We just came back from a reunion lunch and will be going for a ‘second’ round at my mum’s place tonight. Does everybody go for both sides of the reunion dinner like we do?

Ever since my brother-in-law and sister-in-law got married, we would ask what time would be suitable for everyone so we can accomodate both sides. There’s also my brother and his wife to consider. If my sister gets married in the future, there will be another additional person or sacrifice to be made.

The lunch was well-cooked fare. We had fish, roast duck, sharkfins soup, MIL’s homemade ngoh hiang, Lao Yu Sheng, veggies. Darius ate lunch together with us in a high-chair with my home-cooked porridge(I had to feed him and eat at the same time)but was fussing towards the end because he felt too hot. Then, we placed him down and he just played on the sofa by himself.

"boo hoo...you all eat good food, I eat brown rice/ pork porridge"

Then, we interacted a bit since we hadn’t seen each other for several weeks and took several family photos. I think that’s what REUNION dinner is for right? It’s a time where everybody finally get to sit down at the same table to eat and talk. It has also been sometime since we took a family photo. The last was when Darius was only 2 months old. We tried taking the three of them at first just by themselves but it was tiring trying to control the kids, J at 3 yr old, B at 22 months and 18months Dar. They were just jumping around and having fun and Darius kept turning away from the camera.

For the entire family photo, surprisingly they were pretty co-operative and sat still on our laps and only got restless towards the end when the third camera was used.

Darius was tired after the lunch as it was his nap time which was dragged til almost 3pm when we reached home. Luckily, he slept quite fast and didn’t make much of a fuss. He was playing around with the alphabet letters on a small fridge there then really interacting with his cousins. He would take down a letter and come and tell us, “Hah..hah…”(for H) or “I…I”. He was also not much interested in the toys, just walking around most of the time.

Chinese New Year Day for us is pretty boring since we had Darius. My parents were Malaysian and thus, all my relatives are in Malaysia. I do have an aunt over here in Singapore but my mum is not on talking terms with her for many years already. In fact, she is not on talking terms with my father’s side of family for a few years. So I had not seen them for many years, nor seen my cousin’s children. Many of my cousins are still only teenagers or unmarried because I’m one of the oldest few. When I was young and til I knew Vincent, every year we would make our way to Malaysia to visit my mum’s side of relatives or my dad’s side, staying at their houses and go sight-seeing sometimes. Vincent accompanied me several years taking my father’s car. But after we got married and decided one year not to follow them, my mum decided it was really boring for them to go to my uncle’s place to stay there for a few days. So they started off going to Genting Highlands instead, the only place they are interested in. That was about five years back.

Subsequently, they started going every year and we joined them once too. Thus, it has been many years since I went to my uncle’s place to see my mother’s side of relatives during Chinese New Year. After Darius was born, we did not join them in Genting anymore since he was only 5 months old and some of Vincent’s relatives had never seen him. This year, we would not be joining them too because we already went Genting Highlands with them last year September. There’s nothing much to do there with Darius. I did ask them whether they want to go other places in Malaysia but they are not interested at all. Most of the time, my dad who is working is only free during the CNY season where he gets a long holiday due to his co-workers being mostly foreigners. Hence, he could only make a trip during this time. My mum is not keen on going to my uncle’s place too though I would have like them to meet Darius. She warned that Darius would most likely come back with mosquito bites all over or rashes since that is a rural area.

So, CNY for us, is not a relatives visiting day since there are no relatives to visit. What about Vincent’s side? Coincidentally, the same thing is happening at my MIL’s place. They are not close to my PIL’s side of the family and instead more of my MIL’s side of relatives would come to their house on the second day of New Year. Vincent isn’t close to his cousins, aunts or uncles too. I barely know them. Thus, the second day of Chinese New Year is the only day when we would get to meet some of them, issue angbaos or collect angbaos for Darius. We also do not have friends with kids so no friends to visit too. But this year finally, a friend of Vincent has a child and would be coming over to our house on the third day to visit us.

Thus, the FIRST day of Chinese New Year, we are always alone. It just feels like any ordinary day if we stay at home. My Parents-in-laws would have their own plans to go out while my parents would be away in Genting Highlands. Nowadays, shops, eateries and supermarkets also remain open on Chinese New Year so we have no lack of things to eat or places to buy our things.

We have been to the Flower Exhibition twice, once when I was pregnant and once last year. This year, we want to do something different. Our plan is to go to the River Hongbao at Marina instead to soak in some atmosphere. Hopefully, it would be a nice trip. Also this year’s First Day of the Chinese New Year happened to coincide with Valentine’s Day. So I wondered whether it would be crowded everywhere with people? For the both of us who became a couple since 1998 for 12 years already,Valentine’s Day is no longer really celebrated with gifts. Especially after we had Darius. Though Hubby still gives me a card and we would have a simple nice dinner.

Lastly, a family photo of the three of us to remember this day. Happy Chinese New Year to Everyone! Have a great time eating and spending time with family!

No related posts.