新年團拜趣事

新的一年又來臨。當然和往年一樣和九年的同學們來個大團拜。由於少數的朋友因工作的關係而不能參與，使到今年和我們同慶的人數似乎比去年來的少了。既然是這樣，也不能抵擋我拜年討紅包的興致。

大家一早在已決定到我們久違的校園布告欄（現已變成柱子等候処）等候。最早到不愧是康友和康俊。接著是我，立榮和芳基。最預想不到的是道源突然到訪，由衷感激。當然，姍姍來遲的朋友也有一兩位。在這重要的日子裏，遲到好過沒到。看到我們一行有八人同行，我的興奮指數也頓時上漲。高興不已。

暫別八年之久不見的梁老師，我們今年還是第一次到訪他老人家的住所。雖然不難找，可是還是要費上我們一點時間尋找。離開那裏的時候我才察覺從蒲种-白沙羅大道會更快更有效的找到梁老師的住家。我還記得老師看見我們的那個高興的樣子，在籬笆外的茁壯大樹下臉帶笑容招手以示他對我們的歡迎，我至今很難忘。更難忘的是他還收藏我們九年前所拍的班級照片，令到到訪的我們們感激不盡。還有，老師家養的那只怕人狗，真的可以説是“雷聲大，雨點小”，只聼大犬在吠叫，不見惡狗的蹤影。很好笑。老師家裏養了四只小貓，可真的是貓狗同住屋簷底下，貓狗和睦。那天匆匆的來，匆匆的離去，雖然有點不好意思，更不好意思的是知道老師已經家人有約，也不想再耽誤他的時間。真得很感謝他這些年來的教誨。

隨著，他們一夥七人到康友的家小聚開臺打麻將。我因爲突然和顧客有約，不能一塊兒同行。不過在午餐時間聼了他們的交談，得悉他們也玩得很盡興，我也替他們高興。原來分享夥伴的快樂是這麽開心的。

接著，前往偉民的住所去。因爲他的家人全都外出，所以我也義不容辭的提議到他家裏去看個究竟。大家難得可以歇一會兒，看看電視Astro也不妨是件好事。也因爲是前往林老師家的轉站，所以沒有逗留太久。

我們抵達林老師家的時候，已經有一班四人小組在那裏。看罷原來是我弟弟的同學。看見我們的到來，也意味著救星的抵達，是他們離開的關鍵時刻。老師當然也不挽留。學生桃李滿天下，可能再不久，也是我們離開的時候也説不定。每一次和林老師交談一定會有一丁點的收穫。常問的問題當然也逃不過結婚戀愛。當然大家只是默默點頭微笑敷衍了事。

大雨的來臨使到我們不得不走。加上康友，康俊，立榮還有偉民要跑第二場，所以我和道源就置身前往慧琳家拜年去。和往常一樣，孫爸爸和孫媽媽很熱情的招待，還有多一位新成員澤相的殷勤，使我們這兩位客人皆大歡喜。

由於吃得太飽，晚餐又是一個月前決定的火鍋任吃會。思梅夫婦，慧琳夫婦（即將來臨），道源還有我，一行六人。RM18.80++火鍋很便宜又好吃。特別是那裏的蜜糖烤雞，非常好吃。還沒來得及端上，食客們爭先恐後的你一塊我一塊的一掃而空。大家吃得盡興而歸。

團拜的一天就這麽過去。希望明年還可以看見更多的朋友。

新年快樂。

新年賀卡

今年不知怎麽的賀卡比往年寄少了。會不會是因爲工作開始忙透了，還是已經沒有那種“應節”的需要了。當然，顧客的那份賀卡總是少不了，因爲他們是我的米飯班主，應該的。

我的高中朋友們，真得有點不好意思，今年沒給你們添幾個字句的祝賀，以後給你們補上好了。請多多包含。還是乘這個假期祝你們新春愉快，萬事如意。

說起來，今年的新春氣息也沒有比以前那樣濃厚了。我從逛百貨市場那裏可以見得到。看的人多，買的人少，就是這個意思。連賀卡的份也一樣。

隨著時代的腳步，大家都寄上e-卡了。不用買，免費傳送，即又省錢又方便。

賀卡對我而言存有濃厚的意義。我是一個很喜歡寫信給朋友的人，所以和我的朋友至少有十年的來信交往。雖然不能説是知交，但是也可以稱爲摯友。和他們絡繹不絕的交流，我還是會不忘給他們送上我的新年祝賀。賀卡當然也少不了。

通常在賀卡上，我會寫上我的賀詞。要是遇上一些特別要好的朋友，我會附上我的境況，好讓他們知道。可能，這已是我我寫賀卡的習慣了。

曾經被一位比較有環保意識的朋友提醒：你不好寄上賀卡給我了，要環保。你要知道紙張的使用造成多少樹木的砍伐哦。我也深深明白這個道理。可是還是情不自禁的買了賀卡，和往常一樣給他們送上我祝賀。

送賀卡最怕是對方沒有收到。可能是因爲郵差的失責，或是朋友的搬遷沒得到通知（這些都是很久沒給我回信的朋友的一個好意勸告）， 或是天災（下大雨）等等。希望這些都不會發生。

無論如何，希望大家都可以回味一下寄上賀卡的朋友的心情吧！

Happy 4th Anniversary

Last Saturday, 10th February, our 4th anniversary as the pioneer for this special programme.

Wow, talking about it, time flies so fast until I lost touch with time. 4 solid years, where have I been? Frankly, I must be grateful for knowing these crazy people that complete my life with so many resourceful information and exciting activities. Thank you, my lovely friends.

Xiao Fei Yang Shanghai Steamboat Dinner
So, on this beautiful day, the fantastic four - Andrew, June, Victor and me went to this so-called Shanghai steamboat at Imbi for dinner. "Xiao Fei Yang" is the name of the place, very close to where June works. We had this steamboat - half "Ma La" & half herbal soup. We had lamb shoulder and some other stuff to fill into our stomach. I am not a person who enjoys hot food, therefore, "Ma La" to me is too hot. I jokingly told Andrew not to organise too many Tom-yam styled dinner, or else I will be on fire as soon as the soup starts boiling. Hee hee.

Detour to Ole
Off we go to Ole, with of course with some detour into the lorong-lorong in Imbi, courtesy from Andrew. Perhaps, it's the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 thing that Andrew was passionately showing us.

At Ole Cafe
After this heat-ty dinner, we went straight to Ole Cafe at 9:30pm to meet up with Han and Eng Teng (who finally made it from Klang). Since our usual cosy sofa has moved near to the bar counter, we decided to move to the front for basic reasons. 1) At least we feel more cosy; (2) It was June's idea to help Ole to attract more walk-ins customers; (3) To make sure we could spot Han the late-comer. We had Jenga and a-star-looking-board game (I really don't know what's the name). So, Andrew was supposed to get us crepe as he lost the game of Jenga (but we still paid for it). Most importantly, everyone was having a great time. To add memorabilia to our outing, we signed into the Ole Cafe guestbook. Go look for a full page of our messages there when you are patronising there for a cup of coffee.

The "Hong Fa Wui"
P.S. Han came with his lovely wife-to-be. By the time, the fantastic four left the place, we have all the "Hong Fa Wui" (red flower clan) in Ole, namely, Han + GF + Eng Teng (all in red). Chinese New Year is really coming already!

Eng Teng & Tarot Cards
The only thing I noticed in Eng Teng was his sudden obsession with Tarot Cards when he stepped into the cafe. Was he troubled? I am not sure. He did some calculations and readings, I guess it's a good way to calm his troubled thoughts. Anyhow, my friend, don't think too much, life will make a good turn after each bad ones. Patience...

Babel...
After two hours at this cosy nook of our favourite place, the fantastic four again set their journey off to the nearby cinema @ Berjaya Time Square for movie, Babel. Funny thing happened in the cinema.

Commotion at the Cinema
It was very nice of June to purchase the cinema tickets from the net with payment via credit card. Collecting tickets have to be done at Level 2 (the cinema entrance is on Level 3, who's the architect who designed it?) Anyway, June and I were desperately looking for washroom. Since the theatre is not ready for us to enter, and the nearest toilet was far away from where the cinema is (it's already 12am, and the mall was closed, including the toilets) so we asked to enter into the toilets within the cinema compound. So, we tore the four-linked tickets into two each, and gave it to the gatekeeper for safekeeping, as asked. When we came out, we got our tickets back. Not until we entered, we then realised that there was a mix-up at gatekeeper, but was assured that everything should be sorted out. Then, the interesting part happened.

There were two guys, a guei-lo and his English-speaking friend, went into the theatre with their handful of cokes and pop-corns, in wonderful mood. Then realised that someone had occupied their favourite seats. The actual fact that they are the real occupant for the seats. But without further checking, we thought it was them who took our tickets. It was a dear mistake, and some commotion going on and it was June to save the day. So, the actual culprits was a chinese couple who sat next to Victor, whom already knew the fuss was about, but remained silent throughout the whole "discussion". I think Malaysian has too much tolerance in their genes.

Anyhow, we still managed to watch the movie with uninterrupted peace. June, Victor and I may have missed some plots as compared to Andrew who had never moved his eyes away from the big screen. BTW, Andrew thinks "Crash", last year Academy winner, is still a better watch than Babel. Anyone with the DVD?

All Well End Well
So, all head counts for the night - Andrew, June, Victor, Han & GF, Eng Teng and me, the magnificent 7. Happy 4th Anniversary! I sincerely hope more anniversary in the coming years. May our friendship prolonged and cherished!

Chinese New Year

Another 17 days is to Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the pig.

Though the radio stations and the shopping centres are playing the Chinese New Year songs, but I can't feel the real Chinese New Year season is here. Was it just me?

Stock market has been booming. As at yesterday, the Composite index is at 1,189.35 mark. This spells properity for those who are going to cash out the profit from this market bull run for their festive celebration.

Shopping malls are having CNY sale and great bargains. And of course with the beautiful decorated willow trees and "mei hua". Do check out the Curve for its CNY decoration, simple and nice.

On my end, nothing much, except got myself three bagfull of chips for the new year and a 24-can 100-plus carton, and of course Ang Pow packets from various sources that are now scattered on the dining table.

I guess it's because we are busy renovating our new house. Not much money to spare for the new year. I guess it's a quiet new year afterall at our usual hangouts - relatives houses and school mates gathering and visiting.

Well, Chinese New Year is to mark to start of another incredible year. God bless everyone with a fruitful year and Gong Xi Gong Xi!

Working during Holidays

Today is a public holiday for Federal & states which celebrate Thaipusam.

And, I, working along side with my colleague on this day of the joyous moment of peace and quiet (excluding the shopping malls, blasting with the festive songs of the spring & chinese new year). Ah, what a wonderful day!

Frankly, I enjoy working during the holidays. No traffic jams, more relax, and most importantly, more potential customers for me to close my sale. ~Ka-ching!

I sometimes get pity remarks from acquaintance like, "very tiring, holiday also have to work", "cannot go out to hang out with us, have to work", etc. But, I enjoy my work, and surely my friends will understand. We can always do it over at night or weekend that I was put off duty. Anything could be worked out.

Anyhow, as for now, he benefit of working holiday still suits me, at least for now. Who knows when my life starts a new leaf, everything will change.

Who knows?

My friends are getting married

Yesterday, my friend, E, told me that she's getting married. I feel so happy for her. Finally she had decided to take another step in life to make things happier for her.

I think up to date since this new year, I have received three wedding invitations and one engagement news. Looks like it's a good year for marriage and of course this coming Chinese New Year is the year of the cute little pig, everyone is rushing for their big day.

Well, at least I can start to address my girlfriends as official Mrs. So-and-So, or even aunty now. I know that they will be hating this, but hey, it's a way of life. Thinking about it, I am aunty to my nieces and nephews already.

Congratulations to all of you! May your happiness continue to blossom throughout the years!