After all the trouble, all the preparations, it boils down to just one day. The New Year Eve. After the dinner, after the mid night celebrations, half the mood and the feeling is gone. Comes the second day, I have lost all mood and started to feel very restless sitting at home with nothing to do.

That’s the way it is with me every year. New Year is for the children only. They have programs lined up for each day of New Year. We, the old folks just laze around not able to leave because some relatives might turn up unexpectedly. But this year, none came. Might as well. I hate entertaining them. Thay ask lots of silly questions just to keep he conversation going. When they leave, thre will be the inevitable tug of war. because according to Chinese customs what people bring we must return some back so they don’t leave empty handed. So when they leave, my wife will quickly pack some thing for them to take home and they will push it back and this goes on until they finally agree to take what was given.

Of course in their hearts they know the things are already theirs, but as an act of wanting face, they must pretend as if they don’t want it and appear greedy to others. It’s a stupid tradition which I don’t like to follow. If my wife is not around when relatives comes, I try to act as if I don’t know the rules and keep quiet when they leave. They must be cursing under their breath that I am greedy pig by taking everything they gave me without giving something in return.