ray charles

His voice is so charming. His songs are soothing - soul musician. He had many duets - some with Natalie Cole. He was born in 1930 and died in 2004. He had overcome blindness and poverty and became a towering figure in the pop music. He was a legend. His nickname was "Genius" as Frank Sinatra gave to him.

He divorced twice and had 12 children. "I got a woman" "Honey Honey"...........

Lunch at Summer Palace.

I must treasure the weekend and allow myself a good rest.

Dinner at home with Van & A. We had a new induction cooker with a hot pot - so delicious.

Consulted Dr Lee this morning. He brought along comfort & confidence.

I will buy a Sw. chrystal brooch tomorrow.

ginger tea

Had 2 cups of hot ginger tea.

To do or not to do?

Bought a set of roast chicken with rice + vege from the Great as the meeting ended by 1:30 pm.

Min sent 2 songs for me: Georgia on my Mind by Ray Charles & Don't make my Brown Eyes Blue by Chrystal Gale. She told me Frankie sang "Georgia" and John sang Bob Dylon's "Don't Think Twice" and played guitar & harmonica at the same time in their mini concert and assembly.

Ray Charles had been blind since 7. He was born in Georgia. Now the song has become the State song. But it should be meant for a girl called Georgia. Frank Sinatra said he was the only genius in the field. Ray Charles 1930 - 2004. A pioneer American pianist & Soul musician. Wonderful!

Min has to do kitchen duty - to clean up the place by roster.

Had dinner with Van and Andrew at home. Van cooked 3 dishes and boiled some soup. Fried shrimps w/eggs, beancurd cubes with minced pork and fried beef lices w/kale. Corn/carrot with pork bones soup. Nice.

Just been able to say hi to Min at 7 am on Friday morning. She then went to bed.

Read her little diary written in 2001. She was only 11 years old. She wrote a note in 06 after post reading - she thought she was naive. But they were interesting memories.

How I wish I could have spared more time and attention to her then.

workshop + medical appt

Day 2 of the Workshop. I made a presentation which attracted some praises from the Boss & some colleagues.

Job satisfaction.

Medical appointment - some decision to be made. Quite puzzled.

When I went home, Van has finished her dinner already.

Had the shower hose changed - $170.00 for materials and service.

Today is cold. I have not yet fully recovered from my illness.

vivien westwood

Min has gone to Cosmo last night - Old Pops Monitor dinner. School bills again. Just imagine how much I have paid for her. She sent 2 photos via Skype. One with Wingki & Axelle and one with Wingki & a few European girls - all making grimaces. She is wearing the black pullover I bought her before she left - Vivien Westwood. Spending money on beautiful things is so enjoyable that it can offset my "pains & sufferings" in work. She once went to a church in Marden in memorial services for those Bethany boys who died in World War I. So her school was founded for more than 140 years. Previously for boys only, later co-ed.

In December, I will have an increment in my salary - enough to buy many packs of abalone macadamias. Lorraine & family have set off for US yesterday. I forgot today & tried to talk on Wenxi by MSN. He is off line. Then, suddenly, I remember.

Van came home very late. Long hours of work for both of us.

The weather is turning a bit cold tonight. I must sleep early, have to get up early tmr morning.

No news from Mr Nanny.

we are all sinners

Or should I say no one is perfect. Anger, jealousy, greed, selfishness, laziness, lust & gluttony.

Kam said "You won't be able to find a 100% true friend since no one is perfect." Sure, another reason is that people change. We change & others change, too, responsive to circumstances.

Van has arrived the airport one hour ago and has not yet come home. Is it for retrieval of luggage or what? Should not take so long.

I continue to take herbal tea. Quite determined to do without Dr Lam. He is hard working and is rich. He owns several shops downstairs.

Marga said both Peggy & Kevin said she should buy the Longchamp purplish grey or red or wasabi instead of beige which is too common looking.

Van has just returned.

no macadamias for me?

Without knowledge that some nuts were for me, Jerry told the maid to open up all the packs and put them into food boxes. However, Wenxi promised to buy some from US for me. This time, he will look for the wasabi flavour.

Kingsui taught me to blend lotus seed for dessert. She also taught me to add fa diu wine to soak the chicken before boiling the soup. Really fantastic. She will retire next year. So by the time I retire, there are quite a number of retiree friends waiting for me to join them already.

The notebook is noisy. See how long it can function!

Talked to Min over Skype from 6:30 to 9:15 am this morning. She is getting maturer. She learns a lot. The education is multi-faceted. Caring and disciplined at the same time. She did not go to Canterbury nor Maidstone yesterday but will go to Tesco to buy some food today. She is taught to make a picture frame. All her teachers are multi-skilled. Driving, ironing, computer, cooking & art/music.

Anson Chan & Regina Ip debated or quarrelled?

Christina was unhappy in the middle of the game. The purpose of entertainment ws defeated. I was taking cold tablets & felt very drowsy. I am naughty & always get up in the small hours trying to catch Min over Skype. Would it be like that for the next 5 years? My dear.

a bad cold

Dinner at Fung Shing Rest in Causeway Bay on Thursday. The deep fried chicken and the fish rolls were good. Not the deep-fried dumplings with superior soup nor the sago pudding. Sweet & sour porks and the glutinous rice alright.

Yesterday, I visited Shatin. Very busy - the New Town Plaza. Shing Mun River is there with the park. Quite good environments. Jo's husband is working there.

Dinner with Marga. Each of us bought a Longchamp nylon bag. Foldable. She picked the beige one, I picked the wasabi one. On sale.

I found that abalone macadamias are sold in the Great - very expensive - $99.90 for 12 oz. To my surprise, Wenxi told me (he returned home at 7 pm last evening) that he could not find abalone flavour in Perth. He bought the wasabi for me.

Helen said I am free & alone, not lonely. Van has gone to Phuket early in the morning yesterday and will return on Monday around midnight.

I will go to Kingsui's place tmr to play mj.

I went to Sogo 21 floor with Helen. We bought woollen cardigans (light blue & mauve for me & grey for Helen) from Brooks Brothers & Aquascutum (red).

I went to chinese doctor & will take herb tea.

busy schedules

Tuesday: lunch with Ag & Tam at Jiang Shan Xiao.

Went ot Taliana after work. People there have known me for 20+ years. A special kind of connection. Even Luk Hoi Tong Building is being demolished. No more Queen's Theatre. Sheung Yu's shop has been moved to Pottinger Street.

Wednesday: remained in one room for the whole day. So closely packed programmes. Lunch at Wanchai with the usual group.

Will go to Whampoa Garden for a wedding banquet hosted by Gungung's friend - one of his best friends still living.

Chatted with Min over Skype last evening. She will cook Thai food next week: chilli prawns, sweet & sour chicken and curry pork.

I am very tired now. However, I have to go to the banquet with Van. I am very tired, tired, tired ........................... Lots of work to be followed-up ......................... Loads ..........................Help!

Hitman

Bret Hart's nick name is Hitman. The full title of the gift book is:

Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling.

He comes from a family of wrestlers. Who is not wrestling in the cartoon world? We need to make a livelihood and our lives drain away minute by minute.

Raymond will study in Australia next year. So all the children have grown up and we have aged.

My CD ROM in the office was not functioning this morning. They sent along a new set with keyboard + mouse. Hahaha! The privilege of being at work.

I like the dogs with words of wisdom. Shared with all grade members & some others. Hope they like it.

Cannot contact Min yet. She says she is taught about hacking & fraud & commercial crime.

Will drink the dark herb tea tonight. See if it is tonic to my health.

this is entertainment

Her voice is sweet & far-reaching. The musical band is terrific. This is entertainment? Not good enough for me. No dancers, only 2 dressess worn for the whole evening. One black & one white - quite plain. No talks, except "thank you". None of the songs is known to me. The acoustic is renewed & enhanced and the free supporting shuttle services are excellent. Shuttle is equally important to Megabox.

5- Day week is good. It gives us a break from the office works. We rest & keep our brain fresh. Our mind goes to where we can seek amusement and comfort. I had a browsing in Sogo. Too crowded. No mood to pick & buy anything. The price for gaining the cheque is ........ So, enjoy the fruit and accept the process. It could be funny if I learn enough to step back & watch. That needs a bit of wisdom to remain detached.

SuperStar at Times Square - lunch with V & A. Sago tea downstairs.

The above account is for Sat.

Ollie is the leading actor for the Christmas drama - school production. Min will cook some Thai food next week as a part of fusion.

Today is again pingpong & dinner at Porpor's home. Regular & xing fu.

Ollie has won my heart

Ollie is playful in lessons. Keeps making class-mates laugh. But he is following the teachings well and can answer questions smartly. He can have divided attention and yet scores high marks.

Life is so easy for him. It seems. Wait. He is in the rugby team. He was bumped onto the ground and got his face swollen. He did not cry, did not withdraw and finished the game. My God! He joined the choral speaking on the following day in the Upper Dining Hall and won.

Min did not participate in both events. She was but watching or in the cheering team. She was too excited to be permitted to mingle with the seniors and to take caviars + red wine and talk to students from other schools. She has been a country duck.

In the Vanity Fair, the game is indeed interesting and challenging. I pray that I should be granted more intelligence and strength. Both of these, like money, are which I never have had enough. Players are so various in characters. How can I win? I focus on winning gracefully. That is difficult. I insist to win gracefully & sustain.

Have I won the trophies by accident? Or what? Never mind. My trophies are there. In my cabinet. Keep smiling & relax. One of my weaknesses is that I get tense & over-reacts too often.

Ollie is his pet name. He is Oliver. I envy his parents.

PS I will be receiving a X'mas gift - a book "The Wrestler" of 600 pages by Bret Hart.

crap, not crab & Quando Quando Quando

2 things I leant from Min:

A) She described her lunch as a whole of crap. I thought she meant crab. She said no, it was some shit. I used to think my English language standard is high. So, another example of our always estimating ourselves a bit higher.

B) She sent along a sweet love song "Quando Quando Quando". So soothing to my soul.

The dinner last night was inexpensive and comfortable.

chinese herb teas

I have finished the 10 herb teas prescription. Perhaps I shall go for another consultation.

Agnes is very very caring to me. I do not know why I should deserve that much from her.

I suppose I have written too much about food & clothes in this blog.

Believe me, I am people oriented. My sentiments towards folks are well above a meal or a suit.

Oh, but I must record that I have bought a pair of pretty jeans with stones sewn on it and wore it last Saturday. Chrystal beads? The bad thing about it is that I lost in mj game wearing it. Shall I try again on the 25th?

wenxi will buy me some macadamia

Wenxi will visit Perth on Saturday. He will be visiting a macadamia factory. He promises to buy me some abalone macadamia. He will bring it to me in December. He is a good boy & says he will not spend all the pocket money his Mom gives to him.

I will go to YMCA this evening at Harbour View International Guest House at Wanchai with 4 lady colleagues.

Kingsui will cook us some wined chicken pot on 25th when we play mj at her home.

Kwong is mad about his little girl's behaviours. Who isn't? When you are a responsible parent, work hard to support the family and have expectation on them unavoidably, there are times that you want either to kill the devilish kids or yourself. That is a privilege, a burden, a sweet dream & a night mare ........... Having said all these, to be a Mom is so far the best part of my life. Thank God for that!

TT is terribly expensive. I have to pay charges on both sides. That adds up to my bill. However, the postal service in UK is so unreliable & takes such a long time to deliver. Perhaps I may choose to save money next time.

Porpor was upset by Gungung's picky manners. Sometimes, people tend to be venting on those who love them most or support them most. No consequence, they know. They will be accepted & forgiven. In Chinese, we say "Step on the kind-hearted & run away from the fierce".

I wish I could be more scary ......... Or someone would say. "You are scary enough." Hahaha!

Axelle & Christian

Axelle is a Belgian girl & Christian a German boy.

Gregory & Remy are Belgian twins.

There are X'ms gifts sold at Bluewater.

I must get up early tmr.

Gungung had been admitted to UCH last night. He will be transferred to Haven of Hope tmr. It is but the medication that keeps him alive. Or his will power. He is too sensitive sometimes & gets irritable easily. This is not sth that I should inherit. Rather, it should be Porpor's tenderness & patience and tolerance that would be invaluable for me.

Wenxi said Lorraine would hardly scold him. That is wonderful! A wonderful Mom she is. The more we love our children, we tend to be gripping & pressing. He will be going to Perth in a few days' time. I like his gauging me to be strong. He may never learn how helpless & stupid I could be. Jane said being too sensitive is a source of pain. She is probably right.

What will Min make in the Food Tech lesson today? Can't wait to know.

Bluewater

Met a number of people during the past few days:

VSo, Elaine & Melody at Lippo on Thursday. VSo will move to North Point. We can hardly have lunch with her unless we take half day leave.

Van for dinner on Thursday. She treated me with Jap food near Sogo.

Lunch on Friday - rice with salmon roes, sea urchin & tuna. Yummy - first time taking it. Dinner with Helen at Jade Garden, CWB. I bought 2 cans of abalone macadamia from Sogo. Tasty but expensive.

Sat - Yau Yat Chuen Club with 15 social workers + D's wife, Margaret. I am very much at home with them. We are never very close to each other but the social link has lasted for more than 20 years. To be with them for mj game is fun. Listening to them is also fun. Lo talked about the case of indencent assault. Fu showed me some photos during his trips to China. He was in a hurry to Bangkok. He did not join us for dinner. Lung footed the bill as she got promotion.

A few have been keeping dogs & they regard the dogs as their most faithful companions. Spouses may be busy or with passion cooling down, children have grown up, dogs will bring along warmth & sentiments. However, I do not think I would be enjoying it. I am a bit afriad of animals. I do not love them enough so to look after them. My living environment would not permit. My friends tell me that they spend quite a big sum on their pets every month. Medical care & beauty services could be substantial bills.

I have not seen Kwan for many years - since his retirement in 01. They said he is now busy working as volunteers in Mainland. He stays in the hosue there most of the time. D is working in NGO after retirement. After all, his youngest daughter is even smaller than Min. Margaret got 2 nails in her foot. Chan has become much fatter & older since I first saw him in the 80s. Would he make the same remarks about me?

I wish I would be able to do some volunteer work after my retirement which will come within a few years.

Helen is loving. When we were at school, we were not that close. As years go by, we have become very mature & treasure our friendship more & more. Her 2 girls are in UK. Dear me. The GBP!

Pam is being considerate. She offers to charge me half rate for Min's Christmas stay.

I did not join the school's reunion dinner yesterday.

I bought a flatheaded grey millet for Van & A. It was served cold & with brown beans paste dip - chiu chow style. Very economical to dine at home - the fish was $18.50 and the small bottle of bean paste $4.00.

Today I will play pingpong in the afternooon and dine at Porpor's home.

Lorraine & Jerry had gone to Vietnam after her trip to Shanghai. Wenxi will go to Perth by Friday.

Min had gone to Bluewater yesterday but I have not heard from her for 2 days. Missing her .........

lunch & dinner with Van

Good that she is nearby that we can have lunch together at Shiki.

Dining at Man Ho with Marga, Kevin, Van & King. Nice chat.

Kwong will sponsor me though at the last minute. He blames me for not telling him earlier. But I told me it is not too late yet.

No news from Min.

Pharaoh & the Golden BRICs

Flora the bautician asked me how to spell Pharaosh. I hesitated while doing facial, I could not check from dictionary or e-dict. Puzzled as to ao or oa in the middle. She also asked me how to pronounce "index". She asked me about Golden BRICs as well. Never heard about it.

She joined some NLP course. My Goodness!

A woman of late 30s who came from the Mainland. Pursuing knowledge & money & she is now the boss of a beauty parlour.

Brazil, Russia, India & China .........Golden bricks?

Talked to Min over Skype.

So difficult to arrange for a meal. Lunch or Dinner!

The T Team should feel better today.

I like the abalone macadamia, from Australia. Could not find it in HK though I checked with ParknShop. Plain ones only. $120 per lb.

balsamic vinegar

I walked 5 km this morning for charity. Lunch at Zen. Bought 2 Laura Mercier base from Lane Crawford. One lipstick.

Balsamic vinegar is highly regarded for its quality. $160 for 100 ml from the cask - aceto ....Modena. 18 years old & 6% acidity. Dark, thick & sweet. Supposed to be good for blood circulation? It is made from grapes, not wine.

Dinner at Porpor's home. Van, A & Paus played tennis downstairs. I skipped the pingpong lesson.

Talked to Jo to encourage her. Hope she can do well.

How's Min re her skin allergy?

I met Laoshi 2 days ago in MTR.

Lions for the Lambs

That is the film I want to see.

Friday: Wenxi home, very exhausted. 8 hrs for rowing & 8 hrs for hiking. From Monday to Friday. I asked him to sponsor me for HK$100. He was very embarrassed & asked me why I wanted the money. I told him that it would be for the cancer patients. Lorraine is at Shanghai for a business trip & Wenbang still in Taiwan for military training.

M & J & I had lunch at TaiPingKoon, Jordan. We shared the Swiss chicken wings, smoked pomfret & stir-fried beef w/hofun. Very expensive for the stuff.

Went to Jardine House to alter Min's date of flight in January. $1,000 charged. Poor me.

Min told me she suffered from skin allergy. Very itchy & painful. She got some pills from the Medical Centre.

Saturday: went to OLC to get Min's School Cert.

Min would go to Maidstone again today. She is a bit better but still itchy. The weather was too dry.

Tea with milk & sago downstairs.

Will go for Cancer Fund Walk tmr morning. Must remember to buy Laura Mercier base for Min.

Kwong has emailed a very beautiful ppt for me, with music. Lovely.

Lobster Bar, Island Shangri-la

2 course set lunch.

Dined at home with Van. Talked to Min over Skype.

Busy busy busy!

I wore the pinkish top. Nice with the dark striped suit.

I want to see the movie starred by Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep & Robert Redford.

I like CK 'views: If you are betrayed by your beloved or friends, you feel hurt naturally. Otherwise, why bother? I remember Juliet's golden rule, too: some people must be ignored.