Just over three weeks ago, my niece got married. Nicole and Jon, her long time beau (we found out days before the wedding, that they had been together for more than a dozen years), were married in Melbourne on 5 July. A few days before that, Tress, Kiddo and the girls flew down to Melbourne. I dropped Tress off at the airport early in the morning, and proceeded from there to make the drive to Melbourne. Mic did the same, but had to go back to their home to pack more stuff.

My youngest sister came to Melbourne with her younger son (YJ), for the occasion. My brother and his wife too, were there, as were Daniel and Isaac, Nic’s dad and brother. A few of of Jon’s relos made the trip too. We stayed in an apartment block just up Swanston Street, a stone’s throw from the Queen Victoria Market.

For the couple of days before the wedding, we took the visitors sight seeing in Melbourne. It was the first time Tress and I were back in Melbourne since leaving in December last year. I said to myself I did not miss the congestion and busy-ness, and was secretly happy I now live where we do. I missed the accessibility of Asian food (especially Malaysian food) that’s for sure. I can however, do without that privilege. I am happy to trade that accessibility for the tranquillity of Weston Creek, Kambah and the likes. Maybe I truly am old now.

The wedding on Saturday, 5 July, was beautiful. It was a gorgeous sunny morning and the obviously happy bride and her groom basked under the clear skies outside the Cross Culture Church on Swanston Street, as the large group of their young friends shared in the happy moments, clicking and snapping away.

On Monday morning, my brother and his wife got in the car with me, and we made the drive up to Canberra. Tress, Kiddo and the girls made the return flight home later that arvo, and late that evening we all got back and for the next several days, we hosted my brother and his wife and showed them around. They came mainly to see and spend time with the girls and little Abby was quick to latch on to how fun it was to engage with “Pek Kong” and “Em Poh” (aka crazy auntie). They got on well and we all agreed we will keep these memories fresh, until at least February next year, when another round of parties will take place in Penang, to celebrate the union.

It has been over three weeks since the hustle and bustle that accompanied the visitors. We are now back in the “throes” of winter, with sniffles, coughs, fevers, runny noses and all those winter blues constantly hovering over us. Tress has been coughing, Kiddo has had the sniffles and aches, and the girls too have had paracetamol become a condiment of choice. There are a few weeks to go, and already I am looking forward to warmer days when all these travails will be behind us for a bit.

On Saturday morning, we slept in a bit and then I rushed off to a Men’s Prayer Breakfast thing that Southside Bible Church convenes regularly. It was at John and Hannah Cho’s home in Wanniassa and their famous breakfast spread was well and truly spread out when I arrived, and not before I caught a delicious waft of the inviting aroma of a cooked breakfast, as I walked through the large front door. The prayer breakfast was very well attended, not least by a very healthy proportion of younger men. I’m glad I went to this event. It helped my inching towards becoming more rooted with this mob. It felt good to be there, praying together with them.

Last night, after little Zoe had her bath, Kiddo took out a contraption that looked like a mini disc grinder. Little Zoe’s nails needed trimming and those little discs that sat atop a electric shaver like tool, spun away as Kiddo trimmed those tiny nails. Big Sister wanted in on it as well so I hoisted her up and we all hovered over the two girls sitting on the kitchen benchtop. Mic held Zoe, I held Abby, Kiddo worked the grinding tool, and Tress made sure we were all careful with this military styled operation. As Kiddo worked on Abby’s nails, I thought, for the umpteenth time, I’m glad we made the move. Bittersweet departure from Melbourne notwithstanding. Cold mornings winter blues notwithstanding. The wedding is over, but the joys remain.