At our Sis in Law's Place on 18th Feb 2015
Each year we 'celebrate' 2 New Years ; the Western New Year which falls on 1st Jan 2015 and the Chinese New Year which follows the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Last year was the year of the Horse and this Year is the Year of the Sheep or Goat (the Chinese name 'Yang' doesn't distinguish between which animal.
This year's CNY fell on the 18th and 19th of Feb (Thurs and Friday) and since 20th and 21st are Saturday and Sunday respectively, most people have a good 4 and a half to 5 days (if companies give out the 1/2 day or even a full day off before the CNY).
As I was extremely busy workwise in the leadup to this year's CNY, I am very thankful to my wife May for the hard work she put up in preparing the reunion dinner, which is a standard 'must do' each CNY. Special ingredients and dishes would be whipped up by our maid and the actual cooking for the Reunion Dinner, which is the day just before the 1st day of the New Year is one
of cooking and cleaning up of the house.
My role is very minor, cleaning up the house, buying the pussy willow (see bottom picture) symbolising wealth and good fortune, for the flower pot, and transporting the food for the reunion dinner from the Li Bai restaurant to our house on the evening of the Reunion Dinner.
The night of the Reunion Dinner
In years' past, my parents would figure in every Reunion Dinner and we would either eat at the famed Li Bai restaurant at Sheraton Towers and indulge in my father's favourite dish, the Peking Duck. The picture below is taken in 2008, during Chinese New Years period, and you can see the change in the boys then till now.
My parents have passed on 4 to 5 years now, but the strong feelings I have for them still resonate with me. They had been great parents and we enjoyed many New Years parties at the house where my mother was a great host in the past.
Picture taken at Li Bai with my brother John, and the 2 boys.
The concept of Families meeting once or twice is year us especially good, as we are so involved in other aspects of life, business, raising families, travel and leisure so the Reunion Dinner is a must do in our family. Catching up with our extended family is then carried out onthe 1st (normally we visit my parents, followed by my wife's mother, and then her elder brother).
Our boys friends also drop in for a short tete a tete, so its a good respite from all the work we are so used to day in day out.
The House decked out in it red and gold
May this year of the Goat bring us good Health, Fortune, and Luck !
