Having spent the day wandering around the Chi Lin Nunnery and the Kowloon Walled City Park, we were ravenous. We headed back to TST and found a random Chinese noodle place. No Chinese tea apparently, which we could well-believe in light of the boiled-water flavour of the insipid looking complimentary green tea on our table. No tea leaves left, it would seem.
I ordered 'milk tea with no milk', instead. As usual. It's not black tea, it's milk tea. With no milk.
I ordered veggies in oyster sauce which were delicious and simple, along with a plate of sea blubber and pig's knuckle. I was seeking excitement and difference and found, instead, surprising ordinariness. It was like something from a cold meat platter in a posh English person's house. Not bad tasting, in fact it was delicious and I took away what I couldn't eat, it just was not what I expected.
Sometimes things are not what I expect. Sometimes this is wonderful. Sometimes it is not. I guess I'm not very good at knowing what will make me happy. The sea blubber and pig's knuckle made me happy. I wonder what else might make me happy. I wonder which of those things I am tempted to turn away from, would actually make me very happy indeed. I wonder.
the random ponderings of an ordinary person
Monday 29 March 2010
Thursday 25 March 2010
Barefoot is best
I love bare feet. I dislike wearing shoes.
Recently a friend told me about barefoot running so I checked it out. I found this interesting video on YouTube.
Anyone fancy a go, let me know and we'll find somewhere to run. Incidentally I'd also quite like to try a run of more than an hour with someone sometime, just to see what I am capable of.
Recently a friend told me about barefoot running so I checked it out. I found this interesting video on YouTube.
Anyone fancy a go, let me know and we'll find somewhere to run. Incidentally I'd also quite like to try a run of more than an hour with someone sometime, just to see what I am capable of.
Dance the way I feel
I've been uplifted in so many wonderful ways in the last 12 hours. I've been finding a few things difficult of late and really struggling, so I started meditating more - guess, in my own way, it's a modern version of the old school prayer that I was brought up with.
I went to a friend's concert last night in a beautiful Cathedral about 40 minutes walk from the flat. She sings in a Gospel choir and the vibe was incredible. Almost made me want to turn Gospel, just to join in that joyful and uplifting music. Rest assured I was smiling, clapping and seat-dancing the whole way through. There were moments that made me cry though, of course: Bridge Over Troubled Water will always get me, each and every time. I don't think it is sadness though. I think it is the beauty of the words. And perhaps also the recognition of how human I am and how much I need love and support in my life.
When you're weary / Feeling small / When tears are in your eyes / I will dry them all / I'm on your side / When times get rough
It's all we need isn't it? Someone to be on our side. Someone to hold us when we're feeling small, or tired, or lonely.
I woke this morning to more. An email from a beautiful friend of mine. I didn't realise until she sent me a long email how much I missed her.Her words made me feel close to her, made me feel part of her life. I also had another long email from someone else I love, with a random photo attached of a headless hammer (that he'd somehow managed to break) and a brilliant music track that most people have probably heard of, but not me: Ou est le swimming pool, Dance the way I feel. I did. I admit it. I danced in the living room.
It strikes me again: love makes my world.
I went to a friend's concert last night in a beautiful Cathedral about 40 minutes walk from the flat. She sings in a Gospel choir and the vibe was incredible. Almost made me want to turn Gospel, just to join in that joyful and uplifting music. Rest assured I was smiling, clapping and seat-dancing the whole way through. There were moments that made me cry though, of course: Bridge Over Troubled Water will always get me, each and every time. I don't think it is sadness though. I think it is the beauty of the words. And perhaps also the recognition of how human I am and how much I need love and support in my life.
When you're weary / Feeling small / When tears are in your eyes / I will dry them all / I'm on your side / When times get rough
It's all we need isn't it? Someone to be on our side. Someone to hold us when we're feeling small, or tired, or lonely.
I woke this morning to more. An email from a beautiful friend of mine. I didn't realise until she sent me a long email how much I missed her.Her words made me feel close to her, made me feel part of her life. I also had another long email from someone else I love, with a random photo attached of a headless hammer (that he'd somehow managed to break) and a brilliant music track that most people have probably heard of, but not me: Ou est le swimming pool, Dance the way I feel. I did. I admit it. I danced in the living room.
It strikes me again: love makes my world.
Saturday 20 March 2010
Monkey poo
Did my first solo run for ages. Remembered how much I love running to the Daft Punk, Homework album.
Not the prettiest run and riddled with people clearly practicing for the world's slowest walker competition, but a good route - some long gentle slopes, some very steep and short slopes and some short runs of steps. Good muscle use.
The nicest thing? In my opinion, Hong Kong Park at the end where I stopped to watch the monkeys mess around and, it seems, make 'mess' too. Nice. In my mother's opinion, probably the Catholic Cathedral I found next to the park. She will be happy to know that there is one in this (slightly less now) Godforsaken country. Not that I could enter in my teeny shorts and running top, especially purchased a few weeks ago for the purposes of running in temperature in the 20s and humidity over 80%. Good call that was.
Anyway, now that I am shattered, dripping sweat all over the flat and aching all over, I am ready to continue my day. Hopefully with the purchase of bright red nail varnish to match my ear-rings this evening. When I can handle the thought of moving again.
Wishing you all a wonderfully happy start to your weekends too. X
PS For proof I ran, check out the glowing red colour of my face.
No wonder everyone was looking at me! I thought it was my athletic running style - clearly they all thought I was about to kark it.
Not the prettiest run and riddled with people clearly practicing for the world's slowest walker competition, but a good route - some long gentle slopes, some very steep and short slopes and some short runs of steps. Good muscle use.
The nicest thing? In my opinion, Hong Kong Park at the end where I stopped to watch the monkeys mess around and, it seems, make 'mess' too. Nice. In my mother's opinion, probably the Catholic Cathedral I found next to the park. She will be happy to know that there is one in this (slightly less now) Godforsaken country. Not that I could enter in my teeny shorts and running top, especially purchased a few weeks ago for the purposes of running in temperature in the 20s and humidity over 80%. Good call that was.
Anyway, now that I am shattered, dripping sweat all over the flat and aching all over, I am ready to continue my day. Hopefully with the purchase of bright red nail varnish to match my ear-rings this evening. When I can handle the thought of moving again.
Wishing you all a wonderfully happy start to your weekends too. X
No wonder everyone was looking at me! I thought it was my athletic running style - clearly they all thought I was about to kark it.
Thursday 18 March 2010
My sister ate one of these
Or at least she tried to. When she was about two years old.
My Mama was quite worried. I think she only ate her way through a leaf or two.
It's an India Rubber plant and grows in the same way as a Banyan tree, which is what I thought it was at first.
This is one tree. Isn't it amazing?
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Wednesday 17 March 2010
Toothpaste solution
And the issue with the toothpaste I raised a few days ago? Solution to be found here.
[Dominic Wilcox's Variations on Normal website, incidentally well worth checking out if you have never come across it].
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[Dominic Wilcox's Variations on Normal website, incidentally well worth checking out if you have never come across it].
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Tuesday 16 March 2010
If I was a flower
Or a herb, to be precise, I think I'd be the stinking hellebore. It is a European plant and relies on another organism to generate heat for it. The only one discovered so far that does this. That's clearly me!
:-)
:-)
Honey joy
I have found a cafe that sells a cake rivalling the chocolate cornflake crispie cake I so adore: the cake is called Honey Joy and is even more joyous because it contains only cornflakes and honey - no butter or milk. I am sorry to say that the cafe is Starbucks, but I like it in there - you never get kicked out for sitting for a year with just one cup of tea and they do soya milk. And, so I now discover, they do Honey Joy. For less than £1 at that.
I was reading in there with my tea and my Honey Joy and I started thinking. It is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a concept that is nameless. Once you name something, you make it easier to conceptualise. Meanings and connotations become attached to the name over time and the concept becomes even clearer. How can you truly imagine something for which you have not quite got the right words to describe and which is nameless? Are things only possible to conceptualise fully through the use of language? How much can we think - and share of our thoughts - without words? Once you name something then, do you bring it into being, somehow? Do you create what you verbalise?
It's like when you say 'I love you' for the first time. Before you spoke the words, the feeling existed somehow in a vague undefined way - and may have been felt and reciprocated, but is still somehow imperceptible and uncertain. But suddenly, as the words are spoken, they become the truth in a different - perhaps more definite - way to before you said, 'I love you'.
I was reading in there with my tea and my Honey Joy and I started thinking. It is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a concept that is nameless. Once you name something, you make it easier to conceptualise. Meanings and connotations become attached to the name over time and the concept becomes even clearer. How can you truly imagine something for which you have not quite got the right words to describe and which is nameless? Are things only possible to conceptualise fully through the use of language? How much can we think - and share of our thoughts - without words? Once you name something then, do you bring it into being, somehow? Do you create what you verbalise?
It's like when you say 'I love you' for the first time. Before you spoke the words, the feeling existed somehow in a vague undefined way - and may have been felt and reciprocated, but is still somehow imperceptible and uncertain. But suddenly, as the words are spoken, they become the truth in a different - perhaps more definite - way to before you said, 'I love you'.
HK fog
We were standing on the balcony last night looking at the beautiful and surreal shapes of the fog. Layers of thick dusky streaks hanging at perhaps floor 20 level, way below us. We could see below and we could see above, but there were about three floors-worth hidden from sight by this smoky stripe.
We spontaneously jumped into a taxi and got a Star Ferry around 10pm last night, so we could go to the other side and take photos of Hong Kong, wearing its grimy yet somehow seductive attire.
I took some photos and if I can work out how to get them off my SLR, I'll post some. It was just breathtakingly beautiful - almost like someone had painted a cityscape of Hong Kong and then wiped a dark grey smoky stick of candy floss, in a sweeping movement, at harbour level, over the top of some buildings and then down the other side.
Then the fog started to roll towards us and within minutes most of the view was obliterated from sight and wisps of badness had started to climb up the buildings on our side too. I am not entirely sure it tasted so good and my skin felt dirty by the time we arrived home. Still, nothing like climbing into bed with thoroughly filthy feet. :-)
We spontaneously jumped into a taxi and got a Star Ferry around 10pm last night, so we could go to the other side and take photos of Hong Kong, wearing its grimy yet somehow seductive attire.
I took some photos and if I can work out how to get them off my SLR, I'll post some. It was just breathtakingly beautiful - almost like someone had painted a cityscape of Hong Kong and then wiped a dark grey smoky stick of candy floss, in a sweeping movement, at harbour level, over the top of some buildings and then down the other side.
Then the fog started to roll towards us and within minutes most of the view was obliterated from sight and wisps of badness had started to climb up the buildings on our side too. I am not entirely sure it tasted so good and my skin felt dirty by the time we arrived home. Still, nothing like climbing into bed with thoroughly filthy feet. :-)
Sunday 14 March 2010
The fish ate my tan
We had our feet and hands nibbled by fishies today. Little dark brown things. It was the most bizarre sensation at first and took a lot of getting used to. And pretending it wasn't fish. It kind of feels horrible at first, then like something is buzzing on your skin, like the water is somehow vibrating. Loads of tiny little suckers nibbling the surface of your skin. The tiniest movement and they respond. As soon as another piece of flesh enters the water, they're there, nibbling away, seeing what fresh flesh brings to them.
Looking down at your feet, you look like you're wearing big brown boots. Made of live flesh nibbling fish.
When I got out, I was so boring - I had to apologise to my new friend - I was so amazed at my cuticles and my nails. Polished they looked. My skin looked glowing and shiny, like I'd been reborn.
Sadly, however, the fish also ate my tan. Back to having white slabs of marble for feet.
Looking down at your feet, you look like you're wearing big brown boots. Made of live flesh nibbling fish.
When I got out, I was so boring - I had to apologise to my new friend - I was so amazed at my cuticles and my nails. Polished they looked. My skin looked glowing and shiny, like I'd been reborn.
98% humidity #2
...can apparently happen if you're inside a cloud. Which, it appears, we are. I didn't think about that. This is all we could see from the top of the Peak.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
My only post title using the Caps Lock key and why? Because I think Mother's Day is important. I was a vile teenager and this day is one of those I can make up for that.
Firstly, to my dearest Mama, this is the first year you have not got a card, so I will say on here instead, thank you for being such a wonderful Mama. Things I appreciate most about you:
Secondly, to all my pregnant friends and friends who are mothers, wishing you lots of love on this day, especially my lovely friend who is pregnant for the first time who I shall not name just in case not everyone knows. This time next year!! Good luck... ;-)
Sorry to those this post might exclude and who might feel excluded. You know I love you too.
Firstly, to my dearest Mama, this is the first year you have not got a card, so I will say on here instead, thank you for being such a wonderful Mama. Things I appreciate most about you:
- Your joy for life;
- Your cheeky sense of humour;
- Your depth of love for me and other people that matter to you;
- Your quick mind;
- Your hugs;
- Your continual support always keeping in touch and being there when I need you - if not always quite in the *way* I need you! ;-)
Secondly, to all my pregnant friends and friends who are mothers, wishing you lots of love on this day, especially my lovely friend who is pregnant for the first time who I shall not name just in case not everyone knows. This time next year!! Good luck... ;-)
Sorry to those this post might exclude and who might feel excluded. You know I love you too.
Friday 12 March 2010
Lesson of the day
It's me!!! Oh my goodness. I never knew. How did I not notice this? It's been me all along that's been annoying me. Now that I know who it is, I can stop. No more toothpaste tubes squeezed in the middle. A life of smooth toothpaste tube lines. What joy. :-) Now I can rest easy. It is a good day for mankind.
Thursday 11 March 2010
Bye bye fat pants
If you lose your mug of tea around the house on a regular basis, simply tie the next one to your wrist with a bit of string. That will guarantee you don't lose it.
Bored of doing what you're doing? Do something else. I am doing this. It's working a treat.
Can't sleep at night, but fall asleep in the daytime? Go to a different timezone and your night will become day and your day will become night, thus solving the problem. Alternatively quit your job and take one that allows night shifts.
Hungry all the time and worrying you're getting fat? Go to South America and eat lots of salad in every cafe you come across. This will most likely give you some kind of parasite and then you can eat as much of everything as you want. None of it will stay in your body.
Incidentally, I saw a lovely sign on the back of a bus today: "Bye bye fat pants." I think it was advertising a gym or something similar.
Someone entertain me. Please.
Bored of doing what you're doing? Do something else. I am doing this. It's working a treat.
Can't sleep at night, but fall asleep in the daytime? Go to a different timezone and your night will become day and your day will become night, thus solving the problem. Alternatively quit your job and take one that allows night shifts.
Hungry all the time and worrying you're getting fat? Go to South America and eat lots of salad in every cafe you come across. This will most likely give you some kind of parasite and then you can eat as much of everything as you want. None of it will stay in your body.
Incidentally, I saw a lovely sign on the back of a bus today: "Bye bye fat pants." I think it was advertising a gym or something similar.
Someone entertain me. Please.
3am and timezones
It is 9am for me. I was just messaging my brother who is at 8pm yesterday and at the same time messaging a friend who is at 2pm later today. I wish I'd known about timezones when I was kid.
When I was little, I used to wake up, on the dot, at 3am most nights. 3am for me is a horrible time to be awake (unless I've been out partying and have just come home, although those days are mostly behind me now). 3am brings with it a sense of isolation and greyness that no other time of day has for me. Later on, say 4am, it is closer to dawn and I know the sun will soon rise. 1am is close to the previous midnight and so still somehow safe in its proximity to the cosy lights and chat of the previous evening. So I'd wake up at 3am and be scared. I would open the doors, walk across the landing, go to the loo and flush as loudly as I could while still (potentially) being able to prove I was trying to be quiet. Inevitably it woke at least one person. Then I would climb back into bed, safe and happy that there was at least one other person conscious and therefore still alive on this planet. I was scared of being the only conscious person.
I woke at 3am the other night feeling slightly tense and definitely alone. I suddenly realised that in England, it would only be 7pm and all the people that love me and that I love would still be awake. Sitting around chatting, browsing the internet, eating their dinner, whatever. They were conscious.
If only someone had told me about timezones when I was kid I'd never have been scared. All I wanted to know was that I was not the only conscious person in the world. Now, at the age of 33, that problem has been resolved. Hurrah!
When I was little, I used to wake up, on the dot, at 3am most nights. 3am for me is a horrible time to be awake (unless I've been out partying and have just come home, although those days are mostly behind me now). 3am brings with it a sense of isolation and greyness that no other time of day has for me. Later on, say 4am, it is closer to dawn and I know the sun will soon rise. 1am is close to the previous midnight and so still somehow safe in its proximity to the cosy lights and chat of the previous evening. So I'd wake up at 3am and be scared. I would open the doors, walk across the landing, go to the loo and flush as loudly as I could while still (potentially) being able to prove I was trying to be quiet. Inevitably it woke at least one person. Then I would climb back into bed, safe and happy that there was at least one other person conscious and therefore still alive on this planet. I was scared of being the only conscious person.
I woke at 3am the other night feeling slightly tense and definitely alone. I suddenly realised that in England, it would only be 7pm and all the people that love me and that I love would still be awake. Sitting around chatting, browsing the internet, eating their dinner, whatever. They were conscious.
If only someone had told me about timezones when I was kid I'd never have been scared. All I wanted to know was that I was not the only conscious person in the world. Now, at the age of 33, that problem has been resolved. Hurrah!
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Hong Kong weather forecast for today
I cannot stop laughing! I have bolded the bit below that is making me laugh so much. It is sunny though, which is great. Love to you all. xx
Bulletin updated at 10:02 HKT 10/Mar/2010
Bulletin updated at 10:02 HKT 10/Mar/2010
At 10 a.m. at Hong Kong Observatory : Air Temperature : 10 degrees Celsius Relative Humidity : 44 per cent Weather Cartoon : No. 50 - SUNNY During the past hour the mean UV Index recorded at
King's Park : 2 Intensity of UV radiation : low Please be reminded that: The Fire Danger Warning is Red and the fire risk is extreme.
The Cold Weather Warning is now in force. Cold weather might cause adverse health effects. Members of the public should take care to keep warm.
Elephants and humous
Two issues, one serious, the other (despite its inclusion in many of my blogs) less so.
Elephant and ivory trading
Two African countries are seeking to break the ban on ivory trading, which could bring elephants closer to extinction. However many African states and conservationists support extending the ban. The decision will be made at a UN meeting in Doha on 13 March in three days.
If you would like to find out more or to sign a petition against ivory trading, please click here and enter the relevant information. If you want to find out more about Avaaz.org, the organisation responsible for the petition, then click here. I would encourage you to at least check the site out, even if you decide not to sign. Thank you. xx
Humous
It turns out that there are many spellings of this word which (according to my darling friend Ziggy) can include: hummus, hamos, houmous, hommos, hommus, hummos, hummous or humus. I am pretty sure I can also spell it the way I've been spelling it, but you get the gist. In English we tend not to use 'humus' due to it's earthy connections.
I will be making my own if I don't find some soon. I have oat and pumpkin seed crackers ready and waiting to be dipped and crunched.
Elephant and ivory trading
Two African countries are seeking to break the ban on ivory trading, which could bring elephants closer to extinction. However many African states and conservationists support extending the ban. The decision will be made at a UN meeting in Doha on 13 March in three days.
If you would like to find out more or to sign a petition against ivory trading, please click here and enter the relevant information. If you want to find out more about Avaaz.org, the organisation responsible for the petition, then click here. I would encourage you to at least check the site out, even if you decide not to sign. Thank you. xx
Humous
It turns out that there are many spellings of this word which (according to my darling friend Ziggy) can include: hummus, hamos, houmous, hommos, hommus, hummos, hummous or humus. I am pretty sure I can also spell it the way I've been spelling it, but you get the gist. In English we tend not to use 'humus' due to it's earthy connections.
I will be making my own if I don't find some soon. I have oat and pumpkin seed crackers ready and waiting to be dipped and crunched.
Monday 8 March 2010
It is easier to chain an elephant with lotus leaves than to teach a crazy person
Better late than never, my last photos of and around Chiang Mai. My day trip out of Chiang Mai included bamboo rafting and visiting the elephants, who were just the loveliest things. Kind of soft and gentle and wrinkly. Maybe they remind me of my parents!
Elephant noses.
I love them. Why do I love them?
They're so agile and wrinkly and sort of snuffly.
And finally, I found this cloth poster on the wall in my favourite breakfast place in Chiang Mai.
Beauty is light in the heart. :-)
Happy international women's day!!!
It turns out that it's a day to appreciate women. I am very lucky to have such wonderful women in my life, so that's not hard for me. Thank you my lovelies for being in my life. I love you. Guys, I am sure it's not hard for you to appreciate women, but you can do it verbally today if you wish. Nicely though, mind. :-)
Today I got my money back from Tai Chi man. He was way more uncomfortable than me. Success. He made me wait for half an hour though. I am sure it was intentional, because he was pretty rude when he handed the money over. I mean honestly, what is the point of doing anything with such resentment. He could have just refused to give me the money! Anyway, while I was waiting, I spent a fortune on dried mushrooms. Miscalculated by one zero. Never mind, they'll last ages and make me some very cheap soup. I ran (apparently) 5km with ease, so I am not sure if it really was 5km. Success anyway! We ran along Bowen Road which is high up and has such a lovely view: skyscrapers all lit up sparkly star-like, beautiful banyan trees with their strands of curly hair, gentle rain so fine it was like mist cooling our skin.Though clearly, the misty rainy was an extra bonus for us tonight.
That was the highlight of the day, my run. It is still damp and cold outside, though tomorrow apparently we can expect it to get even colder and remain damp. Ah well, I am going to have to get used to an afro when I look in the mirror - just a little bit longer now.
Today I got my money back from Tai Chi man. He was way more uncomfortable than me. Success. He made me wait for half an hour though. I am sure it was intentional, because he was pretty rude when he handed the money over. I mean honestly, what is the point of doing anything with such resentment. He could have just refused to give me the money! Anyway, while I was waiting, I spent a fortune on dried mushrooms. Miscalculated by one zero. Never mind, they'll last ages and make me some very cheap soup. I ran (apparently) 5km with ease, so I am not sure if it really was 5km. Success anyway! We ran along Bowen Road which is high up and has such a lovely view: skyscrapers all lit up sparkly star-like, beautiful banyan trees with their strands of curly hair, gentle rain so fine it was like mist cooling our skin.Though clearly, the misty rainy was an extra bonus for us tonight.
That was the highlight of the day, my run. It is still damp and cold outside, though tomorrow apparently we can expect it to get even colder and remain damp. Ah well, I am going to have to get used to an afro when I look in the mirror - just a little bit longer now.
Sunday 7 March 2010
The little girl with the big red flower
There was a little girl in the lift on the way up to the flat just now. Cute little girl around seven years old or so. She had a big, beautiful red flower in her hand. She held it up and twirled it at me, while grinning a happy, gappy smile. I smiled back. Then she looked up at the camera that the security guards use to keep an eye on us all and she held up the flower as high as she could and twirled it at them. She gave them a big happy, gappy smile too. I thought she was so sweet. She thought of everyone. Even the people she couldn't see, but that she knew would be there, watching.
Why did that have such an impact on me? I don't know. I think it was the way that something so simple made her so happy and the way she shared her happiness with everyone she could think of, whether she knew them or could see them, or not. It's left me with a happy glow in my heart and a smile on my face.
Despite the fact that I have still not found humous.
Why did that have such an impact on me? I don't know. I think it was the way that something so simple made her so happy and the way she shared her happiness with everyone she could think of, whether she knew them or could see them, or not. It's left me with a happy glow in my heart and a smile on my face.
Despite the fact that I have still not found humous.
Saturday 6 March 2010
In search of a lizard on a stick
Last night was lovely and I was taken to an MSG-free yummy Chinese restaurant and an organic cafe serving vegan cakes. Oh what joy! I was also loaned a rather nice little Nokia, only to discover this morning that the SIM card I have doesn't work. That's something on my list of things to sort out. I also have planned as options as a result of last night:
Tai Chi man kindly said he'd give me half my money back. Victorious, but now a bit worried about having to go and get the money. Very bad at asking for money back and even worse at accepting. Must be normal.
Been working all day - proper working, you know, for money. It's so dull. I had forgotten. I am so bored and there is no-one to talk to. I have to finish it this weekend though, so it can be submitted on Monday. Ah well, it's all money.
Soon, I plan to shower, get dressed and go in search of blue tack. I still have not given up hope of finding humous either, though suspect I may have to venture further afield. I had originally thought to go to a two-hour group meditation tonight, but might go next Saturday instead. Really can't be bothered and it was raining. And I am reading a great book about 1950s Hong Kong and a beautiful love affair between a prostitute and an aspiring painter - Suzie Wong. It's really interesting, but makes me cry because their love is so beautiful. Need to get a grip!!
- Do Tai Chi at 7am one morning with old ladies for free in a park near my house
- Have my toes and feet nibbled clean by fishies
- Eat snake - and possible snake bile, though I am dubious about the latter
- Buy a dried lizard on a stick to see how nicely (or not) it flavours my soup - anyone visiting me may have the joy of sampling some lizard soup if they are very lucky
Tai Chi man kindly said he'd give me half my money back. Victorious, but now a bit worried about having to go and get the money. Very bad at asking for money back and even worse at accepting. Must be normal.
Been working all day - proper working, you know, for money. It's so dull. I had forgotten. I am so bored and there is no-one to talk to. I have to finish it this weekend though, so it can be submitted on Monday. Ah well, it's all money.
Soon, I plan to shower, get dressed and go in search of blue tack. I still have not given up hope of finding humous either, though suspect I may have to venture further afield. I had originally thought to go to a two-hour group meditation tonight, but might go next Saturday instead. Really can't be bothered and it was raining. And I am reading a great book about 1950s Hong Kong and a beautiful love affair between a prostitute and an aspiring painter - Suzie Wong. It's really interesting, but makes me cry because their love is so beautiful. Need to get a grip!!
Friday 5 March 2010
Pick flowers, not fights
I did something wonderful today. I said no. I wrote a Dear John letter to my Tai Chi instructor.
I didn't enjoy it. I wasn't having fun. I felt demoralised. I wore a t-shirt to my last class with "Pick flowers, not fights" written across my chest in large silver letters. Perhaps subconsciously I was trying to make a point.
In contrast with his website which states that use of weapons are only for advanced students and despite me being the only student and saying I did not feel comfortable with waving a knife around, he still spent much of each session doing it. I am not from the school of people that thinks a teacher should be an authority that is followed blindly. I am from the school of people that believes teachers should be able to figure out how best to teach their pupils. I will not be bullied into continuing a class by being made to feel like I am not good enough, but will get there in the end. That is not the way to encourage me.
So I said no and asked for my money back. I don't expect to get it (and frankly would rather not because that would mean having to see the infuriating man again) but it felt good to ask for it.
I celebrated by making a yummy soup with delicious mushrooms and 'lettuce plant' in. Yum yum yum. It also has noodles in it, so is liberally being sprayed around the living room every time I shovel in a mouthful with my chopsticks. :-)
I didn't enjoy it. I wasn't having fun. I felt demoralised. I wore a t-shirt to my last class with "Pick flowers, not fights" written across my chest in large silver letters. Perhaps subconsciously I was trying to make a point.
In contrast with his website which states that use of weapons are only for advanced students and despite me being the only student and saying I did not feel comfortable with waving a knife around, he still spent much of each session doing it. I am not from the school of people that thinks a teacher should be an authority that is followed blindly. I am from the school of people that believes teachers should be able to figure out how best to teach their pupils. I will not be bullied into continuing a class by being made to feel like I am not good enough, but will get there in the end. That is not the way to encourage me.
So I said no and asked for my money back. I don't expect to get it (and frankly would rather not because that would mean having to see the infuriating man again) but it felt good to ask for it.
I celebrated by making a yummy soup with delicious mushrooms and 'lettuce plant' in. Yum yum yum. It also has noodles in it, so is liberally being sprayed around the living room every time I shovel in a mouthful with my chopsticks. :-)
Fur balls and baby goats
Our cleaner came today. Prior to her arrival I glanced down at the floor, to see how dirty I'd managed to make it in just one week, alone. I noticed with horror that the tiled floor seemed almost carpeted with my hair. It's been so long since I had proper long hair that I just hadn't realised how much I shed and here was me blaming my poor boyfriend for moulting his mane over my floor for the last six months. I owe him an apology!
Secondly, 10 members of my family are currently (and have been for a few months) writing a story together about a Count and Countess and their lives. It is quite insane and includes talking dwarf (twin) goats, talking beavers, downtown Toronto bankers and hallucinogenic products (among other things). Opening the latest submission, I discovered that my darling mother is trying to sell off (for the highest price) a whole herd of baby orphaned goats to one of a few new Caribbean restaurants opening in town. And the two dwarf twin goats, with whom I have a slight affinity (suspecting them to be based on me and my sister as we are both Capricorns). I could not believe my eyes. Another shock before breakfast! Do not fear however. I have remedied the situation with the introduction of more hallucinogenics and the creation of an evil cousin that looks remarkably like our Countess. We shall see what comes next.
If any of my clever brothers manages to put the document on a website, I'll link you to it. We find it hilarious, but perhaps it would only work if you knew our family and their insanities inside out...
Secondly, 10 members of my family are currently (and have been for a few months) writing a story together about a Count and Countess and their lives. It is quite insane and includes talking dwarf (twin) goats, talking beavers, downtown Toronto bankers and hallucinogenic products (among other things). Opening the latest submission, I discovered that my darling mother is trying to sell off (for the highest price) a whole herd of baby orphaned goats to one of a few new Caribbean restaurants opening in town. And the two dwarf twin goats, with whom I have a slight affinity (suspecting them to be based on me and my sister as we are both Capricorns). I could not believe my eyes. Another shock before breakfast! Do not fear however. I have remedied the situation with the introduction of more hallucinogenics and the creation of an evil cousin that looks remarkably like our Countess. We shall see what comes next.
If any of my clever brothers manages to put the document on a website, I'll link you to it. We find it hilarious, but perhaps it would only work if you knew our family and their insanities inside out...
Thursday 4 March 2010
Pork luncheon meat
...and to top off the non-Zen-likeness of my evening, I felt compelled to buy pork in a tin. I had thought I craved chocolate, but when I stood still in the middle of a shop in Sheung Wan, I realised I wanted pork luncheon meat. And mushrooms. I have been sitting here chatting to my friend while carving slabs of meat in yummy jelly straight out of the tin and eating them. It is truly shameful.
Distinct lack of Zen
I am not entirely sure that this Tai Chi class I have found is good for me. It is making me distinctly miserable. I can't do it. He tells me I am doing well, but I am not enjoying half of it and really don't feel like I am doing any good.
Can't make up my mind whether it poses difficult lessons I need to learn and whether perhaps I should push through; or whether I am just not cut out for fighting with knives. Now before anyone panics, they are not sharp knives. They cannot cut you. I tried on him - at his instruction, so that I would be less scared of them.
But really, anyone in their right mind is not going to like having a knife, fake or not, waved around in front of their eyes, are they now? And I certainly don't like waving this one around in front of him. I don't like it.
Maybe I'll give it one more session. It definitely doesn't make me feel Zen-like, that's for sure.
Can't make up my mind whether it poses difficult lessons I need to learn and whether perhaps I should push through; or whether I am just not cut out for fighting with knives. Now before anyone panics, they are not sharp knives. They cannot cut you. I tried on him - at his instruction, so that I would be less scared of them.
But really, anyone in their right mind is not going to like having a knife, fake or not, waved around in front of their eyes, are they now? And I certainly don't like waving this one around in front of him. I don't like it.
Maybe I'll give it one more session. It definitely doesn't make me feel Zen-like, that's for sure.
Lan Kwai Fong
Well. So I had my first 'night out' last night. It's not the first evening I've done stuff, but it's the first evening I went out in Lan Kwai Fong.
Firstly I walked the beautiful and pleasant 25 minute route to the bar, which shocked and surprised everyone. Apparently it is perceived as we might perceive walking from Oxford to London for a night out. I enjoyed it. It was only 25 minutes...
I had a good evening and met some very interesting people, but as the night progressed, the very drunken ramblings seemed to switch, in a bipolar fashion, between an adamant desire to 'fuck it all and just have fun' and an equally adamant desire (usually more quickly banished) for something that had more meaning.
I have come across this on many occasions, but it somehow feels magnified here in Hong Kong. It confuses me. It people want to have fun, then they can and that's fine; but if they want more than that, or perhaps something different to that, I don't understand what is stopping them. Is it because they don't really want to change anything, or is it fear of what change might actually mean? In order to open a door, you often need to close doors behind you. You have to let go of stuff in order to create space for new things.
I enjoyed listening to people and learning about them. I was curious about their lifestyles, so different to mine, but I had no desire to change my life for theirs. I am not sure what they thought about me. I felt a little judged on a number of occasions. For not drinking, happy as I was to not be drinking. For wanting to write for the sake of writing, rather than for money. I was informed that I am selfish for wanting to do this, randomly and out of the blue. I was completely baffled and amused by this comment and tried to get clarity on what the speaker meant, but I think the booze had taken too great a hold (of them, not me). It's like saying you're selfish because you want a cup of tea. I write because I want to write. I breathe because I want to breathe. The sunshine is warm because it is made of fire. Isn't it? Is it selfish to do what you need to do? Perhaps.
I chose to walk home and the peace and solitude of my walk felt good.
Firstly I walked the beautiful and pleasant 25 minute route to the bar, which shocked and surprised everyone. Apparently it is perceived as we might perceive walking from Oxford to London for a night out. I enjoyed it. It was only 25 minutes...
I had a good evening and met some very interesting people, but as the night progressed, the very drunken ramblings seemed to switch, in a bipolar fashion, between an adamant desire to 'fuck it all and just have fun' and an equally adamant desire (usually more quickly banished) for something that had more meaning.
I have come across this on many occasions, but it somehow feels magnified here in Hong Kong. It confuses me. It people want to have fun, then they can and that's fine; but if they want more than that, or perhaps something different to that, I don't understand what is stopping them. Is it because they don't really want to change anything, or is it fear of what change might actually mean? In order to open a door, you often need to close doors behind you. You have to let go of stuff in order to create space for new things.
I enjoyed listening to people and learning about them. I was curious about their lifestyles, so different to mine, but I had no desire to change my life for theirs. I am not sure what they thought about me. I felt a little judged on a number of occasions. For not drinking, happy as I was to not be drinking. For wanting to write for the sake of writing, rather than for money. I was informed that I am selfish for wanting to do this, randomly and out of the blue. I was completely baffled and amused by this comment and tried to get clarity on what the speaker meant, but I think the booze had taken too great a hold (of them, not me). It's like saying you're selfish because you want a cup of tea. I write because I want to write. I breathe because I want to breathe. The sunshine is warm because it is made of fire. Isn't it? Is it selfish to do what you need to do? Perhaps.
I chose to walk home and the peace and solitude of my walk felt good.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
How have I been spectacular today?
- I successfully remembered how to walk to Sheung Wan and back again
- I used the MTR (underground train system) twice, on my own, with no mistakes and with no hesitation
- I found the laughing corner in Victoria Park with the only instructions being "It's on the sea side of the park and you'll see two cannons" when it was so misty I couldn't see the mountains or the sea
- I did well at my Tai Chi class (apparently) and have paid for my first month
- I have managed to obtain free private lessons on top of usual classes in exchange for proofing the teacher's PhD dissertation on Artificial Intelligence - an interesting subject too
- I made soup
- I figured out where the bin needed emptying to, and emptied it
- I have agreed some paid work for March to help out with holiday funds
- I found the entrance to the Catholic church (it is not where it should be)
- I meditated in the Catholic church while feeling that I had a right to be there
- And not forgetting, I found the roof terrace (as easy as that might seem), mainly through exploring and finding the bin
- Find a new bag for the bin
- Figure out what lettuce to use for foreign style soup
- Find any humous
- Use a bus
- Shave my legs
I hope, on balance, you all had successful days. Wishing you all love and sunshine in your hearts.
There's a roof!
Oh wow, there's a roof garden too! I have found my meditation spot - and my Tai Chi practice area. I can sit and look at the mountains high above me. Why did I not think to explore this earlier? Silly me, but happy me!
Fluffy white sheep
I want to lie on my back and watch clouds but the whole sky is one big cloud and that wouldn't be very interesting.
I've been writing for most of the morning. I've been offered a few days work from the company I work for in England which will pay for what I spent in Thailand. There is more work coming up end of March too hopefully, which will pay for a day long expensive healing course I want to do.
It's a hot, muggy day today. Maybe a touch of cloud watching would be nice anyway.
I've been writing for most of the morning. I've been offered a few days work from the company I work for in England which will pay for what I spent in Thailand. There is more work coming up end of March too hopefully, which will pay for a day long expensive healing course I want to do.
It's a hot, muggy day today. Maybe a touch of cloud watching would be nice anyway.
Monday 1 March 2010
Reading minds and changing moral judgements
Absolutely fascinating, another talk on Ted about a tiny part of your brain that allows you to think about other people's thoughts. Guess it's linked to Theory of Mind. Check it out here.
It's hard writing. I need regular breaks!!
It's hard writing. I need regular breaks!!
A bird on a balcony singing me his song
Sometimes it is when you feel at your weakest, that you are really at your strongest. Being strong can take a lot of energy and make you feel exhausted and worn out, like you just can't do this anymore. In reality, as long as you're still moving and talking, you have a whole lot more strength than you ever imagined. You will never know how strong you are if you don't push yourself beyond what feels like your limit.
If you think moment by moment, everything is managable. You can deal with the now. It's when you start to imagine what might or might not be, that things become unmanagable. Live in the present. Take each day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute and everything will become easier.
If you think moment by moment, everything is managable. You can deal with the now. It's when you start to imagine what might or might not be, that things become unmanagable. Live in the present. Take each day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute and everything will become easier.