Cynthia Foo

I wasn’t thinking of celebrating Chinese New Year. In fact, there was no one at home to celebrate with. I didnt get off from work till 12pm and Megan (my colleage) asked me out for a drink in town at the famous white beer pub. After 2 hours of ‘beer-under-sunshine’ session, I decided to do something for CNY.After all, I am Malaysian and we celebrate everything–CNY, Raya Aidilfitri, Deevapali and X’mas!! =)

I rushed to local Post Office, bought this Lunar New Year Zodia Sheetlet. =) I had a Rooster one from last year.

I sent out few copies of postcards.. Last minute effort…as usual…Malaysian style.

I received a card from a good friend of mine who is currently working as a DJ in 988 radio station Malaysia. Cool. It has been awhile.
I’ve got another classic chinese card from Chin Beng koko (brother), another old friend of mine. We used to write to each other. I still keep those letters he sent me.. 200++ letters all together =)
Before the shops close, I managed to get some ‘Chinese’ stuffs. All of a sudden, I wanted to decorate my house! I bought a box of tissue paper! A red flowerish box!! So Chinese-New-Year… *smile*

Oh well, I am not sure whether it was a true smile from my heart.. or just a way to suppress my tears from falling off and the feeling of missing everyone at home, especially my lovely parents. Every year at this time, mum and dad will make sure we are all ready for the celebrations, getting everything organised–reunion dinner, prayers, new (red) clothes, dusting or sweeping the floor… I have been doing all this as routine since I was little.. I quite miss them now, but what I miss the most at the moment is the entire time I spend with my family while preparing for the special event. Mum, as usual, she is the one that nag and nag and nags… Dad doesn’t say much and is usually on our side. =)

For some reasons, my aunty, my grandma will buy a new set of cooking ingredients like sesame oil, oyster sauce. I am not quite sure why. New thing for new year? I, too bought few of them whether or not for CNY sake =) I bought dried fungus, mushroom and clear vermicilli. Hmm, at this stage, I am still not sure if I will go on vegetarian food. I dont know who to cook those Teow Chew style of vegetarian food thou. I miss my grandma’s cooking. She makes fabulous Teow Chew dishes! Aw mannnn!!!! Fly me home now!!!
I bougt some YEO’S Chrysanthemum Tea!!!! Not that I need extra sugar, just that I miss the routine of having sugarish drink on CNY, and dad can’t ‘prohibit’ us from drinking them. =) Bah! don’t feel like drinking it much. CNY home alone suX! I put up my own reunion dinner. My guest of my reunion dinner is me. Just me. I tried not to cry and be cheerful as much as possible. I use my imagination to ‘decorate’ my dinning table. Thinking of dad and mum, they crack funny jokes all the time. My brothers constantly helping himself with chunky chicken drimstick and always wanting to head out with his buddies after dinner. Me and my sister, on the other hand, helping ourselves with more longan dessert drink more than anything else. =) I had couple of king prawns, chicken and fresh salmon! And my family smiles, jokes, voice… are constantly ‘playing’ in my mind.. Well, if you are going to ask me, “how’s your reunion dinner?”

My answer is: AWESOME!! (as usual)

Oh well, I think this is life. One year comes, another year gone…..

Oh yeah, I got a phone call at 12am from Kian, calling from Adelaide.
“Baby, can you please go to the bookshelf, look for Merck Mannual”
“What?” stone-stone me. =)
Ok.. I got up.. looking around the book, I found an Ang Pow (red-packet).
“You see the ‘ang pow’ there?”
“Yeah.. woOOOOw!! inside got one big stack colourful Malaysian Ringgit somemore, honey. Eh! you forgotten to bring to Adelaide?” eye opened super big, try to count how much… “Fattt Tatt” loh! ekekek.
“No! It is for you one! the ang-pow is yours!”
“Me? No!! ney… you havent even get married yet!!”
=_=”’

It is nearly 11am. I am going out soon, buy a new gold fish =)

Oh yeah! Before I forget, Wish you all a very HAPPY, PROSPEROUS and HEALTHY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!!

Lotsa love,

Cynthia