Bye bye what was left of 2008. The Year of the Rat (I just learned I am an Earth Rat) is gone, a pretty soso year. Hopefully the Ox will bring better times.
We are recovering from our home party, some invited guests were kidnapped by enthusiastic (Chinese) in-laws and others had last-minute professional priorities but we still had a very diverse and happy crowd, dominated by Chinese but Belgium (including our ambassador!), Sweden, Norway, USA, Germany, France, UK and Malaysia sent in the troops to balance the crowd.

Guests apparently enjoyed the international food, including meatloaf, duck filled with chicken, Brazilian feijoada, etc. They also helped us to empty a bit our reserves of wine and beer.
The hard core sipped champagne (lots) till well after 2am (or something like that, hey, I was tired!) in our living room, watching the wonderful and deafening fireworks all around us. Hell braking lose in the Gongti Strip for hours in a row. Incredible view from our living room window. We just wondered how much money literally went up in smoke. Not much recession in the air it seems…
Thanks to all our friends and family who made this a great evening and thanks for all the nice goodies you brought!
[note: any other pics I will receive later will be added to this picture gallery – first edition 26 Jan, updated with 18 extra pics from Wilfried on 2 Feb]