showonfire

Spoon Necklace - sealed stamp

2010-10-05T22:03:00.006+08:00

Sorry for MIA forever... Or maybe you're used to my absence? (it happen.. many times already.. and I am deeply sorry for my absencessss..)

I have never work full time before. It's crazy that my colleaguess who start work from 930 and ends at 2300... and show up at 930 sharp the next day.. How on earth could you do that? To stuck in that office for over 12 hours? Luckily I am still a newbies in the offices, not much work. But I was grantee by my supervisor that my workload will be increased by 60% next month. God bless me..

Ok, that is my reason for absences.. I am figuring out how to manage my time to blog/ craft / write letter/ make envies.. It's getting better. I am here finally, at Tuesday's night.

See that cute little thing up there? Yup, my latest craft, spoon necklace.

I love the stamp from England. Hong Kong was a British Colony until 1997. I kind of miss the colonial era. This 97 cents stamp from England touch my heart. I cut it from the envelope, stick it in the spoon. Seal it with Epoxy resin. Now, the memory is alive, stay with me, forever.

Simple to make your own!

1.Saw the spoon handle in half.

2.Bend it backward with force.
(I asked my dad to do the first two steps. Thank You Dad! )

3. decorate your spoon.
(Tips, Cover your pic/stamp/drawing with mod podge or PVA glue. So that it won't bleed when you pour in Epoxy resin.)

4. Pour in the mix of Epoxy resin. Patiently wait for 24 hours. Yup, it take a day. It's worth it!
(Tips, you can wait for one or two hours and put in some beads / buttons. So that the beads won't sink in the bottom. It give the spoon a little texture. )

5. Voila, Wear with pride!

Envies adoption programme

2010-09-23T21:00:00.003+08:00

Dear adopting families,

Thanks the amazing force of the internet and lovely bloggers. The requests of adopting the envies has been increased suddenly.

Unfortunately, I have only got one pair of hand and one set of mind. It may take a month or two for the envies to reach you.

I have just got a new job (yay). I am trying my best to adapt to a new job and save time for making envies.

Please stay with me, be patient. The envies are going to your way.

Thanks for your kind attention..

Cheers,
Ms. Five

September - Mail Incoming

2010-09-14T00:23:00.005+08:00

Can you believe the summer is over? We are actually in September! And this is the best month I ever had in the entire year! I got a lot job interviews (meanwhile I am still waiting for "You're Hire!" phone call.. waiting suck. but chances are coming! ) and I got a lot of lovely mail ! Thank you for sending me lovely post. I have to share with you, no matter how far you live!

Kid come first. Ok, I don't remember when and why I mail the panda postcard to a kid. (Ok, I don't really keep track of my outgoing postcards..that's why I say"I don't remember" ) I bet he/she is very young, judging from the handwriting. I love the hand-draw heart and Polar Bear and Penguin!

From Mail incoming Sept

Darja! This postcard make my day. Not only because I like the white flower from Japan, but also Darja remembered me while she was traveling in Japan! Very Very sweet of you! If you are interested in learning Chinese, ask Darja. She writes perfect grammatical correct and colloquial Chinese. Oh, I forgot to tell you, she is a German girl !

Cutest Stamp Ever!

PostMuse send me a postcard first via sendsomething.net. And our correspondence start by exchanging postards, not letter. Simple and plain. I am a caffeine-holic. Post Muse take my caffeine addiction to a higher level. Now, not only I am addicted the drinkable caffeine, but also the readable one!

Calvin and Hobbs Stamp!!!!

Postcrossing - Postcard from Russia.

Four postcards from postcrossing arrived my mailbox last week. But this one worth mentioning is because .. I really love stamps from Russia. They are very colonial and elegant.

New Pen Pal - Melisse.

Melisse is from New York. She found me through indiefixx penpal project. (speaking of pen pal project.. I have no clue how to work on the new system.. Any tips? ) The first letter that she sent me accompanied with a letter-press Hello card from WeHeartPaper! I really want to learn how to make letter pressing. It's not very popular in Hong Kong, not to mention doing letter press in small scale. But, hey, I am gonna visit U.S. someday and found out how it's made! (Or I will simply buy tons of letter pressed card instead.. :p)

Sara from Oh, my darling project. This is a very lovely project. You will have a group of pen pal. And you will keep exchanging correspondence within your group. I haven't write to any one in the group yet. But I am going to ! Thanks Sara for this card!

Sofia. The first Pen Pal I encounter this year through indiefixx. I feel like I am at the beach right now when I open the mail and find the sand and seashell from Sweden accompanied with vintage beach postcards! Oh I love summer~!

Nature themed stamps from Sweden

Last But not least, Fabulous Felicity! Very cute hand made stickers and a very Japanese booklet! Look how she turn a paper bag into a environmentally friendly envelope.

I love BIG 5 on the envies! Addressing me as Five or 5 will make my day and put a smile on the postman's face!

Thank You for the package!

You do not need a fancy or expensive paper to write a letter. Write on the inside of paper bag and put the letter into envies made from magazine! It cost you nothing, except the very inexpensive postal stamps.

Happy writing!

Love,
Ms. Five

Hurtfully hilarious.

2010-09-01T17:20:00.005+08:00

Not a big fan of 3D / 4D animation.
I enjoy simple cartoon, like those early 2D Disney cartoon.

I like this one. Simple, hilarious, and hurtful. Poor Daddy!

If you like simple cartoons too, check out this blog!

Happy Wednesday!

Mail - Incoming ( Finally! )

2010-09-01T05:39:00.005+08:00

I promised to make a mail post. Here it is! I make it! finally..

Opening with the first letter I got from Germany via Letternet. Germany postal services provider is nice enough to sponsor the Letternet programme. Letter lovers from all over the world can register and request a pen pal - but you can only get German as your penpal. This make sense, it's Germany supporting the whole programme, right? Go sign up, try it out!

Letter writing does bring me to different kind of old-fashion practice. Letter writing itself, is precious tradition that we should preserve and keep it working. The other old fashion thing I did is Mixtape - ok, it's CD not tape. When I was in High school I used to make one or two mixtape to friends. But it didn't last long since downloadable mp3 and Youtube available to the world. I discover, people out there is actually carrying on the tradition! Goodnight Spoon hold a Mixtape Swap! See what I've got!

Love the colorful cover! Thanks Cherish.

From Mail Incoming - August 2010

"Letters" from my dear friend, Ms Ma. This pretty letter set she designed is now available to download for FREE! Click here!

From Mail Incoming - August 2010

The cutest postcard I ever got via Postcrossing!

She even put on a selection of stamps on the postcard! This is my favorite postcard from Belarus!

Postcard from Finland via Postcrossing with Moomin stamp!!!! I love Moomin!

The first handmade postcard I ever got is from Felicity!

She is generous to share how to make this postcard! Check out her Dotty Postcard tutorial! (I like the bikini one.. =p)

Sarah Striker is a penpal I knew from a swap. She is the youngest penpal I ever got! Sorry, Sarah, sorry for making you wait for my letter. It's on the way! Please forgive me!
Very cute letter set!

From Mail Incoming - August 2010

Zine and costume made ATC from Olivia! Reading her zine make me think, America, really is a place packed with difference kind of people. Some are weird but most of them are AWESOME! Thank you for showing me your neighborhood!

Thanks again for costume made me an ATC featuring two things I like the most, Giraffe and Tea! Look, she is very elegant lady giraffe enjoying her afternoon tea.

Thank you all. Thanks for taking time to sit down, holding a pen, writing to a girl you never met before, sticking the stamps, and going to the post office, just for me. I am honor and flattered.

Make it up to you'all

2010-08-29T05:37:00.013+08:00

Zillion Sorry I MIA for so long! Excuse... Erh.. I got no excuse except I am super lazy. Ooops.. truth is ugly. Sorry again.

A best friend of mine, who happen to love letter writing also, draw me some letter paper~! They are cute and awesome~!

Just have a quick look here.

No wonder we are best friend. Candy Ma, I call her Miss ma, is a teacher in primary school and not surprisingly, she teaches Visual Art! She is much craft-ier than I do. From Binding books to sewing fabric Cupcake, nothing scare her. Crazily in love with teaching, kids, and the traditional language of all time - Chinese (she professionally studies Chinese, i.e., she analyze text. Scary! ). Obviously, drawing is one of the things that she fond of.

One day, she mail me a letter set she draw. I cannot help but sharing with you all! With her generous permission, I am now sharing SIX letter paper she designed for you!

Yup, it's six. Including the above three letters, there are still three other designs, Go Download it here! You'll know how talented she is!

Print it out and start writing ! =)

Speaking of which, writing letter, it has been a long time since my last mail post. I have got tons of Great mail, I am going to share with you soon. I promise, here.

The blog writing mood is Back!

Quote from Sherlock

2010-08-11T03:10:00.003+08:00

If it's the rubbish that keep cheer me up and stay alive - I don't mind being ordinary. Do you mind?

Quote from Sherlock, Season 1, Episode 3 - The Great Game.

I love detective novel and TV show. Really, I do.

Make my own Journal

2010-08-08T10:47:00.009+08:00

Have I ever told you that my family name in Chinese, Ng, means FIVE? If I directly translate my last name into English, I will be addressed as "Ms. Five".
It's cool, isn't it? So I put this salutation on the cover of my newly made journal, do you like it?

This is a very easy to make journal, paper, glue, and card stock (or photo). Thank for the video tutorial here, make my night funnier.

If you look closely to the crown, he is holding a banner with Chinese writing on it. 香港 means Hong Kong. The banner was a matchbox cover. Before encountering this matchbox, I had no idea that Hong Kong had a history of making matches!

Friend of mine, a rich one, subscribe to Nat Geo for three years and never read any of them. She, gave all here precious Nat Geo Mag to me. Ok, No, I don't think I will read them all. Nat Geo actually is a great source for collage! The image is InCreDiBle~! I like Hamming Bird, A Lot!

Original From..
Crown found here.
Match Box found here.
Hamming bird from Nat Geo Mag

Great Find today: Delightful Jazz just for you~!

Have a funny happy week~!

View from my window

2010-08-06T07:46:00.004+08:00

From the view of my apartment. I live in the 16th floor.

The green part of the photo is the park my dog always go to. (98% of park in Hong Kong said No Dog. Including this one. ) A little space that make me believe, I am breathing, though difficultly. It said, hey messy you, I am so green and breathing, how can you be suffocating? Put yourself together~!!!!

A little park, give me a chance to live longer and happier.

Just across the road, Still filled with residential skyscrapers.

Ride with me .. to the Near Space

2010-08-05T04:17:00.005+08:00

Cautions: You might experience faint, nausea, uncomfortable during the ride to the near space. Hold tight to the BALLOON ~!

Magnificent views isn't it? Time to tell you the truth, which you can check out Here, the serious article about this great ride.=)

I have heard that Thursday is the grumpiest weekday of all week (Surprisingly, not Monday..), so may this video remind you, the world, is really insanely beautiful and amazing.

Happy Thursday~!

This is where I live

2010-07-24T16:09:00.004+08:00

Maybe you would be interested to know where I live, the city of buildings, Hong Kong.

Here it is.

I can barely breathe. Totally suffocating!!

The city for buildings, but not human. Someday, the buildings will turn into living robot and kill all the human. I mean it.

photoshop workbook

2010-07-24T00:10:00.006+08:00

I just start penpaling at the end of last year. The first Pen Pal, Sofia, found me from the Pen Pal Project by indiefixx. And She is E-N-G-A-G-E-D!

So I decide to make her something special. Something that she could write on. Photoshop is very very new to me and thanks to the free tutorial by Pugly Pixel I have acquire some skills that sufficient for me to make the following stationery! Ok, I declare that I am now photoshop-holic. Any dose that could cure my disease?

The marriage register I found via The Graphic Fairy blog and the sillohette by the Vintage Moth. Two great blogs that has tons of vintage and contemporary Clip Art. I think this may serve as a register list or a piece of paper that with the Love Vow on it! I printed it out on a heavy weight paper and going to send them to Sweden!

(Click to Enlarge. Welcome to print it out and write all over it! Happy Writing! )

The Prugly Pixel not only has the sweetest and useful of tutorial, but also a lot of lovely image to download! I got the lined paper just from the Prugly Pixel freebie package! And I merge it into the wallpaper offered by the Graphic Fairy. Oh, don't you just want to write on that ? Yup, I am going to write on this paper I just made and send them over to Sweden!

Happy Travelling!

Postally yours,
Vicky

P.S. Here are some great blogs that offer tons of clip art image

Agence Eureka. Very Very resourceful blog. Easily to spends hours and hours just surfing it.
BiliOdyssey. Explicitly vintage-like clip art.
Arachneas Attic. Vintage images totally on public domain, totally FREE to use!!
Vintage Printable. The name said it all.

The kindest person on earth

2010-07-20T21:02:00.003+08:00

From Postcard from the postcard project

Aren't they gorgeous? I truly believe it's always a blessing to have the ability to give. Elizabeth is absolutely blessed. She run an amazing and generous project on her blog call The Postcard Project. Just drop her a line and the kindest postcard will arrive in your mail-box. Not a swap, Not commercial activities, just pure kindness to send you a postcard. To make your day.

It's Elizabeth who inspire me of the Envie adoption project. Of course, my silly project have nothing that could compare to hers. Not only you could pick your theme of postcard, Elizabeth even decorate the postcard beautifully. Drawing of the Japanese style animated girl is her strength. Do check out how delicate and beautiful they are!!

In April this year, I send her an email and suggesting we could do a trade. She send me one, and I send her one. Three months later, today, I open my mail box and Voila, the second postcard from Elizabeth! I never expected the second one to come around! The 20's Empire State postcard from the U.S., I just Love Love Love it!

I do believe, truly believe, Love is all around!

Things you must do to make me happy

2010-07-19T18:19:00.004+08:00

A very funny and sweet list I got from wordfilled envie swap from swap-bot. My partner send me this check list, "Things you must do to make me happy" is hilarious!

Here it is. Free for you to download!

How to use it? Whenever you have a fight with your love one, filled out this envies and present to him/her. Force him/her to do things that could cheer you up~!

Tip: Always tick "From Now On" and "Or else", it's more effective this way. XDXD

Wish you guys all the best and a lovely day!

Thank you for adopting (and featuring) !

2010-07-19T02:07:00.004+08:00

The Evnie Adoption Programme is going so well!! Thank You for participating AND mentioning about this small silly programme in your blog! The envies has already went to the U.S., Canada, Germany, England and even Africa!!!!! Woo.. They are around the globe! Oh, Yay~!

Huge Thanks to first two bloggers who adopt the envies even before I work out the little details! Faiza is the friendliest blogger I ever know who brave enough to drop me a line and interested in my silly programme. The geneous blogger Zoe, even send me a postcard in return!

This was the "logo" for the first batch of envies I send out. Look how hilarious they are~!.. haha

The programme bring me so many surprises! Ana's blog is always with positive energy. Her blog always bright up my day and remind me how great the nature has to offer us. She is kind enough to suggest that we should have a envies swap. I love the catoon envies she send me~! yAy.

It's the programme that brought me one more penpal from Germany! Tanuki wrote me email and tell me that she know how to read and write Chinese. I am so so so Surprised! Because she really write like a native Chinese! And here we are, penpaling started!

Maria blogged about this little programme on her blog even before I send here any envies! Our world is filled with kind and lovely people. You are all gorgeous! Internet, what a great invention!

Thank you every who adopted the envies! And Zillion Thanks to everyone that mention about this silly programme on their blog! You guys are geneours and Amamzing !

Writing letter is ROCK ~!

2010-07-13T00:37:00.008+08:00

About a month ago, I worte a letter to The.Handwrittern.Letter.Project. The project invite people (need Not to be a designer, which I am not.. totally. )to send their own designed letter-head writtern letter. And I have been designing my plane letter head for quite sometime. So I decide to send to the Project any way. I got nothing to lose, right?

I don't think I would have got any reply. It's because the project haven't been update for quite a while. I wrote to the project anyways.

And today, Mr. Oldham reply my mail~! Oh Yeah. The host of the T.H.L.P is actually a graphic designer. Surprisingly, the mail he sent me without any graphic. But with a lovely opening line~!

Oh.. Everything like he said, lovingly penned to me.

It's ROCK to write letter ! Yeah~~~ Go write a letter!

Trifle thing about my father

2010-07-05T00:04:00.003+08:00

I want to post about my mail. Unfortunately, my dear card reader is dead. My laptop computer with implanted card reader also unable to read my memory card from my camera.

I don't want anyone to think that I am dead or something. So I decided to post something.

My dad is very smart in a cunning way. So here is a little story about me and him happened this afternoon.

Just something I made is generous and amazing blog that provide tons of tutorial from web design to jewelery making. The latest post is about how to make penny pendan t. And I REALLY want to make it.

So, I ask my dad,

Can you drill a tiny little hole in this 50 cent coin?

He answers,

No. It need special equipment. What are you drilling it for?

I want to make a pendant. And I see people doing it in the U.S.

If it turn into a pedant, it must be ugly. And Don't break my drill. Don't even try to do that when I'm not at home.

And 5 second later,

He came to me silently, and handed me a Japanese 50 Yen coin - With a huge hole in the middle.

I said, it saves a lot of trouble. Except I want a gold one.

Quote from Anne Frank - The diary of a young girl

2010-07-04T15:49:00.003+08:00

You only really get to know a person after a fight. Only then you can judge their true character!

(P.46) ~ Monday, September 28, 1942.

Fill in the blank Friday

2010-06-26T15:28:00.008+08:00

Woo, the topic for the a Fill In The Blank Friday is FOOD! Couldn't help but answer all the questions right away! May be I haven't tell you, I am crazy about food. I don't cook very well. But I know very well where you can buy the best organic vegetable or where you can buy the most traditional Shanghai food. I even have very good relationship with those little store owners who sell those ingredients. Food! Here are my answers !

1.If I could choose my last meal it would be Beijing Style Dumpling noodles made in the little restaurant around my neighborhood in accompany with Iced cold Soy Milk. Follow with a bar of Godiva Dark Chocolate. Ok, they are not perfect match. It's a bit fusion. That is exactly the reason why I want it to be my last meal. Last meal would be a combination of all the food I like.. so here they are.

2. My favorite person to share a meal with is my younger sister. She is the only person on earth I could mock and laugh at during meal without being piss off. It's not about the food after all. It's the joy of sharing. She is perfect for that.

3. The best meal I've ever had was a bowl of Chinese soup - Parseley with perserved egg fish soup cooked by my grandpa. When I was in England for a month, the first thing I wanted to eat when I arrived Hong Kong was this soup. Hot, Yum and I missed the smell. I rush to my grandpa home for this soup. This remind me my life worth living.

4. The one food that makes me feel instantly better when I'm having a bad day is a bar of Dark Toblerone Chocolate. (Ok, any brand of Dark Chocolate would do. I just very fond of Toblerone recently.) No explanation require I guess. Girls born to be kidnapped by chocolate. (The photo at left: I filled the already emptied Toblerone box with Candies and mail it to my friend! The box arrived to her mail box safe and sound! Thanks postman! )

5. My absolute specialty in the kitchen is Instant noodles? Does that count? If you are asking for real cooking and real food, Spaghetti with pesto sauce plus a fried egg. I only cook when I am alone. And this dish is easy to cook plus I can share some plain spaghetti with my dog LEO and he always love it.

6. The city that has the best food is Hong Kong. Please allow me to explain. It's just because I live here for 20+ years. I never spent that much time in anywhere on earth for that long. The weird thing is that Hong Kong has all sort of dishes and restaurant coming from around the world but I can't think of one presentable dishes that can represent Hong Kong. (Dim Sum does not count, coz it is from Canton, Not solely Hong Kong)

and my favorite restaurant there is 巧興, the little restaurant I mentioned in Q1. Lovely couple from Beijing cooking the best dumpling noodles in Hong Kong. The important thing is the shop is just 5 minutes walk away! Convience and cheap! (A bowl of lovely dumpling noodles is less than 5 bucks!)

7. My favorite healthy snack is Golden Kiwi.I like the gel-ed hair style. My sis call it the bad boy because of the "hair style" it has. We call the regular green one the good boy.

8. In my opinion the nationality which has the best food is Chinese. HUGE variety. Super diverse. Go to China and the dishes will drive you crazy.

9. If I could learn to cook anything in the world (and be really good at it!) I'd choose spaghetti. Simple, fast, and comforting.

10. The most outrageous dessert I've ever had was Pile of Chesscakesssss. My friend and I went to ALL YOU CAN EAT Cheescake Buffet. We eat at least 15 piece of cheescake. I skip the breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day. NEVER TRY IT AGAIN! Got Cheesecake phobia for two months!

Christmas came to me

2010-06-26T10:01:00.003+08:00

For the best viewing experience in reading this blog post, may I present you my beloved Hong Kong artist Jacky Cheung singing "Everyday is Christmas"? The song share the same theme of this blog post. Trust me, this will be the first and best Christmas song you ever listen this year. (Of coz.. It's only June.. It's a little bit early for Christmas. But Christmas just came to me! )

Did I tell you I pick up reading again? Bookmark is the best companion during reading. So I decided to make my own.

When I was wandering in the craft store, I found the lovely reindeer charm. When I bought it, I had no idea what was purpose for me to buy it. The reindeer is so cute and I had to bring it home.

In the evening, I decided to make something. So, I pull out the bookmark I bought and the reindeer. But that is quite dull if my bookmark just has one reindeer. So sad and lonely. I looked over my crafting materials (translation: A pile of stuff ranging from scrape paper to ribbon, from scrape fabric to plastic bottles. ) and found the ribbons I brought last Christmas in the thrift store.

Voila, Christmas came to me just like that!

I may be naive
　But I do believe
　That reindeer fly on Christmas Eve :)

Happy Holiday~!

I could draw?

2010-06-26T09:29:00.007+08:00

What do you think? Do you think I could draw judging from these two inchies? Swap-bot had a inchies for beginner swap. Anything that welcomed either Beginner or Newbies always draw my attention and tempted to join. These inchies above are all for this swap.

My friend who knew me since I was 6, we went to primary and secondary school together, asked do you remember that you hated Art class when you was in primary school? Why are you picking all that art and craft stuff lately?

I have no idea why I picked art and craft up, despite the fact that I am still suck at it. At least I have fun. And, hey no one is judging, right?

Exactly! When I was in school, teachers was judging. Maybe this is the reason why I hated Art class. My works are not here for you to grade, it's for me to have fun. It's the process that I enjoy. But after all, I need an excuse to pick up drawing, so I enter swap.

OK, I know, this is too much pick going on. An ATC for Newbies from swap-bot which I signed up. This is my second ATC. Now, you have more evident to tell me, do you think I can draw? Or I am still suck? Would you smile when you get this ATC from your mail box? Tell me the truth. But, no matter what you told me, I will keep on making. Hahaha. (Ok, I am just trying to make conversation here. )

Regain the joy of Reading

2010-06-20T12:05:00.006+08:00

I forgot how great it was when you were reading a book.

When I was in high school, I loved to read. (I hate all the must-read recommended from teacher though. Coz.. I'm a rebel ?! ) Later, when I got admitted in translation studies, it introduced me to a lot of great authors on earth. Most of the book I read at that time was contemporary Chinese literature and some popular English fictions. It's like open the gate to heaven. Translating them become one of my hobby. But this hobby didn't last long.

After finishing the diploma in translation, I got admit to Cultural Studies in the university. I find myself reading huge amount of academic readings. That was the time I stop reading any books. Reading to me at that time was so target-oriented. You gotta read these "materials" to get your essay done. Reading was not a enjoyable but stressful. Sorry books, I gave up on you. And I won't do that again.

So, now I am graduated from the university. 24 hours of spare time. You gotta spent it somehow. Book come back to my life.

Few weeks ago, the bookstore was on sale. And I was wandering at the fiction section. And I pick up this amazing book call Gargoyle. It's the cover that draws me in. I read a few pages and headed to the cashier right away.

I forgot the joy of reading, specially a fiction. A good book should be keeping you to turn page-by-page, chapter-by-chapter, and you really wish you could finish it straight away. The joy of reading is that you can imagine your own picture of the scene. The words can translate themselves into picture when you was reading it. This is the joy you won't gain when you are watching TV or a movie.

The way that Andrew Davidson arrange the chapter always keep me wondering what could happen next. I like the way of guessing till the end when I was reading. Especially when you are reading Gargoyle, it's more than a detective story, it keeps make you ponder is Marianne telling the truth or she just a crazy woman. I have no idea on how to write a review. So many people had already written about this book on GoodReads and other media. So, my book review should stop here.

So, I joined GoodReads. It keeps recommending me to read books that I may like.

Thank you book. I am back. Please do let me come back to you.

Dear book lovers,

Could you help me a lost-and-found book lover here?
In the ocean of million books,
How do you decide to pick up that particular book and read it till the end?
Could you recommending me some book review blog(s) that you like?
Any tips?

Sorry for asking too much questions. You know, I gave up on reading once. And I am trying my best not to make it happen again. That's why I ask those questions. To prevent tragedy from happening.

Love,
Vicky

Quote from Gargoyle.

2010-06-16T08:05:00.004+08:00

Hell is a choice because salvation is available to anyone who seeks it. The damned choose their fates, by deliberately hardening their hearts.
~Andrew Davidson, Gargoyle (p. 390)

Envelope Adoption Programme (Yah, Free Envies!)

2010-06-14T00:45:00.015+08:00

June 20th UPDATE: Sorry that I made a typpo mistake on my email address in this post for the past few weeks. Many thanks to Ana for correcting me. So if you send me an email and got no response, please do send it again at write2five[at]gmail[dot]com. A million sorry.

Introduction: Envie Adoption Programme is specially designed for anyone who want some free envies made from Hong Kong magazine pages.

Aim: The graphic and design in Hong Kong magazine is too pretty to toss away. In order to give them a second chance to live, I will turn them into envelopes. And send them to the kind people around the world. The aim of this programme is let the magazine envies to see the world. Also, they deserve a chance to be seen!

Quality of the envie: They are magazine pages after all. Soft and fragile. A piece of unwanted flyers/A4-size papar is sticked inside the magazine envie in order to support and strengthen the magazine envie. They are strong. They can travel long distance.

Graphic/Design of the envies: Mostly drawings or pictures from local artist. But sometime there will be photos of delicious dishes or travel destination. No, never, no advertisement.

Size: Around 3.5' X 5'. It depends on the size of the magazine pages.

How to Join? Send me email at write2five[at]gmail[dot]com with your postal address and please state "Envie Adoption Programme" in the subject line. Through the delicate care of the postman in Hong Kong and your area, 5 envies will arrive in your mail box. As simple as that.

Deadline? No. No deadline yet. It will run forever, I guess. Given the circumstance that this is not a popular blog and I am guessing there won't be a lot of requests. So, I am guessing this will last forever. =p

Repeat customer is welcome.

Spreading the words are more than welcome, by putting the button on your blog would be a nice idea~! Just copy and paste the following code and the Envie Adoption Programme button will be appear in your blog. Yayay

HappY Envelopes. Open for adoption.

2010-06-05T09:13:00.010+08:00

As you can see, I made tons of envelopes from magazine pages. All those pictures in magazine are so pretty. They deserve a chance to see the world and be seen by the world! So here they are!

I made some small envie (4' X 5.5') for the swapbot handmade envies swap. Two partner, five envie for each. Of course I need a bigger envie to put them all in. So, yummy summer treat envie with other pretty one inside!

Don't you just love masking tape? It doesn't block the whole image of the envie. It put on some mysterious feeling to the envie. The color of the envie is being revealed in a subtle way. Oh, that is for handmade envies swap.

There is one artist/food-stylist/cook I really like. He is Mr.Au Yueng. So I made a series of envies by his magazine column. I hope he doesn't mind. (You know, those copyright issue is super scary! You have no idea when you crossed the line.. sigh)

Kaytd89 from Swap-bot came up with an amazing idea. I have made seven small envies each of those contain a notecard with either silly or witty quotes or graphic or poem that hopefully will put a smile on the receivers' face when the receiver is not having a good day. I have fun making all those small envies. That is just so kind and cheerful that something is there to encourage you when bad day happens.

It just because I made tons of envelopes. And they are all from Hong Kong magazine pages. And they are all pretty (in my prespective.. ). I guess they deserve a chance to meet people around the world.

So Adoption?
If you are kind enough to give them a chance to see the world, then write me a email at write2five[at]gmail[dot]com with the subject line "Adopting envies". Put your mailing address in the content. Through the delicate care by the postman in Hong Kong and also in your destinated area, 10 small envies will arrive in your mail box, hopefully safe and sound.

They're waiting for you!

Delicious! Homemade yogurt with homemade strawberry Jam!

2010-06-02T00:27:00.005+08:00

CAUTIONS: THE BLOG POST YOU ARE GOING TO READ IS EXTREMELY DELICIOUS! Be prepared!

Who ever thought that yogurt could be made at home? It's just so normal for me to buy them in supermarket. Million thanks to Jennifer's brother-in-law's mom for this delicious homemade yogurt recipe! If I can make it in Hong Kong, so can you!

It's super simple. Just heat half gallon of milk. Cool it down. Mix with a small container of plain yogurt. Leave at the counter overnight. Put some tissue paper on top of the homemade yogurt. Pop it into the fridge. And Wow, here you go, delicious, super creamy, and inexpensive homemade yogurt! Don't follow my instruction here, do check out the wonderful and funny recipe at Jennifer's blog.

The pink thing in my yogurt is another great recipe find in p for perfection. It's Strawberry Jam. Take only 30 mins to make. Super simple, super Yum!

Russian Tea
Strawberry Jam not only could put on bread and yogurt. But also you could put a tablespoon or two of Strawberry Jam in your Darjeeling Tea, we call that the Russian Tea. Little bit sour (coz of the lemon juice in the jam recipe,), little bit sweet, plus the scent mix with the tea and fresh strawberry. De-Li-Ci-O-So!!!

I tried to spell YUM with my homemade strawberry Jam here..

The first thing I think of, when I was still in my bed, just open my eyes, is I gotta see what my yogurt become! I gotta eat them! I made them last Friday. It was about 2L of yogurt according to Jennifer's recipe, and only me and my mom were eating it. The yogurt went into our tummy in only three days! I just make a new batch and using my first yogurt as starter. They are now sleeping in my kitchen counter, hoping that everything will be delicious!

Give it a try! Easy to get addicted! Simple Gourmet make with your lovely hands!

Feeling great again

2010-05-27T20:59:00.005+08:00

The last post show how resented and unhappy I was. But now, the happy me is coming back.
This poem, I came across the next day I fell, comfort my soul.

The swap must go on, right? It's always something that make my day, even a little postcard from postcrossing. =)
I write to Jennifer, an amazing eco-friendly penpal who I know from Going Postal, with a gift made from recycled materials. Nothing can compare to what she sent me, environmentally friendly vintage sticker! Amazing and pretty. So I made her this in return,

Hoping that she will like it.

Thanks Faiza for letting me know about this Great Swap. I am so excited to send out stuff to cheers people's day up!

If you want something special to turn up in your mail box, You have to join this New friend Swap!

As always, my little angel is my source of happiness.

So I made him some personal ad for I LOVE MY DOG swap. Haha, thanks swap-bot never make me get bored.

Cheers, Cheers, Cheers, from Vicky.

I fell. Lost a tooth.

2010-05-15T05:43:00.004+08:00

TOTALLY UNPLEASANT BLOG POST. IT MIGHT MAKE YOU FEEL BAD. DON'T READ IT IF YOU HAD A NICE DAY.

I fell down few days ago. I broke my front tooth. My left upper arm is wounded and for god sake I guess I am having a infection. Both my knees has bruise.

That morning, there are almost twenty steps and I would reach my school front door. I fainted. I fell. I broke myself. I see my blood and tooth on the concrete floor. Massive pain.

A girl walk across me. She walked over my arm and ran away.
A man was waiting at the bus stop, watching the whole process. Did nothing.

No. I didn't cry at that time.
I stand up the next second I am conscious.

Calmly walk myself to the ladies room.
Clean my wound.
Calmly took 10 mins walk to the nearest drug store, bought a bandage and put it on my wound.

Took 40 mins train to the Emergency Room.

The first person I met in the ER is a receptionist.
Asking me, rudely, for name and address, and of course,
Money, a hundred HKD.
And I learned. My name, address and 100 HKD are much more important than my life in our capitalist Hong Kong.
No one, literally, no one in that hospital care why I was there.

I waited for two hours.
Called no one.
Keep telling myself. I can manage. I can manage. Just be strong.
Listening to the radio all the way.
I give no shit of what was broadcasting.

Finally, a nurse call my name.
Lead me to the doctor's room.
I sit on the bed.
Chilled. Chilled. Chilled.
Nurse and doctor walk by.
Read my record.
And ran away.
Ten mins later. I thought it was 10 years.

A doctor sit down.
Checking my wound, my knee and my tooth.
He asked a nurse to clean my wound.
And said, you should go to see dentist.
I can't help you here.

He Stared at the computer.
Click. Click. Click.
And ran away.
The nurse told me,
follow the green line, go to the pharmacy for pills.

I waited two hours. For three minutes with the doctor.
What The Fuck?
I should have consulted the private practice.
I wasn't thinking.
As if ER was my only option. But hell no, always, government ER is always your LAST option.

I waited at the pharmacy.
My aunt called.
Nerve broke down.
Right in front of the pharmacy.
Tears just coming out.
Try to calm down myself still.
Not to worry her.
Just ask my aunt. Where can I see a dentist.
Gradually, I told her everything.

After visiting the dentist,
I back home.
Going to take a bath.
During the shower.
I cried. Like crazy.

Put myself together.
Look forward to have few painful operation performed by the dentist I barely know.

Really, when should you call for help?
I knew if I would have called anyone the second I fell down,
all I would do is crying.
No. I won't let that happen to me.
Specially, in the area that no one give a dime if you just die in front of her feet.

Would you please,
if you are the one who read about this crazy shit,
Would you please,
hold someone up, when someone fell?
Would you please,
Kindly ask, are you ok?
Would you please,
make us a better world?

From Chip bag to Notebook

2010-05-05T01:03:00.006+08:00

Really, if I can make it, so can you. It's not rocket science. Just some chip bags, few pieces of note paper, and a cardstock, then you can make your own chip bag notebook too. I can't include the instruction here, because I follow the instruction from this book: Rebound.

I have to say, it's not difficult. It's just time consuming. Since I am totally suck at sewing, and I am too lazy to pull out the dusty sewing machine, I spent seven hours working on this tiny little notebook. If I pull out that sewing machine and ask my mom to sew it for me, it would have took me only three hours. I guess. But hey, if my mom is doing all the sewing for me, where's the FUN, right?

Working with repurposing materials is one of my interest. Turning waste to something people would say, "Wow, Chip bags? You gotta be kidding me." make me feel great.

Hand sewing every part of the notebook. Almost drive me crazy. Next time, the sewing machine can't hide anymore! And No, I won't ask my mom for help. (May be after mother's day.. things go differently.. )

Just make something! And make yourself say WOW!

My water coulored Giraffes are making friends now!

2010-04-25T23:23:00.003+08:00

A million thanks to Faiza, telling me there is a place for giraffes to live and make friend on the internet!

Now, two of my water color giraffes are living with another 779, 137 giraffes! You make a giraffe too? Send them to OneMillionGiraffes.com!

Let's have some fun together!

Anonymous letter FUN!

2010-04-25T02:22:00.002+08:00

Have you ever send an anonymous letter to your friend? Or, have you ever receive an anonymous letter? Just Imagine, what would you do if you opened the mailbox and found that there was a package with a 100 HKD (12 USD, I guess) and a starbucks flyer in it?

Yup, My friend and I had send out a package with Cash and Starbucks flyer to our recently unemployed friend.

From Silly stuff

However, it's not as fun as I was expecting. The receiver of the package, post the photo of our mysterious package on facebook. And receive a lot of response, most of those, are negative response. Suggestion like, go to the police, coz the cash could be counterfeit and so on so on.

I couldn't believe how negative this could get. Rumors everywhere. I admit me and my friend are having fun while people are guessing who is the sender. I admit I almost laugh my ass off every time while the receiver ask me should her go to the police and keep on guessing who is the mastermind behind the package. Of course, I keep denying I am the sender. Of course, I try my best to stop her to go to the police. (Gosh, my finger prints are all over the package. )

So, a month later, during the receiver's birthday, the best timing to tell the truth. We send the receiver another package, with our photos holding that package hiding our faces, and cut that two photos into pieces and make a puzzle. We signed, Love, Anonymous X 2.

Try sending your friend anonymous letter or package, See what would happen? It's more than you could have expected!

Playing with water colour

2010-04-22T04:56:00.002+08:00

I don't even remember what was the last time I pick up a brush and paint. Thanks for the coordinator in swap bot who is holding water color ATC, this give me an excuse to buy a whole set of water colour supplies and wondering what I should draw.

Then, I found Lettedset, telling me that I don't have to be a painter to mess with water colour. So I spent two hours giving birth to my 11 giraffe silhouettes.

From Water color

I look at them and I say to myself, I am not that suck at art at all.. The simplest way to make myself feel satisfied and happy.

You should paint too!

Short Trip, Big Surprise

2010-04-11T03:37:00.003+08:00

It's just a four days trip to Jiangnan (a province in China) and we visited four counties in total.

The Biggest Surprise is that we found Sakura everywhere. Thanks heaven, we just in time for the sakura season, in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Wushi. That make the total difference. The little pink and sometime white sakura, add a lot colour to our trip.

When we were in whatever Memorial garden, what we are looking at is flower. And suddenly, here it is, the Japanese national flower stand before us, greeting us, hey, Nice to see you here.

I came across a lovely doggie in Suzhou. He was playing with his friend, a white doggie. And suddenly the white doggie went back home. And he was left alone.
He didn't have any idea where to go. So he went into the bookshop. Drinking water.
Suzhou is a lovely place, pack with foreignerss. Ha.

Jiangnan is a place that poets and businessmen's favourites place during the 18 to 19 century. For those who are rich enough, they build a huge garden+Chinese style houses.
This trip was about visting the residentialss which the richest left behind.
Yup, I wish I could own one. And keep the visitors out.
Those garden+residentials suppose to be relaxing.
But in this 21th century China, those sights are always pack with travelers.
I barely can breathe.

Finally, letter to LWA penpal

2010-04-09T18:59:00.002+08:00

From Outgoing mail

The LWA member materials arrived yesterday. I finally got the member card and the number, so that I could register for the Penpal Swap. Wooo. So this is the first letter to the person that I really know NOTHING about. All LWA give me is just her address.

I wrote about myself mostly, and my dog. Hopefully she is an animal lover. Other wise, I don't think she will write me back. haha..

Happy writing!

Do I … not in love with cinema, not anymore?

2010-04-02T04:30:00.002+08:00

For my friend Jan,

There was a time, cinema was my shelter.
I don’t care what the big silver screen is showing.
I just want it to lock me in.
I want it lock me down for a while. When I got out, I felt relax.

But recently, I’m kind of scare to go to cinema.
There isn’t much screen time that has less audience.
I hate stranger sit next to me.
That stranger make me feel uncomfortable when I want to cry or laugh.

Furthermore, no matter how few audience in the cinema, there’re still people who do annoying things, like,
A horrible ringtones rings during the movie,
Discussing the plot of the movie during the screening,
Walking in front of the screen when the movie is showing,
Eating and drinking with loud voice
They are all annoying!

Thanks to the free flow of information. The movie screen today in the Western countries, can be seen via internet the following day.

I rather,
Switch off the light,
Tuck myself in bed,
Cover myself with a thick blanket
Start watching the light and sound from my computer screen.

Mail to 2nd penpal

2010-04-02T03:59:00.004+08:00

From Outgoing mail

Sofia wrote me a lovely email that we actually do share some similarity. In love with U.S. drama, crafting and dinning.. haha.

The pretty orange envelope is a set of correspondance I bought in Tokyo. I only used that once. And never used again. In order to celebrate there is another girl share the same interest as I do and who live very very far away from me, (I use two veryS because, very far = US, very very far= Sweden) I decide to use this lovely set of stationery.

Oh, and You who live far away might interested to know, she is a vegetarian too. OK, she is the second person I know is vegetarian. Wa-la!

Okay then, I should keep on packing and head to the airport. Gosh, I didn't even sleep..

Easter Surprise

2010-04-01T03:21:00.002+08:00

Told ya, I will record every mail I sent out.

So, March 27, 2010 I sent out these two Easter Postcard to my two lost and found friends.

Looks nice as my first collage project, right?

Happy Easter (I will be out of town, Wow. ) and Happy April Fool's day.

我…不愛戲院了嗎?

2010-03-28T02:35:00.002+08:00

曾幾何時，戲院實在是我的避難所，我不介意它在播甚麼，只求它關住我。
只要它關住我一陣子，我出去以後就開始感到放鬆…

但最近，實在有點怕去戲院。
可以選的早場/少人的場次實在不多，
我討厭獨自去看戲時有人坐我旁邊，
那人會阻礙我不按牌章地哭與笑。

況且，不論那場人很少，
依然有電話響起可怕的鈴聲、
依然有人細細聲討論劇情、
依然有人開場後在畫面前走來走去、
依然有很大聲的咀嚼薯片同啜野飲聲、
依然有人依依um um…
總之就好煩厭。

可能是因為資訊流通得極快，
今天歐美上的戲，明天安在家中就可看到。

我情願，關掉房燈，
瞓在床上，蓋住棉被，
細看電腦螢幕的光與影。

也許…我以後去戲院，只看港產片。(唉，其實看得港產片的觀眾，部份都做盡我討厭的事。)

也許…是不是像上海世博請文明小姐叫市民不要穿睡衣上街一樣，請那些好靚的文明小姐，在戲院門口宣傳，「我是文明人，我看戲會收聲，否則有人會打鑊我」行動

Life magazine Finds: Funny delicate ads.

2010-03-26T05:39:00.006+08:00

Thanks google for hosting Life Magazine for Free. As Easter is coming, I search what Life had publish for Easter, And I found this lovely Vintage-like Rum advertisement.

The drawing of those drinks are so delicate and 50's! Superb drawing for my colleage project!

Wow. my dog little Leo is in the old Life Magazine! He is one lucky dog, always picking up food on my house floor.. Poor and Lucky dog.. :p

我的黑皮革記事本

2010-03-22T22:11:00.007+08:00

From My First Handmade Journal

香港的手作人，大多都有一個共通點，就是無論材料是深水埗來還是來佬貨，只要加上「handmade」、「溫柔」、「自家製」、「獨一無二」等關鍵的無謂詞，即刻自動升價百倍。今天才在某小書店看見香港「藝術家」賣的書簽，寫着handmade，我頂，你明明printer印出黎架咋麻。創意心機實在無價，我很多時都是拎上手，面帶笑容，心裡就不屑一句，我都識做啦，洗唔洗賣咁貴。因此，我有理由懷疑，那些創意心機值好貴的手作仔，都是賣給不懂做勞作的路人甲乙丙。

如若我說，他們都很孤寒，會惹人討厭嗎？眼見外國的手作人，一有新手作的意念及做法，大多都會提供tutorial在部落格一張張相一步步教人，你當然可以說那些tutorials只是餌，使你買她出的手作書。至少，別人也肯分享，那些手作，實際上睇完係人都識做，況且，資訊開放大家才有進步啊。

見介紹香港有一手作人專造書，便冒名到寄賣之地看看手造書有多漂亮，如若很美，我甘願花錢買。拿上手，我嚇了一跳，索價三百幾，我心想，即使我不會做書，買本moleskine再用布包書皮都唔洗咁貴啦。況且，紙不過是普通水彩紙，有些更是牛皮紙，布不過是深水埗貨色。創意說不上，bookbiding這門藝術，有好幾百年歷史；可能因為香港寸金尺土吧，香港人每秒的心機原來也很貴，貴到嚇親。

到其網頁一看，原來有開造書班，索價六百兩堂，造書這種東西真的只是有錢人玩意嗎？只限於有錢的中產濶太小朋友才能去學的嗎？無理由咁就送六百俾你的，我唔信呢個世界無人免費分享造書的方法。實在只要在google search，how to make a notebook/ how to make a moleskine like notebook，即刻有step by step 教你點做。

我跟着做，真的做了一本Journal出來，不算漂亮，但也不差。最令我快樂的，是我相信資訊自由是做福貧苦大眾，是沒有錯的。我雖窮，但不代表我不能愛造書啊！當網上有天使免費教造手作，為何要花六百元？我用羊皮做Journal封面，整本成本不過四十元，即使要賣，吊高三倍價錢好未？都不過百二蚊。

況且，外國出了那麼多有關造本子的書，只要花百多元就買到一本，何解我要大花金錢？

是的，我是有點討厭這種本是便宜的興趣，一經包裝，就成了有錢人的玩意。我不願花錢學，因為那些東西本來不用錢的啊……

這兩個website常常都有精選的tutorial 推介你去動手動腳做，信我，手作仔這門東西，是不需花錢學的，只需要一點點錢買材料，與一點點時間而已。

http://whipup.net/
http://blog.craftzine.com/

如若你對造本子有興趣，大概可以看看這個部落格:
http://myhandboundbooks.blogspot.com/

Watch out of your mail box, friends!

2010-03-21T03:37:00.002+08:00

From Outgoing mail

From now on, I will record every mail I sent out.

March 30, watch out friends. You may have got a mail !

寄信

2010-03-19T05:03:00.003+08:00

From Mailing

我知實在無人想睇我寫英文的，所以寫多個中文簡介囉。我知實在無咩人黎我個blog，但係都廢事被人話我寫西文扮晒野啦。

我實在是喜歡寫信同寄信的，我有試過寫信給朋友，始終香港太細科技太發達，要講的一早講左，信實在無咩好寫的。我喜歡寫信，我喜歡寧靜的感覺，我喜歡拎起枝筆係咁寫的快樂。發現了這個世上原來有人和我一樣這樣愛寫信，結果我二話不說付出三蚊美金參加左Letter Writer Alliance. （即sidebar個logo）當我在等信來的同時，又找到另一個pen pal project, 我在那個blog留了言不久，就有人回覆想跟我做筆友！嘩哈哈，我梗係第一時間寫信比佢啦。

笑樣個封信就係我寫比佢架勒！係咪好得意呢！

我發現左新材料做小手作，就係security envelope, 中文唔識譯，反正就係寄單比你個啲信封，入面其實好靚的，只要將信封反轉，再黏好，就可以寄多次信，即係笑笑口個個信封呢。之前做過細細細細本筆記本，今次用Security envelope整，窗口位可以放相，好玩好玩！

中文版係短啲架勒，所有連結睇返英文版啦，highlight 左個啲就係link，唔洗我教啦吓嘩…

In love with mailing

2010-03-19T04:23:00.008+08:00

From Mailing

Did I tell you I joined the LWA? While I am waiting for my membership card and badge and penpal, I discover something awesome. It's call the pen pal project. I left a message and someone reply me and want to be my pen pal! How awesome!

So I wrote Amanda (my pen-pal-to-be) a letter after I've got her address. Can you see the smiley face on the envelope? Yup, that is my first letter to her!

I always like writing letter. I tried to invite friends and write letter to each other. Hong Kong is a very small place and everyone is using the modern tech that always stop us from writing. So, writing to someone far away is a much better idea. I like checking the mailbox and be surprised!

From Mailing

Guess who I am writing this postcard to? Some one far away and I don't even know the one's name. It's a postcard to Tanzania. I found this heart unity project at postcrossing. Spreading love and cheer in just one postcard, what a simple yet amazing idea?

From Mailing

Yup, postcrossing. I sent out six postcard to people I barely know. It's fun and I am waiting for the postcard sent by someone I don't even know. Five to the State and one to Germany. The postcards may look a little bit un-ordinary. I picked them up at G.O.D. A place sell Hong Kong style stuff. I think it's much fun to have something unusual. You are bored by the razzle dazzle cliche picture of Hong Kong, right?

From Mailing

Have you discover something unusual from my mail / postcard / notepad? Beside working with magazine and magazine and magazine, I found something funny to work with! Security Envelope! You know those billing mail always use a security envelope. Those envelopes actually have a pretty pattern! I discover one is using numbers as pattern. So I cut out 12345... from the envelope and made a postcard for the heart unity project kid. Hopefully, they can find the numerals on the postcard. Kids like game, right? :p
ideas and tutorials on how to work with security envelopes: http://www.girlontherocks.com/knit/blog/tag/security-envelope/

No kidding, I really love writing and mailing. If you do too, leave me a msg or email me and we can start penpaling!

Updates

2010-03-17T03:53:00.004+08:00

First thing,

I just have my twitter account as you see in the sidebar.

Talk to me with anything you like.

Follow me if you like.

Since I got fire, I got plenty of time updating the twitter thing.

Get ready to be annoyed.

Second thing.

I have become a member of Letter Writer Alliance.

Trying to regain the pleasure of writing letters.

Want to know more?

Click on the sidebar.

Also, I just joined postcrossing,

Going to send out six postcards around the world.

Waiting to be surprised by getting all the postcard around the world.

So much for now. See ya.

Did I tell you I made my own Journal?

2010-03-17T03:37:00.008+08:00

From My First Handmade Journal

Am I being too annoying that telling everyone I have just made my Journal ? Did I tell you I made one?

It's never too late to have a 2010 schedule in the beginning of March, right? It's an exciting project. A book I am going to use for a year is totally handmade by me. I didn't even attend any class or pay anyone to teach me to do so. Just key in "how to bind / make a book" in google and many nice people are offering tutorials to teach you how to make your own notebook. Love is all around and angels are everywhere.

I kind of like vintage stuff. So I make the Journal look old too. I use yellow paper for the pages. Black leather with a brown ribbon as a book mark.

I made the rubber stamp specially for the first page. You can see, the frame which inside is written Ms. Five's 2010. Handwritten the day and week which almost drive me crazy and cost me two hours. But I think It's wroth it! Don't you think?

There are two blank pages between months. So that I can put anything I like in between months to cheers me up or reminding me happiness is within me.

I love it! Friends of mine who touch and see the real thing said it is nicely done. Yup, I know they are being too Kind, as always. Ha. Told ya, Love is all around.

不是惡搞，算是創作掛

2010-03-07T23:28:00.004+08:00

偶然發現美國Artist Austin Kleon的 Newspaper Blackout，實在好玩，兩個星期前終於買了marker，但遲遲沒有動手在報紙雜誌上删字，創作「新」詩。

這陣子生活都圍住鄧小宇，看鄧小宇小時候演張愛玲編的小兒女國語片，在星巴克看鄧小宇在號外的專欄，晚晚煲錢瑪莉的串咀生活，有時翻看鄧生的羅宋餐的日子。今期的明周（2156期）主題是懷舊，訪問了不少五六七八十後，鄧小宇榜上有名，有一小篇口述關於六十年代的世界，終於有題材讓我玩Blackout。原文當然不載，因為這是我的再「創作」啊！要看去圖書館或買本睇吧。

From Magazine blackout poem

人生
充滿了耿耿於懷
未完成的遺撼

Seriously, who am I to judge?

2010-03-03T02:13:00.002+08:00

Who am I to judge? 廣東話翻譯應該係：「你有咩資格話我？」

即使她身邊同時與三個他拍拖談情發生關係，即使身邊的誰誰誰指責那個他他他做得不對，然後背後三姑六婆再答那個誰跟他就唔岩啦，如我係我就咁咁咁，是的，在背後說是道非的我你他，總站在道德高地以聖人自居，但每當那些「如果」發生在自己身上，卻不知如何應對做錯決定，那些高傲一剎那像空氣消失。

實在心知沒有哪個人是完美，卻無法接受身邊的那個誰的一點點不完美，同時要求別人接受自己的缺點，還將那些缺點縮得很細，以為沒有誰看見。然後，我你他都自以為是聖人，很有資格話人。

每次都忘了自問，其實，我實在無咩資格話人。Seriously, Who are you to judge?

雜誌紙翻生

2010-02-17T04:34:00.004+08:00

自小住在婆婆家，每到星期日是閱讀日。開飯前，啊姨舅父公公婆婆一家十幾人，大家邊看著電視邊睇雜誌，同時講講名明富豪政府的是非。飯後又繼續討論，大概這就是我們的溝通方式吧，總比，返學返成點啊，更易打開話匣子。

那一堆的雜誌的生命，大概只維持到一晚左右，無論星期一定星期四出，通通都集中到星期天，大家在那天才看，看過了，就要送給堆田區。為了救回部份生命，最初將名牌廣告變信封，但奈何沒有太多信要寄，有一大堆雜誌信封就堆在那裡。

後來讓我找到織紙的方法，我先是織了很多杯墊送人，然後突然有人告訴我，杯墊實在是最不受歡迎禮物，但織的這份算OK。上了一課之後，再留心找一下，雜誌還可有何用。結果發現同樣織法可以織紙籃子，就織了兩個，但因為十分費時，三個鐘先織得出一個，就沒有恒心再織下去。

結果，今天忽發奇想，同樣的方法其實可以織書簽，在織好書簽的夾心上塗點白膠漿，黏住絲帶，就不怕書簽沉沒在書頁中。我猜這份禮物應較受歡迎吧。

織杯墊方法：http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/06/recycled-magazine-coasters.html
織紙籃子方法：http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/02/flashback_woven_map_basket.html

Happiness in Feb

2010-02-16T02:20:00.003+08:00

There are two blogs that always bright up my day. If you had a hard day, or just had a fight with love one, maybe these two pics and blogs could make you say cheeSe.

The variety of bright color from Color Me Katie always make me smile. See how she spread the love and kisses on valentine's day. Love worth spreading with everyone. It's not only limited to couple, isn't it?

Photo from Color me Katie.
And still, someone like me, searching for kisses. (Note the plural noun)

The other one may seem silly, it's all visual and it's ridiculously funny.

see more dog and puppy pictures

He is making you smiling, right? There still a lot to come. Why don't you visit here?

做給自己的生日禮物

2010-01-26T05:18:00.004+08:00

生日的晚上，送給自己的禮物。

最重要都係自己鍚自己:-)

我幸運，因為我有喜歡瘋狂儲鈕扣的呀媽；
我幸福，因為有喜歡買裝修工具的老豆；
我幸好，還有喜歡愛汽水的妹。

才促成我只花費數元港紙，就完成五隻手鐲。

看得出來，手鐲是用甚麼材料做的嗎？提示：與我妹有關。

答案：可口可樂膠樽。
只要將膠樽橫向剪至你喜歡的寬度，成圈，再直向再剪開，調整至你喜歡的大細，將多餘的膠剪走，再用膠紙黏好（我用的是鄒紋膠紙），就基本上成形。我將整個手鐲都包上了膠紙，因為剪開膠樽都很鋒利，以免受偒，還是包住剪口較安全。

我媽很喜歡織冷衫之類的東西，家中就存放了一大堆的冷線。我就是用那些剩餘物資，包了整個手鐲。自發現神奇膠水E6000之後，沒有甚麼東西是不能黏的。我就黏上之前做手工剩下的菊花裝飾，當然還有母親大人數十年儲落的衫鈕，做成了這個所費無幾的Bangle Bracelet了。有些鈕扣背後有個圈好讓穿線的，此時，老爸的兩大把金屬較剪就派上用場，先用膠紙貼好背部，再大刀一剪，就將那「阻定」的圈給剪走，平滑的背部，加上E6000，就成了手鐲的靈魂。

我承認，這不完全是我突然之間諗到出黎的，靈感來自SoSheSews。可惜店主只賣Bangle Bracelet，不提供作法(tutorials). 我就自己做自己的版本。看起來還不錯吧。

Happy Birthday to January!

2010-01-24T23:02:00.005+08:00

Isn't she adorable? Focus on the hair clip, the PINK Flower hair clip. I made it! I made it! I made it!
That is a little PreSent for my little cousin. She and I both birthday are in January~!

Isn't this cake suicido? instensify dark chocolate mouse and super sweet white chocolate flower for those has crazy sweet tooth. Not just me and my cousin birthday are in Jan. And also, my dad, my aunt's husband and my cousin's father. One cake serve all. Worth it, isn't it?

Hang on, my love, and grow big and strong

2010-01-23T02:15:00.005+08:00

It's been a long time since my last post. I did some art projects. But I didn't bother to take photos and post on this blog. I start to realize it's the project itself bring me amusement, not the photo or the blog post of my project.

I made a flower hair clip using felt wool as a gift for my little cute cousin. I made a wallet out of carton box. I made two wallets out of magazine paper. (If you want to make one too, I can send you the tutorials which I refered to.)

Something unbelievable happen to me. I go out less, I mean MUCH less. And of course, I cut back my expenditure on clubbing, shopping, movie-going, theatre-going and invest those money in art materials. It brings me much happiness and amusement. I used to spent over hundred of dollars for a few hours performance, like pop stars' concert. But, everytime, everytime, after the performance, I fell into a hole, a hole with loniless and sadness. I blamed myself for spending that much money for a performance and which money I didn't make. The horriable thing is that I keep doing it. That is totally destructive.

Making craft project is very difference. I start to acknowledge myself for making something that is "pretty" and useful. (I always think my craft work is pretty, but my younger sister never think so...) And the most important thing is the process, from nothing to something. It cost less and bring me huge happiness and satisfaction.

The best birthday gift I found, was a letter from Iggy pop. No, he didn't write to me. He wrote to his fan as a gift. He told the girl who just turn 21 years old,

Hang on, my love, and grow big and strong.

不織布襟花

2009-12-25T05:21:00.005+08:00

又來手多，看到別人教的襟花好像很易做，就照跟著做了一個。哈，還不錯吧…當然，別人做的比我漂亮很多啦。縫紉從來都不是我的強項，這襟花要將不織布對摺縫起來，我縫得很求其，為求不爆就好呵呢吉帝了。

下次見到我，我就會不停問：「係咪好靚呢…我整架！」你一定要答「好靚喎！」，否則你因住黎…嘩哈哈！　

細細細細筆記本

2009-12-15T06:33:00.007+08:00

今學期還剩一科考試就告別痛苦。剛交完最後那份紙，半夜食個丁麵獎勵自己，還是不滿足。快樂源自手多多，結果做了兩本細　細　細　細　筆記本。

本來聖誕老人印章無咁快出場，但見個位幾啱（0岩）就印了上去，這個印章雕得不錯吧…哈

當然別人做的比這兩本更漂亮，既是心血來潮，又想符合環保原則，這兩本用的都是廢紙，看得出來嗎？（你咁孤寒，係人都估到啦……）

皆因工展會，兩老掃了不少貨回家，其中一樣是添寶鳳凰卷，外盒正是今次細細細細筆記本的外皮。第一次是做右手邊那個，實驗性質封面向內無遮無掩，外面蓋個聖誕老人做封面。第二個包了上次做手作剩下來的畫紙，貼了個上次手多多勁剪的剪紙圖案，就成了外皮。

我長期收集人家不要的單據，實際上未有好好善用，頂多當memo同老豆講今晚我想食魚。今次大派用場了。

家中兩老亦有飲紅茶的習慣，包裝紙掉了可惜啊…其實都設計得好靚丫。結果，我又收集起來，但同單據同一命運，無甚作為。結果…

包裝紙又成了筆記本內芯…不錯吧？

兩種紙的紙質其實都蠻好寫的，但單據剪尺寸時比較麻煩，因為大部份單據都摺過，而且質地又軟，很難剪齊。茶包那個，開起來，其實，還有點茶屑…哈哈哈。唔知放手袋會唔會除臭架呢？　

Mr. Monkeysuit　很勁，有詳盡的pdf免費download，六個步驟就搞掂，過程不需十分鐘。

Remeber, blessing is all around

2009-12-10T00:53:00.009+08:00

We rejoice with you this Xmas & may He whose Birthday
this is bless you the coming year 2010
Love, Jim.

Have a lovely Christmas
Helen, Ruth (+ little Hannah)

Merry Christmas!
D.J.

Early Christmas blessing from the organization I volunteered in 2008.
It's never too much to say Love at the end of every letter.
Love is all around.
Open my heart and embrace it.
Always remember, I am being love.

While giving your blessing to whom you love and
As the same time help those who are less fortunate to regain their life with joy.
This is what Christmas is about, isn't it?

Story behind the Christmas Card.
The years of war in the former Yugoslavia saw thousand flee their homes and careers. tragically, many can never return and now struggle to rebuild their lives. Bread of Life, a Serbian relief organisation, helps refugees find employment through card and craft making. Our Christmas cards this year provided income for 14 families.

Remeber, I am being love.

2009-12-02T02:18:00.008+08:00

I should have spent the night writing papers and doing revision for my coming exam.

Instead, I spent the night to feel the love in my family.
It's just so ordinary.

Enjoy the dinner my dad prepared.

Watch stupid soap opera with them.

Thanking my dad for doing the dishes and asking me not to do it.

Bullying Leo. Giving Leo treats at the same time.

I guess, this is what love is.

What parents do? they fuck you up.

2009-11-19T04:09:00.002+08:00

This Be the Verse by Philip Larkin

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.

Sex and the city - RERUN

2009-11-11T02:33:00.005+08:00

Oh my goodness. I am totally hooked by Sex and the city.

The devil HBO channel is re-running SATC from season 1 to season 6000 plus the movie. It screen 6 episodes in one single night. This makes me being totally unproductive, I abandon my revision, preparation for presentations and essay, and just sit in front of the TV and re-watching SATC.

What is so attractive with SATC? I watched them before in high school. (Yea, it's where I learn how to use the four letters word in "appropriate" context.) I could think of the reasons why I shouldn't watch it, but I cannot think of why I should watch it. It is so weird.

1. None of the leading heroine there are attractive nor young.
2. They are bitchy not witty.
3. It's about man-fucking and man-fucking and man-fucking.
4. It's make you think of yourself being alone and bitchy and harsh when you get 40+. Totally horrifying.
5. Your skin will look "fine" even if you do clubbing+smoking+hangover+getting lay every other day.
6. It creates the fantasy that even if you are 40+ you could still find some guy who is rich + witty + single + kids-free to marry. (Ya. It only happen on screen. LIAR. )
7. It's racist and sexist.

OMG... What is wrong with me? I guess there is some magic in the opening music that draw me in..

My professor - the witty one

2009-11-11T02:17:00.004+08:00

I have been studying in my university for so long time. How could I just discover there is one witty professor's class that I haven't took? I guess it's never too late to enjoy the funny lectures in my last year in school.

Some quotes from him:

"Sex and the city is the most conservative and anti-feminism TV drama."

Yea. How true. It's always about MAN and SHOES. Two crucial elements that constitutes women in modern time.

"Trust me. If you could find someone you can trust for the rest of your life, you are very lucky. It is very difficult. Trust me. Ha ha ha."

Recommended movie: The shape of things.

"We should ask why our society is injustice. The bond holders of the Lehman-brother are being suppressed. It's not their fault. It's the injustice society."

"Studying in this discipline [Cultural Studies], you are told ,directly or indirectly, is to CHANGE THE WORLD."

Yea. Our professors are "dare to differ" and dare to change the world.
So, if you are thinking about how to earn a million before your 30, this discipline will tell you how to spend that million to change the world in your 31.

方烔鑌　猜心

2009-11-10T03:17:00.002+08:00

我想將這段片放在sidebar，可惜未得閒搞…放住係度先。Enjoy~!

Living space

2009-11-01T04:38:00.001+08:00

在獨媒看到這篇我的一百三十呎，作者很型。

我想作者是個在念大學的女子，年輕，應十九至二十頭、她瘦削卻非弱質之輩、滿腔理想的同時亦知現實殘酷的矛盾，有明知不可為而為之的勇氣，卻每天受著資本主義社會的瘋狂摧殘，才會拿著助學金租住我的一百三十呎的「單位」。
BlogThis!
即使如何狹隘、侷促、塵埃飛揚，都算是自己的空間，實在、獨立、私密的空間。住久了，習慣了一切的缺點，那就成家，自己的家。

我沒那種勇氣面對搬出去的一切，我擁有最實在的空間，只有我的床，正確點是半張上格床，最私密的空間，是最不實在的空間，那是面對電腦的時間，是面對著電腦的時間，我有時開著了這機器然後看一本實體的書，它只是在發光，有時我真的用它來做功課，只有開著了它，坐在它面前的時間，那才是我的空間。那空間不實在、很流動、但它私密，沒有人問我在幹啥，沒有人在審查我對它做的一切，屬於我卻不踏實的私人空間。

我大概不出兩個星期就會搬出作者所住的百三呎單位，我無法忍受木門吱吱作響隨時有人爆格的不安、馬桶電磁爐共處一室的污穢，最重要的是我永遠以父母的家作後備，一見任何不妥，立刻回娘家。因此我佩服作者，無懼一切的不安，戰勝躲回家的懦弱、在不理想的環境努力創造幾近理想的居住空間，實在甘佩下風。願我有日決心離蔭，承受為獨立而付出的代價與挑戰。

I read an article titled "My 130 sq. feet" and I envy and admire what the writer do. The writer lives in a 130 sq feet room, which included a toilet, bathroom and "kitchen" ( a sink and a facet), cost 2700 Hong Kong dollars (~$340 US) a month. The writer said it is not crowded because the writer could walk 10 steps and turn around in that room. (Ya, some people live in space crowded that this one).

I think the writer must be a girl who still studying in University. (The writer mention the rent is paid by the student grant.) She is young, somewhere between 19 to early 20s. She has a slender body but not fragile. Struggling with the contradiction that the dream that she has and how unrealistic to make them come true in this crazy capitalized city. The belief of making impossible to possible is definitely one of the reason why she live in that little space.

No matter how narrow, un-breathable, dusty and dirty the place is, that is your (her) space. That is solid, independent and private. As time goes by, you are more familiar with the space, and it becomes your home.

I am not brave enough to take that challage. Frist of all, I am broke, I couldn't afford even that small amount of money to pay rent. Even if I could afford the rent, I couldn't bear the fact that the wood-made door is going to break every single minute, the noisyness of buses and cars passing by 24/7.

The only solid space that I have now is my bed, precisely. half of the bulk bed. The other private and kind of independent space that I own is the computer and of course the internet. Sometime I just swift if on, and I read book (real book, book you need to turn pages by hand). It's a sign like I am using this space, don't bother me. It's not secure, it's fluid. That space could happen anytime like at the coffee shop. It's not something that you can hold on and feel satify. You are scared every minute that you are going to lose this space.

If I ever determined and live in that little room, I couldn't last for two weeks. It's because I know that I could go back to my parents' home any moment.

Wish that some day I can move out soon and take the challege of being a grown-up and independent being.

Stamping Exercise: My Name

2009-10-14T02:44:00.002+08:00

From Silly stuff

慶幸曾成長在電腦未普及的年代，寫信寫紙仔比同學仔成了重要的溝通途徑（電話固然可以煲…但冚家都會知你同你同學的對話內容lor），那時候寫得一手靚字是會惹人妒忌，所以我小時很喜歡寫copybook，因為可練靚手字，寫信比隔離位個同學仔。

可是一般街外買到的copybook都很悶…A for Apple B for Boy，（慶幸2：小時讀的是簡單英語…否則要背a for astronaut的話，我會完全放棄學習英文），十多年後的今天，竟被我發現了它！鍵入你喜歡的字句，就可創造獨一無二的Copybook! 嘩…咁得意ge野，點解今日先出現？

度身訂造的Copybook 正好讓我作刻圖章的練習，雖然做得不太仔細，但係第三個都幾啱位丫…係咪咁講先？

呢期我都會用呢個做我的簽名…！

Buy less, make more. Homemade paper flower by using unwanted envelope

2009-10-10T03:55:00.006+08:00

From homemade craft

郵差叔叔處理最多的一定是帳單郵件，沉悶的白色信封，窗口中透出死寂的白底黑字的電腦字體，郵差看兩看機械地印上郵戳，你冰冷地拆開又要科水的單…

你可曾留意，白色信封的內涵？為了保密，信封內頁經過精心設計，有時是黑的、有時是綠的密麻麻的花紋，以防「尊貴的客戶」資料外洩。我就用了信封內頁作花瓣，再賦予陳年鈕扣新生命，讓他們成為花蕊，花瓣加點顏色，就成了手多多之作的紙花。

也許點綴一下潮牌信封，貼在廣告中戒指的圈上竟然岩岩好。手作仔，其實無須花費太多。Buy Less and make yourself happy through crafting.

From homemade craft

This paper flower is made from the inner side of a boring plain write bill envelope. Though, the design of the inner side of envelopes are fascinating. They are either in Black or Green packed with beautiful pattern. So, Why wasting it? Cut it a circle and trim it a bit, then put a button on. Wa-la .. Paper flower is done.

It cost you less than a dollar I guess. (Glue and botton (from old shirt) could cost you a penny or more. :p )

Buy less. Make some craft. Cook some meal. Make myself happy.

如果那陣子，我常去電影院……

2009-10-08T00:38:00.004+08:00

If I told you, I go to the movie a lot lately, I must be very depressed.

In 2007, the darkest year in my life, I watched over a hundred of movies in cinema.
It's not being planned... It happened.
I thought the reason I always go to movie is because I love them.

But .. hell no.
And I just discover this weird behavior recently.
I like movies but I don't love them.
What I really love, and I just discover, is the theatre.
I love how it lock me up.
I love the darkness.
I love the privacy.
I love even I cry no one would take notice.
I love it's for a loner.

The truth is telling someone about your depression is difficult.
Language is never an equal exchange.
People ask questions that they couldn't understand which you don't bother to answer.
You lock the door to your heart. Not letting anyone in.
Watching movie = escaping from reality,
this bring me relief.

If one ask, have you seen this movie?
I would have said yes.
But if one ask, what is it about?
I would have said I have no idea.
Because I am physically present in the theatre, but mentally absent.

This is how I find out. I am not really a movie-goer.

Let me GO..

2009-10-06T21:13:00.003+08:00

Sometime we are trapped.
At school, at office, at home, even in dreams.
Try to do the best in our little trapped area.

Sometime we let go.
If something we couldn't handle,
just leave to the experts or the higher power above the sky.

I believe in destiny.
I believe some higher powers up there controlling things in lives.
I believe things happen with reasons.
There always cause and effect relations in things.

We were trapped in that center in the summer.
And we let ourselves go during the office time.
We all need that little balance in lives, aren't we?

大贈送：潮牌信封

2009-09-18T03:27:00.004+08:00

買奶周只志在看黃偉文的專欄，書中所潮拜的潮牌窮家女如我，實在高攀不起。為了証明得不到的葡萄是不酸的，或者證明你用幾千銀連一千蚊紙都放不入的潮牌銀包實在是很無謂與無taste，又或者証明我不隨波逐流，我將潮牌廣告一一變成信封，寄給我愛的朋友。

我愛我的朋友，卻沒有愛人地址，如若你愛我，請以短訊傳個地址給我。
可選擇的潮牌包括：

Porter Girl Line (新出架)
Neighborhood X Coke Zero
Outerspace
Chapel (內頁是Juno弱水三千的廣告)
Vans "off the wall" X Milk
Indu Homme
Campbells' X bossini (查實我諗佢應該是扮潮牌, who cares?)

突如其來的禮物 The sudden gift

2009-09-07T21:11:00.006+08:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
~Psalm 119:105

友人馬突然送我新國際版聖經，實在讓我受寵若驚。我只是在msn上提過，中文版聖經譯得很差，根本不想讀之類的無謂說話，就二話不說送來英語版。

對沒有信仰的我來說，聖經是一部吸引的科幻故事書，雖然只看到創世紀的The table of nations，已覺得不可思議，個個都可以活到九百幾歲喎，挪亞的經歷亦極神奇，我一定會繼續讀下去的。

謝謝你啦小云老師。

Translation for my dear friend Jen.
My friend Miss Ma suddenly present a gift to me, the New international Version Bible. I am flattered!

I slightly mentioned to her via MSN that the Chinese translation of the Bible is really poor. I BS something that I couldn't stand the Chinese translation of it. Having zero desire of reading it.

Few days later, during dinner, she gave me the Bible out of the blue.

To me, someone who are not religious, Bible is an attractive fiction story book.

Despite the fact that I only read till The Table of Nations in Genesis, I already found it amazing. Almost all of the characters mentioned in the story had the life span to 900+ years old!

The adventure of Noah is just like an miracle.

I will keep reading it.

Miss ma, thanks a lot!

掹大口瞓覺的C9

2009-09-07T20:51:00.003+08:00

是畫得很醜。近數月突然有興趣畫素描，隨身帶著畫冊，看見有趣的人就偷偷地畫下來。一直以來畫的人不是西鐵的乘客，就是咖啡店的顧客，只有這兩個地方才可讓我凝視他們又不被察覺，其實他們都很可愛哦，看看上圖的太太就知啦。

即使我畫得很醜，自娛一下也快樂，她的朝天鼻掹大口瞓覺，我自己畫完都好想大笑，但C9仍在睡，有禮貌的我當然辛苦地忍笑。這種偷窺，實在有種令人上癮的快感。（係咪有啲變態呢…？）

自製無毒止汗劑

2009-08-26T00:56:00.008+08:00

受了傷的小肥狗都話正，至少帶他出街的奴才冇臭汗。

{國語}其實最初在別人博客見到自製酒精加水止汗劑的配方時，我是拒絕的，因為我覺得會沒有效果。
好啦唔玩勒…
之後發現自製乳霜狀止汗劑的配方，就覺得可以一試，因為配方中有蘇打粉，具清潔作用，加上乳本果酒和可可脂，滋潤肌膚，看起來不錯，就試試吧。

科學呢樣野日新月異的實際情況係，今日就推翻尋日的報告，不同公司資助的研究報告又有有利該公司的結果。例如有報告話護膚品化妝品止汗劑用的para-hydroxybenzoic acids or parabens，有機會引致癌症或腫瘤（止汗劑或會引致乳癌），但又有報告話呢啲未必會引致癌症，總之你有你講我有我講。我等平民係無辜消費者，又唔識驗自己用的產品，他日証明市面上的止汗劑的成份真的會引癌，就一切太遲。因此，我決定自製止汗劑，愛自己身體！

原材料我還剩下很多，如若你也想試試，我可以多做數瓶送你。:) leave me a comment la la la

試用報告：
我加的精油係之前在台灣阿原肥皂買皂時送的清方精油，今天帶小狗出街前用了，每次同佢出去都令我極大汗，雖然無rexxxa廣告咁勁一滴汗都無（我未用過），但比沒有用小汗，亦有淡淡的精油味，實在不錯。

1/4 品脫的容器大概這樣大，我是將舊玻璃瓶子消毒，盛載止汗劑。

配方：
3茶匙　精製乳木果油　refined Shea butter
3茶匙　蘇打粉
2茶匙　粟粉
2茶匙　可可脂
半茶匙　維他命E油
小小　　你喜歡的精油

用具：
玻璃寬口瓶
一隻筷子或stirrer
1/4品脫的容品脫器

做法：
1.除精油和維他命E油外，將所有材料加入玻璃寬口瓶，隔水加熱，直至材料全部融合，期間用筷子攪拌。
2. 加入精油、維他命E油，攪拌均勻。
3.倒入容器，蓋好，放入雪櫃，凝固後便可用。

備註：
容器請先以酒精消毒。

我在這裡發現以上配方【in English】，有興趣可以試試。
這裡又有數個不同的配方，連漱口水都可以自製。

天麗可以買到精製乳木果和可可脂。

Friends

2009-08-22T04:28:00.006+08:00

Best Friends listen to what you don't say.

Quotation from a Greeting card in Metrobook store.
It's so damn true.

There is a single phrase in Chinese to end it all ..

老友，心照啦

香皂雕花101

2009-08-12T06:00:00.010+08:00

正經事不做，躲在家中雕番規。上圖是第二次雕的，初學者，算係見得人啦。歷時半個鐘都唔洗，照著香皂雕花這本書書中一步步雕就搞掂。

左邊醜怪的是第一次雕，右邊就是第二次雕的，雕完第一個唔夠一分鐘就雕第二個lu，進步神速。

如若你得閒，雕花一點也不難。如果你屋企咁啱有��刀（cutter）或雕刻刀，一舊唔太舊的番梘，就可以隨心所欲地雕了。我認我是特登去買番梘的，走遍超級市場與藥房，結果在十蚊店找到最便宜貨，十蚊三舊的「植物石鹼」番規，夠軟身容易雕，還有點點的蘆薈香，入門佳品。（它說自己是100﹪natural，一睇成份表，一堆唔識的化學品，天然你個死人頭。）若然你家中真的無雕刻刀，十蚊店連雕刻刀都有，仲要十雞兩把，抵到爛！

仲唔動手玩？（你估個個都好似你咁不務正業架咩…唉）

唔雕都睇下大師級作品丫，件件好似真花真甜點一樣，http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~blue_cs/index.htm

Frighting with the laziness ..

2009-08-10T04:20:00.004+08:00

Things I wish to do in August

1. Read Haruki Murakami... Just read, not going to understand it.

2. Make at least one more pack of soap..

3. Making Christmas Cards ... I'm sure I wont have time to make them once the semester started

4. Enhancing craftmanship skill... Ask my impatient mom about sewing ..

5. Visit as much cafe as I can ... If I could wake up before 6pm

6. Take LEO to DOG park .. If I could smuggle him in to the bus..

7. Dinning with friends .. If I could wake up before 6pm

5...... Finish the transcriptionssssssssssssssssssss .. The most time consuming and boring things to do in the world.

Nice to meet you, miss strange.

2009-08-07T03:00:00.006+08:00

You fool me with the condom tricks,
You teach me how to pronoun "big",
We always create our own break,
Patting all the strays cats and dogs,
They are all nice to this miss strange.

I am sorry because I'm always late,
Late at work and late in events,
Thanks for forgiving me all the time.

The truth is
Thanks for being with me all these weeks,
Without you I'll be dead of boredom,
Thanks for making so much fun,
Thanks for teaching me so much about the west,
Thanks for making me think about the cruelty towards the living things.

You just left Hong Kong for 12 hours,
I am already missing you.

I will see you soon in Taxes year after,
If I could save enough $$$ to get there.

So ..
Bye-Bye Bye-Bye Bye-Bye.
howa howa howa
haiya haiya haiya

I love the bracelet so much,
It can serve as a waistband for my beloved animal,
POLAR BEAR. :)

聆聽

2009-08-03T02:44:00.004+08:00

當你習慣聆聽別人的大小故事，
別人的來電與約見，
都只想告訴你他們的故事，
而你想說的重要事，
無人願聽。

當找到一個人願意聆聽，
你開始慢慢說故事，
突然發現，
原來那些想告訴別人的鬱結與不滿，
都是說給自己聽一遍，
說過了，就舒服了。

所謂的「不快樂」，其實容易解決，只是，你願意說和耐心聽嗎？

Homemade cake-soap

2009-08-01T22:10:00.004+08:00

雖然在社區中心的實習不怎順利，總是返工等收工，老細不是顏色面就是連人影也不見，整個實習長長兩個月，跟我說話的時間十分鐘也沒有。

還好認識了一群快樂的準社工，我這等間人就動手做蛋糕手工皂，給大家留為紀念。這次只是小女子第二次動手造皂，做好的第三天就送了出去，皂還是有點軟，實在擔心是否成皂，所以禮物附上小單張寫著「極度建議留為紀念」。

就當我自戀，當我花了兩天造皂，看到這個景象，我有點沾沾自喜有點high，即使未知手工皂是否可用…哈哈。

搞事之作，杞子作裝飾的手工皂…

人性化的咖啡店Cafe Little

2009-07-13T03:08:00.004+08:00

我也不喜歡讓星巴克與太平洋欺詐我金錢，但這兩個大鱷無處不在使我這種獨行怪人乖乖付上銀紙，雖知他們的咖啡苦澀難飲，但咖啡癮更難頂，就像港女們明知無錢買正版LV，也硬要在米蘭站租幾日或買個A貨來說服自己曾經擁有過般無謂。

跨國連鎖企業之出品絕對標準，亦引此為傲，不容許有驚喜的出現，他們的「驚喜」都是精心計算過的「新口味」。某天在上環發現小店名為Cafe Little，老闆買生咖啡豆親手在店內ROAST，八掛串咀者如我就問，「咁我係咪次次黎d咖啡都唔同味架？」老闆認真地答，有少少分別啦，唔會差太遠。

型啊，我要的就是這種人性的咖啡，夠人性才有驚喜，這樣才不會悶死。點了杯House Blend　的Cappuccino，一入口，嘩！星巴克你去死啦。沒有討厭的奶穌味卻有奶的滑，body 夠厚亦不苦，after taste 更是想像不到的長。比尖東的Crema，更勝一籌。更重要的，這裡的食物不是翻熱就算，是即叫即做熱辣辣的！

更有性格的是，小店不會請數個職員迫佢地著恐怖的綠色圍裙仲要佢地每日返十二個鐘，但老闆自己就消失了去玩。老闆直言，禮拜五六唔做晚市，因為我要去玩啊。係lor，無理由因為你想同個friend係我度吹水而令我無得去玩架，我都係人黎架啫。

繼水準書店老閭之後，另一佩服到五體頭地的Cafe Little 老闆Doris.

The after coffee

2009-07-09T23:13:00.007+08:00

The friend known for a decade,
But not always communicate,
One girls' night out make us feel so great,
Some laughter, some gossip could seize the day,
Sitting in reproduced icy house,
Take some photos and have some tart,
A sip of coffee and silly move,
then call it a lovely day.

Aren't we all a total freak?

2009-06-30T21:50:00.009+08:00

如果你十歲個同你講：「媽咪，Micheal Jackson係我偶像。」你會有咩反應呢？

1.好驚，因為佢講呢個係為了以後整容與漂白鋪路。
2.少少驚，因為怕佢已經有厭食傾向。
3勁開心，即刻同佢報全城最貴的跳舞班，培養佢成為下一個「傾哦符扑」。

趕時間者可拉到7：50秒

Micheal Jackson從上天往下看，到底Who‘s freaky now?

We buy his album and then judge,
He had so much surgery done,
Lost his real face and massive weights,
Couldn't survive concert night,
We say he's freaky but aren't we all?

註：骷髗頭與中年男人，全是MJ化身。

還是做CoCo好

2009-06-23T01:26:00.004+08:00

徐子淇與伊莎貝拉被封為似是而非的童話故事公主後，使一眾女生無得做公主都幻想下自己做邊個幸福啲的虛妄選擇中。我說這些是「疑似童話故事」，因為童話故事的全部公主都不包生仔的，只包公主王子就快快樂樂生活下去，是兩個人，無話要生成籮仔女啊！

看了CoCo before Chanel，縱使電影故事非一百巴仙與CoCo真人的經歷一樣，但同樣的是她終生未嫁，起家靠男人，以後靠自己建立時裝皇國的骨氣生活，男人愛過就好，如潮服一樣總會過時。她出身鄉下靠自己爬到上流社會，就像現代版鄧達智由圍村仔到今日成了蜚聲國際的時裝師。

比童話更難以實現的真實故事，才算是真正的童話吧！與其做生仔機器換得終生被錢財所困的無謂女人，不如做個靠自己落得萬世留芳，即使遺臭萬年也好的女子吧。如果是真正的男女平等，像Coco這種叫「女人」，像徐伊二人的應是「女軟人」。「女強人」應一早過時，女人本應強悍。

後記：你長治，誰久安？

活在沒有標準的世代

2009-06-22T02:01:00.002+08:00

「嘩，我部機影出黎d色係你個芒度睇出色d喎。」到底真正實體的顏色為何，已無標準，亦無人介懷。螢光幕的顏色，只是你偏好的顏色，即使它本應是深藍，你也可調成你喜愛的淺綠，這不叫作假，只叫「調色」，它不用真確，因為沒有數碼機器可顯示大家一致標準的原色，或許，不下些功夫在數碼相片上，就顯得你是個初學者，是個不專業的門外漢。

相片是將一個時刻無限放大，自數碼相機世代攻佔現代社會，一切垃圾時刻也被無限放大，無謂如今晚吃甚麼飯、買了一雙新鞋、這些菲林時代不值一記的時刻，也攻佔腦袋僅餘的記憶體。事無大小，先拍張照，重要時刻，不再特別。

大概是不安、害怕被遺忘，才會使現代人將這些日常生活的平常不起眼的時刻攝下鏡頭，告訴大家：「我還活著。」

很型的水準書店

2009-06-18T02:49:00.003+08:00

連阿麥書房都摺了，如果要到書店尋寶的話，以後只能去台北了。但如果我有日中左六合彩頭獎，我都想開一間好似水準咁有型的書店！

都說我貝，我從台北回來看Discovery才發現台北有間水準書店，「逛書去誠品，買書到水準」，它很型，老細睇心情開鋪，還要你想買的書不一定能買到，不是它沒有，而是老閭覺得那本書太差，不讓你買。

Google水準書店，發現了很多blogger都寫了有關在水準買書的有趣故事，以下這篇來自沙米在生活的blog：

我抱著五本書走向櫃臺，邊掏錢包邊向忙碌的老闆詢問：「請問有『男人來自火星，女人來自金星』這本書嗎？」
老闆眼抬了一下，臉部不做任何表情，「什麼金星？！這本。」從他身前一長排的書堆中拿了一本『無有鄉』，「這本拿去。好看。沒話說。」

「歐。」我看了一眼疊在我選的書上面的書。反正本來就是要來買書的，既然是老闆推薦的書，應該不至於太難入眼。所以也沒翻動它，就點頭同意，「好，這本我要。那請問『男人來自火星……』……」
「什麼火星？！這本。」老闆又從身前抽了一本『風之影』，「這本拿去。精彩。掛保證。」
「……歐，好……」我略微驚愕，心裡隱約明白我今天應該是買不到『男人來自火星』一書了……

「還有這本。」老闆又選了『安娜.卡列尼娜』上下兩本書，毫不客氣堆在我的書堆上，「沒看過這本，其他書都不用看了。」
望著那磚頭般的兩本書，我不禁哀嚎出聲，「太多了啦，我會看不完啦。」

「太多了嗎？」老闆把我的書堆拿過去，眼都不眨地從最下方抽出『我自己選的』兩本書，「那這兩本不要。」然後手臂一伸，又從身前抓了兩本書堆上來。
我腦海中浮現來自妹妹的警告，連忙用堅定的聲音，略微顫抖的指責：「那兩本，是我選的耶……」

老闆抓起一本書，「這一本，難看。」再抓起另一本，「還有蔡康永，根本不算是書。」
我皺苦著臉，「我不管，我要蔡康永啦，把書還給我……」
心不甘情不願的老闆把蔡康永堆回我的書上，再隨手一抓，「要不然妳再帶這兩本書平衡一下好了。」

我瞪著眼前疊了十餘本書的高度，心也慌，手也抖，「老闆，這太誇張了！我一個女人還拖著孩子，要怎麼把這十幾本書扛回家？……」
老闆眼一亮，指著小日，「這妳的小孩歐？」快樂地轉個身，「來來，這本插圖精彩的中國歷史與風情，原價三千，賣妳三百。可以學歷史、學地理，給小孩看最剛好。」

我的頭隱約地痛了起來……我壓沈了嗓門：「老闆，不瞞您說，因為這孩子不會在台灣求學，所以想必不用明白八千里路雲和月，你……」
「國外回來的？」老闆眼又一亮，啪啪啪又疊了三本書上來，「那不多帶一點書怎麼行？！這三本妳拿去，我低價給妳。」

「不不……」我幾乎沒開始掉淚，「老闆，我沒辦法。我沒辦法扛這麼多書回去，我也沒辦法付這些書錢。你再這樣疊書上去，到最後你只能報警抓我。我只有三千塊，我晚上還要去吃烤肉……不，拜託不要再抽走我選的書了……我看到了，請你把蔡康永還給我……」
「要不然妳再多帶這一本好了。這一本太精彩了，不讀可惜啊……」
……

……經過一番拉鋸戰，最後我買了12本書，口袋裡只剩500塊地走出書店……
（在此感謝滿臉同情的妹妹二話不說資助晚餐費用，用嗆著煙的肉香安慰倍受驚嚇的母子兩……）

事後，家庭主婦個性的我，將書後的原價比對了一下。
12本書的原價是近乎4000，我用2500的價位買下。折扣十分大方。

只不過……
這間書店實在是太性格了。

不只營業時間和書價的折扣，都只取決於老闆的心情。
（聽說，老闆對女生、學生，尤其是漂亮女學生，書價會壓得很低。男生去買就真的看心情了……）

老闆賣書的態度，也有很多人不能接受。
（例如會極力推銷一些他覺得好看的書，會自己決定妳選的書入不入眼，會把妳要買的書抽掉不想賣……）

還會在他賣出去的每本書上，蓋上「水準書局」的店章……
（網路上說，這是因為水準書局有售後服務。如果這本書你看完不滿意，可以拿回去換書……雖然這點我沒有親自問過老闆，但是很多熱心網友們經驗分享：的確是這樣沒錯歐。）

不過因為我一年只湊一次熱鬧，而且老闆推薦的書----幾乎全是我不會主動去買的書，真的很好看。沒話說的精彩。
因此，還是把它當作生活記事寫下。
不推薦，也不評比。

只是希望看了文，也想要去買書的人：要小心一點。該堅定的時候要堅定啊～～～　

有比它更型的嗎？

下次獨遊台北

2009-06-18T02:23:00.002+08:00

有太多理由要再去台北，與家人同行不能hea書店，還好有誠品解解癮，卻只能在晚上獨自hea誠品至半夜。

獨遊台北行程大概是這樣的，十一點起身，去早餐店吃個早午餐，再到師大附近查探很串的水準書店開不開門，若它不開門，我就轉到苿莉二手書店尋寶，累了就到二樓的爵士樂咖啡廰看書飲啡，餓了就到夜市吃到飽，再到誠品附近行地攤。

第二天，先去查查水準有沒有開門，沒有的話我就先去飲杯冬瓜茶，之後就去台大圖書館煲書煲一天，或者去行行創意市集。

第三天，再去看看水準有沒有開門，（是的，每天都要到師大查查），沒有的話，就到冶堂茶室探探魚，再等等我偶像，問老闆那裡的晩餐又便宜又好吃。還有時間就到旁邊的動物園找找長頸鹿。晚飯後就到光點台北看電影，或是去看場演唱會或舞台劇。

第四天，去看看水準有沒有開門，沒有的話，坐火車上北投浸個靚溫泉，再在北投圖書館煲一日書。舒服的話，找間酒店多住數天，那數天，就是浸溫泉＋煲書、浸溫泉＋煲書、浸溫泉＋煲書。

愛香味

2009-06-15T02:01:00.003+08:00

約他原為公事，通過數次電話，今天頭一次面對面相見。他深色皮膚讓她一眼就認出，當然，種族上的明顯分別讓他絕不可能埋沒在人堆。

她從來都喜歡比自己大十年八載的老頭，他卻比她牛輕數年；她討厭健碩的男子，他身栽魁梧；言談間，他思想仍是帶點童真，總覺自己是個成年人，但言行舉子卻似個小孩子的老積男子。突然的心動，使她手足無措，她從沒這樣失場過。

吵鬧的餐廳，迫使他們埋頭細說一切細節，遠看還以為是對情侶在談情。原來，心動源自他身上的氣味，那種熟悉卻有點微妙變化的味道，就似同一品牌香水灑在不同女人身上的那點點的不同。他的香味讓她心煩，她心底知道不喜歡這男生，他們沒有同樣的話題、沒有同樣的價值觀，除了客套的問候與必需討論的生意，他們根本就是兩個互不相干的過客。

她投其所好，把他所愛的球類活動資料都讀熟，裝作是個運動型的女生。就在第二次的約會，他們談得興高采烈，那夜，她達到目的，靠著他的脖子，嗅著他的體味進睡。

不合邏輯的邏輯

2009-06-13T02:15:00.002+08:00

在公司無所事事，最大樂趣是偷聽別人的對話，這兩句到底是甚麼邏輯?

1. 所有野都無變，我只係delete左個file啫。

2. 基本上做晒，只係仲爭少少啫。

講得出以上兩句的男人，不可嫁也，因為按以上邏輯，他們可以說：

1. 所有野都無變，我只係同你分手啫。

2. 基本上愛晒你一個，只係再愛多左一個人啫。

Loving V.S. Hurting

2009-06-10T21:54:00.003+08:00

按照外國人的禮儀，當課程完結，學生應該禮貌上說一句：
Thanks for teaching me. I've learned a lot.

如果談一段感情就是上一課，分手後也應該禮貌地送上一句多謝，你選邊句？
1. Thanks for LOVING me. I've learned a lot.
還是
2. Thanks for HURTING me. I've learned a lot.

選的應該是第二句吧，至少讓他一世內疚。

理想的下午

2009-06-06T04:21:00.003+08:00

日本動漫中理想的下午，是匿在沒人的角落，自顧自的攤在地下看書。

看似悠閒，實在會手痺兼眼盲，從大雄成日攤係屋企睇漫畫，戴個副厚眼鏡就知啦。

既然人體無法做到理想的下午，我就手多多地摺了很多本書、一個紙書架，還造了一個毛巾假人達成願望，好幸福哦！

手多多之自製筆記本

2009-06-02T01:03:00.007+08:00

肥狗興趣之一，扮石像，同時當書架，正！

家母的有關手作仔的日文書存量，多到令人以為她是個操流利日語的高手，其實她連ohiyo都不會說，「睇圖好易明之麻」是她的口頭禪，是他隨便大手購入日文書的藉口。最吹不脹的是，她的確可以根據公仔而車件衫出黎，令全家無藉口禁止她入貨。

某一次當她強迫我在日本書店等她之時，發現了一本自製文具的書，買了都快一年，趁著這無事可幹的假期，手多多地做了兩本筆記本，跟著書中的圖剪呀剪縫呀縫，真係整到兩本出黎，第一本因為怕失敗，所以只有十多頁，有經驗後，第二本厚達　四十二頁！勁啊！

這兩本野都好環保的，內頁是本小姐一年前獻身國際十字路會刮返黎的廢紙（背頁空白個隻）、封面頁是包禮物剩下的花紙、只用花紙會太軟，所以貼上戲票與我的美麗日記的包裝做封面，實淨得多、家母很愛縫紉，線是從她籠底偷回來的，不花一分一毫啊！（嘩，你個小偷丫！）

下一步係將大家貢獻給我的單據，變成筆記本！（又偷人野！）XD

叨No.5的光

2009-05-26T16:32:00.003+08:00

承著CoCo Chanel電影即將上映，Chanel No.5 的香水廣告就由電影主角柯德莉塔圖擔任，廣告比電影的Trailer 引人入勝得多！都說香水要賣的不是香味，而是概念，Chanel No.5的真身臭到癲，但那個廣告令你即使知它有多臭，都很想買，因為噴了會遇上靚仔啊！即使那個廣告呃唔到明精眼企的Miss Five 買同名的No. Five，卻使Miss Five 很想去廣告中的地方，好異國風情好貴氣好似好多靚仔啊！

我對這個老女人牌子沒甚興趣，但看CoCo Chanel電影為的是柯德莉塔圖，因為她加上Chanel高貴到不得了。

訪問「剛剛」

2009-05-23T18:58:00.004+08:00

任志剛剛剛宣佈榮休（非「下台」），「你有咩想同剛剛講呢」（呢個係903一八七二遊花園啊bu個promote的）

如若我是健康雜誌編輯，我會即刻搵機會訪問他，又或者我係君子雜誌編輯，我都會仆去搵佢做訪問。

1.任先生身為全球最高人工的央行行長，到底你係如何保持紙片人身栽架呢？

2.任生，我諗好多男士都好想問你，點樣可以有咁多頭髮架呢？咁你係用咩心情面對全面白髮架呢？

3.你說話字正腔圓，講廣東話又無懶音，加上中文英文造詢甚高，有無諗過轉行做電台節目主持人呢？或者教下啲後輩如何面對傳媒，同如何講英文的英文，廣東話的廣東話呢？

4.其實你辭職的其中一個原因，係咪因為你記憶力差左呢？面對雷曼受害者的時候係咁講「我唔記得、我唔清楚」喎。

5.我提議你出書教中文或者英文，最好係教造句同如何閱讀經典，教下我地如何創造出「鐵打的衙門，流水的官」丫！如果你話自己係流水，咁點解你咁耐都流唔走ge？

6.其實我真係好鐘意你把聲，可唔可以唱首黎聽聽？

新手改詞﹣﹣寫paper之濕滯

2009-05-16T06:18:00.004+08:00

寄調：蘇永康　失眠

濕滯靜看個mon粒字都無訴出　死啦　啦
濕滯　這種苦痛不禁重演　
筆記們鋪滿腦旁邊
deadline就到啦我淚流遍
眼瞓難頂　啊

都要這夜寫成若果不可苦痛又一遍
痛恨那夜竟然追劇看到Laughing未終結
Paper再度痴纏筆芯粉碎心機遠標去
找著已是太遲朝夕痛心追悼Grade失去

不要問：「又話好多paper要寫，做咩係度改歌詞。」因為我要，清清喉嚨先「捉緊生命濃度
／坦白流露感情和態度／留下浮光掠影飛舞」而家唔寫，交完我邊有而家呢種痛苦的心情寫先？

UPLOADED的係蘇永康的演唱會版，有兩分鐘intro，請耐心欣賞。另外，識貨之士可跟歌詞唱出自己版本放上youtube，絕不收版權費。

原詞我是不會post的，因為……我唔會話你知:p

Working Status: 4000 words to go ...

如果麥兜打乞嚏……

2009-04-28T01:27:00.003+08:00

以下故事純屬老吹

豬流感不但演變成人轉人，仲有人轉卡通人物，麥小姐在畫麥兜un腳之時，突然發現他打乞嚏，麥小姐立刻將麥兜隔離，以免他轉染給豬媽，麥小姐仍在追查麥兜染病的來源，現正懷疑一名豬場長大的小孩，半夜讀故仔給豬媽聽時，豬媽不滿故事中的麥兜勁un腳，所以立心將病毒轉染給他，以作懲誡。
麥小姐立刻回收所有麥兜產品，以防傳染給全香港人，尤其是小朋友。

墨西哥流感已有五百隻港豬受到感染，據知港府高官並不敢殺雞般殺豬，因為珠江三角洲的豬都已死晒，而香港著名世界的义燒包與义燒，將無法繼續吸引老外來港，會使香港的GDP下跌四成，而最重要的是，高官午餐不能食义燒包，辦事能力會由零，減至負一千，市民極度恐慌。

咖啡壓力煲

2009-04-27T03:08:00.003+08:00

討厭香港公共圖書館的自修室，明明是自修，卻有一個類似監督的物體坐在最前頭，監視有沒有人傾計、瞓覺、講電話，坐位亦迫到令人無法溫書，氣氛緊張得無法令人心平氣和地溫習。

咖啡店本應是讓人放鬆的地方，與朋友聊聊天、獨個兒看看雜誌、或光坐著飲杯咖啡的地方。大概香港人不懂何謂放鬆。甫進咖啡店，就發現每個人坐在那邊都很有目的，溫書、開會、講公事。永遠最悠閒的總是老外。

今天踏進咖啡店，發現全店滿坐，與坐者九成都是學生，三五成群的在溫書，我的天，我去咖啡店的原因是我想逃避交功課的命運啊！天啊，今天是星期天，放假啊！放過我吧！環視一周，絕對無位，我飛快離開這個咖啡壓力煲！

如果我要開咖啡店，如果鋪頭好多人的話，我會學政府做「人流管制」，門口貼著「想溫書？去星巴克啦！請即刻離開本小姐的樂園！」但係，如果店子無咩生意的話，我就無任歡迎ge，如果半滿，我就一定貼！

反智的北川中學學生分享會

2009-04-22T00:39:00.003+08:00

花了一個學期研究四川大地震與香港人身份認同的關係，我對這次名為「堅強的理由」的分享會，期待著中學生親口訴說他們現在的生活情況，如何從悲痛中活過來，對傳媒建構的災民形象有何意見，結果令我失望，枉費了我的一小時。

分享會歷時一個半小時，因上課的關係已遲了半小時才到，卻仍未見北川中學學生的人影，聽主持說了一兩句完場話，就開始播片。

片段的製作與北川中學學生的感受，是極大的反差。旁白是陳敏兒，用沉重的語調，尤如憐吻著這群脆弱的青年人一樣，配上悲涼的配樂（一把女聲不停在悲叫），製造沉重氣氛，彷彿512才發生沒多久。如若學生們也是以悲痛的心情，來訴說自己的受災經過，也就算了。但事實是，他們在憶述著事發之時，卻抱一個平常心，就如告訴你我昨晚去哪裡吃過飯一樣的平靜，平靜得難以置信。其中一名因地震而失去雙親的學生更坦言，事發後沒隔幾天就重新的上學去，只要靠自己，沉淪在悲傷中也沒有用。而且他一滴淚都沒有流，態度正面，志氣可嘉，但背景音樂仍是哀傷到死，彷彿那男生已離世一樣。

事發之後一年，攝製隊與北川中學的舊生，重返北川中學，學生們興高采烈地走著，指著這裡本是甚麼，那邊應有甚麼，但旁白卻是，這群中學生雖重回舊地，但因校舍已面目全非，都不認得方向。

直至北川中學的學生到來，司儀竟以廣東話問他們問題：「你地覺得香港點呀？」靜止大概十秒，才驚覺應用普通話再問，這一題之後，司儀就開始問，有無同學想發問？你地要熱情啲至得。因為我錯過了頭半個小時，我懷疑頭半個小時說明的，就是有甚麼問題不可以問，我想包括災區情況、災後生活、災難經過都不可問，結果全部問題都極低智，就如娛樂台記者問剛下飛機的外國巨星，"What do you feel about Hong Kong?"Feel 你老母咩，feel到你個機場好义涷啊？頭部份的問題係：你地覺得香港點，食野慣唔慣？後半部就成了四川同鄉認親認戚大會，不停地互相問候、支持，支持當然是可以，但可否一個起兩個止呢？

或者有人會串嘴說，你咁巴閉，你又唔問，因為我怕違犯規定，如果真的說明了有關地震的事不能問的話，我就成了眾矢之的，加上中學生們不停說他們有多想上大學想讀書，我身上穿的是一件slogan　tee，寫著"I HATE SCHOOL"啊！

這群中學生的確很堅強，很快就爬起來，我想說的是，他們的堅強，不需要理由，因為只要堅強，才可以走下去。況且，大會的片段，沒有將他們的經過再現成「他們很堅強」，反之，不斷重覆的論調就只有，「他們很脆弱」所以我們要保護他們。其實，他們不需要保護，因為他們比誰都堅強，這樣苦都走得過，那種痛你經過了麼？何以套著「他們很脆弱」的想像去描寫、對待他們？

「叫我流浪就可以了」﹣流浪皮箱

2009-04-17T01:00:00.007+08:00

流浪，是一個人名。如果他是個西裝友，跟你說我叫流浪，你只會笑死同歧視佢懶型。
流浪是一個有自信的人才會改的名字，跟他的一身打扮，要完全吻合才不會引人取笑，他高高瘦瘦，身穿素白T恤、牛仔褲，髮捲披肩，在台北天母區賣，與他身做型與名字都不相襯的小皮革機器人﹣﹣每個都獨一無二，有些有名有姓、有個手長腳長、有個很大份、還有是手牽手的情侶機器人。

天母區的創意市集，大多都是小攤小檔，唯獨他的位置很大，有三大個咖啡色衣櫃，放著各式各樣的皮革產品，全都是他人手製的。我買了個皮革機器人，粉藍色很可愛，且那個小藥丸位，可是內有乾坤的！東西買完了後，他說造咭片結我們。沒錯！是即場「造」咭片，他拿了一大塊皮革，燒開火，拿了一個烙鐵，即場烙咭片結我們，實在係型爆！

流浪還當場示範，機器人是怎樣扯都不會破，且機器人是由頭到腳都是防水的！真的不買不可以！若你星期五六日到台北，這個市集是必逛的！
天母市集官方網站

給準備去的人的建議：
因為是跟別人一起買的關係，同行人覺得有講價的必要，邏輯是市集就是要講價，弄得場面很不好看，我亦不好意思出聲，我的建議是，不要講價！他們辛苦經營，賺的都是小錢，又不是時時日日剝削我們的超市，又何苦將仇報在小市民身上呢！何況，他們的標價已是很物有所值了，那份創意，不是價錢可以衡量的。請尊重一下吧。其實，只要你肯幫襯，他們都會自動減價，又何苦咄咄逼人呢？

驚遇舒先生﹣冶堂茶室

2009-04-15T01:05:00.009+08:00

「江山留勝蹟，我輩復登臨」

跟著舒國治先生書的介紹，走進小巷子裡的冶堂茶室，舒先生叫它做「茶文化空間」，一家躲在尋常百姓家的小店，若不留心就不察覺。

前院就放著一大陶缸養著孔雀魚，伴著綠葉植物，是舒服的城市抖氣位。甫進茶室，一片優雅古風，老闆就奉上鳥龍茶，呷著這一口的鳥龍茶，茶味怎麼會這樣厚？茶水何以如此滑？跟外間的淡味鳥龍茶根本就是兩回事！原來老闆選的都是上品，好到像我這個自以為喝了不少好茶的女子，竟沒碰過如此上品！老闆還奉上澎湖來的花生酥，花生香甜脆口（不是只有死甜），只送給茶客吃，不供賣，原來是老闆的朋友遠道送來，即使台灣島內亦難買之。店內還展示著四五十年代台灣茶的古物，有鐵路紅茶包、有奶粉廠的小茶杯、女店長一一細心講解歴史，茶與歴史放在一起，吸一吸文化氣息。

就在向老闆討教養魚之事時，隔著木門框的網門，隱約看見舒先生的身影，心想，不是吧！怎麼那麼幸運？他一甫進茶室，老闆就說：「舒先生來了，真巧！香港來的朋友說，先生的書很難買啊！」我興奮不已，雖然先生婉拒了合照的要求，但也應了我的不識大體的要求，在臺灣重遊的書上，寫上「慧琪正之」，還題了字，這，根本是可遇不可求麻！是舒國治耶！茶室有在賣他的書，且全都簽了名！加上他的題字，如願足矣！

適合去的人：想抖抖氣的人（如在鼎泰豐等位等得火滾）、抱欣賞古物心情的人
不適合去的人：為了見舒先生才去的人、攝友、心急的香港人

綠色和平很「綠色」？

2009-04-04T02:26:00.004+08:00

這樣大的國際組織，難道不知道甚麼是光污染、二氧化碳增排、浪費人手嗎？

你這樣的一個不環保的宣傳環保訊息行動，你覺得會成功嗎？這個活動，使警車、媒體車、還有很環保的「綠色和平」的車駛到禮賓府，這樣增加了多少二氧化碳排放？

這個活動，又耗費了多小電力使機器發電？同時又製造了多少光污染？

整個活動根本就是浪費地球能源。其次，內容沒有建設性，係人都知氣候變化，但係點解參加左哥本哈根會議就會可以"STOP"氣候變化呢？

的確，一個會出一萬蚊糧比sale的「非牟利組織」，錢根本越洗越有，對環保只說不做，光看他們在街邊的宣傳紙版，傳單就可知一二。

Half Full VS. Half Empty

2009-03-31T22:13:00.004+08:00

Some years ago,
Someone told me,
Life sucks. Deal with it.

Some years later,
Someone sing to me,
Life is Wonderful,
Because
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

嘻哈包袱鋪

2009-03-27T01:42:00.004+08:00

看到《魯豫有約》訪問這四個80後的男生，年輕的小伙子，一股熱誠做新潮相聲，在於北京火紅到不得了。第一份糧每人只能分到27塊錢，卻開心不得了，為著理想做到自己想做到的，是叫我這種香港的80後汗顏，我也有理想想追，但如果人工不夠還loan，我能捱餓又如何？常問一份文員八千五，做個記者隨時得七千，你打邊份？如果不用還loan，我的選擇一定是後者，生活迫人呀。

他們很幸福，希望有日我也找到。

「中文即係咩？」

2009-03-26T23:08:00.005+08:00

香港人已將「解釋」一詞理解成「翻譯」。我不明白為甚麼要將一種語言翻釋成另一種語言，就代表你明白那個意思。

偷聽的例子：
問：Muslim係咩意思？
答：即係穆斯林。
問：哦！我明勒！

咁即係咩意思呢？到底同Islamic又有咩唔同呢？同中文回教又有無關係呢？係咪將英文音譯成中文，就代表你明左呢？

最神奇的應是出現在普通話課，問及「調門」何解，老師解釋是調高嗓子唱歌，意思很明確了吧？結果還是有人問附近的同學，我明個意思，但係廣東話係咩？其實即使搵到相應對譯又如何？會否幫助你更深認識這個字？為何要用廣東話的思想去讀普通話呢？

我發現很多普通話差的人，根本是中文底子不好，用不了中文書面語作思考工具，說出來的普通話才會一舊舊。

Think in Mandarin. Think in English. Please.

無關事的快樂紀錄：如常在P記咖啡店閒坐數小時，發現１蚊抗海嘯價杏仁餅，即買即食，爽！

《讀愛》

2009-03-20T02:47:00.002+08:00

只看了電影，還沒有看原著，最不明白的是，為何男主角不揭發女主角其實是個文盲？即使她因自己是個文盲覺得羞恥，但也不值得因為這種羞恥，而賠上一世坐牢吧……另外，女主角明被老屈成主謀，連一點反抗都沒有，就食了這隻大死貓，到底係咩理由呢？

這種交往的次序其實很舒服，就每次男主角去女主角屋企，先讀書，大大聲聲充滿感情地讀書，再上床或共浴，省掉一切消費（行街、睇戲、食飯，金融海嘯下樣樣都好貴架老細），經濟實惠啊！一個懂得懂經典文學的人，在香港應該買少見少，調轉頭，聽／讀得懂經典文學的人，都所剩無幾了。難怪故事背景是在20年代！浪漫其實真的不需要高消費啊！

showonfire

Spoon Necklace - sealed stamp

Envies adoption programme

September - Mail Incoming

Hurtfully hilarious.

Mail - Incoming ( Finally! )

Make it up to you'all

Quote from Sherlock

Make my own Journal

View from my window

Ride with me .. to the Near Space

This is where I live

photoshop workbook

The kindest person on earth

Things you must do to make me happy

Thank you for adopting (and featuring) !

Writing letter is ROCK ~!

Trifle thing about my father

Quote from Anne Frank - The diary of a young girl

Fill in the blank Friday

Christmas came to me

I could draw?

Regain the joy of Reading

Quote from Gargoyle.

Envelope Adoption Programme (Yah, Free Envies!)

HappY Envelopes. Open for adoption.

Delicious! Homemade yogurt with homemade strawberry Jam!

Feeling great again

I fell. Lost a tooth.

From Chip bag to Notebook

My water coulored Giraffes are making friends now!

Anonymous letter FUN!

Playing with water colour

Short Trip, Big Surprise

Finally, letter to LWA penpal

Do I … not in love with cinema, not anymore?

Mail to 2nd penpal

Easter Surprise

我…不愛戲院了嗎?

Life magazine Finds: Funny delicate ads.

我的黑皮革記事本

Watch out of your mail box, friends!

寄信

In love with mailing

Updates

Did I tell you I made my own Journal?

不是惡搞，算是創作掛

Seriously, who am I to judge?

雜誌紙翻生

Happiness in Feb

做給自己的生日禮物

Happy Birthday to January!

Hang on, my love, and grow big and strong

不織布襟花

細細細細筆記本

Remeber, blessing is all around

Remeber, I am being love.

What parents do? they fuck you up.

Sex and the city - RERUN

My professor - the witty one

方烔鑌 猜心

Living space

Stamping Exercise: My Name

Buy less, make more. Homemade paper flower by using unwanted envelope

如果那陣子，我常去電影院……

Let me GO..

大贈送：潮牌信封

突如其來的禮物 The sudden gift

掹大口瞓覺的C9

自製無毒止汗劑

Friends

香皂雕花101

Frighting with the laziness ..

Nice to meet you, miss strange.

聆聽

Homemade cake-soap

人性化的咖啡店Cafe Little

The after coffee

Aren't we all a total freak?

還是做CoCo好

方烔鑌　猜心