Energizer...

After leaving my car Raphael to the panel beater on Monday morning, I expected boredom in this week, basically because I can’t attend the dance classes… :(

Ok, let me work on the late shift so that my colleague could go out for dinner with her sweetheart.  … but I didn’t expect the scheduled appointments were postponed.  A day of work until 2000… oh no!!!

Is that my destiny to lead a busy life packed with various things to do?!

It’s a time to cheer myself up by a good breakfast with proper coffee before work.   Hahaha… yes… eggs, I love eggs… plus smoked salmon on the toast.  I always think that ‘cats’ should eat more fish; but somehow I can’t really think of any particular dishes related to fish.

I don’t prefer going to chain cafés, with little confidence in their quality.  But no choice in my suburb (sigh!)   Wow, unexpectedly today’s cup was a good one: well-prepared froth with nutty flavour of my cappuccino.

That really acted as an energizer of my day.

@ Jamaica Blue

Since the start of this term, there have been students with various issues, some are happy while others are not.  I am glad because they are willing and trustful in sharing with me their happiness and sadness.  Sometimes and somehow it’s really good to behave like a cat: sometimes playful..... 

relax and play....

Just like a crime scene... :D

 sometimes serious.

Well, don't be so serious.  You are sitting on my scanner... too heavy for it!! XD

I’d also concentrate on my writing work… can’t really accept my occasional laziness.  I thought not many people watched my articles.  But I was wrong.  At least there’s a lady telling me last week that she’s been my fan for a while.  Just checked it yesterday the click rate is 80,000+… Wow… what a surprise!!!  People occasionally ask me when I like writing.  I don’t know… I really don’t know…I just feel like that… crazy though!

... In times when I'm tired, frustrated and exhausted, I really need some energizers.  These can be a cup of coffee or tea, and more importantly, those who ....

... need me

Oh no... they are all slimmer than me!!!!! >.<

 

Chinese Valentine's Day

今天朋友提醒，才知道是中國的情人節－元宵節。

不知我的家人和朋友有沒有吃湯圓?! 

希望各位團團圓圓，開開心心。

Happy Chinese Valentine's Day!

@ Coco Espresso, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Have a sweet Valentine's Day!

   

Home-made Coffee

Rainy day … not much mood in visiting cafés in this weather.  I know I shouldn’t complain because Sydney has already had more sunny days than Hong Kong.
 

The other day, my flatmate asked me what that ‘glass stuff’ was for.  I promised to make her a cup of coffee on a Saturday/Sunday morning.  Well, today isn’t a good day for cafés.  So… 

When I opened the cabinet in the kitchen, suddenly I found the beans roasted and brought for me by Laikwan in the trip last year.  My big sister, I miss you!! The beans are well-sealed, hopefully don’t lose the flavor.

Oh, no...need to change the filter cloth next time!

I haven’t made any siphon coffee for a while. 

For my flatmate, it was her first time to try siphon coffee but she liked the coffee. Me too.  There’s hardly any bitterness but strong sweet after-taste.  Love this cup.  Thanks, Laikwan!!!!

Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny... more sunshine and blue sky.  My kids like the sun too (really love the smell of their hair after sunbathing!!!!) 

...  more sunshine, more sunshine, more sunshine... :D

Cup of Excellence最好的一杯

有人問我，在悉尼喝到最好的一杯是在哪咖啡廳，我會答說：是這裡，是跟他們一起喝…

  

@ Eling Forest Winery - 12587 Hume Highway, Sutton Forest NSW 2577 (Southern Highlands) 

今天是我在這兒工作剛過一年，移居這兒也差不多兩年，苦苦酸酸，點滴在心頭。猶記得在未找到工作以前，日子最難過，太多太多的未知數，有幾回，摟著貓咪在哭。找房子的時候，更難，明正言順的道明我有貓咪，遭到很不禮貌的對待，我在想：到底這兒是不是很不能接受寵物的?! 

有人跟我說，倒不如把牠們送去保護動物協會… 不行!!! 牠們是我的家人，無數快樂與憂傷的日子，牠們都伴在我身旁。They are my family!  To me, they might be part of my life; but to them, I am their whole. I should keep my loyal life promise to them!!!

I love you, my kids~!

找工作也出奇的難，碰碰撞撞；有幾回，朋友都問我要不要考慮回香港，不要留在這裡。我可沒有想過，或者，年長了，所追求的事物跟前很不一樣。

在工作很艱難的子，甚至是在感情上的跌碰中，我真真正正的感受到自己的福份；原來，我是那麼幸福，有這麼多朋友沿途上的支持，更有些人跟我說，我是在活出他們所想但不能的，他們的夢想。

有人問我，為什麼很努力的寫blog, update Facebook，我想，我的確很想讓你們知道，我活得很好。

最近有位朋友跟我說，她佷羨慕我，有很多朋友。她很愛看西洋占星，說我像個典型得不得了的天秤座女生－像一條黑色的打底褲(black legging)… What’s that?! 她說是「百搭」的意思… 呵呵呵!!!

對，我的的確確是很幸福，除了可以繼續做跟以前類似的工作外，還有剩餘的時間，走訪咖啡店、看日落、約朋友，還有時間maintain兩個blogs。

朋友們，第一次，當我看到自己的blog click rate過了1,000時，第一位不認識的朋友跟我說她是我忠實粉絲時，我在想，慶幸我選擇離開香港，才有這麼多的時間寫作。

感謝一切你們給我做的，支持我的！

Thanks for all the gifts you sent me and the 17 groups of friends visiting me since I moved here.  I am looking forward to the 18^th group!! Hahahahaha :)

I love you all!!!!!!!!! 

This was the last day my car Michael was with me.  My friends, thanks for all your concern and worries about me in the car accident... Fortunately, I was alright!

Coffee break in a difficult week

This is a tough week in work.  Facing a DV case with suicidal ideation is something unexpected.  I really need some refreshment and relaxation.  When I was thinking I should have a coffee break, a lady dropped into my office, giving me a bag of coffee powder she brought from her trip to Vietnam.  I was deeply touched. 

The first time when I was touched by the students was the second day after my last car was seriously smashed.  They said, ‘Everyday when we see you, you carry a big smile.  But today you don’t.  There must be something wrong.’  I didn’t know they noticed and cared about me.  My lovely students!!

Ok, let me have a cup of pour-over hand-drip coffee.  It’s very bitter but refreshing!!

An hour of Zouk dance was something really relaxing.  When shall I be able to dance as smooth as other upper level students? Heehee… I like the studio very much.  It faces a park which I like very much. Okay, let me have a walk after the class.

Happy birds at the park

It’s amazing.  Suddenly I thought what would I be if I were not to cancel the trip to San Jose.  I should probably have been graduated from San Jose State Uni for the course and stay in California?  Then the story would totally be different!

Oh just found that this photo has the moon :) @ The University of Sydney

Lord,

Though I am not a regular churchgoer, I remember to pray to you, especially keeping those I care in my most sincere prayers.  I count on Your for all the arrangements.  There must be some meanings.  I believe all the bitter pieces of my life will eventually bring about sweet after-taste.   

Please bestow me with special blessings for wisdom in my work and friends’ circles.  I don’t yearn for prestige and care not how small my role is.  I hope I can bring hopes and smiles to them, especially in hopeless situations.   

Special blessings to the ladies I saw these days facing single-parenthood and their innocent children.

Lord, hear my prayer~!

My students, my door is always opened for you.

Hope all of you will benefit from this.

Sometimes we need a bit sense of humour when facing difficulties.  There will always be sunny days after rainy ones.