笑談補鐘趣事

承上篇網誌所說，我請了師父替我重操駕駛技術。

當我到駕駛中心報名時，我問那位姐姐我上堂時用的那架車是甚麼牌子。

「『吖郭』嚟架，細細架幾好揸。」她友善地回答。

我以為她說ACCORD，見到架車後先知道是ECHO...

******

上第一課，當我緊張地駛過黃格時，老師不停講「全，全，全呀！」

「全咩呀？」我驚問。

「全到嗰度！」師父說。

啊！原來是「前！」

Driving lessons

This is what I planned for quite some time, but just have time to take action recently.

I am talking about driving lessons. Actually I got my driving license in 2003 but I seldom drive in these five years. My dad said it was a frozen license.

Every time when I sit on the driver seat, I just feel dreadful. Jeff always tries to guide me when should do what, but end up we fight. I blame him for giving me the wrong direction, he complains me on not responding his instruction immediately.

Finally I make a wise decision, to have driving lessons with a professional instructor.

I have had 6 lessons in these two weeks. Finally I drive on highways next to those giant lorries, which I dared not to do 2 weeks ago.

My instructor told me he got his instructor license in 1959... wow, what an experience teacher. He is a little old gentleman, but his response, the clarity of his eyes are much better than young people.

4 more lessons ahead, will have a night class on next Monday.

High maintenance

5 more days then I will turn into 31. Well, it is not that overwhelming comparing to from 29 to 30.

I admit that I am a high maintenance girl. I "invest" a lot in skincare and strictly follow many beauty rituals - scrubbing, toning, deep cleansing, massaging, moisturising, good dieting, etc. My philosophy is it is wiser to spend your money on something that good for your skin than on a brand handbag that spend almost your one month salary. Trust me, most men have no idea whether you are carrying a B.V. bag or L.V. monogram bag.

I do not mean we beautify ourselves for the sake of men's attention. I just think radiant skin is much more attractive than a $18,000 bag with some logos on it.

Another area I "invest" a lot is books. Many years ago I read an article about beautiful women. The author thought many college girls were no longer pretty once they graduated, because they didn't read anymore after they left schools, they were lack of substance in their soul.

Well, I think there are still many girls who do not read but manage to be drop dead gorgeous, but it is not bad to read, I am sure a wise brain can enhance one's beauty, which could not create even by the best liquid foundation in the world.

That's why I read a lot.... I am really shallow....

Copper wire head

I feel so happy to receive lots of compliments of my new straight long hair style. The fringe on the forehead makes me look younger and more chic.

I do think we should reward the Nobel prize to the inventor of hair straightening technique. I know that hair under a 200 degree Celsius hair clipper will go lifeless totally. But guess what? This is what people with rebellious hair like mine want!!!!!

I am sure all my secondary schoolmates remember my 'copper wire head'. I practised swimming 3-4 times a week in those years, the chlorine water bleached and hurt my already uncontrollable hair seriously, you could tell how awful my hair became. Everyday, I could just combed back all my 'copper wire' into a pony-tail.

Actually I would love to try other hair styles, such as bob head with medium length, phone-cord-like curly hair etc, but I don't think I can handle these well... Let see if I will have gut one day and give a shot!!

Mackie Kitchen

Finally I could make to go there, and a bonus was with Doish along.

The restaurant is stylish, homey and cozy, I love the orange walls a lot. That 'book exchange corner' is surprisingly small, but I could still find a book I was interested in, at the same time, I left three chick lit novels on the shelf, they are "The Other Side of the Story", "The Nanny's Diary", and "Everyone Worth Knowing".

After the nice lunch there, we went to the Central to see loads of delicate shops in Soho, and H&M. Frankly, this is the first time I shopped in Hong Kong H&M, I could not believe you could find some great bargain apparel with nice design there. I bought a polka dot headband and a little summer dress.

A nice afternoon!!

Book crossing

I am a book lover. If Jeff and I have our own flat one day, we wish to have a library, or at least a 'reading corner' - many bookshelves stand against the wall, a comfortable armchair, a classic reading light, a floral pattern tea set, some crayons and paper.....

Every time when I duck into a bookshop, I would feel uneasy not to buy any books, so you can imagine how many books in my house.

I always believe it is a waste if a book can be read by one person. For a fantastic book, it is deserved to travel across different people, to influence and inspire each individual. www.bookcrossing.com totally matches my wish. It is a worldwide organization, and aims to assist books crossing around the world. Its members can put a provided sticker with words such as "FREE BOOK! LOOK INSIDE!" or "I'M NOT LOST - PLEASE READ ME! DETAILS INSIDE!" on the book, and place it in the public area, the sticker could tell others it is a free book and they are welcome to bring it back home. The second reader can also release it once he/she finish, and then pass it on.

This is what book crossing means.

I have joined the group but I wonder if it can work in Hong Kong, given that people tend not to take anything on the ground except cash.

Anyway, I found one place in Hong Kong that providing a platform for book crossing - Mackie Kitchenhttp://kitchen.mackie.hk/venue-c.htm. I called the place, the girl told me actually there is just a little library with some books people left there, if I wish to, I could bring my book to place there and exchange one from the shelves....

Well, sounds not very impressive, but I wish to go anyway. I was planning to go in last few days but Lucas stuck to me like a magnet... I could hardly leave him behind...

Paper Doll

Girls from all generations love dressing dolls. This is why paper doll appears as one of the most popular toys. I do believe it enlightens our fashion sense since childhood.

My mom told me when she was a girl, most people are in poverty level. As there was no single extra penny for buying toys, girls recycled fabrics and strands to make their dolls. It is like what our local designer Prudence, the founder of Chocolate Rain did when she was young.

Recently, I learnt from an magazine about www.stardoll.com. It is a fascinating on-line paper doll game. Many Hollywood actors and actresses paper dolls are available, you can even create your unique one. You can dress them up with glamorous clothes from various luxurious brands.

I could find my favourite Natalie Portman and Jessica Alba on the list. Our local representative is Maggie Cheung. Clothes and accessories for stardolls are awesome - casual wear, evening gowns, hot pants, boots, blink blink jewelleries, all these make me exciting.

It's free except you want to buy some latest collections of clothes or makeup for your stardolls.

夜蒲被騙記

話說昨晚去諾士佛台跟中學好友相聚及吃晚餐，飯後謝菲來接我並去酒吧喝點東西。

我們選擇了那間表面上是兩層的酒吧，我以前去過，環境不俗，好像叫做Mekong。但這次門前greeter問我有沒有指定去那一層及會否吸煙，我說沒有及不會，她指示我上了樓上一間叫Q club的酒吧，她說那兒靜一點。

老實說，我己經很久很久沒有夜蒲，完全不暸解這種「集團式經營」。

Q Club很細，裝修一般但看得出花過心思。雖然那兒跟我原本想去的地鋪完全不同，但沒所謂吧。我不喝酒，所以點了Virgin Daiqiri，謝菲點了Tequila Sunrise。

飲品到後，我喝了數口，我知道那杯Daiqiri並不是Virgin，是有酒的，這時謝菲也說他邵那杯Tequila Sunrise出奇的「勁」。

我們叫了waitress來，但她堅稱我那杯是mocktail。

我沒有跟她爭抝，我很清楚，就算她們發現自己出錯也不會認。

而短短兩分鐘內，我體內酒精散出來，滿面通紅。waitress從遠處偷看我，再走到bartender跟前檢查桌上瓶瓶罐罐，之後再不敢行過來。

我們估計，他們可能將水和一種透明的酒搞錯了。謝菲喝了他那杯數口，也覺得酒精濃度出奇高。我們未喝完那兩杯混賬的飲品便走了，要在街上行30分鐘謝菲才敢駕車回家。

我們如斯有教養的人當然不會大吵大嚷地跟他們爭論，word of mouth己是懲罰他們最好的方法。我會online及offline地跟別人分享這奇特的經歷。

Mickey Mouse's Smile II

Oh actually I was going to tell you a joke about Mickey Mouse's Smile when I was writing my last entry.

The day after we had been the Disneyland, my nephew Isaac suddenly said to me, 'You know what? Mickey Mouse is not real'.

I replied, 'In what sense?'

'There is no a Mickey Mouse in the world, it is just a person in that costume.' he explained.

I opened my mouth, could not really find a word, I thought he thought Mickey Mouse was real... Well, he is not a kid who believes fairies or Santa Claus anymore.

'How could you figure it out?' I asked.

He said 'Because Mickey Mouse's mouth cannot close up...'

Mickey Mouse's Smile

We spent two days in the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on April 3-4. Almost everyone in my whole BIG family joined this 'magical journey', except Linus, he is just too small.

The buffet dinner in the first night was amazing. The four Disneyland characters were our hosts - Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy. They kept us busy by tickling the kids, taking pictures with us and wandering around. When one of my nephews asked me how come Donald Duck was not there, I explained to him because he didn't work here, he worked in the amusement park.

Then Jeff commented I was politically incorrect because I said Donald Duck WORKED there... it was supposed a wonderland.

Issac, my another nephew, also a junk food monster, was stunned by the chocolate fountain, ice-cream machine and unlimited supply of seaweed... he simply filled his stomach by these throughout the dinner.

We stayed that night in the Victoria Hotel. It was splendid, glamorous and glittery. You could see many beautiful Chinese type oraments perfectly blended into this castle-like hotel. I am not a fan of Disney but I also felt it is impressive, surely I would love to come again.

We went to the park in the next day. Lucas loved the place and he played Merry-go around, the flying Dumbo and the world of Winnie the Pooh with us. A new discovery was we did not need to queue up for the Space Mountain as we played as single rider. Once we passed through the corridor we could get into a cart with a stranger. A lady shared the cart with me screamed a lot, so funny.

When we were driving back home, I was so content. I felt my family was very affluent in all senses, I didn't only mean it in economic term. We are so lucky to have such a complete family. Although I am very naughty and do not always enjoy family gatherings, I totally appreciate my mom-in-law's great effort of pulling all of us together. I hope our next generation will treasure this.

Facial treatment

Finally I have had a facial treatment this morning.

It is good to have several hours to pamper myself.

It is also good to spend much time to commute, if you are not in rush and not in the rush hour.

Because you can read quietly with no little boys screaming around you or closing your book.

I am still reading A spot of bother... Yes, I take so much time to read it, the babies takes turn to stop me reading book. Anyway, it is really fascinating, I love books about insane people!!

Orange juice

I was making orange juice for the kids and someone criticized me wasting the fruit because each orange costs $5.

DAMN..................

Wait...Maybe he thought making orange juice would depreciate an orange and reduce its value. Wow, he is an extraordinary economist!!!

How about I suggest him to write an article called 'From orange to orange juice'?