The Super Bowl is America’s annual football championship, and is usually the No.1 TV show of the year. That was where Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s right breast to the world in 2004.

Madonna took to the stage this weekend. And woah, she is indeed the ultimate pop diva.

In a bid to avoid the crowd, I was at the carwash the Thursday before Chinese New Year. Responding to my look of surprise, they told me that I was too early, and hence no increase in fees. Eventually, we had to make do with water stains as it poured through the festive period.

For years, my family has dined out on CNY eve. I was never satisfied with the service. The Paradise group even made me stand for two hours and served dinner at the incredible timing of 10.30pm the year before. The longstanding theory would be that restaurants are understaffed and overbooked during this period. I have a simple solution. Don’t take in orders which you can’t handle.

Gim Tim @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 surpassed all expectations. There was a simple but comfortable enough tentage outside the actual premises, with fans and mobile aircon units. Everyone looked cool and collected despite a full seating, and they looked really happy to be working on CNY eve, totally unlike grumpy waitresses at other places. Bravo, Gim Tim!

It was back to the square table with a vengeance. My last game in 2011 was on 9 June. How was that remotely possible?! I made up for it with six days of mahjong in a month. That’s excluding the obligatory games with family and colleagues during CNY visiting. This is the only time of the year you’ll see me doing 5cent-10cent bets with a maximum rate of $3.20 for five doubles. Heh.

I was back on air on the first day of the CNY, and resumed work on the third day. Never mind I couldn’t catch up on sleep. There were the various meet-ups with colleagues that week, and the annual lion dance in Radio Building.

I read that people in China travelled hundreds and thousands of miles to be back with their families for CNY, and on Facebook, I saw updates from friends returning from all over the world. I think it’s something that we really ought to appreciate, and a tradition that should be passed down to future generations.

G. offered to buy dinner after going through a most prosperous year of the Rabbit. I vetoed her “Expensive = Good” idea and settled for a more reasonably priced dinner for thirteen at Beng Hiang. The suckling pig was amazingly good, as with the really tasty traditional dishes like prawn balls, buns with braised pork and Hokkien noodles.

I was cautious enough the entire week, constantly reminding myself not to gorge because there would be more food – main courses and assorted snacks- waiting. I only fumbled at Beng Hiang, leaving with a full and satisfied tummy.

J. made those customised tarts. Sweet.

Entering a supermarket this afternoon, I was appalled to see a group of housewives shamelessly ruining the Mandarin oranges on sale. The essential CNY fruits had been pre-packed into boxes for convenience, and there they were, opening the cartons, selecting the better ones and chucking less favorable ones. And it seemed that almost every box had been opened with an uneven number of oranges in each container. I shook my head and decided to buy my oranges elsewhere.

The queues weren’t as long as I expected. A lady approached me as I was waiting to pay, and informed me in a most joyful manner that I was entitled to receive eight bowls for buying eight cans of abalone. I was stumped momentarily, “Huh? What do I do with eight bowls? I don’t need so many bowls!” I politely declined and immediately heard gasps all around. Ah, it must have meant, “Got free gift why don’t want?! Stupid ah?!”.

As I approached the counter, the cashier displayed a look of panic and called for her colleague. Apparently I could receive a bag for every two cans purchased- which meant I could walk away with four bags. Uh huh. Well, I don’t need those bags too.

Come on, I just want my abalone. Hurry already.

As she packed my stuff and glanced at the figures, she further announced that she was going to give me four $25 vouchers based on the total amount spent.

What?! More freebies?! I was slightly horrified.

“But I only have three vouchers here. You wait a while ok?”

Right. I didn’t turn that down. Hahaha.

P/S: A gift is defined as ‘a thing given willingly to someone without payment’. Hence the word ‘free’ is redundant. Say ‘gift’, not ‘free gift’.