Tag Archives: Lunar New Year

Chap Goh Meh 2026

3 Mar

It is Chap Goh Meh today, the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, and the celebrations of this festive time are coming to an end. How time flies.

I have to say, the past two weeks didn’t feel festive for me because I felt so out of it. I was merely going through the motions to pass the time. Even the few golf games I played felt so meh. And the weather during this period started wet, then hot, and now unbearably hot. Sigh.

Well, now that the Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year is ending, we are galloping into March, February being a short month. The family had an early Chap Goh Meh dinner two nights ago, and it was a simpler feast compared to the Reunion Dinner spread.

A simpler Chap Goh Meh spread of ‘Poon Choi’ (big bowl feast), Roast Duck, and a Nam Yue Pork.

Separately, we decided on a nice dinner outside tonight to bid adieu to the festivity and hope things will return to normal. Maybe I will play better golf again?

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Year of the Fire Horse, Part 2

24 Feb

It has been an unusual Lunar New Year so far. I am not feeling the festivities. So much so, we only put up the customary red cloth at our home entrance two days before the New Year! Two days, that’s cutting it really close. But we made some effort and hung tiny lanterns up on the trees in the front garden.

Some effort with little red lanterns

Despite the effort, the nonchalant feeling remained, perhaps due to the weather. Typically, during this time of the year, it is hot and dry. But it has been raining cats and dogs! Cold and gloomy. Ugh.

I think this sentiment could be due to the Lunar New Year being so late, mid-February, and all the holiday and festive mood has evaporated. The weather has not helped either. And the joys of Christmas and the New Year feelings have dissipated with the lengthy break from then until the Lunar New Year came around. Oh well.

I guess I have to change my mindset and make the best of the Lunar New Year. After all, I always believe, you are what you preach. Be positive to have a good time!

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Year of the Fire Horse

17 Feb

Gong Xi Fa Cai! We have officially ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse at the stroke of midnight. The fireworks last night were non-stop and loud; what a boisterous way to welcome the new year.

The family reunion dinner last night was a gastronomic adventure. The spread was a test of our tummy space! I definitely gained a kilogram. Burp!

Decorated our Yee Sang to look like a horse!

Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous 2026 ahead! May you gallop into the year with zest and positivity. 

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So Nonchalant

10 Feb

The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year feeling is not there at all! We have another week left before we usher in the Year of the Fire Horse. I’m feeling so nonchalant about it, I don’t understand myself.

I have been a slowpoke in preparing for the New Year this year, unlike the previous years. While we did manage to purchase the necessary festive things for gift exchanges and did some cleaning, it was minimal. The New Year decorations are out of storage, but yet to be set up. Really don’t understand why I’m so nonchalant this year.

I suspect this is due to our procrastination in hanging up the red cloth at the entrance to the house. It is yet to be up. The house does not feel festive. Maybe if we get to it, then we will be triggered! So, we’d better hang it up before the weekend comes around. Chop chop!

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A Slow Gallop?

3 Feb

Suddenly, it is February already! Good gracious me, where did time go? This year, the Lunar New Year falls in February, and we are doing a slow gallop to usher in the Year of the Horse. Or is it a slow gallop? January has flown by.

What started as business as usual, as far as routine is concerned, has been thrown into disarray! The follow-up medical last week had us waiting for almost seven hours. The doctor had 50 patients ahead of us, remember? It was not a good idea to do our blood tests and see the doctor separately. We should plan to do both on just one day. Oh well, now we know, right?

Then the weekend golf was weather-interrupted. The Interclub game, organized by my golf club over the weekend, was a washout because the skies opened up gloriously and dumped a whole lot of rain. This unexpected downpour came after a period of hot and dry weather leading up to the Lunar New Year. And typically, this festive time is hot and dry.

It’s been a while since I last played a round of golf that was incomplete. My flight had six more holes to play, while some other flights had fewer holes left than we did. Nonetheless, everyone ended up drenched from top to toe. My golf shoes were soaked through to the inner sole, and my golf bag and clubs had to air out for over 24 hours when I got home. That’s how bad the situation was.

Well, golf games and activities aside, the focus should now shift to preparing for the Lunar New Year, which is just two weeks away! Gosh. Where do I even begin my preparations?

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A Break in Between

11 Feb

Although tomorrow is the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration, there is an overlap of festivities today, hence, a break in between with a public holiday. Nice.

It is Thaipusam, a Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil. Typically, during this holiday, we would sleep in or do nothing. However, being a couch potato may not be a good idea, what with eating all those festival cookies and meals for the last two weeks.

I think once Chap Goh Meh is over, full-swing exercise, or better yet, full steam ahead to play golf. With all that time away from the golf course, I think I had enough rest to allow my tennis elbow to recover.

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Chinese New Year 2025

4 Feb

Kong Hei Fatt Choy! Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. A week has passed going into the Year of the Snake, and I have lost track of time! All we do is eat and eat. Burp.

The Reunion Dinner was a gastronomic feast, with so much food on the table for our hot pot dinner. I think we all experienced a food coma after that meal! Hahahaha.

Toasting over the Yee Sang, our Reunion Dinner spread, and irresistible CNY cookies!

Chinese New Year is all about celebrating and merry-making with relatives and friends. And, of course, there’s the food—especially the New Year cookies and snacks. These delectable treats are dangerous and irresistible. Every choice is a must-try, can you imagine? How do we resist? Although they are only available once a year, the waistline is always in danger of being tempted by them!

We have eight days left for the Chinese New Year celebration, and I’m looking forward to the Chap Goh Meh dinner finale soon!

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Reunion Dinner 2025

28 Jan

Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve and the Reunion Dinner night. This year, we will have our Reunion Dinner at home because of circumstances. In other words, we did not return to hubby’s hometown and avoided driving a long and arduous journey. Phew. Nor did we gather at my sibling’s place for this auspicious celebration.

Nonetheless, the Reunion Dinner, here or otherwise, is a time to be thankful for our family’s unity and bond. As both girls are now grown, I am most thankful they can be with us to usher in the Year of the Wood Snake together!

We count our blessings and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Year ahead. Gong Xi Fa Cai / Kong Hey Fatt Choy / Kiong Hee Huat Chye!

This year, we added this festive decor besides the customary New Year red cloth at the main entrance to the house.

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Last-Minute Queen

21 Jan

It is a week before the Reunion Dinner for the coming Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year! And we are still not prepared, yikes. I am living up to being the last-minute Queen again.

The Year of the Snake is supposed to bring good fortune to people born in the year of the Ox, Dragon, Rat, Rooster, and Snake itself, making me look forward to the year ahead because I’m one of the fortunate zodiac signs!

However, we have one week to prepare, not a day more before the good things can happen. So, let’s do away with this last-minute Queen attitude and complete the necessaries to usher in the Year of the Snake with open arms!

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Hit and Pray

23 Feb

Going away for a holiday is always fun. But, coming back to routine becomes a problem. I stopped playing golf the week before Chinese New Year, and being away in Bangkok stretched the layoff to two weeks.

Last Tuesday, I played my first game and discovered how off I was. I could not tee off and lost all my muscle memory. My long game was short, and the short game and putting were off. It was terrible.

Despite all the misfortune, I had fun because the outing quickly became a laugh fest instead. To resolve my problems, I adopted the ‘Hit and Pray’ strategy. Just hit the ball and pray for it to land somewhere safe (read fairway, not the rough, ravine, water, or sand bunker). Hahahaha.

I hope I won’t take too long to get my golf mojo back, for I have lined up several games for next week. Otherwise, the ‘Hit and Pray’ strategy will have to continue.

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