我们的情人节火锅大餐 Our Valentine’s Hotpot Dinner

情人节火锅大餐 Hotpot dinner on Valentine's Day

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我不爱浪漫 I am not romantic

情人节快乐！

photo by : Evoo73

我对浪漫这个玩意儿没什么要求。我不喜欢情情爱爱的电影和小说。 对我来说，那些东西有些造作和肉麻，也不真实。 所以，Ed是个幸福的男人。不用花脑筋来取我欢心。

可是，昨天 (加拿大的13日)， 当其他国家的情人庆祝着情人节时，我没留意到，竟然写了篇‘新年展望’的贴字！啊 ！真是太糟糕，太不识情趣了！亲爱的朋友读者们，真不好意思。现在补上，祝你们情人节快乐。

我们今天怎么庆祝呢？嗯，什么都没。我们不要出去吃晚餐，因为人多，我不喜欢。那些什么烛光晚餐的，我不习惯。一碗越南牛肉河粉或一碟泰式青咖哩饭已令我很开心。Ed说，‘唉呀！忘了买鲜花给你！’ ‘不用啦！’ 这句话是真心的。所以，他就真的不买了。哈哈！

不过，我们当然有对彼此说 ‘情人节快乐’ 啦。其实，我天天都会对Ed说 ’I love you babe’ 。 嘻嘻。那不代表我是浪漫的人。我知道Ed很受不了这些肉麻的用语。他越讨厌，我越爱作弄他！ 他是个木头，不喜欢这套 – 什么爱我啦，一生一世啦。他不说，我不逼，或者，我放弃逼他。心里知道就好。干嘛逼自己喜欢的人做他不自在的事。

嗯….或许，明天才去餐馆吃晚餐吧。

相关文章　：

• Our Valentine’s Day
• Vespa Valentien
• 情人节三不买
• 情人节随想

Happy Valentine's Day !

photo by : blmurch

I am never a romantic person, and I rarely watch/read lovey-dovey movies or novels. Frankly, I find them a little awkward or quite fake. Well, do you really believe in real life men will do all those things the movies and novels tell you they will do? I don’t.  Hence, Ed is a lucky man because I don’t expect any of those things from him.

Anyway, because of I am obviously oblivious of the Valentine’s Day, I posted a New Year Resolution post yesterday (13th in Canada but 14th in most countries), instead of something romantic ! I guess this shows how unmindful I am to all the fuss by the commercials and media on this V-Day.  Nonetheless, to all my friends and readers, wish you all a Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day.

How are we going to celebrate today? Umm…nothing special. We don’t want to go out to eat because we don’t like the crowd. I don’t really care about the candle night dinner because I won’t be comfortable with it anyway. A good bowl of Vietnamese noodles soup or Thai Curry Chicken will make me equally happy !　Ed said, ‘ Oh no ! I forgot to buy you flowers !’ ‘ No worries, it is ok. I don’t care.’ So, he does not.

Yet, of course, we still say Happy V-Day to each other today. In fact, I tell him I love him everyday. Heehee…not because I am a romantic person. Ed is someone who hates this lovey-dovey fuss, and the more he hates it, the more I like to say it to annoy him ! On the other hand, knowing him well, I never force him to say those things to me, or maybe I just give up. What’s the point ? Since deep down I know how much he loves me.

Back to this V-Day, maybe we will go out to eat tomorrow. Shall see…

Related posts :

• Our Valentine’s Day
• Vespa Valentine
• Thoughs on Valentine’s Day

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咖啡和安娜

咖啡和安娜

墨尔本是个咖啡天堂。在那，我养成了泡咖啡馆的习惯。有时，和朋友在那高谈阔论。有时，喜欢一个人，静静地喝咖啡，看报纸，读小说，发呆，晒晒太阳，看路人，看妈妈们带小孩们出来走走．．．总爱赖在那儿不走。

在多伦多，少泡咖啡馆了，冬天时更不用说。天天零下十度左右，没必要的话，出门嘛，可免则免。

以前在墨尔本时，13 或14度就会喊冷。现在，温度如攀上零度以上，我已觉得是一种幸福。这一，两天，是零上的温度，太阳偶尔也会冒出头来。我拿着《安娜．卡列尼娜》，走去附近的咖啡馆，做我以前喜欢做的．．．

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鼠年(08)回顾 2008 Review

马来西亚家人朋友 (1月 和 6月)

Dear English readers, please scroll down for English translation.

阳历年时忙考试，没回顾我在08年做了什么。
现在，试考了，农历年过了，回头看看，鼠年可真多姿多彩。

这两年来日子都很漂泊，去年可说是‘四海为家’的顶峰：-
在马来西亚和澳洲各住了三个月，其余的六个月则在加拿大。

和Ed在马旅游 (2月)

1月 – 大马
回马做家里的大小姐。
在爸爸店里帮忙和学习。
天天去巴刹，到处吃吃吃。

2月 – 大马
Ed第一次来马，第一次见家长。
我俩背包游新加坡，吉隆坡，槟城，马六甲和浮罗交怡。
Ed回加国工作，我回澳洲工作。

澳洲的朋友 (3月 - 5月)

3月 – 澳洲
上班。和一位好朋友住。
放工回家就和朋友追港剧。
很高兴和很多朋友相聚。
喝我爱喝的意大利咖啡和比利时热巧克力，
吃我爱吃的eggs benedict早餐。

4月 – 澳洲
继续上班。
搬进一间有三房，却只有一张床和一张椅子的公寓。
没有网络。看了很多英文小说。

寂寞的公寓　(澳洲)

5月 – 澳洲
如4月。

6月 – 大马
回马。如1月。

多伦多 (7月 - 12月)

7 月 – 加国
回加国。见到Ed给他一个大拥抱 ：“亲爱的，好久没见”。
享受我在加国的第一夏天。

8月 – 加国
阳光继续普照。每个周末尽情欢享。
Ed告诉我，我煲的汤和煮的东西已可以见人。Yay !
我这大小姐开始认真做好家务。

多伦多 (7月 - 12月)

9月 – 加国
啊！结婚吧！

10月 – 加国
开始发闷。不如去学喝茶和学泡茶吧。

Hey 先生，来个胜利手势吧 ! (多伦多)

11月 – 加国
好冷。
决定参加考试，

12月 – 加国
好冷。
拼命苦读。
圣诞和新年快乐！

多伦多　(7月 - 12月)

1月 – 加国
试考了，年过了。
2009 牛年要做什么好呢 ? ……

With Family & friends in Malaysia (Jan & Jun)

I was very busy with exam during the New Year, did not get the chance to review my 2008 year. Exam is finally over and (Chinese) New Years came and gone, finally, I have the time to sit down, to reflect on my 2008 year. Looking back, it was indeed a great and interesting year.

For the past two years, I have been dividing my times between Malaysia, Australia and Canada, and last year was my most traveled and drifting year. I lived 3 months each in Malaysia and Australia, the rest of the six months in Canada.

Traveled with Ed in Malaysia (Feb)

Jan – Malaysia
Went back to Malaysia and be pampered like a princess at home by my lovely family.
Learned from my father and helped out in his shop.
Went to pasar often and fully enjoyed the famous delicious street food !

Feb – Malaysia
Ed visited Malaysia for the first time and met my parents for the first time.
We traveled in Singapore, KL, Penang, Malacca and Langkawi.
Ed headed back to Canada, while I went back to Australia.

With friends in Australia ((Mar - May)

Mar – Australia
Went back to work. Stayed with a good friend.
Hong Kong TV series was our favourite passtime together after work.
So happy to catch up with many good friends in Oz.
Drunk my favourite Italian coffee and Belgium hot chocolate;
ate my favourite eggs benedict breakfast.

Apr – Australia

Continued to work.
Moved into a huge 3 bedroom condominium, however,
you won’t believe I only lived with a folding bed and a chair in the condo.
No Internet. Read many novels.

Lonely apartment

May – Australia
Same as April.

Jun – Malaysia
Went back to Malaysia.
Same as January.

Toronto (July - Dec)

Jul – Canada
Went back to Canada.
Gave Ed a big hug, ‘Darling, long time no see! ‘
Enjoyed my first summer in Canada.

Aug – Canada
Went to nearly all summer street festivals and events.
Surprisingly, Ed started to praise my cooking ! Yay!
Finally, I had been better with housework.

Toronto (2) (July - Dec)

Sep – Canada
Let’s get married dear !

Oct – Canada
Started to feel bored and restless. So attended Tea Sommelier classes.

Hey dude, you gonna have fun in summer ! (Canada)

Nov – Canada
So cold !
Decided to sit for exam.

Dec – Canada
So cold !!
Studied unbelievably hard for the exam.
Happy Christmas and New Year !

Jan – Canada
Exam is over, new years came and gone.
What am I going to do in 2009 ? …..

Toronto (3) (July - Dec)

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夜，亮了…

冬天时，尤其是一场大雪后，很喜欢在多伦多市的街上走走。

因为，觉得这里的夜晚，特别光亮。

天是黑沉沉的，不过，城市是闪亮的。

犹记得，我第一次发现这个现象时，是2006年年尾．圣诞刚过。我的第一个白色冬天。

那时，我们刚看完一场电影，已近凌晨。

一走出戏院时，突然发现，夜，好像没黑下来。

我这个热带国家长大的女孩，哪会明白其中的道理。

也不想去思考，只想欣赏，像小孩一样眼睛瞪大大，不停惊叹，‘好亮，好亮！’。

Ed解释说：“大地铺了一层厚厚的白雪。白色，反照所有的街灯，建筑物的灯和圣诞灯饰。明吗？”。

“啊！”　给他一个拥抱，我继续在街上蹦跳。

他摇头，“都不知你怎么进理科班的。”

X     X     X     X     X     X

昨晚，从图书馆走出来时，发现，夜，又亮了．．．

那时，暂不想考试，我心情舒畅．

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亲爱的，你的戒指呢？

“新婚生活怎么样啊？”

婚后，很多人问。

“没什么不同啊。都是一样。”

我觉得这个答案是好现象。

很多人说，婚后，男的女的，都会‘原形毕露’。

还好，我和Ed都是‘坦率’的人。

所有缺点很早前已‘很自然’地表现出来了。

我的小姐脾气，他牛一样的固执。

算了，习惯就好。;)

人人说，结婚就代表互相尊重，彼此接受，缺点和优点，对吗？

这个，我深深相信。

其实，我们已达很高境界 – 爽脆和幽默。

高兴不高兴的，都拿出来讲。谈下谈下，很快就会多了解。

暂时解决不了的，幽彼此一默，笑了后，有些执着好像已不重要。

所以，生活上是没问题的。

除了吵些无聊的，天天都开开心心。

啊！对了，婚后，唯一不同和不习惯的，就是，我们都不爱戴我们的结婚戒指….

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Reply to Bryan – What to Wear in Subzero Climate

winter wear in Canada

Bryan left the following message in my previous post :

“ I am going to Harbin end of this year. I believe it will be minus 15 Degree during the day.Since I am not living in Subzero Climate for long period, I just bought a Winter Jacket, not those ultra warm type though, but for active sports, where we partially keep ourselves warm while exercising in the cold weather. I think it might not be enough to fend off the cold there.

How many layers of clothing you wear to protect yourself from the cold?

My idea:
1st Under Thermal (Long John shirt and pants)
2nd Long Sleeve T-Shirt
3rd Wool Sweater
4th Thin Down Jacket
5th Wind & Waterproof outer jacket

Ear Warmer
Gloves
Head Warmer?

Wish me luck! ”

Hey Bryan,

I went online to check the weather in Harbin, yup, it is already around minus 5 to 15 degree during the day !! And currently, the wind gust is around 4-15 mph (6-23 km/h), which is quite strong if you are walking on the streets, especially in wind tunnel (like between tall buildings). So, you have to be quite prepared, especially people like us, who are brought up in tropical weather.

Looking at your 5 layers clothing sandwich, I think you will be fine for the minus 15. However, it depends on the quality of your down jacket and the water/windproof  jacket. It makes all the difference !

windproof jacket with chin flaps

Not sure what kind of quality you will get in Malaysia. So, whatever you buy, check the quality properly, or buy trusted brands.  There are hell lots of things to consider for good down or windproof jackets. I am not going to go to the details here and you only go there for a short trip. Just some simple things you should look for. For example, for down jacket, check exactly what the down filling is (make sure is not synthetic) and its fill power (how dense they pack the down/feather); for water/windproof jacket, check the construction of the jacket (how well the jacket is ‘sealed’), fabric lining etc.

I have a windproof jacket that have two ‘flaps’ on my face area (left picture), so when the wind blow fiercely, I can cover half my face, and only leave the eyes out. But I rarely wear it because I think it is very ugly ! Haahaa….do I scare you though? I hope you don’t need those things anyway ! It depends if you are a person who afraid of cold. I need those because I can’t stand cool weather !

Ok, now let’s talk about other accessories.

(1) Gloves – yup, you need a good pair of gloves ! Best is wool or windproof gloves.

(2) Hat/Head Warmer – you definitely need a very good hat/head warmer. Generally, about 30% of body heat lose through our heads, it is quite a significant amount. If you cover your head (especially forehead) properly, you surely will feel warmer. Tips : Don’t buy knit hat, because wind can blow through it easily. Buy wool one,. If you like knit, buy those have an inner (wool) layer.

(3) Ear warmer – If you have a hat that also can cover your ears, I don’t think you need ear warmer.

(4) Sock – Your feet and toes !! You don’t want to have cool feet and toes when you are outside, especially if you have to walk on the snow. Also, most time I dress my body properly, but forget my legs. So,  your under thermal pants will be very helpful. Tips : alternatively, buy very good wool knee length socks. They help me heaps when I don’t feel like wearing my old-lady-like thermal pants 😉

(5) Boot – Very important especially when snowing heavily and have snow/ice accumulation on the ground. A good pair of boot prevent slips.  My boot is knee length, with fur inside, strong rubber sole with deep treads. Of course, it depends how much walking you have to do, otherwise, normal boot should be ok. Tips : Walk on snow-muddy ground, instead of the ‘shiny’ icy ground, which is extremely slippery, unless you like to roller skating 😉

(6) Scarf – Depend on the design of your jacket or if you have turtle neck top. I feel much warmer when my neck is warm, and it prevents cool wind slips inside your body through the neck opening. Tips : When I don’t wear my ugly windproof jacket with the ‘flaps’, I like to wear very large thick scarf. So, I not only use it to cover my neck, I use it to cover half my face when I have to walk against wind gust.

multiple layers and a down jacket

For this photo, I think it was taken on a day of around minus 5-8 degree or so. With the hat, an under thermal, a turtle neck (white), a 200 fleece (blue), and a medium fill power down jacket ( filling : 50% down/50% feathers), I was able to pose for photo with a smile 😉

I hope the above information helps. Shoot me more questions if you still not sure.

Haahaaa… I have too much fun here. I better go back to study for my exam !!! 😦

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今天好冷

今天好冷… 才零下10度…
碰巧，我有事需出门。
刺骨的强风吹来时，感觉像零下20度！

那时，真不明白我来加拿大干嘛。
Ed曾告诉我，习惯就好，身体会慢慢耐冷起来。真的吗？
可是，今天，连他也想骂粗口。

…..我正想念大马或澳洲的阳光，Ed则想念洛杉矶的阳光….

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My 2 + 2 Daily Newspapers

Though I am studying, I still can’t resist to read my 2 + 2 daily ‘newspapers’ online.

One is – The Globe and Mail, for Canada news.

One is – The Age, for Melbourne, Australia news.

Sometimes, when things get interesting across the boarder, I read New York Times.

Sometimes, I read Sin Chew Chinese newspapers or Malaysiakini online, for Malaysia news.

The world is currenly going through an interesting and trying time, I feel that to be a responsible world citizen, I need to be informed. Or is it because of my experiences in the above different countries that make me want to know more, and care for more? I think that plays an important part too.

Thanks to the internet. Otherwise, I would not know the world simply by a click away.

Sometimes, I think : will news online eventually replace newspapers completely? Maybe?

Do I still read ‘real’ newspapers ? Only once every 2 week, I think, except when I am back home in Malaysia.

I still love the ideas of holding the newspapers in the sofa or bed, read them with a cup of coffee or tea. And there are more articles in the printed edition. However, to save the papers, and to know the world better and faster, I have gone to the internet…

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考试 . 失踪 Exam & Disappearance

亲爱的家人朋友读者们，

很心不甘，情不愿地, 我正准备着加拿大药剂师牌的第一个考试。

为了考试，我下定决心 ‘严格’ 管制我花在网上漫游的时间！（真不知自己可否做到 😉 ）

所以，部落格暂停两个月。抱歉。

考完试后，我们再见吧！

天天躲在图书馆内啃书的苦学生 上

Dear friends, family and readers,

Finally, I forced myself to sit for the Canadian pharmacy registration exam in Jan (the first of a series! Not looking forward ! ) . Preparing for the exam, I decided to ban myself from all if not most online acitivities for the next two months. (not sure if I could do so 😉 ) . I will be back after the exam ! See ya then 🙂

regards,
a student (whose first home is the library)

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好冷…

今天，平均温度才四度！

风刮得很大…

好冷好冷….

冬天要来了…

我好像见到到雪花飘落….

希望只是因为我眼花….

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卖茶去啰！Selling Tea ? Yup !

最近，我好像很忙。没什么时间写部落。

忙什么呢？我这个‘空闲小姐’没事找事情做　－　想学人做生意。反正，我现在有空，不可以工作，又不好意思不断向老公伸手要钱，于是，想做做小本生意。

加上，Ed 的工作是国际性的，而我的药剂师职业则是区域性的。即是，每到另一个国家都要考牌。没牌就休想做药剂师，中医这行也开始往这种专业医药人士的方向走。以后，如果 Ed 要到其他国家工作的话，我又会变成量地官啰。这是我们之间最伤脑筋的问题。所以，要是我转行做一些国际性行业，不用考牌的，那就方便多了。

于是，我挖空脑袋想啊想的，做什么好呢？marketing? IT?　或者，卖什么好呢？最后，想起我一直想向洋人推广中医基本草药养生调养的概念。如，天气热时，喝凉茶。身体虚弱时，喝补药等。不过，在西方国家，如果没医学证明, 不可以乱‘吹嘘’，什么都有法律控制。很多中医经验暂时只被当成传统, 对他们来说是没医学证明的。加上他们对中医不了解，很难说明白。除非我有自己的中医馆时，不然现在还不是时候。

有趣的是，当我做市场调查时，发现喝茶最近很流行。洋人突然对茶，尤其是绿茶很有兴趣，主要是因为很多研究成果说绿茶有antioxidants, 对身体有益。于是，人人要喝茶，其他的种类的茶叶也变得热门起来。

多伦多一间以烹饪有名的学院　George Brown College 开办了 Tea Sommelier 的课程。Sommelier　多用在专业斟酒服务员上，即是对酒很有研究和受过训练的人。现在，茶这行业也开始需要受过训练的人。我觉得够特别，就去上课了。每堂课都要品赏不同的茶，很好玩的。

课上着上着，突然想到，倒不如就卖茶吧！没钱开茶馆，就开网上茶馆吧。也够国际性。只为兴趣，也为了提倡健康饮品。加上，身为华人，对茶还有点认识，应该不难。除了卖茶，也可以卖些花草茶，跟我的中医有关系，不错嘛。

I am quite busy recently. Well, a lady of leisure can be busy too 🙂

What am I busy with? To fill my days, I always try to come up with various ideas to keep myself busy. Lately, I am into learning how to start my own business. Still waiting for the visa application which is taking forever, and I can’t work but don’t want to keep asking money from my hubby, I figure that if I could own a small business, I will have more financial independence.

In addition to that, Ed’s job needs to travel when necessary, but mine is very restricted by the licencing of pharmacy profession of each country. It means I need to sit for exams whenever I go to a new country, like now in Canada. So, if Ed has job offer elsewhere, I will practically become jobless again, only if I pass all the required exams AGAIN in the new country. Being a Traditional Chinese herbalist will have the same problem too. This is a main issue for us. Either he changes his career or me. So, then I think, why not I try something completely different, something does not need licencing.

I think and think hard, what else can I do? Marketing? IT? or sell something? I then remember that I once had a vision, hoping to educate westerners about well-being maintenance by using some very mild Chinese herbs in everyday living. Most Chinese know how, it is built into our culture. For example, when the weather becomes very warm, we know we have to drink ‘cooling tea’ to help to balance heat. When we feel weak and tired, we know what herbs to cook to help nourish our bodies. However, due to the strict regulations in most developed countries, advertising these sort of ‘functions’ may fall into health claims which are not allowed, unless they are been proven clinically. Unfortunately, most Chinese herbal usage at home are not proven yet, and only remains as culture. Moreover, most westerners are still very new to Chinese medicine, some widely acceptable drink or soups Chinese use may take them some time to understand. So, I think, this idea does not work at this stage until I have my own Chinese medicine clinic.

Interestingly, when I was doing my market research, I noticed there is an increased trend of drinking tea, especially green tea in Canada. Mainly due to the many health benefits been proven in studies, especially the high content of antioxidants. More exposure to green tea, also promote more interests in other specialty tea.

Even George Brown College (which is famous for their culinary art courses) has started a Tea Sommelier Certificate course. Sommelier is more commonly used in hospitality staffs who are trained in wine knowledge and tasting, now obviously there is a need for such trained people in tea industry too. I found it fascinating, hence take the course and I love it ! 🙂

While attending the course, the idea of having my own tea business starts to come about. Well, I won’t have money to open my own tea shop, but I can start online, right? I don’t think I can earn any money, as Ed’s predicted, at least is for interest and for fun. I can easily throw in some special chinese herbal tea products, which is in line with my vision of promoting them eventually. Being a Chinese, I am exposed to tea since a very young age, so I hope it is not too hard for me. And, tea is seen as a healthy beverage also goes well with my profession. So, perfect !!

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再见夏天….Bye bye, Summer…

Bye bye summery beach days .....(Sandbank Park Beach)

好日子过得特别快。

夏天终于正式结束。

今天是秋天的第一天。

不过，这几天的天气特好。

虽不至于可以去沙滩晒太阳，

不过天天sunny, 二十度到二十三度左右，

坐在咖啡厅外喝咖啡看书最好。

Yesterday was the last day of summer, and today marks the official start of autumn (Torontonians call it Fall). The good times always fly much quicker than any other time, isn’t it?

Strangely, the weather for the last few days have been beautiful – sunny everyday, about 20-23 degree celcius each day. Though not good enough for a swim or a tan at the beach, it is definitely perfect for a cup of warm coffee at the patio. At least, this is the right temperature I like.

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异国中秋

最近几天，很多网友找‘中秋节’或 ‘happy mid-autumn festival’的文章时，无意间来到我这个部落。

每逢佳节倍思亲。如今，在外国生活或工作的华人越来越多。在中秋时节，上网看看其他华人如何在异国过中秋来解解乡愁是可以明白的。不知找到我这里来的网友多是哪里的朋友呢？看来，他们有点想家吧？

小时候的我很爱中秋- 吃月饼，点灯笼，玩腊烛游戏…马来西亚的中秋气氛还算浓厚。那么，现在的我呢？今天是中秋，我怎么在多伦多庆祝呢？

在多伦多，是没什么中秋气氛的。我是在去华人经营的杂货店买东西时，看到很多月饼，才惊觉中秋将近。 墨尔本的情况一样。不同的是，在墨尔本，我有很多华人朋友。有几年，刚好大家空闲时，会搞个中秋晚会或大吃会。

在多伦多，我们没有熟识的华人朋友。Ed的家人在这里住得久了，已没有庆中秋。

至于月饼，虽然我很爱吃（尤其是脆皮的上海月饼！），可也懒得买了。在墨尔本，有散卖的月饼，就算没和朋友庆中秋，我也会买一，两个来吃。这里呢，我没看到散卖的。要买就是必须整盒买。Ed不爱甜的食物，虽然我其实可以将整盒月饼一个人吃完。可是，才不敢呢！很怕自己变成大肥猪！看来，要等到下个周末，去Ed父母家吃饭时，我们才买一盒月饼一起吃吧。

今天中秋，虽有点冷清清，不过，我也习惯了。我和Ed呆在家里看电视，煮饭吃，悠闲自在，也很快乐。虽没月饼，没灯笼，我们一样有圆圆的月亮！

嗯…今晚，我必须记得摇个电话给妈妈！

还有，当然是祝大家中秋快乐！

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….it happened yesterday….

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