开工日！

Today's the first day of work after the long CNY break. The BBs were all ready with mandarin oranges to 拜年, right after I stepped into the office. It was too early in the morning to take pictures, as you can tell from our pale faces.


After work, we got off earlier to go for our 开工饭, at one of my favourite cze char places, Sin Hoi San along Tiong Bahru Road. R@e was damn thrilled to be at the outlet which 五月天 frequents whenever they are in Singapore.

We had lo hei, great food and good ol' Tiger. We had lots of, lots of fun and laughter.




By the end of the evening, we realised that between the 6 of us, we finished 7 bottles of Tiger. So to make it a FATT year, we ordered one last, the 8th bottle, for the road.


So here we are, the 4 of us - BBL, BBE, BBM and Mama - before and after the 8 bottles. We've been through 2 fantastic years as a team, so strong no one could bitch around with us. The camaraderie, the chemistry we have as a team. It was even unthinkable to be anywhere else.

I love us so so much. Damn, I'm gonna miss us so so so so much.

Days 3 & 4 of CNY

The Boy has assumed a new role this CNY. He's my ang bao tracker - I can't remember clearly which kid I've given the ang bao to, and which kid I haven't. Especially when they are the kids of acquaintances whom I've never met.

This was over at his boss' place yesterday, lunch session #2. Thank goodness it wasn't steamboat anymore, like what we had (for the nth time) at his parents' place, where it was lunch session #1.

When I first heard that it was pratas for lunch at his boss' place, I never thought that it would turn out to be pratas made "live" in the comforts of your home!

They actually got an Indian dude from Casuarina Curry Restaurant to make pratas on the spot, in whatever way you like - plain, egg, cheese, tissue, whatever!!!


This is definitely a cool alternative to my popiah party. At $14 per head, for 2 hours, they would make however many pratas you like. There is also a selection of other dishes on the buffet line too, such as chicken curry, samosa etc, with teh tarik and lime juice. Damn cool right?

This CNY, we were playing with babies every other day. Here's another cute one, Gaddiel, son of The Boy's colleague.




Julian was super boy, super cute that day. He participated in the great lo hei too, where both my parents and Jen's parents gathered at the Hengs' place for that lunch session #1.


We ended off the day in the great company of our superhero friends, where we gave ang baos, for the last time, to Mudgod & Ms P, Mudfairy & Pamcake and Mudskipper & C - they are all getting married this year and next, so exciting!


And today, on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, I'm not out visiting. Neither do I have the luxury of vegging out at home. I'm back at the office, on duty for the Sunday. Dammit, what a way to end the long "break"! =p

Now, when's the next long stretch of holidays coming up?

The 2 Days of CNY

Love the fact that we got to spend so much more time with Julian over this Chinese New Year holidays, playing with him to our hearts' content.





Also, this marks the 2nd year of giving ang baos to the siblings - they seemed pretty happy, haha.


It was a super tiring day - we went to 5 places in all, starting off with work early in the morning. The Boy was sweet enough to follow and helped take some pictures. Coupled with the hot weather, we were exhausted at the end of the day.


Very glad for day 2 - we did NOTHING. We slept, we watched dvds, we slept. We had afternoon coffee at Starbucks, we stocked up on groceries. We had a nice quiet dinner - simple home-cooked pasta (we really wanted something non-steamboat) with a nice glass of chardonnay. We truly appreciate and love such quiet time, we love time to ourselves.

Gong Hei Fatt Choy!

So, with the first day of the Lunar New Year, Emma puts on her new dress.


And the Jemej wishes everyone “新年快乐，万事如意！” May the new year bring everyone great health, happiness and warmth!

Can't Get Enough of Steamboat

Since a few years ago, reunion dinner for the Jemej consists 2 rounds - an early one at my parents' place, followed by rushing over, across the island (literally, cos my family stays in the west and his in the east) to his parents' - as if like that in a Chinese restaurant with 2 seatings.

Over at my parents' place, the heroine behind the steamboat fare is of course my mum. And the steamboat is about as old as my brother.


We had more steamboat over at The Boy's parents' place thereafter. Julian joined in too! He's now so "grown up", has his own chair. Think the next time we see him, he could very well be walking already!


Our nephew Samuel's very adorable too. And as I was playing with the both of them, I realise that it takes a lot of energy to keep them entertained - they can't keep still!!






It's a good thing that I love steamboat, cos for The Boy, it was quite a steamboat OD for him by the end of the day. So much so that we came up with a rhyme:

Steamboat in the west,
Steamboat in the east,
Steamboat, steamboat,
We're gonna have a feast!

Ok we're lame.

Gong Xi Gong Xi!

First day of the lunar new year was a rush of activities. Had to go back to "work" to welcome the lions, at the "auspicious" hour of 8.28am. Gosh, it was a pain waking up, even earlier than on our usual working days loh!!!


Then the stream of visiting began, from one end of the island to the other. Our first ang bao was to our favourite baby Samuel. And thereafter to my siblings.




No matter how tired we were, this day was extra special. Apart from the fact that I am a year older, this day marks our first year anniversary since the Jemej ROM-ance at Flutes at the Fort. Time has certainly flown by so quickly! As we flipped through the pictures, we thank the Lord for constantly watching over us, given such an eventful year; for giving us each other as confidantes, as companions.

Together Is the Nicest

Reunion dinners are always so heartwarming. We had 2 rounds this year, the first at 5pm with my parents, before speeding off with a bloated tummy to the Heng family's.

For the Lims, it's been the same simple fare for the longest time I can remember. Steamboat, with a little bit of wine my dad enjoys. This same steamboat makes its appearance once a year, on the eve of CNY. This same steamboat has probably been around since 15-20 years ago. This same steamboat has been the one we gather around every reunion dinner, with such an apt liner written on it. Check out the gigantic "bouncy" fish balls my dad bought.





Kudos to my mum, whose relentless dedication and hard work never fails to shine through, and prepare us this sumptuous fare year after year.

JEMEJ wishes everyone a Happy Lunar New Year, may the year be filled with lots of love and harmony!