请到我新部落坐坐 ‘Blog-warming’ Notice

拖拖拉拉地，我的‘新家’总算弄好了。

有空请到新部落坐坐。 地址是 : shirlschong.com ， 英文版是 : shirlschong.com/en 。

这里不会更新了。

希望在我的新家见到你们啦！:)

Have been procrastinating, yet, finally things are kind of ready at my new blog.

Please come to say hello. My new blog address is shirlschong.com . By default, it is its Chinese version, please go to the English version at shirlschong.com/en .

I will no longer update this blog.

Hope to see you there ! 🙂

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部落将搬家

啊，最近很忙。忙着为这个部落搬家。

其实，懂得网页整理和设计的人，可能一，两天就可弄好。可是，我从来没学过网络，看着那么多的technical terms 和 codes, 还真是摸不着头脑。小小一件事，都做不成，常常碰钉子，什么都出问题。

我啊， 性格固执又不认输，即使不眠不休，也要学一学。所以，天天十多个小时在网上不停阅读，不停尝试。没人可问，唯有参加很多网上论坛。令我感激的是，很多人都很愿意分享知识。真难得。

一个多星期了，终于开始摸出些头绪。嘻嘻，你现在问我一些简单的css, php, plugin, MySQL, loop, 等问题，我可能可以答得出来。连Ed这个网络老手，也开始不知道我在说什么。哈哈。

不过，我现在的黑眼袋又大又深。

嗯，等我解决一些技术上的问题，再过多一，两天，应该就可以了。花了很多时间来研究一些很专业的网页。到头来，我还是决定用回和这个很相似的设计。简单，就好。

等部落新家装饰好了，一定通知大家 ！ 🙂

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Friends, need your brain cells !

As I mentioned in my previous post, I wish to move this blog to a new domain. One day, I suddenly found my stuffs here are a little messy, moving will force me to re-organise them.

Also, I have been thinking of having a theme in my blog. I personally like blogs that have themes, for example, my favouraite blog theme is FOOD ! Heehee….There is always a reason to go back to that blog to find good food. Though I love food, I don’t want to manage a food blog. Just the thought of a food blog already makes me feel like I have gained some weights ! Haha !

I enjoy writing down my daily whining and blah-blah-blah. However, over the past 2 years, somehow I have evolved from writinng a blog only focusing on myself, to hoping to focus my enery in writing something I think will be useful for people, yet still maintain a nice personal touch. Otherwise, we can always go to many professional websites about certain topics.

So, for the past few days, I have been thinking – what am I really passionate about? What is that something I can give back?  Travel and life as an immigrant in two countries….I guess. This is something I have been doing for the past 15 years. Maybe, by sharing more stories about living (well) in other countries will help some immigatants or give some lights to those who wish to do the same.　You reckon?

It is also about time for me to sit down and write all my backpacking and trekking experiences. And of course, food still within this category – travel and looking for good food, immgrant looking for homely food. Three in one.Yay !

Umm…so, theme is immigrant’s life and travel. What do you think? What do you like the most in this blog? I guess I have been doing this here anyway, just need to be more focus?

However, the headache is, what domain name I want ? I think and think and think, but still can’t think of a good name. My friends, may I borrow some of your brain cells and creativity.

• shirls.com – taken.
• msshirls.com – too chessy. Ed said, it sounds like a lingerie company !
• xuefen.com – taken.
• sihai.com – taken
• shirlschong.com – how’s this? Out of this list, I guess this is the most logical one?
• 2worlds3homes.com – umm…what do you think? I do live in 2 different worlds (east & west) constantly, and I do have 3 homes. But what if Ed and I move to another country, which is highly possible ! 🙂
• shirleychong.com – taken.
• whinywifey. com – heehee…this is only for fun. I like this because I am whiny. But it does not reflect my blog identity. It is more like a desperate housewife blog! So, it is NO.

Does anyone have any suggestion? Could you help me think of a cool, simple, easy to remember domain name? Please feel free to leave many comments and suggestions for me !

Last but not least, I think most of you who read my blog are bilingual readers anyway, right? So, I am thinking probably I should just write in Chinese intead of both languages. What do you think?

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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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雪(和)人的欣喜

家附近的雪人

最近，伦敦下了一场18年来难得一见的大雪。世界各国的报章和电视新闻都长篇报道。 我的伦敦朋友也在Facebook贴上很多照片，其中雪人最受欢迎。

这场雪虽为伦敦带来很多不便，可是人人欣喜若狂。我和Ed在电视上看大人小孩们眉开眼笑地抛雪球，堆雪人，滑雪，玩toboggan…我们也笑了。真的这么快乐吗？这里冰天雪地，我们见怪不怪，天天抱怨。

快乐这回事真的是相对的。

记得，我在多伦多看第一场大雪时，何尝不是一样欣喜若狂…

现在，窗外正下着雪．．．

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考试倒数 Exam Countdown

当全世界在倒数新年时，我则倒数我的考试。尝试不去多想，只想给自己一个无忧无虑的假期。还好，倒是真的很享受和家人朋友的美好时光。 现在，要回来奋斗了！只剩下十天左右！雪芬，加油！

朋友们，祝我好运吧！

While the world was counting down for new year, I was counting down for my exams. Tried not to think about it, and told myself I deserved a restful and joyful holidays, so I did. I had my share of wonderful times and dinners with family and friends (hope you all too), and now, I am back to study. The exams will be held in less than 10 days !!!

Wish me luck, my friends… 🙂

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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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Cell, mobile or hand?

Spending 3 months in Malaysia and Australia respectively this year, and now that I am in Canada, I have to admit, sometimes, I feel like a very ‘confused’ lady, regardless where I am.

Well, the story begins when I realise I use different words to describe the same thing. Then, I get confused and people around me, either don’t quite understand me or get confused too.

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近况 What Have I Been Up To

循慧沁要求，和已很久没摇电话回家，让我先报告近况吧。

回来多伦多有两个多星期了。虽离开了半年有多，一切都是那么地熟悉。除了，刚开始时，我记不清公共交通路线，下错站一，两次外，这里一切如常。Ed还是老样子，家里摆饰一点也没变。感觉上，好像从来没离开过。唯一最不同的是，现在是夏天，路上没雪，不用穿得胖嘟嘟的。

刚抵多伦多的第一星期，Ed刚好病了，我则努力跟时差战斗。加上，那时天天有雨，Ed拿了病假，我俩在家看戏和呼呼大睡。很幸运的是，我们看的戏都很不错。有，Helen Miren 的Elizabeth I 短剧，Juno, La En Vie Rose 等。当然，还跑去看新鲜热辣的 Wall-E。很棒！

第二个星期，天气转晴，阳光普照。Ed病好了，我则不再半夜眼睛张大大或下午打磕睡。加上是加拿大国庆 (上图），Ed有四天假，我俩和家人朋友聚聚，到处逛逛 ，也见证了加拿大人热爱阳光的一面。

现在，第三个星期，日子终于恢复’正常’。Ed去上班，我在家里悠闲，上网和朋友聊天，做做家务，写写部落…. 其实，有很多事情要办，如：找新公寓搬家，办药剂公考手续，准备考试，等等。都在做着，只是进展不大。唉 ！

As per request from friends, and since I have not been calling home recently, let me briefly update what I have been up to.

I have been back to Toronto for more than two weeks now. Although I have been away for half a year, interestingly, I still remember the details of this city. Only when I was lost and got off at the wrong subway station has reminded me that I have been away for a while. Other than that, things are the same – Ed remains the same (haha, yup 😉 ) , and there isn’t much changes in our home, I feel as if I have never left here. Oh yes, the only one huge difference is, there is no traces of snow on the street, and I don’t have to wear layers of clothing anymore. Yay!

The first week I arrived Toronto, I was struggling with jetlag and Ed was sick. He took a sickie and the weather was rainy, so we stayed home, either watched movies or just slept like a baby. The good thing is, most movies we watched (like Helen Mirren’s Elizabeth I short series, Juno, La En Vie Rose, and of course the new absolute gem from Pixar – Wall-E) are pretty cool. So, we were happy.

The second week, the weather turned fabulous, clear and sunshine. Ed had recovered and I wasn’t sleepy during the day anymore, plus it was Canada Day long weekend （pictures above), we finally ventured out from home.  We caught up with family and friends, walked around downtown, and I saw the summer madness here.

Now, entering my third week here, life is getting back to ‘normal’. Ed goes to work five days a week as usual, and I stay home doing not too much, cleaning, cooking, surfing, chatting online, blogging (finally) ….yup, doing them ‘leisurely’ too. Frankly, I have a long to-do-list and plenty of plans, for example, looking for new apartment to move, sending application for Pharmacy Registration exams, preparing the exams and etc. Well, I am trying hard to work on them, but procrastinatingly, as usual…..

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巨型万花筒 Gigantic kaleidoscope

整理照片时，看到以上的照片。是我在Nuit Blanche见到了一个超巨型的万花筒时拍下的。

记得小时候，很喜欢万花筒。它小小的。我一手拿着，一手在另一端转呀转的，单只眼睛看呀看的。总是很好奇，它是怎样变出那么多花样。

我想，那个巨型万花筒有高约一公尺，宽约一公尺，长约两，三公尺。长大了，虽知道它基本的原理，可还是难掩孩童的惊喜。还以为我大乡里，还好很多人也是如此。我好不容易挤到了最前面，站在那赖死不走了十分钟。。身后面的人可能恨透了我。 我看得眼花撩乱，好像进了个千变万花的世界。

我拍呀拍的，定要拍下那一纵而过美丽的霎那….

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两人四部电脑 Two Persons Four Computers

这一，两天忙着修整我那部老远从澳洲运来的宝贝IMAC。

这IMAC很旧了，卖不了多少钱，也不舍得卖，所以就运来了。

最近，因常各个国家到处跑，没电脑很不方便，我买了部便宜的laptop。

在多伦多，Ed已有了两部电脑 。

昨天才说环保，今天惊觉我们家两个人却有四部电脑！！

IMAC 还没到前，Ed晚上回来家时，他坐在desktop 前，我坐在laptop 前（左图)，各自上网。

现在，我的IMAC到了，更糟！我们各有各的电脑书桌。

晚上，就坐在厅的两个角落各自对着电脑。

妈有点担心，问我们是否还有和彼此说话。

哈！ 当然有啦。

尽管如此，我还是觉得这种生活有点荒诞 ！

For the past few days, I have been busy with setting up and reorganising files in my IMAC from Australia. This IMAC is quite old, not worth too much to sell, and it has lots of sentimental values. Hence I decided to ship it to here.

Ed already has a laptop and a desktop in Toronto. Including my recent purchase of a laptop for my frequent travels, we have a total of four computers at home now ! I was just talking about environmental issues yesterday and today I realised we have four computers for only two persons !

Before the arrival of my IMAC, when Ed came home from work, he would sit in front of his desktop and I would continue sitting in front of his laptop. We would surf online most nights. Now, my IMAC is here, it is even worse ! Now, we have our own desks for our own computers. So, we sit at separate corners surfing at night.

My mother is worried and wonder if we still talk to each other. Haa ! Yeah. Of course, we still do talk! Nonetheless, what a ridiculous lifestyle we have !

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Portrait – One Dollar Each 一元一张肖像

两个小孩在Kensington Market 摆档。画一张肖像只需一元。生意很好呢！:)

Two young kids are having their little art stall in Kensington Market. Only one dollar per portrait. There is a long line up 🙂

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3 Questions

（Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the click for English translation ) 最近飞得频密。每到一个城市，与朋友见面喝茶时，朋友都会问以下三个问题 ：

1. 你这次从哪里来？
2. 你将去哪里?
3. 你这次来此是为什么？

我的答案通常如下：

1. 加拿大，马来西亚或澳洲
2. 如上
3. 见家人，见男友，工作，为学业或转机

我飞得有点累了。开始期望比较有规律的生活。

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Home again

又回到马来西亚老家了。

昨天刚抵步。可已被炎热和潮湿的天气熏得头疼疼的。

离墨尔本前，太担心卖不出我的宝贝桥车和天天忙着见朋友说再见，没时间睡得好。

现在，车卖出了，没什么挂心的。墨的一切终算告一段落。现在决心要好好地休息 😉

I am home again in Malaysia.

Just arrived yesterday but already suffered from headache due to the hot weather.

I could not sleep well and did not have enough time to sleep in Melbourne before I left. This was because I was too worried about my car sale and was too busy catching up with friends to say goodbye.

Now, everything in Melbourne is more or less properly wrapped up. Without any worries, relaxing in Kuala Lumpur at this moment, I determined to sleep well and enjoy the rest 😉

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My ‘Baby’ For Sale

五年了，依依不舍．．．

Already five years, very reluctant sale ….

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