There has been a big hoo hah over the National Security Council's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the coming Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations.
There were criticisms, jokes and sarcasm over the restriction of the annual reunion dinner to only members of the same household.
Hello my fellow Chinese people. We are in the midst of a pandemic. The intention of the SOP is to restrict movement and congregation of people in order to minimize the risk of contracting/spreading the Covid-19 virus. How can you all not see this?
Sure it is our Chinese tradition to hold this reunion dinner every CNY so that our family members from near and far can come together for a joyful get together. I am disappointed too that I am unable to celebrate with my parents and my brothers.
But under the current circumstances I accept the restriction wholeheartedly. So please do not let emotion and sentiment rule. Use your brain, common sense and logic. Between tradition and safety, I say safety prevails especially for our old folks who are the most vulnerable.
Ok. Enough ranting from me. So how? Got bake cookies or not?
I dug out all my cookie jars and gave them a wash. They are all clean and ready to be filled. But I doubt if I can fill all of them up.
My trial run began yesterday. Testing testing. I admit, I am a bit rusty. And I forgot how tedious this can be.
I need to improve on the shape. And size. Tsk!
Over in New Zealand, my auntie made Kuih Ros.
Nice or not? In fact I was gifted a big canister of Kuih Ros. This was all that was left of it.
I'm back to enjoying steamed salmon again.
There was time when I was super crazy about salmon. Then I got sick of it. But now I am enjoying it again. I get my supply from VFresh. This is my second order and I find the supplier reliable.
I am trying to lose my MCO fat and gain more muscle.
Since there is no CNY celebration, hopefully I can achieve my goal.
CNY is less than a week away. When I miss the CNY vibe, I shall reminisce and visit this post of my family's 2020 Renunion Dinner. Hopefully there will be one in 2022. Maybe by then, I will look like this.
EXACTLY!!!! Number of cases in Sibu increasing by leaps and bounds...and I hear everywhere, so crowded. Lots of cars, lots of people shopping/marketing...even at my neighbourhood shops, usually only a few people! I cannot understand how, in the current situation, those people still have the mood to celebrate...to the extent that they are willing to risk being infected to buy things for the celebration! I am not even bothered to hang up the lanterns. At the rate we are going, we may not even come out of the Ox Year alive!!!
ReplyDeleteSteamed salmon nice? We always pan-fry/grill on non-stick.
DeleteMy missus made some cookies and acar for own consumption and we've been frying keropok. I've two types of cakes, given to me, that is all.
It looks like the NSC relented and I think limiting family living within 10km radius and up to 15 people is reasonable. Hope they mind their SOPs.
DeleteI like salmon both steamed or grilled. As long as it is cooked just right, it is very good. How I wish I have keropok in the house!
DeleteYes, just stay home n eat reunion dinner with those at home. Good to eat salmon, may you get that bod that you want. Wow! You have so many cookies jars. Keep baking and fill all of them up!
ReplyDeleteYup, me staying home. Follow the original SOP hah..hah..
DeleteGreat that you're eating healthy portions but looking at your salmon+broccoli & egg+cucumber dishes, can you be full until your next meal? I would love to eat like that but when there are no carbs on the plate, I can't last until the next meal and will have to look for something in between to eat...haiz! :'( I don't mind salmon but can't bring myself to eat it steamed though (especially the skin, it's ok if it's pan-fried in olive oil). By the way, how to lose MCO weight ah if you have to get thru all those cookies you baked + gifted CNY snacks...hee..hee..hee! ;) But it's CNY, give yourself a break lah. :D
ReplyDeleteHey, you know what...I recently bought salmon (and some other stuff) from Vfresh too (after also reading about it from edkl). Ya, I like their produce and think they're a reliable supplier too (I also appreciate that the owner himself does his own deliveries), so I'll probably be ordering from him again.
As much as everyone should stay safe, I felt the SOPs for CNY could be little bit more relaxed (by allowing families to get together with a limit to the amount of people like for all the other festive celebrations before this). I think the bone of contention with a lot of people was that married children would have moved out of their parents home but are not allowed to have reunion dinner with them even when they live close to one another. Probably some are already visiting their parents home frequently even during the MCO, so I don't see the point of the restriction. To think that the old folks have to eat alone is sad. Restricting interstate & inter district travel for get togethers is already strict enough in my opinion. We need to be diligent to ensure we ourselves follow SOPs when we do congregate for everyone's safety.
Somehow I am OK with no carbs in a meal. As long as there is enough protein, I can be full. But I am back to eating carbs (the restriction was for one week only, thank God) again but in limited amounts, some days more, some days less. I am so disciplined this time that I only are a few cookies and not the whole jar. LOL!
DeleteAh! Good to know that you find VFresh reliable. I bought another batch of salmon and saba. Previous week I also bought chicken.
It's good news that the SOP has been revised and I do agree that those who live nearby should be allowed leeway to celebrate together. Hopefully they will not let their guard down and be diligent in observing the SOP.
For me and my family, it is ok with no gathering for reunion dinner this year. Even my sons are staying put where they are and treating it like any normal day. When the situation improves and when it is safe to do so, we can gather for a happy and safe reunion dinner. As we have foreseen and somehow expected, I didn't stock up like other years. I still have more than enough foodstuffs for the MCO to avoid going out too often. For those family members staying in the same town or district, it is understandable that they may wish to gather for reunion with their family members. They should know the risk and take precaution to safeguard everyone present and with a limited number of people at the reunion, observing all the SOP. Most important is that we all want to see the end of this pandemic.
ReplyDeleteI am sure many are relived with the revision of the SOP and hopefully this CNY can be somewhat joyful for those who are able to hold a reunion with loved ones. It will be very quiet for me.
Deletewow...baked so much cookies? since we are not allowed for visiting, then i assume u r enjoying them yourself (if not most of them)....like that how to lose MCO fats? hehehe....it is impossible to fill up 22 canisters...unless your oven works 24 hours! your house must smell of cookies now. Yea, this year duduk diam diam dalam rumah during CNY.
ReplyDeleteVery tiring ler...baked two batches also feel worn out. LOL! Can't fill up all but a least a few for people who live nearby.
DeleteThank you for making my day PH, I cannot help but laugh when I saw the last photo in your post. Hope you achieve your aim lol. Here in SG, we are not allowed to shout auspicious words when having Lou Hei session outside during this CNY.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Actually, I cannot imagine myself looking like that, hor? Yeah, I heard that in SG you are all suppose to keep quiet and the lou hei will be played by pre-recording. Seems funny but necessary or else saliva will be flying everywhere.
DeleteBy the way, I had left comments in your previous posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Libby for taking the time. I have replied your comments already.
DeleteNow can gather with family members within 10 km within same states. Do your two brothers fit these requirements?
ReplyDeleteYes, but we have chose to stay put in our own homes.
DeleteOh no, that last picture, hopefully this is not 2021's PH =.="
ReplyDeleteWhy not? Beautiful mah... LOL!!!
DeleteMine also will be quiet.. I don't really mind as long as there is someone in the house and not home alone... :)
ReplyDelete