Chinese New Year celebrations started early in January, with society stalwart Nana Au-Chua hosting her annual ladies luncheon at Empress restaurant this year. Guests came in their most vibrant festive attires and welcomed the Year of the Pig with the mandatory lo hei, before tucking into a sumptuous lunch of seafood egg white soup, sakura shrimp king prawn, and sticky date and longan pudding. As a memento for the joyous afternoon, which for many was also a reunion of old friends, guests took home a plush piggy that Nana had custom-made for the occasion.