Of hen's nights, weddings and so called happily ever after

At 29, more often that not, most Singaporean girls are expected to be married or at least in some kind of stable relationship, having found the other half aka one's soul mate. So in the past 2 years of my life, i have been subjected to have to attend wedding after wedding of friends and acquaintances. It's that time in our lives, as so they all say.

Please don't misunderstand me. Each wedding of a close friend, always brings much joy to my heart and tears to my eyes. I believe i have remained a firm believer of the sacred ceremony and the joining of lives despite some heart wrenching past experiences that would otherwise have left many jaded.

I remember my girlfriends and i made a pact some years back, in the comforts of Holland Village's Coffee Club, where we shook little pinkies that by the age of 26 we would all have found the "perfect" other half. Being the idealist that i was, and with a past history of only being in long term relationships, i never saw the pact as something i could not keep to. Now, many years later, i attended the weddings of 2 of my closest friends this year, single. I did a quick count of past relationships: 4. I must say i did pretty well in terms of staying in each one, long enough to realize it wasn't the happily ever after for me. 

I have been a bridesmaid many times now, and the recent one was for a very close friend, Chui Ling. I can't begin to express how happy i was for her, having been through a few relationships and finally finding someone to share her life with and who truly deserves her.

Chui Ling's Hen's night Dinner at Table at 7

Chui Ling is one of those friends that i will always hold close to my heart. Each boyfriend i have had, would have had to go through some kind of threatening process from her, and each birthday and Christmas, she never fails to write hand written cards and give me presents that she very carefully puts thought to. She is also fiercely loyal to Zouk. <3

Chui Ling & me

Hence, it was one of those weddings that gave me the hope that love does exist in today's hopeless world, plagued by betrayals, lack of trust and bitterness. (At this point, i can't help but hear "Love in a Hopeless Place" as the background music.)

But i have also vowed to myself to NEVER ever have to put my girlfriends through the pains of the wee hours of the morning tortures. Once again, let me clarify. I am one of the more traditional and conservative individuals amongst many of the people my age that i know. I know it is very hard to tell, given my inks, and appearance plus the nature of my job does not help either. However, i am traditional and maybe in some instances even old school, so i would definitely want to have the tea ceremonies, the Chinese dinners and that my future husband would have asked for permission proper from my parents before proposing to me.

BUT i will spare all my girlfriends the agony of having to wake up at the god forbidden hour of 3 or 4am to go through the rituals of "torturing" the husband's best men.

The rituals of "torture" for the best men

The tasks to complete

Very creative way of "bribing" the bridesmaids- "A*" for Effort!

 So it was morning rituals, duties of a bridesmaid, church wedding and dinner, where not surprising, I found myself as the alcohol-in-charge.

Rose petals for the picture perfect moment

On the way home after the early morning rituals

Chui Ling & Derek <3

Of weddings and love, hens nights and friendships, every girl wishes for her own happy ending. The knight in shining armor, the perfect wedding, the more than perfect marriage- but really, at the end of it all, isn't it true that what matters most is how he makes you feel? If each time being with him, is enough to make you smile and in the simplest of moments be happy, in our very complicated world, a love like that would be enough for me. =)

To the many happily-ever-afters.
2012, bring me mine please! 
<3 very much,
Sof
xx

#Love is.

I don't think he quite understands or maybe he chooses not to or maybe he does understand. I don't even know anymore.

Sorry doesn't make it all go away and it doesn't make me feel any differently for him. In fact, i think the only thing i feel is that my heart melts despite knowing fucking well that it shouldn't and i tell myself you deserve to be treated better than this.

Sorry i don't remember, sorry you had to take care of me.

I would do it again if i had to, each time he needs taking care of, but i remember the times when he says i don't remember that we had this conversation or what we spoke about and it really hurts. Because i remember everything. Because he matters that much.

It's funny because he is scared that i get upset or that I'm angry yet, he still does the things he does and then i get upset, not angry. And it's so strange the way he makes me feel, react or behave.

He takes it for granted that I'm here, always.
He probably doesn't realize how much he means to me.
And that i wish i was his.

So i guess it's goodbye.

Zouk gives back & what it means to love...

Most people don't actually know what Zouk does. This often leads to the misconception of how my work as the Marketing & Business Development Manager of the top 5th club in the world equates to just partying on the weekends, drinking and making merry.

But yes, this isn't a blog post about my job scope and what i actually do, but to set the record straight, I do work normal office hours from 1030AM to officially 730PM, but from Wednesdays, we often work beyond that and we stay late when there are events. Essentially- my life is the club, and the club is my life.

Aside from being a club, as most people just see Zouk as, we are also an events venue and amongst many things an organization. As part of our contribution back to society, we do quite partake in charity events and campaigns from the Milk Run which started in 2006, working with Beyond Social Services, it is today known as the Streetwise Run, Anti-Binge Drinking, Safe Clubbing, etc. and many more.

But the one event that we hold annually for the past 17 years that touches my heart is the Zouk CNY Charity Reunion Lunch that we hold for the Senior Citizens of the Tiong Bahru Befriender Service.

Zouk staff are in yellow

Full CNY props & table setting

It's a time when a committee is formed from within the Zouk staff force, from various departments and a program is planned from at least 1.5 months in advance.The Zouk main room is converted into a chinese restaurant style setting and a stage.

All the staff would come together to put up performances- singing, dancing and serving an estimate of 120 Senior Citizens. Prior to the day's program where all the citizens are brought down to Zouk for a 8 course sit down Chinese lunch, there are rehearsals every week and we also come together to donate "ang pows" for the Old folks.

The Zouk Security doing a dance item

Eric, our Zouk Members Bar Supervisor doing a solo

The "ang pows" along with cash donations from our big boss's mum- Mrs Cheng end up as the Meal Allowance for the Senior Citizens for a whole year. This amounts to more than $60,000 in cash not including goodie bags that have ointments, "liang chas", biscuits, etc.

Our staff work really hard to learn the dragon dance, see if you can recognize any of them!

Zouk Staff becoming pro dragon dancers

I remember the first year that i was introduced to this "charity event" that all new staff were "incorporated" into, i was part of a dancing item. But it was a very heartwarming finale for me after, coming to understand how so much thought, effort and most importantly heart is put into it. And it is a team effort of the entire Zouk family to put this together.

Yasee, Natasha & Charmaine

Kai-er (Benny's daughter)

Tony, Rexx & Sam from Maintanence

Kareirei & me

Zouk Security

Hence, it's always difficult to explain in words, why i have come to love this club as my life, and why I've been here for 7 years. Maybe this small insight can shed some light as to why this isn't just a job for me, and why I continue to love what i do and with so much pride. It is the people, the Zouk family and how much heart there is in some of the people here continues to inspire and motivate me. <3

The Entire Zouk family!

A gentle reminder each year for me of how blessed I am to be where I am, to love what I do and be surrounded by people who care.

Zouk just got voted no. 5 club in the DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs in the World Poll 2012. I cried at my desk when the results were out. =)

Zouk has always about people and passion. I can't be grateful to be part of it all and I hope from the bottom of my heart that we never lose this spirit of what makes Zouk special and unique. 

xx

The Cranberries LIVE!

And I'm in so deep, you know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger...

Big love <3 <3 to Hype Records and Ruth dearest that we were invited to catch The Cranberries LIVE tonight! So I'm jumping the gun and blogging about it now! Even though, i have tonnes of entries I need to schedule since Feb!!

The main vocalist Dolores O'Riordan's voice is fucking amazing, truly solid and one of a kind. Effortless is the word to describe how her performance went, belting out one hit after another.

 

 

As you can see it was crazily packed!! And i must say that OLD IS GOLD baby!!! We really enjoyed the concert, it was perfect to kick start April! Further more, we were so fortunate to be given front row tickets!

Some snap shots of us at the concert! Cam-whoring at it's best! Always!

Me

Caylee & her boyfriend

Natasha

Rai

Tim

Some bands like The Cranberries will always remain forever gold, classic and always enjoyable. Thank you once more and big loveeee to Hype Records for the tickets!!

April to a good start.
xx