The Rooster Year

 What a celebration.
Many times over many dinners; before and after.
With the patriarch and matriarch away in Melbourne, we were a little lost. It is terrible with no family to turn to and it is truly so uneasy celebrating the occasion without the parents.
On top of that with 2 daughters celebrating the eve with the in-laws , one has no choice but to be creative.
No need to feel lonely.

This is dad's brother, Kenny with wife Suzanne who graciously agreed to spend the evening with us and made the quorum for a get together. Lyn was back with Cian and so we ate la. Everything Chinese from herbal chicken soup to stew duck teochew style. We  have not passed a lunar celebration without this specialty passed down from my mother. Leeks is a must. When you consume it, you will know your figures better. Prawns baked dad's way earned much praise.

But how does one pass the occasion without going back to the hometown? Grace and Aaron alike chose to gate crash on the next day and we congregated in Muar. Sister Mee was there with an old aunt and so it was another banquet time.

The number again was not the point. 

We met. That's the point.

We ate . That's the next point.

Dad will do anything to be with Emily.

With no toys around, grandpa had to entertain the little one in another way.

Can you hear me? I remember doing that as a kid. Do you?

In the evening, we visited a quaint cafe and drank and ate again.

Then it was time again to travel down South to meet another sibling; Richard and family.

Yes, that's another colossal meal again; this time all forms of dumplings Shanghai style. In Singapore, we were united as a family again.

This is the Singapore extended family.

It looks like a new trend in the making for the years to come together with Richard and Kit.

So, we waited for the day for the old ones to arrive home from Melbourne.

No, they would not let the season pass without the family gathering; whatever number it may be. So, it was another mammoth dinner ; this time in Subang Jaya. So, you see it was food, food, food.

A week before the day, present colleagues gathered for a pre lunar celebration.

Happy faces; happy dinner. 

Finally, the last supper with good old friends of years. We are apart but the previous ties are strong. So we met for a nyonya-style lunch with the loudest bang on the yee sang.

Now, it was a real colourful Rooster celebration.

More to come for the year.

Great moments with loved ones and friends.