再見，親愛的嫲嫲

聽到電話響起，還以為是有關工作，原來是爸爸。

原來嫲嫲剛剛離開了這個世界，到了美麗的天國。

聽到爸媽的聲音，我的眼淚不斷的流，很想跑到醫院幫忙，但媽媽說不用了。大人們會處理。我總是個像過份緊張的父母，他們總是像一對比我想像中能幹和堅強的子女。

窗外陽光明媚，跟帶點十三點性格的嫲嫲一樣的開朗，我坐在和煦的陽光下又哭了起來。想起嫲嫲的回憶是我們兒時在假期回到鄉下過時的情境。以及去年她穿上我送她那漂亮的唐裝衫時的笑顏。

很想跟她說句再見，雖然不能到醫院見她最後一面，但她會知道我對她的思念。

嫲嫲到了天國，徵笑地看著我們，守候著我們。

傻豬

前幾天，兩位男孩乘我忙碌或不在家時瘋狂玩ipad遊戲，連我大叫他們的名字也聽不到。到了耐性磨滅的一刻，我終於大發雷霆，重重責備他們。之後幾天，他們完全不沾ipad。

今天，哥哥又懇求玩ipad,他說只是玩五分鐘。見他這幾天表現不錯，便放寬一下吧。只見弟弟一臉擔憂，問他何事，他說擔心哥哥變成傻仔。我才記起之前火遮眼，罵他們如此打機下去，不懂做其他事便會變成傻仔。我真的想不到這些純為發泄，聽似耳邊風的說話竟深深印到弟弟的心裡。

我立刻向弟弟解釋，偶然玩一下無妨，只是不應沉迷。

我以後說話也要謹慎一點！

A new pair of earrings

Get bored with those lifeless and monotonous chain store accessories, I was searching for something manmade by local designers.  I have found this pair of earrings from Daydream Nation, the brand is Made by kawai.

Gorgeous, aren't they?  I think they look great with outfits from casual wear to party dress!

Modelling

My cousin asked my kids to help on a photo-shooting last evening for a product catalogue, with two more children from her friends.

My boys are the eldest among four, but they were the most uncooperative pairs.  They lied and 'swam' breaststroke on the floor, were being hyperactive, fighting with each other, bumping here and there.  In one word, uncontrollable.

If you look at the four models, you can tell obviously who were the barbarians.

Fortunately Lucas and Linus cooperated at last and the photographer could take several pictures for them.  They stayed quiet by the end because they were just too busy to eat up all eligible props.

What a funny experience!

小王子與奧塞羅之二

昨晚睡前看過那本兒童版的《奧塞羅》。它以簡單的英語，三言兩語地描繪每個角式的性格，以及各人之間的千絲萬縷。好書一本。

可是，要跟那兩位五歲和三歲的年青人講述Othello因妒忌和愚蠢而用枕頭焗死自己心愛的妻子Desdemona，似乎不太應該。

老實說，我曾思考應否給予孩子看太多童話故事，是否要讓他們早點知道世界不盡美好的一面。有一次我我收到宣明會的會訊時，剛巧孩子們不肯吃飯，便將會訊給孩子們看，讓他們知道他們是住了一百個人的地球村內，最幸運的那幾個人。不過我當時這樣做，都有點躊躇。

至於奧塞羅這個故事，赤裸地顯示人性的弱點，給他們讀，會否太快戳破成年人的面目？再者，莫說孩子，大人可能也不全明瞭這個故事，現在介紹這書給孩子似乎並非適當時候。

還記得晚飯前跟大袁生的閒談：
我：「我買了這本書。」
袁：「《奧塞羅》？好東西呀。我好像有隻珍藏DVD。」
我：「是？你看過了？」
袁：「是呀！」
我：「有甚麼觀後感？」
袁：「有呀！就是不知它講甚麼！」
我：「根據model answer所說，這套劇是說人的無知和嫉妒。」
袁：「我看的時候收不到這些訊息，但我就是感受到我的無知，和妒忌那些看得明的人。」

小王子與奧賽羅

今午，我帶著弟弟去圖書館，經過旁邊的大會堂，見到小王子音樂劇的宣傳。本來我已計劃這兩天安排一些表演給孩子們欣賞，碰到如此吸引的節目，還未細讀內容，便拉著弟弟跑到售票處。

我跟櫃枱小姐查詢小王子音樂劇的資料。小姐皺一皺眉，說已經票已經售謦。

這時，我才明白她的皺眉是因為竟然還有人以為有票賣。我真的太天真太傻，做了這麼多年家長，還未學會任何我親子的活動，競爭是何等的激烈。我還沾沾自喜，以為自己先人一步看到這些宣傳。

有點氣結，打了個電話給大袁生，告訴他小王子音樂劇的票沒了。他聽罷笑說：「不出奇罷，連你都見到宣傳，沒有其他媽媽不知道了。」

豈有此理，他竟然套用了「凡有師奶說要買股票就是股災之時」的理論於這件事上。

「但我上星期也經過此處，還沒有小王子的紙版公仔出現。」我不服氣。

大袁生說：「不要緊罷，你都知凡是以小孩為目標觀眾的表演都是搶手的。」

他又說得有道理。我便說：「好！下次有《奧賽羅 》上演，我第一時間為兩位細袁生購票。我就不相信會有很多家長帶孩子去看悲劇。」

有趣的是，我們在圖書館見到《 The Little Prince》一書，便二話不說借了。之後跟弟弟到書局揀書，剛巧又發現給兒童版的《 Othello》正做優惠，毫不考慮的放到購物籃裏。

看著這兩本書，不知為甚麼覺得有點好笑。

細袁生們，讓我親自帶你們進入世界名著的國度吧！

A freelancer life

Being a full time mum and a freelancer is a perfect combination of life to me.  I can play the role that God give me responsibly, without losing a trace to my career development.  Of course, the income from the freelance work is much less than before, but at least I enjoy working now, and I have the autonomy to decide how much time I devote to it.

Recently, I received several interesting jobs.  I work as a copywriter for a singer's album - just a poem in the booklet.  It was a no-paid job as I helped my cousin to re-create the writing in the last minutes, but it brings me several upcoming paid tasks, including the brand naming of a new wedding shop.

Tomorrow I will help my friend to work on a product leaflet.  My cousin is working as my partner again.  I worked in marketing field before but my expertise is somehow in market research.  However, I have great interested in this project as we will have photo-shooting and copywriting, hope we can have fun and create quality work for my friend.

As the children are getting older I can spend more time on my career, but I am sure my family will stay on my first priority.  Don't worry my hubby!!

Eyeshadow manic

When you read the topic of this entry, you thought I was a eyeshadow manic, right?  No, I was talking about Linus.

Whenever I wear make-up, if Linus happens to be around, he loves to sit next to me and playing my cosmetic, especially blushes an eyeshadow palates.

This morning, when I opened my Chanel four-color palate, I discovered this: the ballet pink shadow was spiced up with the charcoal black, the elegant grey tone was buttered with a think layer of natural brown color.  The whole case is in a chaos.

Well done Linus!!!!!

Thanks god it is a set baked powered eyeshadow, I could clean up the mess easily.

A piece of words

OMG! I know it sounds really cliche; I was searching for several pieces of paper to write on, then I found a notebook which was collecting dust at the corner of a bookshelf.  In the first page, it was my writing, I had NO memory that I had written something like this in page one,

' Can you imagine that...... a little unexpected life in now in my womb.  Yes...actually it is expected, but can't believe it came that fast, that's why I felt so complicated at the very beginning.  But now, I should thank god that I have such an unique and beautiful journey.  A life-long journey for me and my child.

I should thank everyone who care about me.  Believe me, I have the strength and courage to face everything that come in front of me.'

In page two,
'Guess what? I did not realize that something wonderful was happening in early September 2005.  I supposed that my body changed because of the continuous OT nights.  I was sick and felt desperate for almost two weeks.

I told myself the difficult time would be gone soon.  My body was swollen, that's why I practiced yoga in last weekend.  I did a lot of stretching posture, included shoulder stand!!!!!  I bended my legs towards the ground over my head, but I couldn't achieve it.  I guess my body activated the protecting system to let the FETUS to be safe and in a comfortable position.  See?  Our body is so amazing!!!'

OMG!!

Concept about death

I read Lucas a book about stars. One of the chapters is about Red Giant.  It is predicted that our Sun will reach this stage in approximately five billion years.  It is a dying stage of a star.

'Will everything die?' Lucas asked.

'Yes' I replied briefly, and added 'everything has a beginning and an end, it is what I believe.'

'Will everyone die?'

'Yes, just depends on time, human's life span is usually within 100 years or less.'

'I see.  How about trees?'

'Yes, they will, although they live much longer than people usually.'

'How about our Earth?'

'Sure! When the Sun becomes a red giant, or when an asteroid attacks us severely.'

'Why would our Earth die if the Sun would become a red giant?'

'Because the Sun will stretch and expand and swallow not only us but the whole solar system.'

'I see. So how about volcanoes?'

'Of course they will die based on what I believe.'

'How will a volcano die?'

'By erosion and disintegration through wind, rain and heat.....'

'No!' Lucas didn't agree. 'Volcano will die when it extincts.'

I replied, 'to me, it is not dead, an extinct volcano just means it is not active, but it still stands on the ground. You can only describe it is dead if it is completely gone.'

Lucas is not convinced, 'no! tell me what is the Chinese name of an "extinct volcano".'

'死火山!'

'See?'

'No, it just means inactive, but it is still there standing up straight....'

Then we quarreled for another five minutes.

What a good debate about the concept of death... with a five years old boy.

Horrid Henry's series

Horrid Henry' is an unusual fictional character of children readings.  He is not a role model for kids, he is naughty, ill-mannered, even a bit anti-social.  He is an absolute contradiction of his decent, well behaved younger brother, Perfect Peter.

Horrid Henry series was created since 1994, which was very popular worldwide and had been translated into different languages.  However, Henry is controversial because some schools/ parents are concerned that his mischievous behaviors will lead to bad impact to students.  

It seems not the case to my children, they were engaged since the first page of the book, they laughed out loud when Henry whined or played tricks, but they could judge who was right or wrong in the story.  Frankly, every child wants to be rebellious sometimes, I believe that such a misbehaved character may help them fulfill such 'wish' and 'fantasy'.

On top of these, the stories are well written, the English is simple and amusing, it is a perfect material of English learning for young readers.

香港的博物館

我喜歡逛博物館，無論是香港或是國外。

慢慢，我發現到一個有趣現像: 香港博物館內的保安員遠比歐美的博物館保安員「盡責」。

每當有人走進香港的博物館，那些保安員便會金晶火眼的盯著。當有人從口袋
掏出手機，他們便會緊張地趨前。當發現那人只是用手機查時間或在notepad記錄，他們立即止步，隱伏在那人後面，直至他將手機放回袋裏。若果那人真的舉手機拍照，保安員便於0．001秒內，以方圓30米能聽到的聲線說：「這裏不能影相呀！」好作出殺一儆百之效。

當有小朋友來參觀，保安員更顯緊張。當孩子們走近一點展品，保安員立即走近他們，當他們快步行過，保安員會立即喝止（只是快步，不是跑）。

記得我還是中學生時，我參觀了一個關於流行藝術的展覽，那時興起讓參觀者互動的展品。其中一件展品是一本簿，參觀者可在上面塗鴉，旁邊還附有一支筆。我覺得很有趣，便在上面畫了一點東西。怎知一位保安員走來責罵我，問我怎麼畫花展品，我向她解釋她卻聽不進。我也懶得跟她理論，反一下眼便轉身離去。

上年夏天，我帶著小孩到某一藝術館內的兒童玩樂區玩，那裏有很多家長及小朋友。有一位保安員，我想她的角式是負責提醒在場家長必須盡做家長的責任﹣ 她的工作是不停地巡邏，然後指著一個小孩，問是不是你的。當你說是，她便會叫你好好看管他。我們待在那裏10分鐘，被提醒了4次。

我不是惱這些保安員，某程度上，他們的工作態度盡忠職守，藉得別人的讚賞。但這種有點反智的管理模式，是否藉得博物館管理層反思一下？

Lazy holiday

One of the best entertainments during a holiday is watching Discovery Science channel hour after hour, to pretend that I am a MIT graduate that's why I can understand what the hell those scientists are talking about.

感動

暑假過了大半,我跟孩子們黏在一起的悠長假期也接近尾聲!暑假剛開始的首兩個星期,我被兩位細袁生弄得團團轉,要出外管接送暑期班,要在家跟他們玩過不停,home schooling,包括畫畫,玩泥膠,讀書,寫字,做勞作, 行山,踏單車,又要不斷阻上兩位人仔每30分鐘一次的扭鬥°曾經有一次我在混亂中跌倒,腿瘀了一大片°

我跟朋友說,孩子的暑假就是我的暑期boot camp,我的導師(即是兩位細袁生)要我在短短8星期內將我的忍耐力,身手及領導才能極速提昇!

有次,我支持不住,哭著打個電話給大袁生,說我們一走了之....一晚,去看戲吧!當晚出門,兩位細袁生抱著我的腿不讓我走,要工人姐姐將他們從我身上「撕」下來°關門那一刻,聽到他們呼天搶地的媽媽聲(不是粗口),心又痛了!

一分鐘前才對他們恨之入骨,一分鐘後心又溶了!

我曾經擔心自己常急速遊走極喜極悲的狀態,是患了精神病°前幾天,讀過妹妹那本馬仔的<我的低能湊仔之道2>後,才放下心頭大石!原來馬仔也有幻想過用AK47指著她的BB,去迫她吃飯!

原來我是正常的!

上星期,我跟弟弟步行下山,去接上完手工班的哥哥°當天他們很乖,一個拉著我的左手,一個拉著我的右手,雖然我全身是汗,仍覺得很輕鬆°我們後面有兩位太太在傾談,其中一個跟另一個說:「一個帶兩個其實真是辛苦的!」

突然有不認識的人說這樣窩心的說話!

做了媽媽後,很多聲音從四方八面告訴我應怎麼做,書本上,網絡上,親戚朋友,甚至是路過的途人,有些出於善意,有些是惡意,有些自以為是,有些帶著目的(例如要賺你的錢)°經過多次訓練,現已學到不太執著別人的意見°

但這一次,真的有點感動!

A big book

I knew about 'Six Wives - The Queens of Henry VIII' through the seminar held by David Tang during the Hong Kong Book Fair 2011.  It was written by David Starkey and published in 2004.  I am reading this book through kindle.

The hard cover of this book has 880 pages.  It is quite a big book.  I am still at 7% of the kindle version, which is still talking about how the first queen, Catherine took her exhausted trip from Spain to England for the wedding ceremony, with Henry's brother, Arthur.

Royal stories are always captivating, as they usually consists of lust, politics, wealth, blood and darkness of human being.  Royal marriages, especially during the old time, were not about love of two persons but the alliance of power, or based on different kind of political reasons.  

Since I am still at the beginning of the book, I hope I can provide a full book review once I read the last page (not sure how long will stretch). However the first 7% of it tells me quite a lot about British history, and I can tell David Starkey is excellent in constructing each of the character in the book vividly based on those supposed to be boring historical facts.

A beautiful world

Too many violence and disasters around the world.  An individual may not be able to make any significant change, but at least we can do our part the best, to love people around us, treasure those who love me, be a good person.


I am not concerned when will be the end of the world.  You know, when there is an end, there is always a beginning.  Live at the moment and seize the day.

Bathing babies

I have just bathed the two boys (I still call them my babies even they are no longer crawling on the floor).  We have a domestic helper but the boys always want me to take care of them.  When they are in the bath tub, they talk to me, they imagine they are in a ship, they ask me how come ships floats, bubbles come out from an empty bottle.....


And I also enjoy every moment with them, even though they drive me crazy always.

A shrimp is laying eggs in our fish tank!

Summer days are busy days

Summer has arrived Hong Kong more than a month.  It reminded me the trips to Sabah when I walked out the street a few days ago.  Is Hong Kong getting hotter and hotter, or am I aging and cannot handle extreme weather as easy as 10 years ago?  Who knows.


The boys has started summer holiday since July.  Same as other parents, we arrange many activities for them.  Lucas starts learning piano.  I read kids books and play with them when I don't need to work. 


Sometimes I wonder, how come it seems that letting your kids idle at home is a sin in Hong Kong?  It seems parents have such compulsive behavior, to let kids to learn and explore in every waking moment.


That's why, I would be glad to let them have some 'kid' time, to be laid back on the couch and have marathon TV watching.  Life is actually long and they shouldn't have intensive training in the early years.  


Or, you can say this is just an excuse of a lazy mom. =P

Working days

Have had a challenging job at the mid of this month, I accept to take the job in the very last minute.  Thanks god both agency and client like me and praise my performance a lot.  What an extraordinary experience!


Am waiting for the briefing session of my new project.  Cross my fingers!

有工開

自從做了全職媽媽和自由工作者,當接到新工作就很興奮,跟以前當在職媽媽的心態很不同!

在家照顧BB有時也會有點力不從心,但整體也是愉快和有滿足感的!

有新工作了,是寫report,賺到的錢要買一部coffee maker給謝菲!!

Somewhere over the rainbow

A beautiful rainbow appeared across the sky last evening.  When I see in the picture I had taken, I found there were double rainbows!!!  A faint bigger rainbow was at the top of the smaller one, which I could not seen by my naked eyes or I just omitted it.  It is really a rare view in Hong Kong.  As I remember, it was my first time to witness such wonderful rainbows in my life.


I brought the boys to rush downstairs when I spotted the rainbow, the boys were exciting.  We stared at it until it faded away.  


While we were walking back home, I was holding Linus, he rested his head on my shoulder and said 'I miss rainbow!!'

我最憎「親子」

老實說,我不太清楚「親子」一詞的意思°我初時以為它是「親親孩子」的簡稱,但當這詞在不同地方鋪更蓋地出現後,我覺得:

它可以是一種地理狀態,只要爸媽與子女在同一個地方上出現便可叫做親子,如「親子唱遊班」,「親子遊學團」,「親子興趣班」等等°

理論上,你跟阿仔阿女吃午餐可叫做「親子午餐」, 如果你們是住在同一屋詹下,這間屋可說成「親子屋」.....


它可以是一種商業活動°「親子」配合一個名詞後,便能成為無限商機°對不起,我舉得例子又是 「親子唱遊班」,「親子遊學團」,「親子興趣班」等等°

我覺得「親子outward bound 」或「親子獨立生活能力訓練營」等課程會有很大的market,有沒有人想投資我這個concept?

經過多個公私營機構大力提倡下,「親子」變成家長無形的壓力°家長必須每天抽十五至二十分鐘去做的功課,假期必須安排的活動°為了滿足各界要求家長的「親子」期望,他們不得不參與我之前所說的那些商業活動,怕若做得不夠會被三姑六婆指責「都唔知點做人父母」。不過對於三姑六婆,世界上除了她/他們本人,其他人都不會做人父母°

它跟共聚天倫不一樣°後者是一指家人待在一起,享受著相互溝通後產生的愉快精神狀態°前者比較煞有介事,或多或少帶著一點目的°例如「親子唱遊班」是為了刺激幼兒的智力發展,加強家長與子女的親密關係,提高EQ,贏於起跑線,讀書勝人一籌,他日名成利就云云°

不過,當你爸媽叫你回家吃飯,他們感該不會說:「阿仔,今晚返嚟食飯,等你從透過與家人接觸學習人與人相處之道,繼而讓你在職場上變得面面俱圓,事業發展更得心應手!」是嗎?

還有,「親子」是單向的,顧名思義,父母要親孩子,至於孩子是否想被「親」,或他們會否「親」父母,那不是重點°

這就是兩者的分別°

其實社會上真的有些學校或機構有心地籌辦大人與小孩一齊參與的活動,讓他們好好享受天倫之樂°只可惜該詞被用得太濫,太行貨,聽起來就像botox一樣假°

What do the children learn from school

The kids resume their school today.


During lunch time, I talked to Lucas, who was at my right hand side.


'Do you feel happy at school today?'
'Yes' he said.
'What did you learn from school today then?'
'Rubbish.'


I was shocked and felt hilarious.  Then I replied, 'do you mean waste recycling?'  I guess his school was teaching environmental protection.


Yes was his answer, but actually I don't know if it is true or not, but I guess he is too young to criticize the school teaching him rubbish....

Post Easter holiday

Finally the Easter holiday of the kids is over.  I can have my quiet 'me' time again in the morning.


We had been Sabah for six days.  I thought it was just a place with beaches and resorts, but I was wrong.  It is a place with diversified landscapes and entertainments, a place which has colonial characteristic without losing its indigenous uniqueness.  The eco-tourism is well-developed there, all the natural spots opened for tourists are well preserved.


The weather was extremely hot, but we enjoyed the time there.  


We are planning to explore another continent in our next trip.  =)

A spectacular scene we can see from the balcony of our hotel room

Frustration!!

He is a fundamentalist of Utilitarianism, he perceives a dog as a tool only, how many dogs will be abandoned because of his selfishness?

People around him just spoil him!

I won't go to his house if he has a dog, I am serious!!!!!

Please don't spread any hoax through social network please....

Feel bad with the catastrophe of Japan earthquake.  Feel angry with people around who spread the hoax and panic of the Nuclear leak.  Please be more sensible.  When you post something on FB or email, please check more sources to see whether it is valid or not. 




http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/ferguswalsh/2011/03/japan_nuclear_leak_-_health_risks.html

Dear Diary

我有寫日記的習慣°  正確來說,我有著寫字的僻好! 再正確點說,雖說是日記,但我不是天天也寫,不過當有時間,就拿出紙筆來寫,或到電腦跟前打字°

還依稀記起小一中文書裏,有一課關於日記的故事:故事主角是一個小孩,他媽媽鼓勵他在日記記下每天的事°有一天他打破了家中的花瓶,他很內疚,在日記上寫下他的不快,及要向媽媽道歉的計劃°媽媽讀過小孩這篇日記,覺得他勇於認錯,讚他是好孩子(大概是這樣,因記憶力有限,可能跟事實有出入,謹此致歉)° 小一時覺得這故事很有趣,兩年後再想起,就覺得這個媽媽有點政治不正確°再過了幾年,常常在TVB或RTHK的劇集裏,看到父母因關心而偷看兒女的日記,兒女發現後大發雷霆 ,然後父母認為自己是父母所以有權看兒女日記,兒女再一言九「頂」,繼而雙方不歡而散的方程式般的情節°

總之,就是這課課文,啟發我寫日記的興趣°小學寫過日記,但不知所終了°現在家中藏有至少七本日記,從初中開始°很多本日記本也用不完,因為到新一年,我就選購新的一本° 十七歲一年寫得最多,因為那年會考和第一次做暑期工°

我爸媽很尊重我私隱,沒有看過一頁,反而是www.blogger.com出現後,我主動將日記放上網,由2004年到現在,他們是我的忠實讀者°尤期是爸爸,見我在blogger上發牢騷,便會致電來瞭解一下°後來我爸也寫blog,不過他非常限量發行,但只要一有發表,我跟妹都歡呼喝采°

寫日記就像替自己做一個documentary°我喜歡寫日記,因為記憶會模糊,細緻情感亦會被營營役役的生活神沖刷掉°文字,卻能將這些一瞬即逝的感覺留下來°

Double eggyolks

When I cracked open the half boiled egg today, I found these - double egg yolks!!

Lovely flowers

Strawberry plants from France, a pot of Rosemary at the left, you can see the fruits pop out from the little white flowers.

It's spring time, the weather is getting warmer, and my mood is brightened by blossomed flowers.

Dinosaurs

I am introducing blogging to Lucas.  He told me he also wanted to be a blogger.


The first entry he would like to talk about is dinosaur, his favorite prehistoric animal.  This would be what he like to share:


"Lucas likes to play dinosaurs! Apatosaurus is my most famous type, because it is a plant-eater and it is gentle, he is also cute and sweet.


Tyrannosaurs Rex is the most scary dinosaur, because it is a meat-eater.


I like mommy!"

新丁家廚

因為奶奶搬遠了,在不用上班的日子,我除了負責煮午餐,也要主理晚餐°

現在我真正覺得我媽神級棒!她每天做家務帶小孩預備一日三餐仍可以面不改容,閒時還會做衣服 給我們(我說的閒時是指我跟妹妹還小的時候)°

可能資質使然,我成長期間卻沾不到我媽的半點生活智慧°在成為媽媽前,我總認為不懂煮飯不打緊,懂賺錢聘人煮飯就行°我以前是一個intellectual smart但street smart零分的人°例如跟友人到外地住酒店,面對著未見過的浴缸水龍頭,我必定是不懂如何調教熱水,唯有尖叫求助°又例如我對菜刀有恐懼症,總覺得切菜時會切掉自己的手指°現在為人之母,真的不能再這樣「低能」下去,所以雖有聘用家傭,很多事我仍會親力親為,例如煮飯(當然,我仍不能保証我不會切菜時會切掉自己的手指)°

還是一個新丁家廚的我,每天也要抱著食譜學習,而且有些菜式我跟食譜煮過一次,一個星期後又忘記,要重新翻查°不過,我想這是學習任何事的必經過程,希望很快,我可以做到我前老闆常說的「哲理」,就是internalize學過的東西,再加入個人的風格°

剛過的星期一,我煮過人生第一個蒸肉餅,今晚我會挑戰人生第一條烏頭°

祝我好運!

The vacuum cleanser at my home almost makes me deaf.....

It is getting more and more noisy but it doesn't perform its supposing function well.


What on Earth should you be here? My dear vacuum cleanser.


I will replace you in very very soon future.


*********


Um.... a thought just comes across my mind - if I am a man, I change the 'it' to 'she' and 'vacuum cleanser' to 'wife' in above paragraph, it still make sense. Doesn't it?


Wakakakka!

Feel comfortable in your skin

I read this from French Women for All Seasons:


"Nature gives you the face you have at twenty, life shapes the face you have at thirty, but at fifty you get the face you deserve." -- Coco Chanel.


Love yourself and treat yourself all the time!

有關相機

曾經看過一篇文章,附有一幀相片,有些小數民族的女孩子用布蓋著自己面孔,不願被遊客影相°可惜,那些遊客沒有理會,大剌刺地,走到她們跟前不斷拍照,希望在布與布中間窺探她們的美貌,及滿足他們當名攝影師的幻想° 別人的感受? 管他的!  文章也有提及當地有些孩子很不願被拍照,他們哭起來,那些「名攝影師」卻視若無睹,繼續瘋狂按制…..

看罷這篇報導,很無奈,很憤怒! 隨著數碼相機出現,相片變得越來越廉價°廉價,不只是它的成本,更加是它背後的意義,及攝影師對被攝者的尊重°

不久前,我們一家到商場去° 帶著兩個男孩子去shopping其實是一件難事,很難要求他們看著你買東西°謝菲很細心,他讓我看己到一店內逛,他獨自看管著小朋友°

弟弟年紀小,有點頑劣,我還未進店內已聽見他扭計,繼而尖叫大哭°

我立刻跑出店外,見到弟弟大發脾氣,在地上打轉,不肯起來° 謝菲不理他,不讓步,要他冷靜° 我再看到不遠處有群人,廿多三十多歲,有些指著弟弟訕笑° 我不以為然,但當我見到兩個人在舉起相機影相,再笑笑口看著playback,我立即怒火中燒°  我跑到弟弟前,抱起他,喝令他停止,我再掃視那干人等° 他們不是傻,完全收到我的訊息,雙手離開相機,裝作沒事發生°

坦白說,我當時真的有摔破他們相機的衝動°任何人也不喜歡在心情差透時被拍照° 更不用說是被一些不懷好意的陌路人拍照…..

*****

昨天我也跟表妹在討論對相機的看法° 現在影相太容意,我們開始不用眼,不用腦,只用鏡頭和SD card°這樣令我們錯過了真實的感受°

還記得哥哥與其他小朋友在Christmas performance時,很多家長也舉起相機,場面有點亂.一位老師走到台前,請影相的人走到觀眾席後排,以免妨礙別人. 她再補充一句:"But I am sure the performance you see from your eyes would be totally different from those videos and photos." 

我真的想向這位老師敬禮!

那天我沒有拿起相機,全神貫注看著哥哥,每一刻我也覺得感動!

舉重跳芭蕾

每當我抱著差不多40磅,睡著(或裝睡)的Lucas,由停車場爬樓梯上地面,我都會後侮當天穿了高跟鞋!感覺就像上身在挺舉,下身卻在跳芭蕾!

Mezzi Rigatoni

After What French Women Know, written by Debra Ollivier, I would love to explore the French culture deeper, then I selected French Women in All Seasons by Mireille Guiliano.


I did not know French Women in All Seasons is a book with recipes of many seasonal dishes, as I hadn't read the book description carefully before I clicked the button at Kindle online bookstore.  It surprised me when I found them out.


Based on the book, I know how to cook shallots and fennels with pasta, the two ingredients I had never used before.  I have tried them for the lunch for my kids today.  I made Mezzi Rigatoni with steak, and I added garlic, shallots, fennels, mushrooms and thymes into the pasta.


My two boys prefer Chinese and Japanese cuisines more but they could still clean up their plate today. , they said mezzi rigatoni were tunnels.

Interviews

The dates of Lucas's interviews are coming closer, I am getting more nervous.


Add oil Lucas!

Good mood

This is the second school day of Linus.  It seems he can totally adapt to the new environment.


Now I have more me-time in the morning.  This morning I had practiced yoga.  Exercise does lift up my mood.  I feel more healthy and relaxing.


Will have job on Jan 17-20, very good.

2011 New Year Resolutions

Okay, since we are in the new year, we have to set the New Year Resolutions, otherwise it doesn't feel like a new year. Right?

Anyway. I used to have a long list of New Year Resolutions every year, frankly, I tried to achieve most of them and  I did make some of them.  However, in 2011, I would like to give myself more DIRECTIONS instead of A to-do list.

I have two directions for the new year, I want to be more cheerful and adventurous. That is!

Thanks for your attention, Manki.

2011年「紅」運當頭行山記

2011年1月1日,謝菲建議行山,家人朋友一呼十多應. 11時,大家在大埔滘自然保護區前的涼亭集合. 就在等人的時候,Linus弟弟跑來跑去, 突然在涼亭前跌倒,右面面頰撞向亭前階級.

這,是「紅」運當頭的由來. 我抱起弟弟時,他的面血如泉湧,張口大哭,滿口是血.

我忙抱他坐下,大家立刻幫手沖洗傷口和止血.他的傷口很深,但不幸中的大幸,他的牙齒還完好無損.我們鬆了一口氣.

還以為行山要取消,但弟弟止了血後,哭也止了,只是不肯貼膠布,還肯去行山.

由11時15分出發,我們行到2時30分.弟弟只是頭段及尾段15分鐘要抱,其他時段拖著我們行.他像是沒有受痛楚影響,還是哈哈大笑,反而是我憂心忡忡,怕他又再跌倒.

Lucas哥哥也表現得很成熟,平日總是跟弟弟爭寵的他,見到爸媽大部份時間拖著Linus,也沒有撒嬌,還能行畢全程.

2011年第一天,我對這兩位細袁生有更深的瞭解.他們很勇敢,很有男子氣概