Chinese New Year - a time for family, a time for Loh Hei

Getting ready to toss some food around

Upon my insistence, we finally had our first loh-hei in our house this Chinese New Year.

Celest's parents and brother's family came over to our place for reunion dinner and we set up a mahjong table (a friend recently donated one to us) with the traditional new year dish. No tiles, no money, no 十三么 (thirteen wonders). Just lots of vegetable and fish - meant to be eaten.

Besides throwing food around (and hoping it doesn't land on the floor or your head), the New Year is also a great time to catch up with your family members and friends - something you don't get to do as often these days. These opportunities become more meaningful as you get older. Also having a couple of cans of beer around doesn't hurt.

And the kids, at this age, pay more attention to the ang paos they collect too.

恭喜发财!