Veil and Shoes... Tick!

OK... here is the 'not fair' part.... I am not allowed to see any part of Winny's outfit until the wedding day. Fair enough I guess. But, hey, I wanna see it damn it!

The dress, as you know, was purchased some time ago. With this in hand, Quyen and I headed off into Sydney CBD in search of matching pieces for the special day...I didn't hang with Quyen for the first two hours. We departed and I banked a couple of cheques, went to the RTA to transfer a car into our name, and checked out new mobile phones (didn't get one though).

In the mean time, Winny succesfully found her veil and her shoes! Yay! The outfit is now complete. - with just over four months to go. Yippeee!! The sales team were very helpful at both stores. The shoes were purchased from Panache Bridal Shoes - check them out at http://www.aboutpanachebridalshoes.com.au/ and they fantastic - I am reliably informed...Cyndy served Quyen - so ask for her if you every go there.

The veil was purchased from Jean Fox Bridal Gowns. Visit their website at http://www.jeanfox.com.au/ the sales person that Quyen had was Rosalie. The veil has to be custom made and will be a length of 60 inches - or 152 cm - Quyen's approximate height. I guess that is a clue to me as to what the dress could be about!!!!! hmmmm..... I wonder... Mind you... this very second.... I am sitting about two metres away from the dress. It is in a shopping bag wrapped up tightly - Quyen took it around with her today to match the colour / material / lace / plastic - who knows what needed to be matched!!! I haven't seen it, so I don't know.

You will see a photo on 12 June 2005 of the dress - unless you are coming to the wedding, then you will see it at 1:30pm on 11 June!

Letter from Bishop

Today Quyen and I received the following letter from the Most Rev Peter Ingham, Bishop of Wollongong:

Dear Mr Devenish

Thank you for your letter of 11 January, 2005 requesting permission to be married to Quyen Thi Cam Le at Edmund Rice College Chapel, West Wollongong, on 11 June, 2005.

As you have consulted with Fr Doug Rheinberger, parish priest of St John the Evangelist Church, Dapto and as you have the permission of the Headmaster of the College who acts on behalf of the Trustees of the Christian Brothers, the owners of the Chapel, I am happy to grant you this permission. I note that Fr Peter A Comensoli will perform the ceremony.

Please ensure that you provide a copy of your birth and baptism certificates to Fr David O'Brien, the parish priest of St Therese Parish, West Wollongong, the parish in which your wedding will be celebrated.

My best wishes to you both for your future life together. Yours sincerely

Most Rev Peter Ingham DD Bishop of Wollongong

Pageboy Harry

Andrew & Deb 0012
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

This is Harry. Harry is the pageboy for our wedding. I have two sisters - Rachel (32) and Emma (29). Rachel has three young boys (Cameron, Harry and Andy). Harry is the middle boy and starts school this year! They grow up too fast...

Harry will be perfect for the bridal party... so long as he doesn't chase lizards.

He loves his lizards and has been known to be distracted at very important times and run off chasing them. Onya Harry!

Videographer Extraordinare!

Andrew & Deb 0020
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

This is Uncle John... my Dad's older brother. He is an absolute video champion. He films absolutely everything. All the family events, he is there filming. He the spends hours creating the most amazing DVD of his efforts, with fantastic editing.

This photo is of him in action at his son's wedding in Brisbane, in November 2004. I am sure you will see more of him later!

Our First Camping Trip!

Quyen and I had our first camping trip together from 8th Jan to 12th Jan! We had a fantastic time.

OK, so it doesn't entirely have to do with the wedding. However, as it was probably our last holiday before the wedding i thought i may document it to you and share some of the photos with you.

We went up to the Warrumbungle National Park - about 6 hours drive north west of Sydney. We went through Bathurst on the way, calling to see my cousin, Ellen, on the way. Had breakkie with her and then arrived at the WNP at about 4pm on the Saturday.

Went on some fantastic walks. Tiring though! had kangaroos coming up to our tent and patting them while we were eating breakfast, lunch and tea! There were also plenty of Goannas. A few people saw Koalas also. However, we were asleep at this time.

Enjoy the photos. It really is a beautiful part of the World and is something for Australia to be proud of. I would love to go there again in the next couple of years. Perhaps with some of you who are reading this now!

Let me know what you think of the photos.

Bridal Party now complete

We finally got around to asking the Flower Girl to be the flower girl for our wedding! Sarah Moss is my cousin's daughter. My Mum is one of six children and her older sister is Marie. Marie's second child is Peta-Mary and has three children, of which the youngest is Sarah.

Sarah will make a beautiful partner for my nephew Harry on the day. I hope to have a picture of her up here soon for you to see. She is absolutely gorgeous.

It took us a while to ask, although we had made the decision a while ago that it would be her. We have not been able to make time to visit and ask personally.

Peta-Mary and Ron were absolutely stoked to have been asked.

Oh, and Peta was the flower girl at my Mum and Dad's wedding in December 1971!!!

That now completes the asking of the bridal party.

My blog!

I have to admit I have been a bit slack with doing my blog in recent weeks. But, hey, it has been Xmas and New Year... that is my excuse anyway.

I did two posts last night which I am happy about.

Already there has been feedback on my posts from last night!

If you do read the blog, post a comment please! or email me at aidanwinny@ozemail.com.au

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!!

Groomsman # 3

Paulie
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

OK. This is Paulie (aka Quang). I have known Quang for 20 years! Since primary school at St. Pius X in Unanderra, a suburb of Wollongong. He's a great bloke and a good mate. He is the best man at our Wedding.

Just before Xmas, on the eve of his trip to Japan and Vietnam we caught up at the Opera Bay in Sydney. We had a couple of beers and the conversation came up about my blog and how I haven't got a pic of him up here yet.... well, now I have!

This photo was taken at the house where I spent most of years. This was definately my Birthday party.... possibly my 6th or 7th - so 1985 or 1986. Oh, and this pic is scanned from a photo album of my childhood that my Dad put together for me for Xmas 2000. It wasn't taken from a digital camera back then.... hehehe

Sorry mate... but I had to put this photo up... smile!

Paul Erickson - THANK YOU!

Can you see it!!! To the right and top of the screen! can you? can you?? The countdown to our wedding! yay! Paul Erickson, aka Web Designer Extraordinare, designed and placed it on here. How mad.

I was very excited when i came home and saw it today. I am sure Winny will be the same when she comes over to see it tomorrow night... very excited.

I promised something very, very special for Paul when I next see him.

Thanks Paul. It looks great mate. Well done...