The happiness of the instant noodles

For the past month, Emil has been going to bed at 5 a.m. and waking up at noon to prepare for his concert tour. When you ask him what his idea of normal life is, he replies: "You know how parents are required to initial in a record book to show you know how your kid is progressing in school? I'm very proud to say that half the signatures in his book are mine," he smiles. "That, to me, is a sign of a normal life. In this line, it's not something you can take for granted." And does the boy get requests from classmates for Daddy's autographs? "No, such an unfilial son --- he doesn't help his father do any publicity!"

Emil has a song in his latest album Friends called "The Happiness of the Instant Noodles," which he says sums up his relationship with his wife Constance, whom he married when he was still a struggling pub singer. "I may be able to buy her an expensive necklace now, but we still hang out with the same circle of friends, go out to eat in the same places --- nothing posh --- so no occasion for expensive jewellery." What, then, would be an ideal gift for Mrs. Chau? "Flowers!" comes the unhesitating answer. "No matter where I am, I'll call up the florist and send her a bouquet --- works every time," he says with a self-satisfied smile.

The wedding banquet (that almost didn't happen)

For someone who is totally devoted to his marriage, Emil Chau betrays no sign of regret when he tells you that to this date, 10 years after tying the knot in Taiwan, they haven't taken their wedding photo. "We were too poor to afford it then," he shrugs. "But our friends did take one of us in a German restaurant, where we had dinner that night," he furrows his brow, trying to remember. "But it doesn't matter anyway, love is more important." Aww...

"In fact, the night before we registered our marriage, I was singing in the pub and realised midway I only had $10 in my pocket. I couldn't even afford something decent to wear for the big day." Luckily, his boss bailed him out by lending him $100 to buy a formal pair of pants.

And if not for the fact that his wife is American, and "in America, the bride's family pays for the banquet," they wouldn't have had one. ("But I did pay for my air ticket, although they bought me the suit.") so three months later in the United States, it was in a church, in front of all her relatives, where he received his bride. "It was almost like a warning --- son, you better watch it now that it's official!" he recalls, laughing at the memory.