Dad birthday on 15thMarch

While we are not into big celebration and inviting other relatives and friends over for a birthday party. It doesn’t mean that we will skip the celebration at all. As 15th of March is my beloved dad birthday, we continue to have a quite meal together as a family and bought him a sugar free fruit cake from Bakerlyn. For some reasons, I actually love this cake even though it is on the expensive side, but it is some money that I think you shouldn’t skip on it.

My dad continue to be one of the most important person in my life, and I’m glad that I can continue to journal his life as much as I can.

Marilyn Birthday

Today is my nieces Marilyn birthday, so as usual. We have makan, birthday cake and etc. What make it unique is that we have the latest add on together with us tonight. My youngest nephew to date, the eldest son from my 3rd brother, Victor. Ezekiel Emmanuel Tan Ngee Ern!

 

It is definitely a joy to see that God has bless my brother with a wonderful boy and more years of responsibility ahead of him of coz :p But his presence has definitely bring joy to the household. Everyone just love him!!! But I think the dogs don’t really like him because of jealousy though :p

But for some reasons, today event actually kick me to reflect on my decision for taking up photography. I bought my first digital camera at the end of 2008 and first DSLR on july 2009; and in this 2 years I have learned so much on photography that I can never imagine I will 2 years ago.

Yet, I have never regret picking up photography, I think the only regret is I didn’t pick it up sooner. But at least it wasn’t too late. Photography in a way have change my life, it changed my perspective and also how I see things around me. As I look through photo that I took over this 2 year, it actually make me grateful with what God has done in my life, and also the decision of getting into photography.

The most important aspect of photography to me I believe is capturing the moment and memory. You may have the latest and the best camera equipment with you, yet it you fail the capture the moment / memory, it will be useless. Of course, it depends on the subject and the reason of your photo. When it come to family photography, personally I don’t believe any photo that you taken will be a waste. The photo that you took may not need anything to others, but for the family members it will be a monument that can last for a life time. When ever you flick open and see the photo, it will have the power to bring you back to that stage of event. For me that’s the power of photography can do, and for me, I feel grateful and privilege to journal down my family life into something that is tangible and memorial able. 

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me♫

OK, today isn’t my actual birthday, it is actually few days ago. Anyway, that’s beside the points.

Not sure is it me getting old, getting mature or being sentimental, I know that as the year passed by, I appreciated my family, my friends and the teams more and more.

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They are absolute irreplaceable for me in whatever way. Though as a family we don’t really speak much with one another, but time and times again the affirmation of love that is show inwardly and outwardly is something that I really cherish.

Then the team members that I have. Lot’s and lots of time I find myself privilege to work with this team, all of them are quite successful in their career; GM, principle, FC, executive, architect. Yet despite the differences, profession, status and even age, we manage to work together as a team for over this past few years.      

   

The amount of times, effort and preparation for the birthday celebration for me & Terence is just unbelievable. No words can descries the sense of awe and when I saw the table settings, lighting, foods and the effort of dressing up. BTW, in case you haven’t notice, the theme for the night is cultural costume; that’s why most of us are wearing Chinese shirt. I really thank God for them,  they have impact my life, showing love and care, encouragement and correction, agree to disagree, and showing me how it is to be in a family of God, not just in words but also in action and example.

Of course, they are not the only one around my life, peoples that around me; friends, youths, colleagues, clients, all of them have shape me in so many ways. I may not be a celebrity, rich man, highly successful career etc, but one thing I know. As of what I have right now, I am blessed. Thank you so much with big love ♥

Happy Birthday Lily

Sorry for haven’t been updating much with my blog lately, been really busy for the last 2 weeks with the camp preparation, executing, and the finishing works. It is definitely a fun and memorial to the participants. How I know? Just have to look at their FB status loh, where else? >w<

Last night, we have an advance birthday celebration for my 2nd nieces from my eldest brother. A very typical TAN family style! Great meals prep by my brothers and a birthday to follow after that. A slight difference will be her bf Choon Fatt is with us this time.

  

Wishing you a sweet 16th birthday, Lily! ^w^

Mary Khiu Birthday Dinner

Our way of birthday celebration, has been getting more and more grant and creative that it always put me to awe whenever I am there. This time we are celebrating Mary Khiu birthday at Mary place, while it is not her actual birthday so it is more of an advance celebrations for her.

While we always said simple meals will do, but deep down we always appreciate good foods, especially when when couple it with good friends and great times. We have an assumptions 4 + 1 course meals, sayang I miss my opportunity  to take some of the foods photo since I am too focus on eating them.

When it come to celebrate his wife birthday, I can really see Terence work and plan it in such a ways that it will amazed you, and this time he even planned cat walk and a so cal led Academy Awards to spice the nights up. 

Since the dress code is formal, our ladies take their chances to dress their best for the night, and it come to our responsibility that we have to take photo for them. Using the wall as backdrop, I decided to use 1 camera flash mounted to a tripod with a white umbrella partly bound from ceiling and diffuse through the umbrella. To be honest, I am pretty please with the result, I do wish I can use 2nd flash for fill light, too bad that I didn’t bring enough battery for the job. So it is important to check your stuffs before you perform your duty. Of course technically I am not working for this instance.

Then the most important is of course the husband and wife for the night!!!

and here is my favourite snap for the night

Plain, simple yet it contain something that I cannot describe how much I love this photo over all the others.

Then here is some photo of me with others, since I always got complain that my album hardly got me inside, but how to get yourself in the frame when you are the one holding the camera? :p

Then a group snap, but some of them already left. Since the whole things actually carry on all the way til 1 plus am . . . .

 

Thanks to Terence for organize a fantastic night for his wife, and Happy Birthday to Mary Khiu, and we will see what Terence have on his shelves for next year >w<

姨妈 (Aunty) 71st Birthday Celebration Dinner

Right after we are done with our checking out, and on the ways to do our various stuffs with my mum. She actually told me that we will be celebrating 姨妈 birthday, and they are adding us into the dinner celebration.

Just a bit of background of her, she is my mum cousin on the ladies side, and they have been very close even at the young age. When I was born, she actually took care of me in Miri, while my mum is in Brunei. If I not mistaken, “long pa” was my kids name when I was there. So when I heard about it, I know I am obligate to go and I don’t mind going also, and I also decided to take this chances to take more photograph.

They booked 5 table in one of the restaurant which consisted only the direct family members, in law, grandchildren and 1 table of friends, so it was a pretty challenging night for my ha ka direct speaking, though i got no problems in listening.  >w<

Interestingly, on the same restaurant, there is another wedding functions going on the same flood and another birthday celebration going on another floor. It actually show how popular is this place.

Oh ya, regarding the foods. It is freaky nice!!! And for one, no rice on the manual!!! I wouldn’t mind to go there again just for the foods.

I want to thanks my cousin for letting us join in the dinner (though I know my nieces was pretty bore, which is totally understandable) for wishing 姨妈 for long life and more years to come ^w^

Since I already give them a copy of the photo’s, I do hope they like the photo that been taken.

Happy Birthday Celebration for Mok

 

Once again, we have a birthday celebration and this time is for our beloved leaders, Mok. I think going to Vila Mauri is almost like a tradition for us already. And thanks to Mary, Carol and Emily for organising the whole events with the usual good foods and fun.

Definitely my pictures for the day XD

Happy Birthday to Mum!

Last night we celebrated my mum birthday. Very informer, very easy going, nothing special, but how ever is it, she is one of the most precious ladies in my life. No words or action will ever measure up my appreciation of her for sacrifice so much for the family. 

Birthday for 3

  31st March is a special occasion where we celebrate 3 of our family birthday, which is my bro Vincent, eldest sis in law Sharon, 3rd sis in law Edith.

The chocolate cup cake is really thick and nice, a bit too sweet though :p

This cake is made with sweeten sugar instead of the normal one, so is better for those cannot take sweet yet love cake.

Happy Birthday Dad

Last sunday, we have a BBQ session to celebrate advance birthday for my dad, what made it special this time is that my 2nd brother Vincent & Sis in law actually made a surprise come back all the way from UK. So it is a pretty interesting night, as usual wonderful foods. Especially the lamb!!! >w<

BTW, thanks to Karen for the photo taking, and Michelle as an assistance holding the umbrella & flash for this strobist shot :p

Eps 6: Welcome Ezekiel Emmanuel Tan Ngee-Ern 陳義恩

My 3rd brother Victor & Sis in law Edith just born a son on friday night!!! It is the first born son for my 3rd brother and all of us are rejoicing and exciting about this new born child. So for now I have 3 nephew and 4 nieces, and I believe the number will continue to grow!!! >w<

Once Captain Mike heard the news, he is so excited that he wanted to do something about it. So he made a red egg which Chinese usually use it for birthday and also mean to symbol a new life. Welcoming Ezekiel Emmanuel Tan Ngee-Ern to Tan family and also to this world. Pray and believe that you will have a wonderful, blessed, and fulfilling life under the care, maturing of Victor Tan family.

Congrats and well done to Victor & Edith \(^w^)/

1 month has passed

It has been a month since we have our 3 new additional family, now they are able to walk for a short distance and play among themselves. We still can’t decided the name yet, since they are still pretty small atm, but they are so freaky cute!!!

Somehow small puppy have a magical charm that charm any single one on earth (especially to dog lover), whatever they do you will just adore and think it is cute. Even they start peeing anyway, you will tolerate it coz you will said they are still young, don’t know what they are doing….. but once they start getting older. . . .

. . . . .

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It just remind me that we do the same thing to baby and kids. Hmmm.. what to do? Life itself is a learning experience that one can never live alone. When we are kid, we talk like a child, speak like a child and think like a child. But once we grow up, we have to throw our childishness away and begin to reason like a grow up. Since we can’t no longer live by milk alone and needed solid foods for our daily needs.

Errr… don’t know why suddenly feel like keying all this thoughts in? But still it is so true.

Some photo retouching

This is the photo that I gave to Grace as a gift to celebrate her birthday this years. It has been few week over her birthday already, so I hope she don’t mind me posting me or else I gonna delete this post before I got a real kick from her :p

Anyway, it is a pretty interested journey to see her grow, well she still have plenty of opportunity and potential waiting for her. So we will see what He have install for her ^w^

Dinner @ XCape Restaurant

  

Sunday night, me, Majorie, Lily, Stanley, Michelle went together to Xcape Gadong for dinner under the request of Michelle dad. This was the 2nd time we actually came out together for dinner, last time was a surprise birthday dinner for Stanley.

We ordered almost close to 20 dish if not mistaken, we ate so fast that as if we not haven’t eaten for ages. But it was a really good time together and I enjoy it, and they actually make use of the plate and some left over stuffs to make a weird smiling face XD

During Saturday some of us played a game that you have stuck marshmallow and said “Chunky Bunny #” where # is the number of marshmallow inside your mouth. So Lily and Michelle loved the game so much that they actually go and buy a packet of marshmallow and played the game while we are on our way home, it was freaky funny XD