Chinese New Year diary

Dear diary,


Had a nice time this CNY. Below are some of the highlights.


Gathering at LK's house

This has been an annual event for many years. In previous years, we usually went from one house to another and gathered at LK' house as the final stop. This year, due to time constraint, we gathered there directly on the first day of CNY. Activities included singing karaoke, playing mahjong and chor tai tee (a type of poker).... no money was involved, of course... we're good citizens :p


Lion dance

I remember feeling excited over it when I was a child. It's been a long time since I saw one. Had the opportunity this CNY when a neighbour invited a group to perform the lion dance in their house on the first day.

A lion dancing bravely to the rhythm of the drum in front of a strand of burning fire-crackers......

Another lion following behind....

The sweaty drummer :p

Reunion lunch with friends

This has also been an annual event since we left school. Held on the third day of CNY as usual, thanks to the effort of our dearest monitor, Bamboo, who was forced to bear this responsibility for the rest of his life because he failed to produce our class T-shirt :p

Hey Bam, we really appreciate your effort. You will always be our good old class monitor. Once a monitor, always a monitor.

Yes, he was our monitor for five years. He was so good so that we actually requested that he be transferred back to our class once when there was a reshuffle of classes. We just could not bear to lose him as our monitor (else, who's gonna clean the board and sweep the floor when the rest of us 'forgot sometimes' ? :p)

Even though only 9 (out of 40!) turned up for the lunch, we had an enjoyable time reminiscing our secondary school life. Needless to say, teachers with weird habits became the centre of our conversations and causes of laughter :p

Post-reunion lunch activities

Our reunion lunch was usually followed by some activities such as playing mahjong and chor tai tee. So engrossed were we in the game that there was one year when we played till dawn :p

This year, however, we only played till dinner time. Also learned a new game called Hold'em poker.

Meeting cousins and relatives

Went to my aunt's place where all my maternal relatives gather every year. It also happened to be an aunt's birthday, so we had a small birthday party.

Lots of children were running around. And the cutest and youngest of them all was my cousin brother's son! He was still a sleeping baby last year but this year, he's walking!

Isn't he cute? He's only 16 months old but looks smart and cute. Look at his thick dark hair, round chubby cheeks, small mouth and red pouty lips! :p

He's a very obedient kid. No tantrum. Eat quietly. Play by himself without disturbing others. Never snatch others' toys. Not a single cry.

Smiling and playing by himself.....

It's show time!

Went for a movie with friends on the fourth day. Watched All's Well Ends Well 2009. Would have enjoyed it more if I had not read its synopsis earlier. Nevertheless, there were some funny scenes here and there. Had a great time laughing together with friends and a bunch of cinema-goers.

Four yum cha sessions

Managed to attend 4 yum cha (drinking) sessions. Most of the attendees were from the same group of people, with a few additions in different sessions. Catching up with one another. Exchanged news on the whereabouts of everyone, who's married or about to, who's already a parent or becoming one soon, etc....

Regards,

Me, your writer