Shanghai Garden & Prudential Hotel

LNY gatherings & birthday celebration keep on. Very sumptuous lunch & dinner. Received a present of eau de lavender from Crabtree & Evelyn.

Received a big bunch of lisianthus or eustoma. Pink. Another bunch of red carnations. Put in 3 vases. I have the 2 large ones. James has the little one.

Waiting to be called. Not yet today. See if I am required tomorrow.

A tight schedule follows.

Min starts her mock exam tomorrow. All by herself. She must be independent. She got another tooth on the right upper 1st premolar pulled out. She is a very brave little girl.

A bit worried about the incident.

resume work

After 10 days' rest, I resume working today. A meeting in the morning. Dora treated us with Starbucks coffee & cakes. Lunch at Wanchai with the usual group. SK came back this time. No Edmund. Tom told me that Chi Kee was not closed. Just moved to another site nearby. Interviews in the afternoon. So engaged.

I explained to Wenxi about my chosen name.

Min will have her another tooth pulled tomorrw. That is part of the dental treatment. I cannot accompany her. Porpor will.

LNY B/day

Today is my birthday - lunar calendar. Take one day off. Work tomorrow onwards. A home visit by someone bringing along presents. I am delighted. Had lunch at home. Then, I met Ella in the afternoon. She went to North Point with me & I bought a pair of beige jeans. Ella said the it means riches to buy trousers in new spring.

I also bought wonton & shui kau home, buns, too. Gave some to Porpor.

Min liked the wonton and ate the dozen I cooked for her. They are from Ho Hung Kee. Chi Kee is closed down and the location now is The Body Shop.

Van wrote an email to me - promotion and increase of salary commencing April & bonus by end of Feb. Good news. She really works hard and is very mature.

friends come to visit me today

Oh, the Jap apple bought in Jusco on 20th costed $38.00 got rotten today when I cut it. Poor me. Could not eat the expensive greenhouse grown big apple.

Friends came to visit me. Chicken, shrimps, Ch sausages, vege & abalone. B bought me 2 packs of choco orange sticks. Delicious! He & F saw Protege also.

Will go to Kingsui's home tomorrow morning. Busy vacation.

Van dined out. Min has been with me the whole day. Mickey came for tuition.

protege

Is it French? Could anybody tell me? It is a must-see movie. So wonderful. Not a minute's boredom nor nonsense. All characters - main role or minors or carefrees are tailor-made & entertaining.

Min went with me to APM Palace. Booking by internet. One station away. So convenient. Min is my darling in this world. How I would miss her when she studies in UK?

Loneliness could kill. The theme of the movie is: people become drug addicts cos they are lonely. Which is more horrible? Loneliness, emptiness or dd?

Andy Lau is stylish, dramatic and attractive. Can play the main role so well. Daniel Wu is known for his handsome face & physical fitness. Yet I find his artistic air & hard work. He is a star.

birthday

Yesterday is my birthday. I have received a picture frame from Ag, T & P, a Swarovski brooch - clover - from Min and a L-C purple-red handbag. A bought me a box of Godiva truffles.

I had a delicious dinner in Lei Garden (APM) with the whole family. Pau was on shift and could not come.

B etc will come tomorrow. We will play badminton down in the Club. Then I will visit Kingsui on Sunday & play mj with Chris & Helen. Suen etc will treat me with dinner buffet next Tuesday. He bought me the orchids some weeks ago.

Play, play, play during the long vacation. Very delighted. Wenxi emailed me & I told him all the above. He said I am fortunate to have so many generous contacts.

What will I do today? Do some exercises at home to keep fit.

3rd day LNY

Porpor visited us yesterday.

Lunched with Van in ZEN. Gave laisees to all those familiar faces. Van likes charsiu buns - western style. We had vermi rolls & congee & mushrooms. Dessert complimentary.

Dinner with Min at BAAN - APM. Pork neck with fried noodles & baked sea-bass in banana leaf. Fried noodles quite tasty. Expensive. Then, we went to Ah Kum & Ah Tuen. They work so hard.

Today, Agnes & YM & Pat will come. Fun time.

Nita will cook fish maws + mushrooms + pork ribs; fish soup; steamed chinese sausages; mixed vege etc.

kung hei kung hei

LNY! Had a sumptuous dinner in KT. Best wishes for the year to come.

Chu tel early in the morning to greet. He is a loving pal.

Paus will come for lunch & then we will visit Porpor this evening.

Van bought me a pot of narcissus, elegant & fragrant. She knows I like it. Rita & James also keep one pot in the office. So pretty.

Min is still sleeping. I know many shops are open as usual. Hence, no more closing of shops & restaurants like before.

We discussed about what Min will pick for the 4 subjects.

Micky came yesterday. He is as contented & stable as ever.

Wagyu Beef

Studied from the Wikipedia about it. Kobe beef.

I like delicious food so much that even reading about beef or olives or ham can make me happy. Once Sharon said when I was looking at the pictures of good food, my eyes were smiling.

At X'mas 04, I was in hospital. I could not dine out nor even take regular food. I spent my time reading magazines with photos and features re X'mas dinners. That was comforting enough. That is one of the incentives for me to walk out the hospoital full of hopes & desires - to work, to eat & to love. I can express my love better with a healthy body & a big purse.

We must learn to love our bodies - well-fed, well-clothed, well-ornamented.

I am reading a novel by Nie Shu. From my teens until now.

Min is with me today. We will go to Porpor's house this evening for reunion dinner.

I went to Charisma to trim & colour my hair.

Ah Kum resumed working.

I better work & remain gainfully employed. Children have their own life & I must maintain my own interest & social circle. After all, one has to take care of one's own soul. One gives and does not necessarily get back what one really deserves. It is good enough if you are capable & willing in the process of "to give".

Happy Valentine

Healthy, smooth-running and with blessings in the air.

Usual lunch at Wanchai. Edmund came back.

Van will dine out. She had received 3 bunches of flowers. Young & pretty. Enjoying life.

Min will be the only love sharing dinner with me on this romantic day.

The black beads necklace broke again yesterday. I went to Nice Claup to change it for a pullover for Min with black/green/beige stripes.

Bought Godiva choco. Very sweet - dipped orange sticks and gigner.

night at the museum

Amusing. Cecil - I know how to pronounce now. Previously, I thought it was Sed so. Today I learn it to be See so.

Americans are always optimistic. Chaos turn to be fun. Terror is just a ground for proof of succes or attainment. Love conquers all.

I am blue, blue, blue. Too much worries. No one can save me. Woo woo wooo .......

What will I do on Valentine's Day? Amanda S is so cute. She said she does not believe in Valentine's Day. It was just commercial deception for more money. Expensive dinner & flowers - no good. She will cook & dine with her lover at home as they are living together. Even watching DVD will be excellent. She is lovely. But to have a lover cooking & dining & watching DVD together is a blessing not for each one in the world.

lychee twin set

I wear the new twin set both on Monday & Tuesday. Warm & light. I have a sense of well-being. To be pampered is the best thing in the world.

Pa wants to buy dried shark's fins and pot cuisine. I am too glad to have those foods for LNY. I remember when I asked him to buy me a typewriter in F.4, he did it for me immediately. I doubt whether he had enough money to do so. Yet, he granted my wish. He is a loving Papa though a bit quick-tempered. Maybe I am just like him.

Today, I will have lunch with J & J. One retired & one serving.

Kevin is still awaiting result of his interview. I am anxious. Yet can't help.

Pearls & the Cashmere again

I had lunch with Van at Chef (Jap Rest) in Lan Kwai Fong. Then, Pearls & Cashmere again. Van bought a grey cardigan with twisted rows and a pink/blue/white diamonds short-sleeved pullover. She is fascinated by the good quality. I told her not to throw it into the laundry basket. Must be dry-cleaned. Must be put back to the silk bag when not in use. They are not cotton T-shirts.

To be in charge of hospitality. What a task! Not much idea what to do for such a high-class event.

Min said HE must be more capable than I am and must treat me very well. Is she right?

Min is singing very sweetly beside me now. Van not yet home.