聖誕禮物

天色良好!新年快到!17C

原本以為今年的聖誕禮物就只有媽媽送的、自己買的和部門午餐抽獎的三份[其實自己買了三份:書、發夾和上班用的手袋... 那應該算是五份吧!].但今天跟柏去看電影時,意外地收到她的聖誕/新年禮物!(其實是我沒有交換聖誕禮物的習慣.)

在部門午餐的那篇我沒記下我買了甚麼當禮物去抽獎,那就順便在這邊寫吧.為甚麼?因為柏送給我的,剛好就是我買去抽獎的!

***

那天從Sandee處再次看到poika.第一次好像是在甚麼雜誌或報紙上看到的.見到這個小玩意覺得雖然很無聊但是很可愛呀!拿來當聖誕禮物就最好不過了.而且,我想就算是那些男士們抽到的話,也可以拿回家給小朋友玩[陳生除外].最後是秘書阿姨抽到.她一回到公司就拆開來玩了.我跟她說,回去妳兒子[唸中四了]一定會霸著玩的,嘻嘻!果然,第二天一回來,她就跟我說她兒子一看到poika就很仔細地讀說明書,不一會就不停地把玩著新玩具了!還跟她說要怎樣開,怎樣關呢.秘書阿姨說平常叫他去溫習要是這樣子就好了.

***

我問柏禮物是甚麼,柏說:「是很無聊,但...」那時候,我就已經猜到花紙包著的也是poika!因為我也是這樣介紹我的禮物!果然英雌所見略同.不同的是,我送的是淺黃色的蠟燭,橘子色的頭;而收到的呢,是白色的蠟燭,紅色的頭.不過無論是甚麼顏色,他們都一樣可愛!

柏,謝謝!

惡犬在哪裡?

天色尚算良好.16C

我終於找到了它,就如我猜測一樣.我明天一定會跟管理處主管叔叔報告!

其實,當我下去站在牠家門外的時候,突然對牠有點同情.牠不停地吠怕是應該不適應新環境吧.可是,那個惡主人只懂得不停對牠吆喝,試問牠又怎能安靜下來?

Calbee大搜查(四):Pizza味 薄餅薯片

其實這是月初時在公司突然牙痕想吃薯片到樓下7仔買的.也不是甚麼特別版,現在一年三百六十五日都能在7仔或百佳見到.包裝很容易就能認出,因為上面大大隻字寫著「Pizza」.


又是我不太喜歡的波浪型.味到還可以,但其實甚麼是「Pizza」味呢?如果是最普通的薄餅,可能會聯想到番茄起司的味道吧?但薄餅也可能是海鮮味、夏威夷味、薩拉米香腸...... 如果你想要吃到比較不一樣的味道的話,還是留著去必勝客或加州薄餅廚房吧.在這個簡單的錫紙包包裡面只盛著最原始的濃濃起司味啦.可別問我是那種起司味喔.因為我是起司白痴!

星: 4粒.中規中矩.但稍嫌起司味過重.如果不是波浪型就更正!

唔高興!!!

晴.17C

還以為年終前這幾天在公司應該沒甚麼事情做,那我就可以很悠閒地清理一下之前囤積的to do list items.早點下班回家可以寫一下blog(之前起了很多標題可是還未寫)... 怎知一個地震,把這如意算盤打散了!而且,連帶變得很倒霉!!

公司裏的Bloomberg全不能接上(聽說得7天才能修好).幸好我不經常需要用到.只是網絡異常地慢.在公司時還心裏暗暗咒罵;到回家時才懂得感恩.因為...回到家,甚麼網都上不了!老虎電郵查不了,Blogger進不了,MSN、ICQ統統連不上.看!一個地震把即使不在災區的現代人的生活模式都搞亂了.要是以後我們更依賴網絡的話,當同樣或更糟的情況發生時,我們能否應付得了?

網上不了,沒關係.原本很期待今晚約了舊同事去打邊爐.怎知,臨埋門卻改了去吃黃珍珍!為甚麼?因為師傅下午剛去看鉄打,手腕包了一大包的草藥...還得戒吃牛肉.可他又麻煩不吃羊肉.就這樣,今年打邊爐計劃又失敗.

好了,回家了.發現不能上網,只好去看電視.可是電視機最近失靈.霹靂啪啦了半小時後才能開動.幸好沒把媽嘈醒了.算好運了,起碼能看得到...

但,還是勁唔高興囉!!!

[12/28後補:電視機終於瓜柴!今早開了一個半小時仍不能開著.精精媽(as in 電視精媽媽,不過不是電視精的媽媽.是不一樣的哦!)最終還是得找修理師傅來整.我想最不高興和最倒霉的是媽了!鑑於如此的不高興,今天一到十二點半就衝出去吃我至愛的威記蘿蔔糕.]

What City do you Belong to?

Found this from Jessica's blog while doing a little surfing in office today...

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

H&M駕到!

那邊廂哈迪斯全面退出香港,電視台記者爭相採訪末代顧客;相隔一個街口的這邊廂,中環連卡佛舊址終於有了人認頭:H&M!

有點「背」啦.因為大概也不是個甚麼新消息了(我也差不多有一個禮拜麼沒經過那裡).不過,見到了那個廣告還是覺得有點震撼.才不知從哪裡聽到說H&M最近在美國大展拳腳,心想,它快要來香港了吧?果真,今天就看到了這些圍板.

不過,如果能早一個月來就好了.一眾少女、時裝潮人聖誕新年就會過得更高興了.

咦,那很快就輪到Top Shop啦?

南丫半日遊

晴.涼.17C

與同學約了到南丫島行山和吃海鮮.原本乘兩點半的船,可因有同學遲到變成搭了三點鐘的.在碼頭時剛好看到祖與朋友跑著衝進往索罟灣碼頭,心想世界真小.看他整天行山的模樣,待會肯定會在山上碰到了.當然,我的估計是沒錯啦.

同學們頗為胡鬧的.吃過山水豆腐花不久後就到了風力發電風車.可他們在那裡拍照拍得不願走.沒走多遠就到了洪聖爺灣.一枝同學看到有一群年青人在踢鍵子之後蠢蠢欲動,極力遊說其他同學一起玩.終於他們就在沙灘旁的空地踢了好一會.老骨頭如我當然是坐在一旁和其他老骨頭同學聊天啦...

剛要開始上山的時候太陽都已經正在回家了.所以當我們走到神風洞前一段比較陰暗多樹的路時,天都已經黑了.

不過全日最有驚無險的要算是在回家的船上了.當我們的船快要泊入碼頭時,突然猛烈搖動了一大下.我們都以為只是旁邊有大船經過,水流急湍造成了大浪.一眾熟睡的乘客都醒過來了.


那時候,是晚上八時三十五分.

提早過了Boxing Day

冬日太陽懶洋洋.非常乾燥.21C

在家貼照片上Blogger依舊有問題,唯有先寫好再回公司貼了.

今天是聖誕正日,也是我爸媽結婚週年日.今年已是第三十一年了.昨天我提醒媽,她居然說好恐怖.時間,確實是過得太快了吧.去年我們在星馬和爸相聚.可是他回去了之後說因為睡不好所以病了好一會,因此今年也不勉強他來了.(我們也不願一年走那麼老遠的兩趟.哎呀,真不應該這麼想.可是真的很累人呀.)去年的旅行,我任性地訂了從新加坡到吉隆坡的東方快車(實在很貴),爸媽也有點縱容我.但我經常想這些地方大概也不會再來,為甚麼不試想要做的事情呢.大概他們也是這麼個想法吧,所以也沒說甚麼.我在訂位時跟那小姐說這次旅遊是為了我爸媽結婚三十週年的,因此我們專程選搭東方快車,希望她可以替我們安排些甚麼特別一點的.起初小姐也是說會送一瓶香檳給我們而已,但最後竟安排了一間高級廂房.我們當然是喜出望外.因為從新加坡到吉隆坡的短途旅程是沒有房間的.全程四、五個小時只能在閱讀房、酒吧或吹到頭都要掉的Observation Car留連.我們都很感謝他們那麼細心的安排,讓我們享用了那麼豪華精美的廂房.

~***~

一年就這麼快的過去了.今年就如之前幾年一樣只有我跟我媽過,不過節目也排得滿滿的.昨天去PP看了電影之後逛了一會.在等媽從洗手間出來之時我溜進去K&W.也不過五分鐘左右吧,我又買了一本書.之前看了兩本這位作家的書之後就很喜歡他寫的題材.不過在香港要找他其他的著作並不是很容易,因此給我看到了我就馬上買了.之後再逛一下的時候又買了兩個髮夾.沒法子啦,我現在上班只有兩個髮夾,遇到適合的了當然不能就讓它們走掉.「蘇州過後沒艇搭」呀.雖然我應該是要控制一下我的開支,但聖誕節嘛,就當是自己買給自己的禮物好了.

差不多快五點時我們才走上去香港公園.這麼晚才到,我們當然也沒預料要進去廣場聽音樂會,因此站在外頭待他們唱完了《榮耀頌》的第四章以後就回家了.其實戶外的音樂會我是很喜歡的,但在香港很難找到適合的場地.你看,那廣場就只能容納那一千個觀眾,其他人到了公園也只能站在外面看電視轉播.但縱使如此,到底在現場聽是不一樣的.起碼在家看電視的話你不會感受到公園裏樹木的呼吸,也不會聽到小葵花鸚鵡和相思鳥的伴唱.

回到家,把前天整理好曬出來的照片依次序放進相簿裏.一邊吃著大閘蟹一邊看著《瘋狂的石頭》.我並不特別喜歡這部電影;不過中國的片現在都會懂得自嘲,這一點我倒是頗欣賞的.

~***~

今天呢,其實也只有晚上到auntie家大食會,所以白晝也頗為清閒.午飯後我和媽就先拆禮物了.我原本是想買點小禮物給媽,意思意思就是了.怎知媽卻跑去買了個那麼貴的鑰匙包.害我難過死了.那麼嬌俏的顏色跟我是很不配合,不過是真的很漂亮呀!

我原本是打算昨天準備做tiramisu帶去大食會的,但最後因為沒買到蛋糕底所以只好拖到今天才做.這是我第一次做tiramisu,當然又是失敗了!花了一個多小時兼出動了摩打手臂要把那忌廉發起,但最後還是沒成功(完全手動的--家裏以前的electrical whipper送了人家之後也沒再買一個手動機械的).媽一直在旁要我面對現實,可我總覺得不可能不行!最後?因為實在是用了太多時間,所以還是夾著尾巴地到超市買了瓶whipped cream.到那時候我才懷疑,我是不是買錯了忌廉??成品是如何?唔...蛋糕不夠濕,只有一部分有一點點淡淡的Kahlua.而我又太吝惜沒買可可粉,所以吃起來不像tiramisu,看起來亦不像tiramisu!不過,mascarpone cheese本來就是很美味,大家亦很捧場支持這個充滿起司和奶酪的蛋糕,最後也只剩下五分一左右.媽當然也有發揮她的大廚本色,做了燻魚和炒米粉.而且兩道菜都是「美人照鏡」呢.

雖然聖誕節每年都不會玩得很瘋,但還是很愉快的!

Winter Solstice & Almost Christmas

Sunny.19C

The weather these few days was so nice. The sky was blue and the air was crisp. It's just so winter. If it weren't for the skyscrapers, I would have thought that I'm in some European countries in the early winter. (So why was the air so clean? There was no public holiday in the mainland, so that means the factories would still be running.... So, maybe, afterall, the factories in the Guangdong province aren't the culprits to our air pollution problem??)

We'll get to go home early today because of winter solstice. But the office is very empty. Most of the people has taken leave or has left mid-day to play golf. It feels so Christmasy.

I went to PP to get movie tickets for Sunday. There was this group of harp players dressed in 18th Century French (?) aristocratic court dresses, playing harp elegantly. Quite a huge audience has crowded around the stage. Christmas is in the air.

部門聖誕午餐

晴.19C

今天我們組到了SAE吃聖誕午餐.SAE剛開業時我就去過了.那時候剛好也是聖誕前夕,約了一班小學同學來個小型reunion.[現在要再找那麼多人恐怕有點困難了.]後來也有再去過一次,是媽去年生日的時候去的.因為它的廚房是半開放,(其實我們都看不到廚房的,只是那扇通往廚房的門一打開,廚房的感覺都湧出來了.)而且樓底比較低(只要人多一點,就會變的非常嘈吵),我總覺得雖然食物是一流,但環境就差一點了.也因此我並不常去,只是偶爾會想起它的食物.

正如每一個event(特別是越小的事!)在籌備時都總會有些「蝦碌」或尷尬事件,部門午餐這等小事當然也不例外.譬如說,阿哥原先是打算叫我們一組八個人和大秘書一起去吃飯.[大秘書即大大大老闆的秘書.我們是孤兒仔,是沒有自己的秘書的.大秘書是「義務」照顧我們的.]怎知妙品同事突然有一天大大聲的問我們旁邊組的兩位秘書阿姨要不要一起去.我是沒故意轉頭去看阿哥的表情,不過聽到後我都一額汗...其實也與我無關,只是很尷尬嘛.兩位秘書阿姨亦唯有支吾以對.因為照看應該是阿哥請客.既然做得阿哥,多請兩個人也無所謂.但無端端要請兩個不太相關的人,恐怕也會有點那個吧.最後,當然是九人派對變成十一人的午餐啦.

到了今天一大早還沒出門時,妙品同事已經雀躍萬分地準備交換聖誕禮物的事宜.[對,我們設有$100以下的聖誕禮物抽獎環節.]她很熱心地把號碼印出來,然後再貼在禮物上.其實也多得她的幫忙,否則又要到了餐廳那邊才手忙腳亂的安排抽獎的事情.原本都很順利,突然間又冒出了一個難題.前幾天有人送了個聖誕禮物藍給我們[是很難得的],能吃的能拿回家的都已經分了.最後剩下一瓶紅酒和一個香薰座.妙品同事於是想出那一張A4紙,分開八格,其中兩格寫著"T"和"W".

為甚麼只有八格?我們可有十一個人呀.

妙品同事解釋說因為那個禮物藍是送給我們組的呀,而我們組只有八個人.所以,就有八格囉.

哇~!

最後,經過史提芬、陳生和我一番討論之後,最終還是用了十一格.即使最後「特別」禮物由史提芬和阿哥抽到,起碼每個人都很高興,因為有多一次抽獎的機會嘛!

午餐的食物當然豐富,有刺身、天婦羅、燒黑豚、鵝肝牛肉飯等等,最後當然少不了雪糕作為一個完美的終結啦.

至於我抽到的禮物就麻麻啦. :P不是我醃尖,只不過抽到了真的沒甚麼用呀.就算連我媽也沒用.禮物是甚麼?就是陳生在某百貨買的暖包.是那種啪啪啪就變暖的,然後可以拿去浸在滾水裏就會再變熱的那種.為甚麼對我們沒用?因為媽和我是超級暖和囉!哎呀,現在也不知道要把它放到哪裡才好呢.或許,可以拿去捐給老人家呀!

MCU: Missing Comments Unit

Sunny.16C

I was "forced" to upgrade my IE at home to IE7 the other day, and problems started to surface with Blogger. I'm not sure whether it's got to do with IE7 or with Blogger getting out of the beta phase. It could be a combined effect from both.

Anyway, I just found out that the comments I have left on my or other people's blogs using my home PC are GONE. But not all of them are gone. At least Carrie's got my Christmas plan message... For my own blog, I actually has received the comment notification, but I couldn't find them when I launched my blog again. Maybe I can dig out those emails and re-post the comments. The Blogger Help Group is so messy that any useful info are lost and difficult to locate. But I should try that regardless.

Sigh......

如果鐘樓會說話

晴.18C

這本是十一月中起的標題,那一天小輪在天星碼頭作最後一次的渡航.碼頭還沒拆,鐘樓還矗立著,即使那燈已不能再亮起.誰會想到在這麼多天之後才掀起一陣保衛碼頭的風?到今天應該還沒完全停頓吧.

原本有點逃避的不想去接近那個地區,但昨晚剛巧聽到港台一個節目談到皇后碼頭的美學.聽後生怕再也看不到她的容顏,今天還是有點像去探望一個快要離開人世的朋友一樣去了,也順帶去天星那邊憑弔一下.也只不過幾天的光景,鐘樓已變成一堆廢鐵被遺棄在堆填區;碼頭也只剩下一排排的圍板和徘徊不散的拆樓聲.雖是有點誇張,但到了那地方,淚水還是很自動的湧了出來.

碼頭要搬走,我只覺得以後要多走那一段路,很不方便.鐘樓不能留下,我只能視為是要把殖民地身分更徹底一點地去掉的行為.

我也重視文化歷史,但如李慧玲有一天(14/12/2006)在「早晨報」的專欄裏提到,到底要保留甚麼拆掉甚麼才不致一個都會失去了進步發展和保留歷史的平衡?社會為了進步總得作出一些取捨.很不幸的是,這一次的犧牲品是還沒壽終正寢的碼頭和鐘樓.

但其實,我覺得最難過的不是以後再也不能在十分鐘之內就可以到海港城,或是少了一個能勾起童年回憶的午餐的好地方,而是碼頭身後的那片海將會跟著碼頭一起消失,永不超生.建築物舊了就要修繕補葺.修不了,就拆了吧.讓她留在故事書裏,歷史書裏,流傳萬世.想念她?好,我們再蓋一棟一模一樣的.而且,起碼她有個名字,下一代還有下下一代都會知道她曾經在哪裡,知道她的事蹟吧.可是,那一片海呢?雖然不是很大片,但填下去之後,又有可能讓她恢復原貌嗎?或是在別的地方把她「重建」?以後,有誰會記得起她?又有誰會想起自己的腳下原本就是我們引以為榮的海港?

如果鐘樓會說話,她一定有說不完的故事,訴不完的衷情.在她倒下之前,可是在為自己可悲的下場而嘆息?還是為不能再守候身後的那片海而痛哭?而曾經是全世界第三大港(還是第二大?那是小學時的科文呢.)的維多利亞港,可有為自己即將又失去一部份而飲泣?

弱水三千,要取哪一瓢來飲?

天上佈了厚厚的雲.16C

書太多,時間太少.對喜歡閱讀的人而言,這是永恆的矛盾.這麼多的(好)書,到底要選哪一本呢?根據個人喜好,挑選自己喜歡的主題、作者?譬如,喜歡一個作者(亦舒!),就會把她/他所有作品都找來讀.(可我不至於到了瘋狂的程度,一有新書就去買.當然,這也得看經濟能力是否容許.我也曾經買了不少亦舒小說,可是家裏容不下這麼多看了一次就不看的書,於是都跑去了圖書館借.不是說她的小說不值得一看再看(有幾本我是會這樣的哦),只是新書/還未看過的書太多了,倒不如去看一些還沒看過的.所以我也有一段日子沒啃亦舒小說了.)這大概是習慣吧,而且是最簡單的方法.一本看完了,噢,這個作者還有很多本呢,就繼續看吧,直到把她/他所寫的都看完為止!不用傷腦筋去挑,不用傷神去找,多好!

但,同類型的書連續地看多了是會膩的.於是,就得梅花間竹地找些不同話題或寫作風格的書來「調劑」一下.要怎麼找呢?書店裏的XX推介,這個那個名人的X大好書錯不了吧?可是永遠都是看一些流行讀物,人人都在讀的東西.若要找共同話題跟人家聊天,這固然是一個好的舉動.可是,有時候,是會有一點冒險精神想要去找一些另類一點卻又不會把自己悶得昏死過去的書吧?在偌大的書局和圖書館找的話肯定是大海撈針.那不如,還是回去看那些甚麼甚麼推介吧.不過,這次可以先從推介人開始篩選!

於是從史提芬同事處借了《弱水三千》.這本是梁文道在《信報》和《蘋果日報》寫關於七十一本書的評論文章.其中有幾篇看了一、兩段後才記起原來在《蘋果日報》上已經讀過了.這本書有點像一本綜合閱讀報告,層次當然比我小學初中時代的功課高出了不知多少倍.(其實怎能相提並論!!)原本我是很想買的,看完之後還是很想買.可是,梁文道說「不要把它當做一張書單」來看待,而我想買的原意就是想要跟著它來找書看呀...梁文道看的書實在橫跨很多不同的領域和主題,有些我根本是不知道有那些事物的存在!(對,我生活、視野都很狹窄).

這些書要是他不提,我是絕對不會去打開的:
#30 - 地上/下音樂之分: 《出賣LMF:粗口音樂檔案》
#21 - 《旁觀者: 管理大師杜拉克回憶錄》 (Peter Drucker)
#17 - 談偽書! : 《福爾摩啥》

不會當成必讀物但引起了我的興趣:
#12 - 原體漢字: 《漢字王國: 講述中國人和他們的漢字故事》
#05 - 《中國清真女寺史》
#02 - 失落在中國的猶太人: 《開封一賜樂業考究》,《中國的猶太人》
#64 - 《香港葫蘆賣乜藥》

曾經聽過,看完《弱水三千》後更想看的:
#61 - 《失物招領處》
#65 - Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, recipes & Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking / Kitchen Confidential

看完後,跑去買了的書:
#? - 《大紫禁城》 - 趙廣超

Conclusion:
#68 - 書展的沮喪: So Many Books: Reading & Publishing in an Age of Abundance by Gabriel Zaid

Zaid說:「如果一個人一天讀一本書,那麼他將遺漏了同日出版的其他四千本書.換句話講,他沒讀過的書將以每日四千倍的速度不斷超出他所讀過的書,而他的無知也以四千倍的速度超過他所知的事情.」

真夠沮喪的.

護膚時刻表

自從被我的美容師批評我的臉像包了一層保鮮紙之後,也為了避免好像去年冬天不停甩皮的慘況,於是我在我的鏡櫃後面貼了一個2007年的全年year planner,並在上面每一天的格子裏標了符號.這些符號對應著我天需要做甚麼面膜(保濕,深層清潔,晚間鎖水,眼膜等等),也記下我哪天有沒有執行原先的安排.如果沒有的話,那我也會記下我做了甚麼(譬如是偷懶了).

我媽那天看到了就問我那張是甚麼東西,我詳細解釋過之後,她說我有點太誇張了吧.說起來也好像很走火入魔的樣子.可是,我很健忘嘛!總是在第二天早上才懊惱之前一晚怎麼沒做XX面膜,然後一整天就過的沮喪...(呃...有點誇啦.)雖然做面膜應該是很輕鬆的「活動」,可是對於我來說,應該是必須做的事情而不是休閒活動了.

「女為悅己者容」?這也是對的.不過現在我沒有悅己者啦.

其實,我也只不過不想看到人家有一張滑不溜手的臉,而自己的卻乾巴巴的.然後,又被人家問前問後的.而且,整天在甩皮的臉被寒風吹著是多疼的呀!

空

悶.雨.16C

看到網友們的沉鬱和悶,我也來寫一篇空.

空,其實是沒空.有很多事情都應該要先做,但都沒心思.到最後死線來臨才抱頭痛哭.其實都是自招的.

在公司也真的不是很有空,但等一下卻被拉去當聖誕特別版的人肉發聲佈景版.我跟媽投訴,媽說你怎麼沒有堅持?可見你自己也想去.(其實是真的不想,但又不好意思推卻.)這大概也是自招的吧.

之前兩個禮拜一直在跟美女P討論到吳哥旅遊的事宜,滿心歡喜.雖然不能去住我心儀的酒店,但最後找到一個更精采的package.可是,酒店不設三人房,所以因一直在找第四個人而耽誤了一些時間.最後,連兩個人的都滿了.P很想去,我也真的很想去;可是見到了這麼好的,很難再退而求其次.所以一月去不成了.空歡喜一場.

就是這樣子,心裏空空的.

冬天雖冷,但總有溫暖陽光照著.這幾天的鬱、悶跟空是因為突然變冷,天色變暗了,還是...?

ARGH!

Raining.16C

I am SO mad!

Well, first of all, I did it again. Last week, I set the timer of the tape recorder to Thurs 00:00, when I should have set it to FRIDAY 00:00. That, of course, means I have missed Alias.

What's worse is that it was the season finale!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I totally had no idea before that. (How come Pearl doesn't advertise it??? Then I would have paid more attention.)

So now, not that I only missed an episode of Alias, I also missed the finale of Season V (which I think is approaching something important).

Well, well. All the more reason to get the full set of Alias DVDs now.

Just a little catching up

Cloudy.Drizzly.16C (Officially, winter is here?)

There's been a 3-week pile up of taped TVBP drama series sitting on my TV shelf. So, I have decided to do a little housekeeping, instead of doing something I really should - study for the quiz on Saturday.

I thought I was just going to watch one episode of House. I ended up watching 4 3/4, until Mum came fuming out into the sitting room, howling what the time was at me. (So I had to finish the last of the 5th episodes this morning before work... which was like only 7 mins left. So it's not even 1/4 of an episode!)

Well, I tried to sleep earlier, because I haven't been sleeping enough. (can't do 3 or 4 hours a night anymore. Actually, even 6 is a bit on the low side now. See how fast I'm aging??) But I just couldn't resist it.

I think it has to do with me that (1) my self-resistance is low and I don't have motivation to do things that I have no interest in, and (2) I am quick-tempered and like to finish everything I have on my to-do-list asap. If I keep things on the list for too long, it starts to get to my nerves and I'll feel very fidgety.

Anyway, it is still no excuse to sleep at 2am when I have to go work next morning, and also have something more important that I should have done.

Actually, it's procrastination. That's all.

兜轉

我們這一個小組有八個人.每人負責的事情都不一樣,但總會有一個後備.那麼在我放假的時候,我平常負責的事情就由另一位同事處理,反之亦然.通常也不會貿貿然的提出要幫其他人.不過如果有需要時,大家自然都會主動找其他同事幫忙.這是最正常,也最普通不過吧.

因為每個人負責的事情不一樣,有時候我準備的報告就需要用其他同事負責準備的資料或報表.雖說不上絲絲緊扣,但也算是唇亡齒寒.萬一其他同事未能準時「交貨」的話,那我的功夫也因此會被耽誤或不完善了.

話說我每月有一份給directors和sales用的內部報表,會總結現有市場上我們在售賣的零售產品的不同持有時期的回報率和在類似的產品之間的排名.這些資料當然是由某個系統按幾個鈕就可以方便又快捷地得到了.而每個月負責拿這些資料的同事就是坐在我前面的陳小姐.年中我們也會按市場走勢推出新產品.當有新產品上市的時候,陳小姐就需要向那個系統的vendor提交文件,好讓我們這些新產品能被加進系統裏.而我也會把這些新產品記下,以便在加入了系統後我可以更新我的報表.我來的這一年多裏,不把我們將倫敦拿來香港賣的產品算在內,起碼有五、六隻新產品面世了.可是呢,陳小姐好像就只有加了一隻,而其他的都還沒見到她有準備提交文件的意欲!

那亦即是說,我每個月做的這份報表總漏了一些新產品的表現的總結.

起初,每當有新產品推出的時候,我總會給陳小姐一個溫馨提示,問她已經遞了資料給vendor沒有.她總是說她接著就會做.結果,當然是沒有做.(有的話,我現在就不會在寫這件事啦.)月復一月,還是一點蹤影都沒有,於是我就提出如果她很忙的話,我可以幫忙.雖然,我從來沒做過這事.有時我跟老細不知道談甚麼時這到這個上面來,我也有做過同一個提議.之後,我也曾聽到一、兩次老細在問陳小姐進展如何.但最後,當然都是不了了之.

其實,她做不做,對我的影響都不是很大.雖然報表不完整,但從來都沒有人追問關於那些不見蹤影的產品.可是,當一些potential client他們在看排名的時候,如果明明我們的產品表現不錯,但就因為未有列在表中而錯過了,那多可惜呀.但想深一層,其實也不會造成很大的負面影響吧.因為如果我們的營銷很想推銷某一隻產品而又找不到資料的話,他們是一定會來找我們的.要是potential client有聽過而有興趣的話,也應該會來找我們的營銷吧. Then what's the big deal?

大概是我自己麻煩吧.我一直看到我那張to-do-list上面這些新產品都還沒被剔除時,我就會覺得很annoying.應該是很快就可以解決的事情吧,怎麼一拖拖了那麼久?

於是,我前天就向陳生提出在陳小姐放假時,也趁我比較有空的時候趕快把這差事給了結了.陳生聽後也覺得可行,於是他就再向老細請示.

終於,今天陳小姐開口問我在她放假的時候可不可以幫她做這件事.我當然說可以啦.終於可以把這事解決掉,我不知有多高興.而且,從她的表情看來,她好像不知道其實是我提出來的.

可是,在我腦海裏第一個冒出來的反應就是,這麼簡單的事情,我不是一早就已經提出過了嗎?最後卻要浪費了這麼多時間,又要兜了這麼大的一個圈,才回到我當初提議的原點?

唉...

睡眠好時節

天黑黑.要落雨.21C

一年四季,有人說夏日炎炎正好眠,但又有人喜歡冬眠.但對我來說,一年中睡眠的好時節非秋末冬初莫屬.

春天濕氣重,梅雨綿綿,越睡越想睡.人變得慵懶,甚麼事都不願做.雖是昏天暗地的,但正因那該死的濕氣,令已經是每隔一個禮拜勤勞地換的床鋪還是濕濕的,黏黏的.我最怕就是這樣子.開冷氣可以抽濕呀,你可能會這樣說.但才春天,就要開冷氣,有點兒太過吧.而且,其實氣溫並不高,但我真受不了那濕度,睡完後那濕氣都鑽進去骨頭縫裏,越睡越睏,越睡身體越重.很經常早上起來眼睛腫腫的,好像沒睡過一樣.但也可能是因為這樣的關係,令人睡得欲罷不能,因此春天是成長增高的季節.

夏天呢?炎的不能眠.好眠都只不過是因為開了冷氣.但不知是否人老了,現在不大受得冷氣吹來的感覺.特別是第二天早上,快要變冰條一樣,或許是我房間的冷氣機吧.有時候,床單也會變得有點黏黏的.是那種汗被冷風吹乾了之後的感覺.開了冷氣又為甚麼會出汗??

嚴冬其實也是很適合睡覺的,特別是快要起床的那一刻!可是,要睡之前總會有點掙扎,因為床鋪太冰冷了.以前在綿羊國媽媽總會一早就把電毯先開了,到睡之前才把它熄調.因此一鑽進被窩裡就已經是暖呼呼的,腳也不怕會碰到冰冰的床單了.要是真冷得要命的時候,在羊毛被[後來也有蓋羽絨的,但我超不喜歡.因為那條被子是沒有縫死的,羽絨當然就到處亂跑.第二天早上通常都會發現在胸前的部分只剩下被套]下面再加一條我最愛的羊毛毯.軟軟的...噢!想到這都已經不願起床了.會到香港後沒再用電毯,因此每晚要睡之前那一刻的掙扎就大大減退了沉睡意慾.

因此,只有在秋末初冬的時候,我才睡得最愜意.既不用開冷氣(可以呼吸外面的新鮮空氣),又不會睡的汗流浹背.早上醒來的時候還沒到日上三竿因此不會為覺得浪費時間而內疚;但又不是黑漆漆如深夜一般讓我覺得要模黑起床好可憐.那陽光帶著點微溫照進來,就像媽媽一樣既溫柔又溫暖.要是一年四季都是這樣的天氣該多好呀!

Over

Sunny.Hazy.22C

I think it's such a relief that this class is finished.

We had a presentation tonight, and after all groups have presented, we each got to vote for the best stock that has been recommended in the presentations. We were only allowed one vote and we had to vote for another group than our own. The members of the group that receives the highest vote will each get extra points to the course.

The result was very surprising. Because, my group has actually won.

I shouldn't even say our group, because it really was just the work of one group mate. He has totally believed in the stock (he picked it), and his rationale. I was very skeptical because the assumptions were way too optimistic. But since I cannot provide better argument to prove the contrary, or come up with a better candidate, I have remained silent.

I don't know. Winning this vote doesn't really prove anything. It doesn't mean that we have done well. It doesn't mean that we know the materials inside out. It doesn't even mean that each one of us knows our stock well.

All I know is that we get the extra points. I think that's the best Christmas present this year.

Approaching Liberty

During the four years of college, I have actually never taken a take-home exam.

Was it lucky? Was it unlucky?

I don't know. It is already difficult to determine whether one's lucky or not if one has to take an exam. (You take an exam to be qualified for something, or as an assessment of what you have learnt. To be able to learn, should certainly be counted as lucky, shouldn't it? But then the ordeal to go over all the material that you have done over a period of time would definitely discount the "luckiness" of being able to learn. It's especially cruxifying if you are not interested in what you are going to be tested on! Or, you are interested in the subject but didn't enjoy or understand the classes.)

So, after so many years of formal schooling, I have my first experience of a take-home exam.

Well, it said no collaboration on the exam cover sheet. But would anyone really follow???

Anyway, it took me 1.5 days to finish the paper, made me feel completely stupid for not knowing what I have learnt and wasted so much time, and exacerbated my sleep deprivation. (I went to classmate PY's place from 1430 till 2245. By the time I got home it's already 0000! Well, don't think it was *that* exact.)

It doesn't matter anymore. This thing will finish tomorrow and I only have the Saturday class until mid Jan. So, in some sense, I have all the time to catch up on the other class, tidy up my war-zone looking study, finish what has been lying on my to-do-list forever and, hopefully, sleep!

Well, I shouldn't really complain now because, at least, I'm not the one doing the presentation tomorrow. I only had to help compile the slides, which I have no idea what it would look like on the big screen, and I delivered it late as I have expected. (What a lovely group mate I am, ain't I? Seriously, I'm not like this usually.) Well well, so much for my contribution to the group.

Calbee大搜查(三):蕃茄味薯片

其實這不是最近吃的.這幾天混亂的思緒需要一些節目來稍作調劑,於是把電腦上的照片翻來覆去的整理一下.就是在整理的時候,見到這兩張差不多是兩個半月前在R家聚會時拍的蕃茄味薯片.既然看到了,當然就來評一評囉.

蕃茄味不是甚麼特別版,是經常都可以在7仔找到的.味道酸酸甜甜帶有蕃茄味(廢話!).我覺得是偏酸的,但與咕嚕肉的那種酸甜不同.唔,跟現成一瓶瓶在超市賣的意大利粉蕃茄醬有點接近.清新可口嘛,又算不上.不過,吃多了又不像起司味那樣會覺得膩.可是因為它是波浪型的切法,有些醬就會「藏」在那波浪的坑裏,弄成會出現偶爾又一口會滿滿的都是那酸酸的蕃茄醬.我自己本來就很喜歡吃蕃茄,也很吃得酸,所以偶爾這樣也可以接受的.但恐怕有些人會對這個口味/情況耍手擰頭了.

星: 4粒.味道不錯,不會太濃把馬鈴薯的味道蓋過了.但因為是我不喜歡的波浪型,所以扣分!不過話說回來,這些比較重的味道如果不用比較厚身的薯片,可能就托不起這些「重量」了.

神奇紫羅蘭

印象中,紫羅蘭是頗麻煩的室內盆栽植物,雖然我媽說她們是很粗生粗養的.我覺得麻煩是因為她們要有一定的溫暖,但又不能直接被太陽曬著;澆花時要小心不要沾濕那厚厚的、毛茸茸的葉子.

當我們在綿羊國時,媽媽的紫羅蘭每年都開得非常燦爛.因此媽媽的朋友總會問她要一、兩塊葉子回去栽培.可是當我家的那幾盆開得多姿多采時,那個阿姨的那幾盆總是開不了花,而且好像快要歸天的樣子.所以,對於紫羅蘭我總是有點迷惑.

讓我更迷惑的是公司裏那一排「茂盛」的紫羅蘭.為甚麼?因為那許多盆的小花是整齊地被排列在玻璃窗前的小窗台上!那一片大窗是每天從早上到中午過後都是陽光普照的.換句話說,那些紫羅蘭每天起碼都接受了七、八小時的陽光!誰說紫羅蘭不能曬太陽的?[但後來在網上查了一番,好像是要曬一點太陽的...]但話說回來,我想也多得隔壁組的大聲婆同事每天悉心照料,依時依候的澆水,才有今天的效果吧.(她是用那種洗潔精的膠樽裝水,然後把水o即在泥土上.我第一次聽到她在澆水時,還以為是公司從哪裡飛進了小鳥,不停地吱吱叫著!)

可能,這些小花為了要在這樣的環境下生存而逐漸改變了對環境的要求並慢慢地適應了.也可能是因為有人細心照料而茁壯成長並開了美麗的花兒.無論如何,小花能在公司裏開得這麼美,也算是十分神奇!

[上:太陽下山後. 下:12/22拍的,陽光普照時.]

內有惡犬

多雲.煙霞.20C

這幾天不知怎樣的,週邊的狗吠得特別兇.而且,還要在晚上十點半以後呀,早上七點這種時間來吠.十五也已過了好幾天,怎麼還會這樣呢?

吠聲很近很亮.因此我猜牠應該是我們這一棟大廈的住客飼養的,而且是小狗.

我於是嘗試探頭出窗外去聽一下到底這些吠聲是從哪個方向跑進我屋來.可是,牠/它就像是環迴立體聲.在書房的窗聽,吠聲就好像是從這邊穿過來.我跑到我房間去,吠聲也好像是從那邊傳來 -- 而書房和我的房間是剛好相對的.兩個房間的窗戶是剛好對著兩個不同的方向!

於是,我把頭再探出一點,看一下樓下,也看一下樓上.只見樓下單位的窗戶開得大大的!我當然不能就以此定案,但看來樓下的鄰居嫌疑是最大了.

***

鄰居的小狗剛剛收工,不遠處又有另外一隻接班.這些狗到底在搞甚麼鬼呀?難道牠們不用睡嗎?!

Paris, Je t'aime

Fine.22C

I haven't been to a movie for a while. I think I should go to one this weekend, despite all the chaos!

While I was passing through the MTR tunnel this week, I kept seeing this bluish, yet very romantic poster. And I thought, um... it's such a winter-looking movie. (Particularly good for the Christmas/NY/V-Day holiday season.) So, no matter what, I decided, I'm going to see it!

So, I was trying to see if I could get tickets for the Sunday morning Paris, Je t'aime showing at IFC just now, I saw this:

Wow, it's only Friday night 11.15pm! People are sure now better at forward planning.

And, out of curiosity, I checked the next show (12.xx pm, Sunday):

Well, with the difference of $30, I suppose this is not so surprising after all.

***

Do I love Paris? I'm by no means a big fans of Paris. But I have to admit that I have not seen enough to comment. I've seen dog poos all over the streets, even on Rue St. Honore. I've seen big beautiful houses/apartments, with huge windows on the front. I've met old French man who walked straight past us when we tried to ask for direction in English. I've seen the biggest crowd ever in a museum, queueing up to see a painting which is shielded behind a glass case. I've seen the biggest herd of Japanese tourists, scurrying over here and there, with a tour book in one hand and numerous Chanel, Gucci, LV, Celine... paper bags in the other. I've seen the clouds as Johan-Barthold Jongkind has painted in his The Seine and Notre-Dame of Paris. I've been to the Chinatown where it has the best Wen Zhou fish and shrimp balls soup and Vietnamese (!) beef noodles I've ever had (well, actually there's another one in D.C., but I have no idea where the shop is)......

But, I haven't seen the artistic Paris where the artists have gathered around to show off their talents. I haven't lined up to go to the top of Notre Dame. I haven't spent enough time, sitting in any of the gardens, to imagine what it would be like to be a Parisian, now and in the past.....

Is it a city of love? Did I feel love is all around? Not really, seriously. If you move to the more realistic part of the city, you'll see that romance might have been a collective imaginationary product. But then, when everyone was standing on Champs-Elysees, counting down to the first second of new year, kisses, hugs, and (maybe?) love are definitely all around. (Well, I was just a little skeptical... how many of the crowd was a local Parisian??)

Nonetheless, it's an enchanting city. It'll make you think of it once in a while, and even to the extent that you want to fly back right away.

I miss Paris. So, Paris, Je t'aime, I'm definitely going to see it.

保時捷與司機

我清楚地看到了獵戶座.23C

晚飯後,如常跟我媽去散步.在要進馬場前的一個馬路剛好看到一部Porsche Carrera.

在香港看到保時捷一點都不稀奇,因為滿街都是,通街亂竄.最奇怪的是保時捷裏的那位司機.

如果你有一輛保時捷,應該會無時無刻都由自己駕駛,不捨得讓別人去駕吧.

我習慣性地瞄一瞄車裏邊是甚麼人.首先看到的是司機旁邊的乘客座位.是位女士,很正常.

然後雙眼在稍稍掃過來司機位.我看到的是一位菲律賓女傭(就是連司機都要當的那種).

前因後果是怎樣,我當然無從稽考.但那個畫面,我覺得實在荒誕.

Last lesson already?!

Sunny.25C

I didn't realize that next week is the last lesson of this class. I thought we only need to hand in take-home exam and the presentation is the week after.

Gosh, I would have thought that way if classmate PY didn't tell me tonight.

I must have been fully asleep during this whole class!

I feel very frustrated because I don't feel that I have learnt anything new - I understand what I already did, and I am still confused about what I didn't know before. So, what's the point of this whole class, this whole program?!

I'm not sure if it's because of the short length of the classes (as in 7 lessons per subject/class), or the people in the class. Lessons are so boring - not that the professors were not good at delivering the material, but there were just no interaction. People are either too tired to think of something to ask, too shy to ask, or they just simply don't care. Well, of course they care about whether they'd pass the class or not, but they only care enough to pass it, and not to the extent of fully, or at least mostly, understanding the material. Is it the Hong Kong way of studying? Just to know enough to get by?

I've got my tickets!

Cloudy.21C

Finally, the tickets have arrived.

I was so tempted to call them because I was afraid that they might get lost in mail, but they have safely arrived. When I looked at the envelope, I was pretty amazed that the address was handwritten. That was something quite unexpected, especially when everything is automated nowadays.

I'm not sure what the seats are going to be like. The tickets don't show the "area" as shown on the seating plan, so I don't know if I've got in the area that I have indicated.

As long as I don't get too blocked (for the musical performances), I'm fine. The difficult thing would be to stay fully awake during the last week of Feb/first week of March, at work and at the concerts.

Irresitible

I tried very hard not to be influenced by the Christmas decorations in the shopping malls and the rather exuberant shopping crowd.

But I failed. I've been buying stuff and spending unnecessarily these couple of days. The urge to shop (note, it's not really the Christmasy feeling that makes me want to shop) has filled the air.

I felt (and still feeling) so guilty!!!

Well, the eye gel was actually necessary. Because "dry" wrinkles have started to surface, indicating that I'm not providing enough moisture to the skin under my eyes. So, I went to SaSa to buy eye gel. First, it was already over my budget. Then, I saw this Hello Kitty shower gel and sponge set, and I couldn't hold myself back - it's really adorable and I'm sure Mum would like it. So, yeah, now it's all wrapped up at home and under our mini Christmas tree. Even though it's not expensive, it is extra spending. But, when Mum knew that it was her Christmas present (I haven't told her it's Hello Kitty related yet), she just beamed. Fully. Well, that's all worth it.

And then, I went to IFC Mall today with a colleague to try to pick up an eye gel sample from Laneige, but it wasn't available. So, we started to look around. L'Occitane is an evil shop!!! The whole shop was packed - with people, and goods, and Christmas-ness! The little packages were so tempting and finally they have lured me into the shop. And yes, I bought something, but they were not on special. And no, they are totally unnecsseary products, which means it was totally impulsive shopping. (See how powerful the mere existence of "Sale" is? It can make people buy things that are unnecessary and not on sale!!!)

Well, from now until bonus time, I have to refrain from making any unnecessary expense. Otherwise, I'll have to go to the loan sharks to finance my tax bill, school fee and my Angkor Wat trip!

Calbee大搜查(預告):意外收穫

黃色火災危險警告.多雲.20C

今天路經7仔,原本是要替媽看看有甚麼可以買滿$20的.居然讓我看到這兩包包裝與別不同的卡樂B!

不過,因為近來天氣乾燥,加上前陣子不停吃燒烤火鍋類的食物,臉上的暗瘡粉刺黑頭增加了不少,體重亦已在高處徘徊了好一會, 所以我還是先忍一忍.

總之,買了回來放在家,就不怕吃不到了!

戰利品

雲雲雲.涼涼涼.18C

這次旅行並沒有買很多東西.好像買手信比買給自己的還要多.一想到家裏快要變成一個垃圾收集站的時候,只好乖乖住手.不過,還是買了一些...

1) 圖中的小狐狸是在愛寶樂園買的.樂園有賣各種動物的帽子:老虎呀,獅子呀,小綿羊呀...第一次看到小狐狸是看到了一個工作人員美眉戴了小狐狸帽子,手上穿著小狐狸手套,還有背著小狐狸背包.超可愛的!其實原本我並沒有想買公仔之類的東西,因為真的沒地方放了.可是看到小狐狸了還是忍不住.最後在要走之前才找到這個貼在玻璃上的小小狐狸.到我出了出口後,竟然看到一個proper size的小狐狸毛公仔!!!!不過,那店也沒開,是注定的吧.到旅行車起動之後,我才突然想起:「為甚麼我沒給柏買一個?!」唉,太遲了.

2) 在明洞自由活動時下雪了,剛好看到店裏在賣手套.想起我那雙穿起後一直會要掉的手套,決定要買一雙新的.原本想要的是皮手套,可是要找到一雙對的是很難呀!最後,見到一雙梅紅色的麂皮手套就買了.

3) 沒買Laneige,不過之後後悔了.因為專門店是會送很多試用品的!!!(有團友在專賣店買了一瓶Water Bank,卻送了一大包的試用品!)不過,買了與Laneige同公司的Daycell專給懶人用的Bright Sleeping Pack 和 eye mask.是在被導遊帶去梨泰院一家賣Laneige、Marmonde、Evisu的樓上店買的.店員是會講廣東話的!!!說是有八折,但我回來後上網查Daycell的資料,發現所謂八折後的價錢其實是公價. >_<~

4) 還有一瓶海底泥面膜.不過是媽嚷著要買的.我們在濟州第二天住的酒店有包了一個水療,其中一樣就是在桑拿房裏一邊焗桑拿,一邊敷這個海底泥面膜.敷了之後,臉還真的滑了不少.

5) 在民俗村買了ong kong gi(是我亂拼的啦,因為我也不知道它的中/英文是甚麼.說是甚麼野生花,只有在濟州島的漢拏山山上和阿爾卑斯山山上才有)的蜜糖和濟州獨有的黑色五味子蜜.是蠻好喝的就是了.

6) 高麗人蔘是少不了啦.原本以為是不會買的,但媽聽完了之後就說,好像很好呀,買來我們一起吃呀.於是,就買了.

唔,就是這些了.其他的都是要送人家吃的手信囉.

山中方七日

雲.好乾呀!18C

確實一點我去旅行也只不過五日,但真的有世上已千年感覺.在這五天,這些事情發生了:

1) 天氣終於變得像冬天了!這也不枉媽和我之前花了勁去換季.

2) 謝安琪懷孕了!唔...確實不是甚麼大事情.但,我蠻喜歡她的.而且,我總覺得她還像個小女孩(不過,是思想成熟的那種).再者,確實是很突然嘛,她才剛轉唱片公司,出現這種情況有點始料不及吧.不過以她的實力,小休之後復出應該是沒問題的.喜歡她的還是會等呀.我倒是很佩服她(和張繼聰)這麼坦蕩蕩的交代這事.要知道現在大家都喜歡低調.就連我那同住了三年的室友訂婚的消息我也是從另一個同學的口中得知.向她恭喜時,她還很驚訝會甚麼我會知道,還說她想要低調一些云云...

3) 阿王第二度稱帝金馬獎.似乎兩部都是慘情角色,反正不是那種男版花瓶就是了.大概這又證明花瓶並不限制於女演員,男演員當上花瓶一樣無獎可拿.噢,甚麼時候跑出個「富黛戀」的??

4) 人民幣跟港幣已經1:1啦!

5) 恆指一天跌>500點?!哇!我那些MPF HSI fund呀...是時候要放了吧?!

6) 怎麼這個時候菲律賓還在刮颱風.榴槤飄香,卻帶走了好幾百人.厲害!!

7) 一路有看的部落格的格主P的相片被盜用了!!!盜用已經是很可恥的事情,再「追看」事情發展,更發現那個發言人的某些言論讓人看不過眼.這個世界存在著太多這種強詞奪理的人啦!P也提到了要怎樣好好的保護自己的網址...不過,這對我來說應該不會是一個大問題吧.因為,我寫得太爛了!有誰要來盜我的東西?!

8) 五次失落金像大導獎的Robert Altman去世了.他的電影我好像只有看過Gosford Park.五次提名都鎩羽而歸但仍孜孜不倦地創作更多電影...EQ應該是很高吧.

9) 回來的時候,一大疊的郵件裏有好幾張pre-sale mailer(見上圖).有些已經過期了,有些是只能看不能擁有的,有些是...為甚麼我會收到呢?!唉,無論如何,在這種天氣收到這種郵件,即代表年尾已到!

好像還有一些...我寫了在一張廢紙上.不過,廢紙不知跑到哪裡去了.找到後再補吧!