Laundry Day

Fortunately, I do not live next door!

This is an old photo someone shared on social media awhile ago.

CNY Bouquet

I received this lovely Chinese New Year gift from my son's girlfriend.

What a sweet gesture!

Red (roses) for good luck and *Caishen (white pompom chrysanthemum) for prosperity.

* Caishen aka The God of Prosperity is characterized by his winged hat.

You can read about  Caishen here and the symbolism of the color red here.

From the archives.

Me and a mascot of The God Of Prosperity (2018)

Would you have guessed that these roses were made of soap?

The Year Of The Ox

Whew!  Finally, that dastardly rat (sorry, rat pallies!) is gone and the earnest ox now rules the new year as the 2nd animal on the 12-year cycle Chinese zodiac calendar.

In case you are wondering what I'm rambling about, you can read about the 12 animals here. I've also explained why the cat doesn't have a spot in the calendar.

According to feng shui masters, the Year Of The Ox is generally a better year for all.  

In the past, I would say "bull!" to all this but I am desperate! I want to believe that 2021 is going to be a brighter year for everyone.

It has to be.

The pandemic has dragged on too long — too many lives and livelihoods have been destroyed and we are all fatigued.

I want to travel again ...

Attend Sunday Mass ...

Attend my son's graduation ceremony which has been postponed indefinitely ...

Have a big family get together ...

Watch a movie in the cinema ...

Binge on an all-you-can-eat buffet in a fancy restaurant ...

I just want to push the play button of life that covid-19 has paused.

And oh,  if you have had a bad start to 2021, here's your chance for a do-over — a fresh start.

Have an ox-picious 2021, pallies!

The Three Wise Men

Image credit - https://www.instagram.com/reggietoons/?hl=en

Haha! This cartoon of the Chinese *Three Wise Men practicing social distancing and wearing masks puts a smile on my face. 

For the uninitiated, the Chinese New Year is just round the corner and the trio is one of the most auspicious symbols of the lunar new year.

On a sombre note, the cartoon is pretty sad actually.

It means that Chinese New Year 2021 is essentially cancelled for some of us.

We are lockdowned for the second time (MCO 2).

I can't visit my parents, in-laws, relatives and friends in my hometown as interstate travel is banned.

It means there will be ....

No reunion dinner...

No cookie exchange...

No ang-pow exchange...

Fu, Lu, Shou

* The Three Wise Men (Fu, Lu, Shou) are used in Chinese culture to denote the three attributes of the ultimate good life.

Fu for prosperity, Lu for ambition/career and Shou for longevity.

According to legend, Shou was carried in his mother's womb for ten years before he was born, and already an old man when delivered!

Traditionally, the three statues are arranged close together from right to left, just as Chinese characters are traditionally written from right to left.