2011 Reunion Dinner No. 3

Every year my sister and I together with our families would have a reunion with our parents and our brother on one of the nights before CNY eve. We are still family even though we are married daughters with obligations to attend actual reunion dinner on CNY eve with our husbands' families. This year we held a Tong family reunion on Tuesday, 1 February 2011.

Despite all our planning Joshua and Jewel were missing. Joshua, who is temping as a barista at the Straits Quay Dome, had to work until 12 midnight. Jewel was away in India and would only be able to make back to Malaysia on the 3rd day of CNY.

We actually planned to have the reunion on Monday night. Thank God we decided to postpone it to Tuesday. If it had been on Monday night, Pam and I would have been too distraught and overcome with grief over Princess's passing to pretend that everything is "normal."

Nevertheless we duly gathered at Lillian's house for our reunion on the evening of February 1st.

Simple homecooked meal. The vegetarian dishes
in tiffin carrier are for our brother

No photos of people 'cos we were not in the mood to take happy-happy, smiley-smiley photos.

2011 Reunion Dinner No. 2

Occasion: Company Reunion Dinner
Date: Friday, 28 January 2011
Venue: Mama's Restaurant

The Yee Sang before the tossing began

Our table engaged in a vigorous tossing of the Yee Sang
that sent one piece of my chop-sticks flying

The Yee Sang after the assault

Half of the team seated at the other table

People Seldom Take Advice

Once in a while I find myself having to relearn some truths.

Lately I relearned that people seldom take advice...even if they ask for it. Very often, they have already made up their minds and they just want you to agree with their decision.

People seldom take advice...more so if it is unsolicited. Then one's good intentions may be misconstrued or misunderstood, rejected or resented. On a personal level, one gets rebuffed and labelled a "kaypo chnee" or busybody.

Basically people think they know what they are doing so it is easier to simply keep our mouths shut and mind our own business. But if we really care – and love means doing what is best for the one we love – then we have to stick our necks out even if it means we get our heads chopped off!