Happy Chinese New Year!

It's Friday and most people at this time are on their way back to their hometown, in time for the family reunion dinner on Saturday. As the Ox make way for the Tiger, those celebrating have been busy - spring cleaning the house, shopping for waxed meat to prepare the traditional Chinese dishes, buying/making cookies, making sure there's an ample supply of snacks and soft/packet drinks for guests etc. etc. etc. This is also the time for meeting up with relatives, some whom you see now and then and some whom you see only once a year! Knowing how to address your relatives proper is a challenge in itself - e.g. Yee Sum, Sam Sook, Tai Koo, Say Koo Cheong, Sai Koo Ma (meaning - 2nd paternal uncle's wife, third paternal uncle, paternal eldest auntie, fourth paternal auntie's husband, youngest paternal auntie) Phew! And that's just to name a few! :p

I remember when I was a kid, I use to get a kick out of drinking Anglia Shandy, it made me feel like a grown up. But now that I'm all grown up (and sideways too!), I want to be a kid again! Hahaha....And it was also during that time, we use to drink bottled drinks that are no longer available now like Green Spot (remember how the jewellers in Petaling Street would give the customers a bottle of Green Spot whenever we patronize the store?) and my all time favourite - ice cold Magnolia Chocolate Milk (which is now available in carton form, but it just doesn't taste the same). Of course, I'll be holding a bottle of this in one hand and a piece of "long yoke" - BBQ jerky in the other. That was and still is, happiness at its simplest. Best of all, it is a time of family togetherness, I'm recalling right now as I write this post; our family would be visiting other families and friends. It was the longest celebration for me, as I got to stay out with my family (yes, with that bottled drink and BBQ jerky in my hands, hahahha). Those are the moments that I treasure till today :o) What do you remember most about Chinese New Year when you were a kid?

To those traveling back to reunite with their families or just simply enjoying a short break, I wish all a safe journey! To all those celebrating Chinese New Year.....

GONG XI FA CHAI!