Archive for the 'festive' Category
January 29th, 2009 -- Posted in festive |
It’s been so long since I’ve updated the blog. There’s just nothing more interesting to tell except the anticipation of the baby… until now.
Yes, it’s time of the year once more. Chinese New Year… The first and most important ethnical holidays for my family and myself. It’s one of the few occasions of the year where we’d get to share happiness with everyone we know, including relatives and friends.
The night before New Year, like Christmas Eve for the west, is usually a time for a feast with the family. The ‘reunion dinner’ used to involve many relatives from Dad’s side until it was decided the greater family, having grown to the third generation, is too large to be done together. So we now hold our own reunion dinner within the immediate family.
Reunion dinner, traditionally prepared at home for family members who return from their work and lives away from home, usually include a hearty meal of ‘steam boat’, or more commonly known as ‘hot pot’ in some countries. I don’t remember the significance behind it but I think it’s the most practical way to serve a large family all at the same time.
After dinner, we did what we traditionally do… wait for midnight to pay the first new year respect to parents. Becky wasn’t feeling too well. She seemed to be recovering from a bad case of flu but it got worse. Good thing Jasper came by to pick her up so she could have a good rest before the big day tomorrow.
So ‘sharing happiness’ we did. I found out the next morning, when we reunited with relatives at the Tanglin house, that any of our relatives weren’t really informed of the baby’s coming. Some were even pleasantly surprised… “When did that happen?”
Not surprisingly, there are more kids this year than the last. The newcomers are Yongliang’s first daughter and Yongyi’s second. Sunsun and I kinda got ‘initiated’ as new members of the Young Parents Group side of the family. Young, indeed, huh… haha
It was great catching up with the greater family. Too bad Dad isn’t here this year. He decided to spend it in China with Dayan and 3rd Uncle. It was weird as it was the first time spending the new year without Dad. It was a fantastic time, nevertheless.
After the Tanglin house visit, we proceeded to visit the other greater family from Mom’s side. This year is a little different. Instead of visiting Tua-Gu, Mom’s eldest brother’s, house, we’re visiting Ji-Gu, second eldest uncle’s, place.
Last but not least, as an annual tradition, we visit Tua Kim’s house next. Though Tua Kim isn’t quite related to us by blood, she’s one of the most important elder to us. Not only was Tua Kim the eldest foster sister that Mom used to look up to, she actually spent more than a decade staying at our house to help bring up Annie in the absence of Mom after her passing. At her age, it was quite a task and I must admit we couldn’t have been better without her. Thanks, Tua Kim!
So that concluded the first day of Chinese New Year. Can’t wait for the next year when AiThim can join in the fun.
February 19th, 2007 -- Posted in festive |
... and gone is the year of the DAWG~ 
Nothing beats the ties with sibblings…
This year’s gathering isn’t that much different from the past, but I do notice the growing size of the family (just like a corporation, as one cousin jokingly commented).
... and the growing size of the family members.
Many young members…
... and new members.
Who’s your Daddy?
... practicing body language of a BOSS.
”... it was THIS long…”
”... pappi… I’m not a piggy… help~”
... and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
January 30th, 2006 -- Posted in festive |
A highlight of the pics we took on the 1st day of CNY:
Here’s Cobie as the “Year-of-the-Dog” Ambassador
Land of the Growing Giants
Land of the Grown Giants
Another one from the Land of the Growing Giants
... erm… not forgetting those from the Land of the Growing Waist
Definition of Brotherhood
Cousins…
... cousins…
... and more cousin-nieces (?)
Come to cousin-aunty
Our first pioneer for the Land of the Growing Waist
... Forever young
... and forever younger
There were more visitings over the later parts of the day but not many pictures were taken. That was because we were busy mainly with FOOD FOOD and more FOOD!
(God bless my throat. I hope I don’t get sick from all the tidbits and food over flow for the past days.)
January 28th, 2006 -- Posted in festive |
A Happy New Year To Everyone!!!
Here’s Wishing from Cobie as the ambassador for the Year of the Dog!
Yes, the theme for the dinner this evening is none other than RED. We got everyone to dress in their favorite red shirt, including Dad. Even Cobie got his lil RED bandana (a napkidana, actually).
THE Family (with the exception of Jerri… Too bad she can’t come back to be with us tonight)
... and our annual tradition of hot pot (we call it “steam boat” here)
Colorful ingredients
The RED chilli (BEWARE: It’s chilli-seed concentrated)
With Dad
Sister Beck
Aren’t we so RED tonight?
And not forgetting lil Annie… be always this happy, babe
Oh oh! Cobie wanna wish more… Gong Xi Gong Xi (hey, this way, silly dog!)
So that was the reunion dinner. We stayed up until midnight to give wishing to Dad and by the time we left for home we were really tired. Tomorrow will be another eventful day! Many visitings!
January 1st, 2006 -- Posted in festive |
The new year is finally here! The ‘old’ year is finally gone! (And my eyes are already tired… so let me just cut this blog short.)
Sunsun made great authentic Thai dishes for a little gathering at our place tonight. Simple dinner for a New Year Eve party… But the company of family (Dad & Lil Annie) and friends was more than enough to make it cozy and great catching up!
Mel & Benny… Our VVIP guests
(Poor Sunsun… tired after a whole day of cooking)
... Now why’s Lil Annie hiding?
The ‘Classic’ shot of the night… whose hand was whose?
... my Precious
Countdown fireworks (I know… it’s ‘pirated’. We couldn’t see much from where we were)
Happy New Year to you too, Cobie! (Ok… you can go back to sleep now…)
To the two other friends I was hoping to join us tonight but couldn’t make it (you know who you are, if you’re reading this), it’s really too bad you didn’t manage to join us, coz we had CARTONS of beer(u) prepared for you guys! Hahaha… N’mind. We can always keep it for the next time you come.
To all other friends whom I had not the chance to wish you yet… HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR MMVI!
December 24th, 2005 -- Posted in festive |
Just because Sunsun and me will not be in town for Christmas eve this year, we decided to have our yearly christmas present exchange on the eve of Christmas eve.
There were big surprises for the two youngest ones. The biggest surprise for the youngest Liang was a tricky diversion. Let her tell the story in her own blog. In short, we initially tricked her into thinking that she’s only getting some ‘it’s-the-thought-that-counts’ items which will give you the ‘No one knows my style like my brother’ thrill, then presented her a second gift which she would never expect… an electric guitar and an amp.
Yup! Our lil one is growing up. She has now not only an acoustic guitar, there’s also an electric guitar and an amp in her room now. Hope to hear tunes I could never play when I was at her age soon.
For the second sis Jerri, again both Becky and me shared the present… a whole set of iPod Nano with leather casing, FM transmitter and an external charger. We called her last night and told her to open her present since we have all opened ours. Glad to hear that ‘OHphh!’ reaction from her. Heehee…
For me, I got the following items which I would never have expected:
From Becky… a Surrender t-shirt! YES! It’s a F*@kin Surrender! She was wondering why this t-shirt that she knew I will like costs that much for a t-shirt, the only response she got from the shop was ’... your brother will know why’. For anyone who doesn’t know, Surrender t-shirts are designed by world renowned graffiti artists and co-owned by Unkle DJ James Lavelle.
From Liang, my personalized T-shirt… When that Surrender was a limited edition, this is ONE edition! schreakz! The fonts are so nicely printed on the t-shirt. And it’s exactly the same one I used for my old myspace site too! This lil one sure knows my kinda art. 
This isn’t exactly a Christmas present, but dad gave me this camera and got himself another ‘All-Weather’ one which he can take pictures even in extreme cold weather in China. I’m THRILLED enough with this ‘hand-me-down’. My current Fuji Finepix has turned nocturnal like me… it could only take pictures VERY WELL at night, but always show over-exposure in the day.
