For the past nine days, I have been living in a dream-like state, where everything in reality seems almost utopian. Spending Chinese New Year in a merry mood, something I have not done for almost a decade, since my last memories of CNY never seemed anywhere near satisfactory.

The once empty life now feels full and wholesome, wrapped in the warmth of love and purpose. Speaking of love, I may now conclude, after some reflection, that I have perhaps never truly loved before. I would even go to the extent of taking back my claim that all people only love themselves. And yes, to love and be loved is a feeling no words are capable of expressing fully.

Perhaps in this age and time, love without concern for material needs is merely a fool’s tale, told in the face of billions of viewers, but never actually materialized. But love in the practical parameters of survival and stability is both present and very viable. My earlier dejection for the lack of the earlier now seems totally uncalled for.

Enough rattling, let me recap of my simple but eventful CNY.

As usual, I arrived in the evening, due to work commitments and the visiting of a long awaited friend, whom I would never turn down. Good to hear that this friend has finally found his direction and all seems good to go.

My wife was waiting at the Ding Tai Fong, our usual breakfast spot. She actually waited for approximately 90 minutes (couldn’t really blame her for the anxiety). Had a simple dinner and headed home (apparently, her home has also become my home, and over the week I believe I have stocked up a whole pile of home-use equipment and accessories, plus fixing a new rack and getting new utensils).

Throughout almost my entire stay, we had home-cooked food, and god I have to marvel at her culinary skills. I thought my little recipes were good enough, till you see a person who can come up with a great tasting dish no matter what ingredients you give her. And since we both like spicy food, I can only say I am more than happy to stay home for meals.

My CNY present to her was a portrait of us both (hand drawn by me of course). Damn the photo frame I bought at HK, came with screws so tight I had to abandon it for another. Her present in return was a scarf (useful for the chilly weather here). I have to applaud her for effort, for this is her first time trying hand-knitting, and though some weaves were a little off, the end-product is still more than enough for practical use. She didn’t even sleep during CNY eve just to finish it on time (cos of the many mistakes here and there, resulting in her having to unweave many layers).

On CNY itself, we went to this theme park. Can’t help laughing at the photos of their twisted faces on the roller coaster and river raft. Her ditsy sister also helped in entertaining, by knocking over a glass of cola during dinner and having herself stand at the hand dryer for half an hour.

A few days later a friend we all call “Big Sister” (because she insists I address her as the elder although she is only a few months older) arrived with a noisy kid. Brought the whole lot of us out for dinner so we would take the kid in for 2 days (the kid is her nephew). Regretfully, we lost all our possible beddings thanks to the kid consecutively peeing in bed for 2 nights.

Really thankful to have a wife who helps save, so I did not have to burst my budget this new-year. Of course, it is only natural for me to go the extra mile to at least ensure our home is properly stocked up. Oh, and I also managed to clear the toilet bowl, which got stuck because one of my rounds was just too enormous!

Her only shortcoming is that she’s a total sucker for premiums. Or to be more accurate, she is a total romantic, and will pay more than necessary for something not very useful just to get the premiums (she got a couple’s wallet for both of us, for RMB 500 of weird beauty products, which I believe will last her for a good 6 months). In return, I got her 2 cups (which she was eying but refused to let me but them), for coffee powder that would last a year! Oh well, all in the name of fun and romance…

Can’t help but feel a little guilty to leave her behind for the next 3 weeks as I proceed back for work. Poor girl ended up crying silently in bed after I left. Thankfully, her sister is still around to help take care of things. Too much romance makes departure heavy, but I’m sure in time she will get used to it.