Now my study looks über cool.

Because of this.







Have been anxiously waiting for it for the past month, and it finally landed in my house yesterday! Unfortunately there were some clitches with the wireless keyboard, but my IT friend is fixing it and hopefully in no time it will be fully operational! (Oh did I mention the wirelss mouse is totally out of this world?)

26

is the difference in temperature (in Degrees Celsius) between Paris and Hong Kong.

I am now extremely sleep deprived, dehydrated, disoriented and aching all over, but home :-) .

巴黎。我的玩具店。

說的是龐比度中心（Centre Pompidou）。 素來比較喜歡現代藝術，雖然我不太明白有些藝術家的創作理念，但看着一些作品，真的很趣怪，娛樂性滿分。（當然也有些東西，你看完之後只會O了咀，然後有十萬個感嘆號在你額頭彈出來，但，世事無完美嘛。）

發光的糯米飯。







流動廁所。







紅牛呀。股迷至愛。







將吃完的棉花糖。







七彩快樂門。







不要問我這是什麽，我都好想知。










我最喜歡的作品。







在裏面盪下盪下，便是幾個小時。難爲我的老爺奶奶，陪我行到腳都軟。






-------------------
同日加映，伯伯最愛的玩具店。在Panthéon附近。

Paris. La Château le Fontainebleau. La Défense. My neighbour.

I was thinking of updating the blog only after I have returned home, but tonight I received an E-card(!) from a friend containing the following message: "How's your trip in Paris? ... Do remember to update your blog as fast as possible, I can't wait reading your new posts..." Talk about ego boost :) Thanks L, here you go, and yes, I am having a great time in the Land of Café Crème. It doesn't hurt to be a bit warmer, but I am not complaining.

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

My client was kind enough to sacrifice his Sunday and drove us out of Paris to the Château le Fontainebleau.

The weather could not be more wonderful. The sunny morning even almost gave me a little nice tan.




The usual extravagance and glitter one can expect in a palace. After a few rooms that look more or less the same, you get really bored and start thinking about something else, like shopping.

A quiet corner outside the palace.










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

The "new" Arc de Triomphe at La Défense. It was equally sunny yesterday, but a tad bit warmer.








My next door neighbour. I first met him one early morning, before I went to work. He was nowhere to be found the past few days though. I kind of miss him.

Awwwww......

I miss you too.

Paris. Day 3.

Only two more working days and then I am free! Will carry my camera everywhere with me then and take loads of pictures.

I wish you were here :(

Happy bunny up and running again.

Thank you for all your concerns, I am OK now. And don't get me wrong - I am not the ungrateful bitch who expects to be treated like a queen when travelling on business. I think I was just grossly deceived by the serviced apartment's website, that's all.

Anyway, I have now overcome the initial shock and horror and am starting to enjoy my stay. I am typing away in my office now. The people seem nice and the view outside the window is great. I love Paris :)

Paris. Seafood.

Before I had time to come to terms with my reality for the next 12 days, I had to rush out for drinks and lunch with my clients.

Drinks was at my client's home near the Louvre, a spacious top floor flat with a balcony commanding a 360-degree view of Central Paris. Jet lag has kicked in and part of me wanted to leave, but (i) I found out later that my client especially organised today for me, (ii) there were only 5 of us so if I take off it will be very obvious, and (iii) I have a 70 sq feet room waiting for me, so what's the hurry?

Lunch was at Brasserie Bofinger. I have never seen such a humongous seafood platter (at least 36 inches in diameter), stacked with almost ALL the seafood you can name. The food was exemplary, and the bill was vast (a 2-person seafood platter costs 130 euros).

------

I am now back in my room, typing away. And with a pillow too, thanks to my colleauge (poor thing who has to stay in the same tiny room like me for a whole month) who has kindly lent me his extra pillow (and his hair dryer) (and his internet cable too, hence you can see this post). Life is beautiful after all.

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....