at me) then she say no package, just tell me wat u want. Then I say u got sell the teochew “dao tiao” and “mua tiao”? Then she say, wat u exactly want? U tell me all the items u need, we dun do 散散 one… *keeping my cool….. then I list all the items I wanted, then she say the ”坚红” they cannot do in lunear aug cos no time. *faint.  Then as for the “老妈糕” a bit tough but can try. Then when we ask for the basket. She say we only lend to “big customer”, Ur case we cant. Not even rental!!!! Ok that’s it. We left the place and went back to the 小胡子 to order.

 

We later on went to this shop next to it call SPK to buy 50 red plastic bowl and cover. Decide to DIY the wrapping. The red paper is too challenging to wrap. We think the plastic bowl and cover can substitute for that. Hahahah….

 

Our conclusion, those selling these kind of traditional cake and cookies are tough to handle. No customer service sense. Unless u are those “big customers” hahahaha

 

Part 3:

Besides these cookies and “kuai” The groom side still need to get a lot of traditional items like

v      2 pair of the “龙凤烛” ~ dragon and phoenix candle

v      red clothes that cover the “娉金” ~ Bride’s Dowry.  We actually got a big ang bao packet that write “娉金” on the cover.

v      2 bottles of Martell

v      24 cans pig trotters

v      Even number of oranges

 

As for bride side, we need to prepare “嫁妆” which includes:

v      2 bottles of orange juice to return for the 2 bottles of Martell

v      Tea set for tea ceremony

v      Bedsheet set

v      2 bedside lamps

v      New toiletries set (toothbrushes, towels etc), the baby shower pail,  chopsticks, bowls, needles and thread set, … blar blar blar, all we omit. Use ang bao that write “厚礼金” to represent. *phew…. Hahahh

v      For son in law stuffs like pants, shoes, belt, wallet also omit, use ang bao write “厚礼金” to represent.

 

We have not finished with our purchase. Hahaha…. I missed out the

"安床" ~ An chuang stuffs! Hahahah....

 

Part 4:

This is a 伤脑精 issue. Finally got my father to sit down and write the invitation cards for our bride side’s relatives and friends. We have already settled Nick’s relatives and our friends. 90% of the invitation cards had been sent. Now only left the bride side.

 

So me sit down with my father, read the list that he need to write. Then we got stuck with the traditional addresses “称呼”of elderly.  We not sure if  we need to put in their surname with the formal addresses eg: “大伯”.  Then got different between elderly brother, use “伯” and younger one use “叔”. Then “姨母” have to write the surname of the her husband!

 

Then best of all, some of their surnames, my father can’t remember. Next we are stuck with “台升” and “升”. I read in some website, the character “台” has a brotherly meaning. So we not sure if we can use “台升” for woman only invite. *** faint faint faint. Trying to figure out…hahhaha….we managed to write 80% of the cards with uncertainty….hahhaha… We are still trying to ask around for the proper way of addressing.