Thursday, February 09, 2006
Yesterday night I came to the conclusion that I cannot effectively persuade people to blog more often if I do not do so myself.
Obviously. Must set example myself first, right? If I myself blog once per fortnight, how can I ask others to blog more? Kind of like the fat doctor asking the patient to exercise more, right? (That's a real life example, by the way.)
So I've changed my blog skin yet again. I kinda like it. Switching back to a Christian-based skin feels exceptionally good.
Uhh... I shall blog a bit on CNY. Considering my previous post that may seem a little off chronologically, but bear with me.
Every time CNY comes it's like a massive congregation of aunties and uncles and cousins. I'm rather blessed with large familes on both sides. My father has 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and they account for the 11 cousins that I have. Now in line with Chinese tradition, cousins on the father's side is further divided into "tang2 xiong1 mei4" and "biao3 xiong1 mei4", which basically refers to kids of the sons and kids of the daughters respectively. Admittedly, I can only considered to be close to my cousin Vincent, since we are both boys of similar ages (I'm one year older). The others are either too young (lower secondary, preschool) or too old (married, university).
Which is why it's rather weird to see all of them gathering at Ah Ma's house on the first day of CNY, as is traditional. We don't really have to pretend to like each other, because we do, to some extent anyway. It's just that I personally have never took any initiative whatsoever to maintain a closer relationship with any of them than courtesy requires. But it's all good, though. We did the usual, ate mian4 sian4, offered joss sticks, played black jack and ate all the CNY goodies. And collected ang baos.
There was something new this year, though. My oldest cousin and his wife brought along a pair of puppies. And they were adorable (the puppies, not the couple). The pair basically ran around the house pawing people, and combing the floor for food scraps. They were even wearing cute doggie clothes. All in the name of the Year of the Dog.
I forgot about the reunion dinner. We had it at this "Fatty Weng Restaurent" at the Badminton Association. Food was rather good, but given the S$688+++ price tag, that's to be expected. Cousin Grace, who is same age as my sis, had her boyfriend along. Interesting. I think my sister is going to be left on the shelf unless she outgrows her childish ways soon. Haha. Anyway, reunion dinner with 29 other people is rather re4 nao4.
After the obligatory gathering at Ah Ma's house in the morning, we went separate ways to visit our respective relatives at mother's side. For us, we went back upstairs to our home to wait for some aunties. A large family at my mother's side too; she has 6 sisters and 1 brother. A pity that both grandparents are gone, one long before I was born, the other days before I was born. Since there are so many aunties we call them by numbers according to chronological order. So the eldest would be "da4 yi2" and then "er4 yi2" and "san1 yi2"(my mom) and so on. So we went to da4 yi2's house and proceeded with the routine: eating CNY goodies, and playing black jack and mahjong.
Although I have less cousins on my mother's side, I'm much closer to them as compared with the cousins on my father's side. I have no explanation. I do know, however, that I like my aunties and uncle better on my mother's side. Because they are generally nicer people, and we do not have that large of a generation gap in terms of our thinking and ideas. And they are so much fun, always. 3 small kids, two of them primary 4 this year and one just starting primary 1. The 2 older kids are rather naughty now. They have this territorial game that they like to play together with the small one, where they occupy the room (no matter whose house they are in), and thereafter whoever steps in to "their" room would be the "monster" and be, if lucky, thrown out violently, or if not, "killed". They use to be, er, less violent, in the past. 3 more cousins, my si4 yi2's kids, unfortunately we are not close to them. Or rather, they are not close to us, and are seldom seen in gatherings. My da4 yi2 has 3 daughters, youngest of which is my sister's age, now a trainee air stewardess with Emirates. The eldest is an accountant and has her own firm. The middle daughter is dirty linen which I do not wish to wash in public.
Whenever there are family gathers such as during CNY with relatives on my mother's side, I can't help but think of my cousin Derrick, who would be 2 years younger than me. He is dead, and he is and will be sorely missed.
And so the first day of CNY is just same as past years, filled with eating junk food and gossiping and fun-natured gambling. I don't know how others spend their first day of CNY, but I'm really happy with the way MY family spends it. =)
The second day is pretty much the same as the first day. On this day we have our "traditional" steamboat dinner with mother's side. The past few years this dinner has always been at my place, but this year we had it at my jiu4jiu4's place, since it's a new house. And so, it was more eating and more gambling. Not that I'm complaining. Hahaa..
On the third day I had some friends from NJChoir over for another steamboat. Lunch. Sort of like tuan2 ruan2 fan4 between friends. When I first thought of hosting this gather at my house with a steamboat lunch I had in mind a certain individual whom I was rather sure would not be having any sort of reunion dinner with her family this year, as is other years, as far as I know. I thought this would be sort of a replacement for that, albeit an inadequate one, but still, better than nothing. It was too bad she couldn't make it for the lunch. It was nice seeing old friends. We ate, we watched crap on my computer, we sang karaok. After they left my parents came and picked me up to go to my qi4 yi2's house for, what else, more food and more gambling!
I just love CNY =D
Speaking of choir. There is a chance that I may be going to Verona with the choir after all. With Timothy. Now we are just waiting to see if they have enough people going. If they don't then we'll be able to fill the slots. Hopefully will get to go. The trip is rather more popular now due to a little price slash (it's now in the regions of S$1,900 for the kids, with a S$200-S$300 subsidy from the school, or so I heard). Miss singing under Miss Lim.
NTU and NUS concerts coming up! Anyone interested??
Until my next update (hopefully soon.. Inspiration, please strike me!)....
God bless everyone!
{/9:57 AM}
me
