Feel like a laugh at my expense?

Paul Erickson... what ever will we do with him... hmmm... please post your suggestions.

He did up this effort. Check out the link. Have a laugh, click on all the buttons - and turn your volume up!

http://www.xperimental.com.au/dancing_aidan/

Enjoy... that's all I can say. I was in absolute fits of laughter when I saw it today.

Well done Paul and... thanks (I think)

Here is a slightly edited version of the email Paul sent to Ian, Paulie and myself:

Hi Guys,

I was out thru the week in Sydney and went passed this new bar that just opened up. The better of me thought, 'I’ll just pop my head in just to see what its like'.... And guess who I saw ripping up the dance floor

http://www.xperimental.com.au/dancing_aidan/

Be sure sure to turn your volume up... Start by turning the Music on.. And go thru all the buttons!!

The Weather Channel

Thanks to my major sponsors, The Weather Channel, I have been able to put their logo at the top left of my blog.

If you click at any time on this logo it will zoom you off to their site for the latest 30-Day Rain forecast - it is for the Sydney region. However, as soon as their is a relevant forecast for the Wollongong area I will be sure to update it.

Weather Forecast

OK. Quyen and I need your help now. We would love a sunny day for our wedding. The 28-Day rain forecast currently says otherwise... hmmm...

When I checked last week it was forecasting s sunny day on 11 June. Now, there is rain all around and on that date... aaarrrggghhhh :(

If it rains, so be it. We will just deal with it and still be happy. However, out ideal wedding day is a nice crispy morning with sun shine all day, and minimal wind. Hang on, I think that is anyone's ideal weather for their Winter wedding day.

Visit the following page regularly please and pray for a sunny day!

http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/Magic94scripts/mgrqispi94.dll?appname=WC&prgname=WC&Function=28Day

Viennese Waltz 101

Dance Lessons 0001
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

OK. So I have two left feet. In fact, even that is a stretch of the imagination. Hence there is not a photo of me on here having dancing lessons.

A couple of weeks back Quyen and I had a one hour dance lesson down in Wollongong.

Ian recommended a friend of his for us to go to and get some dancing lessons prior to our wedding.

I already knew I would be crap. Sure enough. Despite all the encouragement in the world from both Quyen and Natalie, I was still crap. Never mind, we learnt some important steps for our bridal waltz.

The tough part was that we learn a routine to Natalie's counting - 1,2,3,4... etc. you get the drift.

This went on for 45 minutes. Then... without further adoo, Natalie put on the song that were dancing to and, my goodness gracious me. IT IS DAMN FAST. Scared the living bejesus out of me. Well, us.

Had an absolute ball of an hour though and did actually come away with alot. Natalie was fantastic and very patient with both of us and did give me some confidence for the day.

Oh, and that is Natalie in the left of the photo.

However, IF YOU HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE BLOG I WOULDN'T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT.

Bye.

Meet Joanna

Pantry Tea 000002
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

This is Joanna. Joanna has been fantastic in the lead up to the wedding with organising the hens night and the pantry tea. Jo is Ian's Sister! Yep, it's very family this wedding - with Paul and his brother Mark involved as well.

Jo and I have become close friends over the past couple of years - often catching up for dinner and an ale in Sydney after work.

Jo is a true chick that rocks. She really does.

Reader at the Church

quyens cousin and fiancee
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

This is Peter - Quyen's cousin.

Peter is like a brother to Quyen and has been since their arrival from Vietnam to Australia in 1981.

Peter will be reading one of the two readings during our Catholic Ceremony at the Edmund Rice Chapel.

In a different twist to the ceremony, the reading will be read in Vietnamese by Peter.

Pictured with him is his Fiancee, Giang.

Pantry Tea

pantry tea 3
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

Check out the pics from the pantry tea a few weeks back...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanwinny/sets/371690/

I took me a while to load them all. However, they were taken the old fashioned way - so I had to scan them up. Took me a while, but I eventually got there. Enjoy the photos. The party was at Quyen's house and friends and family attended.

Some of the more creative gifts included a gift of six different types of sugars from one person, a morrocan cooker from another and some very handy tea towels.

This particular photo is of one of the games that was organised... Quyen has been wrapped in toilet paper... hmmm... what does that symbolise I wonder?? hmmm...

A big thanks to Jo Failes for organising the day!! Thank you!!! The same wonderful person that organised the hen's night. Great organisation.

Colin's Shirt

colin_shirt
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

OK. So you may think I desparate to look for things to blog. Wrong! This one I could not resist. This is Colin, my brother-in-law, he is a dude - and the same one i was comparing bellies with in the bucks photos... hmmm... issues?? you be the judge.

Call him: 555-COLINSHIRT

Quyen's Hens Night

Boys, Boats and...

It was Quyen's turn for her night of fun before tying the knot on June 11. Quyen had her hen's night on Wild Boys Afloat. The girls met up at my place before heading off into the City and catching a boat ride for 5 hours around Sydney Harbour, catching in all the sites of the Harbour and more. Much, much more!

They had a fantastic time and the show was very professional I hear! Enjoy the photos. They say it all - and more... enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanwinny/sets/368006/

My Speech

This is perhaps the part of the wedding I am most nervous about! For the past few months I have been writing parts of my speech I would most like to stay. I plan to read the entire speech as opposed to having it written in points... if it were in points I know I would only get distracted by looking at our guests and forgetting things and, of course, getting all emotional...

One little story I will tell is advice that Quyen's Grandpa gave to Quyen's Mum as the two of them were ready to depart for Australia 24 years ago.

stay tuned for the speech - it will be posted soon after the speech is made on the night.

Other people to do a speech on the night included:

My Dad - Arthur
Our Best Man - Paulie
Quyen - the beautiful Bride
Linda - Head Bridesmaid

There may also be one of Quyen's uncles from Adelaide that will be speaking on behalf of Quyen's family.

To those that are attending the wedding...dont' worry - the speeches won't be coming all at once - they will be split up in two group during the mains..

Make-up Trial

Make-up Trial 0010
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

Quyen had her make-up trial this morning! yay!

hen's night tonight!!! aaarrrgghhhh

Josline jumped into the baqckground! great timing on the photo Patty!!

Bucks email transcript...

OK, well Paulie emailed all those that attended the Bucks Day giving a summary of the cash they all need to pay him... Here is part of that email transcript... make of it what you will. Believe what you will!!

Hi guys,

Thanks for everyone who came along to Aidan's bucks day... hopefully a great day and night was had by all.

The Buck ended up with a few interesting "offers" during the course of the night thanks largely to the pink tutu and encouragement of the boys. For those of you who left early, you missed out on Aidan's awesome juggling act.... what that man can do with hands...... ;) For those who stayed the duration, Aidan would like me to make a reminder that "what goes on tour, stays on tour".

Sure Aidan.... until the wedding speeches that is!

One month to the wedding

1MTG
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

With only one month to the wedding, things are heating up in the Devenish/Le camp!! All is well underway now and the countdown is well and truly underway... the final stages are now being put into place such as finalising the bombonieres, Church service booklets and other finer detail.

Bucks Photos Part II

IMG_3290
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

Here are some pics from my Dad's camera... Follow the link... a few nice photos in this lot... Enjoy!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanwinny/sets/324729/

Bucks Day!!

bucks pig
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

All the big boys came together last Saturday to celebrate my Bucks Day... you may know it as a Bachelor Party. It was a massive day that was fantastic for all involved.

Starting off with Paul, Ian and Michael at 7:30am, we met all the guys at Helensburgh for a game of golf at "Boomerang Golf Course". We played nine holes - two groups of 8, with my Dad my caddy - thanks Dad!! It was funny... my group tried to take it seriously but by the sixth we were kind of in a silly mode so we stuck to that and had a bit of fun...

We then headed North up the Freeway back to my place for a lunch BBQ (extensively captured on Ian's phone - link at the bottom!). The BBQ was an absolute treat! I had not used the BBQs at my place yet, but they were great. I had not ever used the pool and spa either. They were great! Nice and heated. Finishing lunch at 3pm, we headed off into the city in a MaxiTaxi (a cab that seats up to 11 people) to a high speed jet boat ride around the harbour for 50 minutes. That was awesome! The highlight of the day had to be the dinner though. Having pre ordered a whole suckling pig for us all to get through, we arrived at the restaurant with high expectations. Speaking for myself, they were certainly met. The pig was awesome - as the photo depicts. It was alot of food, but we finished every last piece of crackle, meat and veges!

Dinner finished and we headed off to a Karaoke place up the road and sang to our hearts content for an hour. THat was very entertaining - with me proving I really am a frustrated singer as Ian calls it... hmmm.. make of that what you will. We then headed off to Kings Cross. I will finish there with a famous quote of the night... "what happens on tour, stays on tour". All good though - Winny is happy with the outcome (as I wipe my forehead in relief).

Please take your time to have a look at all of the photos that Ian took on the day - I must say that the captions are fantastic that he has attached to each photo. I only had the chance to have a look tonight - bloody funny. Well done.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlebabe/sets/70296/

Big thanks to Paulie, my best man, best mate, and a top bloke for organising the whole day. A heap of effort was put in to ensure it went a treat. Thanks also to those that came along to the day. It was great to see you all there and was certainly the moment in the lead up to the wedding that has been the most memorable.

Quyen has her party Saturday week.... I shall report... hmmm...

Pre-wedding Photo Shoot

PREWED
Originally uploaded by Aidan & Quyen.

Photography by Pippin
wedding & portrait photography
02 9568 6688 / 0413 094 170
'life is not measured by the breaths we take...
but by the moments that take our breath away'

OK, well many I have talked to about this has never heard of it being done before. I shall explain... Pippin is the most wonderful photographer any couple could ask for to their wedding. This is not a plug, but our true thoughts. Pippin arranged for us to have a pre-weding photo shoot to get us comfortable in front of the camera and to know how we react in photos; what we like and dislike when having our photos taken; as well as an opportunity for us to have some fantastic portrait shots of us both. You can see our three favourite photos to the right. Click for a larger pic...

The photos were shot in Callan Park, just near Pippin's Leichhardt studio in Sydney.

Pippin's fantastic ideas were blogged recently in the photo sites around Wollongong she sent us to explore. I guess what I am saying is best about Pippin is that she listens.

Her motto mentioned above is so true to what she believes...