Lunar New Year 2007

When I was a small boy, Chinese New Year celebrations were the most happy occasions in my childhood days. With new clothes, new shoes, plenty of good food, visitations by friends and relatives, laughter and goodwill and not forgetting that inimitable red packet (hoong pau/ang pau : depending on your dialect); even my parents and elders refrained from scolding me, what more could I ask for. My father was very strict with me and always berated me whenever someone gave me a red packet. I would not dare open or count my money in front of him for fear of him telling me off for being greedy. Some of my friends and relatives, knowing of my father's temperament, would quietly slip a red packet into my pocket. With a whispered thank you, I would shy away to sit somewhere out of my father's view, but contended with the fact another red packet has been added to my 'fortune', under my father's nose. During those days, one dollar was a lot of money. When I finally totalled up my takings to ten or so dollars, I would be ecstatic. I would then think about that book or article that I had cherished for so long and now I had the money to pay for it.

I remember there used to be a man who went round all the houses with two little boys dressed up as colourful Phoenix, sporting long cardboard necks, nodding up and down to the beat of his gong. I used to get very excited when I heard them coming. My mother would give me a red packet to give to them. One day, I had a close look and noticed the two boys wedged inside the neck peering out of the small plastic windows, bopping the heads up and down. Our eyes met and I noticed two shy and unhappy boys inside. In present days, that would be deemed as child labour and child abuse. Sigh!

Except for the time when I was studying in the UK, I had never missed spending Chinese New Year at home. I would always apply for two weeks annual leave with the sole purpose of going home to spend time with my mother and sister. I would stay at home for two weeks enjoying my mother's company and cooking, hardly going out since I had lost contact with most of my friends then. Very often also, I would end up with a nasty cold, and when I went back to Kuala Lumpur on a Sunday, the following Monday would see me flying back to Ipoh and onward for Taiping Detachment. 1970 was the last time I ever spent Chinese New Year with my mother in Ipoh. Shortly after that, my father booted me out of the family and I was never able to enjoy the Chinese New Year that I had grown up with.

This Lunar New Year 2007 has been a good and happy one. Except for poor Emma, my youngest granddaughter, who was recovering from a bad gum infection, her condition improved when she spent time with the family and her two cousins.

Our reunion dinner brought us out to Bottletree Village, sited out at Sembawang, facing across the Johor Coastline. When we got there, my mobile phone started to beep messages when the Malaysian Maxi cut in to offer roaming services. The restaurant was nicely located with the sea breeze blowing in. Although it was crowded, the tables were well spaced out and we never felt intimidated by the crowd. We had a corner table and felt very private. The kids had a whale of a time at the playground just a step away. Young Emma was all over the place with Samantha and Christina, the maid in tow. Timothy was like the monkey just let out of the cage. The food was mediocre, being mass cooking and there was no ala carte. But everyone was happy and we had our family pictures taken.

From Bottletree Village, we adjourned to my No. 1 daughter's Maisonette where we celebrated my grandson Timothy's belated birthday. He received an electric organ from the grandmother and ended up with the sister playing it.

First day Chinese New Year fell on a Sunday. Quite a crowd at the 7 am Mass in church. Performing my duties as collector and as Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, after Mass, I distributed Mandarin Oranges to the congregation after Fr. Colin blessed them.

My No. 1 daughter turned up with the kids by noon and it was quite a wait for 'Queen' Emma, who decided to sleep in. My son had thoughtfully decided to come home to stay for the holidays, allowing himself to sleep in. No. 2 daughter finally turned up with husband and Emma in tow. Everyone packed into two cars and off to Liz & Kip's Mansion for our regular CNY lunch.

Big crowd there. Met my brother and his family there and settled into an eating marathon. Liz, as fat as she is, took up the mike and sang us an oldie. She does look like the proverbial opera singer. Liz and I had known each other since our school days in Ipoh. We treat her as part of the family and she had been very close to my parents and sister. Kip, her strong and silent husband, had always been the strong supporter and in whom we have always enjoyed a very intimate relationship.

Food, food and more food! Spoilt for choice, my strict diet went out the window. I had just lost two kilos, so what shall I do! I avoided rice and noodles and ate a lot of meat and vegetables. At one time, I had something like four chicken cooked in four different ways, on my plate. Did not take long to fill me up. I did cheated a little with the delicious walnut cake and CNY specialities which you can only get at CNY. After all, I need to reward myself for my diet effort! Ha, ha!

Second day of CNY was a relatively tame affair at home. No.1 daughter turned up with the kids. Poor son-in-law had to work third day in a row. My son had made a disappearing act in the morning! Simple lunch of left-over. I had spent the whole morning working on my digital pictures and had compiled them into a slide show and added a beautiful piece of organ music in the background. The pictures turned out good after going through my CS2 Photoshop.

Suddenly No.2 son-in-law turned up at the door carrying 'Queen' Emma, fast asleep. Everyone hushed up while Emma was placed on my son's bed with the fan running and window shaded. Everyone spoke in hushed tone. Even the stupid parrot kept quiet. Emma had a long nap. It was good to see her recovering from her gum problems and regaining her appetite and become lively again.

All good things must come to an end. Everyone went their way and all was back to normal.

Till then....