I wish everyone a happy lunar new year, a year of joy, good will and prosperity. As we usher in the Year of the Tiger, I hope this will remind us all to appreciate this endangered animal’s livelihood, and to continue to protect the few that prey the jungles of the world, so that there may be many more in the future.
I didn’t really do much on new year’s eve. As with many other Chinese, I had a relatively big ‘nian ye fan’ (New Year’s Eve dinner) with my folks, then we waited until 11pm (8pm China Beijing time) and we watched the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, an annual program broadcast by CCTV (the China government’s puppet, in less flattering words 
) throughout China and the world via satellite until about 2/3am. This is a ritual that goes with New Year for many, many, if not all, Chinese and their families. I couldn’t keep my eyes open at 2:30 so I didn’t see the final countdown. No big deal for me anyway. This event holds little resonance with me as the years go by. The day when I’ll pay attention is when China is no longer Communist. Last year’s was slightly better, but it really hit its peak in the mid-90s I reckon. Now it’s all about over-extravagance and explosions of colour, but I think the director must’ve took a note from viewers’ comments and restrained things a tad.
Today in the arvo I went with my folks to Chinatown and also Southbank where the Chinese New Year action was. Russell Street wasn’t that much of a buzz, except for the dragons and the familiar bang drumming. The streets were awash in firecracker pellets, and the roar of firecrackers igniting and going off was always in the distance. Southbank’s Hawkers’ Bazaar was more lively and pretty with the natural and urbane beauty of the Yarra River landscape. The food was more varied, the main stage had music, opera and lots of dragons (of course!), and there were plenty of other stalls selling Chinese knick-knacks, parasols, good luck banners and the like. I’ve a bunch of photos I took on my Flickr.
I’ve finally returned to using my neglected moleskine journals; I’ve missed drawing like this. I’m trying to push myself to do more work for myself so that I don’t go absolutely batty working for tutors and clients alike, and being subservient to their outrageous demands of me, bless their souls. 
Oh yeah, it’s Valentine’s Day. Happy relationship validation day! Of course, I don’t care one iota for this holiday. This is obviously because I am still single. (Single and still loving it!) Anyhow, last year I distinctly remember one of my clients lamented that we were both working on V-Day. I couldn’t really have cared less, really… Savings > love, at this point in my life.
And in it was … a $20 note, that is, in American dollars. So that’s about $30 Australian. Not that I’m going to use it since I’ve never even seen an American $20 note. I’m glad to say that I think Australia’s note system works better, at least with the colours and the texture of each note’s design. And don’t forget those ‘windows’!
