I would like to congratulate Edmund and Ivory on their engagement! I'm absolutely thrilled for this couple... especially Edmund who has found the perfect woman for him They've planned to marry 2 months after us. It's fun to have another bride-to-be to share our research with!

Back to where I last left off, it has been months of preparation getting the most important items out of the way:

1. Venue - check!
2. Church - check!
3. Marriage Preparation Course - check! (and got our certificate too!)
4. Bridal gown - uh oh.

Yes, the most important aspect of every bride and I've only started searching this month. According to the countless magazines I have in hand and the two wedding planners I got from my future MIL and SIL, I should have started 2 months back.

I don't know about you but I've had reluctance to enter a bridal studio/gallery. Somehow, I know for sure I wouldn't like the selection that they have. Well, unless it's the Designer Bridal Room which houses gowns from Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix and Pronovias (you get the picture), then I'm pretty sure I would find my dream dress and be RM 9,000k poorer. Bridal studio scares me. Perhaps it is also my perception of how they would try to hardsell and the only motivation they have is to close a business rather than to make me a happy bride. Therefore, I've scrapped the idea of renting a dress.

After many rounds of research on mags and online, I found my dream design. It's a little vintage because of the french lace, flattering because of the A-line and most importantly, I'm pretty sure it's approved by the Church! It is an uncommon design which you are unlikely to find in local bridal shops. I've made up my mind to get it customed made. I get to own my wedding gown! I'm truly excited.

But now it all pens down to getting the perfect seamstress that understands what I want and is passionate about me getting what I want. I already have her in mind. The design she sketched was right. The price was also right. Her workmanship based on the other gowns that are available in store also looks incredibly right. Mummy and sis have met her and has no qualms about her. However, she is only the first seamstress I have met. To draw on something parallel, it's like marrying the first man you meet.

I know I should be searching for alternatives just to ensure that I'm making the right choice. After all, the wedding gown is top priority for every bride (well, not against my list since I've got it at number 4!) and buffer for errors are extremely slim.It is crucial that I get this right as how I know I've got my man right

Back to the seamstress, how would I know if I've made the right choice? What are the characteristics of a tailor that I need to look out for?

Malaysia's broadband quality is below par, says Oxford study

By Leslie Lau
Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 - Malaysia was ranked a poor 48 out of 66 countries for Internet broadband quality in a study conducted by Oxford University and sponsored by Cisco.

The global study on broadband quality conducted by Oxford's Said Business School listed Malaysia among countries which had Internet speeds which were "below today's applications threshold."

Malaysia is listed in the same category but above countries like the United Arab Emirates, Philippines, Pakistan, Morocco, Vietnam and Indonesia. China, Malta, Brazil and Thailand are among countries just ahead of Malaysia in broadband quality but still in the same low category.

Countries like Singapore, Britain, Australia, Spain, Turkey and the Ukraine were listed above Malaysia as having Internet speeds "meeting needs of today's applications."

We have set our date, set our place, confirm our slot at the Church and made sure we have ample time to attend the Marriage Preparation Course.

Oh. Just in case you didn't know from my single liners in my blog (Elvin thinks my blog has become a one sentence Twit), we are getting hitched next year Hooray to us.

The pace of things have definitely slowed because I am comfortable where I am right now. In the beginning, it was so important for me to secure a place at the date that I want due to the scary stories I've been hearing from brides-to-be. Apparently, restaurants and hotels start getting fully booked a year ahead. As I hate disappointment and to rush (a gene I inherited from my mother), I started scouting hotels as soon as he popped the question.

After getting quotations from 4 venues and visiting two hotels on site, I already made up my mind. I fell in love with the resort-style of this hotel. Also, I love how it is fuss free, convenient and dedicated. Where can that be? I'll let you know once I start up a wedding site.

I'd love to introduce my lovely Princess-Of-Honour (a title self given by my shameless Maid Of Honour), my glam bridesmaid and my unofficial bridesmaid which we have titled 'Honorary Maid' out of jest.

Stay tune to more tales of the bridezilla.