Happy 2009!

Tomorrow is 1 Jan 2009. I re-read what I have written on my blog last year. What a year! I played very hard and tried many new things.

Life could be very interesting if we allow God to work in my life.

Hot Pot

Mr. Chan invited us to his new home (very spacious) and we had hot pot together. Thanks for Mr. Chan's hospitality!

After having hotpot (I love Jolly Shandy!!), we had desserts in Ming Kee, Tin Hauhttp://www.openrice.com/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=11874. I ordered Durian sweet soup. Yummy! definietly better than Connie's 'Fu Chuk Tong Shui'

December = gift month

Including souvenirs and christmas gifts, December becomes a gift month.

picture (not all, some are at home)

Lutheran Theological Seminary 'Ming Chi Tong'

Attended a wedding ceremony today, attracted by the cross, Not the cross I usually see.

Paintings instead of words

Wong Yan Kwai's exhibition
Location: HKU museum
Acrylic paint on canvas
Acrylic paint on bible

Why he painted on the page of bible...
He wanted to accompany his friend who was in hospital but refused to be visited
That friend reads bible.
Instead of using words, he painted on the pages of the bible . His paintings were 'embedded' in Lamentations.
The colours tell the stories.

Christmas is everywhere

Before and After

My friends and I had party at Nino Cohinza (Portugese restaurant). The weather was good, at least no rain (what I worried earlier). Everyone was very relaxed and enjoyed the good food (Sardine was the most delicious dish). During exchange of gift, I got a miniature house. Girls envied me. I was planning to 'build' the house.

Photo: Still an unopened box (Before)
Will show (After) later

Niece, come to see it when I finish building it!

Christmas Eve@Starbucks

Just learnt from City magazine that the word Starbuck comes from the book Moby Dick, which Obama loves.
Share with you the photo of the lovely cup from Starbucks. I did not notice this dessert cup if Siu did not tell me so.

The body remembers

Every year during the same period, I have same drives/urges.
During chinese New Year, I want to eat Macdonald
During Christmas, I want to drink tea at HK Shangrila cake shop and shop at Marathon sports.
It seems like that the body remembers, it is about time to do certain things.
Naturally, I follow its choices.

Ip Man

Just watched movie Ip Man (Donnie Yen as Ip Man), a well balanced movie, remind me of Wong Fai Hung sequel.
The movie successfully tells a story. It has a very smart beginning that shows Ip Man's 'Chi Tao'. Xiong Dai Lin is surprisingly good. Her small changes of facial expressions make the role as Mrs. Ip more lively in this male centered movie. Director Ip Wai Shun is also good. He knows how to handle the story. Worth watching, not classic but good. Wing Chun - beautiful form of martial art.

Merry Christmas

After listening to Rev Tse's sermon last sunday, I got a new understanding of Christmas. It is CHRISTmas and not winter festival.
Don't let renaming confuse us.

God is showing us who he is.

"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Unusual 'cake card'

Not Maxim, not St honoroe but haagendazs gift coupon. what an innovative idea, Repona!

Sing a long

Owner of Walls of sound (selling used CD. LP, VCD, DVD) knew how to play guitar. NotZero and I went to his shop and spent a sunday afternoon singing old songs together,like Puff, the magic dragon, fly me to the moon...so much fun! I invited owner Elton to book a studio and record a song or so as he was once a band member.
A Japanese customer went in the shop and was amused by the scene he saw. We were sitting in a circle and singing together hahaha! In remembrance of the days that we were young...Oh! we also listened to Wham's last Christmas. I like it!!!

Prayer

My colleague shared with me this wonderful quote.



People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.


Kent M Keith.

工展會懷舊行

My sister gave mum and me the entry tickets.



Remember those cakes and biscuits?

英女皇有兩個生曰？

英國人話英女皇有兩個生日，一個真實生曰日期，另一個為慶祝和閱兵．那麼我們這些凡夫俗字是否可以為自己定一個純為慶賀的生曰呢？
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Official_Birthday
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/royal/birthday.htm

中國食物

上星期五，與幾個英國人到正斗及翠華飽食一頓，他們終於脫離春卷．咕嚕肉的中國食物概念，愛上了皮蛋．蜆蚧鯪魚球及不加糖港式奶茶．

貼錢買難受

朱太問我這行山一役是否貼錢買難受,其實我完全沒有感到難受.在過程中,學到很多，如黑泥白石光水氹是阿林教的晚上行山口訣,而且也有很多難忘時刻,合記士多老板在鹹田灣壯觀的放牧情景(其實是放狗)，他的口述歷史,超乾淨士多廁所,各有性格的狗狗,永遠高雅的金毛尋回，海灘婚禮poster.靚靚貝殼．親眼目睹數秒之間的潮水漲退.營幕外傳來遠處澎湃浪聲,營幕內睡袋因傾斜的草坪不斷下滑,整晚爬上爬落,近距離看飛行服務隊飛機升降及救人，與一班古道熱腸的義工合作，這些經驗都非常難得.
還有很照顧我的組員,肯在碎石路下坡時作我的’導盲犬’,我把右手放在富有豐富行山經驗組員阿林的左肩，然後心就踏實起來．回程時，阿標組長站在我前面，讓我集中精神，德仔站在我後面，防我有閃失，有他們這樣可靠的朋友，我也變得很勇敢．所以一點不難受，只有感恩．

利是薯片的神奇力量

由於睡得太少,沒有胃口又太忙,第二天只進食了一小碗出前一丁.一片小豬柳.一個豬仔飽.一粒糖.半枝合記秘製五花茶,一枝Gatorade,一片鴨腎.一條藍莓snack bar,大半枝水,精神體力不斷下降.在最後一段鹹田灣到赤徑之前,終於可以坐下享受從西貢買來Extra crunchy mega size薯片,吃後立時進入turbo狀態.45分鐘步行抵達赤徑碼頭,這就是利是薯片的神奇力量!

My first camping - volunteer of 樂 善 行

為 內 地 山 區 學 童 籌 款 的 「 樂 善 行 」 行 山 活 動 volunteer

1st day Sai Wan Ting>>西灣>>camping at 鹹田灣 On Kee Store (that stores has 8 big dogs and friendly store owners)
2nd day 5.30 a.m.鹹田灣>>大灣>>東灣>>米粉頂>>(stationed at 東灣)>>大灣>>鹹田灣>>赤徑 6 p.m. boat to sai kung
http://www.careaction.org.hk/index-loksincupMap35.htm

I don't think that I will go again; walk walk and walk, too much for an amateur hiker like me. But the beaches are gorgeous.

My teamamtes did take good care of me. You know 米粉頂下東灣浮砂碎石, extremely difficult and dangerous, I can only laugh my way downhill to ditsract myself from fear. I walked down the 60 angle hill with chewng gum in my mouth,pretending that I was very relaxed and kept myself awake, though running into the risk of choking by chewing gum.

Will tell you more in future posts. What an experience!

p.s.
Wish my leader Biu speedy recovery!
Thank you Ah Lam for not taking me further uphill.
Thank you Douglas for giving me Gatorade.
Thank God for giving us beautiful nature.

Michelin HK and Macau guide mystery

Can people from other cultures appreciate Chinese food, certainly yes.
But what Chinese food means to them is another matter.
http://gohongkong.about.com/od/wheretoeatinhk/gr/MichelinGuide.htm

Take an example of the ‘chinese poem’ on a scientific journal http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/chinese-classical-poem-was-brothel-ad-1058031.html

With good will, they used a Chinese writing as the cover page. They did sincerely appreciate Chinese culture, or calligraphy to be exact. However, the piece of writing that they used is locally understood as hk night club ad/banner. The journal editor has already apologized for the misunderstanding created.

See, you could not take out meanings out of context. Read more Wittgenstein. Meaning is in its way of life ‘forme de vie’.


p.s. Mrs. Chu gave me a book called Chinglish http://www.amazon.com/Chinglish-Oliver-Lutz-Radtke/dp/1423603354 - the other side of the mirror

的士行動

的士堵塞公路行動,我不贊同.生意人人難做,日本的士司機也面臨困境.市民有錢,但希望洗得有價值.造成市民不便的行動,會令市民更無意欲消費.搞不好,兩敗俱傷.
上星期工作上接待旅客,發現很多的士司機不懂基本普通話及英語,可會趁機改善呢?政府可否同時檢討紅綠的士長久歷史問題呢?
少數服從多數,官員如此說.很久沒聽過這句話,以前在學校投票旅行地點,就是用這個原則.,人願意少數服從多數,而多數會照顧少數的聲音http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majority_rule,那是共同生活在同一地方的相互要求.在社會契約中,政府存在供給社會秩序.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract.在人人認為自己利益最重要的情形下,沒有動力尋求共識,結果一拍兩散,誰也沒得到心目中的理想.那真是人想見的嗎?人知不知想要甚麼?想要的又是否合理和有沒有顧及別人?現今經濟情況,十足工作,八折支薪,有何出奇?經濟好時,多收的如何計算?我有朋友是的士司機,敬業樂業,沒有輸打贏要,我尊重.人總要為自己的選擇負責,無論結果是好是壞.

驚險

—連數日為四百多人會議工作,收工後,拖著疲乏的身軀,穿過灣仔街市,突然呯一聲,距離我三步之前有一物落地爆開,看不見是甚麼.別人說是火機,好險!感謝神,安好沒事.

有始有終

寫了兩年的專欄,終於因改版而專欄告終.由於剛剛才知道對上一次的投稿是最後一篇,於是特意買了一本作留念.事實上,不是每篇自己的作品我都喜歡,好彩最後一篇並不算太差,好來好去,有始有終,尚算安慰.感謝神給我這個嘗試.月復月的書評令我讀了很多書,全身經驗文字事奉的力量.

How come?

Why HK govt cannot send a designated flight to pick up HK citizens? What’s the role of CX in this incident? CX flight = flight for Hong Kong people?
Is it another case showing that HK is indeed ruled by businessmen?

Does the government do enough? Help those people who really need help, do first things first, use all necessary efforts to avoid tragedy from happening.
I mean basic good samaritan things, not that 'it is none of my business' attitude.

At the time of emergency:
If the boss is not there, can the remaining team do anything?
If the boss is there, and they still cannot do anything, what does it tell?

The world is not the same as before. People become more mobile. News spread fast.
For any responsible government, it should consider having contingent plans in unusal situations.

For example, a hotline that people can call at the time of emergency when they are abroad. An auto reply text message tells them what to do and where to go. We can make us of technology to improve communication and make a better world. Yes, 'better' is all I am asking for.

Precious moments

To share with relatives and friends of the precious wedding moments, the couple gave the guests Precious Moment bride and groom box. What an unusual wedding return gifts!

Film: Cape no 7

My colleague has free ticket for me as he is a Golden Harvest cinema member. Thanks to him. Very attractive member package: buy 1 get 1 free if buying tickets in the odd month.
Really want to join beach live show after watching Cape no.7., how nice to enjoy light breeze and music together!
I could sit for hours just watching the sea, though I was told by nice Australian people not to look at the sea for too long in the day time. The sunshine may hurt the eyes.