Kung Hei Fatt Choy

Kung Hei Fatt Choy to one and all.

We are about in the middle of the festival. Tomorrow is the 7th Day of Chinese New Year. To the Cantonese, this is the 'Day of Humanities', which means every body's birthday. On this day, it is traditional for the Cantonese to eat 'Yee Sheng', raw fish, and glutinous rice balls. Nowadays, 'Yee Sheng' is consumed throughout the festival.

This year's Reunion Dinner, on 25/1, was held at a seafood restaurant near where I live. It went off very well and everyone were fed full. Despite the crowd, the food quality was good and the service did not suffer much, plus the convenience of parking space and within walking distance to my place. Everyone adjourned to my place after dinner.

On the first day, 26/1, everyone congregated to my place by lunchtime, for the traditional visit to the Lee's Mansion for lunch. The family has been doing this for years as a gesture to my very good friends Liz and Kip. I have known Liz since our school days and she has been part of my family all these years. We enjoyed our younger days when my sister was still alive, and Liz used to stay overnight and she was always included in our family functions. Liz has not been in good health due very much to her obesity, and it was disheartening to see her on a wheel chair periodically. Kip himself has aged and is a little better off than Liz, albeit being much older.

It was also good that during the lunch, I was able to catch up with my brother, whom I very seldom meet up. As I looked at him and he looked at me, we realised how much we have both aged.

During the lunch, I was very impressed by my little Emma, who sportingly went up to the microphone to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", twice over. We all felt very proud of her and I recorded her singing on my Handycam on HDMI as well. The previous evening, I had recorded her singing several tunes including her now famous "Hug! The Herald Angel Sing". When I reviewed the video, I felt a lump in my throat.

After dinner that day, my son swiftly left for Spain on a holiday with his new girl friend.

Last night, 30/1, Jason and Karen held their house warming. Earlier, I had lunch with Joe and Jenny, who later in the evening drove us there. Although I have been to the new place, one right turn eluded me and I ended up lost. Lucky for mobile phones, we were eventually directed to the right house. Even Uncle Ben, who knows every streets, got lost. Yet another feast, which did not help me in trying to control my weight. I shot the event with my Handycam and I suddenly realised that my other 'little' Samantha is no longer little, as she has now grown up as a teenager. Timothy is just as crazy with the television and his video games. I wish he can be better behaved and stop getting into trouble.

I was told that there was a Lion Dance at three yesterday afternoon, which frightened little Emma, who ran crying up into her room. What a pity.

Today, being a Saturday, I was alone at home and decided to call Denis for lunch at Empress Market. I had wanted to taste the new stall selling beef hor fun. Supposedly from Hock Lam Street, which was famous for this noodle, I was disappointed. The soup was mild and lukewarm, unlike the original with its fiery pepper. My Godfather joined us and gave the noodles a thumbs down as well. At $5.00 a bowl, it is over priced.

After the lunch, I went out to Rochore with Denis and bought some roast pork home. See again, food and more food! This stall has been selling very good roast duck and roast pork. I also bought my medication, which was the main purpose of the trip. Honest! Boarding the bus home and after a few stops, who should get in but my wife and her friend. Singapore is not that big after all. Luckily I was not involved in any 'hanky panky'. On reaching home, I was able to convince the wife that I will buy a Hainanese chicken for dinner to complement the roast pork. My daughter and her two kids were coming home for dinner.

Till then....

Hello 2009

It is now 20th January, 2009, and my mind has not quite settled into the new year.

As I write this, I am nursing a cough and cold, ironically shortly after I had my flu shot, given by my GP. Last Thursday, I had lunch with Fr. T.O.N. and a friend at the Club, and after the lunch, I felt sick with a sore throat. By Friday, I was coughing and felt the effects of a cold. There was no fever though. So I decided to take the cold relief tablets. Although I was not all that sick, I started having urinating problems.

Yesterday, I saw my GP, who advised me that the cold relief tablets that I took has a side effect of enlarged prostrate. No wonder I suffered for that. I am now on alternative medication from my GP. Today, I rested at home and I am glad that the effects of the previous medication is wearing off and my prostrate is slowly returning to normal. But I still sound like a frog. I have since warned some of my elderly male friends, against taking such medication off the shelf.

I have been cooking lately, since my Christmas turkey. On New Year's day, I roasted a rolled pork, using the long low temperature method. It took me four and a half hours of low temperature roasting. Unfortunately, there was not much fat and the pork turned out rather dry. It would have been alright, if we had eaten straight after roasting, but left it quite late and by that time, the meat had dried up considerably.

Last weekend, I again roasted belly pork. This time it was nice and the skin was crispy. In addition I also roasted a chicken. The family enjoyed the dinner. If I keep cooking, I hope to improve in time.

My little Emma, who has now been called 'Princess', has been hogging the limelight in the family. She really enjoyed the Christmas season and had wished that it would never end. She was finally able to sing the "Hark, The Herald Angel Sing", from start to finish.

She started Nursery School this year and had the privilege of Uncle Ben fetching her from school. On the days that she came to us after school, she was very happy, singing and dancing. Even my neighbour called her 'Chilly Padi'. On every family gathering, she has been the star and live wire.

I have another problem now. With all the eating, I have gained weight. I must now cut down to my pre-Christmas days. But with Chinese New Year next week, this is going to be tough. Kicking off the celebrations will be our family reunion dinner at a restaurant near we live. This will be followed by the perennial Chinese New Year lunch at the mansion of the Lee family. Goodness gracious me, what shall I do?

Till then....