Haven’t really had the time to update my blog before Chinese New Year, but I guess its not too late to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year right now! Happy Chinese New Year to you, you and you, may the year of Golden Rat brings to you many, many joy and happiness, and not forgetting wealth and health in abundance.
Its a pity that Chinese New Year holiday ended up so abruptly for me and for those who need to rush back for work last Sunday, and frankly speaking the holiday mood hung so heavily in the air that I shamelessly login and update my blog in the office, despite the danger of being spotted by colleagues, or worst, the boss.
Nevermind. 
So how was everyone’s Chinese New Year?
While it holds true that most of us past adolescents will regard Chinese New Year disdainfully, or at least welcome the festivity with ulterior motives (read: food and RED PACKET) for me Chinese New Year is a happy occasion and I hope that it will always be. Call me a child at heart, but I still love the festivities, the reunion and sharing of joy and laughter.
And no, it has nothing to do with red packet and food, although I had a plenty of both.
Believe me, when all you look forward for Chinese New Year is your harvest of red packets, you are one sad person indeed. I still regard the giving and receiving of red packets as symbolic rather than monetary, because when you know the person who gives you the red packet actually gives you their hard earned money, you should really learn to appreciate rather to berate that the amount of the money contained inside is not up to your expectation. Maybe that explains why I loathe going visiting all over the places just to collect those red packets. Its just not me.
Foodwise, believe me that I will be bombarding Riceballz with all those chinese New Year goodies when I can find the time. This year round we had potluck for reunion dinner since my grandmother could no longer busy herself in the kitchen and restaurants are not worth the wait. It was quite fun cooking for reunion dinner, whereby my family brought two dishes to the table, and so did my aunt’s family, uncle’s family and grandparents, altogether the food was quite a spread that it had been made into potfuls of delicious “chapchai”s (leftover dishes boiled together with vegetables, tamarind pulp juice, dried chillies and “kai choy”, very tasty) day after. Prior to that, I actually managed to reach hometown earlier and baked like, four types of cookies, and two batches of cakes. Phew! Yes, I feel accomplished.
The sad thing was I had to return for work and send my sister to the airport on Sunday itself, and that cuts short my holiday. Thank God I started my journey to LCCT from Teluk Intan at 6 ish to 7 am, otherwise I will be caught in the jam and sis would have missed her flight. But thank God! we made it to the airport early, and after some coffee and headed back to Malacca around 11am, and traffic was already bumper-to-bumper with some accidents along the way.
Again, thank God I am safe.
