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Monday, 23 October 2006

Spring cleaning

Hi there

So this is it, we are about to set off to my parents in law's home about a 3.5 hour drive south of Kuala Lumpur. Given that we will only be away for a few days we seem to have created a lot of luggage- two cars full in fact! My husband is already moaning about the luggage but this is a normal part of our relationship. Mustapha always thinks we have too much luggage and I always think we haven't got enough. To be truthful I do have a yearning for what I call the Elizabeth Taylor school of luggage that is lots of bags and trunks like a film star!

Hard to explain what we are taking but food is a big part, but also presents for family members and a lot of cleaning products. This is because the first thing we are going to do as soon as we arrive is a mammoth spring cleaning of the family house. This will be an epic battle on grime and mess pitched by the whole family apart from the old and sick and the very young. We usually start this in the late afternoon as it's cooler and it's usually done by very late night. Actually it's quite fun as everyone pitches in and although the effort is intense, it's very satisfying. We are also supported by some excellent food, this year cooked by my sister in law.

You can tell that I have lived here so long, as I can actually describe the family rituals so well! What are your family rituals before festivals?

Tricia

Lexis and patterns from today's blog;

to have a yearning for something

Hard to explain but...

a mammoth spring clean

an epic battle on grime and mess

to pitch in

the family rituals

Comments

we often buy lots of food before spring festival,it is a trandistional festival which is the same status as Christmas in wentern.almost everyone return home and enjoy a happy meal together with family menbers.

Hi Tricia, I loved your description of your family rituals. I was a bit confused whether the spring cleaning is a thing of your family or a local tradition. Anyway I found it great. It's a great chance to get closer to family and friends. I wish we had something like that here in my country or in my family. We used to get together for christmas when my grandpa and grandma were alive. But ever since they died this tradition has been broken. It's a pity. I used to like it a lot. See you, Mauricio.

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