Too stuffed to blog

Vonessa, you are absolutely right. Chinese New Year seems to last forever. Can you tell I have gotten a little slower with the blog postings on the festival? The consistency of laying on the sofa watching tv and munching cookies MEANT FOR VISITORS certainly don't help either.

Day Nine:
Make an offering to the Jade Emperor as today is his birthday. Go to a temple and pray to him to grant your wishes. The Jade Emperor's wife is the Lady of the Nine Heavens who first introduced feng shui to humans, and she will favour those who honour her.

Day Ten to Day Thirteen:
Telephone friends and relatives whom you seldom see and convey your New Year greetings. Reaffirm family bonds with siblings and children. Don't use utensils made of ceramic or stone to avoid discord.

Day Fourteen:
Clean the home in preparation for the Lantern Festival the next day. Ensure a supply of golden mandarin oranges. A good day to hang "Double Happiness" symbols for romance or conjugal happiness. Wear rose quartz rings or jewellery for love.

Lets put it this way - I did none of the above in the past week. I did enjoy a steamboat dinner with some high school friends and that is much better than a two-minute phone call.