25th Jan 2009 – the eve of Chinese New year.
The heritage
My family with my mum
Some things money just can’t buy. Your heritage, your family tree and not only that, but when your whole 4 generations could still come together every year to meet and have fun, exchange wishes, exchanging views, finding out more about one another and counting how many new ones this year. Every year, the favorite questions that will always be a subject, who are the new arrivals, the new link of another generation as it spreads down wide and deep. We have lost count, we did not have a proper database of information to track the link and hopefully, it will start this year as I will spend some time to start collecting information and setting up a database so that each and everyone of us can add in the new links and it will also as a Lee family news bulletin board. To exchange news of one another.
our famous "red packet" long queue - every year it gets longer and longer
The famous long queue line of angpow exchange has been our tradition for decades, well, when you have a big group, the chances of missing out giving angpow is a sure thing, it is impossible to know who you have given and who you have not given. So to design and to provide an angpow trading platform, it all has to be done at the same time so if you want your angpow, come and get it or you will be left out and if you do not wish to give out angpow, then don’t come too early hehe. Just joking, giving angpow is a gesture, it doesn’t matter how much is inside the angpow but usually of course you must have something inside the red packet. I know now it’s quite common thing to do that is to put a lottery ticket inside as “angpow” now that would be real one if you strike 1st price hehe Or else then it’s worth RM2.00
My 2 grandsons - Shung & Swin collecting their "red packet" from the elders of the Lee Family
Every year some of us will have to crack our heads, what games or events are we gonna have this year and so far so good every year we always have something new. This year is a very special year. Our first “ang pow” lucky draw, a super great idea, yes everyone who is a Lee member just love the idea because they don’t lose anything but only gain more or less.. hehe.. Every unmarried Lee member who came to the CNY eve is eligible. Now this is something that will draw the full attention of all members of the Lee family, the lucky draw pool is worth thousands of dollars and the winner could walk away with a thousand ringgit and of course we have small 2nd and 3rd prizes and consolation prizes. No one is left out, every unmarried member of the Lee family who came will be eligible and everyone will win a prize but it’s a matter of how much you win and every year from this year onwards.
The one day when our mum is the idol with cameras flashing away like a superstar
A Japanese retired couple join us this year
A Japanese couple joined us this year to celebrate the chinese new year. He was fascinated with our systematic arrangement and intrigue with the long queue of children and grandchildren. They joined in to give redpackets too. They are retired citizens from Japan on a special package by our government that you can retire in Malaysia provided you pass all the criterias given by our government. Penang Island is a good place for retirement. Nice weather, beautiful beaches and peaceful environment.
Grandma's residence - the meeting place every chinese new year when all the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren would come and stay over for a night on the eve of chinese new year.
The view from the residence is Bukit Mertajam (Mertajam hill) the name of the town is from this hill and the house was buit on top of a smaller hill with this lovely view and cool fresh air.
The garden where my late father will tend to those days when he was alive is now the playground and the center of activities every chinese new year
Swan (my wife) on 8TV sharing with the nation - a home cooking session for chinese new year, a pre-recorded clip done at our house in Kuala Lumpur earlier.
More pictures of the chinese new year.. click here
On the CNY eve, my family and I had our reunion at nasi kandar stall. T.T