January 19, 2009
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Wedding Balls
So not being able to get to South Africa for Et and Brigitte’s wedding was a major disappointment, but I was determined to send a message for the wedding. I wrote a mail to the guys at the National Park, who had done all the reservations, asking if they could pass on the message for this weekend. After the weekend, I got a mail asking me which camp they were in. This called for a sarcastic reply, which was duly sent.
Congratulations to Brigitte and Etienne on their marriage! May you have many happy and healthy years together. I love you both! In the most non-threatening (Brigitte) and non-gay (Et) way possible.
Here’s what I wrote – just for the record:
Brigitte and Etienne
Despite the disappointment of not being able to be there with you to celebrate this most special of days, we both send you our best wishes for a lifetime of love and happiness together. We’re looking forward to seeing you back here in Taiwan, and wish you both a wonderful wedding day, and a fantastic time back home in South Africa.
We miss you
Linn and Rob
Some time ago, Linn and I headed to a wedding in Nanliao, just east of Hsinchu City, where some of Linn’s friends were celebrating their marriage. I rode down on the Skywave, with my suit inside, so I could change and look mega handsome, as I always do in my Boss suit, when I got down. Of course I was on time, and so we got to the restaurant where the party was being held perfectly on schedule. Nice one.
By the time we had arrived though, the husband (or perhaps bf) of one of her friends had already left in a huff, having had an argument with Linn’s friend. As other friends trickled in, I kept quiet, looking forward to the culinary delights of this seafood restaurant. Here in Taiwan, even if you are in a seafood restaurant, they can still do veggie stuff, and with the married couple fully aware of my weird eating habits, veggie food aplenty was expected.
There was soup, and a rice dish, and some veggies, all served in small dishes, accompanying the large dishes that the meat eaters got. But after 3 rounds, Linn asked the server for the next veggie dish, only to be told that because I was such a fat boy, they reckon I should go on a diet, and therefore there are no more veggie dishes.
More and more meat and seafood dishes were brought out, and I was still hungry. What the hell was going on? I did not kick up a fuss, and I also did not ask for something else. I just went hungry. As the party wore on, time running out as there was another party expected for the afternoon/evening session, we decided to leave, and head out in to the warm summer sunshine, have a look around and try to find something for me to eat. We drove in Linn’s motor, but could not find anything really that was to my liking, ie vegetarian.
We drove out to Judong, where we found an interesting concoction being offered – a scallion pie with cheese. Sounded interesting. Give me one of those, I said. So off Linn went (after receiving finance) and got it, whilst I waited in the car, having made a slightly illegal parking manoeuvre. Delicious, was the verdict.
Heading back towards Hsinchu, we made a slight detour to have a look at a lake area, which was very nice, where we also found a café, which would also have been nice, but they were closing and did not really have time for us to drink anything, but we were invited to take a look at the setting, next to the lake and woodland.
The following week, Linn spoke with her friend to tell her that we were not pleased with the lack of vegetarian fare, and the next time she gets married she had better make sure of better, and more, food otherwise I am not going. Of course, she did it in the Chinese way, but my way is much better.
One thing’s for sure, if and when I ever get married (and that is a VERY big IF) there will be no one leaving thinking “that food was not very good.” Not leaving alive anyway.
