BA in the zero hr

Made banking arrangement.

Colour Treatment in Sea Wave, Telford Gardens. George said I have maintained myself so well. I still look young with lots of fine hair. Is that why so many rich women fall for their hair stylists? I really enjoy hearing him saying all those. When I grumbled about my white hairs, he said it is just normal to be with diligents students & high-ranking executives. He believed I have been both, so there come my white hairs. However, he comforted me that that would not be a problem. He chose chestnut bornw for me. He said that it was so appropriate for me.

Had lunch with Porpor, Jason & Nita at 8 Happiness, Kai Tin.

Still busy with last minute checking of everything.

Gungung & Porpor gave red packets to Min.

I will be missing those whom I love so dearly in HK while I am away. Likewise, I will be missing Min while she stays in UK.

Porpor told me a man committed suicide in their block due to vigorous quarrels amongst wife, girl friend & himself.

mixed feelings

Dinner with Helen & Yu at Lei Garden, APM, on Wednesday. I like the blue Tommy Hilfiger handbag.

Went to Dr Lee in the morning of Thursday. Would have the test results by Saturday morning. Mrs Lee talked to me about the experience of sending her daughter to study abroad. Keep my fingers crossed for good health.

Thursday lunch with Christina at Vietnamese Restaurant, Hang Fa Chuen. She gave Min a blue bathing robe. But I am not sure whether there is any more room for it. Have to be very selective.

Pam Stevens tel me yesterday evening. She spoke very good English. Polite, concise & nice to the ears. I made some notes from the websites re Bethany School, Thistle Piccadilly Hotel (london) & Star and Eagle Hotel (Goudhurst).

Today, we collected the shortened grey striped trousers from Cour Carre.

Min had tuning from Dr Tong before her departure. $1,000.

We saw the movie "Evan Almighty" at AMC, Pacific Place. Morgan Freeman to be God again. Tom Hanks joined in the production. No more Jim Carrey as in the last movie.

Visited Gungung in Kowloon Hospital. Min & he love each other so much. They shook hands. Gungung told her to be careful with passport, money & check books etc. Told her to study hard & listen to Mom.

Then, Paus & A - 7 of us - dined at Shanghai Garden Restaurant, Hutchison House. Marga footed the bill as a farewell party. We were so excited about Wenbang's driving licence of tanks. Met Mike Chiu.

Min likes her shoes bought at Nine West.

She is busy doing the last minute packing.

Wednesday

Min had been lucky to have a treat in the Marriott Hotel for lunch buffet. She took the salad. She also received a red packet.

We then bought shoes from Nine West. We had a bun in Shake'em Buns in Causeway Bay. We shared a Hwaiian Sufer Girl Bun. She had Coke & I had raspberry drink. The customers were model-looking young guys. 2 foreginers seemed to be Italians. They were so tall, dark & handsome.

Then, we got some clothing items from Courr Carre, APM. A pr of grey pants were still too long after alteration. Would collect it on Friday after further shortening.

Too many things to be packed. Must be very selective.

shoes from Marks & Spencer

Had goose-webs & a dumpling w/crabmeat for lunch. Almond cream for dessert.

Went back to office to fill in the forms for reimbursement. Cherries for colleagues.

Body massage at Admiralty Centre.

Kate Spade green + white stripes pencil case & yellow spots cosmetics bag. They are signature items.

Got the black high-heels from Marks & Spencer for Min's schooling.

Dined at home with 2 girls. Porpor brought along double-boiled chuen pei for me. Gungung is still in the hospital.

Talked to Ella on phone.

Love keeps me alive.

Lei Garden APM & Lippo

Lunch with Porpor at APM. It does not happen very often as Gungung & the children need her care & I used to go to work on Mondays. Seldom can we 2 have a quiet time enjoying tea & dimsum. She likes the new handbag bought by Mayee.

I went back to the office yesterday afternoon. Then, we went to Lippo for dinner - 8 of us. Min received a red packet of 5 GBP & a green Cross ballpen with her name engraved thereon.

Michael Suen & his wife were at a table nearby with a few friends. One girl & one young man played Chinese musical instruments. A nice setting. Very few tables. Wondered how they survived.

I was told that KM also joined the Wanchai regular lunch on last Wednesday. Edmund said that retirement life was so boring. He was keen to take up any job. However, it would not be easy to have offers.

James had just come back from Taiwan with family for a short weekend trip. He does not like the new boss very much.

busy Sunday

Oatmeal as breakfast. Then, I bought a variety of buns for Gungung including custard tarts. Headed for Kowloon Hospital. He picked the cocktail bun & the sausage bun. He needed our companionship despite he often said "no need to come so often as you are all busy". He had problems with his breath.

PingPong with Coach Wu. I did not know how lucky I was that I could play pingpong in the recreation room after work until now.

Shampoo & set in Mongkok. Very hot, dusty, noisy & polluted air. Unbearable spot to stay.

Had some Jap food in Telford with Min. Reserved a pr of black shoes from Marks & Spencer. I bought a pink wind breaker & we bought some books.

Dined at Porpor's place.

Cour Carre & Adidas

For Min - 2 suits with pants & a suit with skirt, 3 white shirts & 1 striped shirt from Cour Carre. A track suit from Adidas - tee + pants + jacket. APM. Charcoal, dark blue & dark grey. Suitable shoes not yet found.

Tennis from 4-5 pm. Min felt uncomfortable & stopped at 4:45 pm.

Van & A dined out for Korean food. Min had garoupa rice + cabbages. I had steamed eggplant & charsiu.

Min slept early. I start to feel missing her & a bit confused. Best wishes for her future. Lots of worries & uncertainties. Heavy responsibilities.

Talked to W Sung. He is improving. The operation has been successful.

Terrible expenditure.

Pa is not feeling well. Perhaps I should go to see him tomorrow.

APM & Kowloon Hotel

Lunch with Grace at Chiu Chow Rest at APM. Then Flora.

Went to buy a Samsonite suitcase for Min from Wing On, YMT.

Dinner buffet with Auntie Grace + Min at Kowloon Hotel.

Min still has the tummy ache.

Concert (Yip Chun-tong)

In the morning, I went to Taliana for shampoo & pedicure. Then lunch with Grace at Lippo. Anne was the Queen of tuition. She charged $1,000 per session per student. Ber's girl attended the class once or twice every week for the whole school year. She attained grade A in English language. Hence Ber thought Anne was worth it. Her income from tuition must be great. Much more than that of her income as a teacher. Tax-free?

Brought Min to see Dr Lai Ming-yuet for her tummy ache. Problems with gastric inflammation. $200. Yesterday, I got the herbal tea for $160. A bit anxious that we must all board the plane healthy & pretty.

Dinner at Wu Kong Shanghai Restaurant at Peking Road with Porpor + Mayee. Then, we went to the concert at HK Cultural Centre. Marga joined us after work. Very entertaining - Yu On-on, Eliza Chan & a man whose name I cannot remember, But I like his voice.

How could I gather myself back to work after one month's rest?

Ber's children like the cakes from Agnes b very much, esp the choco truffle.

forever pampered

Agnes b cakes can be so delicious. Lemon tart, chocolate truffle cake & raspberry/white chocolate cake.

Lunch with Ber at Festival Walk - a 1/2 price set.

I enjoy being pampered. Whatever I say, I do, I encounter ....... I am forever supported. That is so nice a life experience.

I wear the new tee with lace at the front neckline. Seems fresh & comfy.

Had body massage at Reflex.

Received 4 x $50 ParknShop cash coupons from HK Bank. Spent them on vege/fruit, canned food & household stuff.

Min will bring the new camera to UK.

megabox

Mike got one day compensation leave. I asked him to drive me, Porpor & Jason to Megabox to have lunch. We went to Megared Chiu Chow Restaurant. Dimsum & congee & desserts. $320.00. Reasonable. New place. Good service, 2 hrs free parking & special renovation.

Porpor seemed enjoying the tea. She visited Gungung with congee.

Bought a tee-shirt again in Admiralty. I suspect I am a shoppaholic.

Dined at home with Min. Van is out.

Porpor came at night time. I brought her to Ah Tuen.

Will have lunch with Ber tomorrow at noon at Festive China, Festival Walk. Pui Hing is working as a summer intern. Nice to hear that.

KK Leung is still receiving physiotherapy. Not much improvement.

Ken tel & made some enquiries.

Anne tel last night. She showed concerns towards Min.

Min likes the camera so much that she literally held the camera in her hands & felt every button. She put a protective sheath onto the monitor. Now being charged. She will use it tomorrow. Digital proects are real fascinating.

Samsung black digital camera

Min has received a lovely gift today - with Schneider lens.

She likes it so much. Very excited about it.

I have paid her 1st term school fee & ordered a Toshiba laptop for her. I bought 2 long-sleeved tees from Ju in Walk-in Closet, one pr of black rights for Van, with details of lace & 3 buttons at the bottoms.

They played tennis from 8 to 9 pm downstairs.

Porpor bought 3 cups of grass jelly for us.

Wenbang has got his driving licence for tanks. How wonderful!

Wenxi is always caring & is concerned about my coughing. I am pleased.

Louisa will fly on 14 August, so the dinner party supposed to be held on Friday 10 due to typhoon could not be re-arranged. Moral: something or someone missed will never return.

ping pong Sunday

Visited Gungung at noon, Marga bought him a box of curry beef brisket rice, me an Apple Daily. He seemed better.

Pingpong from 1 to 3 pm.

Had tea by myself at Queen's Cafe at Festival Walk, then brought home spaghetti with tomatoes/beef slices for Min. Dinner at KT with Porpor, 2 girls, A & Marga.

Peggy bought some jewellery from Landmark Larry. A diamond cross pendant, a ruby pendant, a sapphire pendant & a diamond ring. She has no children & a fat pension + a husband of handsome income.

However, I prefer my 2 girls to her jewellery. To have some jewellery is a joy, though.

I pray for health & peace of mind.

Ratatouille

Disney Pixar never fails. It is about French fine dining. The rat. Like Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse, it is so cute & clever.

Watched the movie with Min at APM Palace. Bought 5 books for leisure reading. Min likes reading. We did not buy doughnuts although we visited Krispy Kreme. Not everyday.

Facial at Stella's. She told me about her 3 children. Another great mother.

Dinner - congee with pork ribs + mushrooms. A's Mom gave me some parma ham & some yau-gum-jee.

I bought a pr of dark blue jeans (made in Japan) in the arcade - I wore it immediately today. I enjoy shopping so much that I must work to maintain such hobbies.

the Simpsons

Yesterday morning, I brought Min to Dentist Philip. Then we had lunch at Festival Walk - Jap set. We then saw the movie "The Simpsons". Very amusing. I never knew about the Simpsons before. Nice to have children. They broaden our horizon. Afterwards, we went to Kowloon Hospital to visit Gungung. He wanted to have some bread with jam for night snacks. I went to Prince Edward Road to buy such in 2 shops. No supermarket nearby & no supply in the convenience shop in hospital.

Today, I should have gone to a movie at around 4 pm & a farewell dinner re Louisa. The typhoon signal no 8 hoisted at 2:30 pm spoilt everything. Eventually, I went to ParknShop to buy a garoupa & 2 pcs of rib eyes & some big button mushrooms for dinner. The soup is tomatoes, potatoes + minced pork.

Van & A dined at home with Min & me. They bought 6 doughnuts from Krispy Kreme at APM.

xiao nan guo - times square

Had my hair permed & trimmed at Charisma. Rosana, Chu & Ber all asked about Min's results.

I had dinner with the 2 girls. Van & I advised Min to treasure the opportunity & catch up with her study in UK aiming at admission into a U of good standard. She promised.

Ma Lik had died. A shock & a distress for me. He suffered from colon cancer in 2004 & died at the age of 55. I was impressed by his liberal thoughts as a leader in his camp.

Pa seems alright for the time being. Porpor visited him in Kowloon Hospital. Marga got her chin hurt 2 days ago. Poor girl. ChingYee suffered from breast cancer. So many cases.

before vacation commences

Accompanied new boss to Eastern yesterday morning. Very busy to do last minute handover. Agnes bought Min 2 pc of soap from Lush. Rosana called also. They are all very kind to her. Bid Anita farewell. Porpor sent along double-boiled chuenpei. My coughing is getting better. Much better than before. I need a break. Roger will tour in Spain & Portugal with family.

Kwongloi is wonderful pal. He knows about a lot of things. He is interesting & considerate.

Went with Min to her school to collect results. More or less expected marks. As usual, some had been assessed to be higher. Feeling more settled. I have made the right choice of arranging her to study abroad.

Breakfast with her in McCafe. Very expensive coffee & sandwich + cold drink.

Van will have dinner with us this evening at Causeway Bay.

Gungung transferred to Kowloon Hospital. His heart seems to be requiring medical attention.

Sat & Sun

Pleasure to watch the 2 girls playing tennis in the Saturday afternoon. Went to Flora & Ah Yee. Sago tea.

Bought a hair dryer and an electrical water boiler for Min to be used in UK.

So much for Saturday.


Sunday -

Woke up at 10 am. Went to CCC at 11:10 to meet Helen, Kingsui & Christina.

Played mj & won $360. Christina gave Min a thermo cup & a shawl from Aigle. Helen paid for the water boiler.

KT & Marga, Kevin & Min went to Kln City to have hotpot.

Feel better now. Less coughing.

Friday dinner at Nan Guo, still coughing

9 out of 10 who have been promoted hosted the dinner. Next to Sogo. Very small place. Crowded. Food was OK but really congested.

Won $160. Very rare result. Happy about that.

Judy is kind to me. We had lunch at Jiang Shan Xiao. Beef slices & fried noodles with fish.

Coughing is killing me. Luckily I can have 2 days' rest. Will go to play mj in 3C tomorrow with Helen, Kingsui & Christina.

2 more days to work before my vacation for one month during the 4 years.

It seems I have been passing germs onto the 2 girls. When can I get well?

Time flies. It has been a week since I brought Min to Dr Tong & dined with Ella + Kam.

Cannot go to play pingpong tomorrow.

coughing badly the whole night

Could not sleep. No effect - both western medicine & Chinese herb tea. Took one day sick leave today.

The throat is sore.

The girls know about the HK Monetary Authority & the 3-tiers banking system: licensed bank, restricted licensed bank & deposit-taking company. Glad that they know quite a lot. They somewhat laughed at me. They are pleased to find that their Mom is but a Mom who only chases them for homework, tidiness & food + clothings. She does not know everything in the world.

Van goes to work today. Min is still sleeping. It is rare that I am staying in the flat reading newspaper & sitting before the computer at this time on weekdays.

I must enjoy the quiet & the leisure.

coughing badly

Usual lunch at Wanchai.

Meeting in the morning. Inteviews & discussions in the afternoon.

Went to the herbalist shop for Chinese bitter herb tea.

Life could be better.

Gungung had respiratory difficulties & went to UCH on Tuesday.

Pray that I can have my clear throat again.

Agnes was very kind to me. Nice to have her around.