Huat arrr....!

The best part about work has always been celebration 'makan' either prior to Chinese New Year or within the 15 days-Chinese New Year celebrations. In many ways, you get to meet up with your supporters and clientele, their staff and have a great meal over it. Throw in some exquisite tasting food and potently high alcohol content drinks, it can be quite a night to remember. Some antics are quite hard to find these days but with PSY " Opa gangnam style " sound blaring - anything can happen, I tell you! (BTW, we didn't splash out RM 3million to get him to come to our gathering-lar. Our localised PSY also can-lar! )  

Anyway, having the opportunity to mingle around with these supporters and friends made the night's dinner a wonderful occasion. Though we have had this function last year but somehow, every year seemed to be different and a better crowd too. Our cool COO, Bala and Senior Manager, Calvin from Kuala Lumpur joined us for this special dinner function. There were new faces amidst the veteran faces and it was indeed a welcomed sight. It was fun, enjoyable and one great ball of good noise, indeed! OK, some of them let go some steam on their own but overall, it was good to be able to mingle around and have some good time together. In other words, it was good let the hair down and get loosen up. Afterall, we are all  tensed enough during our professional dealings and so, to let go and enjoy a meal and some light conversations are ideal. 

My table was graced by the presence of 5 ladies and 5 guys including me. Stephanie, Ms.Lim, Wendy, Ms.Choo and Ms. Liong graced our table on the ladies side while DM, Sathiya, Sam, Jacky and me were on the other side.We had our laughs, teasings, great conversation pieces and even shared some fine moments in food. I guess, I sat down at my seat seeing the attendees of our "makan" function, I couldn't help but felt a little bit nostalgic. Some of our guests were young executives back then - today, they are managers, executives and leaders in their respective fields. It was good to reflect at old times at times. I still remember, the days I would climb up the staircases of  buildings just to deliver big envelopes full of reports. Those were some of the nastiest walk/climb ever but upon reaching the end of the steps where the wide smiles of these people awaits us made it all worthwhile indeed. 

Anyway, the food was excellent that night though I didn't take much of it but I whacked the roasted suckling piglet well and good. Yummy is the word. The ladies cringed at the sight of the poor innocent succulent piglet but I say, let's eat, man! It was heavenly and quantum solace as the velvety suckling piglet pieces goes down the pipeline to my stomach!  There were jokes and drinks and food and karaoke but nothing beat the fun of getting together to share a meal. BTW, our dinner consisted of Yee Sang, Fortune Bowl , Black Chicken Herbal Soup, Roast Suckling Piglet, Steamed Grouper fish, Fried Prawns and Pancake Dessert. Pretty standard fare, I would say, but nice.

That night I really enjoyed making news friends in the industry and also, sharing fun and laughter with colleagues and old friends. I guess, no man can be an island. We all need someone, someday and at some point in our lives. That's why I can't stand the snobbish, the proud and the super superiority mentality types. Perhaps, we could all lighten up and look forward to spending some time with the family during CNY celebrations. Somehow, this festivity will come round the bend in the next few days. We could all spread a little cheer at this time of the year. To me, Chinese New Year has always been a year of reflection on family traditions and food, strengthening of family relationship and reflecting on our lost loved ones. Most important of all, the sheer estacy of  joy for children receiving their  ang pows and the agony of the older ones/married couples for burning a big hole in the wallet/bonuses by giving out the ang pows! Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......but it is okay. Afterall, it is more blessed to give than to receive, right?  It will be dinners and food again for the next few days as there would be invitation to attend such functions and social events. 

Yee Sang, here I come! Huat aarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!