Happy Chap Goh Meh

Today is Chap Goh Meh and the dinner menu is steamboat. Yummy. We planned to start dinner earlier, but as usual, it too a bit of time preparing the ingredients for dinner. So we finally started at close to 7pm. 

And Mei-mei of course wore something pretty and wanted her pictures taken. I also heard her telling Ah Kong to wear something brighter and he had to give in and change. Of course, she did not dare to work on Ko-ko (a.k.a. the Tiger). Look at how she poses (saying not all pictures needs to have her looking into the lense!):

Our dinner spread:

Chap Goh Meh is not just the last day of Chinese New Year. It is also the "Chinese Valentine's Day". And from Ah Tai's village in China is this dessert which we used to "collect" from Ipoh when we go back for the 9th CNY day prayers. Ashley Kor-kor and I learnt to make this a few years back and so this year, I made it on the eve and again for tonight, we have this for our dessert to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

Exam Week for Evan

As the MCO was extended, it could not be avoided for you to have your exams online. In your case, it was more stringent with many rules which seemed overboard. Exam papers cannot be downloaded nor printed. 

We had to go buy a mirror so that the invigilator can see your computer screen and a bit of your surrounding. You had to use a computer and not tablet. And many more rules... to which if you didn't abide would result in no marks given for that exam paper!

While the initial plan was so set up the mirror to your left and your laptop to the right, it would mean that you would be sitting at an angle to do the test. So in the end, you agreed to have another table set up behind you so that you don't need to sit at an odd angle for the full many hours. 

Well the exams are over, and let's just hope for the best. 

Playing with Jenga Blocks

Some days you just find some ways to entertain yourself. Tonight, you took out the Jenga blocks and designed these:

"Man" with sword

Creative photography of your stack of blocks

Another creative photography with the reflection of the chandelier on the floor

2021 CNY - Day 1 Lunch and Dinner

Today's lunch is also similar to what we'd have in Ipoh: Mee Suah soup complete with fried egg. But this time we had the fried tee kuih (which we'd usually have for breakfast).

For dinner, we decided to give the kitchen (and Ah Ma and Kakak) a break so we ordered food from Starview Restaurant. 

Our table all beautifully laid out

Our family picture at the dining table

And our course, our delicious spread which came complete with Yee Sang. Mei -mei also got to eat this year as we did not put the peanuts.

2021 CNY - Ang Pow Time

Managed to buy some cute Ang Pow this year. 

Ang Pow for Ah Ma from Daddy and I

Ang Pow for Ah Kong from Daddy and I

Evan getting his Ang Pow from Ah Kong

Ang Pow from Ah Ma comes with a hug

Mei-mei taking her Ang Pow from Ah Kong

Ang Pow + Hug

Evan collecting his ang pows from daddy and I:

Evelyn's turn:

Then there was also a surprise for us. We also get to collect ang pow from Evelyn. I later explained to her that she is too young and not yet working that she would need to give to us. But, it was a nice gesture. She hid in the toilet to pack and label our ang pows!

For Ah Kong and Ah Ma

For daddy and I

Not forgetting Ko-ko

It comes with a hug too

Our Ang Pow comes with a message too!

2021 CNY - Family Pictures

This morning, everyone including Ko-ko woke up earlier. He was reminded many times to make sure he was up before 8.30 and Ah Ma even told him no ang pow if he's not down early. 

We initially planned to have the pictures taken from my phone as it would be easier to copy/upload/send them. But in the end we brought in daddy's super camera and it was a good thing too as we discovered that the pictures could be transferred to my phone via bluetooth. 

We also wanted to take pictures at the front of our house, but could not put the camera for a nice shot. So ended up taking the pictures inside.. with the air-cond turned on. It was a lucky thing we decided to have the "Fook" put up where is was. 

Here are some of the pictures we took: This little girl sure likes to pose!

Daddy and I

The 4 of us

Our family with Kakak

The 6 of us

Ah Kong and Ah Ma with grandkids

Ah Kong and Ah Ma

After all the pictures were taken, it was time to give you kiddies your ang pow.

2021 Chinese New Year in Penang - Pre-Ang Pow Photos

Here are some of the goofy pictures we took before finding a perfect spot to have our family photos taken:

Daddy and his kiddos

Look at her!

Another silly shot!

Wefie with Evelyn....with the top of her hair, anyway

My boy is getting taller.. well.. my heels gave me extra height today

Our two precious Roti Ban's

Wefie with mummy

Random shot

Posing

2021 Chinese New Year Eve

This year, it is a first for all of us. To have celebrate Chinese New Year in Penang. And at such a small scale.. just the 6 (or 7 including Kakak) instead of the usal large Ban clan of a minimum 20 of us.

Ah Ma cooked the favourite dishes we would usually have if we were to be back in Ipoh. So today, the reunion dinner would be popiah. Here is my assistant helping to cut up the leeks (and you complained bitterly later about your hands smelling of the leeks!)

Before this week, Ah Ma had already steamed and peeled the crabs needed for popiah as well as our mee suah. For the popiah, Ah Ma had already fried some of the ingredients the day before. And of course, Kakak had already fried up a whole lot of shallots. 

And so here we are all ready for our mini reunion dinner:

Here is my popiah.. all ready.. for the camera *grin*

This morning, I had also shaped the peanut balls for our "Seung Wan Yuen". Daddy helped to blend the peanuts, sesame seeds and the winter melon.

The red dots looks so pretty

The inside.. full of peanuts

We tried to stay up till late, but everyone seemed too tired and went to our rooms to rest or in the case of Mei-mei, to sleep. 

There were some fireworks, but it seems to be very quiet this year in Penang. Not sure if this is how is usually is, or because of the current situation as we;ve never experienced the eve nor the first few days of CNY in Penang before this.