悲劇

I never knew I could cry so much.

Why all the defenseless children?

Why is the right to own guns more important than the right of these children to live?

I don't understand what is becoming of this world.  I feel overwhelmingly sicken. This tragedy reminds me of the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996 in our own backyard.  How many more innocent people needed to die before someone do something about it?

I hope there is a Hell, and these evil souls would rot in it.

瑪雅日曆

I really don't understand the (crazy) talk about Mayan calendar.

This reminds me of what happened in 2000, NOTHING!

Does it matter how and when the world will end?  We are all given a choice on how to live each day so live it like it's the last day every day.  No regrets.

With all the nuclear testings and bombings, we will see the end very soon.

指南针

When you take out a compass, the needle will always go around in circle a few times, and return to its original position.

I once owned an old compass and for years, it followed me everywhere I go.

Then I gave it to him, hoping that one day, we will find each other again.

At the right timing this time.

That was many years ago.  Life took a different turn and I know you live a happy life now.

This too, will pass.

Happy Birthday to you.

白蘭花

White Michelia is one of my favourite plants.

It's not because its distinctive scent, it's the memories it carries.

I still remember the old lady that sells these small packs of white Michelia in Hong Kong when I was little.  It's one of the few things I still remember about Hong Kong.  It's harder to find them on the street now but in the last few years I was lucky enough to find them on Nathan road near TST.

Life can be very simple.  This is what makes me happy and thankful.

跳蚤市場

I am a devoted flea markets goer.

Along with garage sales, thirft shops and Salvos.  I like all kinds of treasure hunt, so much that I made it a mission to visit all the local markets around the world.  I have picked up an antique Japanese chest in Boston, a well made Italian leather bag in Japan, a cool bike in Warrensburg... the list goes on.

I sell in the flea market now and I have to say, it's something I much rather doing than my previous job.  I think this is what life is all about, doing what you like and enjoy it.

I should be so lucky.

與時並進

It's hard to believe I have been back for 3 months already.

Besides all the family time and rest I could ever ask for, one of the most noticeable changes would be leaving my blackberry behind for good.  It's truly like a breath of fresh air.

I have always lived a very simple life.  My time in New York demanded a few upgrades from what I was used to, but now that I am back, I can finally be myself and be happy again.

Life is good, I love the outdoor, I love my home and most of all, I love spending more time with my love ones and live life to its fullest.

家

It's nice to be back, home sweet home.

There are still some old faces, but many more new ones.  It's a very strange feeling altogether but so far so good.  I didn't miss New York one bit.  Not the people, much less the job.  I do miss my friends back there tho, it will take a while for me to make new friends here again.

But first thing first, need to sort out what I really want to do in the next 10 years.  I am taking my time now, I want to smell the roses.

後會有期

The day is finally here.

I don't even know where to begin to express my excitement.  The planning, the back and forth and months of hard work is finally coming down to the wire.  I am excited but exhausted at the same time.

I am never good at saying goodbye, and had probably left out a few (important) people unintentionally but this is it, my job is done here.  We will just have to figure the rest out when we get back home.

I need a vacation.

Buon viaggio!

I'm in the mood for love

I'm in the mood for love
Simply because you're near me
Funny but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.

Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under,
Oh, is it any wonder
I'm in the mood for love.

Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade,
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid.

If there's a cloud above
If it should rain, we'll let it.
But for tonight, forget it
I'm in the mood for love.

Instrumental Interlude

If there's a cloud above
If it should rain, we'll let it.
But for tonight, forget it
I'm in the mood for love.

- Nat King Cole

My son

After close to 10 months of preparation, chubby is now on his way to his new temporarily home.

We are grateful that everything went well yesterday.  Although it's murder hot, we were able to keep chubby cool in the comfort of a very nice rental car.  All the paperwork was in place, the check in was smooth and, thank you for the very caring staffs at Qantas, he was able to wait for his flight inside the air-conditioned office instead of the warehouse.

We have done everything we could, and now, it's up to the people on the other side of the world to take care of him for us.  I miss him so much already.  Chubby is what makes our home a home.

I can't wait to see him again and I pray he would sail thru the next 30 days.

倒數

One month countdown.

I am not particularly stress, just a little nervous about the possibility of missing anything important.

Most of the stuff are packed, all that's left is a lot of paperwork for shipping insurance and custom details before the final date.

Then there's Chubby, who is flying out a week from now, which is pretty nerve wracking.  I am not sure how to prepare him for the flight, seeing that none of us have had any prior experience.  So I pray that he would make it over there alright.

We won't be able to see him again until after the quarantine time is up.  That's 30 days.

30 very long day.  

思念

I caught this for you...

勿忘

 Lest we forget.

23 years ago we left everything behind to start a new life abroad.

As we were busy tasting the whole new world ahead of us, the news hits like a bomb went off.

I know the Australians had not a clue the difference between all Asians, much less the Chinese and Hongkongese.  To most Australians, this is like another episode in the War series but the care they displayed during that time did help a lot of us get through.

Mind you, that's 23 years ago and internet was not the norm.  I can still remember all of us, be that from HK, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, or China, would gathered together nervously everyday immediately after the event.... word could not even describe our fears for our love ones back home.

We shed our tears together as one.  How can we forget?


(Special thanks to WK for the photo, wish I was there.)

Cathay Delight

It's my favorite drink, period.

The drink rotates on a monthly basis on most of the long haul ex-USA CX flights, F & J only, of course, as well as at the CX lounge in HK.  I don't fly J all the time but I do have access to the lounge so it's a must have for me whenever I go to HK.  I wish they serve them in the JFK lounge but no luck.

Now, it's actually not that difficult to make and yes, I found the recipe online:
5ml coconut milk
35 ml fresh milk
60 ml kiwi juice
3 or 4 mint leaves for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with four or five ice cubes. Shake well and serve in a wine glass. Garnish with mint leaves.

Now I can have it made any time I want.... provided I can get myself a cocktail shaker soon!

工傷

It's actually a repetitive stress injury (RSI), or what we now called 'Blackberry Thumb'.

My work demands a lot of up-to-date responses daily and I do live by my blackberry 24/7.  So naturally this is what I get for using my blackberry excessively in the last 10 years.

I have notice the pain a couple of years back and it's gotten worse over time.  So I guess this is the time for me to step back and have a normal life again.

I have no plan in continue using my blackberry when I move back, in fact, no plan to even obtain a cell phone.

I have talked and type enough, I need a break.

Dyson

As I am packing away, I couldn't help but planning ahead what to get for our future new home already.

And THIS, it's on the top of the shopping list.

I know it comes with a heart stopping price tag, and very likely we will need at least a couple of them for the house... but look at it, it's such a cool toy to have!  Not to mention it's probably easier to keep clean.

I adore the design, not very sure the magic behind it but I think it's worth the money.

Oh Yes!

簡單

So much to do, so little time.  Before you know it, we are in May already!

It's like a never ending task, I couldn't believe the amount of stuff hubby owns that I now needed to either get rid of or pack away.  This is by far the biggest challenge yet but someone has to do it.

In the packing process, I learned that unlike hubby, I have zero attachment towards anything.  I am not quite sure this is a good thing or it's a bit cold, but either way, this is me, if I can't take it when I die, none of the stuff matters.

Sell them all!!

哭

Surprisingly, as tough as I am at work, I can get quite emotionally moved by tiny little thing.

I guess this is my way of finding the right balance, aside from the nonstop daydreaming.

What I am trying to say is, grandpa is laid to rest today.

And I miss him deeply.

This too, will pass.

如何說再見

Goodbye grandpa, I know you are in a better place now, one day, we will see each other again.

我不怕

Every time I pack, it means another chapter of my life is about to begin.

The unknowns never really concern me, especially this time, this time I have a partner besides me.  It makes things more interesting, it makes the process more fun and it's because life is too short to not trying out everything.

We surprised everyone, but I am sure we will figure out our new path when we get settled.

I can't wait to start the journey, I can't wait to fly again.

善終服務

Death itself is not scary, the pain and suffering is.

Although grandpa was discharged from the hospital yesterday, he was sent back in the middle of the night, to the hospice this time.

We don't know how much longer, and there's nothing else we could do for him.  It's so hard to say goodbye, but I pray to my lord that he would leave peacefully, without pain anymore, without tears.

One day we will all meet again.

春

Before you know it, Spring is here.

Mother nature has been very kind this year, not too much snow and unseasonably warm thru out the winter and Spring, New York can be very pretty in Spring.

This could very well be my last Spring in New York, so I am taking it all in.  A slow stroll around the parks become our favourite pastime. I am not sure how much I will miss this city, but I will enjoy my last few months here.

Home is not too far away now.

選擇

Sometimes you have to make very difficult choices in life.

Sometimes, it's about life and death.

Watching grandpa lying in the hospital I often wonder what's the real meaning of old age and death.  How do we know when to continue the treatment, or when to let go?  Do we just prolong the suffering or are we being cruel to not do anything further?  Does grandpa has the right to know the truth or it's best for him not knowing?

So many tears, so many questions unanswered.

恕

Is that true that men forget but never forgive while women forgive but never forget?

Any relationship takes time to build, and to maintain.  Marriage is no different and probably requires more efforts if there are more dramatic family members 'involved'.  So watching our love ones' marriage falling apart is never easy, especially when the little ones will also be affected.

As an outsider, there's really only so much we can 'advise' because at the end of the day, it takes two to pick up the pieces.  Some people would choose to move on, others would stay and give the marriage another chance.

There's no right or wrong.  Your character controls your destiny.

本是同根生

We come across different clients everyday but this is by far one of the stand out cases with a sad ending.

This fight over the estate, among many other things, has been going on for years and as we witnessed the tears and heartaches intensified over the last two years, the curtain is suddenly drawn on one party.  That was it.  Just like that, all the angers, the hates, the greed for the money, the power, everything, just die with that person.

It's your own blood, and that is what it takes to end this in the end.

Money changes everything, money changes people.  But in the end, no one is going to take anything with them alive.

樹欲靜而風不息

Death is no easy subject.

I don't know what is it like to be 90 years old (and I pray that I don't live to be that age) but I can very much guessed, yes, pretty exhausting.

Is it just me or does anyone also notice that living can sometimes suck the energy out of you?  You know the work, the goals, the never ending routines, THE UNACHIEVABLE DIET PLAN!!!

So someone once said, that life is a great and terrible and short and endless thing, and none of us come out of it alive. 

I think so too.

不要說再會

默默地不出聲　暗裡再聽你呼吸聲
細看你那對眼睛　像要完完全全記低你
以便日後我跟星星　午夜時倍難眠的心境
想想那往日你　即使你已忘記太多事情 

但亦都知　這段情猶如無聲絕症
完全無性命　已經涼冰冰
絕望亦什感激　悠悠長途中註定
遇見著你　快樂過一程

Don't say goodbye 我怕會落淚
就此分手不必說為誰.
Don't say goodbye 你去吧
大家不必講傷心句 Over (Over over over)
你去吧不必說一句
Don't say Goodbye
Don't say Goodbye
Don't say Goodbye

烹飪樂

I like eating, and I enjoy cooking just as much.

I used to spend a lot of time trying out different recipes or simply reinventing some new ones.  It's time consuming but it's a lot of fun.  The tricky part is there's only two of us, so over the years I became lazy... and eating out seems to fit our busy schedules better.

I have made it a point to cook more when we move back, along with picking up my rusted paintbrush again.  The sky's the limit.

捨即是得

Is it hard to let go?

Yes and no.  But to me, most of the time it's worth the initial pain and hassle.

I believe in freeing.  I believe out with the old, in with the new.

Forever mine

僕だけがあなたを守れる
この世界でひとり

僕だけがあなたを愛せる
他のどんな誰より

絹の雨に濡れながら
夜明けまでずっと
抱きしめていたい
このまま

さあ　僕の胸で
腕の中で
忘れていた夢の続きを

さあ　呼びさまして
溶けて行こう　僕と
本当の愛の静寂へ

いつだってあなたを見ていた
いくじなしの黄昏

強がりと孤独なプライド
全てはもう幻

二度と　目覚めなくていい
美しい横顔に
崩れ去ってしまえる

さあ　時の中へ
あなたは今
ありのままの自分に還る

さあ　くちづけして
堕ちて行こう
僕と
永遠の愛の静寂へ

悲しみを強さに変え
暗闇に虹を灯す
いつか

絹の雨に濡れながら
夜明けまでずっと
抱きしめていたい
このまま
FOREVER MINE

さあ　僕の胸で
腕の中で
忘れていた夢の続きを

さあ　呼びさまして
溶けて行こう　僕と
本当の愛の静寂へ

さあ　くちづけして
堕ちて行こう 僕と
永遠の愛の静寂へ
本当の愛の静寂へ

FROM NOW ON
YOU'RE MINE ,YOU'RE MINE
AND FOREVER MINE

Composed and lyrics by Yamashita Tatsuro

中式英語

I like all kinds of plays, Broadway or off Broadway.

I have yet to see Hwang's other play M. Butterfly but Chinglish is funny, probably because we can all related to how the same cultural differences and language barriers could lead to some hilarious situations.

It's also interesting to see a good mix of Asian audiences and a cast of mostly bilingual Asian actors/actresses on a Broadway show.  I studied drama and art in high school, not something an Asian family would appreciated so this is definitely a break-thru, something I truly hope it would grew to the next level in the very near future.

CNY

Of all the holidays, I like Chinese New Year the most.

Aside from all the delicious lucky food and goodies that are served through the two weeks celebration, I love the tale of Chinese New Year.

The beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian (年).  Legend has that Nian would come on the first day of New Year to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children.  To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year.  It was believed that after the Nian ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people.  One time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the colour red.  Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian.  From then on, Nian never came to the village again.  (Sourced from Wikipedia)

Cool huh!!

倒數

6 months countdown. 

Although I have moved so many times and I'd like to think I've got this down to a science, this is still a process... especially when there's another person and a living animal involved.

Yet the joy of returning to my home town is overwhelming.  To finally be able to stop converting Fahrenheit to Celsius, to drive on the left side of the road, to have Vegemite whenever I want and most of all, to be able to laid back and go to my favorite beach every week. 

I should be so lucky.

十年人事

Has it been ten years already?

It seems like it was only yesterday when I first set foot in this office.  It was a new challenge and a new beginning, I was excited, I was full of energy.  I can still remember the joy of closing my first deal.

I owe it to my hubby, for without his support, I will never be at where I am today. 

10 years later, I found myself losing the edge to moving my business forward.  I am not sure if I will miss my work but I think, I am ready to explore the new path.

因果

I believe in Karma wholeheartedly.

It all started with a little charity work and donation here and there, then I got hubby into doing more together... a little donation from each pay check to sponsoring children.  It may sound crazy but we do believe that in return, luck found its way to us more often than usual.

Life is all about choices and the decisions we make. A little something goes a long way.

What goes around comes around.

從頭開始

Why would anyone want to start over again.

We all came a long way to get to where we are today, be that in tears or laughter, it was the best path we could pick at that given moment.  I am who I am, I will not do any better even if you let me start over again.  It will still be the same mistake, it will still be the same result.

I am the negatively-positive type of person and to me, life is a very tiring process... I will make the best of it but once is enough.  I have no regrets.

Tomorrow is another day.