世界真細小

才剛說起可一試看看聽聽何韻詩, 還未準備開始, 卻發現了原來她的哥就是久違了的h.
上一次找他, 是要托他托人整琴(唔係我嘅, 係人地個古董), 已有年3, 4年吧.

有嘢睇有嘢聽

近來的試聽試睇, 除了Anne Sophie Mutter 之外, 就是何韻詩.
對於Mutter, 除了很久以前買了一隻她十來歲時跟Karajan的錄音以後, 就未有再入貨. 但去年Mozart 250th celebration 她的一系列特輯又再引起我的興趣, 要好好花點時間. 講開又講, HMV比HK Records還要貴很多.
對於何韻詩, 是新嘗試, 之前未擁有任何她的作品. 但最近無意中接觸到她的一些演出, 似乎可以一試.

How many miles...

Moving and cleansing files from the disk drives, found that a is quite fond of capturing our feet. Indeed show the path that we've been through literally...

Coffee @ Cova, our SnakeDull (and well, HR is going to warn me jeans & Camper are unacceptable)

Karaoke @ Windsor, using FishEye

w's SuperStar @ Karaoke @ Windsor, using FishEye

My discontinued 991 and p's Asics @ Starbucks, Happy Valley (yes I know, a used to want a pair of 991 very much...)

蘭花依舊

上星期爸媽已到花墟定好了, 昨晚由爸和豆把它護送回來. 據說是新品種, 顏色更見清麗.

這是去年的.

Home Lunch

Having a marathon conference call today.

Happy to do it at home and mom prepared my lunch before she goes play mahjong.

Voluptuous honey wings, yeah!

偷得浮生

工作了大半個早上, 便往機場走了一趟, 吃個午飯.
飲飽食醉之後, 工作意慾全消, 只記掛着星期日在Hong Kong Records 掘到的幾只CDs和DVDs.
那天把它們拿在手上把玩, 翻來覆去, 由底至面看了又看, 卻又放下. 如是者十回八回, 還是覺得太貴, 心裏盤算着其他地方應該會平宜一點.
於是, 今個下午除了講call, 就是上網搜尋它們的資料及評論, 印證一下自己的想法, 讓'採購策略'也有個大概.
好, 今個星期就出擊買個精明聽個痛快, 趕走奄悶!

如果這是...

友人跟小情人的感情亮起了紅燈.
是生活太忙? 投入的時間不夠? 是燦爛歸於平淡? 是身邊人不過爾爾? You name it.
溫柔體貼隨傳隨到甜言蜜語形影不離, 便能成為理想情人? 沒那麼容易吧, 還未有處方可依呢.
這些"法寶"可說是放諸四海皆受歡迎. 然而, 即使這些技倆是 well-played well-received, 也並不足以保證愛. 畢竟這些技倆instrumental有餘, 卻不扎實.
人越大越覺得真正的愛, 不太可能是一見鍾情(雖然不妨是一個trigger), 而是一點一滴在相處之中, 發掘出對方可愛之處 - 他的理想, 他的正直, 他的執迷, 甚至是他的無知 - 其實就是what makes the person who he is.
但與此同時, 也得接受變幻原是永恆. 人會變, 環境會變, 經歷會變. 若一天下來, 大家已'進化'得跟從前期許的有差距, 不能再走在一起也不是世界末日. 要不re-basline, 要不引刀成一快也無不可 - 誰知道花開花落之後, 又是什麼光景?

你好嗎

某天在街上以為看見了你 - 原來只是一個有着你步姿的路人甲.
今天與老友閒談之間突然講開又講提起你.
沒有碰面已有兩年吧.
仍是老樣子嗎? 有帶眼識人嗎? 還有作畫寫文嗎? 還是經常出差嗎?
不是沒有衝動打電話問候一下... 卻還是擱了下來, 一天又一天.
寧願相信, no news is good news.
還是想說: 愛惜自己, 保重身體, 要有自信, 不要胡思亂想.

Strategy and...

Found a new direction...

防不勝防

都咪話唔驚...

防不勝防
唱: 陳奕迅 曲: 張繼聰 詞: 黃偉文

為何喝過那咖啡杯 無故失踪了
家裡卻彷彿增添了數本新書
為何你那床頭玩具熊 再找不到
花樽的花偏偏天天轉色

也許這刻你仍然尚未發覺
家中有這一個訪客
時時漏夜冒昧探你
將瑣碎東西帶走 然後又放低

在你的唱機放低唱片是我
算是暗中一起分享過首歌
從你的套房帶走被單是我
你睡過的 至少我都睡過

為何那個故障手機 無故修好了
梳妝檯怎麼這麼快沒有香水
為何有雨 門前就突然有一把傘
相簿的相偏偏天天變少

從你工作間帶走廢紙是我
照著你的筆跡寫封信給我
在你抽屜中放低戒指是我
你就算知 也不會想是我

What a start...

As a always says, what goes up must go down -
Stock Quote (NYSE: xxx)
Current Price: $96.17 (-3.28)
16:00 ET Jan 19
(How many times I've said I have to sell at $100?)

Next week is my HK week. Happy for the fact that I'm on the ground. Yet definitely bothered by the reason that I'm grounded. Fed up.

It's drizzling outside. I wish it would stop soon. This is going to be depressing.

Bits & Pieces

BJ sun (& branches) @ 0800, on the way to Innovation Centre

Very good Korean dinner at a price > HK. Good food, good environment, and most importantly no smoky greasy smell @ 將台路

Life as usual @ Hilton BJ besides -

(1) checking in a Junior Suite with the scarily red silk bathrobe;

(2) a hot water tap that you have to turn open in a clockwise manner (cold water remains anti-clockwise as usual); and

(3) breakfast plates with 百家姓 on them

再興

與p到灣仔看醫師, 吃了再興的叉燒飯. 上一次幫襯已是差不多兩年前, 當時還在做舊部門的project, 買了外賣火速裹腹, 只覺食不知其味, 名過其實.
今晚有機會慢慢享受, 吃得出鮮肉的和味, 蜜糖蜜芽清而不嗆的甜美, 外皮微焦的香氣, 米飯也是粒粒蝦仔飯軟硬適中有飯味. 間有少許肥的部份, 無論是食味還是質感都可算是完美. 唯獨全瘦的部份略嫌太有'咬口', 稍稍費勁嘴嚼.
也有人說此店水準不穩定, 那就得看你的彩數了!

出路

今日同老頂又有啲唔啱key, 難免又想到(有無)出路的問題... 真不爽.
ps 條例話扣多過5分就唔揸得運油車, 即係一個唔覺意又少咗一條出路, 唉!

Horowitz Plays Mozart

I bought this when I was 12. I didn't like the Sonatas, probably because I had played too many of them.
But I immediately fell in love with the Concerto K488 and picked up the score from a friend to learn it. It's a very charming, lively piece, with two cadenza woven nicely in the 1st and 3rd movement.
Then of course, there was Horowitz, legendary in playing Romantic pieces (like Liszt's or Chopin's). His energy blends so well with this loveable, easy listening Classical piece.
Though, there is a shortcoming about the recording... it sounds quite 'vintage' with inpurities.

1. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 23 in A major, K. 488: 1. Allegro
2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 23 in A major, K. 488: 2. Adagio
3. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 23 in A major, K. 488: 3. Allegro assai
4. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 333: 1. Allegro
5. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 333: 2. Andante cantabile
6. Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, K. 333: 3. Allegretto grazioso

十二月又一月

一月原來已十七.
在"我"的故事書裏, 十二月一月是敏感的.
大節前後, 一個串一個的事.故.情.景, 難免成為生動有效的關連記憶, 無奈扎根長(老?)期記憶之中.
也可能是太多的回憶, 太少的人物, 太intense的劇情, 所以揮之不去.

ps 返來囉返來囉. Happy birthday to Symbolic, and my late great uncle.

共勉之

On 17/12/2006 at about 12:01P.M. at ARGYLE ST (EASTBOUND) AT JUNCTION WITH LOMOND RD a traffic offence contrary to REGULATION 18 ROAD TRAFFIC (TRAFFIC CONTROL) REGULATIONS MADE UNDER ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE, CAP. 374 was committed for which you as the driver of the motor vehicle no. XXX are alleged to be liable.
The offence is listed at item 014 of the Schedule to the Ordinance, namely FAILING TO COMPLY WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

I hereby demand payment of $600.00 which is the Fixed Penalty for this offence and inform you that, if you wish to dispute liability for the offence, you should inform me. You are required -
(a) to pay the Fixed Penalty; or
(b) to notify me that you wish to dispute liability for the offence (by using the notification form overleaf), on or before 06/02/2007 .
If you do not pay the Fixed Penalty or notify me that you wish to dispute liability in accordance with this notice, an application will be made to a magistrate for an order that you pay the Fixed Penalty, an additional penalty equal to the amount of the Fixed Penalty and costs.
(THE SAID OFFENCE CARRIES 5 DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS)

好長氣. 好嚴厲. 尤其看見中文版本中的罪行編號 (Offence Code), 犯罪日期 (Offence Date)...
嘩... 都係升斗市民啫, 影一影就變咗criminal?
破財失分, 盼擋災吧...

I feel the earth move...

"I feel the earth move under my feet; I feel the sky tumbling down..."

To match my physical condition today, feel very much like to listen to Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move" and others.

Album: Tapestry

I Feel the Earth Move
So Far Away
It's Too Late
Home Again
Beautiful
Way Over Yonder
You've Got a Friend
Where You Lead
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Smackwater Jack
Tapestry
(You make me feel like) A Natural Woman
Out in the Cold

This is a recording of 1971. I remembered dad played this album when I was very small. I didn't have particular interests in it at that time when I preferred symphonies and folk songs much more. Not until like 10 years ago, when I watched an LD of Carole King's concert (dad rented it), I was so impressed by her energy and sense of originality. She's so unpretentious, heartfelt, raw while gentle.

There were other artists singing her songs - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor and "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin. Carole King composed these songs and now I listen to them like knowing the way they were meant to be performed.

My favorites: So Far Away, It's Too Late, You've Got a Friend, and (You make me feel like) A Natural Woman.

敗仗

敗下陣來, 淺睡不熟.
吞下毒藥, 唇乾舌燥.
喝下熱湯, 身仍是冷.
週末休業, 電郵八十.
老闆來電, 急謀對策.
業務模型, 半日速成.
凝望電腦, 焦點散渙.
唯有IM閃閃, 讓我回魂再傾.

Solution-in-a-Box

人丁單薄

今次回程班機十分人丁單薄. 中午online check-in時只發現小貓4隻.
後來就現場所見, 前面的機艙只有6丁人, 後面的就看不清. 隱約聽到空姐提到"14份餐"... 可能總共有14 人吧. 於是 -
~ 我原本坐2-4-2陣中的"2", 但眼見超少人, 就移到"4". 準備起飛時, 卻被'勸諭'先回到原先的座位直至起飛完成: 因為乘客太少, 要確保飛機的載重是平衡的.
~ 餐車不用出場. 空中少爺one-by-one問乘客吃喝什麼然後送到.
~ Crew好醒, 乘機叫乘客填cust sat
~ Crew Manager 仲醒, one-by-one 跟我們什麼先生什麼小姐地打招呼

入境時, 三粒花阿sir問 -

"小姐, 請問BJ班機多唔多人?"

"hmm..." (點知點算多點算少? 不過都係覺得...) "唔多"

"有無50人?"

"hahaa 肯定無"

通常我們是全場最後一班抵港客機, 我想他們大可收隊了.

奇怪的是為什麼航空公司沒有'餵'這些資料給入境處? 我會以為應是例行公事吧?

債

http://exibmer.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-post_12.html
其實少俠先不要閉翳. 說不定 貴公司如此慷慨, 你的education fund大可用於bb身上...

M&M's

Blue, black or white M&M's no longer a rare species.
Just read an M&M's advertisement on Business Week (yes, Business Week, 8 January 2007).
It says people/organization can print their logo, choose the color, or custom message on the M&M's.
You say cool...?
http://www.mymms.com/business/index.asp?src=business33

Looks like an "executive way" to challenge Jelly Belly?

Exchanges

At the very enjoyable dinner with a, w and p, a mentioned his curiosty / interests in the Exchanges. Maybe he's got the news already -
From Financial Times, 12 January 2007
NYSE Group is on the verge of completing a $15B acquisition of Paris-based Euronext. It will also buy a stake in the National Stock Exchange, in India.
Tokyo Stock Exchange may announce an alliance with the NYSE, and in discussion with London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Borse.

Henin vs Sharapova

A very great game being played at ladies' semifinal of Australian Open! At last -
Henin vs Sharapova
4:6
6:1
6:3
Yeah! Enjoyed it so much.

重慶下集?

以為重慶之行是one-off, 看來可能有下文.
今天開完(今天的)team planning, 老頂在會議室外與大老頂過了幾招, 然後沒好氣的跟我說大老頂的意思, 是要跟重慶的客戶繼續完成那偉大的"業務模型"...
且看下回分解...

冷

吃完晚飯走出來, 雖然沒有刮風, 但不出三秒便冷得直發抖. 回到酒店一看, 原來只有攝氏-11度. 這冰點溫度, 對於'流香港血飲香港水'的我, 始終不算自在.
上星期在香港, 10度已是城中'熱'話, 一時間大家的'皮皮毛毛'都通通出籠.
從數學角度的'表面證據'看來, -11度跟10度已有21度的差距.
就像... 0度跟21度, 或10度跟31度.
能'感覺化'這距離嗎?
其實是可以多穿一點的, 只是(1)太懶, 嫌煩; (2)大安旨意出門就會上車... 所以都是'自己攞嚟'.

SE2

My way or, the highway

Happy News

Congratulations to 少俠!!
http://exibmer.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-post_10.html

10%

Reading FT, there's a full page advertisement by a renown FI about 'congratulating' the newly appointed MDs. There are nine-nine eighty-one of them with photos, and 8 of them are ladies. So where in the world are these 'women leaders'? 3 in London, 2 in New York, 2 in our dear HK and 1 in Paris.
I believe the HK proportion is indeed high in light of this particular 'diversity'.

Change

Seized the chance pretty late last night before my trip to test-drive the 'space shuttle' the first time. A typical change project.
I was (am?) a strategy and change consultant yet too lazy to conduct a change impact analysis / change readiness assessment for myself in this matter.
Anyway, when the moment of truth comes, everything becomes so clear about the level of willingness and ability to embrace the change...

SE

Have been quite blank about the idea of SE... now I got it...

未曾聖誕已失分

2006.12.17 @ Argyle Street/Lomond Road junction
話我衝燈... 又扣分又罰錢... ai...

重慶後排攻擊

收拾了一下手提電話的相簿, 這裏是一些有關重慶的–

http://amoozing.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-post_03.html

http://amoozing.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-post_04.html

江畔晚餐時攝(可惜太黑)

客戶送的蜡梅花

好味hot chocolate@Hilton Executive Lounge - 有一回我曾表示他們弄得不錯, 自此之後, 姐姐特地找回'原作者'幫我弄這hot chocolate. 看表面那層油脂皮就知, 正!

麻辣一人一鍋. 當時的set-up是2x這桌, 想像有另一邊mirror的連在一起, 共16位.

重慶機場 - 有點霧, 冷清清的, 只見車不見機

重慶第三擊

終於嚐了重慶麻辣火鍋!
午飯於一家據說upscale得來較地道的火鍋店, 一人一鍋, 鴛鴦湯底. 麻辣那邊不但火紅得緊要, 湯面的紅油更令它長期維持hyper火滾的狀態, 真是'聲色'俱備. 食材中有不少是'什'類: 毛肚(牛), 雞腎, 豬天梯(脆喉), 鵝腸. 當然不少得牛肉羊肉, 不同種類的魚頭魚咀魚身魚尾, 魷魚與蝦, 菌類, 瓜菜蘿蔔, 超爽脆不知名植物(據說其中一種是榨菜的前身)等. 很好味!
BTW, 這裏fire drill 叫'試火'. 因'試火'的關係, 早上的workshop提前30min結束, 未到12點已開始午飯.

昨晚是'下海'(江畔)晚餐, 到了今晚是'上山', 到南山吃雞宴. 重慶其中的名菜泉水雞, 跟當地有幾個天然溫泉有關吧. 今晚的菜單中不同麻辣程度, 不同做法的雞起碼有6款, 多是黑漆漆, 或火紅紅的. 有混在花椒裏的, 有浸在紅油裏的, 有自己乾炒自己的, 有雜的, 有湯... 同場加映糯米蒸掛骨, 車厘茄煮芋頭, 桂花黃酒, 和櫈櫈櫈櫈... 兔肉...! 當然也是花椒辣椒一大堆.

晚飯後收到驚喜禮物 - 蜡梅花. 現在是蜡梅花當造的時節, 當地人喜歡把它們放在車上或室內取其幽香. 原來吃飯的時候, 客戶就暗地裏着司機去買, 可能司機叔叔不知道原意是要讓我帶上飛機, 他買了一棵特大的, 整整有車尾行李箱那麼長, 大家看見後也嚇了一跳. 因餐館附近也有不少人在兜售, 後來不知是誰就另外選了兩束小的. 盛情難卻, 只好收下. 很香, 也謝謝他們.

話說回來, 相比他們, 自問自己的'待客之道'就沒有那麼'識做'. 可能是'專業病', 當然我們也是客客氣氣得得體體禮貌週週, 但在乎的是表現'專業'的價值, 對事不對人, 少賣賬(理論上 hehe). 但國內的呢, 幾乎都是關係行先. 無論男女, 先飲為敬(當然要有飲的本事, 醉的瀟灑), 由上至下大小通殺, 稱呼是'總'前'總'後, '匯報'前'匯報'後, 講動聽的話, 擺'動人'的恣態... 我還未懂. 我想, 這些是容易看出來了, 問題是你要不要replicate, 要replicate多少.

重慶第二擊

第一次'見識'長江!
晚上跟客戶(也可能是以後更深入合作的partner)吃飯, 到了江畔一家十分得體的餐廳.
這餐廳的名菜是各種各樣的魚(就是'江魚'吧?). 這頓飯起碼有5道菜是魚來的, 食物相當好, 當然少不了麻辣的菜. 可能是為了遷就我們, 麻辣的程度是可接受的, 甚至覺得有點太溫和了. 換了是a, 肯定覺得不夠痛快.
當然跑不掉要喝一點酒. 大陸的客戶真的很'熱情', 為了喝酒, 不分好歹最緊要就手, 就連我這個小薯, 也被敬了好幾次. 幸好喝的是紅酒, 而不是'惡名昭彰'的白酒黃酒, 所以還能保持儀態應付下來, 也能記下這第二擊.
飯後客戶的司機載我們沿江邊走了一圈. 原來這裏的夜景跟香港很像 - 都是商業高樓, 都是有燈火燈飾的點綴. 相對BJ的一大片平原, 這裏近市中心的地方有山有水, 地形上跟香港也有類似的地方.

重慶第一擊

還未到重慶, 飛機餐的牛肉飯已經是辣的...!

New Year's Eve

Spent the New Year's Eve with the bigger family - enjoying seafood and wine for dinner. Then went to Wan Chai to join the-gang-of-four (ph, hh, kp and hg) to countdown –
~ Had a little more wine and even more Bailey's
~ People were dancing Salsa in deafening music
~ Bumped into a 13/F guy
~ Didn't dance, instead played briefly a body-version of cloth, scissors, stone... and, arm wrestling...!
~ When new year approached, the host of pub led us to countdown with TV broadcast, but in a 1-second-delay mode
~ Free champagne was offered to everyone – it tasted like white wine + sparkling water though
~ Needed food after drinks, ate at a congee store nearby

Again, wish everyone, no less for myself, a better year 2007!

孖T

連續兩天在路上碰到一個自定無數字GT車牌, 及一個自定無數字BT車牌的BMW. 前者745i後者335i, 都是不俗的車, 335i更是相當新的model.
是巧合? 我還是主觀認為兩者是有關係的.
BTW, 家裏的巨無霸要退役了, 原來真的不捨得. 爸在聖誕日落order買了架同品牌的"穿梭機". 對上一次開"穿梭機" (但屬另一品牌)已是我的大學年代...