住院記

昨天因要做身體檢查的關係，第一次住進了醫院，雖然只短短24小時，但看到了很多、感受了很多...

因天下著大雨而我又不是因生病住院，所以叫家人不用送我，只約了agent便入了院，感覺像去retreat一樣。不說不知，現時私家醫院設備之完善令我驚訝，除了有專人接送病人來回病房及實驗室外，每張床位都有獨立LCD電視連耳筒，想早點睡的話便不怕電視聲騷擾了。

我住的是一間六人病房，其中三人都為身體不同位置的腫瘤而入院檢驗，她們的年紀相約，約60多歲，在住院的24小時裡，其中兩人的家人魚貫探望，跟拜年相差無幾。看見家人對他們的關懷，很替她們高興。

早前重看本地獨立電影導演陳虹03年的作品「搬屋」，片中記錄了一班居於牛頭角村的獨居長者被調遷期間的種種困難，發覺香港的獨居老人真的很可憐，政府給他們的支援不足，又被家人拋棄，那種舉目無親的情況很值得同情。

雖然鄰床的兩家人探病時製造了不少噪音，算了吧，我又無病！

童年雜絮:我的Twins舅父

前天剛跟我一對分別居於菲律賓及瑞士的Twins舅父Uncle G 及Uncle A 見面，我的Twins舅父是一對unidentical twins(異卵雙胞胎)，雖說是出自同一母胎，但他們的樣貌、性格甚至際遇各有不同，而他們給與我的童年回憶及影響也不一樣。

先說說Uncle G，他是出名的好好先生，有一子一女，少年時跟公公婆婆移居菲律賓，守著公公建立的生意至今。記得在我的初小的階段他在我家住過一段時間，最喜歡他帶我及姐姐去買宵夜，我們會拿著煲到家附近的粥檔買皮蛋瘦肉粥(很花樣年華feel)，最精彩的是在回家乘電梯時，Uncle G 會把電梯內的燈關掉，那時我跟姐姐已被嚇得大聲尖叫，當燈再亮起時，Uncle G 雙眼的下內眼皮已被他翻出來，遮住了他的眼珠!!每次看見他這樣，我跟姐姐都會被他逗得邊叫邊笑，十分過癮。

Uncle G 除了是我心目中的笑旦外，也是我默書不合格時的救星，因他會替我在紅色的分數旁簽名，勉勵一番，再替我向母親說好話，大恩大德，沒齒難忘！

Uncle A 在瑞士讀書工作近20年，單身貴族，對生活要求很高。他是我的fashion and beauty icon：小時候第一次見人用旁氏冷霜、第一次知道contact lens這發明(每次他換con我總會在旁靜心欣賞)、第一次見人著Campers、第一次知道香水不只是女性的心頭好，但他對我影響最深的莫過於我第一次知道書並不一定要在香港讀，看見他每次從瑞士、巴黎等地寄回來的照片，刺激了我的留學夢。

感謝天父我的留學夢實現了，不知已步入中年的Uncle G及Uncle A還有夢想嗎？現在我的一舉一動又會影響誰呢？

童年雜絮:我的父親母親

突然想記下一些兒時的回憶:

~讀幼稚園時父親常帶我看戲，其中有一幕仍印象深刻：看的是一齣國內紀錄片，電影中主角正接受注射，當針一刺進主角手臂時，年幼的我同情心大發，突然大聲哭出來，打破了全場的寂靜，嚇壞身邊的父親

~爸爸曾從事日本時裝生意，每次到日本出trip後必會買手信給我和姐姐，有珠珠耳環、日本娃娃，及各式各樣的零食...每次都很期待他早點回來

~為搏得爸媽一抱，小時候我會在客廳裝作睡著，等他們把我抱入房

~很喜歡跟媽媽睡，父親一出埠便會把自家床上用品搬到爸媽房，享受媽媽的鼻鼾聲，到現在亦然

Snow Cake

Last night I watched the closing film for this year's HKIFF, "Snow Cake". It was the best among the films I watched this year. It's about the friendship between an autistic woman played by Sigourney Weaver and a man who was considered to be cold and just got out of prison.

Love, acceptance, forgiveness and stereotyping were the messages from the movie. I also enjoy the humor from the movie, especially the part Alex and Linda played scramble...that was hilarious.

Griefing over her daughter's death, Linda used a very special way to express her feeling, she listened to a song which she and her daughter both loved. But her out of the ordinary way of griefing wasn't accepted by others. Ironically, that's how it is in the real world.

One good show!

Being single...

Be honest, it's been some years since I broke up with my ex. In the last few years, there're some ups and downs. Right after we broke up, I was quite relieved because having a long distance relationship wasn't easy at all. I'd never worried about not having another boyfriend.

As time goes by, I met some nice guys...they all helped me to know myself better and brought me to a world which I've never been. However, I didn't have any relationship with them...we're just close friends. Some faded away but some I have became good friends with til' now.

Many friends and relatives at my age got married or getting married and the questions pop up....Do you feel pressured? Are you worried of not meeting the right one? When will you settle down? blah..blah...blah.... The answer is: I don't know! I think I can prepare myself to walk into a relationship again and I think I'm ready to settle down...but the main point is:I have no control over when that right person will show up... I admit that from time to time I feel lonely and wanting to have someone by my side.

Someone told me to lower my criteria in searching for the right guy but I just can't. The main reason is that I don't think I have high standards... I am not looking for a handsome and rich guy, I just want someone who can make me laugh and loves me truely. The other thing is that if I have to be with someone who I don't love totally, I would rather be single. I don't think I want to settle for less. I only want to marry someone who I really love and we can share all the ups and downs in our lives. I won't marry just anyone because I need someone to take care of me when I'm old. This is clear...I won't do that!

Up til' this minute, I still have faith in God....He will bring him to me at His right time. So don't worry about me, friends!!

David Tao...WOW!!

今天晚上剛看完陶吉吉演唱會,很久沒有看到一場這樣有質素的concert，由一開始便投入其中，燈光、音樂、rundown及特備的短片全都配合得恰到好處, 陶吉吉的歌聲，樂迷的反應令到整場concert高潮迭起。

我特別喜歡當中unplug及扮Barry Gibb的部份，充分發揮他的歌唱特點。香港是陶吉吉世界巡迴演唱會其中一站，製作費超過五百萬，台上的舊直昇機也值數十萬台幣，相信香港的製作單位很少會作出如此大投資。

其實在四年前已開始留意這位音樂人，一首「愛很簡單」令人一聽難忘，然後知道陶吉吉是一位基督徒後，更留意他藉音樂帶來的訊息，發覺他對音樂很執著；他可以花2年做一唱片，而他亦常常藉音樂及文字帶出愛的訊息，在黑色柳丁的大碟裡他用文字及音樂帶出了911事件對他的影響及重新以音樂作為事奉神的工具。

他沒有hardsell宗教但能令留心他音樂的人思考人生及帶來正面的價值觀，小眾常掛信仰在唇邊的信徒應效法之。

Tramway

Ever since I was a kid, I loved trams. I used to live in North Point and I took the tram to schools every day. Even on weekends, I would take a long tram ride from Shaukeiwan to Kennedy Town. I think it's amazing to ride on something which has over 100 years' history.

Imagine you're on a tram in Central, with all the buses and people rushing by on the road but you're kinda crawling on the tramway with no rush at all....it's a great feeling!! I also fell in love with the tram's appearance....the green colour coating and wooden seats with big windows.... wonderful!

My favourite tram is the no.120 tram. It has the 1950's double-deck design with wooden window frames.....hope they'll keep it forever. Some years ago, they had this so called "new style" tram....Man! I hated them....I'm glad they don't replace the old ones. ..Also I still insist in putting the $2 fare in the box rather than using the octopus...it just ruin the whole journey.

HKIFF_The Producer

Last night I watched the first HKIFF show...The Producer....first show this year and first time at Tamar Site (and should be the last!) It was quite an experience! How many times you can look at the screen with skyscrappers on the back? How many times you got to smell gasoline while watching a movie? I don't think it's common to hear sirens as the background music!!

It was a very funny show....The first 90 minutes were the best part of the show....I especially liked the part when Leo got hysterical without his "blue blanket".....but what impressed me the most was when Leo realized it's time for him to fulfill his dream as a broadway producer...he quitted it's job as a APA and joined Max in the broadway business.

It reminds me of what I did last summer...quitted my teaching job and started a whole new career....not easy at the beginning but thanks to my friends' and family's support, it's been a rewarding 8 months....learning lots of new things, meeting many new friends, but most importantly I can do what I like to do.....no need to drag myself to work everday...enjoy every moment with the happy couples...I thank God for that.

Get set....go!!

I have always wanted to have my own blog...tried once months ago...but didn't keep it up.... But then I figured...I write diaries anyway.....and also it's a good way to share my thoughts with my close friends.... so here I am!

Keep it up..Karen!