And how was your Chinese New Year?

In a distant hutong (Chinese courtyard), sufficiently decadent comrades assembled to feed 12,000 schoolchildren on Chap Goh Meh (15th night).

Not that you could have captured that with a flash (of the camera) but a few hundred guests did get into the spirit.

It was Dr Georgia Lee’s annual Gorgeous Decadence do, “Imperial China” this year’s theme, held in One On The Bund, a ready-made courtyard of fine dining.

Clifford Pier in Collyer Quay, where once we caught ferries with aunty-bundles about us, is now chi-chi martini cocktails and exquisite desserts.

The night was not so much decadent as imperial, every attendant came in dynastic costume, Ming! Ching! Song! Dance! Oops!

I tripped on Genghis Khan’s get-up, dui bu qi, Mr Khan, aren’t you in the wrong country?

The $150 per head ticket sales proceeds went to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

The event was sponsored by the Celton group of companies.

CEO Mr Andy Wong said of its charitable arm: “Investing in children is investing in the future, who knows, from the 12,000 children, our next ministers and leaders.”

Organiser Frank Cintamani of Fide Multimedia and publisher of magazine Designare, is ever ready to back any worthy cause.

The noble trio sat on a raised platform as the hutong echoed with tong-tong-chneah, lion dancers, wushu troupes, models parading in designer Lai Chan’s qipaos with kapow! while Georgia’s twin painted tigers, unleashed, prowled benignly.

Celebrity guests included Patricia Mok in “Chinese fairy” dress, “borrowed from MediaCorp wardrobe, even the hair”.

So David Gan did not do her hair.

She playfully blessed him with her long-stemmed lotus.

“I am wearing Merci Beaucoup from Club 21,” David said impishly.

This article was first published in The New Paper.

Click here to view the photos.

Photos: TNP, Kelvin Chng