Chinese New Year celebrations 2008

What a hot hot spell we had for the new year celebs. As usual.

We didn't drive home in the middle of the night as planned, but the journey on PLUS was very smooth on cny eve's morning. Departed only at 8am and reached kampung slightly after 10 already. Very stress-free, apart from the yelling and howling in the car, that is.

We took the day slowly and relaxingly, even had time to bring the 2 youngest to ISC for swimming. After the reunion dinner, it was the usual mahjong session until almost midnight.

On the 1st GXFC day, we had to make 5 stops before settling down back at my parents' home to spend some quality time with my grown-up nephews and niece. It was really awful, weaving in and out of the hot burning sun during the day.


Blackjack, anyone?

My son's bettings even "keng", go by few thousands and involve properties and land!

The yearly "open house" party at my inlaws' in conjunction with my dad-in-law's birthday on 1st day of CNY. This year, we observe a "marked" improvement in the choice and presentation of food. They got a food caterer in for the first time, in my 10 years of "service", instead of the usual satay, fried beehoon and fried chicken. Those 3 items were still in the food served list, maybe it's the crowd-pulling factor, huh?

The 2nd day, I got to have breakfast with my family. Here's my youngest nephew, such a big boy now.

These drink of "cham-suet" is my favorite and a "must-have" when I'm back in Ipoh. Very addictive.
Treasured the little amount of time I get to spend with my nephews and niece, not only during CNY, but throughout the whole year as well. I used to be quite close to them when they were babies and toddlers.



We went for vegetarian, courtesy of our Han "ku-mah". Joshua fell ill from the 2nd of GXFC right up until now. So, basically, our days were restricted to home most of the time, as had to look after him. As such, it was mahjong and blackjack sessions all the way, almost, if not all.

I managed to meet up with my high school friends, the yearly gathering at Patrick's house. It's like a routine I so get used to, that without it, I felt the new year was so incomplete. The usual people we see like Wei Seong, Wai Leng, Vincent and his wife, Choo Hean, Hui Ling were there.

The absentee would be Kean Meng, who was in JB with his inlaws for the first time. And of course, Kok Lan, who hardly came back for CNY now. Really missed them.

For the first time in years, we saw Thiam Seong too, the one person whose occupation is "out of the ordinary". It was funny how they can't recognize him and he, in turn, can't make out who's who as well. So much has changed for all of us in these 20 years, older, wiser, cunning-er, what else there are.

We wanted to return home to the big city on Sunday night, but heard over the media everywhere that traffic jam is truly bad. I decided to visit my friend, Mun Yee in Kampar instead, and by far, I thought it was the best time I had for the whole of the CNY period.

We had dinner in the open air, without the hordes of crowd we see in Ipoh, so leisurely and comfortably. The children warmed up to each other within the time of a lightning speed and they were playing, running around, catching each other nearby.

After dinner, we went to buy some pop crackers, and the mini spinning fireworks. Went to her place and I shall say, it seemed like the children enjoyed themselves the most from the first day we went home. I shall try to do that again next year.

Well, that's about all and dh fell sick when we reached home, sigh, I have to attend to 2 sick persons here while I am about on the verge of falling ill myself too. Hopefully not.

Once again, Kong Hee Fatt Choy and happy back-to-work now!