Good Guesses

Guess it right...

The Lunar New Year break normally sees the gathering of the young and old coming together for another year of reminisces and good times. It is during this period too that good and bad habits are best known to family members and whatever they may be, the truth is it is still family. God gives us family for reasons ... we learn and unlearn from one another.

Of course it is also during this break that we indulge in great moments of laughter and fun.
I collected some moments for me to ponder over and remember by...make good guesses of them.

As we approach the front door of Por's place we were greeted with the usual calligraphic sayings of good wishes... da chi da li... nien nien you yu...all meaning abundance of one nature or the other.

Good blessings...

Spring is here...

Who wrote them? One of them did.

Of course it is this Caucasian... Esther has to make up her mind to learn or not to learn... Tionghua. If and when she has decided that it is best she knows some ; she will be lost in China.

Table 101 for teacher Lim...who is teacher Lim?

This is the latest trend on the eve of the Lunar New Year... family reunion dinner at big time restaurants... at least a gathering of 150 tables. Kulai has a couple of big restaurants which cater to such functions annually. So when it is too tiring to cook and when everyone is getting older...we resort to professional help. Teacher Lim is grandma Lau. We had dinner entertained by noise and apprentices singing.

Who is Lau yi?

Yea ; when it comes to reunion dinners, the girls will curl and curl...

So lau yi is Por Por...also another reunion dinner in Muar. Everyone travels from the north, south, central and other parts of the world just to have another reunion time with the old folks who are not getting younger by the year.

For dinners even in good old Muar, girls are surely vain. They trudge in high heels to kill. Who are the owners?

As usual; the Lau girls. Receiving ang pows and sending the shot to Sara to entice her. Sara, mama has kept yours and you are not forgotten. It is not out of sight out of mind. It is absence makes the heart grows fonder.

Now who gives who?

I gave Por and Kong one, Por gave every member of the family one , Grace gave me one and I gave her one. What the world needs now is love sweet love... this has been a tradition down the years.

A birthday cake...whose birthday on this auspicious occasion?



Esther's or Yi Jay's?

Who blew the candles? All done in one blow...Yi Jay of course.




But, but, but it is Esther's birthday! Happy Birthday girl. Now you cannot complain that you blew no cake on your birthday ! Sara is not here to bake and even in good old Muar it cost a bomb !

Now... which is it the shot of the year ?

Kong Kong cuddling Yi Jay? Such a tender moment.

"Ah Bert" so endearly called by Yi Jay each time he sees dad. Dad is the epitome of fun for the boy. So he follows dad everywhere. Now the rugged grand uncle is giving him some tips on flying the kite. Will he be like grand uncle next time?

See, the protege learning from the master. Now he can fly the kite. Who will teach him such skills? Only Ah Bert will has the patience and time for him. No wonder he associates grand uncle with fun and learning.

No need to guess anymore. He is voted the most popular figure of the season. Fun to be with, he brings a lot of joy and laughter to the family. Best of all, he is everyone's friend... as long as there is fun.

It was a fun-filled season; this Lunar New Year.

Thank you God for journey mercies.

Wan Zhi Lu Yi

To my colleagues and friends in school.
May you all have another wonderful year and may all that you aspire come true.

To :

Joke Jong, Lay Hong, Pek Cheng, Kim Jin, Geok Siew, Sew Tim, Sophia, Kooi Choo, Hooi Hong, Poh Choo, Mee Wah, Yu Hoon, Siew Kean, Shw Shing, Poh Chiok, Lay Pin, Chui Yean, Daisy, Lay Peng, Doris, Tsuey Ni, Pamela, Yee Ping, Siew Ngoh, Poo Eng, Sook Peng, Ching Ching, Lee Lan, Shwu Leng, Pek Hong, Yee Fong, Way Chan, Yook Peng, Pei Li, Lay Suan, Bee Lee, Mong Ling, Siew Hoon, Kwee Cheng, Grace, Siew Ling, Aik Ban, Sok Tiang, and last but not least Seok Im and family...and if I have left anyone out ; a thousand apologies ... lapses in my old memory.

Thank you for partnership in work and play.
Happy Lunar New Year 2011.

Pre Lunar Joy

Singapore Spree

Singapore greeted us with clouds and rain ; the umbrella has never been more needful.

Despite the rain, we chose to trudge in it...

Walked along Orchard Road and tried to catch the Lunar New Year mood and started to reflect the decor back home...

At the Pavilion....

At the curve...

At the door step of Sungei Wang Plaza...

The Piramid seems to always have the last say in festive decor...

It caught me wandering which malls took the greater effort...what do you think?

Whatever it may be, the purpose down South was to be with Grace; so we scheduled our movements according to her available time and of course found the time to enjoy meals together.

Grace insisted on a German treat at the Brotzeit in Somerset.

The sisters together again before Esther leaves for Melbourne...looking alike?

I enjoyed every minute together with the girls as I threw school matters out of me...I chose to forget about work and think like a real mother who had eyes only for her girls. I savour in every minute with gladness of heart. I am especially glad that Grace has found some independence in her financial status and she gave us a grand treat at Brotzeit. I am not used yet to the situation but it's a good change.

Look at those sausages ; it made us recall our trip to Europe in 2006 and we compared the difference in taste...except that we have almost forgotten what's it like then.

The pork knuckles was so palatable and a dish to behold but...

...the ham prepared by Grace last Christmas was just as palatable !

At the end of dinner, this was what that was left behind ! So good.

At a beer garden back in Europe the girls also attempted to drink like what Grace was doing ! Do not be alarmed. She is under daddy's eyes and the alcohol content is negligible. So father and daughter challenged one another to the drink and concluded that it had little kick.

But all over the island there were cheers to usher in the Lunar New Year with a great emphasis on good sayings for them to happen in the coming year...yin chun zhieh fu...usher in the Spring with good prosperity.

'Sin Nien Kwai Ler' ... to my students who are away this Lunar New Year with special mention... Dr. Angeline, Sue Lyn, Sue Yenn, Sher Hann and the many unmentioned ones ...and last but not least to Sara . May you all have good memories wherever you are and a good year to all of you.

'Wan Zhi Lu 'Yi... may all that you hope for come to pass.

It Broke !

Yes ! Bright skies.

The weather broke into a smile this evening in Johor. After days of gloom in Singapore, it was indeed a welcoming sight as we caught signs of brighter skies. But we have been warned of the impending rain on the first day of the Lunar Calendar.

But while the good weather lasts, we will cherish the pretty things that come along the way.

Clear blue skies at last...but how long will it last?

The lovely chrysanthemums; a symbol of good fortune is a must to greet many and they smiled at my front door.

The lovely 'fu kui' showed off its fresh debut...

Even the ordinary lily chooses the season to bloom sweetly...

The garlic vine is in its next season again ; more to savour in the next few days...

Yes , the Birds of Paradise with its splendour of colours add tremendous joy and colour to the season...

And all these blooms from my humble garden to greet the Lunar New Year.

The fishes in the home do us the best pride; we show them off to friends and relatives when they come a visit . They are not people shy, super friendly and even nibble at your fingers when you go near them. Babies should be like them; ready to be received and loved.

So, in this lovely season, may all who travel to visit loved ones find moments of joy and cherish one another lovingly. So, the saying also goes when I see the fishes...nien nien you yu...may the flow of abundance follow you ...

So to all my chinese friends and colleagues, may we also have another year of abundance together.

Happy Lunar New Year.