Saturday, January 21, 2012

Lovely coffee cream cake

I have made this smily coffee cream cake in this quiet Saturday.  We could foresee the streets and shopping malls would be crowded with tourists and people who were too enthusiastic for a pre CNY shopping, therefore we decided to stay home and ordered pizza delivery.


Nothing is better than baking in such a lazy day.  This is a very simple cake which was made by coffee flavor sponge cake, adorned with freshly whipped cream and chocolate chips.   


There would be two more days to Linus's birthday, but we just couldn't wait to sing happy birthday song to him before we cut this homemade funny cake.


Hope such sweet memory would imprint in the kids' mind!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Narcisse in my home

Look at this beautiful plant.  It is Narcisse (水仙), one of the festive flowers of Chinese New Year.

I like the delicate and divine scent of Narcisse.  It is easy to keep one pot of it at home.  What you should do is just to refresh the water inside the pot daily.

I believe more flowers would blossom during the coming Chinese New Year!

BTW, I think the ribbon with disproportional size around the plant is cute, haha!!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!  Have a prosperous Year of Dragon!!

Monday, January 09, 2012

書房

我家有一間書房。

書房的窗子向西。夏天,特別是西斜時份熱得很,冬天卻恰度好處地溫暖,是我的避寒勝地。

窗外有一片樹林,能看見天空。下午時份,陽光映照入房間,灑到地毯上,架上的結他,凌亂的書櫃,以及那堆沒有地方擺放的書山。窗外的花槽種了幾盤植物。從房子看出去,它們跟樹林連成一線。我每天替她澆水。雖然種得不太茂盛或漂亮,卻不失可愛。

有空時,總愛待在這兒。這個下午,我跟弟弟坐在書房的小沙發上,蓋上毛氈。我跟弟弟說故事,他抱著奶瓶,在我的懷裏喝著奶,然後進入甜甜的夢鄉。

我想,這就叫幸福吧!



Wednesday, January 04, 2012

《看水不是水(Zen Ghosts)》

我從公共圖書館借來《看水不是水》一書。不是任何人的推薦,只是覺得書名很有趣,便借來給孩子讀讀。

這原來是有關禪學著作的故事。在美國一小鎮裏,三兄妹在萬聖節慶祝過後,到了一位叫靜水大師,頭帶白狐頭帽子的熊貓(?!)家聽鬼故。那鬼故源自中國宋朝無門慧開禪師著作中《無門關》的「倩女離魂」。

聽起來有點毛骨聳然罷?才不是,給孩子聽的故書總是很有趣。據書末的作者小記,這鬼故是一個「公案」,意思是「你得用直覺回答的問題」。究竟故事裏的那兩個小倩是否同一個人,為甚麼?這得小讀者自己想想,沒有絕對的對錯答案。

至於這書名,很風馬牛不相及?我只可說這也是禪得很。

有沒有興趣知道小讀者的反應?哥哥聽罷,問為甚麼故書這麼快完。他又說書名《看水不是水》可改為《看熊貓不是狐狸》!

原著:Zen Ghosts
原著作者:Jon J Muth
譯者:黃聿君
出版:格林文化事業股份有限公司


Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Hello 2012!!

Good day everyone!!

It is January 3, 2012.  Lucas starts his brand new school year, Linus should wait until January 5, now he is enjoying a peaceful nap (a.k.a. my peaceful afternoon) after 5 oz. of milk.  The weather is lovely, sunshine penetrates through the windows of my study room.  I am sitting in front of my sexy Mac Air, typing this entry.  My blog is always a nice place to lingering around, because I know you will stop by sometimes and listen to my babbling.

First, what had I done in 2011?

It was quite a good year.  We were all healthy and happy, we were able to go through some difficulties which weren't big deals at all.  We met many old friends and made some new.  We threw many parties with family.  Four of us performed a play on stage, three times.  We travelled twice.  I had worked quite often and tried something new.  I did read some good books.  What can I complain about ?

Okay, 2012 seems a great year ahead to me.  Now, sounds really cliche, is time for a New Year Resolution:
  • Keep writing and reading ( I would have a script writing course in April)
  • Enjoy the time with my family
  • Keep exercising
  • Cook great food for my loved one
  • Have courage to any adventure, including new jobs
  • Stay happy, don't mingle with little business
  • Learn something new, it doesn't mean I should join any courses but to explore something I haven't tried before, such as... gardening?  lip balm making?  Writing a book? 
Let see!

People are talking about the 'prophecy' of apocalypse in 2012.  Frankly, I don't believe this.  Why?  I am just 34 years old but had already heard about the arrival of doomsday more than 3 times in different years.  The frequency is too high, based on the geographical timeline of Earth, isn't it?

Before the arrival of Jan 1, I was hugging my boys
under a duvet, reading them this book
about human right.  Then we counted down together.
This was one of the best new year celebration in my life.
Anyway (or I prefer to use the laziest word of the century - Whatever), Hope you all have a joyful and prosperous 2012!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

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。

Friday, December 16, 2011

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!