CNY 2010 - Steamboat dinner at Aunt Sherry's

The Legends of Drums

Mum very astutely bought these under-valued $2 tickets for a splendid 'drums' performance by The Percussion Assembly. Although the venue was a neighbourhood community club, the air conditioning was adequate and the quality of the performance was splendid. As the host himself declared, the standard of the amateur performers was near professional.

Furthermore, in additional to the performance, with the ticket, one gets a free buffet dinner. Thats why mum and dad looked so pleased! The only drawback was some of the aunties were still engrossed in their food when the performance began.

Parents with their friends.

Mum correctly answering a question and was rewarded with an NAC (National Arts Council) umbrella. The man on the right was the host of the concert Mr Quek Ling Kiong, Assistant Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Mr Quek interspersed the concert with nuggets of information of the various percussion instruments that were used, e.g. flat drum, vase drum and different techniques that can be employed to create vivid effects. For example, cymbals when clanged mutedly sound like ducks clacking. Cymbals can be struck and then thrown into the air to sound like firing of rocket-crackers.

Taking a shot with Ronald at his restaurant and also with mum's new umbrella. Times have improved. The CC in my childhood had one vending machine that dispensed Yeo's packet drinks for 40 cents.

Ling's Birthday

Group photo with the birthday girl and the dogs. Note that the dogs were represented in all the photos.

Photos: 2009 New Year's Day gathering

Ham (more saltish and hence tastier than the Xmas one) from uncle Kong, Singapore Curry Chicken cooked by Aunt Sherry from 6.20am, carrot cake and achar from Aunt keong and salad from me.

Mum and dad belting out a song together. Definitely needs more practice!

Ben and Ling singing a duet.

Aunts enjoying the jacuzzi.

Uncle Keong having fun.

X'mas Lunch 2008

First, a very big thank you to Aunt Jacq and Uncle Kong for hosting this year's X'mas lunch at their very cosy place. Second, we had lots of great food: pizza, leg of ham, roast turkey, cheesecake (Aunt Jacq and Uncle Kong), otar, chicken wings, satay, fish cake etc (Bro GH), log cake and golden nuggets (Aunt Sherry, Sinclair and Jiajia), achar (Uncle and Aunt Keong), wine (Ben) and salad (GB).

Aunt Jacq personally baked two pizzas and made the cheesecake. The pizzas were tasty and moist with a very light and thin crust. The cheesecake was rich and moist. The log cake was baked by Sinclair and wife and decorated with real gold flakes!

There was so much food that everyone had to 'tabao' turkey and ham back; which contributed to my dinner the day after. Here are the photos.

The party just getting started.
Lots and lots of food!

One of aunt's delectable pizzas.

What a plump turkey...proved difficult to carve.
I always looked forward to the ham. Loved the fatty bits especially. I found out that Cousin Jia also liked the fatty bits!
Ben trying to carve the bird.
My turn to try to carve the bird. No mean task, really. Aunt Jacq was imploring me to 'Love my food' as Charlie Trotter (some famous chef) has taught her.
Aunt Jacq's cheecake in the foreground. Sinclair's golden nuggets at the back.
What a lovely log cake. Delicious too.
It was dad's birthday as well.
Cousin Jing showing off his birthday gift from Bro GH and wife -- the star and stripes necktie.
Cousin Jing's plainly decorated door.
Cousin Alec arrowed to sing a song before he can leave. He chose the Beatles' classic "Yesterday".
Entertaining the teenagers with Uno Stacko.
Dad with my nephew Seth.
Seth with his big present and the X'mas tree.
Seth fiddling with his present from Jing.
Seth dropped by my place to play with the three dogs.

Mum also managed to meet up with her primary school friend, who happened to be living in the same block as Aunt Jacq.

The BIG Day

The Day started at the groom's place. Breakfast, prepared by Aunt Sherry and Uncle Benny was hearty and the joyous mood started quickly. a good cup of Kopi-gao was also in order to kickstart the spirits. We were eager to begin the day.

After a quick discussion between the brothers, we were off.
Some horsing about by the young ones.
Shawn putting on his best shoes.
Mum and brother helping the groom with his suit.
Off we went, as a convoy.
Arrival at the hotel to fetch the bride.
The groom being grilled by the 'guardian' sisters of the bride.
A few push ups should do the trick.
Groom meeting the bride for the first time today.
Kissing the bride.
The 'brothers' were sleeping soundly on the way back to the groom's place. Only the driver had to keep awake.
On the bridal bed.


I also got my opoortunity to give out angbao as an elder.





These two photos are for the Gen-Y fellow. For using as his profile pic in Facebook.
Ben has more photos of the wedding dinner so I will wait for him to post them.

Congrats again to the newly wed!