My parents no longer do elaborate CNY preparations like they did in the early 1980s, when my late maternal grandmother was still around. Back then, pre-CNY preparations meant trips to Ipoh Old Town to buy dried goods and waxed meat. My parents and grandmother even made their own Chinese sausages. I still remember vividly how…
Today is Yan Yat — the birthday of all humankind, the 7th day of Chinese New Year. Growing up, this was a day I quietly looked forward to. My late maternal grandmother would cook a comforting pot of fish and chicken porridge topped with fresh lettuce — Yue Sang Gai Jok. She would fry fermented…
CNY felt different this year — in the best way. For the first time in years, I’m celebrating the entire 2 weeks of CNY back in my hometown, and with that came something I didn’t realise I had been missing so deeply: family reunions. For so long, I missed gatherings with my dad’s siblings —…
With my younger brother back from KL and my eldest brother returning from Singapore, almost everyone is home for Chinese New Year. The last few days have been spent over long restaurant meals, laughter flowing as easily as the conversations. My brother’s 9-year-old twins (a boy and a girl) have made the house even livelier….
On the last day of 2025, my new life in my hometown of Ipoh felt noticeably different from how it would have been if I were still living in Kuala Lumpur. There was no rush, no countdown plans, no packed schedule. Instead, the day unfolded quietly, anchored in simple routines and shared moments with my…
As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself sitting quietly, looking back at a year that felt like a full lifetime packed into twelve months. It was a year of milestones, tests of faith, emotional turbulence, and hard-won peace. A year that stretched me in ways I never expected — and yet, by God’s…
2025 Christmas Eve dinner was held at Hakka Yin Signature, Ipoh. Just my parents, younger brother and I. Hakka Yin Signature is our family’s go-to restaurant for authentic Hakka cuisine. Being Hakka ourselves, we truly appreciate the flavours here — especially the abacus yam seeds, which are fragrant, well-seasoned, and you can really taste the…
Today marks my 11th day back in Ipoh, and honestly, I wish I could stay here forever. There’s something deeply comforting about being home with my parents — the familiar rhythms, the unspoken understanding, and the quiet joy of simply being. Life here feels slower, softer, and more intentional. I wake up without rush, eat…
Turning 52 on 29 March 2025 is truly a milestone, and I feel incredibly grateful to have reached this point in life. Birthdays are not just about growing older but about cherishing the love, laughter, and experiences that each year brings. This year, my birthday celebration was a beautiful gathering filled with great food, and…
Tuesday, 11 February 2025 ~ It was a public holiday, and we had no concrete plans—until my husband made a last-minute announcement that he wanted to have brunch with us. With little time to spare, we all hurriedly got dressed, excited yet curious about where he intended to take us. As always, he loves surprising…
The Eve of Chinese New Year (CNY) is always a special occasion, and this year (28 January 2025) was no exception. We celebrated with a potluck dinner at hubby’s uncle’s house nearby, marking a delightful departure from our usual routines. Instead of heading to Ipoh or having a quiet dinner with just our family of…
The second day of Chinese New Year (CNY) brought with it a sense of excitement as we packed up and drove back to Ipoh with Haru in tow. The journey was surprisingly smooth, taking us only 2 hours and 10 minutes—a far cry from the pre-CNY traffic crawl we had braced ourselves for. Haru, our…
Our first Pre-Chinese New Year (CNY) dinner for 2025 kicked off yesterday, 26th January, at the Ming Room Restaurant in BSC. It was an evening filled with laughter, family bonding, and all the festive dishes we eagerly look forward to during this time of year. The dinner was with the Yaps, my hubby’s relatives, to…
As the final hours of 2024 tick away, I find myself reflecting on the rollercoaster of a year it has been. While this year brought more challenges than I ever anticipated, it also reinforced the strength and resilience of our family. With 2025 on the horizon, I feel a renewed sense of hope for a…
This year’s Christmas Eve was spent indulging in good food and family time. My MIL, Sherilyn, Cass, and I headed to Wagyu More at The Gardens Mall for a delightful hotpot lunch. It was our second visit to this restaurant in December, and it seems to have become a favorite for my MIL. We were…
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