I personally feel that we still need to go for dating even after married. Time still has to be set aside for each other so that we can spend some time with each other.

Before going to in-law’s house on day 2, we popped by Cafe Cartel to de-stress. 5 days of holidays were meant for us to forget about work. However, house-visiting was tiring as we had to travel to many places in these few days. So holidays were even busier than working days.

At Cafe Cartel, we sat and chit-chat. Personally, I’m an avid photographer and I started snapping photos of my wife and her with her chocolate cake and the caramel latte. It was a short time but it was wonderful for the fact we spent time together.

Yup, and I included the photo of the bouquet of flower I gave her for Valentine’s Day. Sweet Pink roses…>.<

It was our first time we returned to my grandma’s house as newly-wed. These are the food that different aunties prepared and we had a wonderful get-together. >.< Look at all those mouth-watering food. Happy Viewing!!!

This Chinese New Year was an eye-opener even to someone like me who had been celebrating this special occasion for the past twenty over years.

There are many more family practices we have to abide by and for me to learn.

For example, we would need to bring at least 8 Mandarin oranges back to in-law’s place with other gifts like abalone, bird nest and a box of chocolate.

Going back to the in-laws’ place for reunion dinner had to be planned 1 month before so that we could compromise on a date that can fit all. The reunion dinner was to be done on the day before new year’s eve as new year’s eve itself is reserved for the husband’s side.

After the reunion dinner, we have to come back with 8 oranges, 2 fried fishes and 2 big pans of carrot cakes. According to Cantonese custom, the wife has to return with lots of gifts so as to show that the wife’s side has a wealth of food to eat and even bring back.

Now, the next thing is for the in-laws to visit our family. It was really hard to fix a date as both of us have to be back in office to work…in holiday mood of course plus by the time my in-law leaves my house, it will be very late at night and it is only by then my wife can do her work.

Hmmm…I also don’t want her to sleep so late cos it is very unhealthy for her…but how to tell her parents? >.< Hmmm...what to do...and do you know what is one thing that even great man finds difficult to do...that is to talk back to her mother-in-law

Our first Chinese New Year as married couple was never the same for us despite our past 20 over years of celebration and going through similar routine.

When we woke up, it was our first time of giving a big fat ang pow to my mommy. (not my daddy as he had long passed away.)

When we reached our paternal grandparents’ home, it was our first time …giving of ang pow to the unmarried relatives unless they are older than us by a generation.

My little nephews and nieces were extremely excited when they saw us. Seeing us, for some, was equivalent of seeing a big increase in their collection of ang pows. I can’t blame them as even for our generation, at least for me, we were never taught why was there an exchange of red packets.

To me, when I was young, it was just another big amount of at least S$800 added to our piggy bank.

My married cousin teased me and asked me how do I felt to give out ang pow for our first time. I just gave her a weird smile…”hehe” – duh…but she was funny…she shared with us that she was very very “Happy”…

Okie…now I’m going to give out more ang pows to my cousins…and tonight I can’t join the celebration at my aunt’s place, where we go every year…but we are going back to our in-laws’ place…

and please don’t forget our ang pows and 12 mandarin oranges for them…>.< ..oh I forgot..another ang pow for my sister-in-law...hehe