愿祝圣诞快乐 ! Wish You All Merry Christmas !

圣诞娃娃

昨晚，我一边包圣诞礼物，一边在自言自语．．．．

记得，约十年前，我药剂行的澳洲洋人老板问我，“你是华人，不庆祝圣诞的，对吗？你是佛教徒，不庆祝圣诞的，对吗？那你在圣诞当天上班一定没问题吧?＂这哪是问我，简直是要我内疚，要我上班　（注：我是那间药剂行唯一的亚裔药剂师。那间药剂行365天都开足13个小时）。

我心里算一算，“哗！十三个小时，双倍工钱，即可赚二十六小时的工钱。划算划算。”　那时，我刚大学毕业，穷，又要学人储钱旅行，傻。我假装推迟一下，就答应下来了。反正，我是真的不庆祝圣诞的。接下来的五，六年，我的圣诞都是在店铺里过，从早上七点到晚上十点。我一点都不在意，顾客很少，很空闲，不难挨过。

一直到四年前，圣诞还是与我无关。没想到，现在，圣诞突然变得这么重要　－圣诞树， 礼物，卡片，火鸡，团圆，假期，派对，还有白雪飘飘。

人生一个转弯，有些重要的好像变得不重要了，不重要的好像开始重要起来．．．．

今早起来，我忘了昨晚思考的问题，匆匆赶去预定两个蛋糕 – 一个要带去明晚朋友家的派对，一个要带去圣诞晚Ed大家族的团圆晚餐。今天不预定，明天一定卖清光！26日晚，和Ed父母吃饭要带的已准备．．．．

愿祝大家圣诞快乐！

Christmas Dinner

Last night, I was talking to myself while I was wrapping Christmas presents….

I still remember vividly how my boss asked me to work on Christmas Day. It was about 10 years ago, ‘Shirley, you are a Chinese, Chinese doesn’t celebrate Christmas, right? You are a Buddhist, Buddhist does not celebrate Christmas, right? So, I think you are the best person to work on Christmas Day !’ Since I was the only Asian in the pharmacy, and he was right about a Chinese Buddhist (plus as a immigrant whose family is in Malaysia) does not celebrate Christmas.

So, I accepted the offer. Well, who won’t? The shop opened on Christmas Day for 13 hours, and I got paid double. In fact, being a poor newly graduate who dreamed of saving for travel, I felt grateful to have the shift ! Since then, my boss never failed to give me the Christmas shift and all my Christmas for the following 5 or 6 years were spent in the pharmacy from 7am to 10pm. Frankly, I did not mind at all. The pharmacy was normally quiet on Christmas Day and it was not a difficult shift.

It was not until 4 years ago, I stopped working on Christmas Day. Prior to that, Christmas was just another day for me. I am surprised to realise that it has suddenly become important in my life – the Christmas tree, Christmas presents, the turkey, Christmas parties, family gathering, holiday, Christmas cards,  and the previously unthinkable White Christmas. I have them all now.

Life is interesting, just a small twist and turn, previously important things are no longer important, and what never appeared important has suddenly play an important role in my life….

Woke up this morning, totally forgot what I was pondering last night, I rushed to Loblaws to order two cakes – one for tomorrow night Christmas Eve dinner with friends, one for Christmas Day dinner with Ed’s extended family.  I know if I don’t order today, I will have trouble getting the cakes I want tomorrow. And we have already prepared what we want to bring for 26th dinner with Ed’s parents….

Merry Christmas to you all !!!

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The Secret Ingredient (Kung Fu Panda)

I had headcold these two days, had enough of study, hence decided to give myself a rest last night, and watched the Kung Fu Panda.

Interestingly, found this movie quite philosophical, or just me, trying to be philosophical in everything. No wonder Ed can’t stand me ! 😉

x     x     x     x     x

‘Son, I think it is time that I should tell you something I should have told you long ago.’ Panda’s father continued, ‘There is no secret ingredient in our noodles.’

‘No secret ingredient? Not even some kind of sauce or something?’

‘No, no secret ingredient. You just have to believe it is special! ‘

With this new realisation, Panda went on to become the great dragon warrior, who loves to eat and still capable of defeating the evil Tai Lung.

x     x     x     x     x

How often do we believe we are  special? Special in our own way, and accomplish something only we can accomplish, in our own way…

And how often do we believe other people are special too? Just like how the master Shifu and his other followers eventually come to trust Panda is very special, so, he can accomplish only what he can accomplish, in his own way….

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Beijing Olympic : Good or Bad?

photo from New York Times

Okay. I have just finished watching the Olympic Opening. It is indeed a mix bag of feelings.

It is absolutely a spectacle. Being a Chinese myself, though not born in China, I am proud and amazed to see such dazzling opening ceremony China has put up. However, while I was watching, back in my mind, I inevitably think of the issues of pollution, human rights, and all things between that I read and hear day in and day out here.

Curious of what other people think, I went online.  And I am shocked by the amount of negativity out there (mainly from the western world) for China.

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古怪天气 The weather is weird…

(Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation)

这一，两天，好多了。鼻没那么塞，可以顺畅呼吸了。真开心！

其实，想得仔细些，着凉事小，只是发牢骚。可是古怪气候令人担心。戈尔最近因在温室效应的努力拿了半个诺贝尔和平奖。撇开政治不谈，环保问题又开始被关注。

在此, 我想谈谈我自己的经验和观察。先谈多伦多。据天文气象计算，秋天约在９月２１日正式降临多伦多。可是在过去的几个星期，气温却多像夏天的气候, 有时高至三十度。在网上查到，过去几年的同一天的平均温度约在15至18度。至到这几天天气突然变冷，才较像秋天的天气。

我去年的圣诞在多伦多过，还以为会是白色的。怎知，那天，阳光普照。第一场雪在12月28日才下。听说，这几年来，多伦多的圣诞节已不再是白色。去年冬天，天气一向较温和及较少下大雪的温哥华竟下了好几场暴风雪，成为新闻头条。有许多房屋被破坏了，因为那儿的房屋建时没想到会下暴风雪。苦了那边的人。曾读到一篇调查，加拿大人愿意缓慢强劲的经济以捕救令人担心的环境问题。

记得去年, 当我将要去香港和回澳洲时, 先和香港及墨尔本朋友通电话以安排行程。问起他们那里的天气如何时，得到的答案都是- 这里的天气有点怪。总结一句：该冷时不冷，该热时不热。我在香港时，湿度高达90巴仙。难怪我朋友的妈妈在香港有风湿病，在澳洲时就没有。

澳洲这几年来都面对旱灾和可怕的森林大火。怎知，约在今年七月左右，突然下了好几场豪雨。水坝水位上升了，是一件好事。可是，豪雨却带来水灾，也是一个来得措手不及， 苦了人民。

唉！我们不需要他人告诉我们全球变暖等问题，我们多留意身边的气候环境就可知道。到头来，哪管那些政治人物或其他人大吵大闹，面对温室效应的恶果的是我们这些小市民。制止大商家减少二氧化碳很重要 ，但努力也要从我们开始。

我喜欢屋子光亮亮的，爱把灯都开了。Ed常骂我浪费电源。 我在澳洲学会节俭用水，Ed则说加拿大有很多水，我就骂他不会居安思危。怎样都好，至少我俩常提醒彼此要节省资源。

希望大家也各自警惕吧！ 各自一点棉力是可以积少成多的。

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Monday – My Travel Day : 繁华及寂寞的香港 Bustling and Lonely Hong Kong

(Dear English readers, please scroll down for English translation)

四月就来了。拖延了一些日子，也是时候要好好计划一下五月回澳洲完成我的硕士课程。回澳时，会路经香港，该会在那逗留几天 （当然也会顺道回马一两个星期）。

想起来，这次是我第五次去香港了。 如果，澳洲不算，香港也是我开始旅行的第一站。自那开始，香港常常是我去其他国家旅行的转机地点， 包括接下来这次。

我第一次去香港是在1997年年尾。犹记得，那是因为经历了不顺心的大学第一年，后来在第二年发奋图强后，终于顺利过关时，拿很节俭储蓄来的钱去旅行， 来奖励自己。

我也不多想，就决定去香港。主要原因是，那时，香港刚回归中国几个月。 我想做一做历史见证人 – 把97年的香港看一看，希望三年五载后，会再去看一看它的转变。加上，自小，我看香港电影电视看得多，很好奇这个地方， 和它的风俗人情。于是，那年，拿起背包，游了香港十天。

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