Happy new year. We mark the new year at the eastern side of S'pore.

Where Happy people connect with happy food. Lots of mingering, fun, MJ and laughter.

We began the new year in some style. Coupled with wine and food.

Thanks to plwh888

The red gang. 
Too bad andrew_yeo was not here yet. Else it will be six-some.


Cheers. It will be a good 2007 for all of us.Time for some yum seng.



For more food pic, see here.
http://community.livejournal.com/happycafe/448864.html

All pictures courtesy of plwh888

Congrats to Alex Koh. He's won the Subaru WRX Challenge. At 3pm, his fellow competitor gave up and it's deva ju for Alex. He was last year's runner-up but who would remember? His timing? 73 Hours 56 minutes. An hour short of breaking the event mark.

Anyway the car this year is better cos it's not 1.6TS but a sparkling 2.5L Turbo powered car.

You deserve your moment. Thanks for the memories.
 

I was at the National Stadium tonight with WH to catch the anticipated return leg of the Asian Cup 2007 Qualifying round preliminary match between Singapore and China.

The match got off to a slow start. The China players like to fall down after a tackle from their Singapore counterpart.

Singapore attack was almost non-existance. The China attack wasn't potent and it seems like they were affected by the weather. They keep going to the touchline for drinks to quench their thirst.

It was HT and the scoreline remain scoreless. 

The tempo in second half was upped but the poor finishing by the China strikers let them down time and again.

Singapore players were clearly tired by the 70 minute and it wasn't till the 1 minute of injury time that we saw some goalmouth action. The China defenders marshall their defence superbly and denied the host 3 points. By the 2 minute of injury time, China was down to 10 men. Thier player was sent off for a second yellow.

The Kallang crowd roared with appulase but it was a case of too little too late to inflict any damage in terms of numerical.

I won my ticket and dinner due to some bets.

The beautiful fireworks taken from my Granny's kitchen window. 

The wonderful fireworks.

Went to Pasir Ris chalet today. It's bimbajim and silver_eagle birthday celebrations.

I was there with peacelife and we were there early for some chat and mingling with some LJers.

Happy Valentine's day to all my friends.

Happy Virgin Day to myself.

Yesterday evening, after treating my parents and Uncle Louis dinner at Toa Payoh Industrial Park, i rushed all the way to CCK for my MJ session.

( More food here )

Before i head to bed soon, let mi share with you some Chinese New Year stuffs.

House Cleaning

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.

Personal Appearance and Cleanliness

On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given lai see, little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune.

More New Year Superstitions

For those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out.

The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows.

It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.

Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.

While many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and don'ts, these traditions and customs are still practiced. These traditions and customs are kept because most families realize that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity. 

The twenty-four jieqi (solar terms) have fifteen days each. The first is called Lichun (Beginning of Spring) The first day of Lichun is the Chinese New Year's Day and the entire jieqi is the Chinese New Year season. The climax of the New Year usually lasts three to five days. Find out from the following table when the Chinese New Year will be in the coming years:

So we can expect a late Chinese New Year next year.

Time to usher in the Year of Dog??