Paris.

My trip to Paris couldn't start off more perfectly. On the night I flew:

- Not being able to use my air miles to get a pre-arranged on-line upgrade, I went to the check-in counter with a heavy heart. And then, all of a sudden, I was allowed a last-minute upgrade to Business Class. Yay!

- Dinner with Mr & Mrs S at Lei Garden, followed by dessert at Moon Kee, both at IFC. Very satisfied. 75% happily (25% sad because I won't see BB for 12 days) off to the airport and on to the plane.

- And then I, who never could catch a wink on the plane, managed to get S-I-X hours' sleep!! Woke up refreshed, watched Die Hard 4.0 and the second part of Knocked Up, and before I knew, I was in Paris.

- Journey from the airport to my service apartment could not be more smooth. The taxi driver, a very nice lady took me to the destination swiftly and it cost me only 50 euro, 10 euro less than I expected.

When I got off the taxi, I was in an excellent mood, secretly laughing about everything going so wonderfully smoothly.

And then I opened the front door to the service apartment. And I saw... staircases. My room is on the 2nd floor, so I spent the next 10 minutes dragging my 22kg Samsonite suitcase, step by step, up two flights of stairs.

And then I opened the door to my room. On their website it showed a moden, bright, cozy studio with a double bed and a lounge area.

And I got this -

Have you ever been to Tokyo and stayed in one of those really really tiny hotel rooms, where you can't open your door when you have your suitcase opened? Now make it twice as small, and you have my room. The deco is typical 80's, with a 14-inch non-brand TV hanging up on the wall (with zero international channels - you lying website!! - except for Euro Sport). The toilet is so tiny that you can't find a spot to hang your clothes or put your skin care products. Well, not that you will want to hang your clothes or put your skin care products in the toilet anyway, because when you shower the whole toilet (including the roll of toilet paper) will get totally soaked. And did I mention the hot water supply lasts for 10 minutes only? For a person who uses at least 9 minutes to wash her hair, this is a real challenge.

And when I was trying to overcome the shock, I discovered that a certain thing called "pillow" was absent from my room, and as today is Sunday, the management office is, of course, closed. I will sleep a pillow-less sleep.

何先生。

對於何來是否有資格有斤兩出戰立法會補選，對選情有什麽影響，會否分薄陳太的票源，我不打算在此討論，每個人也有他的意見，你也大可看各大報章的社論。

我覺得有趣的是葉劉淑儀的回應。記者問葉劉對於何來參選的看法。葉劉說：“我唔識呢位何先生。”

一句話，露了底。

這位何來女士，是保育活躍分子，在天星跟皇后事件中，聲名大噪，壹周刊都要訪問她。稍爲關心時事又有看報的人都應該聼過她的名字。如果有人要參選做立法會議員（是尊貴的立法會議員喎，不是的士司機、家庭主婦喎），“想市民所想，為市民請命”，而保育這課題又成爲近期熱門話題，報紙收音機日日講，我覺得這個候選人沒可能不認識這位何女士囉。除非他對這個社會的問題不聞不問。

要我投票給一個，如何女士所說“當選後要從新學習社會問題”的一位候選人，我能否説服我自己呢。

P.S. 早知道政治（跟宗教一樣）從來都是敏感的話題，我這裡所說的純粹是個人感受。

My goddaughter.

My goddaughter, Jasmine, is an adorable 4-year-old. I am usually not crazy about children nor comfortable around them, but Jas and I had this special connection (which started when she was still in her mummy's tummy) and 3 hours after she was born, I became a godmother.

Jas loves singing, going to school, dancing, playing with her little brother Sean (who, by the way, is another adorable kid. Sometimes I think God can be very unfair - how come some people, like my friend C, could ONLY give birth to cute kids?!).

Jas also loves taking photos. And some nice ones too.

There will be a photo exhibition in January 2008, where you can see some 200+ of photos taken by this little girl. The photo exhibition aims to raise funds for Home Care for Girls, a non-profit organization focusing on helping teenage girls suffering from physical or emotional abuse or having family porblems. (I have visited this organisation before and had a long chat with the organisers. They are doing an amazing job.)

Jas may also go on the World Guinness Record too, as the youngest photographer ever (to have a photo exhibition).

I will write more about it closer to date and when I have more details. In the meantime, if you want to sponsor the exhibition or make a donation (to help reduce costs so that more money can go to Home Care for Girls), please let me know.

My love language is Service.

I am going to Paris for business next weekend, so lately my conversations with BB have largely comprised of the following:

[During Dinner] "Remember to feed the cats and change their water bottle every morning and night?" "Yes."

[After dinner, washing dishes] "Remember you have to scoop their litter three times a day at least, otherwise they won't poo in the litter box?" "Yes."

[While watching "24"] "Remember how to use the washing machine?" "Yees."

[During commercial breaks of "24"] "Remember to comb the cats' hair and clean their eyes and cuddle them every night?" "Yeees."

[He in a shower, me brushing my teeth outside] "Hemembar choo open fer yea'er boff effrey offur fay?" "The what?" "Se Yatter box!" "Yeees."

[In bed] "Remember to open a bit of the windows when you leave home? I don't want the cats to suffocate to death." "Yeeeees." "And remember to pick up your dry cleaning on Saturday, or you will have no shirt to wear to work." "[An inaudible mumble]."

I will be away for 12 days. This will be the first and longest time BB and I are apart since we were married. I am sure he will miss me immensely (though secretly happy that the nagging wife is finally on the plane to Croissant Land).

忽然有食神。

於晚上十一點，我的舊同事兼鄰居B小姐從26樓親自送來的自家製西柚果凍，為這個在星期六晚上獨守空房的孤獨婦人帶來一點點溫暖（OKOK係誇張咗D囉咩唧）。

故事教訓：有個熱愛下廚又願意與人分享的鄰居，好過中六合彩。

唔化。

雖然做了多年打工仔，但有些事我還是睇唔開。

爲何有些人的膊頭可以斜得那麽交關，明明是他的職責，居然可以撐大眼說“唔關我事”，“唔係我負責”，“點解要我做”。

最好笑是，居然跟我說“不如你做吖！”。（喂，聼講我同你唔同部門嗰喎！）

不如你唔好撈，我逗埋你分人工吖。

這位人兄，之前已久聞其大名（我老板的秘書差點被他玩謝），現在跟他交手，果然有料到。

爲何公司可以養這麽多廢柴呢？爲何不將他們統統炒掉，把省下來的錢接濟貧苦大衆（如我）？

（但我也在辦公時間上網寫blog喎，那我豈不也是廢柴？）

上海。

四年内去了兩次上海，說多不多，說少不算少。個人結論是，上海是那種可以幾年才去一次的地方，去得太密，會悶死（或者被的士司機激死，或者食上海菜肥死）。

跟大陸其他地方一樣，上海的硬件很好（摩登的建築，節節上升的樓市），但軟件嘛（服務，做事態度，mentality，等等），還跟真正的國際大城市差很遠。如要揀，我寧願去曼谷，起碼那兒服務100分。

全程最好味的一餐。舊吉士（天平路41号）的所有食物都超水準，從皮蛋豆腐，小黃瓜，到雞湯，到蔥油拌麵...




...還有蟹粉粉皮。嘩，十個好味！！






思南路，個人認爲是全上海最優雅的路。










南翔灌湯包。南翔的食物其實很普通，名氣大於一切。佳家的小籠包更出色。










寧波湯圓，在豫園裏。還可以吧。但在香港要吃到比它好味的湯圓，不難。




坐了飛機的奇華月餅。







熱烈推介 - 朋友的朋友開的日本餐廳Haiku（桃江路28號乙，電話021 6445 0021）。非常高水準的加洲日本菜。Must try -- 各種各類的卷物（rolls）。未來還可能會在浦東開分店，可想而知餐廳有多成功。

White Lotus Paste, Creamy Egg Custard or Green Tea?

Just finished three mini moon-cakes, all by myself. (BB has yet to fully appreciate the beauty of this heavenly festive food.)

My body is now full of sugar and carbohydrates, and though I am not proud of it, I am determined not to let my South Beach Diet stand between me and my moon-cakes. After all, Mid-Autumn Festival only comes once a year.

BB and I will be in Shanghai in the next few days. Wonder if the moon there will be fuller and brighter?

老。

今年，發現自己開始老了。例子如下:

1） 越來越抗拒現代流行樂壇（什麽是Krusty？是蘋果批嗎？爲何張繼聰的化妝要像僵屍般厚，還要戴副恐怖淺啡con？），覺得不知所謂。喜歡聼舊歌。（你聼過“別在下雨天偷偷的哭泣”嗎？張克帆的歌，很動聽。還有“一首傷心的歌”，黃韻玲的作品。）
2） 很想重看“仙樂瓢瓢處處聞”。
3） 覺得中秋一定要吃月餅，最好玩埋楊桃燈籠。（我已幾年沒有吃月餅了。）
4） 開始喜歡跟長輩相處，即是真心喜歡那種，不是只爲了尊敬老人家而已。喜歡聼他們說舊時。他們的故事，比“歲月風雲”精彩百倍（雖然我一集都沒看過）。
5） 已經追不上亦不想再追電腦新科技了（枉我以前還是IT律師，真丟臉）。懂得玩FaceBook已是我的極限。（什麽是Web 2.1？還有Web 3.0？）
6） 想陪媽媽看大戲。篤篤撐果D。

Outrageous Joy.

Remember some days ago I wrote about the best sermon I have ever been preached? Well, you can listen to it too! The title is "Outrageous Joy".

小報告。

• 昨晚去了大學舊友的婚宴。碰上不少久沒聯絡的同學，其中一個在年底會去競選區議會！！（“我近排好忙，要做好多地區工作呀，免費法律咨詢呀，義工呀，咁囉”）。令我這個只有3粒腦細胞，發夢想做收銀員啊戲院帶位啊（其實最好什麽都不做，日日夜夜在家吃薯片看電視）的師奶有點面紅羞愧。

• 十月要去巴黎公幹。爲什麽每個人一聽到“巴黎”就覺得這趟差一定會出得很愉快呢？我要坐13小時經濟客位喎！我8日要對住我個癲狂症客戶喎！可能一啲shopping時間都冇喎！出差從來都是慘絕人寰的活動。

• 好友訂婚了。問我，如果在澳門舉行婚宴，朋友會否嫌遠而拒絕出席？其實，如果你的朋友真的純粹爲了“路途遙遠”這個理由而不出席/勉為其難地出席你的婚禮，他還是你的朋友嗎？真正的朋友是，就算你在阿拉斯加擺酒，他都會穿上17件羽絨，歡天喜地的坐上38小時飛機，去。不為什麽，只是想分享你幸福快樂的一刻。

• 在看E.M. Forster的Where Angels Fear to Tread。以前的淑女連踏單車都被嫌粗魯低俗。好慘。（最慘還是冇薯片冇Coke Zero！)

• 昨天發現我其中一個舊同學，原來一直有看我的blog，粉絲也。一直以爲看我寫的只有小貓數隻，原來還有人不計較我笨拙的文筆，定時會到這裡來，只爲了看看關於我的一些事。這種關心，令我心頭暖暖的。我當初寫，是爲了與朋友們維持連繫（縱然是單向的），現在，目的似是達到了。

For One More Day.

A great story is a story that goes right to your heart.

I love For One More Day, not because it makes me cry (oh boy how it made me cry!), but because it is about family love. As I was reading this book, I thought of my own parents.

Just like all the other books written by Mitch Albom, For One More Day is easy-to-read with a great theme.

Just don't read it in your office. People will wonder why you go all teary-eyed and sniffing and blowing your nose the whole afternoon....

吃。

什麽樣的晚餐最令人吃得快樂？

環境要舒適 --- 椅子坐得舒服，枱與枱之間一定要有足夠空間，我不要聼鄰枱客人的是非八卦或肺腑心事。燈光不要太強，也不要太暗（除非你是跟人偷情）。我要的是舒服，是否用了三千萬豪裝我不管；況且羊毛出自羊身上，這三千萬，是你跟我都有份貢獻的。

食物要好味 --- 新鮮的食物，通常都不會難吃得到哪裏。但除此之外，“好不好吃”其實是很主觀的感受，亦受很多因素影響。拍拖時候，吃什麽也特別好味；相反亦然。亦正如我覺得我爸煮的餸是全世界最美味的。

吃飯的同伴 --- 這便是上段說的“很多因素”其中一個。跟好朋友吃飯，聚聚舊，說說新，讓腦袋暫時放下工作的煩惱，盡情做自己。若是跟相識超過1/4世紀的老朋友吃飯，更妙，就像跟家人吃飯一樣，什麽事也可說，什麽事也可不說，反正說的不說的其實對方都知道了。

只想說，昨晚與好友A在和宴吃的晚餐，是令人吃得快樂的一頓飯。 （本來應是我請客慶祝你生日的，但最後竟是你結帳！謝謝喲。）（還有，那個鹽味雪糕，我還念念不忘。）

腦袋裏已經想着跟A未吃的下一餐了。

I wish you enough.

A friend of mine forwarded to me a meaningful story:

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough". The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom". They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?".

Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?".

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?".

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. "When we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

I guess this echoes my earlier post about Joy. Hope you can rejoice in all circumstances, good or bad. And always count your blessings.

Rejoice!

Happiness is the feeling of pleasure driven by circumstances. (e.g. I am happy because I have a job promotion.)

Joy is the feeling of pleasure beyond/in spite of circumstances - it is a conscious decision to be cheerful no matter what. (e.g. I am joyful even though I am very stressed at work.)

Are you happy or are you joyful?

Yesterday's sermon was one of the best sermons I have ever listened to. Will post the link here when it is available.

我的3粒腦細胞。

可能呀神知道我上星期在公司好閒（平時已經夠閒，但上禮拜悶到放了200隻蚊），於是這個星期要我做番夠本...今天一返到公司開了電腦便做不停，連午餐都沒時間吃。

結局是，我頭痛。好痛嗰隻。

死啦，莫非個腦平時冇乜點用（主要是用來諗吓今晚去邊度吃飯呀，整porcini mushroom salad好定avocado & tuna salad好呀，如果我今個禮拜個飯局唔食甜品可能會再瘦D呀，如果伯伯激嬲我呢就將佢D星球大戰珍藏公仔擺上eBay賣晒佢嘩重唔慘絕人寰嘿嘿，之類之類的事宜），D腦細胞罷工游走晒，依家一開turbo便燒摩打？

或者我應該做份再輕鬆一點的工。不如做收銀。Full-time影印都唔錯。抑或...pet sitter？

3粒腦細胞，可以做什麽？

Big Brother is Watching.

昨天返完教會，一大堆人（題外話：我們這班弟兄姐妹近年開始返不同的教會，所以很久沒有這麽齊人一起在我們的mother church出現，兼且沒有事先約定，所以特別驚喜）去了見城吃午飯。

席間談到internet security。我們當中有朋友是做internet security，他的工作是要到客戶office裏，安裝一些網絡保安系統，監察客戶員工在電腦上的行爲（有沒有看咸濕網站呀，有沒有把公司機密外洩呀，是不是每天都在上網呀，等等）。朋友到客戶office也要偷偷摸摸，要在公司員工全走了（即是黃昏後），才可以開始工作。

我說：“唓，我公司咁cheap，一定唔識亦唔會俾錢做呢D嘢囉！”。換來恐怖答案：“唔係好貴咋喎。”依咦，會不會我公司都有安裝這些spy software？

弊，我每天返工大部分時間都在上網看FaceBook打email寫blog，咪好高危？

日誌。

昨天返深圳開部門例會。 會後跟老闆做我的appraisal。一直都知道老闆對我是挺滿意的（他亦不下幾次跟我說過），但好聽說話沒人嫌多的。昨天又聼了一次，哈哈。但我其實想說的，是我的老闆真的是個好人。從我們的對話中，你可以知道他是個為下屬着想，坦率，正義又有良好價值觀的人。（他常說，工作要盡心盡力，但家庭永遠比工作重要）。他也是個基督徒，不知道有沒有關係？

中午跟部門同事吃飯。老闆上任時，發起了每月生日午餐的習慣，我們每月開完例會以後必定一起吃飯，而如果當月有人生日，便會順便當生日會，還會有生日蛋糕。今期輪到我。

飯局中，同事談到中國近代史（除了我跟老闆以外，我的其他同事都是大陸人）。談文革，談六四。這是我第一次跟大陸人這麽深入地談政治。（其實是我聼他們談政治，因很多時候他們太興奮，講話太快，又夾雜鄉音，我聽到耳都側，莫說答嘴。）他們也談文學，談詩詞，談保育。我覺得，他們比我懂得多，文化根底也比我深。還好，他們全都是好人，沒有看扁我這個中國文學只有中三程度，對中國近代史一知半解，連天星皇后都沒法挽留的港燦。

其實只要我們摘下有色眼鏡，大陸人有很多方面是值得我們欣賞學習的。（這是說給自己聼的。）

We thought it was just another Sunday morning, but we were in for a surprise.

Yesterday at church, we saw an amazing choir performance by a group of Ugandan children from Watoto.

Watoto (which means "the children" in Swahili) is a project established in 1992 with the mission of rescuing children orphaned by war or disease in Uganda. By providing them with food and shelter, love and care, and more importantly, spiritual and academic training, Watoto equips these kids will the necessary live skills and moral values, so that they will one day grow up to make an impact on the future of Uganda, a country now struggling with disease, poverty and oppression.

And their children's choir was amazing. As described perfectly on their website, "Watoto's performances are a soulful blend of native African rhythms, contemporary gospel music and ethnic dance", and "through their lively and inspiring performances, the Watoto Children's Choir shares their unique experiences as well as their newfound joy and hope, which thrill and dazzle audiences everywhere". I, for one, was truely thrilled. These kids are so energetic and full of joy, and you wonder, except for God, who would have the power to bring such peace and happiness to these children, when each one of them had gone through so much tragedy in their life. When I see these children, I see God's glory. "I was without hope, but now God has given me a new life!", one of the Watoto kids said in his testimony.

Check out their website and see how you can help!

Do you know...

• Keep egg yolks in the refrigerator for up to three days by covering them with water.
• When you need a small amount of lemon juice, do not cut the fruit in half; just pierce it with a skewer, squeeze out some juice, and then refrigerate the fruit.
• To cure excessive vomiting, try two teaspoons whiskey, one teaspoon water, and one teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• Put a bay leaf in flour to discourage bugs.

And,

• When you set a table, the tines of all forks should be level with each other; spoons and knives should be lined up at the base of their handles.
• Soup is a beverage and must be both served and cleared from the right, like other beverages, an exception to the serve-from-the-left-and-clear-from-the-right rule.
• Coffee and tea cups are placed with their handles at four o'clock.
• The wine-glass goes goes above the point of the dinner knife.

(All taken from The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten)

Phuket.

Dinner at Baan Rim Pa. As BB said, you go there for the atmosphere rather than the food. As the restaurant sits on the cliffside overlooking the ocean (so it was totally dark out there at night), and we were seated on the balcony (closest to the sea!), and it was raining with thunderstorm, I spent almost the entire night worrying where we should hide when the tsunami hit (nowhere) and the chances of our survival if it did happen (none). I wonder if other people are thinking the same or if it's just me.

Lunch at Phuja Nirvana inside Central Festival Phuket. We walked into the restaurant with little knowledge about it (apart from the recommendation from the Luxe Guide) and even less expectation (there was only one other customer besides us), but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Highly recommended is their green papaya salad.

See, I told you there were LOADS of geckos! I called them Mr Gabriel in the hope of generating familiarity and intimacy (but it didn't work). There are many many Mr Gabriels in Phuket.

Keith Floyd's Brasserie at Burasari Resort Patong. There is an open kitchen outside.

The French onion soup that the waiter strongly dissuaded me from trying. "But Hong Kong people will not like it, it's too salty!", he said it three times. He only gave up when I told him "But I am not normal Hong Kong people" (of course I am; I just like French onion soup too much), gave me the "oh-well-whatever-but-don't-complain-later-on" look and walked away. For the record, IT WAS GOOD.

The lobster thermidor that BB and I truly enjoyed.

Our last dinner at Phuket. Being part of the Lan Kwai Fong Entertainment Group, this restaurant, with its contemporary yet comfortable setting, delivers genuinely high quality Thai food. On our way out of the restaurant, we bumped into none other than the famous Father of LKF, aka Mr Ocean Park.

Going through these photos (except Mr Gabriel of course), I now long for another holiday again.

Happiness is...

this.

Now I want to take a nap too.

唔係吓化？

港大SPACE的意大利文course已經額滿！原來香港人真的那麽努力增值！

死啦，唔識意大利文，咁點睇餐牌叫嘢食呀？容乜易餓死？

好彷徨呀！！

p.s. 如有讀意大利文好介紹，請告訴我。

返工想放假。

我們返來啦。沒有被簷蛇咬死，沒有被雨浸死，沒有被雷劈死，只是差點食到滯死。快樂的旅行 。（看我多容易滿足！）（唯一不滿是我的Oliver Peoples只是戴了15分鐘！！！$3,200副眼鏡只是戴了15分鐘！！！！！慘爆。）

儘管我真的很喜歡泰國人（友善又真誠），很喜歡吃泰國菜（青木瓜沙律！），但我跟簷蛇真的不能做朋友囉。所以泰國（以至任何有簷蛇的國家）（但城市可能好一點）我只能久不久去一次，多點我都會心臟病發。

兩點有conference call。但我的心還在放假...

-----

開始為我們下年的意大利之旅準備：

1）減肥（騰出空間，把所有意國美食放進肚）；
2）學意大利文（看餐牌！）；
3）買guide book。

A Small History of Nearly Everything.

I know I know, I am on holiday and therefore I should be spending quality time cuddling and having sweet talks with my husband, instead of blogging ABOUT SOME BOOK. But I cannot contain myself.

A Small History of Nearly Everthing is probably the best book I have ever read in recent years. I bought this book a few years back, read a couple of chapters and then put it down, and only picked it up again and finished it recently.

Faithful to the title, the book talks about the universe, the earth and the sea, all forms of life, basically about nearly everything.

Having obtained only a pathetic "D" grade in my HKCEE biology exam, and with no physics or chemcial studies background, I should have no reason to read, let alone like, a book about science, which is packed with complicated information and 47-letter-26-syllable-jargons. But I adore this book.

When I read the last chapter, which I believe is the main theme and reason for Bill Bryson to write this book, I cried. And it made me love this book even more.

If you care about this universe and all things that live in it, get yourself a copy. You will be so glad.

--------

BTW there are so many geckos in Phuket!!! I love the universe and all that, but could somebody make the geckos leave our villa?

A chilled Friday.

After quite a packed couple of days (we arrived in Phuket on Wednesday evening), we are taking it easy and chilling out at the villa today.

On Wednesday night we went for dinner to Baan Rim Pa (one of the "must-go-to" restaurants in many guides) that sits on the cliffside. The food is Royal Thai, but I think you really go for the atmosphere - good bar, live music and the sound of waves coming in. The food was good, but not spectular (we ordered the usual Thai dishes which the waiter would probably have guessed we would order).

Last night was more interesting. Keith Floyd had opened a brasserie in Patong - the only restaurant in Asia that bears his name - so we thought we would give it a go. As you know DB and I are celebrity-chef groupies. It turns out that KF will be visiting this very restauarant for a week - but we had arrived a day early. Anyway, we tried the signature dishes: crispy aromatic duck leg on herbed salad (quite tasty, not too dry as some duck legs can be) and lobster thermidor (superb, a good size lobster with succulent pieces of flesh and a nicely balanced but not too overpowering cream sauce). The restaurant was quite busy with Europeans who, like us, were probably drawn to the KF name. As a kid, I had grown up watching KF on TV at home in England, and even now DB and I watch his shows on NowTV.

BTW, we're a fair distance from the main restaurants and areas of nightlife (30 to 45 mins by car!) so today we're going to chill out at the villa.

One last tip: the Luxe Guide is a great travel guide. Combine that with a Canto guide (for some maps and pictures), and you have a winning tourist guide combo. With Luxe, we managed to find a cool bar (Phuja Nirvana) for lunch on Thursday and a great massage place (Privilege Spa) nearby.

As for the non culinary bits of the holiday, more from DB by separate blog post.

-- BB

Hello rainy Phuket.

*sigh*

But the hotel people say it will be sunny tomorrow! :)

We are now waiting for the shuttle bus to take us to the restaurant. I am looking forward to some really delicious Thai food.

More later.

Goodbye rainy Hong Kong (for now).

My life in the next five days will consist of constant beach strolling (how romantic!), morning swims in our private pool(!), and massive consumption of tong yum kung / satay / curry chicken / papaya / all the yummy Thai food that you can think of.

I will be back next week.

看戯。

星期六晚，大雨滂沱，我跟Mr & Mrs S看了暗戀桃花源。

兩個多小時，看着悲劇喜劇在台上連橫交錯，感覺良好。這劇在1986年首次公演，在當時來講，把悲喜劇放在同一個故事，同一舞台上，是絕對大膽的嘗試。明顯地，編劇兼導演賴聲川成功了。

賴聲川説，他不希望為這劇定調，而希望觀衆看後有自己的interpretation。（對我來説，這是一個關於“捨得”的故事。）（有機會的話，再跟你分享。）

又，我看的是香港版。蘇玉華和潘燦良演出精彩，特別是潘先生，他扮演年老江濱柳簡直入木三分，聲綫動作完全是一個老人家。他把江濱柳演活了。

早陣子看過了一大堆垃圾話劇，現在看了一部正正經經高水準的專業演出，心理豁然開朗。

P.S. Mr & Mrs S 的看後感在分別在這裡和這裡。

In case you didn't know (I certainly didn't).

From A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson:

• "[Luke] Howard divided clouds into three groups: stratus for the layered clouds, cumulus for the fluffy ones...and cirrus for the high, thin feathery formations that generally presage colder weather....He subsequently added a fourth term, nimbus..., for a rain cloud.
  
  Incidentally, the first...edition of [the International Cloud] Atlas, produced in 1896, divided clouds into ten basic types, of which the plumpest and most cushiony-looking was number nine, cumulonimbus. That seems to have been the source of the expression "to be on cloud nine"."

• "The indigestible parts of giant squid, in particular their beaks, accumulate in sperm whales' stomachs into substance known as ambergris, which is used as a fixative in perfumes. The next time you spray on Chanel No.5, you may wish to reflect that you are dousing yourself in distillate of unseen sea monster."
  

Oliver Peoples.

爲了我的布吉旅行，我買了人生中第一副（也應該是最後一副）這麽貴的太陽眼鏡。

有些東西，真的碰不得。試過好的（這個“好”是很主觀的）之後，要退而求其次，很難。

試戴過Oliver Peoples的太陽眼鏡之後，再走訪港九新界的眼鏡店，試戴其他牌子的眼鏡，但感覺就是不一樣。

代理這牌子的店鋪不多，結果我在一間以前打死都不會入的眼鏡店（因爲實在貴得離譜！）買了我的心頭好。

旅行回來後，要吃菠蘿包。

安全感。

在這個我每天必看的blog裏看到這一段：

“所以我知道，從很小的時候已知道，對人或對事，懂得放開手隨它走，是非常重要的一件事。而安全感這東西，是自己建立出來的。千萬千萬，別依賴別人來給予。”

很有意思。

想着想着，發現原來自己由細到大，安全感都不乏，無論是別人（家人/情人/朋友）給的或是自己建立的。“不安全感”這一詞，只出現在歌曲裏（不要扮年少無知啦，你知我知這是草蜢的歌），現實中自己從未感受過。

這樣幸福的一個女子，原來是我。

Here comes the day...

...when I blow out candles and make my wish.

1. World peace (very Miss Universe I know, but seriously, who doesn't want it?)
2. All animals, big and small, can live happily everafter; and people will start to understand that these creatures are to be loved, not abused.
3. A greener Hong Kong.
4. Peace and joy and health for all my loved ones.
5. My family's Salvation.

Thank you for all your SMS and FaceBook messages, emails and phone calls. I am a very happy birthday girl!

"Her lie was symptomatic of a certain pride she took in mocking the romantic, in being unsentimental, matter-of-fact, stoic; yet at heart she was the opposite: idealistic, dreamy, giving, and deeply attached to everything she liked verbally to dismiss as "mushy"."

--- On Love, Alain de Botton

唉。

繼續沮喪。

Finally...

I have finished reading the 608-page book and can now resurface from my little Potter world again. For the past few days I have been avoiding all forms of media/human contact - blogs, websites, newspapers, TV news, even the MTR, for fear that some horribly evil-hearted people (like You-Know-Who) may, just for the fun of seeing other people (i.e. me) suffer, give the ending away.

Hurrah, I am free now!

做得幾多得幾多。

一個鐘，我應該得嘅。

除了冷氣，要做的，還有很多很多。但總要踏出第一步。

The truth is always hard to take.

BB and I have joined a new care group at church, and tonight is our first official bible study / fellowship meeting.

Like most bible study groups, we need to prepare for the meeting by reading some materials relevant to the topic of discussion, and tonight's topic is about marriage life. So, this morning I was reading this chapter which talks about "honouring your uniqueness". The chapter contains discussion of spiritual principles as well as some questions for us to answer, and it was when I was answering one of the questions that the truth suddenly dawned on me:

"What is your G.Q. (gratefulness quotient) concerning your talents and abilities? Write Yes or No in each blank below.

_____ I can think of at least two talents I have.
_____ I often thank God for the abilities He has given me.
_____ I ......

......"

I froze after reading the first statement. "Two talents"? I scratched my head for 5 minutes, went to the loo (people think most clearly when in toilets), came back, stared at the questions again for another 5 and my head was still blank.

I HAVE NO TALENTS! *sob*

P.S. It's been 6 hours since I first read the question, and I still cannot think of one single talent that I have. Sigh.

唉。

我未來18日（唔好彩的話，2個月！）會勁沮喪。

點解我咁命苦吖。

The lobster, shrimp and crab louie was fantastic.

Having lunch with L is always a pleasure.

We were classmates in law school, and after we graduated, we joined the same law firm and became colleagues.

I left that law firm three years ago, but L and I manage to keep in touch. Whenever we meet up (which is less often than we'd like to be), it's always full of fun and non-stop chatting. Pure gals' talk.

Having changed jobs a few times has left me with, besides a few more lines on my CV, a fair amount of "ex-colleagues". Not all "ex-colleagues" can transition smoothly into "friends" -- time will tell. There are disappointments, but there are more surprises.

L is never a surprise though. I always knew we would be friends, colleagues or not. And I am so glad I am right.

If I say this 100 times it will come true.

I am an excellent cook.

I am an excellent cook.

I am an excellent cook.

Au secours!

點解我細個時淨係掛住煲電視劇唱K行街，而不好好去學下法文呢。

點解叮噹不是我的朋友呢。

點解我個客講的英文要有這麽濃烈的法文口音，多到我其實十句話裏只有一句聼得明呢。仲要和他傾合同噃，仲要份合同勁肉酸要大執噃。點算？

Oh Sekoor!

My new book shelf.

Just scroll down.

There is a wish list too! *wink*

The angels got together... and sprinkled moondust in your hair**.

T and I go back a long way. We started our full-time professional work life together in the same law firm as trainee solicitors. Memories of how we first met escaped me, but I can remember vividly the days when it's quiet at work and we (trainees!) took our not-too-short tea break or went shopping (Mannings!) in the Exchange Square area (IFC was not yet fully developed in those days).

Years flew by and today T is not only a talented (she's been always been - it is difficult to hide a star) and successful lawyer at an international law firm, but a mother of three!

Her name is Yvonne. Isn't she adorable. (She smiles too - only at aged 2/365 year!)

**You are allowed to be mushy when around babies.

Anniversary.

Today is my parents' wedding anniversary. 34 years ago, they made one of their life's biggest commitments -- that they would love and cherish each other for the rest of days.

In a world where the divorce rate is climbing every year, 34 is a pretty amazing figure.

My parents do not think this is much of a big deal, but I do. And I thank them for teaching me all about family values by setting an example themselves.

The Peak.

The Suens have recently bought a car, so what better to do than to drive to the Peak on a sunny day and have a relaxing lunch with their two friends (i.e. me and BB)?

The view from Cafe Deco.










The appetizer sampler I ordered.







The salmon tandori.

The food at Cafe Deco was OK, but if you are planning on going, stay away from the wine tasting package. We should have known better that $72 (for 3 glasses) is not going to give us any remotely pleasant wine tasting experience. Our bad.

Next time we will try Pearl on the Peak (with the Suens of course, who will again give us a ride -- yes I know we are shamelessly thick-skinned).

《一期一會》。

錯配。

看完劇後，掙扎了很久，應否下筆。畢竟在香港，有心有力搞創作的人實在不多，難得有這班熱心人不離不棄，實應大力支持。

但我在看戯後當晚，發了一個夢。夢中我朋友S（在現實中和我一起去看這劇的人）告訴我，我們買了兩場飛，所以明天還要多看一場早場。這時我便從夢中扎醒，心裏卜卜跳，額頭有汗。我剛發了一個惡夢。

這套劇令我發惡夢喎！我覺得我deserve在這裏發洩一下囉。

但我不會把我腦袋裏的東西（包括那幾句髒話）全都寫出來，因觀後感是很主觀的，我不希望買了票還未去看的朋友被我的意見影響。再講...

...可能導演編劇根本的原意就是要弄一個浮誇膚淺的劇本，只務求把所有他覺得有爭議性的話題如同性戀/姐弟戀/物質主義/援助交際/愛滋病/死亡/亂倫等放進劇本裏，然後套上一兩句隱隱感性的宣傳語，什麽“一生只有這麽一次相遇”，“學習失去的痛苦”，再加上出色的海報及傳媒友好名人的“推介”，就認爲可以過關。所以故事簡陋犯駁，結構鬆散，角色沒靈魂統統都無所謂。

...可能在1986年出生的年輕人都真的如劇裏主角一樣，舉手投足思想行爲都像一班初中學生般。我承認我在大學時期不見得很成熟，但總不會像他們一樣囉。我一邊看這班“大學final year同學”，一邊額角變青，附送冷汗兩滴。（很難明言，你看後就會明白。）

...可能這劇的target audiance其實是十五至二十二嵗的年輕人。所以當我覺得我像在看中學生戲劇比賽（那種作狀，那種細路扮大人講人生哲理），其實是正常反應。

《馴情記》好看，在於它簡單清新，故事主綫明確，沒有多餘野心。《你今日拯救咗地球未？》已令我稍稍滴汗，想不到《一期一會》這個本來可以很容易拿捏的題材仍然敗於導演過度野心眼高手低之下。

我知道很多人對這劇有很高的評價（相信當中不乏林一峰楊詩敏梁祖堯林小寳的fans），不然不會重演。我只知道，我沒有被它感動，反而有中途離場的衝動。

------

想看《暗戀桃花源》。或者老餅如我，應該看一些比較傳統（正統）的劇目，而不是什麽現代創作。

都說是錯配。

你，衣櫃，go go go。

生果日報如是説：

“將 於 今 日 在 亞 洲 多 個 國 家 同 步 發 售 的 英 國 人 氣 品 牌 Anya Hindmarch 環 保 袋 ， 在 明 星 效 應 及 強 勁 宣 傳 攻 勢 下 ， 昨 天 吸 引 逾 千 市 民 在 全 港 四 家 專 門 店 及 一 家 高 檔 超 市 通 宵 排 隊 搶 購 ， 當 中 包 括 一 隊 由 「 炒 家 」 率 領 的 百 人 「 排 隊 黨 」 ， 但 由 於 各 個 售 賣 點 均 出 現 打 尖 、 鼓 譟 的 混 亂 場 面 ， 警 方 派 員 到 場 維 持 秩 序 ， 並 要 求 改 用 派 籌 方 式 疏 通 人 流 。 結 果 逾 千 張 籌 瞬 間 派 光 ， 但 聚 集 在 中 環 及 尖 沙 嘴 五 個 售 賣 點 的 600 多 名 向 隅 者 ， 直 至 昨 深 夜 仍 不 肯 散 去 ， 群 情 洶 湧 。”

我居然一度天真地以爲應該沒有太多人知道這個袋、應該不會有人排長龍買、如果我跟媽媽今朝7點去的話，也應該一定買到啦、還可以做個好新抱送一個給我奶奶回禮答謝她幫我在英國買了一個等我早就可以用嘻嘻、等等等等。哎，發夢總是美好的。

原來別人在昨天中午已經開始排隊（癲咗？）。

有這麽多鼓噪的人，如果我拿我的英國版出街，會否被人打？

都係低調D好。放它入衣櫃，等過得一頭半個月，潮流一過，人們忘記了曾經有這個袋，到時候才用吧。

埋嚟睇啦喂。

老闆話呢個月尾我哋成個部門一齊放假一日去探佢哋喎！!

邪惡Starbucks。

在我公司隔壁的商場新開張的Starbucks簡直邪惡至極。

自從我返工的地點由中環北移到新界之後，一直念念不忘的居然是這連鎖（不好味）咖啡店。無他，失去了才會珍惜。

上月發現公司附近將會開新Starbucks，我興奮了整整一個月。以後不用每天吃茶餐廳魚蛋粉麥記美心叉燒飯了！

今個星期，終於開張。我每天幫襯，java chip frappucino muffin salmon panini lamington....好像放監一樣。搞咩呢？其實從我家10分鐘路程不夠已經有超過5間鬼佬咖啡店（包括兩間Starbukcs）啦，而我卻很少光顧。咁爲何我單單對公司附近的這間Starbucks有興趣呢？有興趣到我吃盡了我平時不會吃的高脂高膽固醇食物！ 我簡直是全球一體化的典型受害者啊（吓？！）。

但我真的不想再吃難食魚蛋粉囉。

The Press Room

As BB said, when you go to a decent restaurant for dinner without your wife, you should be prepared to pay the price, i.e. you may be "gently" reminded of this tiny little fact every day for the rest of your life, or that your head (or other body parts) may be chopped/bitten off when you're asleep.

To avoid any of the above from happening, BB has wisely chosen the perfect remedy. A booking was secured, and 48 hours later, he was at The Press Room again, this time with his lovely spouse and four good friends.

I like the place. It is modern, cozy and unpretentious. The only thing is that it can be rather noisy when fully seated, which is strange considering the ceiling is really high.

I ordered the Endive, Pear & Colston Bassett Stilton Salad, and the Portabello Mushroom Crepes. The salad was divine. I am usually not a huge fan of blue cheese but this dish still managed to top my "favourite salad" list. The Crepes was good too, but I was already very full when it arrived so I had quite a difficult time finishing it off.

Other things that we've ordered included the French Onion Soup, Country Pate, Pan Seared Scallops & Escargots, Lobster Risotto, Lobster and Avocado Club Sandwich, Herb Crusted Rack of Australian Lamb, Prime Steak Frites, and Press Room Burger. The feedback was unanimously positive.

Time flies by quickly when you are in the company of good friends. We chatted and gossiped and the next thing we knew, it was close to 11pm. We got the bill, left the restaurant, and took our separate taxis home.

All in all, the long weekend ended in good taste.

母雞周末。

Hen Weekend是也。

星期六早上，8個女生，浩浩蕩蕩向中山出發。

兩日一夜，我們做盡一般人在中山會做的事 -- 吃東西和按摩。當然還有hen weekend 的highlight啦（不過是秘密嘿嘿）。其實我們8人只要在一起，不管到哪裏都可以有很多歡樂（因爲我們是癲婆）。

我們按摩的地點是在一間醫院裏面。一進醫院便有聞到一股濃烈的中葯味道，感覺好衛生，好專業（？），加10分。醫院環境好乾淨，又光猛， 又加10分。按摩手勢正宗，我的酸痛位全部按中，加300分！！ 還不用給小費，加50分！但那些接待員好像未瞓醒般，拾吓拾吓，倒扣140分！



醫院一角。好像很摩登喲。








去了石祁佬吃晚飯。可憐的乳鴿啊！生命只有短短13天，唉。







翌日我們去了香格里拉的中菜庭午飯。高分的一餐。







硬是不明白爲什麽大陸的叉燒餐包總是特別好味道。有人說是因爲大陸的餐包落了很多豬油。 弊，我吃了很多！

The long weekend

This is BB here - DBJ has given me permission to write another guest blog while she parties away on her hen weekend in Zhong Shan.

After another challenging week at work (bosses in every part of the company wanted to please a certain client that was also ringing me for midnight con calls), it was great to have a long weekend.

Escaping the Saturday rain, I went to the movies and saw "Die Hard 4" with two uni friends who, like me, have made HK their home for the next few years. Cool as Bruce Willis is, the plot and action scenes were just too OTT. Even for me. "24" is better.

Saturday dinner was enjoyably spent at a restaurant that I had been wanting to visit for ages, but somehow never managed to. I'll definitely come back (next time with DBJ who won't be pleased that I've gone to another decent restaurant w/out her).

I can't really comment on the restaurant reviews that say it's a NY style brasserie. I've never been to NY, much to Americans' disbelief. What I do know is that the food and atmosphere were great. Floor to ceiling windows, an open kitchen, chalkboard containing my favourite dishes, some good wines and a very respectable selection of cheeses (alas we were too full to try the cheeseboard), make this place well worth a visit. We had a very fresh endive, pear and blue cheese salad (perfect to get the gastric juices flowing), foie gras terrine (decent size portion though there could have been a bit more jam/quince), great burger with all the trimmings, asparagus (nicely grilled and presented), creamed spinach, profiteroles, apple crumble etc.. You get the picture. I am a fan of such high quality and generously portioned comfort food! (The place also does brunch, so I can see Phoenix facing some stiff competition.)

The only gripe I have is that, having spent a reasonable sum on a wine, the glasses were unisex white/red ones which could not give justice to the Bordeaux. (I hate to admit that I am becoming a Frasier or Niles in being so judgemental, but this is a warning to DB's readers who do like their wine).

All in all, a very enjoyable Saturday.

Long may the weekend continue!

Watching a movie, 3 units.

It is my habit that I only watch a movie once, either in cinema or on DVD, however good it is. Watch it twice and the flavour is gone.

There are, of course, exceptions. A few of them, in fact.

Huge fan as I am, I still think Music and Lyrics is crap.

half empty, half full.

I always see my glass half full. Always.

Like, I would say, "Yippee! Today is Thursday already!!", when my husband would go, "Sigh, it's only Thursday." Of course the fact that his job is 100 times more stressful and demanding than mine doesn't help him a lot.

But then again, it's Thursday already! The long weekend is almost around the corner!

Plus we are going to see Shrek 3 tonight!

Life is beautiful after all.

愛是。

在臨睡前，你跟你老公談天，你繪形繪聲不停口地說着一大堆你認爲很有趣的生活瑣事呀八卦消息呀公司gossip呀等等等等。兩秒之後，你老公跟你說：“嘩大笨，你好無聊呀。”

Scottish Folds. Persian. Siamese. Bombay. Chinchilla.

若一個人只愛名種貓，不愛家貓流浪貓，那人還算不算愛貓？

但這些人世界上真的有許多。我認識的也有不少。他們都不是壞人，也是真心愛他們的名種貓咪。只是他們的愛沒有引申到那些樣子可能不太討好的街貓罷了（即是可以選擇的話他們會去寵物店買貓而不會去領養）。

唉，人總是膚淺的，只愛看漂亮的東西（包括靚仔靚女）。

但我真的覺得我的豬仔包好可愛囉咩唧。

-------------

其實我家小寳也是來自寵物店。本來打算入店混吉一輪就走，但當我一抱起那時仍是豆丁般大的小寳，他便不停的purr（即是從肚子裏發出，代表他很開心的那些聲音），又黏着我不願我放下他，於是我便真的沒有再放下他了。之後良心不斷受責難（我一直也堅持只會領養不會買），惟有去流浪貓中心贖罪。如是者我的生命便多了隻豬仔包。

想說的是，無論你的動物朋友是身價不菲或是人棄你取，都要盡力愛他們。他們可能是你生命的一部分，但你卻是牠們生命的全部。全部喎！好大的責任喎！

停一停，諗一諗。

Quote. Unquote.

"Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse." ----- Philip Yancey

Planet Earth

Watched the first episode of Planet Earth with BB last night.

I have always liked the BBC documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough. It's always entertaining, almost like watching a movie. And because the DVD we bought was a high definition one, the graphics were jaw-droppingly stunning.

I think the review on Amazon.com says it all: "...Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced....Accompanied by majestic orchestral scores by George Fenton, every episode is packed with images so beautiful or so forcefully impressive (and so perfectly photographed by the BBC's tenacious high-definition camera crews) that you'll be rendered speechless by the splendor of it all."

I doubt if anyone who watches this is not touched by the wonders and grandeur of this world (and all things in it). It's as if God was saying to us, "You who do not believe, look at this! Who else is capable of such creation, with such perfect cycle and harmony!"

I always feel closest to God when I watch natural history documentaries.

返教會。

星期六，我跟爸媽去了一間在我家附近的中文教會，出席它的周六崇拜。

我之前從來沒有到過那教會，所以有點擔心，不知它的崇拜形式怎樣，會不會嚇走/悶走我爸媽。曾想過，不如我去當探子，先返一個星期，覺得好才帶爸媽去。但朋友說，你帶父母返教會，是好事，神一定會保守你們的。

於是我們三個人，戰戰兢兢的踏進教會。

結果是，神再次證明給我看，一切事情都在祂掌握中。講道有關父親節，牧師說一些他跟他女兒的生活事，又說些父母經，我爸媽在幾個笑位都有些反應，證明他們沒有恰眼瞓。（嘩，看見他們笑，我即刻鬆一口氣！）。

我媽比我爸好像更爲受落（她甚至跟我弟弟說：“不如你下次跟我哋一起返啦！”），這個我也能理解 --- 她的一個篤信佛教的好朋友去年中風，昏迷了３個多月後奇跡醒來，經過多次手術，現在康復過來，更奇跡地信了主。這對我媽是一個挺大的影響。雖然我爸還有點猶疑，但我自有一套“對付”他的策略：“喂老豆，我哋下星期返完教會之後，我帶你去食好好味漢堡包吖！”“咦，好噃！”感謝神給我一個這麽嗜食的父親。

------

一切都比我想像中順利。以前我常問神也問自己，爲何向家人傳福音會這麽困難？爲何自己沒能力也沒勇氣向他們說自己的信仰（我當年受浸也沒告訴家人，“現在不是時候”我跟自己說。）。現在謎底開始揭開，原來一切自當有時。Timing。

神的timing，你永遠也估不到；但祂的timing，永遠是perfect的。

嘩，好勁。

（羅馬書８章２８節果然係永恒金句。）

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett

Did you watch Buffett and Gates Go Back to School yesterday on Pearl?

I was most impressed with Warren Buffett's answers, which were succint and genuine, sometimes humourous, and always inspiring.

Two things he said that I remember particularly - that public speaking is the most important skill/asset that one should acquire, and that the paramount quality a good leader should possess is the ability to bring out the best in people. This is coming from a 77-year-old who has spent a good part of his life running a hugely successful and profitable business, and who is dedicated to "making this world a better place". So, you better listen to what he's got to say!

Two of the world's most powerful and richest people sharing their perspectives on life, work, philanthropy, and everything else - it is a programme too good to miss.

呃稿費。

中午時分，坐在office，大腦開turbo （平時返工都冇咁搏盡），希望藴漾靈感，在這兒寫點什麽。

20分鐘（吃完一碗魚蛋魚腐米綫）後，決定放棄。腦袋便秘，誰也拿它沒法。

這可能也是幸福的反映 -- 生活中沒有什麽值得報告的事情，一切如常運作。平淡是福。

（嘩，我呢種心態，真的絕對有條件做師奶。）

（我都話我份工好得閒傢啦，可以用15分鐘發呆，然後再用30分鐘打這篇文。嘿嘿。）

（但我工作時真的很勤力嗰喎，又盡責，交功課又快又準（下省3000字...)。 唔信問我老闆吖。）

You could grow a baby in seven months.

(OK you could not, but you know what I mean. Or you don't. Whatever.)

-------

Last week, the long-awaited reprints of our wedding photos were finally ready for pick up. Before we hired Raymond, our wedding photographer, we had been fore-warned about his lack of efficiency when it comes to "post-wedding productions". We went ahead and hired him nevertheless because we were truly impressed with his photography skills and passion.

Anyway. Fast-forward to February this year, 3 months after our wedding, and we had a first look of our wedding pictures (in A3 casting sheets - we had to use a magnifying glass to help us see the pictures clearly). It was worth the wait. Both BB and I were really glad we hired him to shoot us on probably the biggest day in our lives. We quickly went through all the thumb prints and asked him to help us develop some reprints, so that we can send the photos to our friends and relatives.

That was another four months' wait.

Anyway, now we have all the reprints, and very shortly we will be sending the photos and thank-you cards (which are now being printed and will be ready in two weeks) to all our guests. I know some of them have been waiting patiently for our thank you notes (which should according to western custom be sent within a month after getting married)...

It feels great when the last task on your "wedding to-do list" is about to be accomplished :)

榮幸。

剛與E通電話。E是我的舊同事，大家以前在律師行工作時是鄰居（她的office在我隔壁），又同是基督徒，所以會常常互相扶持鼓勵（在我們的舊公司，不互相扶持鼓勵的話，會發癲的）。

後來我們倆都離開了律師行，做了in-house counsel （公司法律顧問）。但依舊保持聯絡。

今天和E通電，因爲她正在轉工，現在有幾個機會在面前，每個機會也有優點缺點。“所以我想找個我信任的人談談，看看她有什麽意見。”她認爲我就是那個她信任的人。

心理由衷的覺得榮幸。能夠得到別人的尊重與信任，比任何東西也來得珍貴。

其實以前我都覺得我思想都算挺成熟的，分析能力也可以。但人大了，認識的人多了，便越發覺跟很多人相比，自己其實不外如是（有時甚至幼稚得很 -- 叫得大笨，可以有幾醒吖？）。 話雖如此，現在E對我投以信任票，我當然也會盡力替她分析，希望協助她做出適當的選擇。臨收綫時，我不忘加一句“I will pray for you.”畢竟到最後，人所知道所掌握到的都有限，只能依靠上帝的大能引領。

忘了說，其實E也是我很信任的人。她經歷過的事，不是每個人也能熬過，但她卻能把一切都化爲榮耀歸於神。對她，我有無比尊重。

Where is God when it Hurts?

I started reading Philip Yancey's "Where is God when it Hurts?" this morning on my way to work. The very first paragraph in Chapter One captured me immediately:

"I feel helpless around people in great pain. Helpless, and also guilty. I stand beside them, watching facial features contort and listening to the sighs and moans, deeply aware of the huge gulf between us. I cannot penetrate their suffering, I can only watch. Whatever I attempt to say seems weak and stiff, as if I'd memorised the lines for a school play."

Philip Yancey is my favourite Christian writer, and for good reasons. He always approaches sensitive and difficult topics from a very practical perspective, with honest sharing of his life experience. He does extensive research - not just in the library or on the Internet for theories and analysis, but by speaking to real people with real issues, which makes his books a lot more human and touching. Reading his books is like a walk in the park, except that you leave the park with a stronger biblical faith without realising it.

回家。

過去兩星期，我流了很多眼淚，也思考了很多事情。

我思考得最多的一件事情，是關於天堂。

---------------

星期二晚，葬禮進行期間，我坐在教堂裏，聼着A的太太，親人，好友忍着眼淚跟我們分享A的生平趣事。我看見安詳地睡在棺木裏的A。我看着一段有關A由兒時到大的photos slide show，包括一張於去年聖誕節大夥兒在我們家開派對時拍下的照片。我忍住淚在台上讀了詩篇121篇。我唱了很多歌頌上帝的聖詩。

那晚，我哭了很多。但同時間，我不斷在想：不知道A現在怎樣？他會不會正在天堂，看着他最愛的DVD，吃着他最愛的Mos Burger，完全不知道我們為他哭？還是他特地從天堂走了下來，坐在我們當中，為我們的傷心而難過？

實情是，我心裏真的有這麽一丁點點羡慕他，現在終於可以踏足天堂。永生的盼望終於實踐。不知道天堂是怎麽樣的呢。

我們相信基督的人，在眼淚流盡過後，還有信心和盼望。我們相信終有一天會在天家重聚，我們盼望這一天到臨。我們知道，我們現在說了再見，以後真的是會再見的。這是痛失親人的人最大的安慰。

------------------

前幾天，我跟父親說：“不如我帶你返教會吖”。父親的第一反應是：“唓，你間教會講英文嘅。”（而不是“唓我都唔信嘅/唔好搞我/講耶穌悶死人啦/等等照頭淋冷水答案。）心裏暗喜。即是如果我帶他去一家中文教會他就不會抗拒啦。我跟他說，如果他跟媽咪都信了主的話，我便死而無憾了。我說這話時的認真，希望他會感受到。

真的。知道自己雖然要離開，但跟心愛的人會有重聚的一天，還有什麽需要牽掛？

當年今日。

今年的六四，爲了種種原因，令人倍加傷感。

悼念活動我不會去了，但歷史，我亦不會忘記。

一段。

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." --- 2 Timothy 4:7-8

“那美好的仗我已打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，所信的道我已經守住了。從此以後，有公義的冠冕為我存留，就是按着公義審判的主到了那日要賜給我的；不但賜給我，也賜給凡愛慕他顯現的人。” --- 提摩太後書4章7-8節

Next stop, Wonderland.

What we have is a promise. A wonderful promise of eternal bliss in Heaven. A promise from God that even though we say goodbye to our loved ones in this world, we will meet again soon in a much better world, so much better that we with our finite minds cannot begin to comprehend.

So this is not really goodbye. We cry and we mourn, but we know this is not goodbye.

I will see you again, A.

don't worry. I am ok. thank you.

It has taken me the longest time to come up with this post.

A, a very good friend of BB's and mine, was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of Queen Mary Hospital on Tuesday due to a brain haemorrhage. The bleeding took place near the brain stem so no surgery could be performed. He went into a coma soon after he was rushed to the hospital. So the last week has seen his family and friends crying, praying and going on a collective emotional roller coaster ride.

Now, after much struggling and false alarms, A has been moved out of the ICU and into the general ward. He is still in a coma, his brain stem having been damaged to a large extent. He is sustained by a life-support machine, and things are not likely to improve in the future, according to the doctors.

Sorry for the seemingly matter-of-factly account of this event. There was so much I wanted to tell you, but all words failed me.

Give me some time - to digest the whole thing, to let reality sink in. Right now a part of me seems to think that maybe this was all just a terrible nightmare, and that I would wake up eventually and everything would be fine.

If you belive in God, please pray for my friend A, his wife C (who is also a very good friend of ours) and both A and C's family. They have been surprisingly strong so far, but they need every support and prayer we can offer.

In the past seven days, I have seen the glory of God, the power of prayers, and the strength of friendship and family love. I will tell you all about it, but maybe later. Let us just focus on today. Every day is a gift from God.

Right now I am still numb from the suddenness of it all. Thank you to all of you who read my previous post and wondered if I was ok. I am. The fact that I can breathe on my own and move my arms and type this post makes me almost the luckiest person on earth. How could I never realise that.

The longest three days

I cannot begin to describe the emotions I have gone through over the past three days.

I shall disappear in the coming few days.

But I won't be gone for long. I will be back, with a new heart, new friendships, new attitude and new confidence, and hopefully some great news.

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I believe in Jesus, I believe He is the Son of God,
I believe He died and rose again,
I believe He came for us all.
And I believe He is here now,
Standing in our midst;
Here with the power to heal now,
And the grace to forgive.

(From "I Believe In Jesus", Marc Nelson ©1987 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing)

My new toy

I got a surprise present from BB the other night. It was a slim and cool Nokia 6300 mobile phone. My old phone was close enough to be declared a museum exhibit, and although I had been toying with the idea of getting a new phone, I never got around to actually buying one. Partly because I quite like my old phone - it is a very old model, but it works well for someone who only uses a phone for calling and receiving calls; partly because I dread all the hassle in switching phones, you know, the profile setting, the contact list updating, etc.

Having said that, I was still pleasantly surprised to find the little retangular box on the bed covered by the duvet. The last thing you expect to see on your bed when you jump into it is a new mobile phone right?

For a person who hates surprises, BB has pulled it off perfectly this time.

想說。

雖然我極笨，雖然我記性極差，但有些大是大非的事情，不難明白，你想忘記也忘不了。“屠城”也好，“血腥鎮壓”也好，“春夏之間的一場風波”也好，都是形容詞罷了。我經歷過的，我眼看見的，我很清楚是什麽，不容你亦容不下你去告訴我。

在那火紅火熱的期間，我曾經買過一本記錄相集（應該是明報出版的吧，都忘了），我一邊看，一邊流眼淚。幾年前搬家，從床下底翻出這書。幾經掙扎，最後決定把它丟掉。既然有些東西你永遠都不能忘記，也用不着這些物證吧，我當時想。

現在很後悔。我恨不得一手把這書車去馬先生的臉。

Photos!

I have created a link to my Flickr photos here! Check out the side bar on your right.

嘆十聲。

回來了。除了因爲見到貓咪比較開心之外，勁失落。十二小時之前還跟伯伯在河邊吃牛角包喝咖啡，然後再在湖邊拖手漫步（嘩好浪漫呀!）（其實不是太浪漫，真的，如果你們聽到我們的對白 -“嘩，湖底果舊咩嚟傢？”“大笨，死老鼠呀！”)，一眨眼便已經在家執行李洗衫幫貓梳毛吸塵上網check公司電郵。

Life is back to where it should be now. *sigh*

Already planning the next trip. However, I just checked my annual leave entitlement for this year, and (shock and horror!) I have SIX days left. Super depressing.

More meat?

For a person who doesn't eat beef, who won't naturally choose pork on a menu, and who loves potatoes but knows that they add pounds on you, eating in Switzerland can be very challenging...

There are very few fish or chicken dishes in Switzerland (or at least in German Switzerland), whether in posh restaurants, bistros, pizzerias, or simply open market food stalls. Beef and pork are the most common types of meat eaten here. And the Swiss like their potatoes. I suspect a vegetarian has little chance of survival here.

Having said that, I still managed to fill my stomach full almost every meal, partly thanks to the hospitality of our friend G who took us to really nice restaurants, and partly due to my curiosity to try Switzerland's bratwurst, local ice-creams, cheese sandwiches and yoghurts.

Must only eat carrot sticks tomorrow.

瑞士 - 大貓。十字架。極倦的人。

今天太累，所以只留在酒店附近闖蕩。去了Lowendenkmal。早上遊人不多，我站在園裏看着這垂死獅子的石刻，有點傷感。Mark Twain形容這石雕為“the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world”，果真有點道理。

然後去Museggmauer。走在城橋上，陽光的溫暖恰當的落在身上，迎面吹來清涼的風。遠望Lake Lucerne和雪山，近看高矮有序的歐陸式房子，或疏或密的散佈在古城裏。

踏入十一點。首先我聽到左邊不遠處的教堂鐘聲，齊整規律的噹噹聲，莊嚴平和。然後在我右邊遠處又傳來另一輪的教堂鐘聲，數秒後又有另一間教堂的鐘聲響起。在這短短的兩分鐘内，我被遠遠近近七`八間教堂的鐘聲包圍着。那種奇妙的感覺，現在我知道，叫做心靈洗滌。

-----

伯伯的conference今天完結。今晚會吃餐好的 - 已於朋友介紹，全Lucerne最好味最地道的餐廳訂了位子。

明天開始，我跟伯伯齊齊上路。

The architecture of happiness

I am so glad I brought Alain de Botton's book with me on this trip.

While I was walking up and down the towns of St Gallen, Zurich, Bellinzona, Locarno and Basel, admiring their architectures of churches, town halls, museums or just simply some random residential buildings (the vibrant colours in Locarno! the warm wooden houses in St Gallen!), this passage found its way into my head - "So eloquent are materials and colours, then, that a facade can be made to speak of how a country should be ruled and which principles ought to govern its foreign policy. Political and ethical ideas can be written into window frames and door handles. An abstract glass box on a stone plinth can deliver a paean to tranquillity and civilisation."

In Kunstmuseum this afternoon, upon seeing a painting or two that touched me, a sudden sense of void and sadness overcame me. On my train journey back to the hotel, I read this: "Our sadness won't be of the searing kind but more like a blend of joy and melancholy: joy at the perfection we see before us, melancholy at an awareness of how seldom we are sufficiently blessed to encounter anything of its kind. The flawless object throws into perspective the mediocrity that surrounds it. We are reminded of the way we would wish things always to be and of how incomplete our lives remain."

And then some more: "While a common reaction to seeing a thing of beauty is to want to buy it, our real desire may be not so much to own what we find beautiful as to lay permanent claim to the inner qualities it embodies...Endeavouring to purchase something we think beautiful may in fact be the most unimaginative way of dealing with the longing it excites in us, just as trying to sleep with someone may be the bluntest response to a feeling of love."

This is a perfect alternative travel guidebook.

瑞士 - 這個下午，我的心蕩漾在巴塞爾

（今天行完美術館，人都優雅一點。）

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Basel的文化氣息很濃，尤其是在古城那邊。我慕着
Kunstmuseum的名而來。果然不負所望，在這裡我度過了極悠然的一個下午。除了有一班中學生由老師帶領來參觀之外，其他遊人，除我以外，不出十人。所以很多時候，我可以在一個人獨自在展館内，自己的呼吸聲，每行一步的回音，都清楚得有點難以面對。

在這麽寧靜的環境下，看着眼前各幅珍品，與各藝術大師作跨時空交流。喜歡逛美術館。每間美術館，每件作品，都會隨著不同的時空和心情，帶給我大大小小不同的震撼（impact）。對着十六七世紀的寫實畫，尤其是人像或有故事性的畫，我的心會不期然的寒起來，毛管也會竪起，覺得這些畫中人像要跑出來跟我説話，又或是那些故事將會在我眼前重演一次。看見梵高的畫，我的心會隱隱的抽搐，像感受到他下筆時那股氣勢，厚厚的油彩蓋滿帆布的那種狠勁。有時我會莫名其妙的傷感起來。一些畫我以前覺得不甚了了，現在再看，卻明白只是當時年紀少。相反，一些我以前很喜歡的畫家，現在已不能再感動我了。當然，最愛的，永遠都不會變（可惜今天看不到他的作品）。

喜歡去美術館，因爲每次都有不同的驚喜。

--------------

同場加映Kunsthalle。完全是無心之失 -- 一心想去Kunstmuseum。但大笨如我，一看到街上的指示說“Kuns-”，都未看完整隻字，便馬上跑去找。一進舘，已覺不妥。Kunsthalle地方很細，全年展覽不同的當代藝術者的作品（有點像Fringe Club）。不幸地，今期的展覽我個人覺得非常普通，可能人老了，對這些太現代的藝術表現方法開始失去興趣吧（我曾經非常喜歡這些所謂當代藝術）。前後不到10分鐘我已看完（包括隔壁的超小型建築博物館）。難爲我之前花了２０分鐘找這地方，還要奉獻整整10法郎入場費！！有點羊牯feel（無法子，是自己自動獻身撲入虎口）。

--------------

孭着背囊走了好幾天路，弄得我腰痠背痛。現在最惦念的，竟然不是我的貓咪，而是我的按摩師傅Ada。

瑞士 - take 2 - 一個人在途上

昨天去了南部Bellinzona跟Locarno。因爲靠近意大利，所以這兩處地方都充滿意色風情，從天氣（嘩，熱到吖）到建築到街名到氣氛。我差點以爲我越過了邊界。（真的想過不如再去遠一點，到米蘭shopping，但好像有點那個。）

非常喜歡Bellinzona。那裏有很多城堡。到了最古舊最impressive的Castelgrande。走到城堡上，有廣場，有大片草地，有孩子在追逐遊玩，有人在放狗。如果不是要趕火車，我真的想就在草地上睡個覺，或看看書。放假不就應該是這樣子嗎?

昨天總共坐了7小時來回火車。挺喜歡一個人在途上的感覺，尤其是在語言不通（但又安全發達又有清晰完善交通運輸）的國家。坐在車廂裏，由於聼不明白其他乘客在說什麽，就自然不會分心（我是很八卦的人），能集中精神看風景，看書，或發白日夢。

一個人旅遊的唯一缺點，就是不能在餐廳吃頓好的。我很怕一個人坐在餐廳吃飯，總是覺得很可憐很孤獨般。在快餐店看到人們一個人吃飯，對面坐着不認識的人，我很替他們難過。我知道可能他們大抵覺得完全沒問題（我跟很多朋友談過，其實大部分都覺得沒問題）（我知，我多愁善感吖嘛），但要我做，真的不行。所以一個人旅遊，我通常只吃外賣，三文治yoghurt果汁熱狗等等。看見其他遊客大魚大肉，幾慘（我，不是其他遊客）。

昨天走了很多路坐了很多車，很累。今天簡簡單單，到Basel去。

瑞士 - take 1.1

結果Zurich跟Winterthur都去了。兩個都是大城市，沒什麽驚喜，純粹到此一遊。 （本來這兩處地方可以好好玩-我的原定計劃是逛美術館呀博物館呀等等，但我忘了它們都在星期一休館，所以只好從文化日變成shopping日。）（我知，我好笨吖嘛。）

行了一整天，腳都軟埋。買的東西全都是家庭用品 -- 砧板呀（係，係砧板。邊個話在瑞士不能買砧板？），table runner呀，咖啡杯呀，wine pourer呀，等等。如果不是嫌太重，我差點想買埋那個raclette maker添（不要問我無啦啦怎會在家整raclette...買了就自然會用的啦）！

明天向南部Locarno出發。

瑞士 - take 1

在Lucerne兩天，已經感到這裡的calming effects。街上少一點車，行人走路慢一點，再加上一個可能比維港還大的Lake Lucerne（還不怕填海！），這一切在告訴我，未來7天我的心會很平和。

過去兩天跟伯伯的一位同事G見面。她被公司委派到Zurich工作兩年，兩星期前才到，所以她比我們熟悉瑞士多一點點，但又可以用遊客心態和我們一起遊山玩水。

昨天G跟我們去了St. Gallen。那裏比Lucerne還要小鎮。看了教堂，看了石頭，看了古代圖書館。吃了Wiener schnitzel，吃了rösti，吃了無限的朱古力（這裡真的是a chocolate country！每十步就有一間chocolate shop！）。

坐火車從St. Gallen回到Lucerne途中，沿途看見很多歷史悠久但保養得宜的建築（有的是教堂，cityhall等的公共建築，更多的只是平民住宅)。看見雪山山脈。看見大大小小的湖泊。看見大片青草地。看見牛羊馬貓狗在吃草奔跑睡覺瘙癢。然後發現，這麽多人喜歡瑞士或者歐洲等地方，可能就是被那種‘不變’所感動。雪山，湖泊，大草原，老樹，建築。你隱隱感受到永恒的意義，然後你的心也好像落實了一點點。好像有些你一直渴望但掌握不住的東西終究都穩住在你掌心中，然後事情都變得理所當然了。香港人，感受可能特別深。

現在早上9.30am。伯伯已經去了training，我則準備坐火車去Zurich或Winterthur。 一切都很flexible，往哪裏純粹看自己的心情（和當天天氣)怎樣。 這樣的旅行很寫意。

（噢我們到達第一天還在下雨，昨天已開始放晴！今天雖然天有點灰，但沒有雨啊！好嘢！要快點出發。）

未出發 先興奮

還有10小時，我便會坐在飛機上，向着一個我從未到過的地方--瑞士--出發。（咁大個女都沒見過咁多瑞士人，好緊張！）（我係咁低能傢啦咩唧。）

我跟伯伯會在瑞士中部的Lucerne逗留9天。伯伯在那裏training（還要做presentation！），我則負責吃喝玩樂環節。（據説瑞士葡萄酒是那兒的best kept secret!)

唯一暗湧，就是天氣。CNN報告說未來幾天都是介乎下雨和下狂風大雨之間，幾驚！

電腦會跟身，有時間的話，會在他方直擊報道。

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I have decided that my 9 days in Lucerne (and neighbouring cities) will involve primarily food and...er, just food. Of course I will participate in the usual touristy activities, mountain hiking, museum visits, etc., but food would be the theme of this trip. I have done extensive research on the different chocolate shops, local Swiss restaurants, patisseries and wine shops. I already have this image in my head that I am sitting in a local cafe by the window, sipping my coffee, reading my book, and watching people pass by on the street outside the cafe. (Of course my mental image does not take into account of the fact that it will likely rain the whole time during our stay, but let's deal with that later). How cool is that!

I will bring my computer with me (sad I know, but I am a hard working responsible employee who is worth every dollar the company pays me) so I may write a piece or two while I am away (may even include pictures!).

。

驚喜是，好久沒見的朋友致電，跟我say hello。 上一次跟他見面已是5個月前了。

以往，大多是我主動跟我的朋友聯繋。或給他們發個電郵，或給他們撥個電話，總之我會make an effort to keep in touch。

結了婚後，有了新的家庭，新的責任，時間好像少了，生活好像忙碌了（雖然更似無事忙）。花在朋友上的時間和心思也好像相對少了。

非我所願矣。

給我一點時間，讓我習慣了這新生活後，我會把妻子/朋友這兩個角色平衡得更好的。

選擇題。

如果你公司要請人，但你知道這空缺是個很“辣”的位 -- 人工非常可觀，但工作時間長，壓力也當然不少，短期内更要一個頂幾個，直到聘請到足夠的人...那你還會不會告訴你的朋友關於這空缺？

我會。我未必會大力推介，但我會將我對這份空缺所知的一切（好的壞的）統統告訴我朋友，然後由他們自己決定，應否申請這份工。我不是他們，不可以因爲我覺得這份工可能很爛，便剝削他們知道的權利。我覺得的差，別人可能會喜歡呢。可能他們已經很不滿意現在的工作崗位，很想跳槽呢。總之我覺得應該給他們一個機會，去自己決定怎樣做。Informed decisions, it's all about。

伯伯的意見呢，跟我剛好相反。他說他不會對他朋友說，因他明知這份工可能不好做，不想連累別人。“我要保護他們唷”伯伯說。

沒有誰對誰錯，只是我們每個人看待每件事的方法也不同。昨天晚上，我對伯伯的了解又增加了一點點。

夫妻相處之道喲。

祂在對我説話

自從當我發現，一個我認定是朋友的人，原來這麽多年來一直在我背後說我的壞話，我便一直耿耿於懷。一來怪自己笨（唉），怎麽會這些年來，給人良心當狗肺，自己還傻吓傻吓；二來覺得很委屈，因她說我的壞話，都是誇張失實的（也就是壞話的定義吧）。

終於，昨天晚上，我心血來潮，決定今天在這裡發洩一下，好讓大家見識一下大口八婆的犀利。(我呀，好記仇的，你們不要得罪我呀，記住你一世呀。）

然後，今天早上，坐車途中，聼着download在IPod的sermon，聽到這番話--

"If we can take the onslaught of attack, and still have a committment to minister to people, it shows that we are freed from those opinions. People will talk trash about you. People will misunderstand your motives. People will not respect you as they should. People will always disappoint you, christians and non-christians alike. And then you have to make a choice. What do you do with that disappointment?...We see David who was so rooted in his faith, that regardless of the onslaught he felt...he had a committment to God, that oversaw all of that. He had a committment to God that still called him to be ministry-minded, to minister to those that on a horizontal plane did not deserve his ministry, to encourage those who did not encourage him, to love those who were unloveable. That is only possible with a heart that is focused on God... It's 'loving inspite of' that brings such glory to God."

因此，我原本想寫的，寫不了。你原本要看的，看不見。

In anticipation

"If we are inclined to forget how much there is in the world besides that which we anticipate, then works of art are perhaps a little to blame, for in them we find the same process of simplification or selection at work as in the imagination. Artistic accounts involve severe abbreviations of what reality will force upon us. A travel book may tell us, for example, that a narrator journeyed through the afternoon to reach the hill town of X and, after a night in its medieval monastery, awoke to a misty dawn. But we never simply journey through an afternoon. We sit in a train. Lunch digests awkwardly within us. The seat cloth is grey. We look out of the window at a field. We look back inside. A drum of anxieties revolves in consciousness...It starts to rain. A drop wends a muddy path down the dust-coated window. We wonder where the ticket might be...It continues to rain. At last the train starts to move...A fly lands on the window. And still we might only have reached the end of the first minute of a comprehensive account of the events lurking within the deceptive sentence 'he journeyed through the afternoon'."

--- The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

For the past 90 minutes, I was googling about Lucerne, a place in Central Switzerland where I will be flying to in 72 hours and staying for 9 days. I read about all the tourists spots and all the where-to's and what-to's and must-do's. As "Exploring Lucerne - tourists' tips #149" appeared on my computer screen, the above words by Mr de Botton hit me.

I'm lovin' it!

Remember I wrote about how much I wanted the Anya Hindmarch bag?

Well, it is sitting in my living room right now.

I think BB was quite bemused about my over-excitement over this bag ("it must be a girl thing", he said). But little did he know. I had been looking for a chic non-leather bag for some time now (I want to be more animal-friendly, earth-friendly), but for the longest time I couldn't find anything I liked (even when I was ready to pay for an expensive one). That's until I lay eyes on the AH bag in Vogue magazine (the fact that it costs GBP5 is a seriously favourable factor too).

One little tiny problem: the bag was of limited edition, and on sale in the UK only (the Japanese and US version will be launched this summer). Here's when BB's mother came into play. Living in London, BBM was so kind as to go to Sainsbury at 5.45am, and queue for 2 hours until the shop opened at 8am, to buy the bag for me. I felt so very touched, and so very guilty at the same time, when she told me that mission was accomplished. *sniff* I genuinely didn't expect that it would involve so much effort and hassle in getting the bag, otherwise I wouldn't have asked BBM in the first place. What can I say? I have the sweetest mother-in-law who loves me so much.

So this is more than just a bag. This is a bag of statement, and a bag of love.

I am pro-guns.

I care about world issues and I meditate.

By the way, doesn't the rear part of his body look like that of a roast chicken?

Munch and more munch

A month ago, over dinner, I told R, my friend's girlfriend, that I thought Penna Cotta was very difficult to make (even though I had never tried it). "But it is very easy!" R said. At that very moment, from my very own mouth (stupid me!), I managed to declare myself a kitchen retard.

To redeem myself, yesterday I attempted to make this dessert for the first time, following none but R's very own recipe, with a little twist of my own (I used blueberries in balsamic vinegar instead of raspberries in icing sugar, also made it an adult version by adding Vodka).

And Voilà! To quote R's words, it really is "one of the easiest desserts to make, and also very impressive"! I am very pleased with myself. So pleased that I headed to Page One this afternoon and bought myself another cookbook, together with his autobiography. Whoever dare to be my guinea pigs, sign up here!


Last night we met up with AJ and his fiancée, C. C just came back from Japan and she was kind enough to bring us an edible souvenir!

It is a multi-layered cake (like an onion), with an apple right in the middle of the cake! Isn't it super cute!





Today we had lunch with BB's uni mate at Phoenix. Back in our dating days, BB and I used to go to this gastropub almost every weekend (at their old address near Bonham Road), to chill out and play board games. How romantic! But since they moved to this present address (Shelly Street, right next to the escalator), we've visited the place a lot less frequently. The food is excellent as always (love their big breakfast and eggs Benedict). We think (without verification though) their price has come down a notch too (today's bill came to about $150 per person). If you want to have a relaxing lunch in a cozy environment, this is the place.

Verse of the Day

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." --- 1 Samuel 16:7

Time

My friend Anor highly recommended the sermon on "Time" preached by a very good pastor last Sunday at a church which I have been attending for the past few months. I missed last Sunday's service as I attended the service at my home church in Tsim Sha Tsui instead.

So I downloaded the sermon on-line and listened to it this morning on my way to work. It really is a very powerful message, and very well delivered.

This was the first sermon of a new series on the topic of "growing spritually". Am already looking forward to the rest of the sermons!

痛完，笑番。

貓咪們在獸醫診所經過了一天的折磨，現在一切又如常。沒有貓愛滋，拔的牙齒也沒想像中多（1隻，豬仔包）。昨天下午接牠們回來時，牠們還是迷迷糊糊，腳軟軟的，明顯麻醉藥未過。到了晚上，精神好了，變身成餓狼兩隻。最緊要健康。

有所啓發。其實照顧動物，跟返工，跟與（情）人的關係，也一樣。你以爲你已經盡力做得很好，但只要忽略了一點點，也會出事。“我已經盡了力啦，你看我由A-Y不都做得很好？”不是理由。你漏做了Z，就是漏了，出事也往往是因爲Z。

再引伸下去，你以爲你為對方做了很多，犧牲你的所有，對方一定會（要）很感激。但可能你的所謂犧牲，根本就不是對方所看重的。而他所着緊的，你卻掌握不到。結果大家也不開心。就像你喜歡吃江瑤柱蒸水蛋，認爲對方一定也喜歡（江瑤柱蒸水蛋喎，誰會不喜歡？）。但事實是，全世界如果只有一個人不喜歡江瑤柱蒸水蛋，那人往往便是你身邊的那個。

現實/老闆/情人是殘酷的。我們可以罵“咁鬼麻煩，要求多多。”但實情亦是，我們很多時只從我們的主觀出發，認定什麽是“對公司/情人/朋友好”，“盡力做個好員工/情人/朋友”。做了自己認爲OK的，便以爲是duty discharged。但其實對方要什麽我們又知不知道呢。

可幸是，很多事情有take two。我們可以從錯誤中吸取教訓，努力學習做到100分，A-Z樣樣做齊，對方心意統統明瞭。當然，大大前題是他/她/牠/它一定要是worth your effort的，否則呢D咁嘅麻煩友，晨早已一腳伸咗佢去大西洋啦，重要我為你花咁多心思，慳D啦唔該，發夢冇咁早呀。

痛。

早一陣子在家中離奇發現一粒貓牙，在不知誰是物主的情況之下，便打算把大貓阿寳跟小貓豬仔包都帶到獸醫診所去。說“打算”，因爲到最後只有阿寳被我們制服，趕到貓籠裏；豬仔包一個箭步已經躲到梳化底，死也不肯出來。惟有只帶阿寳。

昨天，獸醫一看阿寳的口，便說“嘩，佢棚牙好核突喎！D牙爛晒，重有牙根炎添！”當他知道阿寳只有3歲時，更說：“好少咁後生嘅貓會有咁大問題嗰喎”。

結論是：（1）阿寳要洗牙，還要做手術治療牙根炎；（2）那粒貓牙，不幸地，不屬於牠。即是說，豬仔包棚牙都應該危危乎。（3）因爲（2）的緣故，星期三我要帶牠們兩口子一起去洗牙和做手術；（4）醫生還說要跟他們牠們驗貓愛滋（牙根炎是貓愛滋的其中一個病癥）。

步出獸醫診所時，我腦袋空白，不知所措。只覺得我的心好像一下子重了20磅。伯伯看見我的樣子，問我是不是很擔心，我說不是。但我整天都心情低落，不想説話。

我不是擔心啊，因為也擔心不來。反正牠們有沒有愛滋，或者是否所有牙都脫掉，我也會照顧牠們一生一世的啦。我不開心，是我是在責備自己啊。我以爲我一直都把牠們照顧得很好。買天然的貓糧（也試過自己弄晚餐給牠們！），每天跟牠們玩，常常給牠們抱抱（讓牠們知道我很愛牠們），定時幫牠們沖涼剪毛，也每天幫牠們梳毛和清理眼睛口邊耳朵的髒物。我也有試過幫牠們刷牙，但每次都流血收場（我），所以只好作罷。

我常跟牠們說“你哋喺我哋屋企住，不知幾好彩呀！”唉，可能牠們一直心想“喂盲丙，帶我哋去整好棚牙先講啦唔該。”兩個貓B，兩個都有事，命中率100%！我做貓媽做到這樣，都算失敗。

昨天餵牠們吃晚餐時，想到牠們的牙可能已經痛了很久，吃東西一定很辛苦了，但居然沒人（我）發覺，真陰功。想着想着，我的眼睛也紅了。

做真媽媽的（即是她的BB是會講a man and a pen會駁嘴那些），心痛的感覺大抵就是這樣吧。

Spoon

Thanks to Mr S, you don't have to wait for 2 months for BB's master piece!

By the way, the "chocolat/framboise" was really yuuuuummmmmy!

Wedding and all things related.

Hi, it's BB again.

We've just come back from a wedding banquet. One of my ex-colleagues. It must be the first time (apart from my own wedding!) that I've sat so close to the head table. Normally, as any HK wedding banquet goer will know, colleagues and "other friends" are relegated to sitting on table 37 right at the back corner of the venue, probably by some loudspeakers in the corner. Tonight we were lucky. And the table seating plan was good. All were ex-colleagues (or spouses) and it was great to catch up with good friends. (Whilst we love to moan about our old law firm, there's no doubt that our time in private practice has forged some good friendships which continue long after we left). We must be getting old though. The suggestion of going for drinks after the banquet had a lukewarm response and I think a number of us were secretly relieved to grab a taxi back home rather than try our luck queuing at some nightspot in Soho/Lan Kwai. The groom was one of the last remaining bachelors in our circle of ex-colleagues and, now that he has settled down with his true love, it means no more stag nights for a long time :-(

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This week has flown by. It is with a sigh of relief that we managed to sell our old flat. The intention had been that we would be able to sell our old place and move into the marital home at the same time. Wishful thinking! 9 painful months later of carrying two mortgages and we can now breathe easier. [Note from DBJ: that means BB no longer has any excuse not take me to all those new posh restaurants!]

[Note #2 from DBJ: BB has not forgotten to write about our dinner at Spoon. But being a perfectionist, he has to draft the post, revise it, revise it some more, proof-read, and proof-read some more before he can post it on-line. He has started drafting, so please expect to see it in a couple of months' time. Stay tuned.]