Merepek

Hi there, everyone. I am back.

The Chinese New Year festivities are almost over - one week gone and another week to Chap Goh Meh and at midnight tonight , the Hokkien Taoist community will offer prayers to the God of Heaven, Thnee Kong.

Many in the workforce who have taken leave from work last week would be coming back to work tomorrow and ya, folks, it’s back to the grind. Not that I am complaining. In fact, I am quite happy that things would be flowing back to normalcy, unlike the harassed pace before each major festival and especially during year end. Everybody is like chasing everybody else as the major festivals and year end holidays approach. I’d be like chasing my clients and they would give replies such as:-

“Sorry lar, my mother-in-law is in town. Gotta take her to the dentist, the dressmakers, the doctors, the temple……So no time to meet up with you.”

“Sorry, gotta wait till I get my year end bonus.”

“I’ll be on leave and taking my family for holidays. Back in 3 weeks time. Call me in 3 months time.”

“Sorry, gotta cancel appointment. Got diarrhoea after pigging out on the Christmas turkey and meat loaf.”

“Sorry, cannot see you now. I am very busy chasing for payments. If not no money to give my staff angpows.”


On the other hand, I’d be chased by others:-

“Hi, can you send the documents over NOW. I’d be on leave next week, you know?”

“Hi, just to remind you to quickly come over and collect the cookies you ordered. I cannot keep too long for you.”

“Hello, we called you 3 times already. We are sending the settee this afternoon. You at home ar?”

“Hi, can you come in with your son to sign the documents by tomorrow, latest. Next week CNY ledi. If not, we’ll allocate the car to someone else.”

**pengsanzzz**


It’s always the pre-festivals and pre-holidays period that routines are thrown into chaos. The roads are jammed for kilometres on end and the malls are packed to the brim with shoppers with very much loosened purse strings. A journey that normally takes no more than 20 minutes would stretch to an hour and things(edible or non-edible) that we would not give a second look on non-festive season would suddenly jump at us and we willingly lug them home. Talk about inconspicuous consumption.

So, am I glad that the ‘normal’ times are back.