Today is the 10th day of the Chinese New Year in which we normally celebrate for 15 days. The CNY was the time to give us the decent break after all the stressful moments that we have to go through to earn our monthly take at the end of each month.
As usual, me and my brothers together with the family members goes back to my mom's house to celebrate the CNY. This year was especially hot and it was noted that this was one of the hottest period during the last few decades. This must be our undoing in not looking after our environment and many have not given serious thoughts to the effects of global climatic change. The regularity in which natural disasters are occuring is really a cause for concern.
I started with a yum cha with my old pal, Fatty Jean, on the eve of CNY. The last time we met was several months ago and our normal conversations would revolve around what's happening to out long lost friends and of course we also touch on national policies and politics. We are reaching retirement age and Fatty Jean told me that he would be retiring in May this year. I ask him what he is going to do and he told me that he is still looking at his options.
I dont know whether we should be looking towards our retirement or we should continue working. In the good old days, it is everybody's wish to look towards their retirement but things seems to change nowadays and maybe this could be due to the escalating costs of education for children and our "maintenance costs" in getting old.
On the first day of the CNY, we start by wishing each and everyone of us Happy & Prosperous New Year and to give ang pows to the young ones. We will have vegetarian food for our breakfast and also for lunch. In the evening we had our dinner at the hotel and this year's food was not quite up to expectation compared with the previous year but it was still a decent meal.
The second day was the "open new year" and thereafter, my family and I went to my father-in-law house to extend our well wishes. My brother in law family was there as well as my wife's aunty who also drop by with their families. My children's ang pows should be more this year as we met more relatives this year.
We went back to our house to have a look. I was worried over the increasing crime rates and scared that someone would have broken into our house and stole some of our valuables. We took a rest, took a bath and later returned to my mom's house.
On the second and third days of the CNY, some of our close relatives and friends came to pay us a visit and exchange greetings and ang pows.
We went back to our house on the third day of the CNY as my kid is starting work the next day and I would also have to open office to reign in the auspicious time and day for the CNY.
