Preparation and Execution

Written from KS’s perspective

Well, then problem with a scrapbook is that it is handmade. That means it takes time. Lots of it.

Then, on the other hand, I spend most of said resource with Jinda. If you haven’t figured that out by now, that presents a problem. If you really need me to spell it out: How do I spend hours on the scrapbook if I am otherwise with Jinda?

There’s only one time that I’m not with Jinda. At work. But I cannot possibly do it at work either. So I had to use whatever previous leave I have to do this, and still pretend I’m at work. I also had to “not reveal the whole truth” when I said I was “still very busy” after knockoff time. Jinda thought I was working, I didn’t exactly lie.

So that worked, I managed to find the time. Funny thing though. Since I had to do it almost every other day taking half days and working through the night, I had colleagues asking me privately… “Are you going for interviews?”. No. Good thing my bosses didn’t ask, cause I explained my need to be absent.

The scrapbook idea

As for the materials, that wasn’t a problem. Jinda and I love buying scrapbooking stuff. It started in the US while we were on exchange together, but we never really actually spent time doing one. So there, cost absorbed with existing materials.

But Jinda could expect the scrapbook, I ran the idea before past her. So a scrapbook alone would not be enough. I needed a surprise. And the right setting.

It doesn’t take a genius… well, maybe it does…

Now, I like to think of myself as a genius. Ask my friends and colleagues, I am an arrogant, overconfident fellow. ANYWAY, I wanted the proposal to involve our friends, but Jinda doesn’t like public proposals (or at least those with others she know). Ironically, I’m sure she wanted them to join in either.

And it hit me. No, not my sister. The brilliant idea. I messaged a whole bunch of friends and family to take a self-portrait of themselves holding a sign that had words to show their support like “Say yes!” or “Marry him!”. Those who go after the end of the originally planned scrapbook as a “cheer” to when I pop the question.

I must say I have very good friends and family. Yes, I have friends. What. I thought we established that when I already said that above. I ended up with loads of pictures to put in. At the end of the day (or rather several days) and I reckon 30 hours of cutting, designing, pasting and what not, the scrapbook was done. But still no setting.

Time to set Jinda up

Where to propose? If I picked an expensive, exclusive restaurant, the bill would cost a bomb. I wouldn’t mind spending the money, but Jinda might. So I surfed around and came across a milkshake place. We have a soft toy we play with called “Milkshake”. Don’t ask while. He’s a cute little limited production polar bear by Nici. And the name of the place was “Once Upon A Milkshake“. Perfect. But just to be sure, I wanted to check the place out.

So one day during lunch, I went down with two of my colleagues to check it out. It was small, it was cozy, it was new (like 2 months) and the theme was purple and white. Best of all, their tagline? Live happily ever after. Are you SERIOUS? That place was more than perfect, it was built for this!

I met with the owner, Alvin. Very nice guy. Booked the place for an hour after lunchtime on the day Jinda was on leave (she had a dental in the morning). And I was set. Okay, I still had to arrange a few more things like flower petals (which Alvin helped with) and the music CD, etc.

Quick! Look that way!

The day came. So here’s two lessons I learnt every guy should remember on their proposal.

Before I left to pick Jinda up, I had to get the rings. Where were they? My dad kept it for me in a secure location. I didn’t have access to it. And he was at work. Bloody cheezels. He had to rush home to get it to me because he didn’t know when I was going to propose. Talk about being a genius.

On my way to pick Jinda up, it rained. Fortunately, it was one of those rains for like 500m then suddenly disappear kind. My heart was already racing, I didn’t need a trigger for a heart attack. So I picked Jinda up and started driving her to the place. She kept asking where we were going and she knew something was up. I hinted that we were going to the Red Dot Museum (next to Once Upon a Milkshake) to distract her. But when we walked away after parking and headed towards OUAM, she knew.

We spent an hour there, with a whole bunch of pre-ordered milkshakes and it turned out well.

How well? Check out the next section for some photos. Finally: The Results