CNY day 5

It rained most of the night, with thunder and lightening, and then it rained, heavily, most of the day. Very unusual for such prolonged rain.

Today started with the Lion Dance at the girls' school. I got a mandarin from the lion! The parents were back at work and I spent the morning catching up on admin n and prep for Oz and NZ.

Then to USJ for a makeover at Oon's. Suffice to say I am no longer a bleached blonde. Kiki met me there (June and another sister were also there,) and we went back to her condo. It's a Sunway one built on the site of a former tin mine, now a lake. Watched a UK gardening makeover show with Monty Don.

Then off for dinner in Cheras. The 'friend' turned out to be her daughter's future in-laws who were holding a CNY evening with friends and family. It was one of these evenings where I had to keep pinching myself. A very opulent home, fabulous vegetarian food (the hostess owns 2 vegetarian restaurants) and conversation that covered Brexit, international travel, colonial Indonesia, 2nd and 3rd homes in England, Australia and S Africa and even visiting friends in Freuchie. The host was part educated in the UK, 'A' levels in Kettering then LSE. The 'happy couple', who weren't there, are accountants in Melbourne There was a touch of the 'Rich Crazy Asians' about the evening. I was even persuaded to drink whisky (after the white and red wine), Japanese Hibiki and an 18 year old Macallan. It wasn't unpleasant.

And there was talk of face masks. Their user is growing as are the restrictions. The girls would have had v to stay off school for 2 weeks if they'd been around anyone from mainland China during the CNY holidays. And there is an advisory note in the loft which I still have to read. Needless to say, we won't be wearing ineffective face masks.

It was a good day and hopefully 2020 will be a good year now I've received the golden fruit from thev lion and done the Yee Sang.prosperity toss, without the fish.