Life of a yummy baby ... and now there are 2!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR - Gong Xi Fa Cai to family and friends. Hope you all had a lovely reunion dinner on 初 夕 晚 and 年初 一 ! To Morgan's grandma : Yes! we all miss your fabulous cooking and really look forward to mum's home-cooked when we return to Singapore!

"恭 喜 发 财 , 红 包 一 个 来 !" is the sort of thing I remember my younger aunties used to say during Chinese New Year, when I was little. The statement translates to 'Happy New Year to you - and thanks in advance for your gift of my red-packet!' , which starts with well-wishes followed by a demand of the familiar kind. So the tradition of bribing for red-packets in that manner carries on for generations. After getting married I have earned the 前辈 or 'senior' status of distributing 红包 or red money-packets to the next generation such as my siblings' or cousins' children. Fortunately for me, my good excuse is the long-distance away from home. I used to think it does not matter what amount one gets but the thought of giving that counts. However in Chinese families, people tend to be more practical. I tried explaining this to Lewis that the best gift you can give to a Chinese is MONEY! 够 现 实 了 吧! haha ...

Anyway, it is the year of the Pig. Taken at the London-Brighton charity bike ride in July 2005. Spotted roaming about outside a country pub?


According to wikipedia, this is what they say about the year of the Pig :
"In China, the Boar ( 豬 ) is associated with fertility and virility. To bear children in the year of the pig is considered very fortunate, for they will be happy and honest."

I suspect that I was already pregnant with Morgan in this picture but I wasn't aware and not showing signs yet.

I find such statements funny as it reflects how literal the Chinese people can be when it comes to interpreting metaphorical ideas from the almanac. Just as my parents used to say, "Pigs' brains soup make your brains work better and fish eyes gives you good sight." By the way I remember eating a lot of those in Singapore but it is not such a popular delicacy in Britian. Oh well ... parents do mean well after all, so long as it does not kill you to eat it!

Captions from our weekend in Aberystwyth..... Amidst the crowds, the 大 头 娃 娃
(also known as the famous Chinese big-head puppet) and the Mayor of Aberystwyth stood out because of their fancy costumes. The difference between them is that this is the way the Mayor normally dresses when he goes out to meet the people.

Speaking of big-head puppets, I remember seeing them in Chinese New Year celebrations every year since I was a kid. I must say the abnormally big head used to scare me more than entertain!














A fine day by the prom ... while Morgan's watching the dragon dancers.