Dear Ti-Kong

Day 8th of CNY is THE most important day of all to the Hokkien community. This year, it was on a Monday. I initially wanted to take both Monday and Tuesday off but due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to go to work. Hb came to fetch me back to KS as usual.

Before prayers began, we visited Hb's ex-business partner at his banglo in KS and had a great time chit chatting about our recent holidays. They just got back from South Korea; which Hb and I went last year. This year we visited Beijing.

As usual, offerings were placed on a table right outside the house. While waiting for the clock to strike midnight, we entertained ourselves with firecrackers! This year, only FIL, MIL, Hb and I were present. BIL's overseas for work and SIL's son was sick. So unlike other years, it was kinda quiet. Nevertheless with the numerous fireworks at play that night, it was somewhat festive-feeling!

MIL said before we came back, a poor teenager said he was cheated to come to KS and needed bus fare to go home. He only asked for RM28 so my MIL gave him the money and told him to go home the following morning.

We thought nothing of it. When it was time to pray, we did the usual and started burning the various offerings. After prayers, we took several plates of offerings to a temple nearby. As we were walking back, a strong gust of wind started blowing (as if it was going to rain soon and as a matter of fact it did much later). The wind was so strong that it blew the offerings we burnt earlier; combination of ashes and burning bits right into the house!!!

From a far, the mixture of fiery red burning bits coupled with black ashes looked as if a dragon was flying into the home!!! The scene gave me goosebumps as I've never seen such a thing before!!! The entire incident kept us all preoccupied for quite some time cos' while MIL cooked supper, Hb and FIL cleaned the place outside while I mopped the entire place inside.

Hopefully the entire incident of "dragon flying into home" means GOOD FORTUNE for us all! Dear Ti-Kong, hopefully our prayers are answered. Thank you thank you!!!

Separately, the following day, a dragonfly flew into our home and refused to leave. It flew so low and at times hovered mid air as if checking Hb and I out. Again, I googled the meaning of dragonfly... and this time, the meaning was a good one! Some sort of a bearer of GOOD NEWS!!!

So ya, hopefully this year will be a great year for us all! :))