Monday, October 11, 2010

First-time mother-in-law

The journey and process to becoming an official mother-in-law is fraught with pre-wedding pressures.  First from the Oz Hairdressers, that I need to look perfect with a promotion priced hair colour, cut and blow wave...looking like I have been in a wind tunnel or like Phyllis Dillus(?) of the TV sitcom of the 1960s.  Then a visit to David Jones to get some advise on make-up from Voula at the Clarins counter.  She was very helpful indeed.  I joked about sleeping on Saturday night, fully made-up with foundation, eyeliner, lipstick and dressed so that, come Sunday morning, I should be ready to attend the wedding by 9 a.m. That was not the end of the saga.  A beauty facial place put more pressure by selling their machine treatment to smoothen my forehead and frown-lines.  Totaling $200+.  With two appointment cards in my hand, freaking out by the imposed pressure, let loose when I returned to DC's flat.

By Friday, I canceled both appointments and felt total RELIEF! 

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Wedding number ONE

I have arrived in Sydney for number one son, Thomas & Jade's wedding, scheduled on 10th October, 2010. The number TEN is very auspiciously chosen in Chinese culture. The Chinese language is a tonal language. TEN, pronounced or sounding like 'Supp'(means definite success).Therefore the wedding date was chosen for that specific rationale.

I have bought a first-time mother-in-law outfit*, photo will be published as soon as my dear friend, Pam O email it to me, as she has recently taken lessons on how to use her newly bought digital camera. We'd our first inaugural photo-shoot at the Geelong Botanical Gardens. For international readers who are not friends of mine, as yet. The following information may be useful: Geographically,Geelong is situated at the southern coast of Australia, in the state of Victoria. Population 250,000. For cycling sports fan, Barwon Heads is the hometown of Aussie cyclist, Cadel Evans.

* I will appreciate any FIRST-TIME mothers-in-law (from all races and culture) to post your comments regarding your personal experiences.

DC and I went shopping for a formal dress today. DC & husband, YW have been invited to Thomas & Jade's wedding. It was a challenge as DC was freaking out with the idea of having to adorn herself in formal/black tie attire. She is more comfortable in tracksuits, at far best, salwar kameez (Indian dress), sitting in lotus position, meditating. The first two attempts in trying dresses at Birkenhead Point was diastrous. DC felt ambivalent. She bought a pair of ballet slippers in black. In my mind, I was thinking she has got things back to front, buying the shoes before the dress. However, her logic is, she will never buy a dress which did not match the black ballet shoes. At Newtown, a grudgey, vintage, retro, new-aged, main streets lined with cafes, reflect the multi-cultural and ethnicity of Australia. That's where DC found her dress at Ataya, a dress shop that stocked Brisbane designed label, Dogstar. DC was elated with her choice, as it will be a dress which can be worn again and again. She hates wastage, buying a dress for one-time wear is out of the question. Now, we can begin to 'accessorise' her and the dress.

In the meanwhile, I have started the diligent regime of swimming every morning at the Ashfield Swimming Pool, accompanying YW in his daily exercise routine. I hope to fit comfortably into the mother-in-law outfit, but my Teacher reminded me that "It is more beneficial to lose delusions from my mind, than losing weight."