The Wee Corner

This Chinese New Year is rather unique as it fell on Feb 14 (yes V-Day) and it added more uniqueness to it for me as Feb 13 is my dearest mummy’s birthday (which is also CNY eve – reunion dinner). I didn’t get so spend these special occasions with my extended family but in Auckland with immediate family and in laws since I was recently back in Asia in Nov/Dec.  My initial thought that ushering the New Year will be rather special for I am a Tiger (my Chinese zodiac sign) myself but I have to say I feel rather indifferent.  Chinese New Year has always been one of my favourite festive seasons ever since I was a little girl.

The whole chaotic and utter rush from everyone was simply a joy to be part of. It is a time to be families are reunited together (noise), firecrackers and fireworks going off throughout the nights (loud), the sound of my neighbour’s mah-jong sessions into the wee hours of the morning and all the delicacies and chaos that family and friends can ever create when come together all at once.  As a little girl, the feelings of excitement of putting on new clothes, receiving red packets filled with cash, seeing cousins, aunts and uncles that we rarely seen and not to mention all the CNY goodies we can to feast on. For my family, mum and dad will prepare a big spread of food (we will usually have delicious muslim food) for Malay friends who come visiting us at home. I am getting all nostalgic just thinking back all these memories.

I am hoping to have these memories instilled into my 2 boys as well. To let them experience the chaos of CNY with joy. We brought the kids and MiL to the ASB Showground to soak up on the ‘Tong tong tong chiang’ CNY atmosphere as there was an event where Chinese food stall, New Year decorations and merchandises were elaborately laid out. Some of the stalls had some authentic Chinese delicacies and goodies. Both boys get to see the live Lion Dance performing on stage and some adorable little Chinese girls in costumes performing beautiful dances.

The boys had a great afternoon with all the fun under the sun, bouncy castles, slides and games were there to entertain the kids and young adults. There was also a guy disguised in Fortune God walking about giving red packets to little children. To see so many people come together to celebrate this auspicious day was quite an eye opener for me in Auckland. It is nothing compared to the big celebration back home in Asia but I can really see that more are celebrating this event as I saw big red lanterns being placed to decorate the main city streets of Auckland. Come the 15^th day we will yet again have the elaborate annual Lantern Festival at Albert Park. As for my house, I made a small effort to have a bottle of orange soft drink (a typical item for CNY), some goodies that I found in a local asian grocery store to indulge myself in the spirit of CNY in NZ. Also bought Jared one of his favourite dried pork (Bak Kua) which is completely loves. We had lovely reunion dinners and CNY meals with my in laws and the kids had a great weekend.

What about V-day? We did see ad-hoc some stalls selling heart shaped balloons and florists and supermarkets laying out a wide range of roses all over the stores. I have to say for me personally possibly being Chinese this V day has been overshadowed by the big event of tong trong tong tong chiang. And being lucky in love…every day can be a V day for me