Gong xi fa cai

It’s Chinese New Year. Has been for a few days and will be for a few more. Bangkok’s Chinatown will be humming but we’re not partaking. We can hear firecrackers go off occasionally. In fact, N and I were 50 yards from a cacophony of them yesterday as we were walking to get the Skytrain. Both girls made Chinese lanterns at school which are now hanging in our kitchen. There’s red everywhere, augmented by the fact that it’s also Valentine’s today. Much food is being eaten, particularly pork and duck; dragons processioned; red packets with money given to children; homes cleaned. Out with any bad spirits left over from last year. Meanwhile, for Christians, Lent kicks off this week. 40 days of prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. Still, there’s the pancakes to look forward to on Tuesday.