CNY '08

My family and I had our REUNION dinner on Sunday!

It was a SUMPTUOUS spread of chicken, fishes, vegetables... and nt to forget ABALONE! Mum opened 5 CANS of it tis year! O my.... We can really eat!!!
But I guess it's too much of "raw" food that left my stomach feelg a bit uncomfortable. Ha ha...

On CNY eve, I visited my colleague Lisa at her home!
(oppo Great World City)

(Lisa, me, Nat, Maxim)

She decorated her home to bring out e CNY feel...
It was a COSY evening with white wine, potato salad, home-made dumplings, "Yu Sheng" and Four Seasons Hotel's "Pen Cai" aka "Big Bowl Feast".

"Pen Cai" is a traditional festive dish of layered ingredients comprising pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, abalone, ginseng, shark fin, fish maw, prawn, crab, dried mushroom, fishball, squid, dried eel, dried shrimp, pigskin, beancurd and radish. In short...all the "山珍海味"!!! *Yummy*

Here's some details for those who are curious abt this dish...

It was said that "Pen Cai" (盆菜) was invented during the late Song Dynasty. When Mongol troops invaded Song China, the young Emperor fled to the area around Guangdong and Hong Kong.
To serve the Emperor as well as his army, the locals collected all their best food available in each household and serve everything in basins. That was how "Pen Cai" was invented.

It is a dish familiar to Hakkas and Catonese people. Despite it's humble beginnings, "Pen Cai" has been given an EXOTIC MAKEOVER with many five star restaurants serving this "expensive" dish during Chinese New Year!!! At Four Seasons, this dish costs S$688+ (serves 6-8 pax) *Wooo....*

("Pen Cai"... Mouth-watering rite?)

It was already 12 midnight when we ended. We dropped the idea of CNY countdown at Chinatown. As such, I'm able to MAKE IT for the "Ah Long" movie with the rest at PS. *Yeah!*

1st day of CNY...

My family and I went to visit Grandma at Hougang.

She is 70+ years old and is blessed with 13 children

(9 daughters & 4 sons) and 32 grandchildren.
I like BIG family gatherings... and that day was esp. CROWDED and LIVELY!!!

(some of my cousins & I)

The next day, all my aunties, uncles and cousins gathered in Downtown East chalet.

While the kids went to Escape Theme Park for THRILLER rides, my mum and I went to the sushi bar and had a nice chat while indulging ourselves with all the Sushi, Sashimi, Chawan Mushi and the other "shi"s. Ha ha... We talked a lot and had a good time teasing each other during the 1+hr there. *Quality time... Yeah*

On the 3rd day of CNY, some of the leaders, helpers and overseas students went to Bro Ed's place for steamboat.

Juner brought her 3-mth old baby Denzel! This cutie always bring a smile to my face each time I look at him. He was 3.8kgs at birth and now...7.5kgs!!!

(Look at his "sumo wrestler" legs... Woo man!)

The 4th day...10 cgs in ET zone had steamboat @"La Mei"!

(Tucking in!)

(After a while... Yan Ming is our only survivor to finish up e food!)

(Gong Xi Fai Cai everyone!!!)

After "BOATING".... some of us decided to HIT the POOL!!!!

(Edmund talked a LOT durg the game! :)

(my ex-colleagues and I @ Dome, Bishan)

5th day of CNY...

My company gave us an EXTRA DAY OFF! *Happy & Grateful*

Spent time with my family and took a break after all the going out... :)

Between everything... I had some other visitations.

In particular... I would like to mention a special family...

I have this distant relatives who are mute and hearing-impaired. Life has not been easy for them. Though they can neither hear nor speak, they successfully raised 4 children (eldest- 36 yrs old, youngest- 28 yrs old now).

The younger 3 obtained their degrees. All work hard and are doing well in their career. I see the family almost each CNY and they are exemplary figures of FAMILY LOVE.

The children do not despise and "blame" their parents for a "not-so-smooth" start. Instead, they love their parents for who they are. Not resigning to their family circumstances, they work hard and make their way prosperous.

Parents brought us physically to the earth and indeed... it's up to us to MAKE our way prosperous!

Jos 1:8
"... for then you will MAKE your way PROSPEROUS, and then you will have good success"

2008 will be the best year yet for us!