It was so great to be home for chinese new year! I could hardly imagine myself not spending chinese new year with my family until year 2005, where I spent chinese new year in Perth – without my family. Luckily it wasn’t that bad because I had friends who also spent their new year away from home. We got together for steamboat at my house and we had a great time. But still, I felt a little weird because there was no angpow spotted anywhere.

My family traditional new year dish – oyster fish ball. I called it the dinosaur egg. Its length is about 4.5cm.

The greatest thing about chinese new year is to be able to sit around and chit-chat with relatives whom I hardly meet. Undeniably, the same question is thrown to me every year. 1) Have you had a boy friend? That follows by 2) Really??!! Then, 3) How come?? After all the frowning and hoo-haaing, 4) Ah…don’t worry, you are still young! Don’t rush into any relationship. Ahh…how supportive and understanding – no pun intended, of course. But actually, I asked these questions to my friends ‘unconsciously’ too! *grin*

My maternal instinct kicked in earlier this year, just because we had 2 new babies visited us this year! Meet Wesley, the cute and handsome 9-months-old.

Followed by the 3-months-old Marcus.

I can’t get my nose off his head! He smells SO NICE and irresistible. His hair is soft! I am very good at carrying babies now. I can even carry them with one arm (if they are not too heavy).

My very-own-designed ‘red packet’

According to chinese tradition, those who are not married, are not supposed to give ang pows (red packet). But since I started working, I always wanted to give some money to my grandparents and parents as a token of appreciation for bringing me up all these years. So I thought of ‘breaking the rules’ by creating my own ‘angpows’. Mom told me that I could make all kinds of packets as long as they are not in red. Well, it is no longer called angpow anymore since it is not red. (ang = red)

I love the piggies!

I used felt to make this pinky piggy packet for my grandmother. My family thought it was a bag for my iPod. Gahh….

Tipsy Cherry

I actually lost 2 kilos during chinese new year! I guess it was because I didn’t take new year delicacies. Yup, you heard me right. I only had 2 pieces maximum a day because I am not a big fan of these cookies and pastries. What replaced my sweet tooth is red wine. I was ‘tipsy’ 4 days in a row because of RED WINE! And I had wine for lunch and dinner with my family. At the 4th day, my mom had to refrained me from having wine at the beginning of the chinese course dinner. Before any meal is served, I asked the waiter to bring in the wine glasses and my mom told me strictly that I can only have it at the 4th dish. I felt like an alcoholic who has a bad alcohol tolerance. Blame the good and smooth wine man..

The painting of a 6-years-old

My mom found a mother’s day card drawn by me when I was 6.

The front and back. The picture on the right shows me, drawing a card on the floor.

Inside

Wow, I can’t believe I can write so many chinese words back then. Of course you can spot a few mistakes if you can read chinese. Hah! Am I talented or what??!! *blush*

Sigh, I miss my family already!!! I am counting days to go back again…

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