I Do

Hello again.

For those of you in the know, I've only just returned from a small amount of time back home in Malaysia. I got back yesterday in fact. Ordinarily, I'd rattle on about my trip. I'd write about the amazing days I spent with my significant other, or about my house in Malaysia being broken into. In fact, there's quite a few things I could talk about.

Instead I'm going to do something of a rarity on this blog, and get off my soapbox for a bit. I'm not going to write about myself. Today, I'm giving this space wholly the latter portion of my trip and an important milestone in a dear brother's life.

I returned home from Malaysia via Perth. The purpose of my visit was twofold, one was to visit Ken and Hari, and the second was to act as a witness as Ken got married. And what a nice little wedding it was.

On the morning of the big day, Ken and his soon-to-be-ex-fiance Li Chun busied themselves making sure that the house was tidy, the food was prepared and the decorations were in place. Not too long past noon, a few guests arrived and brought our party to about 10 people. Aside from the inhabitants of the house (Ken, LC and Hari), there was myself, LC's friend and fellow wedding witness Amy, Ken's Dad, Aunt, and Uncle, and 2 of LC's other friends.

By 1 pm, the stage was set and we all trooped over to the backyard patio and patiently awaited the arrival of the Marriage Celebrant. It was during this time that Ken also handed me 2 boxes containing the rings to be exchanged. We milled about chatting for a bit, and then it was time.

The Celebrant arrived, and after some housekeeping everyone stood in a semi circle around the happy couple. At this point the Celebrant took care of legal formalities and the wedding began in earnest. First came a brief description of their longstanding relationship, from the time it began in uni up to the point where they decided to spend the rest of their lives together. Then came the vows and the rings. Both spoke clearly, and it was obvious that this was something they've been wanting to do.

Next came a quaint little ceremony I hadn't seen before. Both Ken and LC began pouring some colored sand into a glass vial, signifying that their two separate lives are now one. It was a nice little touch, and despite the wind, none of the sand was spilled as far as I could tell (and Ken quickly placed the stopper on to make sure that none would escape).

With the rings exchanged, the vows spoken, and the sand blended it was time for the marriage certificate to be signed. Ken and LC both did so without hesitation, and not long after me and Amy added our signatures as well. I did so with pride, happy to be able to be a small part in the beginning of something great.

Ken and LC, thank you for allowing me not only to be a witness and bearing your rings for a moment. It's a great honor, and I count myself very fortunate to be among the few who were present.

May your marriage be blessed, your hardships few, and may each in your new life be better than the last.

Your friend and brother,
Fahim

The sky is falling.

Well aren't we in a bit of a pickle. Back in the day I've written at some (minor) length about the state of my apartment block, its many terrible backpacker denizens and the problems I have with water leaking and the like in my own place. This story however, takes the already crusty icing on the heaping dung cake of my existence here and dumps a new fresh layer of poopy nougat on top. Seriously, its starting to become some kind of disgusting layer cake.

What's happened now you ask? Well a section of my roof, not content with merely leaking water on my expensive electronics has decided to simultaneously outdo itself and give up the ghost. It has collapsed. I'm serious. As I'm sitting here by the computer, a decorative piece of roof is right next to me, having been wedged behind my AV cabinet and the wall. I am at a loss to describe the sheer annoyance of this. When I look at my nice, large screened monitor I want to ONLY see said monitor. Not a piece of masonry that would have caved an elaborate floral pattern on my skull. There are a lot of ways I want to leave this life (most of them involving jets, bears or sharks) and this is not it.


See? Its like its trying to spear my head or something. Or break through the other wall and escape to the street. Well the joke's on you buddy. The only place you're going is back up. And I will hot glue,epoxy, nail and otherwise molecularly bond you back where you belong. You hear me? GET BACK UP THERE!

We now return to our (never) regularly scheduled programming.

Dear Blog,

How I've missed you. I see that in my absence a number of strange rodent-like commenters have taken to nesting in your nooks and crannies. They promise readers free iPads, viagra, guaranteed weightloss and a myriad of other mind numbing devilry. I apologise. I shouldn't have left you alone for so long. I promise that I will hunt them down and make them suffer. Or at least clean up and make sure no traces of their evil is left behind.

So why am I back you ask? Well truth be told, I was never far away. I've often gazed lovingly at you through a rose-tinted high powered telescope from near earth orbit. From time to time I've even walked through your rich, mahogany scented hallways marveling in your elegant simplicity. I return for a number of reasons but chief among them is something very ordinary. I've missed writing, and I've missed you. Do forgive me for being away. For being ever faithful in the face of abandonment, I intend to spruce you up with new skills I have learned in the wild (and in space).

Your interface will be updated, your archives carefully set aside, and my posts will even be categorised and tagged. All this, and more await you my technological wonder of a diary. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be the talk of the town. The jewel on the crown of Poseidon. The feather on the fish.

I can't promise you that there won't be times when I might appear to be distant. The days and weeks may stretch on but know that you are very dear to me old friend. You have provided me with the means to empty the contents of my head. And for that, I will always be grateful.

I'm back.
The Nefarious Nightclub is open for business.

And boy do I have stories to tell you.

Semper fi,
Me.