Reflections.....

Today is the last day of the CNY celebrations...the fifteenth day. I wonder what the year of the Tiger has installed for us all. Something good i hope...Tiger joy, Tiger health, Tiger wealth, Tiger prosperity and i hope Tiger peace. The tiger is such a beautiful animal and yet the rich people of Indonesia are encouraged by their government to adopt tigers and keep them in cages at the back of their gardens. This is to ensure their survival so they say. I wonder what the world has come too? I believe wild animals should be in the wilds and not be kept in captivity. Man should not be so greedy as to destroy the rain forests that the animals of the wild have no place they can call home. Man should realize that for all the wealth they amassed would one day be destroyed too and their efforts of hoarding more wealth would come to nought.
The CNY period this year see us experiencing the worst heat wave. It is simply unbearable even when we are inside the house. Imagine us sweating away even in an air-conditioned restaurant. This has never happened to me before as i would be the first to complain about the cold in an air-conditioned room. Times have changed, so they say. Indeed, it has, so be alert........

Remember.....

The Chinese New Year celebrations almost over, another week to go. Time just don't fly, it just zooms. The first time that i spent the CNY without mum. My sister and i talked about the times when mum will tell us what to cook and what to do for the celebration. After all the recollection of the past, we realized that from this year onwards, we will have to set our own style of celebrating the CNY. We will set our own traditions and pass them to our future generation. In time, they too will set their own traditioons and pass them to their future generation.
However, i'm glad to know that the tradition of 'balik kampung' or going back to the ancestral home to spend the CNY is still very strong amongst us siblings. So, i was very glad my brother and his family came back to celebrate with me and my nephew. My sister too came to visit. Despite the fact that mum is no longer with us, we still feel the sense of family ties. This is good relationship indeed and i hope my nieces and nephews will carry on this tradition at least.
Celebration is also a time of eating and drinking. I'm sure i have put on two or three kilos already. So from now onwards, it will be a time exercising to control my weight. Just hope that i can go back to my original weight.......

Remember.....

Time flies. Tomorrow will the last day of the year of the Bull according to the Chinese Lunar calendar. Most Chinese members will travel back to their parents' homes to celebrate the reunion dinner....and then welcome the New Year. Next year will be the year of the Tiger. It is predicted that the Tiger will enter the new year with a ferocious roar. After being hiding in his cave for so long, it is hope he will indeed roar his way into the new year. So, everyone can expect something exciting next year.
This will be the first Chinese New Year i will spend without the presence of mum. All said and done, i still missed her very much....the matriach of the family and the director of operations. This time around there is no one to direct us on what dishes to prepare and cook for the celebration. So, we just cook what we like to eat. This year though, we have lots of cookies and biscuits...gifts from friends. It is a good practice exchanging cookies...then we do not have to make so many types. Also, we get to sample each other's cookies.
Christina and Peter will be celebrating CNY in Sydney this time. I am so glad to know she will be celebrating the reunion dinner with her friends from HK and China. It is a pot bless session, so she too will be able to sample each other's cooking too.
I'm taking this opportunity to wish every one reading this a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.....and God's choicest blessings. Till then.......