pineapple tarts, bak gua, and my grandma's popiah.

• Thank goodness they found it: Or I could have spent my reunion dinner out on traffic duties.

Chinese New Year to me, used to be like what Christmas is for other people, since I didn't grow up decorating the Christmas tree or get presents from my parents. Reunion dinners used to be the perfect excuse to stay up really late (For the uninitiated, it is a Chinese customary known as shou ye; the kids stay up really late and the later it is, the longer life your parents may live. I know, right. But I am still awake now. At 4am.) and fresh, brand new pyjamas. Me and my sisters would make wishes at the stroke of midnight as Channel 8 beamed the countdown live from Chinatown and various places. I imagined that the 'incoming' zodiac animal of the year would fly across the sky and say hello to the 'outgoing' zodiac animal who would say bye. Sorta like the shifting of guard duty details at the sentry post. Ohmygod. I just SAF-ed my entry with such a horrible example. Moving on.

As I get older, CNY get less exciting. Though I still think it's so sad for anyone who stay at home or work during the occasion. And getting new clothes are still exciting, but I supposed it is at any given opportunity irregardless. I think I mentioned this before, when I was a kid, my CNY clothes were from 2nd Chance. Or Cerisi. Or whatever fashion trends I predicted. (Hey. I grew up with 2 sisters.) Like when I was 9, it was velvet or black vest. At 12, I thought wearing denim jumper was cool. At 13, those extremely baggy Fubu jeans were all the rage. This year I am just wearing shirt and a new pair of jeans.

CNY is just different now when you are no longer a kid. Playing Police and Thief with the cousins you only see during CNY became sitting around talking school, playing cards and running away from relatives who asked too many questions and stating the obvious. Yes. I grew taller, duh. (Actually, I now understand how they feel. Recently I realised the kid that my mum nann-ied is threatening to tower over me soon.) Now we just sit around. Still running away. But of course eventually we will relent.

Because the red packets beckoned. Gong Hei Fatt Choy.