First off, a very merry and blessed Christmas to everyone who has taken the trouble to wish me and my family good tidings for the festive season! May peace, goodwill and God’s blessings be with all of you throughout the coming New Year! And now here’s my Christmas story…
Right before I scooted off for the Christmas holidays, I received an early Christmas present in the form of a tag from Healy. Initially I had planned on getting it done before Christmas but that didn’t materialize, owing to inevitable circumstances.
The Saturday before Christmas, my brother and his wife came to Penang for a visit, so we took them to the E&O for lunch. Well well, whaddya know… they were serving fresh oysters on the buffet spread! It had been ages since I had indulged in oysters so I wolfed down half a dozen…and a couple more. But that turned out to be a disastrous decision because in the afternoon, I felt really giddy and had to take a long afternoon siesta. Woke up with a fever of 37.9°C, took two Paracetamol tablets and prayed the fever would go down down down. I was still nursing a slight cough then too, and so I proceeded to make myself a cup of warm Manuka honey with lemon.
After dinner, my head was really heavy and I went to bed as soon as I can. I felt better in the morning: fever had subsided but my whole body was aching all over. Then in the afternoon, my tummy was grumbling, tossing and turning. Evening came and dealt me a severe blow of stomach flu. Although I felt weak and dehydrated, I still had to pack for our road trip the next day.
Anyway, Christmas eve in Taiping and then Christmas day in my hometown of Ipoh was a rollercoaster of *thinking* I was getting better and then making an about-turn for the worst. All these amid the gift exchanges, fruit cake and red wine. My lower back was also hurting so bad I had to lie down as often as I could. Not a very easy feat to do with a toddler who demands your attention at all times, I tell you…
Finally, I woke up on Boxing Day feeling way better than I had felt in days. Up till now, I don’t know if it were the oysters that caused it because hubbs took them too and he felt fine. But thank goodness, I felt good enough on the 26th to savor the famous Ipoh kai-see-hor-fun, with lots and lots of kow-choy. Wouldn’t have missed that for a thing, even though we had to take turns carrying Ethan whilst eating because the shop did not have any baby chairs available. After lunch it was back to Penang, where more Christmas presents awaited us, well most of them were for Ethan actually. Two more Christmas cards arrived in the mailbox; a handmade one from Mei Lee and a card with a cute gift in it from Rinnah. Thank you darlings! You gals rock!
So today it is back to the humdrum of work. The past week of battling illness has worn me out so much that I booked myself a facial today, just so I could get some me-time in the equation. And so, after my longwinded story of how I spent Christmas, here’s the Christmas tag, as promised. Still done within the 12 days of Christmas… hehe… so enough about me… how was YOUR Christmas?
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate… because I don’t even know what egg nog tastes like.
2. Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree? Methinks his elves wrap the presents. Santa just delivers them, no?
3. Colored or white lights? Whitish amber lights. And blinking ones.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not this year, but I would love to. Next year, perhaps?
5. When do you put your decorations up? I already did… two weeks ago. And they are still up…maybe till after New Year comes and goes.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Mom’s homecooked food.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Spending Christmas with my family, writing long lists of presents for Santa and hoping he’ll bring them 🙂
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I can’t remember… but I really really thought I heard him and his sleigh on the roof some Christmases ago.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nah…it has to be past midnight, i.e. really really Christmas.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? With my bare hands, and of course, this year, with silver and blue ornaments.
11. Snow: Love it or hate it? Love love love! But must have awesome boots to parade in la.
12. Can you ice skate? Not if you call skating falling on my butt! O-U-C-H!!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? The gift of salvation, when I was baptized on Christmas day many many years ago.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spreading love and cheer to everyone dear.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cheese cake, with a strawberry on top. Had it at the E&O that fateful day… no strawberry on top of that one though.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Singing Christmas carols together as a family.
17. What is on top of your tree? A silver star
18. Which do you like best giving or receiving? Both. I also like shopping 🙂
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, The Christmas Song, O Holy Night…okay, I love all the Christmas songs…
20. Do you like candy canes? Not really, but I’ll take them if I get them 🙂
Sending Christmas cheer, peace and goodwill in the form of a tag to Rinnah!… also because she announced she is tag-free! hehe…
Little Miracles
Our Journey of Love
Too bad about those oysters.. Sometimes, it just takes one bad oyster, so it could still be the reason. Of course, most people get ‘something else’ after consuming lots of oysters *wink*.. Oh well.. How was Ipoh? Did you say Hello for me? I so miss the Canning Garden Chee Cheong Fun every time I hear the word Ipoh mentioned.. Not the White Kopi, not even the Kai See Hor Fun.. It’s really the Chee Cheong Fun for me! I grew up with that, I suppose. Happy New Year to you and everyone!! 🙂
The Giddy Tigress says: My uncle had to wait 1 whole hour for the chee cheong fun! And he didn’t even tell me, otherwise I would have asked him to tarpow for me too! Never mind LB…I bet you that tungku chup chee cheong fun will still be there next year when you stop by Ipoh. Happy New Year to you too!
I’ve heard good things about Manuka honey; can cure open wound wor..never tried before tho
The Giddy Tigress says: I’ve never heard the one about the curing of open wound, but I’ve certainly read many wonderful things about it. Plus it tastes fantastic too!
oh dear…hope u did get to enjoy christmas after all?did you? =)
*patpat*
The Giddy Tigress says: I enjoyed it as much as I could…even had some wine.. *hic*
Let’s hope you have a better new year ahead! Happy New Year!
The Giddy Tigress says: Happy New Year to you too!
Actually, the chee cheong fun with mushroom gravy in Old Town is also not bad la. My sister and I MUST MUST eat that every time we go back to Ipoh. The Canning Garden one also OK la, but Mum and sister seem to prefer the curry mee behind the chee cheong fun stall 😀
The Giddy Tigress says: I never realized Old Town had Chee Cheong Fun…!! Really? I need to relook at the menu!
oooh, too bad about the oysters! at least you had the kai see hor fun to make up for it after that, yea? I almost had that today, but I opted for har meen instead… now I wish I had the former, after reading this. my mouth watering liao!
glad you’re feeling better now after all that tummy upsets and fever. hope you’re 101% when 2008 comes around!
The Giddy Tigress says: Thanks May! I hope 2008 brings you good cheer and happiness too!
wei wei
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
The Giddy Tigress says: Happy New Year!
Lawl. Must not open my big big mouth and announce to the whole world I am tag-free, eh? Especially when this is a tag that cannot be postponed! Hahaha. But I’ll willingly do it!
Hope the tum is better and you are ready to greet the New Year! *hugs*
The Giddy Tigress says: Happy New Year to you Rinnah!
the question of ‘to eat or not to eat’ when it comes to risky food! glad you’re okay now. i pray for better health too. my stomach is too weak nowadays. dang. opps. *smiles* impolite to grumble too much at another person’s ‘home’. hohohoho. Merry Christmas again, Giddy Tigress and all the best for 2008 too!
The Giddy Tigress says: I am definitely much better now. Happy New Year!
merry xmas to u.and thx for the card, got it a while ago, but was soo busy with work 🙁
The Giddy Tigress says: Merry Christmas to you, and you are most welcome!
Even being down health-wise it looks like you had an awesome Christmas! 🙂 Happy New Year GT! *hugs*
The Giddy Tigress says: Happy New Year to you!
hi there, lovely blog.
happy new year, hope you are better 😉
The Giddy Tigress says: Thanks! Happy New Year to you too!
o holy night is my faaaavorite carol. happy new year~!
The Giddy Tigress says: Happy New Year to you!
😀 😀
those oysters are DEFINITELY not from South Australia! 😛 Haha.
Merry X’mas and a wonderful New Year, GT!! 😀
The Giddy Tigress says: I want some South Australian oysters!
Happy New Year to you.
Hope you have a good holiday, no sick at least…:)
The Giddy Tigress says: Happy New Year to you too!
Oh dear, but luckily you are well to greet the new year tomorrow! Hope you have a blessed 2008 year ahead ya!
The Giddy Tigress says: Blessed 2008 to you too!
Oh dear! When I read oysters, I know it’s going to be disastrous! I dare not eat any seafood with shells nowadays…. my stomach is not as strong as before.
Happy New Year 2008!
The Giddy Tigress says: For some reason, I know this experience will not deter me from taking fresh oysters again… happy new year 2008!
nearly a put off for your christmas yeah…. but thank god you did enjoy yourself eventually.
The Giddy Tigress says: Merry Christmas to you!