Life as we don't know it

Chinese New Year 2012

Sunday, January 29, 2012 @ 4:03 AM PERMALINK

Chinese New Year is usually pretty uneventful for me cause,
1. My family is pretty small ; my mum only has 4 siblings and one of them lives abroad.
2. We only visit one house because my mum's extended family is scattered all over the world.

This year however, I had quite an amazing Chinese New Year.

We had reunion dinner on the Eve of CNY as usual.

See the black bowl there, its filled with my favourite dish in the world EVER. It is slow cooked five spice yam and roasted pork. I keep bugging my mum to get the recipe from my Grandmother but so far, we've had no luck in coverting it.

This year my grandmother bought Yushang, something we only started to do last year

I didnt stay the night at my Grandma's because I left my cheap fake china battery connected to my laptop charging and was afraid that it would explode.

The next morning my sister and I dragged ourselves out of bed for visiting. We visited my Grandmother's aunt that helped to take care of my mum when she first came to Singapore from Malaysia. After visiting, I went for lunch with my sister alone (FIRST TIME EVER). Once we filled our bellies, we parted ways and she went for dance practise while I went to off to the Bongs'.

This is the only picture from my one day of visiting ; I took it to show Su my outfit. (please excuse my messy dresser ; Obviously I didn't do spring cleaning)

I worked on the 2nd and 3rd day of CNY and on the 2nd day, I lost $36 playing Ban Luck at Jon's place. In a repeat of last year's events, Kai once again ate up the entire table's money but at least had the decency to buy us all a good Macdonalds breakfast and drive us home.

Also, I dragged Bong to River Ang Bao a couple of days ago. No one else that I know goes but I kinda like it. I love the decorations and the atmosphere even if it is a little predictable. I like that I know this is the one place other than Chinatown where I can see a ton of red lanterns and flashy lights.

There are stalls showcasing traditional chinese artforms such as paper cutting and rice painting as well as stalls selling food.

I remember last year, Bong and I were wowed by the malt candy artists. The artists use strands of heated malt candy to create images that they later attach into a lollipop stick for you to eat. Pretty AND very yummy.

I bought a paper cutting for $5 so I had to pass on the candy this year. I was really amazed by the paper cuttings. They are so delicate and everything is painstakingly cut out by hand.

Yea, I don't really know what I'm going to do with the one I bought but it was just too pretty to pass up. (I'm a sucker; I know)

Look at the number of people on the floating platform

The horse looking at his forecast for the year

The God of Wealth float

I spotted this really cool sculpture of a Gui Ling and later found out that it was made up of all these little glass bottled filled with coloured liquid. Too cool.

We also had a steamboat dinner at Abby's house. I don't know anything about steamboat so I volunteered to make a second dessert. (Berns made an amazing tiramisu)

I, decided to err on the side of simple and make jelly. I had thought that it would be fool-proof but bought 2 boxes anyways just in case I messed something up.

It is a good thing I did have a backup because my first box did not even solidify at all after like 5 hours in the fridge and my mum took it upon herself to make the 2nd box for me while I was out. Partly because she is sweet and partly to mock me.

While my jelly was failing to become solid, I went to meet Rin, Ben and Val for a catch up session. We ended up sitting at Going Om and playing Monodeal. I also slipped and fell when we were leaving because I was too engrossed about my new plans for the future once I've made enough money being a corporate drone.

I decided to give the jelly one more try after getting some tips from my mum.
1. Heat the water in a pot ; dont just use boiling water from the kettle
2. Stir the jelly powder into the bubbling water.

This time I made mango and when she came home, we discussed how to cut it up. I wanted to cut it into hearts and stars with our cookie cutters but we couldn't find them. Boohoo.

Boy and Yuki the dog pillow

Steamboat! Abby even set up a seperate pot for Berns and I because Berns is allergic to seafood and I can't stand the smell of fish. I have the sweetest friends.

Boys in a food coma

Shane finding a new use for profiteroles. On the head to nurse a hangover and in the mouth to quell your stomach.

After dinner we played a couple rounds of Ban Luck before Glad left with the cards. Bong and I went to the shop downstairs on a mission to get a new deck. But just as we arrived as the shop we realised that neither of us brought down any money! (clever)

I was going to just go up to the flat again and get money when Bong asked the shop owner if we could pay $1.45 for the $1.50 deck of cards. Pretty suprisingly he very nicely agreed and we left deck in hand to play a few more rounds.

We eventually switched to Uno (because the boys don't gamble) and ended up playing the longest round of Uno I have ever played in my life. After that one round, we finally gave up on cards altogether and watched tv.

It is days like these that really remind me that life isn't about drama. It isn't about what I don't have or what everyone else has. Life is a celebration of people and relationships. It is about being happy with the numerous things that surround me and being thankful for them.

I don't need a super high paying job or branded clothes ; all I need are friends and family to laugh with, friends who are comfortable enough with each other to tease and make jokes. What I need are strong and loving relationships and an open mind.

Life isn't about focusing on what I don't have ; its about what I do have and honestly, its times like these that I remember that I have so much.

Much love!

Labels: celebration, cny, family