Chinese New Year memories

SC and I were given 5 dresses every year. They were made by our Goh cousin, Hwee Huang. She tried to outdesign the Sims. I still recall how she would dream about designs. I do appreciate what she has done for us so I visit her every now and then and bring a gift for her. Sometimes I pass it through Mong Chay.
In my teenage years I would help mother make love letters. We used a stove and one has to be vigilant that it does not burn. We never had a conventional oven so cookies made were those which didn't require baking eg mung bean cookies. Later we acquired a small easycook type oven and we started making pineapple tarts. I had a well-off friend ie the Lims at 40 Jalan Ibrahim and they had all the modcons. Funny thing is that I grew up much more confident and assertive than her! She lived in the first modern "mansion" in Muar.
CNY was always very special. Everyone came back for the reunion dinner (except some years when KK and Stella went back to Ipoh instead). Curry, ngor hiang and fried celery were the dishes which I recall. The first meal on Day 1 was vegetarian. I think we ate vegetarian only a few times a year including Vesak Day. Beef was verbotten in the house or rather not cooked. To be continued ......