8 Feb 2016 – Welcome to the Year of the Fire Monkey
Fri: many traditional CNY customs are still practiced by SIN to this day. Well-wishes for one another, which can be conveyed in different Chinese dialects, offer a sense of community and are very much a part of our linguistic heritage. Other aspects such as food culture and the dos and don’ts during CNY can also be unique to the various dialect groups.
Tonight’s 團年飯 tyuhn nihn faahn (cantonese) yearly family dinner = reunion dinner. Tkx to Les&Ivy who make it special as that is where I would visit father when he was still being. Somehow reunions not the same as when we were children when the family got together at 5 Temenggong Rd. Such wonderful memories with the huge family and house.
Pix credit BBC
Sat: thoughts and prayers are out to those affected at this earthquake in Taiwan. Reading back in my journal notes from Jan 2015 ‘Prediction by Jucelino Nobrega da Luz, he did predict a typhoon and earthquake for Taiwan!!
Nerve wrecking to be on a bus where the driving was nearly falling asleep and a relief to get off in one piece! What a delightful afternoon and a pleasant way to end the year in good company of a dear niece and nephew – lunching at Dan Ryan’s****(this time round with excellent food and service!), dessert – Brunetti’s**** and dinner – Tanglin Mall Food Ct. Grocery shopping at Bk Merah FairPrice which will be open 24hrs tonight and tomorrow night.
Sun: nice cloudy day after the rains after a goodnight sleep with the peaceful raindrop serenade last night. Getting things ready to welcome a new year. Farewell to the Year of the Goat/Sheep at 2300hrs and not midnight as most people believe!
Mon: time for the visits and will be starting with the Blue Generation – the eldest being 4Auntie Lam PohKow who is 100+yrs.
Some auspicious Cantonese phrases for the CNY, translated literally:
恭禧發財 gung hei faat choih = bless happiness and prosperity.
新年快乐 san nihn faai lohk = New year happiness.
出入平安 chut yap ping on = leave enter peace.
身體健康 san tai gin hong = body healthy.
Who needs astrology? The wise man gets by on fortune cookies – Edward Abbey 🙂 🙂 🙂