A little-known fact… Chris bought the ring back in Feb when he was getting it made, but obviously I didn’t know. Anyway, about a month or two ago, I was chatting with a girl friend about engagement rings and we were looking through the designs that caught our fancy? Guess which design I picked out? The EXACT one that Chris bought me 😛 Great minds think alike, hehe! It does mean a lot to me ‘cos it’s really nice to know that the guy I’m marrying knows my taste to a tee 🙂
Anyway, after The Proposal, Chris was really keen to still head out to our “celebratory dinner”. I wasn’t particularly in the mood to eat.. considering we’d only just pigged out on cheese and wine, and my stomach was doing total flipflops in excitement over the proposal 😛 Chris was insistent, so I decided I’d just eat light and have an entree or something.
Set amongst tropical landscaped gardens and overlooking the Reef View pool, The Pool Terrace Restaurant is chic but casual. Lit by candlelight, it’s was a lovely restaurant for us to just enjoy and bask away in our ‘newly engaged’ status 🙂 Again, I was surprised at how fantastic the food was.. I selected the Tasting Plate which was basically “surprise” dishes consisting of whatever the chef thought was best and freshest. The food was great, but the portions were too small for the price IMHO 😉
Which meant I of course had to steal some of Chris’ 😛 He’d selected the Eye Fillet steak served on a bed of croquette potatoes, asparagus and porcini mushroom suace. Topped with a delicate truffle butter. That steak was friggin’ AMAZING. It was fat and thick but was absolutely tender and cooked perfectly.. was actually better than the steak we had at The Steakhouse earlier in the trip 😛
Dessert was Sticky date pudding with pistachio ice cream which didn’t look too exciting on the menu, but I’m damn glad we’d ordered it because it was AWESOME! Warm and fudgy and moist.. beautifully matched with the pistachio ice cream. Too bad the resturant’s not in Sydney too!
The Pool Terrace Restaurant
Our 1st photo post-engagement, ‘cept it’s so flashed-out and we look so tired!
My tasting plate
Some kinda tart, and some risotto/truffle ball
Super tender beef with a strawberry
Smoked salmon and seaweed, and scallop at the back
Eye Fillet steak served on a bed of croquette potatoes, asparagus and
porcini mushroom suace. Topped with a delicate truffle butter.
Sticky date pudding with pistachio ice cream
CHEERS TO OUR ENGAGEMENT! 🙂
Picture-perfect view from THE BALCONY, the next morning
I could stand out here for hours…….
Chris’ video of THE BALCONY 🙂
Byeeeeeeee
And that’s the end of it… A wonderful holiday that I’d anticipated would be something that would totally rejuvenate us and it was all that and so much more 🙂 It’s been an absolute whirlwind of craziness since we’ve returned, with engagement celebration dinners, hanging out with friends.. and of course, an engagement party coming right up!
But THANK YOU so much for all your well wishes and thoughts. It means a lot to us and really put a smile on my face reading through your comments 🙂 It’s nice to be able to share this with you, and also quite nice to be able to talk about something for a change, since my blog is pretty much about nothing interesting except for a few food pics here and there 😉
And do I have anything planned yet? The answer to that (very frequently asked) question is… NO! Nothing at all – not even a date, or a venue, or bridal party, or theme colour, or anything at all. I’ve never been the girl that dreams of her wedding and has got everything planned/imagined.. so it’s all quite overwhelming for me and to be honest, I just wish everything would be over and we were already married – that’s kind of the part I want the most, and not really months and months of planning/stress just for one day. Pressure, much? Eek!!!
Congratulations on your engagement! I just got married about 8 months ago and looking back, the engagement was a beautiful transition time. I hope you enjoy this time tremendously.
Cheers,
Genevieve
genevievejohn.com
Thanks so much Genevieve! It’s super sweet of you 🙂
Congratulations on your engagement! I just got married about 8 months ago and looking back, the engagement was a beautiful transition time. I hope you enjoy this time tremendously.
Cheers,
Genevieve
genevievejohn.com
Thanks so much Genevieve! It’s super sweet of you 🙂
I love Chris’ sadface. XD
Hehe it was very apt… exactly how we felt as we were boarding the plane!
I love Chris’ sadface. XD
Hehe it was very apt… exactly how we felt as we were boarding the plane!
Wedding stress
“I just wish everything would be over and we were already married – that’s kind of the part I want the most, and not really months and months of planning/stress just for one day.”
That’s a very healthy attitude Bev. Too many brides lose sight of the fact that the wedding is just the entry point to a lifetime commitment.
Enjoy the planning and the wedding but remember it’s just one day and don’t get too stressed out.
Re: Wedding stress
Aww thank you, it’s very true. It’s tough not to get stressed by all of it though, I WANT a lovely big day but just don’t like the lead up to it…… heheh!
i think a wedding is as stressful/complicated/fun as you want it to be! its no rocket science and you deal with it as you do with daily chores in life!
has to be done but definitely should be done with heaps of your own style and personality. thats when the fun begins!(as im sure you would, darling..)
let me know if you need help!
That is true! I envision a really wonderful day with loads of perfect details, but I’ll probably kill myself doing it that way.. so might just keep it fairly simple 🙂
just pick some of the most important elements and focus on them!! 😉 don’t stress yourself out!
most of all, have fun with it hon!
Wedding stress
“I just wish everything would be over and we were already married – that’s kind of the part I want the most, and not really months and months of planning/stress just for one day.”
That’s a very healthy attitude Bev. Too many brides lose sight of the fact that the wedding is just the entry point to a lifetime commitment.
Enjoy the planning and the wedding but remember it’s just one day and don’t get too stressed out.
Re: Wedding stress
Aww thank you, it’s very true. It’s tough not to get stressed by all of it though, I WANT a lovely big day but just don’t like the lead up to it…… heheh!
i think a wedding is as stressful/complicated/fun as you want it to be! its no rocket science and you deal with it as you do with daily chores in life!
has to be done but definitely should be done with heaps of your own style and personality. thats when the fun begins!(as im sure you would, darling..)
let me know if you need help!
That is true! I envision a really wonderful day with loads of perfect details, but I’ll probably kill myself doing it that way.. so might just keep it fairly simple 🙂
just pick some of the most important elements and focus on them!! 😉 don’t stress yourself out!
most of all, have fun with it hon!
i know what you mean about the planning part.. such a headache! sometimes i wish it is just all over and done with 😛
Heh so true!! I wish I had a great wedding planner.. and didn’t have to pay thousands of $$ for it 😉
damn that tasting dish thing is small! Hmmm that steak needs to be bigger 😛
Yeah lol, everything should be twice the size 😛
i know what you mean about the planning part.. such a headache! sometimes i wish it is just all over and done with 😛
Heh so true!! I wish I had a great wedding planner.. and didn’t have to pay thousands of $$ for it 😉
Hi Beverly, you don’t know me, but I’ve been reading your journal for years, ever since you had gemz.net (I used to have an online blog myself, but gave up on it awhile back). I’ve always enjoyed looking at your lovely foodie pics and when I visited Sydney back in 2004 I made a point of visiting some of the places you always mention! Anyway, I just wanted to say congratulations on your engagement – really pleased for you and I hope you’ll be really happy.
Anita x
Hi Anita, I guess we go way back! 🙂 And thank you so much for your well wishes
damn that tasting dish thing is small! Hmmm that steak needs to be bigger 😛
Yeah lol, everything should be twice the size 😛
oooh! its good that i finally have someone feeling the same … not one of those who is big on having a dream wedding and all 🙂
But it will rub off eventually. Try looking at Ritz Carlton, Bali wedding pictures. I was there recently and i wanted to get married like on the spot. its soooo beautiful.
Anyway dear, soon enough you’ll be married. So enjoy the preparation for all its worth 🙂
I DO want a dream wedding if you ask me.. but just never really had it all planned out before. Which is probably not good, cos now I’m just overhelmed 😛
Ahhh bali would be SO pretty
Hi Beverly, you don’t know me, but I’ve been reading your journal for years, ever since you had gemz.net (I used to have an online blog myself, but gave up on it awhile back). I’ve always enjoyed looking at your lovely foodie pics and when I visited Sydney back in 2004 I made a point of visiting some of the places you always mention! Anyway, I just wanted to say congratulations on your engagement – really pleased for you and I hope you’ll be really happy.
Anita x
Hi Anita, I guess we go way back! 🙂 And thank you so much for your well wishes
oooh! its good that i finally have someone feeling the same … not one of those who is big on having a dream wedding and all 🙂
But it will rub off eventually. Try looking at Ritz Carlton, Bali wedding pictures. I was there recently and i wanted to get married like on the spot. its soooo beautiful.
Anyway dear, soon enough you’ll be married. So enjoy the preparation for all its worth 🙂
I DO want a dream wedding if you ask me.. but just never really had it all planned out before. Which is probably not good, cos now I’m just overhelmed 😛
Ahhh bali would be SO pretty
“since my blog is pretty much about nothing interesting”
Nonsense! Your food pics and recs always make be hungry and interested to try them out!
I’m sure you’ll organise the most perfect “Bev & Chris” wedding when it happens, despite being the busy bee that you are!
Hehe well you’re into food, so we get along 😛 Otherwise my blog’s superboring for other people bwahahah
Oh I hope the wedding will be nice! So much to plan… argh
I find your LJ interesting regardless of what you talk about. 😀
Let the planning begin…!!! *^^*
Hehe I just rattle on about random stuff 😛 HOpefully not TOO much wedding stuff over the next few months or i’ll end up boring everybody!
I’m sure you’re going to do a great job planning your wedding. You seem to do well at your job, which probably involves a lot of organizing/coordinating. Anyways, just wanted to say I love reading your blog. You’re the reason why I joined LJ in the first place. One of the best things is because of the time difference, I always usually have something to read on Sunday mornings with my cup of coffee.
Can’t wait for blogging about the wedding coordination and of course, the wedding itself!
I do like organising stuff, but problem is that things are so frenetic at work as it is, I can’t really imagine how I’ll fit in wedding-prepartions. Eek!
It’s going to be a lot of wedding-related posts in the next year I think, heheheh!
Congratulations, girl! I am truly thrilled for you. We don’t “know” each other but I’ll be damned if you guys aren’t the cutest couple I “know” anyway 🙂 I can’t wait to read all about the prep!
that’s so nice of you to say! Thanks so much 🙂
Yikes, that tasting plate was teeny! But it was still a beautiful first dinner of your engagement!
Yes pfffttt! But good cos I wasn’t terribly hungry instead, my stomach was still doing cartwheels all over the place hehe
“since my blog is pretty much about nothing interesting”
Nonsense! Your food pics and recs always make be hungry and interested to try them out!
I’m sure you’ll organise the most perfect “Bev & Chris” wedding when it happens, despite being the busy bee that you are!
Hehe well you’re into food, so we get along 😛 Otherwise my blog’s superboring for other people bwahahah
Oh I hope the wedding will be nice! So much to plan… argh
I find your LJ interesting regardless of what you talk about. 😀
Let the planning begin…!!! *^^*
Hehe I just rattle on about random stuff 😛 HOpefully not TOO much wedding stuff over the next few months or i’ll end up boring everybody!
it’s been such a joy reading your lovely holiday and engagement posts!
good luck on the wedding preparations! =)
Aww thank you hon! 🙂 It’ll be one heck of a year ahead..
I’m sure you’re going to do a great job planning your wedding. You seem to do well at your job, which probably involves a lot of organizing/coordinating. Anyways, just wanted to say I love reading your blog. You’re the reason why I joined LJ in the first place. One of the best things is because of the time difference, I always usually have something to read on Sunday mornings with my cup of coffee.
Can’t wait for blogging about the wedding coordination and of course, the wedding itself!
I do like organising stuff, but problem is that things are so frenetic at work as it is, I can’t really imagine how I’ll fit in wedding-prepartions. Eek!
It’s going to be a lot of wedding-related posts in the next year I think, heheheh!
hehe that last pic of chris says a thousand words 😛
ohh im so excited for you!
we were saaaad to go, now it’s back to the daily grind, hehe
congrats again, babe!!
and yeaps, i find the preparations bit hassle!!
just wish we are married, pronto! ;p
Thanks so much hon! So fun we are both engaged roughly the same time 🙂
hee! i’ll post my story soon! i think you’ll find it super DOH!! ;p;p
I just wish everything would be over and we were already married – that’s kind of the part I want the most, and not really months and months of planning/stress just for one day.
That’s the way it’s meant to be! 😛
Congrats!!! I wish you and Chris much much love and happiness together. 🙂
A bit frustrating we have to go through all the preparations though, haha.. I wish everything was in place already and that was it!
Chris was probably so relieved that he’d finally proposed that he could eat so well!! Haha.
Hehe i guess he was a bit nervous but probably not that much ‘cos he knew of course I’d have said Yes! 😛
Oooh, we were discussing your wedding over dinner last night, can’t wait!!!
ring
hey. i heard a diamond fell out of your ring. did u find it OK
Re: ring
Ya sheesh when Erica and I put all the girls jewellery into the ultrasound cleaner- and apparently it’s ok for the big diamond in a claw but the small ones on the side aren’t, so one got shaken out. Grr. I’ve got the loose diamond and taking it back tmw. Hassle!
Congratulations, girl! I am truly thrilled for you. We don’t “know” each other but I’ll be damned if you guys aren’t the cutest couple I “know” anyway 🙂 I can’t wait to read all about the prep!
that’s so nice of you to say! Thanks so much 🙂
Yikes, that tasting plate was teeny! But it was still a beautiful first dinner of your engagement!
Yes pfffttt! But good cos I wasn’t terribly hungry instead, my stomach was still doing cartwheels all over the place hehe
it’s been such a joy reading your lovely holiday and engagement posts!
good luck on the wedding preparations! =)
Aww thank you hon! 🙂 It’ll be one heck of a year ahead..
hehe that last pic of chris says a thousand words 😛
ohh im so excited for you!
we were saaaad to go, now it’s back to the daily grind, hehe
congrats again, babe!!
and yeaps, i find the preparations bit hassle!!
just wish we are married, pronto! ;p
Thanks so much hon! So fun we are both engaged roughly the same time 🙂
hee! i’ll post my story soon! i think you’ll find it super DOH!! ;p;p
I just wish everything would be over and we were already married – that’s kind of the part I want the most, and not really months and months of planning/stress just for one day.
That’s the way it’s meant to be! 😛
Congrats!!! I wish you and Chris much much love and happiness together. 🙂
A bit frustrating we have to go through all the preparations though, haha.. I wish everything was in place already and that was it!
Chris was probably so relieved that he’d finally proposed that he could eat so well!! Haha.
Hehe i guess he was a bit nervous but probably not that much ‘cos he knew of course I’d have said Yes! 😛
Oooh, we were discussing your wedding over dinner last night, can’t wait!!!
ring
hey. i heard a diamond fell out of your ring. did u find it OK
Re: ring
Ya sheesh when Erica and I put all the girls jewellery into the ultrasound cleaner- and apparently it’s ok for the big diamond in a claw but the small ones on the side aren’t, so one got shaken out. Grr. I’ve got the loose diamond and taking it back tmw. Hassle!