Island Diary 小岛小事

久别了的小岛，又是春天

2008-04-12T14:58:00.001-07:00

今天偶然回到久别的小岛，春天的岛还是那么安静那么美，荒废的花园野草丛生可花还是年年的热闹地开，久没人住野鸭子也把园子当作家大摇大摆地来来去去。

Holly 院子里的冬青

2007-01-19T13:48:00.000-08:00

院子里有两颗冬青树。这种小时候常常在圣诞新年卡上画的植物，原来可以长到两层楼高呢。红色的浆果在萧杀的冬日里为花园添加几分生气。

There are two English hollies (Ilex aquifolium) in the garden, one of them 6-7m tall. I used to thing them as exotic plants and enjoyed drawing these delightful red berreis and pointy leaves on Christmas cards in school, without ever seen the real thing.

Sunset Island 日落时分

2007-01-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

Took these pics also whilst waiting for the comet in the garden!

不是为了看日落却看到了日落

Ducks are going home. Don't know where home is?

生产队里养了一群小鸭子，它们每天日落的时候排着队回家去

Liked the dimples it left on the river.

那一年的歌，那一年的人

生活静静似是湖水
全为你泛起生气
全为你泛起涟漪
欢笑全为你起

生活淡淡似是流水
全因为你变出千般美

The show is almost finito, the lights are diming, actors are backstage and the curtains are drawing

灯光渐暗
演员退场
一天演出就要结束

The House, The Seasons 小屋与四季

2007-01-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to spot the lengendary comet, I spent hours in the garden before sunset, staring into the south-west. Numerous comet-like objects came and went -- we are close to Heathrow and it shows -- but not the lovely McNaught.

传说西南的天空日落时分能看见彗星，我在花园里耐心的等候。看见无数飞机起降在天空滑过，听见群鸟归巢，感觉到周围色温的变化，而彗星的尾巴却没有为我出现。

However, it did give me the opportunity to maybe look around me in this light, for the last time? -- weather report shows rain for the next week.

不管怎样，这应该是在花园里最后一次等待日落了。天气预报说，未来一周，有雨。

I like to hide in this little haven, the west tip of the island, peep through the yews, the magnolia and the willow tree, and the trees I don't know the names.

藏在小岛的最西边，从围绕着的紫杉木，垂柳，广玉兰和其他我叫不上名字的树木中间望出去，是个奇妙的世界。

April. The magnolia is in full bloom, the willow leaves are so fine, the green in the air is so young, so light.

早春，杨柳青青江水平，闻郎江上放歌声的时节。木兰在盛开，柳树在发芽，一切都那么青，那么轻。

June. The magnolia flowers had gone and its leaves are forming shades. The airy willow became a patterned curtain. In a corner, the wild ox-eye daisies are having a party. At another, the wisteria is having their time too.

入夏，木兰花已谢，树已成阴。柳叶婆娑，也不再是毛茸茸的样子。紫藤在狂欢，野菊花也在开派对。

We are moving, and we shall miss the house, and the seasons around it. Sometimes, perhaps?

要搬家了,会想念这里的小屋和它周围的四季的吧。

Christmas Scence in NYC 3) Christmas Tree & Skating @ Rockefeller Centre

2006-12-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

The 69th annual Christmas tree @ Rockefeller Centre NYC

Christmas in NYC wouldn't be the same without it...

Don't know why but the skaters remind me so much of the film "Love Story"...although it wasn't about New York. We have seen so many film stories evolve aroud this city that its reality is interwind with its big screen virtuality. After so much imagination and anticipation, it's hard to tell whether you are acually seeing it or just in front of the silver screen.

Apparently after Christmas the tree will be recycled and used in horse jumping training.

洛克菲勒中心每年竖起的圣诞树和滑冰场都有差不多70年历史，它们已经成为节日气氛的一部分了。每年这个时候蜂拥而至的游客都回来这里看看或者下场大显身手。

不知道为什么，看着滑冰的人们，听着场上的音乐，仰望硕大的圣诞树，感受着空气中弥漫的节日气氛，让我想起爱情故事这部电影,尽管这并不是关于纽约的电影。其实对于纽约有实在太多的电影带来的情景想象了，走到哪里都让人觉得很熟悉。香港和洛杉矶都给我这种感觉，又在想有哪一部中国电影看过之后让我想去那个地方看看？苏州桥？

Christmas Scene in NYC 2)

2006-12-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

再应节景

small community park, downtown NY

街心公园, 纽约下城

We just walked all the way cross Brooklyn Bridge and were excited but cold, lost, thirsty and bursting at the same time. I said I have to take a brake to enjoy the scenery but actually my feet hurt and what I really wanted was to sit down.

其实拍这张照片的时候我们刚从河对岸走过布鲁克林桥,又冷又累又渴又走丢了,只好详装欣赏美景的样子.

雾景 2 Fog

2006-12-22T08:06:00.000-08:00

A.
archive pictures from this time last year
去年的这个时候,原来也是很多雾呢

B.
nothing seems to hinder the rowers
天山鸟飞绝万径人踪灭
划船的人们可是雨雾无阻

C.
ducks enjoy it too
野鸭们也自得其乐

Five Day Weather Forcast, Christmas 06

2006-12-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

The big smoke living up to its name?

Merry Christmas

2006-12-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas every one ... ...
from Top of the Rock, Rockefeller building in New York!
Empire State building, green and red lights -- it's the spirit of Christmas in New York... ...

很久没有动笔啦，越忙越多想写的越没有时间写。。。大家圣诞快乐！是在纽约的洛克菲勒大厦顶上，随着落日的余晖帝国大厦的顶灯亮起绿色和红色的光芒，正是纽约圣诞的节灯。

Top of the Rock was recommended to us as to have the best view all over Manhattan and it lived up to its reputation. We didn't have a very clear view of central park but that's just because it was a hazy day. Can't beat the dusk time, purple clouds fading, lights of the city emerging here and there. You can watch people in those clear glass boxes still working and they might be watching you too. The only problem is that they don't have a bag check or cloakroom so don't go there with bags of shopping you just did in the fifth ave because you are going to have to carry it around with you all the time! It took about 15 minutes or so of queuing to get to the top so give yourself plenty of time to catch the sunset.

天边海边的落日，欲说还休的落霞
若隐若现的女神，渐起渐灭的晚灯
你在楼上看风景，看楼上风景的人在看你。

You have seen a thousand sunset by the sea
a thousand times the purple fading clounds
The green lady beckons but you couldn't see
a thousand warm orange lights emerge and they know it's dusky
You watch the people in the small boxes, busy
they are not watching you watching the city

FB4 MoonChiu 潮式早茶

2006-11-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

在香港喝一次潮式早茶，店子叫满朝。在黄埔花园，我们住的附近。

Chaozhou style dimsum at Moon Chiu in Whampoa Garden, Hunghom Bay, Hong Kong.

点心都和广式相似，大概是改良的吧。不过开桌和买单的时候都上了功夫茶，算是特色。
This restaurant is actually not that different from your everyday Cantonese style. They did serve two courses of Kongfu Tea at the beginning and the end of the Dimsum, so to make up for the specialties.

绿豆水晶包糯米饭团
Mung bean buns
Steamed glutenous rice buns

每样点心反而上来两碟沾酱的，好玩。

传统的烧麦，春卷
Traditional Siumai, spring roll

本来潮式嘛，应该叫粥，可是想起来的时候已经撑得不行了，只好作罢。
Chaozhou style normally calls for congee but we were too full to complete the course!

FB3 More tea drinking and meals at home

2006-11-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

在两个倒时差和睡在床缝里的不眠之夜后，终于回来了。

Finally, after three cities and two sleepless jet-lag nights in transit, we landed in Guilin .

朋友说回来的这么不是时候，早两天空气里还弥漫着浓的不能再浓的桂花香味，而今年的暖秋让满街的银杏叶还是欲黄还青，欣赏不到黄叶的美景！

Friends felt sorry for us: we missed the sweet osmanthus scent in the air -- if only we were here the week before; and because of the warm autumn we are having here, the ginkgo leaves are still green so we miss the sight of golden ginkgo leaves too!

只好说人生总是充满遗憾，这样可以永远计划下一次。

Oh, it's always next time. Or is it?

在家里每天乖的不可想象地吃妈妈饭（爸爸饭），只抽闲出去喝过一次龙井，在解放桥边能看到七星公园的七星的左岸咖啡店和过两次蓝山咖啡和花旗参茶。左岸的炸香蕉也很好吃！热热的端上来，甜甜的糯糯的，暖胃。

Then we ate at home every night, trying to be very nice children. Only once we went out at night for some Longjing and old friend catching up. We did, somehow through all the mad rush, managed to visit the Left Bank cafe, where the bridge and the seven star park could be enjoyed through the windows, three times. Their deep fried banana is a treat: searved fresh out of the pan, hot and sweet, perfect for longly hearts.

房子我回来了 Hi house I am back

2006-11-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

记得小时候看一部好象是日本电影，里面独居的男主人公出远门回家，对着空空的房子说，房子我回来啦！妈妈还说这些外国人真奇怪，和房子说什么话呢？不过现在我出趟门回来也会说房子我回来了！看见窗外落得一地的红叶，空气里湿漉漉的，一片萧杀的气氛，厨房窗台上的一小盒青菜苗竟然自顾自活得好好的，人说物随主人形，很让我惊喜，呵呵。

I remember when I was little we were watching this Japanese movie and the guy was greeting his flat after arriving back from a long trip. Mum couldn't understand why this guy was talking to a lifeless object like a house. Now look at me, I am doing the same thing, greeting our house after trips. Everthing seemed so cold and wintery compared to the warm weather we had whilst away so I was even more surprised and pleased that the veg tray on the kitchen sill is still going strong after a week or so us being not around!

FB纪实2 邮电大厦早茶 China Cuisine Tour Nov 06 DimSum

2006-11-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

坐下来一杯茶，一天最好的时光就这样开始。

Sit down and have a cup of tea -- best way to start a nice day.

蒸肠粉，虾肠牛肠素肠粉，都那么好吃。

YumCha -- Tea doesn't really mean tea only, of course you know that. It involves dim sum, all sorts of them.

Steamed rice noodle rolls, with pawn or beef or vegitarian, all delicious and my favourtie.

还有艇仔粥，多种原材料慢火熬成，此地独有，风味独特。图片不见了，只好在众生相中找寻。

Boatman's congee, meal of its own, lots of goodies and yet perfectly balanced and calming.

梧州龟灵膏，下下四处奔波劳累的火气。

榴莲糕，外脆里香，回味绵长。现在还在想着！
Durian cake, crisp layers outside, rich durian inside, dream match!

FB纪实1 广州川国典藏 China Cuisine Tour Nov 06 Chuanguo Signature Delicacies

2006-11-21T03:03:00.000-08:00

很久没吃正宗的火辣辣的。。。
Red, hot, delicious Sichuan cuisine

酸菜鱼：
Hot-pot Fish & Pickle Stew
猫的正餐。好过瘾啊，喵呜~~
Dinner for kittens
D.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s..

宫保鸡丁(无图)：
GongBao Chicken - the original version
经常在这里吃些假冒的

麻婆豆腐：MaPo Tofu
每次都点但很少吃到满意的

干煸四季豆：
Dry-fry Hot French Beans
十年前去九寨沟一路每天吃留下的念想

Weekend Gardener

2006-11-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

A brand new long border. Lots of humus soil, I am looking forward to the next summer already.
出发前扩挖的长花圃。土质很好，明年春天应该生机勃勃吧。

玉米和青菜

种上了墙花（很奇怪为什么叫墙花）

Sunflower Teddy

2006-10-31T16:09:00.000-08:00

Second year of planting "Teddy Bear" and it has become my favorite. I didn't see the resemblance at first but clicked when the flower bloomed, bright orange and cuddly, it really is like a teddy bear. 今年是第二年种这种叫"泰迪小熊"的向日葵了，看他颜色金黄又圆滚滚的，象不象娃娃熊？	From Summer Garden

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T15:09:00.000-08:00

and carve your own pumpkin here : )

Garden Diary 日记 [2006年10月30日] Sunny

2006-10-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

Things we have done in the garden this weekend, before the threatened frost finally came.

1. Divided the two chive plant into six and planted them out

2. Cut down the parasitic ivy-ish plant that's suffocating our hawthorn. It was hard work from AhNiu and a success. We found another bird nest on one of the branches. It's the 7th nest discovered this year, if my memory is anything to go by. However, in the process of taking of the parasite, one main branch of the hawthorn came down and it's covering the lawn. Shame, but it should grow out again next year.

3. Dug the cannas and aubergine up, cut top growth and put in some neutral compost, ready to put away in the shed for the winter.

4. Broadened the border a bit to 75cm from the fence. Can't wait to try it out next year.

5. Planted the garlic (during the week, actually). My parents were here and Mum planted garlic with me last year, so I was thinking of Mum when I was planting the garlics.

6. Bought some bulbs and wallflower ready for next year's show.

总结一下这个周末在花园里干的活：

1。将园里的两棵欧韭分开成六株

2。将山楂树上过分曼生的寄生藤处理了。过程中还发现了一个空鸟窝，今年在整理花园其间已经发现了七个鸟窝啦，想象从中飞出过多少小小鸟呢？

3。将美人蕉和茄子转到盆里，准备过冬。也不知道茄子过冬会不会成功，试一试吧

4。略拓宽了栅栏前的那一小片地，明年也许能种多些玉米

5。前两天种了蒜下去，现在已经发芽了。很快有青蒜吃啦。去年是妈妈和我一起种的蒜呢。

6。今天下午去买了些桂竹和风信子化球。准备来年春天的展示啊。

Another firey conversation

2006-10-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

Heaven knows, back to back O.C. surely is the perfect antidote after a not-so-perfect long distance conversation with your always-right Dad. Phew, thank everything almighty, all the production team and casts of O.C., sky plus, sony television, and all people and fans who supported me over the years! Thank you!!

Clock goes back today

2006-10-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

And enjoy.
Stock up daylight-imitating light bulbs now to prevent SAD.
On the plus side, we got an extra hour tonight so I can watch 5 episodes of OC non-stop.

Lunch at Carluccio's

2006-10-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

昨天(一个值得纪念的一天)在路过的一间意大利象是茶餐厅的Carluccio's吃了午餐。

南瓜正当季，特别餐单的南瓜汤很美味。
Pumpkin is in season and pumpin soup is on the special menu.

ZUPPA DI ZUCCHA
A soup made of this season's essential ingrediants, pumpkin and carrots.

可是最大的发现是一个叫比切灵BICERIN(bee-cheh-REEN))的都灵小饮，是浓咖啡、翡冷翠巧克力饮品加上鲜奶油混合而成。上来三个小白杯子，哗地一下倒在一起，好喝。特别适合入秋的这样的日子喝，端一杯暖暖的。

An interesting discovery is a Durin drink called bicerine:

B I C E R I N £ 2 . 3 5
A traditional drink from Torino – espresso coffee, Florentine drinking chocolate and cream. Served in small jugs for you to mix yourself
-- warm and sophisticated taste, perfect for an autumn day

I ordered a wild mushroom soup. 野生蘑菇浓汤也很有味。

ZUPPA DI F U N G H I CO N PA N C E T TA £ 3 . 9 5
A rich soup of mushrooms with Italian bacon, served with our
focaccia bread

浓汤是和意式佛卡夏面包一起上的，觉得还挺香脆，上网找了做法，有时间也试着做做。

F O C A CC I A £ 1 . 3 0
Freshly baked Ligurian bread made with olive oil

Liked the focaccia bread that came with the soup so searched the net for recipe, thinking I might try it sometime at home.

zt 意式面包-----佛卡夏(focaccia) 文学城 (附操作图):
"先做面种:
1+1/2杯水,室温
2+1/4小匙酵母(yeast)
1杯高筋面粉(bread flour)

步骤一:水和酵母放玻璃或金属碗里搅拌均匀,再加入面粉拌匀,盖上保鲜膜,室温放置3-4个小小时.图1.*******注:面种也可以头天晚上做,要放冰箱冷藏,过夜,但时间不能超过16个小时.偶一般都是用的室温放置.

再做面团:

面种(上一步已做好的)
2杯高筋面粉
2小匙盐
1/2小匙糖

其他要备的原料:
3大匙橄榄油
nonstick spray(for baking用的)

步骤二:混和2杯面粉,面种,盐,糖在容器里,用HAND MIXER最低速拌匀(偶的HAND MIX上有5种速度),时间约一分钟;再用第2低档的速度搅拌5分钟直到面团表面看起来较光滑.这个时候,面团是较沾手湿润的.(原方是用的stand mixer,偶没有,就用了hand mixer代替.在使用HAND MIXER揉面的时候,面团有可能会随着搅拌棒的搅动而"盘旋"而上,其间可以停下来把面团从搅拌棒上取下,很容易的.然后再继续搅拌......如用 stand mixer先低速一分钟再中低速5分钟).
步骤三:把面团转放入表面喷了一层nonstick spray(for baking用的)的玻璃碗里,揉至面团表面光滑(几下就揉好了),如图2.然后再对着碗里喷上一层nonstick spray,盖上保鲜膜,放在暖和无风的地方发酵至doubled size,约1个半小时到2个小时.如图3

步骤四:准备一个9X13''的玻璃烤盘,滴上3大匙橄榄油,用手或刷子均匀地把烤盘抹上一层橄榄油,把发酵好的面团用手均匀地铺在烤盘里,再盖上保鲜膜,室温.如图4.让烤盘里的面团再次发酵到厚度有一英寸厚度,约1个小时.你会看到面团表面有很多的气泡,那就对了,说明yeast还存在.如图 5.******注意,这一步一定要让面团发酵到一英寸厚,否则烤出来的面包会很薄不松软.

面团的TOPPING

1大匙迷迭香的叶子(rosemary),blanched(blanched的做法在下面,原方是用的2大勺,偶觉得迷迭香的香味太大了点,就减少了用量)
4---5大匙橄榄油
1/4小匙盐(原方是1/2小匙,偶觉得有点咸,也减少了用量)

步骤五:把blanched的迷碟香叶子撒在一寸厚的面团上,如图6.

步骤六:用nonstick spray喷在10个指头上,然后把10个指头伸入到面团底部,使面团上形成一些窝(dimple),如图7*******注意这一步,不要按太多的"窝窝",否则会另面团下塌,10个指头按下去的"窝"就差不多了~~

步骤七:滴上4-5大匙橄榄油在按好"窝"的面团上,看起来油多,但大多都会被吸收,撒上1/4小匙的盐,放入预热好的400F的烤箱,烤25-30分钟.

步骤八:刚出炉的Focaccia面包,色泽诱人又好吃~.烤好后的面包从烤盘里拿出放架上冷却5分钟后再切片

怎么样blanched迷迭香:
水烧开,把迷迭香放在漏勺上入沸水锅里烫上约20秒,然后放入冰水里,,冷却后用厨用纸搽干水份即可使用,用不完的可以放在有拉链的袋里放冷冻室保存一个月.
"

Last bunch of tomatoes 最后一串番茄

2006-10-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

上两个星期清理一个番茄时剪下的最后一串，原以为今年不再会有自家种的番茄吃了，但是余下的两棵番茄依然长势不减，不断有变红的果子出现。今年的中都是小颗粒的，不过水分多，也很甜。好多没有及时摘下来都皲裂了有些可惜。

这个时候，乐观派的人就会说，啊，今年夏天的成果真巨大！悲观的家伙们就会暗暗的想，咳，明年的收成就肯定没有这么好了。。。

Last bunch of tomatoes from one of our three tomato plants this year. Didn't expect them to surive into late October, it's the wonder of the summer. Maybe we are expecting another late winter this year.

Do you think about, at this point, celebrating the prosperity of this summer or worrying about the unpredictable summer of next?

小莫里斯与"我爱公费医疗" Morris Minor & I Love NHS

2006-10-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

今天在医院停车场看到这辆虽然非常古董但是仍然清新迷人的小莫里斯（Morris Minor）。这款在英国从1948年热卖到1972年的迷你（Mini）车的设计前身果然具有亲和力，圆头圆脑巨可爱，怪不得到现在还是有许多忠实拥趸。

细看之下，这位车迷还是NHS（National Health Servie, 全民保健服务系统）的忠心拥护者，车前窗上贴着I love NHS的小横幅。横幅上写着"要公共服务，不要私人得利"（Public Service, Not Private Profit）。

可以看出，全民保健服务系统还是有很大群众基础的，这是英国二战后建立福利国家warefare state的最重要一环，十九世纪以降几代人努力和骄傲的成果。然而六十多年过去，福利国家系统核心之一的全民保健系统在做出不可否认的成绩的同时也面临重重危机，何去何从是这个国家上至首相下到平民百姓都切身体会深刻关注的问题。虽然经过工党政府过去十年投入巨资全面改革的NHS在许多服务如急诊等待时间，择期手术等待时间等设定改良目标上有长足进展，然而超过6亿英镑的巨债却让人怀疑这个庞大机构的管理及运行效率，也让NHS本身喘不过气来，不停传出关闭医院及裁员等等听起来像头痛医头脚痛医脚的举措。

小莫里斯风行25年，其接班迷你更是到如今依然自领风骚。不知道同属国宝级的全民保健系统是否也能够凤凰涅磐先死而后生呢？

Moon Phase 月相

2006-10-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

My Google personalised homepage tells me the moon phase everyday. Today (18 Oct 2006) it says: "waning crescent, 11% of full". I decided to check up the terms used to describe moon phases.

我的google页面每天给我报告月相。说，今天的月相是下弦残月，满度是满月的百分之十一。看它用一堆术语，就查了一下。
上半月

New Moon	新月(朔)
Waxing Cresent	渐满峨嵋月(于新月与上弦月之间)
First Quarter	上弦月(第一个半圆月)
Waxing Gibbous	凸月(于半圆与满月之间)
Full Moon (also: Hunter's Moon)	满月(望)

Funnily enough, a quarter moon is not a quarter of a moon but a half moon in the first or last quarter of the lunar month.
A gibbous moon is the moon phase between bigger than a half moon and smaller than a full moon, called waxing or waning depending on whether it is growing towards or diminishing from a full moon. Wax in English meaning to grow gradually is used in describing the moon, possibly came from the Old German, wachsen, meaning to grow.

下半月

Full Moon	满月(望)
Waning Gibbous	残月 (于满月与下弦月之间)
Last Quarter	下弦月(第二个半圆月)
Waning Cresent	渐残峨嵋月(于半圆与下一个新月之间)

所以也不是很复杂哈。不过是两个crescent 峨嵋月和两个gibbous 凸月/残月而已嘛。不过我老是混淆望月与朔月，不记得哪个是那个。

So, it's not that baffling after all... two crescents, two quarters and two gibbous!

参考来源Reference

The Devil Wears Prada 时尚女魔头

2006-10-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

On cinemas last weekend. Good camera work, good for your eye if you like fashion, satire, funny, entertaining, thoroughly enjoyable experience. A good night out with your girl friends ensured but leave the film 10 minutes before the end of the film though, if you don't want to vomit and completely ruin the film or see the film being ruined. Naive simplistic and moralist endings of Hollywood, definite no no.

上周去看的一部十分养眼的一部电影，时装、美女应接不暇，尤其是开片3分钟。电影改编自同名小说，作者据称与片中女主角的经历相同，为时装业中的魔鬼老板打工备受折磨。对白是犀利讽刺唇枪舌剑风格，让人捧腹。遗憾的是落入俗套把世界简单划分黑白的结尾，是完全画蛇添足的败笔。对巴黎的描写也是极其俗套。所以如果你还没有去看的话呢，建议还是值得一看，只要散场前十分钟离场就可以了。

看完电影，到旁边的哈根达斯吃冰淇淋吧。虽然在外面排队很傻，侍者动作慢，当搭配绝妙冰冷的香甜的哈格达斯融入口里的时候，咳，排队就排吧。和在窗口买了就走或者超市里买的是不能相提并论的，连我这样不爱甜食者也经过偶为之。一款高杯超浓咖啡雪糕，咖啡香浓雪糕滑腻，坐下来享受吧。

Drop in Haagen-dazs if you are watching the film in Leicester Sq. Perfect end of the evening. Ok, you have to queue outside and service can be a bit slow but it's all worth it when you spoon in heaven.

紫玉米和香菜的生活

2006-10-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

Well into October and our purple corns are still going strong although I am always worried about them being too late in the season. At least they look happy, that's the main thing.

十月份了我们的紫玉米还在自娱自乐的长着，好像结了三个玉米苞子，也不知道里面有没有结子。不管怎样，它们挺自由自在的，看上去挺好。明年记得要早一点种下就好了。

种的香菜七八月就结子了，没收它们，让它们自己长成一种空灵的雕塑，为园子增添乐趣。

The cordiander has seeded since July or August but I didn't have time to harvest them. They are now structure plants giving diferent dimentions to the garden.

Tate Morden 2 泰特现代馆 2

2006-10-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

许多现代派的艺术作品是用小影片来完成的。(点击看大图)
第一个小片讲的是在阿尔巴尼亚一个城市的市长决定把市内的认为这样能够给这个破败的城市注入新的生命甚至灵魂。阿尔巴尼亚是欧洲最穷的国家，从影片上看这个城市也的确是千疮百孔，乍看上去像被炮弹密集轰炸过。到有点像中国城市的大兴土木的九十年代，地上连能走的一块平地也没有，坑坑洼洼的，还有一条干涸的护城河，里面是废弃的砖木垃圾，河堤上有人生了一堆火取暖。有一个镜头是一个青年在楼下空地对着一个碎了一半的镜子很仔细的梳头，梳得很整齐很亮。不知为什么让我想起洗澡这部电影。然而抬头看上去,入眼的建筑却都穿上了明艳超现代的彩装,好像到了一个试验村,很有时空错移的荒诞感觉。镜头一摇，看到彩装现代城市的古朴雪山背景，很有视觉的震撼。在这个城市里的居民对市长的这一举措都有不同的看法，有些觉得是天才的行为，有些认为自己的家不问青红皂白的被刷上了自己不喜欢的颜色，非常气愤。通片是由手持摄像机拍成的。

下面一部片是一个小女孩在读一本对她来说很艰深的关于人们对颜色和色盲的认识的一本教科书。我的理解，这些文字主要是说颜色本来是人们对世界形成的一种概念之一，而对于盲人和色盲对于颜色的感念和认识，他人是很难掌握到并因此常常忽视到。并听觉也是与颜色相通的一种概念，对人们对世界的认知产生复杂的影响。作者特意安排他的女儿照读课文，小女孩经常有不认识的字，读得磕磕碰碰，借此想让听者感受到一些由听力上引起的理解困难。这一点虽然的确可能有达到目的，但是我却由于因为这些是不熟悉的学科单词，和小女孩一样觉得困难，而她的停顿反而让我有了宝贵的喘息时间，可能让我更好的理解了原文，同行的一位英语很好但母语是德语的朋友也有同感，这也许是作者没有想到的吧。画面构图从头到尾没有变化的，也没有让我觉得突兀，看了说明文字才明白是作者精心设计的红（书套）蓝（连衣裙）金（发）三色的平衡搭配。

偶尔在网上乱翻，看见潘石屹最近也在伦敦，也写了关于泰特现代馆的文字参观Tate Modern博物馆,也照了墙上的现代艺术史涂鸦。

双皮奶 Double Smooth Milk Pudding

2006-10-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

鲁豫在做吃的专题，找了些当年在广州混的歌星和音乐人来怀旧广州的美食。说什么双皮奶姜撞奶还有雪梨吨雪蛤，还给了塘虱煲好多大特写--这可是我上大学的时候天天在食堂吃的玩意。也许是这个怀旧的性质，加上屏幕上的那些那么熟悉的排档和茶点，让我的口水也吧嗒叭嗒的，馋虫勾出来不是一条两条。

以前也试过做姜撞奶，可是不是很成功。这次电视上过了一下双皮奶的做法，想着再试下？

两三个蛋青，加糖，加滤过的牛奶（不知道不滤有没有关系），拌匀，上锅蒸。

我正吃呢，香滑鲜嫩的双皮奶......真的很容易!

还想干的是去一次传说中夜夜夜宴，无宴不欢的黄门大宴吃一次。不然就去四川天下盐好了。

Double Smooth Milk Pudding -- A Guangzhou Desert

Two or three egg white depending guest number
caster sugar
milk

Mix above well and steam for 15-20 minutes

Simple and delightful!

Moth: Autum watch

2006-09-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

电视上在演秋日总动员AutumWatch，什么都有，斗架的角鹿，害羞的野兔，成千上万的迁徙的水鸟，当然也有随处可见的飞蛾。
节目有春天和秋天的特辑，动员大家到户外去，观看欣赏各种不需要特别设备就可以亲近的野生动物，加深对自然环境和动物的了解，加强人与自然的纽带。

这是在家里拍的飞蛾，是不是也很漂亮？原来飞蛾也会像水鸟一样迁徙到很远的地方，不知道这些家伙是哪里来的呢？

BBC is doing its Autum Watch programme, filming deer, hare, fowles and also moths. It calls people to join in the watch, join in the attempt of brining harmony between man and nature.

It's my autum moth watch at home. Apparently moths travel thousands of miles, just like birds do. The moths that visited our place, where did they come from? Have they travelled far? Are they here to stay?

A Little Drop of Sun

2006-09-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Sunset at the Lake District @Sept 2005

Crocosmia

2006-09-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

花园里的香鳶尾,一年比一年开得盛，第一年只有孤零零的一枝，现在已经有些"鳶"气了。
They say once you buy one crocosmia, you will never have to buy another again. But who cares if what you get is such a vibrant scene year after year!

Crab & Peacock

2006-08-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Couldn't post in Sina today but wante to show off the two favorite encounters in Cornwall camping holiday.

Peacock and Peahen

Very pleasantly shocked to the peacocks walking leasurly across roofs of houses like they were just part of a forest.
It was almost 8pm and the light was fading fast.

The Crab that made my day and my week (context: I haven't had fresh crab for donkey's years)

Live crab got outside the Chapel Porth bay beach.
The owner kindly did business with me although it was late.
Cost: £4
Weight: couldn't see the scale.

Owner: Where you from?
Me: eh... China.
Owner: I knew it! Chinese people like live crabs and they like female crabs. (I didn't ask for a femal crab)
Me: So is this one male or female?
Owner: (proudly) Female.
Owner: So where do you live now?
Me: London
Owner: Oh it's an absolute bargain, bargain!!

Kids were fascinated by it and played it all the way back to the campsite.
Fresh crab cooked and eaten straight away... Heavenly

Moving to Sina

2006-08-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1244587624

A Date With LuYu 鲁豫有约

2006-07-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

喜欢鲁豫，喜欢看鲁豫有约。刚开始老觉得凤凰给这节目的英文名字很别扭，看这么久下来到觉得真有点像个date。普通人的故事，名人轶事，慢慢的讲来，好像大家都很熟。其实这档节目还是我了解国内动向，新鲜玩艺儿的窗口。比如说赵薇今年考上研究生啦，青春版桃花扇上映啦，卧虎藏龙里章子怡的武替是谁啊等等八卦。比如昨天说的是（一般都是录了看昨天的：）高考家长博客圈的事，看着节目里刚考完高考的家长学生其乐融融的回顾过去一年的高压，苦闷，泪水和欢乐，窃喜这关早过去的同时不由感慨父母的伟大。回想高考一年，青青涩涩迷迷糊糊的就过来了，压力记不清了倒记得妈妈隔三差五的弄好吃的（现在口水还叭嗒叭嗒的），而且还不用洗碗！想妈妈的白果老鸭汤了。。。

My favorite Chinese talk show by LuYu. Chance for me to catch up with fashion, gossip, everyday life in China.

For MD:
喜欢 xi3 huan1 Like
看 kan4 watch
凤凰 feng4 huang2 Phoenix
节目 jie2 mu4 Programme (tv)
高考 gao1 kao3 College entrance exam (A levels equivalent); gao: high; kao: exam

Ox-Eye Daisy 我家的野菊地

2006-07-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

The circular lawn we left uncut for long grass --to attract wild life, at least that's the idea -- has developed into a surprise daisy meadow.

花园里的野草区，自生自灭的长成了一片野菊花地，很让人惊喜。不过现在花谢过后，又成了一片野草区。

For MD:
花园 hua1 yuan2 garden
惊喜 jing1 xi3 surprise
野草 ye3 cao3 weed
野 wild 草 grass
花 hua1 flower

Our new kayak 双人艇

2006-07-12T04:55:00.000-07:00

好热好热！大家划船清凉一下吧。

Heatwaves heatwaves! Love it or heat it. Or maybe kayak is the best way to deal with it?

Wisteria 爬藤爬藤

2006-07-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

夏天来了，紫藤不断的开花，要增加热闹的气氛。我也想找个地方，让他们热闹热闹。就这里吧。

The wisteria between our garden and next door Mrs Strode's has been flowering since April, apart from a little break in early June. It's like a light-purple carnival.