Kai nian fan....

First day of the Lunar New Year passed all too quickly. Eldest cousin and his wife was at mum's place even before me. The other cousins and their family came later on. Even one of the cousin's daughter came by with her husband. Good that most of them came by on the first day. That will leave us free for the rest of the holidays.

Traditionally, my family also celebrates the second day of the Lunar New Year with another get-together lunch (kai nian fan). This time my sister and her family is joining us for the lunch. Still gave my nieces and nephews their 'big' angpows. Afterall, it's an only once a year affair. Looking at the sumptuous spread, I think it's time for mum to retire and rest from all these cooking. Don't you think the food looks yummy? :)

Chu Xi 除夕...

Finally, the big day arrived. It's 除夕the last day of the last month of the lunar year. And of course the most significant part of the day is the reunion dinner. Made my way to mum's place and as usual, the brothers and sisters together with niece and nephew were all gathering there. For a change, we had steamboat dinner, with very sumptuous spread of meatballs, chicken, pork, fish slices, vegies, etc. It's lots easier for mum to prepare since there is less cooking required. A good alternative to the traditional reunion dinner which mum used to make every year. Anyway, guess she's already advancing in years and time to retire from preparing these elaborate dinners. Hmmm... wonder what's for next year's reunion dinner..... anyway, gave her a big angpow as a gesture for well wishes.

The streets seems so empty. Guess everybody's home taking reunion dinner still. Remembered last year's new year eve, I had to rush back to the control centre to rectify some system problem. Though I didn't miss out on the reunion dinner since the problem was solved very quickly, however, such events leaves lasting impressions.... heavy responsibilities and stress in that job. sigh~

In comparision with last year's incident, the night's scene now looks so serene and peaceful.... And, what's more important than to have family around you? I think I am of all people, really blessed..... :)

Ming Vase?

The budget report in the papers this morning makes good reading, but guess will have to take some time to digest it and assess what is the impact for me. Wonder if there's anything beneficial for me.... but on a first glance, the tables on total GST spendings vs the Offset Package looks impressively tailored by the statistics people. But what they did not factor in is the full 7% GST amount. Rather, they had only shown the 2% increase. lolz.... what a low down trick. Always presenting a half picture. I guess this is the way things always goes when you want to show a good rosy picture. You always present things in your favor. Hmmm.... I'll take my time to go thru' and scrutinise these in details later tonight.

The spring cleaning is almost all done now, with just the study room to tidy up. Should have been more hardworking during the past few months, but anyway, what need to be done, will have to get done. sigh~

Saw another vase at the porcelain stall, quite like it. Looks alot like one of those antique Ming dynasty vase. The owner brothers gave me quite a good price for it. Afterall, had been browsing their ware for the last 2 weeks and had chatted with them quite often. They even treated me and another old uncle from the neighbourhood to a late night supper of their home-cooked mushroom noodle. A little starchy, but the mushroom smells and taste nice. That's hospitality. Looks like they will be staying over for the Chinese New Year. Somehow, the business wasn't doing too well and they do have a problem selling off all the goods. That's the problem of doing business here. Hear the rental of the stall for the 3-4 weeks amounted quite alot, so wonder if they managed any profit for this season.

Love letters....

The flower lasted more than a week! Kinda sad to see it slowly withering away over the days.....

The spring cleaning is almost done now. Left the study room to be tidied up. Quite pleased with the effort. All of a sudden, it's kinda feeling very comfortable at home now. Well, it would be nice to have some of the friends over for a visit during the Chinese New Year. It would be the first cny visit to my new place. Now, gotta go shopping for the new year goodies. hmmm.... love letters anyone? and how about bbq meat? oh, and have to stock up on the drinks too...

Tea for two?

Valentine Day! hmm.... really nothing much to celebrate. It's gonna be just the normal day. How about tea for two? The tea set suits just fine. Get them out for the chinese new year too. hmmm.... this set costs me quite a tidy sum... but the most expensive would be the tea leaves itself, one of the best tea in china. well,.... enjoy it. Happy Valentine Day!

Calligraphy class again in the evening, but the sweet girl with the dimples that smiles wouldn't be here. Kinda miss her already. Two other new students joined the class, while we continued to practice. Slightly more improvement, but still far from doing a good proper script. A potential student dropped by to check out the class. She's in Singapore for a 3 mth work assignment and thought might want to pick up the chinese calligraphy here.

The New Year mood is here....

The festive crowds outside the NTUC is really getting more now. New Year mood seems to be catching on now.

Round the corner is a stall that sells vases from China, mostly procelain and pottery pieces. The two brothers running the stall is from China. Many beautiful pieces, not exactly cheap, but if it is a good piece, I think it's still worthwhile. Bought a vase that have a more modern appeal. Not sure what the glazing on it would be called, but think it would look good as a decoration piece on the ledge between the living hall and the kitchen.

Spring cleaning, continued....

Part 2, Spring cleaning...... well, needs to do some cleaning for the tv set, video recorder and also tidy up the main hall living area. Didn't know I gather so much stuff in this short one year.

Bought a nice chinese paper cut from the shop at town central. A nice 'fu' in the centre with fishes around to signify abundance, and flowers at the sides. The lady in the shop said the pattern at the corners are pomegranate. And the paper cutting is not the mass produced type. Hmmm.... how to tell the difference? The china guy at the pottery stall showed me.... he said, look closely at the cuttings, hand crafted ones will have irregular cuttings and edges will show up imperfections. Look out specially where one cut joins another. This is where imperfections will show up. Nice.....


Like it? paid $5/- for it. I think it's very well done....

Spring cleaning...

Another week and it will be Chinese New Year. Time to do some spring cleaning. Phew~ the place may not be big, but cleaning is sure no easy task. Where do I start? hmmmm.... clean up the water feature first. The new pump is a little too powerful and the water tend to splash a little out onto the floor. The window panes is fairly easy, but surprising, there are altogether 13 window panes in the flat, excluding the toilet ones. phew~

Next the corners and ceiling.... just a quick run thru. But the floors took me the whole afternoon. Enough for the day. hmmm.... the sofa covering looks like they need a washing. Aiiii....... really done for the day now.

Friends come, friends go....

Was already running late, but still have to get lunch. Run into one of the operators from the control centre, also getting lunch at the coffeeshop. Nevermind the time, good to have a chat. Another ex-collegue also happened to come by. So coincidental. Nice to catch up.

The work required in the WV office wasn't really difficult, but as it's quite tedious and requires time, so that's why they needed help. Makes more sense than getting paid staff to do them. The program manager said she and another staff would be quiting after the chinese new year. Rather sad to hear that.

Calligraphy class isn't any extraordinary today. It's last of the 8 lessons for this class. The sweet girl seated behind wouldn't be joining us anymore from next week onwards. So sad. Will miss her smiling dimples. Good thing she left her contact number. Maybe should catch dinner with her one day?

Well, in life, often...... friends come, friends go.... cherish them while you can. :)

A single bloom...

The poor plant looks malnourished, and its leaves extends so tenderly outwards, giving forth a single bud that blossomed over the 3 days.... a lovely pinkish red.... so delicate and fragile, and so lovely and tender.

Was so afraid that the bud would wither before it can bloom. But it didn't. Perhaps, only a pity that it did not flower together with the other pot with the purple flowers. Well, guess it's time for some re-potting.

Lost memories

Saw on TV the other day, that there's going to be an exhibition of photographs on the old Queenstown area. Thought it would be good to revisit the memories of the place where I grew up in. Anyway, service today would be by a guest speaker - Dennis Burke. Think I will just give service a miss this week.


The exhibition is supposedly to be held at the Queenstown CC. But, oh no! Didn't realise that even the CC had moved. Wonder where it is now. Although the neighbourhood isn't really that unfamiliar, but things have changed so much. The block of HDB flat where I spent time as a child is no longer there. Just a simple field now. I remembered how during those childhood days, the field is sloping and at the far end, the area tend to get flooded during the rainy seasons. I used to watch other children played in the flood water, which occasionally, is deep enough even for them to swim in it.


Also, how warm and close the street feels on that sunny morning, years ago, when I returned after a 3 mths trip away in Canada. That familiar road that runs down towards the hawker centre and polyclinic is still there, though somewhat forlorn, quiet, and forgotten.

I suppose, given the pace of development and constructions in Singapore, many of us would be losing out on all our memories. What we grew up with, would likely be, no longer there for us in the years to come.