23rd Jan 2023 Monday - an auspicious day

Eunice (calligraphy champion), MeiKey (PH's wife and Ben, Oliver and Ivan's mom), Bryan (the difficult-to-cook for vegetarian), Fiona, Ben, Louise Macull, Sara (darling), George, Melvin (laughing), Sam and little Ivan, Joanne, Pang (from Tokyo), PengHui (Ben, Oliver and Ivan's dad), Sandra (Longstoking), KaiWen (who needs a haircut), Peggy Chai, Mom, Me with Oliver, Vivian (champion), Lekheng (another champion), Sean (champion-in-the-making) and Ms. Cha (Chief Operations Manager, BSC)

 Freddie told me last week that the second day of the New Year is an auspicious day for starting work in the new year - he did not give me any supporting literature. but I decided that that is what we will do. We would cook lunch for our colleagues and friends, who can simply show up between 1030am - 230pm and have something to eat. 

Yvonne and Lance zoomed in from New Zealand, it was good to see them bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Judging from the laughter amongst our young people, there is obviously a great deal of friendship and affection amongst them. 

Ms. Cha from Bagan Specialist Centre dropped by for a chat and a bite to eat, she is a good sport; we talked about work and mutual friends, and about ways to manage people and projects. 

Kai Wen and Pang flew in from Tokyo, they brought gifts and KW immediately became the butt of our jokes about haircuts and him turning Japanese. Eunice delivered her annual calligraphy couplets, and got Sean to install them on our front door. 

Hui Joo and Tim brought some delicious rendang and ayam masak merah 

Terk Chyang, Freddie and Fabian watch on as I pan-fry Mrs Liew's Ngo-hiang.

Chong Ling, my high school friend acting the YB and shaking hands with everyone.

Sean and Bryan hung up the couplets that Eunice designed. 

Everyone left at 2pm, taking away the remainder of the food and then it was quiet again. We cleaned up and went for a hit of tennis. More of the same next year, I think. This new conference room with kitchen is so convenient.