From Singapore, Yiyi brought me my favourite 8-days and Playeur magazines! And from Shanghai, Hong Ai got me my most-missed Xbox games! Lucky for Francis, there is nothing I want from Beijing. On second thought, I should have asked for those roadside DVDs.

For the past 2 days – it was non-stop feasting great HK food, intense shopping, blog-snapping and singing karaoke! Suddenly, it felt like pre-CNY reunion gatherings, these Singaporean friends brought so much joys to my family! Well… I never had enough – I am expecting and looking forward to new guests in Feb! (Hope they are kind to bring me more goodies! Durian-transporter, anyone?)

This is what happened to those who missed my "What I want for 2009" deadline – Jimmy flew all the way here to Hong Kong to fulfill his part of the promise. Must be an unforgettable and scary experience for him. I made him hold up his card in the middle of crowded Lan Kwai Fong at 12am. (haaa… lots of tourists, locals were looking at him!) Mmm.. that brings me to another question – what baby was he referring to?

Finally, Jimmy is here (now only leaving Yifu and Mann Chuan) – I would have completed my Wahbiang Overseas Photo Collection! Haa…. I am not so bad lah.. but it can be an obsessive collector’s habit. Just 3 hours ago, Jimmy came straight to our house right after he checked into his hotel. It was meant to be a surprise visit for Felicia and Elkan. My little monster cannot remember him but stuck with him the whole night. And guess what Jimmy stuck himself with… horrible career-illness… he instinctively got himself hooked on Felicia’s Macbook… doing office work! Haaaa…

Still, we do welcome his presence and wish he can stay a little longer with Master Joe and Elkan. (Jimmy got so many meetings lined up for the next 2 days!) Nevertheless, this weekend will be a noisy weekend. Cos’ we have another Singaporean guest coming to Hong Kong. (Hint – Jimmy’s football friend and he is also another ex-VOXmedia member!)

This is Felicia’s 1st birthday celebration in Hong Kong. Looking back at my blog last Jan, it was quite a big difference (in terms of crowd – we had Echo, Francis and their parents!) Nevertheless, her afternoon was filled with excitement. 3 rings on the door – 2 real gifts and 1 wrong house call. Felicia still managed to charm "her secret admirers’ gifts" from Singapore – from the great and lovely Meijie, Kalinda, Juliana and the "Special Talented Unique People in Demand" one. (er… that one cannot mention name). Those were great gifts – cake and a very beautiful CRABTREE & EVELYN gift basket!

For Felicia, Tracy and Elkan – it was another "first experience" for them. (I dined at Jumbo 2 years ago). Tonight, I decided to ferry them over to the real, original Jumbo Seafood (at Aberdeen). Mmm.. I re-touched the Singapore Jumbo Seafood logo 2 years ago.. and now I am finally sitting on this look-alike icon. What irony! The experience onboard is good but the food (my first time) is quite disappointing. Certainly, I can see why it has been rotten to its current state now – other than its rich heritage, great service and symbolic icon, the food cannot be compared with our own Singapore Jumbo. Maybe a change of chef would be the answer.

Felicia got her favourite gift tonight – the bag that she wanted so badly in Seoul. She didn’t get the bag cos’ the bargain wasn’t going anywhere. Tracy went back to the shop and secretly bought it for her (of course, making the shop-keeper so happy!). Felicia’s eyes sparkled when she saw the bag – it is like finding back a longlost lover. My gift? A Mighty Mouse for her! (Finally, she can get rid of that dirty old rat!)

Of course, Elkan hasn’t been a good boy tonight. He was thinking someone would have bought Felicia "toy cars or games" that she can share with him. Haaa.. fat hope! It is Felicia… not Joe Chua.. My son, wrong target audience to whine for sharing. Come to daddy lah.

Still, he was a good boy today. I gave him $20 this morning in school, telling him to bring mummy to the cake shop (when she picks him up later) and buy her her favourite egg-tarts. He remembered that and he brought Felicia to the shop as instructed by me. A surprised Felica wondered how he managed to do that "so manly" – leading her to the shop and bought the tarts all by himself. Of course, she suspected I could be that MasterMind.

No big Wahbiang Gathering like before.. but you guys at home did make your presence felt. Life’s so unfair.. I have no house-calls during my birthday. Instead, I have 2 flown-in intruders in my house instead! Haaaaa…. Thanks for all the effort and fun! Love you guys so much!

The Wahbiang Christmas Party has always been a very important and significant gathering for my clan of very very good friends. It has been a tradition started back in 1993 and we have  been meeting faithfully for the past 15 years. Since we started to have our own houses, we took turns to host this event. It is an annual event which I always look forward to and one I solely missed so much. For this is the one event that brings deep joys and connections to all of us.

Over the years, there have been big changes in all our lives. People come and go – that is a nature progression of things. Some bonds were strengthen and others waiting for a chance to be reconnected. I was pretty worried that this tradition of hosting the annual Christmas gathering will cease after I left for China two years ago. But I am so happy that my good friends (from Dunman, DCS, Temasek) stick togther and organised it so well.

Gone are our tradition to bring good cause to the poor and sickly (that is my only regret). Over the years, BoTian Home for the Aged has became such a big organised home with good funding. Back then, we were only struggling students – we don’t have the kind of money we had today – we decided not to spend good money on clubs and dinners during Christmas and used this "dinner money" for the poor – that is the reason we have been having humble Christmas gathering at home. It was indeed a good begining to our noble gesture. We should retain this goodwill of "giving" in our daily lives – not just for Christmas. It makes the counting down to Christmas Day more meaningful to all.

This year, Joanne hosted the Christmas and we had our 1st ever afternoon gathering. Kalinda took up the heavy role to organise the whole party. Trust me, it is a heavy role when you have to "round up" all the busy friends. I was guilty for not being around – as I took my wife, kid and Tracy up to Korea. Sam and family were in Italy. And I wonder where’s Jimmy too. Yeah… we should be there.. no matter what. Perhaps, that is the least effort I should put in in my coming years to come.

Friends are the most important asset – second to family. They are the one who see me through all main stages of my lives – from my graduation day to my wedding night and to the moment when I became a father. Some friends were with me during my times of career…following and supporting throughout my days in VOXmedia, Caffeine and now Ogilvy. And some friends I miss so much are now away in Beijing and Shanghai.

I hope it is not too late to wish all of my friends a good festive season! Merry Christmas to all my Wahbiang Clan.
And to all who read my blog so faithfully. 

Another very happy-go-maken home trip indeed. Met all my buddies and my lovely families. As usual, the gatherings were short, food-filling and "rushy" (Stella, Uncle Asty, Chester and my dad had to rush off somewhere) – but I am happy – at least I managed to gather all my families and friends together. The warm welcome and friendly transports (by Uncle Benny, Jimmy, Scott, Duuk and Gareth) justified why I still haven’t got my driving licence. I am so spoilt by their pamperings and hospitalities. (Of course, Lightbulb Meijie is not happy being stuck with us on "Exile Island"… but I got him an early Xmas gift!)

Didn’t do much shopping or karaoke – cos’ Mummy Juli gets tired easily and my pocket was burnt after paying extra $300 for a video camera that I should buy in Hong Kong. (Damn it, I say – I should have come back to HK to buy – I am sure Meijie and my dear wife are shaking their heads now). Wanted to spend a good weekend on Sentosa – sunbathing or babe-watching – but in the end, the group of us hid under a shady hut, drinking cocktails, watching Lao Chiow Bu-s. And in the evening, I wanted to see musical fountain – but can’t fight the temptation of local food – we had nice, oily sinful carrot cakes and fried noodles at Zion Road. (Surely I can afford to eat more – cos’ a recent test revealed that Gareth is 89kg, Jimmy 86kg and I am slightly over 85kg – the lightest amongst the heavy-weights! Surely, Duuk is heavier than me cos Juli always threw her weight around on him!)

For 2 nights, I slept at 3am – we were the only clubees at OneDegree15. Yixi, Lusia, Scott, Kalinda, Jimmy, Duuk and Juliana were there with me on 2 seperate nights – drinking and eating fried suppers! Yifu supposed to join us – but laziness got into his way – next time, got to lure him with Gareth‘s hot and spicy harddisk – that is perhaps the only goodies he is after. And Joanne – only my mother asked for her – and I was told that she went to Phuket for a "inter-transmission". Mmm… Jimmy and Serene should plan one soon.

The happiest of all should be Elkan and Qiqi (and Felicia, haa..she is FREE). The 2 kids finally met again after their last heart-breaking farewell in Hong Kong. Within seconds, two of them were back to their best acts – terrorising their poor grannies and parents. What can I say – they (old folks) asked for it! Sigh, no gain, no pain, huh? Wondered why they are still requesting for more? 

p/s (Thanks Kalinda for your sweet CD… I am enjoying it right now. Hope you are making my Xmas Gift right now. Chups, you look prettier with the extra weight. Sister Jovel, get well soon, did you passed Elkan the sore eyes? Aunt Amy, made up your mind for CNY? Oh yes, must stresssed this point – I am actually lighter than Jimmy and Gareth!)