Cat alike

Experienced the cancellation of a fairly big project from one client two weeks ago, then received the last minute postponement of two job tasks from another client this week, I can’t help feeling desperate.  

I toss myself in the air, allow my limbs to free fall naturally on the bed, then stayed there for ages motionlessly…Ok, I look exactly like him right now.

Bonjour!

Tu as bien?

I have done a quick calculation - in the past few years, I have spent around 300 hours on French learning, not very much time, but definitely not a short period.  Awkwardly, I have had never put a foot onto the soil of L'Hexagon.

Yesterday, an advertisement of three 2-week French immersion trips popped up in my email.  It was so tempting!!  Acceptable fee, reasonable school time, host family staying and captivating sight-seeing sum up a perfect gateway at the perfect right time timing (during the kids' summer holiday, a good escape from heavy parenting duty), but how can I put all burdens to my beloved hubby's shoulders, in terms of financial support and child caring?  In Chinese, we describe this as "無義氣"!

And the most important is, I want to sail along La Seine with you, my hubby!

Hopefully, there will be one day... hopefully.

恐懼

人們都應有免於恐懼的自由。

Star Wars 中的尤達大師其中一句名言就是"Fear is the path to the dark side, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering"。

當一個地方的人每天活於惶恐的生活中，他們的精神面貌都變得扭曲，對有權勢的噤若寒蟬，對年輕的窮兇極惡。

2016 New Year's Resolutions

Hello there!

Long time no see my secret garden.  I have experienced all ups and downs in 2015 and now I decided to move on bravely to the new year.

I guess I am a minority because I did achieve my new year resolutions in past years.  It is time to set some goals for myself.

2016 New Year's Resolutions

1. Write more  - both professional writings, sharing, blogs and scripts
2. Be confident - I found I was (and am) far more stronger as I believe
3. Read more especially professional related books
4. Continue my French learning adventure (this does need some confidence and persistence hahah)
5. Be brave to take adventures
6. Drive more
7. Pamper myself - eat well, exercise, use high quality skincare and make up products, buy minimal clothes but in high quality
7. Keep family at the centre of my life, as usual

I do not need a radical change of myself, I am sure all small steps of exploration would lead me to a fruitful 2016.

My perfect base

Long before BB cream, CC cream or their cousins such as DD cream, etc conquered the world, I have already been a big fan of tinted moisturiser.  I have tired Laura Mercier, By Terry, Chantecaille, Clarins and Shieido throughout the last 10 years.  Finally, my heart goes to Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser.

Having normal to combination skin and living in an extremely humid place - Hong Kong, I cannot bear any sticky feeling from skincare or cosmetic products, my skin would actually act out its irritation - I could feel the itch if the pores are blocked.  Thanks this sleek tube of Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser, the light texture give me a sheer coverage without leaving any grease.  My skin tone is even instantly, my pores and fine lines are less visible.  In winter, I wear it with my fingers.  In summer, I love using a sponge to make the coverage even lighter.

Julique rose silk finishing powder is another item I repurchased throughout the years.  You would love its tempting rosy scent.  Simply a stroke with a powder brush keeps my skin silky yet matt the whole day (it seems a bit contradicting, hope you know what i mean =)). 

兒童書介紹 － 《超神奇洗髮精》

很多小朋友都不太喜歡洗頭，怕洗髮水流入眼，不喜歡水從頭頂沖下的感覺。

如果你的寶寶也是這樣，快跟他們分享由宮達西也，陳瀅如翻譯的《超神奇洗髮精》吧！

故事中的世界出現了很多外型有趣的洗髮精，火箭啦、獨角仙啦，小企鵝等。 「我」和城中的所以人也湧到大賣場瘋狂購買⋯⋯可是奇怪的事發生了！所有用過神奇洗髮水的人都變成了火箭、獨角仙，小企鵝，爸爸還變成讓人聞風喪膽的怪獸酷斯拉呢！這一切原來是超神奇怪俠搞鬼！究竟全城的人如何才能變回原狀？為甚麼「我」說以後會乖乖用普通洗髮精洗頭？大家真的要看看這個故事啊！

《超神奇洗髮精》並不是甚麼勵志或充滿教育意義的故事，書背甚至也寫這是一本「超無厘頭的超神奇洗頭繪本！」不過，這是一本很適合小朋友的繪本。透過簡單的文字和古靈精怪的插圖，表現了作者充滿童心的幻想，讓小朋友們好好享受閱讀的樂。這書很快也成為我家最受歡迎的睡前故事呢！

有時候，我們給孩子看書，不一定是要他們明白甚麼的大意義，也要給他們機會天馬行空一下！

有關資料：

書名： 《超神奇洗髮精》

出版社： 小魯文化事業股份有限公司

作者／ 插畫： 宮達西也

翻譯： 陳瀅如

A lovely day

Finally it is cooler today.  We were literally baking under the sun last week.

Many political incidents happened in Hong Kong in last few weeks.  People were murmuring "Hong Kong is dying".  However, if you look back the human history, our lovely home is still far from dying. 

My kids are playing some imaginative games in their bedroom right now.  They laugh, they yell, they just enjoy themselves.

Yes, life is never a piece of cake.  Let's appreciate every tiny beauty around us everyday.  Guess what, even a cool breeze from an electric fan can make you happy.

C'est la vie.