Open house warming.

Before chap goh meh marks the end of the festive season 2012, we had some friends over for an open house cum house warming consecutively for 2 days. I think that was a feat that I shouldn't attempt a second time!

It was so much work! But of course, it was very warm and joyous as well.

Earlier the week, I had my good friend from HK who stayed for a night before flying off home at the very ungodly hours of the morning. JM were here too and we had a pleasant evening chatting, 3 of us, we did come a long way, didn't we? Thanks, MY for dropping by, it's just great having you over.

Then, the next day we had a lunch with my yoga friends after our workout in the morning. Everyone brought something over. It was very short though as I needed to pick the kids home then. Nevertheless, we all had a good time.

On Saturday, my high school friends came by to say hi.

I had this crazy will to cook sole-handedly for all 11 friends of mine, who came with their spouses and children. Some offered to bring along something and I really appreciated that! I didn't want to have too much leftover food as well so you can imagine almost everything was wiped clean. I believe the old folks would disapprove immensely of that cause guests ought to be fed well till there are abundance of food left!

We had spiral pasta (which the kids absolutely LOVED), fried meehoon, chicken rice, grilled chicken wings, charsiu, fried wanton. And the brought over food, egg tarts, cheese pies, macaroni cheese, and some others that I forgot. We still have food left, like the chicken rice, which we ate for lunch next day.

Then, it was my hubs' turn, his colleagues. I had not much energy to cook a feast hence I made steamboat for them. Easy job but not quite a good idea when there were more than 10 adults in the list, since not everybody can squeeze into the table at one time. As such, the kids, elderly and women get the privilege to go first. The good stuffs like raw fishballs were finished by the time the men sat down for their turn. And boy, there were still too many food left after they were done.

After dinner, we had a lou-sang again. Much of it was spew around the table, luckily hubs had the foresight to put newspaper beneath it. But it wasn't finished off as everyone was pretty full, and I felt that was such a waste of money. Someone said that Jusco's version of lou-sang was the best, but I myself was too full to eat.

Many left about 10+ while 2 of them stayed on to play black jack with my dad and hubs right over midnight. The boys wanted to have a go at the table as well, so hubs let them play with his money. After which didi wanted to use his OWN money to play! He took RM1 from his piggybank and I asked him if he was sure. He said yes, he wanted to "make" some money.

I wasn't there together joining in the fun, as I was busy cleaning up the whole place. Boy! Exhaustive, man! 2 nights in a row sweeping and mopping up the floor like that. Holding parties without any helpers really is not much fun.

When I was done, I was on the way to my bathroom when I saw didi crying his eyeballs out. Right away I knew he must have lost his 1 buck then. There he goes, his first bittersweet experience in losing money over gambling.

I comforted him, telling him he must be prepared to lose the money when he plays. This is gambling. Making money should be from work and not through gambling. Yada Yada Yada on and on lecturing about how some people gamble till they lost everything and throw themselves out from the top of buildings. Yawnnnnn.....

Later, my hubs told me he made money wud.. What?? He said he lost his capital then and held his tears back strongly so the other nice chap offered to lend him 1 buck to play on. From then on, he won, and when he made 4, he quickly decided to cabut with his hard earned money, returned the 1 buck (without interest, of course!) and went to bed.

Jeez!! Imagine him borrowing money from Ahlong next time to gamble?

That was the weekend of parties over at our home. Though I had said it was hard work, now I wanna have another one soon coz it was just too fun!