04. Chinese new year 中国新年 (1977)

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One morning Barbara and I were drinking tea in the Coffee bar 'the Batman'. Barbara told me about the Chinese new year which was coming soon. She explained to me that each year was named after an different animal and that this animal expressed some characters or predictions of that year. She asked me if I wanted to go to London with her to watch the new year celebrations in Chinatown. I was very surprised, I had giving up asking Barbara out, as she always said no, she had to work. If I wanted to go she said that we had to put some efforts in organizing things. We had to get hold of a car, and we had to persuade a girl to join us. Only if this girl would pick her up from her home and she would promise her family that they stay together all day, then Barbara would be allowed to go. Finding a car was no problem, I could lend my mother's car. Finding a girl was more of a challenge. We thought that if we take Chris along (he always says yes to anything), then maybe Sue would come along too as she fancied Chris. It worked, Sue and Chris wanted to join us.

On that Saturday. I picked up Sue and Chris with my mother's car and we drove to Histon. We parked the car so it couldn't be seen. Sue went to pick up Barbara and Chris and I hid ourselves. After a while Sue appeared with Barbara. Our plan was working so far. When we were sure that her family wasn't looking Chris an I joined them and we drove to London. Barbara and I in the front seats, Chris and Sue in the back seats.
Barbara lead us the way in London. For me it was the first time in Chinatown. It was very impressive. The lampposts were decorated with strings of money. Then this is enormous human dragon came along and ate this money, all accompanied with the sounds of drums. It was very busy. In order not to lose each other in the crowd we had to hold hands. At first we let lose immediately again.

But soon Barbara didn't let go of my hand. Later every time when I was standing behind her to watch the dragon she started to lean against me. Not much later I put my arms around Barbara. By the end of the day when it was time to go back home we were a couple. Sue and Chris also found each other and they were a couple as well.

In the evening Barbara didn't want to go home yet therefore we all went to my parents house. Chris and Sue soon disappeared somewhere in the garden. This was the first moment that Barbara and I were alone that day. That was the moment of our first kiss.

 中国新年

一天早上，翁美玲和我在学校蝙蝠侠咖啡馆喝茶时。她告诉我中国新年快要到了。她向我解释，每一个年份都是以一种动物命名的，那种动物能代表那一年出生的人的性格或者运气。她问我，我是否想和她一起去伦敦的中国城一起看新年庆祝。我十分的吃惊，我基本上已经放弃叫翁美玲出来的信心了，因为每次我问她，她都说不行，要工作。假如我一味想去，她就会说我们至少要把事情安排好再去。我们要弄辆车，还要叫个另外的女孩加入我们。并且那个女孩需要来翁美玲家中接她，并向她家人保证她们俩整天都会待在一起，这样翁美玲才能出来。其实找辆车问题不大，我可以借我妈妈的车。找个其他的女孩反而对我更有挑战。我们想如果我们叫上克里斯（他总是对任何事都说好），苏也许会加入我们了，因为苏一直对克里斯有幻想。这个方法最后成功了，苏和克里斯加入了我们。

星期六那天，我用车接到了苏和克里斯，然后我开向翁美玲住的希斯顿那边。我们把车停在没人能看见的地方。苏前去接翁美玲，我和克里斯则是躲在一旁。过了一会翁美玲和苏就过来了。在我们确定翁美玲家人没看见我和克里斯之后，我们一行四人开车前往伦敦。翁美玲和我坐前座，克里斯和苏坐在后座。

翁美玲给我们指路去伦敦。对我来说，这是我第一次去中国城。中国城给我留下了深刻的印象。街灯柱被一连串钱币装饰着，然后巨大的舞龙过来吃掉这串钱币。锣鼓声一直相伴活动的左右。为了在拥挤的人群中不被冲散我和翁美玲必须拉紧对方的手。一开始我们会马上把握紧的手又松开，但很快，翁美玲开始不放开我的手了。过了一会，当我站在她后面看舞龙时，她开始把身体倚靠向我。很快，我也把我的胳膊搂着她。当那天差不多结束，是时候回家时，我和她就成了一对。苏和克里斯同样也很喜欢对方，也成了一对。

到了晚上，翁美玲还不想回家，因此我们去了我父母的房子。克里斯和苏在花园某处消失了。那一刻是我和翁美玲第一次全天都独处在一起。同时那一刻也是我和她第一次亲吻。

(translated by Zhi)

On the internet I found these pictures of Chinese new year in London, taken during the end seventies and beginning eighties. They give an impression what is was like when Barbara and I went there.