As luck would have it, my off days fall on weekends! This year's Raya outing with my bang gang was unlike any other (you will see why...)
For the first time, Pakcik was actually called back for reservist. His 'P.O.W' treatment ended on the 18th hence the delay of our Raya outing. The time taken to inform everyone else was also another factor. But of late, I feel that the group has segmented. Wasn't surprise when my mother and even Umi commented on the shrinking group. This year... only 7 of us could make it - Makcik, Pakcik, Minah, Wak, Man, Mazni & me.
1st house - mine. They were supposed to arrive at 11.30am. First visitor was Minah who arrived at 11.40am. Poor fren had to wait 1 1/2 hr before the rest of the gang came. Hahaha... she even managed to watch 1/3 of Koi Mil Gaya! Had I started it from the minute she came, she would have gotten 1/2 the story.
2nd house - Man. He had sup tulang served for lunch. Pakcik was the only one who threw all caution to the wind and devoured the 2 pots of tulangs served. Last year, he sprayed red sup tulang gravy onto my Raya baju kurung & tudung. This year, I wore black and sat further away from him. Next year, I will give Pakcik a bib. Kihkihkih...
3rd house - Minah. By this time, Pakcik & Makcik left to fetch cousins from immigration checkpoint. Man, Mazni & Wak went to attend a wedding reception. The plan was to meet again at Minah's house by 4.30pm. So in the meantime, I played PS2 games with Haikal, ate chocolate cake with vanilla ice-cream topping and watched '
Albela' on Vasantham Central. By 4.30pm, Man, Mazni & Wak arrived. Pakcik & Makcik however got stranded.
4th house - Wak. We arrived at his house close to Maghrib. Pakcik & Makcik arrived some time later. Took lots and lots of photos at his house (the pros of using digicams).
5th house - Pakcik. Heavy rains expected at the northern side of Singapore. Opps... wrong commentary. Well, it was definitely raining. Luckily we were travelling by cars. Ibu was cooking when we arrived. We were served food in every house and most of us were already full. But surprisingly we finished the mutton chop to the last bit. Hahhaah foodie people! Perhaps that explains why Man visited the gents frequently. Then again, so did the ladies!
6th house - Makcik. Last house finally. We had brought karaoke vcds from Wak's house but not much singing happened. We spent the time sitting at the dining table eating spaghetti (yes! unbelievable really), brownies & ice-cream and talking. This time round, the 'singers' decided to have a 'confession' session ala Oprah Winfrey show. For the sake of privacy, I shall discontinue. My only concern: my wish to have a Raya picture taken with Md Idris came true!!! Tummies full to hearts' content, night getting darker and our eyes getting heavier... we bid adieu a quarter to midnite.
At the end of the day, it occured to me that while previously, we went out till midnite because we had 10 - 12 houses to visit, even with lesser houses this year, the time spent remains unchanged. Amazing huh? Definitely wouldn't mind if the same group of people were to go Raya visiting again in future. Than to wait for uncertain responses in vain. =) I do have some requests too:
1) No gatecrashers... if you intend to change partners before the next Raya outing. Believe me, it's tiring getting acquainted to people only to start the cycle all over again with someone new.
2) No more confessions. I tolerated it once. Period.
