Silver Service

Silver service is the name given to a method of table service in the United Kingdom. This usually includes serving food at the table. It is a technique of transferring food from a service dish to the guest's plate from the left.

It is often performed by a silver service "waiter" using service forks and spoons from the diner's left. In France, this kind of service is known as "English Service."

Features of silver service

Silver service food is always served from the left, drinks from the right.
Meals are served to the diner from platters, not plated in the kitchen.
The guest to the host's right is served first. (Usually a female guest)
Service continues clockwise.
Plates are cleared from the right, glasses from the right; again starting with the guest to the host's right.
Glasses are stacked in a diagonal to the right and away, with wine (by course) in order, and then lastly, water glass in front.

A modification of Silver Service is known as Butler Service. In Butler Service the diner helps himself from a serving plate held by the waiter (butler). Traditionally, this type of service was used on Sunday evenings when the waiting staff had the evening off and the butler helped out at dinner.

Yoga

Yoga is a holistic way to become healthier, physically and mentally. Yoga postures and breathing techniques decrease anxiety, depression and chronic pain and increase optimism, self-confidence, concentration and calmness.

Mind-body therapies.

girls have their paths

One is moving home to HK; one is returning to study in UK.

friendship is precious

Min came over to have lunch with me. She bought a book about Warren Buffett from Kelly & Walsh. She is growing up and has acquired interest in reading.

Friendship treasured is a treasure. We had dinner together and chatted freely and heartily. An enjoyable evening after a hard day's work.

audrey hepburn remembered

Charisma! She looked amazing, graceful and enchanting throughout her life time. Elegant at different stages of life.

Sherlock Holmes

Robert Downey Jr & Jude Law.

Times Square.

X'mas magic

Festivals bring along magic. We feel days are marked with sentiments and uniqueness. We do special things to each other and life becomes more meaningful.

Min went to Armani Bar, Charter House; on Dec 22 she went to Beijing Club, Lan Kwai Fong. Youth is unbeatable. She is enjoying her social life. Nita went to midnight mass at St Joseph's Church, Garden Road with Feheley.

Home alone.

Irene sent me a bottle of champagne and a fruit basket. Andrew gave me Sogo coupons. V bought me and Min packages to Bangkok earlier. I got 2 bottles of red wine at the lucky draw in the office X'mas party. I received a X'mas cake and a set of Crabtree & Evelyn skincare product - lavender.


Gungung, Porpor, J & J are all happy with our presents. The maids as well. When we bring happiness to others, we are the angels of the world.

So glad that I am still breathing comfortably. 2 nights ago, I thought I would face another knock on the door. Too scary.

anis b cries a lot

Her crying gets on our nerves. Who should be a parent if one is not prepared enough. A great task to raise a child.

Merry X'mas!

Lots of exchange & lucky draw of presents. I give and I receive. That is how love & care are generated amongst people.

Joy & peace to everybody!

winter solstice

Illness. Stomach ache since 6 pm on 22 Dec. Vomitted during the night.

It is fine today and I feel much better. Santa Claus! Where are you?

Merry Christmas!

Joyful Season!

Joy to the world!

a busy sunday

Pingpong at QE Statdium. Shopped at Marks & Spencer. Lunch at Golden Bull. Afternoon spent in PP. Dinner at KT. Babyccino at Star Bucks. Latte & ginger/cranberries cookies. Anis knows how to catch our attention. X'mas gifts bought at Chinese Arts & Crafts. AVA.

Papa is getting old and his thoughts begin to become confused.

a cold night

The heater was out of order when I came home and when temperature dropped. People and things may be unavailable when they are wanted most.

a time for mother & child exclusively

We chatted, read, ate, shopped and laughed. We exchanged views on people and events. It is happiness, absolutely. Thai food, massage, Skytrain, boating and looking around. Siam Paragon. Sala Daeng. Baan Karitha & Gallery. So many gays freely holding hands or kissing or dining together.

High tea at the Peninsula. Jim Thompson. Dusit Thani Hotel.

how absurd!

Comfortably seated in a limousine in the company of a loving daughter, cooled by a towel and drinking bottled mineral water, heading for the Peninsula Hotel, anticipating to have a massage for the whole afternoon and a Thai dinner in a 5-star hotel in the evening, I started to complain that Fate could be kinder to me. The trip has been prepaid and so is the limousine for return journey. How absurd!

hey in bangkok

Count the blessings! I do. 5 years ago, December was a month of illness for me. I am still surviving now. So life is not bad after all.

Enjoying as much as I can!

who is she?

Is she lovable?

charlie brown's girl friend

feel all your feelings

Life means experiencing strong emotions; fear, delight, sadness and joy. Don't try to run from the ones we don't like; experience them all. Even feelings like fear, guilt and anger tell us things about ourselves, give us energy to change, and remind us what we consider important. Acknowledge painful emotions; recognize that they are part of us. It is not painful emotions that are bad; it's denying we have them.

Lorraine & Wenxi have gone back to Singapore. I am going to Bangkok tomorrow with Min. Life is a journey comprising many journeys. Merry trips to myself!

accept ignore & live with

People & things:-

Unpleasant, unkind, ungrateful, undesirable, unfortunate, unbelievable, unreasonable, untrue, unfair, unfaitfhful, ungracious, unhealthy, unfeeling, uncomfortable, unhappy, unsavoury, unscrupulous, unbearable ................

No choice.

XiaoNanGuo in Megabox and sports wear outlets, Wing On, TST East. Shanghai cuisine and shopping spree extended.

Dinner at KT.

wonton noodles in soup, beef brisket & vege

Yummy dumplings & noodles in soup.

Min has come home. I was in the airport Friday night & Saturday evening. J J & Porpor dined at my home after fetching Min.

Anis went to baby class in the morning and the Ocean Park in the afternoon. AVA visited the Great Grandma for dinner. Anis b will be a main feature in my retirement life.

I got the layer cake from Singapore.

home sweet home

A nice time in Shanghai. Xiaolongbao. Hairy crabs. Noodles. Cheungsam. Embroidery on clothings and table cloths and pillow/cushion cases. I see the fine details in the old time. I see the modern hi-tech application. The East meets the West here and merges with sophistication. Jade, pearls and silk. Bars for the foreigners. Japanese find their place, too.

A fascinating city for me.

But it is so comfy to be home again. I have seen my baby Anis this morning. She is so cute. I was afraid she might have forgotten me. Luckily, she has not.

shanghai shanghai

Okura Garden Hotel. 4 breakfasts at Rose Cafe.

Monday: Old Shanghai Moon Restaurant for dinner
Tuesday: Lisboa Hotpot with Eric & Wing-lun for lunch
de Olde Station Restaurant for dinner
Wednesday: Chu Jia Jiao - farmer's cuisine for lunch
Yi Fang Congee Hotpot for dinner
Thursday: Chang Sheng Kee for lunch
Xiao Nan Guo for dinner
Friday: KFC for lunch
Dinner on plane

We bought lots of things. I like my double-sided woollen shawl most, one side rosy pink with embroidered peonies and another side black.

I bought 2 cashmere jackets from Shiliupu. Lots of fun bargaining.

We went to the Museum and Xintiandi. We went to Lorraine's office. We all like the Hotel very much. It was indeed hospitality management. We did morning exercise there in the garden.

I missed everybody whom I love.

papa in haven of hope

We 3 visited Papa with Mamma. He was absolutely pleased though he kept on saying we need not worry about him. I gave his head, neck & shoulders some good massage for over 20 minutes and Lorraine massaged his legs and feet. Blood circulation would help him to have a quality sleep.

This morning, we skipped pingpong. Marga teased my dark purple down jacket old-fashioned. Lorraine complained about the Paus having no wi-fi at home. We then discussed intensely what to wear in Shanghai. Cannot find a warmer Sunday! Just love it. I will wear the new down jacket - green & white checks. My sis said women in Shanghai are certainly trendy people. We should not be left behind. Right!!! I will bring my camera.

Taliana & CC Club

I went to Taliana again on Saturday morning and spent the rest of the day in CC Club. I lost in the mj game. I taught them to play to 4 wildcards - a blank tile. The game had become more exciting for the 4 intelligent women. It is beleived that mj game can keep our brains working more actively and with fun. Hence, we will be entering our old age with wits and happiness. The wisdom of Chinese. If we can maintain a group of friends, have casual chats and share food cheerfully, it is indeed a good programme for the body and the mind. The money involved must be well affordable and players' attitude must be friendly. Bad losers must be out.

Lorraine has arrived late night and Wenxi this afternoon. We will have tea/dimsum for lunch in celebration of Mike's birthday in Nikko Hotel. A month for birthday parties and holidays.

I am thinking what to wear for my trip in Shanghai tomorrow. I know I am lucky!

fun time

Parties, presents & pleasure trips.

Busy in the office. Busy in social events as well. Haircut at Taliana by David.

Reunion dinner with Tsinghua pals in Whampoa - Wing Lai Yuen. Dan Dan noodles, chicken with dumpling soup in casserole, deep fried sweet & sour fish in squirrel style, sliced loin in spicy Sichuan source and the steamed Wax gourd with chicken soup (grape like). Interesting chats from different professions and trades.

Will play mj at CCC with Kingsui group.

prayer for ym

You need it.

I never pray for exemption from pains, difficulties and tests. I pray for strength and blessing to overcome and turn out to be more resilient. Life is a game for survivors, especially those who are capable of laughters even at dark hours.

bronze dye & teflon dye pasta

Much stimulated by Min's mentioning of pasta, I seek from internet some knowledge about the subject.

It is always nice to retain the curiosity of a child.

Italy is a country for pasta - so many names, shapes, flour and modes of manufacturing. Source to go with. Fresh and dry - with or without eggs and naturally dried or machine-dried. People from the northern and central have different likes from those of the southern. Some families run the business for generations.

Imagine some bowtie shapes pasta in an array of colours. Spinach green and squid ink black and the natural wheat white.

In cooking, the Italian expression of "al dente" describes pasta cooked enough to be firm but not soft; resistant to the bite but not hard nor sticky. It is considered to be the ideal form of cooked pasta. Using plenty of salt helps achieve the "al dente".

Yummy food is my salvation. Pleasant companions are unbeatable. 1 + 1 is perfect. Hurray!

Star of Bombay - 182 carat

In gemmology, an asterism is an optical phenomenon displayed by some rubies, sapphires & other gems, e.g. star garnet, of an enhanced reflective area in the shape of a "star" on the surface of a cabochon cut from the stone.