Imagine - David Archuleta

A beautiful song sung with an equally beautiful voice. A 17 year old boy with the natural (and superb) talent for singing.

In all my years of following American Idol, this is the first time I'm so impressed with a talent like him. I feel like an old aunty going "ga-ga" over a young teenage boy, but no worries, inclinations are not that extreme (yet) =)

CNY: The Fun, the Sweets and the Feast

The usual fun stuff during Chinese New Year - goodies-stuffing, gambling, chit-chatting, playing with the little ones. I do this every year, and I never get bored. Its really great to be able to spend time with my family. Chinese New Year is not only a time to catch up with family members, it also provides a good opportunity for some to introduce their special someones to our family =) And as an added bonus to the festivity and celebration this year, we also celebrated my cousin's 21st birthday!

This was a trigger-happy CNY, and I've so many photos to share! So today's blog shall be one of the occasional ones in which I shall exercise some restraint on the writing and let the photos do all the talking!!

Chu Xi

Lou Hei Part I

Chu Yi
Lou Hei Part II

ABSOLUTELY the BEST Ngoh Niang I've ever tasted, and I'm not exaggerating. Crispy skin fried to perfection and tasty meat fillings. Chestnuts add an extra zest and crunch to every bite.
Cost: Priceless. Made with AhMa's excellent culinary skills and lotsa love.
Availability: Very exclusive. Only family members get to taste it.

Sumptuous dinner feast!

The boys have all grown so tall!

The 3 generations?

My cheeky but ever adorable cousins!

Ah Long movie outing with cousins. This is one of the rare outings, so a group photo was a must!

CHU SAN

Messing around with the children...

My adorable cousin who was so so engrossed with his computer game...

AhMa and the really young ones

AhMa and daughters galore!

Family shot with AhMa

AhMa and her grandchildren

Mmmm, Double Choc Pralines from The Patissier. No regrets after you sink your teeth into the super rich and ultra chocolatey cake with a lovely crunchy base. Never mind the calories and sugar..for self-confessed choc addicts like me, this is a MUST TRY!!

Birthday gal getting a special HUG

First, the birthday gal blows the candles...

Then the other children wanted to join in the fun too!

Happy Birthday E! May all your dreams come true!

Chinese New Year Thoughts

Chinese New Year is my favourite time of the year. It is the only time when I can shop without feeling guilty (everyone needs new clothes rite!), and indulge greedily in all the superb goodies (my fav being pineapple tarts).

Reunion dinner is also the only time when I get to taste the finest of my granny's culinary skills - the world's best crispy ngoh hiang and mouth-watering spicy chicken curry. Reunion dinners are especially meaningful because it is the only time when my family is gathered under one roof for dinner. My granny has 10 children so it is only during special occasions like this where I get to see everyone, and to also wow at how my little cousins have grown and the increasing number of them who are now towering over me.

So I'm really looking to this Wed, although I probably can't enjoy myself as much with the much dreaded exams only 2 weeks away. I also have full day classes from 930am to 530pm on Chu San. But for now, I'll just push these unhappy thoughts aside. After all, it's my favourite festival of the year!

With the festive mood all around and the opportunities to indulge in my fav pasttime - shopping, it is probably difficult to feel down during this time of the year. But a few old photos were all that were needed to tone the mood down for me.

I flipped through my granny's photo album yesterday as she wanted to show me whom in the family resembles her. Naturally, those photos also had shots of dear family members who have passed on. As I looked at their faces, how I wished I was back to those times, when all my loved ones were still around. I regretted never being really appreciative of them. I never gave my grandpa any present, except for a pen which had the Chinese horoscope sign of a dog. All I gave him as a spoilt child were childish tempers, demands of egg tarts and curry puffs which he would then drive to buy for me. And it was only much later that I really appreciate what he did for me. I also remember he would yell at me for cooping myself in the room without switching on the fan/air-con. And although at those moments, I thought he was being difficult with me, I now realise he did it all out of concern. But it is all too late for me to return those gestures of love and concern.

I don't want to regret anymore. Instead of looking back and feeling sorry that I never loved enough, never said thank you enough, from now on I'm going to try to really appreciate, love and spend more time with all the people dear to me. Every moment now will eventually become memories. And I hope to be able to look back at these memories with a smile on my face, knowing that I've seriously tried, really loved and truly cared.