Australia

24th Oct - arrived at about 10 pm. Lorraine & Wenxi greeted me.

25th Oct - did shopping at China Town. Overnight flight to Melbourne.

26 Oct - Farmstay. Exciting - Tim & Susanna. Sheep. Roast chicken & poached egg with spinach (garden fresh) + bacon ........ Sutton Grange ........

27 Oct - Captain Cook's Cottage, Rhyll Fishing Port, penguin parade in Phillip Island. Freezing cold.

28 Oct - lunch & dinner at China Town. Bought acadamia nuts & lanolin. Apollo Bay - took helicoptor to view the 12 Apostles, 3 of which collapsed.

29 Oct - flew to Sydney - Blue Mountains - 3 Sisters - East Ocean for dim sum. York Resort.

30 Oct - Citigate Hotel opposite Railway Station at Flinders Street. Fish & chips before visit to Jenolan Caves. We toured Chifley Cave. Dinner at China Town after Aquarium.

31 Oct - Direct Factory Outlets & Nike. I bought a pair of black walking shoes from Timberland. Sushi box at Food Court. China town again for nuts & lanolin. Caption Cook's Cruises in the afternoon. Jap Restaurant near Capitol Theatre with Leroy. Viewed Queen Victoria Building. Went to musical at Star Casino - "Priscilla". A bus travelling in the outback of NSW. Alice springs.

Have had a great time. Alex is a humorous driver. Sylvia is a cheerful girl.

Will go to Paddi's Market tomorrow morning. The jacaranda trees are amazingly beautiful.

Kept contacts with Van & Min. Min has a nice time at Pam's house. She was dressed as a witch for Halloween. white blouse & green skirt & a broom. Could not be more lovely.

check-in in the morning

SQ - in Kowloon Station. The ground crew is not as pleasant & smart as those in the Airport. Slower response and I did not see a smiling face. Most of the counters were idle. However, SQ has 2 women there. Lousy. Took 20 minutes to answer their enquiries and receive their payment for the excess luggange. They asked for a calculator to check and double-check. Another man tried to jump queue claiming that he had gone away to re-arrange his luggage. Not a nice experience to start with in the morning. The call-taxi service also declined my request. Perhaps they have lots of business. Then I could not get an aisle seat. So I picked a middle one. Asked staff about the fare. I am a country duck who has never travelled alone.

However, there comes the excitement, anyway.

I met the Doreys last evening in Shangri-la Hotel lobby. We chatted from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. I bought a shawl for Mrs Dorey. She was delighted and put it on at once. They are very caring teachers.

We also discussed about Min's academic results and choice of subjects etc. Dorey said next year when we meet, Min should be studying in the Univeristy already. How I wish it would be true!

Phillip Island

Cat had been there also.

Lorraine was very tired when I tel her. I supposed life is a bit tough for her due to financial tsunami. I first heard for tsunami in Dec 2004. Now another kind of disaster.

A new induction course yesterday. Very useful and enriched contents. Wonder how the new people like it.

penguin parade

Both Chu & Evelyn told me it would be freezing cold. Evelyn had blankets & hot coffee with her.

Wenxi is having O level exams.

Min is thinking hard about what subjects to choose.

Marga will fly on Thrusday.

Van's hi-definition TV is real good.

I bought rice with ham + bell peppers for lunch from Great and dinner at home.

hatred is too intimate and intense a sentiment

Hatred is not permitted for anyone so easily. Who should deserve my hatred? Not he or she or they. Who cares?

Pingpong. Times Square. Aigle. A grey fleece jacket & a shocking pink goretex outfit.

Phillip Island - return of penguins at night. Freezing cold.

Charisma - to trim my hair.

Dinner at KT.

sai tso wan park again

One hour of brisk walk in the morning with Nita.

Taliana for perming hair.

Window-shopping in Central.

Tea at McCafe.

Dinner at Telford with Van & Nita. Van likes my jade fish pendant. Blood sugar level lower & good condition.

Min played basket ball and claimed herself to be a great shooter. She might join war game today. She is happy in Bethany.

Empire Hotel, UCH

Lunch at the Chinese Restaurant at Empire Hotel, Wanchai. Dim sum of standard. Quite expensive.

UCH - check up. Normal condition. Next appointment in October 09. That is good news for me. I was so relieved.

Agnes came to my home for dinner. Honourable guest. She helped registering the anti-virus s/w. We bought a live fish from Park n Shop & 2 crabs. All steamed. Nita was more than happy to receive her. We had grapes & pears after meal.

Could not get hold of Min yet.

Watched Taipan every night at ATV. But I don't have the hi-definition box. So I can only watch the first half hour.

food & people

These form the main of my memory.

Wednesday - usual group at Jaffe Street, Wanchai for lunch. Dinner at QRE. Agnes is always ready to bring us to new places.

Thursday - lunch at canteen and dinner home. I went to Wanchai for a meeting after 5 pm.

Min asked me not to add her at Facebook. In fact, I do not know how to do it. She emphasized her account is for herself and her friends. She said that is for privacy reason that she would not join me. A typical youngster.

farewell lunch for Clement on Monday

Come and go.

Min had made a carrot cake recently. She remembers that I like carrot cakes, esp from Dan Ryan. However, she says lots of oil added, not really healthy. I asked whether it is butter. Her funny reply was "I do not mess up oil with butter."

It seems the financial tsunami is being warded off by all the authorities jointly. See how well it could turn out.

pingpong - lots of fun

I like pingpong. I like Victoria Park and I like Coach Wu.

Vietnamese pho for lunch at Causeway Bay. Sogo & Wing On, Sheung Wan.

Dinner at Porpor's home. Repaid her $700.oo for the safe deposit box charge.

IDD Min.

Kornhill & CCC

Lunch at Kornhill. I had lunch with 2 retirees and a young girl who just started working for 1 year. So we went for tea time - after 2 pm - for the privilege of half price for dim sums. That is preparatory for my retirement a few years later. Ka-yan told us stories about her customers. Amusing.

Supper at CCC. Marga played mj there with her friends. Peggy looked nice. We had western meals. Kar-yan did not join us. She has her friends from Liverpool. The 3 sisters have different characters but they are close to each other.

Radio programmes enrich my non-working days and nights.

Friday again

Min is busy. So I can't be peaceful and keep on thinking of her.

Chiuchow cuisine for lunch.

When I told a friend that I am terribly busy, he said many people just want to be busy and engaged in work but get unemployed.

Time flies. Another week.

5 life savers

1) lunch at Hal's, G/F, Hutchison House. Japanese restaurant

2) Nita's native dessert - sliced guava + sago + coconut juice

3) mashed potatoes + coarse ground blackpepper + sea salt + white truffle pate

4) ATV programme at 10 pm - interviews by Albert Cheng & his guests

5) RTHK - Mak Yun-sau's phone in before midnight

degustation menu

It is a culinary term meaning "a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods.

Literally, it is "a tasting menu" in which a meal can consist of as many as 10 to 12 different courses. It is a single meal of many small but unfogettable signature dishes from the chef. French origin.

I like the mashed potatoes with black pepper and white truffle pate most. Joycelyn had the baked Alaska.

I have ordered for 5 tickets to the cancer fund orchestra concert in City Hall on 16/11. Marga is not interested & Irene will be in Shanghai watching some tennis match. Van & A will go.

"Connected" "Cellular"

Wonton noodles - Jeng Dou branch shop at Telford. Van & I went there for tasty noodles.

A movie of excitement. APM with Jeff & Jason. They like popcorn & coke so much.

TOTT's for dinner. The birthday of Joycelyn. Van bought her a rosy pink passport holder from Agnes b and me a Lesportsac. I took photos with my Samsung camera. I enjoyed their company very much. Decent, humorous and knowing best what is quality life.

Papa is happy with my caring for him.

to someone who cried desperately

1) Love yourself even if the whole world would not;

2) Why bother if someone tells you who and who do not like you; you may dislike others, too; how natural;

3) You said, "Why she has everything and I don't?" That could not be true. Focus on what you have. So unlikely that another person could have everything. If you meant she is one rank higher and earns $5,000 more per month, you are pretty narrow-minded. That is a stupid cause of your pains;

4) Life is far more interesting if you care to enjoy a good movie or a love song, a delicious meal or the fresh air in the garden early in the morning .......

5) No one should take away your dignity unless you permit.

Smile, Lady.

prasidha & celine dion

Saturday - worked in the morning. Had lunch with A & Van at APM. Viewed several flats, interesting to see the different interior decoration which turns a flat into various usages and looks.

Dr Hon. Tea at Pokka Cafe. Dinner at home.

Sunday - pingpong. I brought along the new camera and took photos with Marga & Wu. Heavy rain. I bought a pair of sandals as the gym shoes were soaked.

Yuen Long. A flat of 1,ooo sq ft. Blu-ray disc of Celine Dion's show at Las Vegas. It was such an enjoyment watching and taking a custard tart with a cup of Oolong tea. The Yuen Long Market is in some way like that of Sai Kung. We bought some shrimp roe noodles. I like the dining table and the side tea-poy. Edmond's little girl is called Cheryl.

I am thinking whether I should buy a Philips TV, 19" and place it in the bedroom.

Dinner at Porpor's home. The wall unit is useful & pretty. The kitchen unit good.

Stella worried that I would become very depressed, lonely & negative after Van's marraige & Min's going abroad. Are there any signs that make her think so?

Samsung NV30

Promotion price - $1,990.00. Oringial price is $2,790.00. For the golden week.

E said my dress is beautiful and I look young in it. It seems my new dresses are pretty. Every time I wear them, people around say so.

Melbourne is not as warm as I thought. Temperature diurnal range is 11 - 22 degrees C.

I like radio recently.

Typhoon signal no. 1 again.

i want to buy a new digital camera

I really want to have one for my own use.

The girls have theirs. When I borrow from them they will say they have a lot of photos in their cameras and I might delete them since I am clumsy.

The younger generation use mobile and cameras of better models. Parents sometimes use their discarded items. How cynical!

I spent the whole day in Miranda's home. Leo & she will go to Dubai on 2/10 for 5 days. They will live in the famous Yacht Hotel. The food there is as good as always. There is a new 'leg'. It seems retirees have to gather together for regular games.

taiji

Monday - lunch at Man Ho, arranged by Agnes. She is as enthusiastic as ever. We had budgeted and delicious food. She is very good in financial planning. Busy busy day. Stiff shoulders reflect the tension.

Nita brought the souvenir and the thank-you card to Dr Lui. He looked happy to receive them.

Tuesday - lunch & dinner with Van and A came to dinner at my home, too. He works late from Monday to Friday. Luckily, he goes to gym every Sunday. B has bought a flat in NT. He is happy with his conditions.

Min sounds alright. But mothers are always thinking of children. Children never grow up enough. Porpor double-boiled some chuenpei for me.

Papa got approval-in-principle the refund for the machine to assist his respiration in sleep.

Estella has given me the name of the taiji tutor. See if I have the determination to start.

Kwong is a fan of Paul Newman and several stars of his time.