I just had the most amazing time, over 4 days, with my family - my dad, my brothers Eng Hooi, Eng Keong and Eng Leong, my sisters Lee Lee, Lee Ling (who although thousands of miles away in the US stayed in touch with almost everything that's happening, following our every movement via facebook, and even making a call during Reunion Dinner) and Lee Fang, along with their families. Also included in our festive plans is Christina's side of the family: We called on my father-in-law on the 1st day; the whole family came over to our place for dinner the 1st day and on the 2nd, we went over to Lee Han's at Mandarin Gardens.
We enjoyed feasting & snacking, visiting & catching up, singing and dancing (with Kee Leong doing the hotel lounge-class singing, and the girls and the boys dancing along with Dance Central 2 via Kinect), lounging about neighborhood walkabouts ... The 'mahjong kakis' got satisfaction too, as they got to play a few rounds of the game, once at Meadows @ Peirce and then at Mandarin Gardens. Chris was a winner on both days :)
The weather, I find, most agreeable. While some might have complained about heavy rain occurring every day, I find that the rain kept the temperature down and provided us a cool, wintry feel in which to enjoy our get-togethers. When we needed good weather to move about, or take long walks, we got them too. Chinese New Year in past years tended to be too hot. What we got is very welcome change.
For me, it was a good many days "off work and at home" so I got to really enjoy being at home a lot more than normal. I really loved our beautiful dream home, very much livened up this season by many guests - both young and old, be they energetic or lethargic. One or two were, but that's fine as we have grown up to live with no judgment about each other ;)
I found time to go out on a ride around the estate on my new, but largely neglected bicyle. I still enjoy pedalling around, enjoying the cool air on my face ... I went as far as the nearest petrol station, as I had to first pump up the tyres flat out from disuse ;)
Looking back upon the last 4 days, I am deeply thankful to God for all the great blessings in my life. I can really feel the freedom to enjoy this precious and rare time with the entire extended family without any concerns whatsoever - be it about time, about money or about health.
I felt really happy to have the opportunity to pay for the Reunion Steamboat Dinner, and little expenses here and there - like the visit to the Gardens By The Bay, without any concern, and without having to calculate. What is success if I haven't arrived here. And by the way, I've not become so blase about my abundance as to not notice that I own my money; my money no longer owns me!
Dad, not surprisingly weak due to his age (he is 82 this year), could master the easy walk around the sprawling condominium with me yesterday morning. This morning, with a steadying hand from Joan from the side, and a little prop-up from the back now and then, he could join us for the long walk out of the condo, all the way to and through the Lower Peirce Trail - up to the water's edge, overcame the many steps up and down along the boardwalk (despite them looking formidable to him). We reached the neighbourhood prata shop in time for him to get a much-needed seat and breakfast before all 13 of us took a slow walk back.
We just said our goodbyes about an hour ago. Eng Hooi & family are flying back to Kuching from Senai at 4pm. Joan & Family have hit the road for the 300+ km journey home to KL. Eng Leong & Family are still in Singapore, spending time with his in-laws, visiting the Bird Park presently - and it's raining heavily again. Eng Keong had gone off on Sunday, after our afternoon at the Gardens By The Bay, and had taken his family on a visit to Legoland. Lee Fang is staying on with us till Sunday. Lee Ling had been stuck in the US but will join us belatedly in June, for a 6-week holiday back home. That's when we will do our next big get-together, possibly at Colemar Tropicale in the Bukit Tinggi highlands.
Yes, we will have another family get-together like this, before the next Chinese New Year get-together, this time in Kuala Lumpur, with Joan & Family taking their turn to play host.
I love this life that I live, and I am glad for the freedom (health, financial and time) to enjoy it all as I am.
Praise the Lord for this greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved Happy Life.
