今年團年飯如常地外出，跟家人簡簡單單吃一頓飯。奇怪的，只是席間大家都不說話，只有我和弟弟交談，其他人好像跟手機吃飯，很不習慣。
於網站隨便選了一間餐廳，原來是打咭餐廳。幸好食物質素不錯，賣相也很討好。我和弟弟一路讚好之餘，其他人好像不存在，只是吃和玩手機，究竟我們是吃四人飯，還是二人飯呢?
我嘗試跟她們打開話題，但也不成功，看到她們仍是一臉目無表情。
心傷是真的，原本幻想電影中高興的團年飯不屬於我家，換來的是一個尷尬的場面。怪不得電影《飯戲攻心》單是用一間屋、一家人吃飯的場景便可拍成電影。
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轉眼間，到開年飯了，原先興致勃勃的我要準備午餐，最終我決定不煮飯了，理由是反正她們都沒有反應，也沒有感恩之心，不如留待氣力，為懂得欣賞的朋友煮一餐吧!
吃飯後，各人來到我家坐坐，我展示新電視功能之餘，決定不理會她們是否有興趣和聽得懂，播播Barbie 電影吧! 今天，我放棄著眼於她們的感受上，以平常心看電影，就像在電影院只專注看電影一樣，不理會其他人是否欣賞電影，心靈上會好過一點，也比較自如。畢竟這個是我家。
Giving colleagues small farewell gifts is a popular ritual in Hong Kong. In the past few months, I received a pineapple snack, a biscuit, a tasty pudding, and today, a fortune cookie and a doughnut from a colleague who left the team and transferred to a new post with better pay. My boss also treated us to a Japanese tempura restaurant. Both the noodles and tempura made my palate very satisfied. The free deep-fried octopus and sesame mochi are also tasty.
Planning such treats is not easy. In a large corporation and a mixed office, should I give away cakes to colleagues with whom I have no interaction at all? How about the office, of which I barely know but one or two people? It was not an easy choice. And the cost of gifts can easily shoot up to a few thousand if it involves so many departments.
I never like to buy a lot of souvenirs when travelling. However, working in a large organisation with a lack of decent pantry space makes it difficult to distribute snacks efficiently. I definitely plan to have rooms for snacks on my upcoming trip.
When my desk is constantly filled with snacks from colleagues, there is no way to avoid the chance to return those favours.
Since we aren’t allowed to accept gifts from customers or vendors, I’m not sure whether my supervisor would like to give us goodies. A free mooncake can briefly make you happy. The perfect food for a lengthy Zoom meeting is Greek yoghurt.
Sometimes I feel like a spoiled child, but I’m glad I don’t have to stress about how much money to contribute towards dinner or a farewell present for my coworker.
Life can be simpler and happier.
I deliberately plan my work with delightful moments sometimes, for example, having a site visit followed by a lantern-making workshop during lunchtime. Another day, I headed to the lantern riddle event after the lunch break, extending my ME time at work.
My desk is now full of lanterns by the window. Even the hospital tuck shop is having a good mid-autumn festival promotion for ice creams, popsicles and drinks. The mid-autumn festival celebration has become a huge thing this year.
My friend often reminds me to refocus on positive thoughts even though I have found pain in my ear, tightness in my back muscle or constipation. We always want to get rid of the dreadful, awful feeling, but wait! Hang in there. I did try, and it was not easy.
Friends’ support and a pleasant work environment give me a cheerleading effect.
“Acknowledge the unpleasant feelings with gentleness and kindness. Feel them with curiosity instead of strong negative thoughts,” my friend reminded me. Of course, seeking treatment or relaxation to soothe those feelings if possible.
I did find deep breathing for hours could soothe my ear pain one day. Yeah! It takes such a long time to wind it down. I thought my body wanted to tell me I shouldn’t ignore the headache, so it passed on to my ear. Anti-inflammatory ear drops could help.
I was convinced to break my prejudice to enjoy a kiwi fruit a day for constipation. Other options can be laxative medicine or probiotic tablets. Exercises and massage are also helpful. But hot pad, kiwi, vegetables, stretching and walking/running are the best solution for me. I opt for natural options if possible.
Compared with corporations and small businesses, I’ve found hospitals put more effort into supporting staff in stress management, especially in the rehabilitation hospital where I’m working now. After all, most patients are frail and old. Without an open heart and a positive mindset, patient conditions can affect one.
Typically, people who are either less educated or in middle age work as patient care assistants in Hong Kong. They can be very gossipy workers, but many tend to just focus on enjoying a good meal rather than focusing on the pain that patients are suffering. Wards can be a high-risk environment, but no one knows what will happen the next year. So, just live in the present moment.
More celebrations to come before the mid-autumn festival on 29 September – volunteer programme for patients, team lunch, etc. After all, restrictions are kept for too long for life enjoyment.
A friend of mine took a new job which is very fast-paced. Every time I called her, She thought she could hardly survive one more day in the new company, so she has been nagging about it from time to time. Anyhow, she finds her way to de-stress from this hectic job.
No matter how late it is when she is back home. She spends an hour preparing her dinner and another hour to enjoy her meal. The dinner she prepared is nothing fancy but a proper meal for the family – three dishes with a bowl of rice. I’m amazed how she has such an energy to do so when she’s home at 8 p.m. I would have starved to death. The thoughts of comfort food give her the mental power and energy to do so, even the dishwashing. “I love my plates and kitchen spotless clean”, she said it with great excitement.
Talking about food therapy, I decided not to bring a heavy lunch box to the office every day, but buy take-out from time to time. The new workplace is quite a distance from the subway station and restaurant areas, therefore going out for lunch is such a rush, and there are not many good options.
Canteen meals are typically oily and not very appetising. Luckily the nearby cafe now offers some pre-order choices. If I really yearn for Thai or Vietnamese food, I always encourage my colleagues to order via a food app together. Trying out a variety of food motivates me to have a more pleasant and productive afternoon. People who are chunky should love themselves for loving good food.
This simple change of routine definitely makes me happier. I let go of saving every penny by bringing lunch boxes. Unlike a friend of mine, I still do not like to invest a lot of time in cooking dinner. Having more free time to enjoy stretching, exercising, watching TV or even being idle can improve my well-being.
Recently, people stocked up on sea salt because Japan released nuclear wastewater into the sea. A psychiatrist related this phenomenon to seeking security. Another example is the stocking up of amenities and food during the pandemic.
My friend’s storeroom is a semi-grocery store. Why does she need 5 chocolate bars, and 5 bottles of detergent while our living space is so limited? She told me that the storage gave her comfort and she was not scared when supermarket shelves were emptied by the crazy crowd. Another friend of mine has an apartment full of canned soup and food, too.
Even though supermarkets and grocery stores are nearby in Hong Kong, human beings very much need a high level of storage to feel secure and safe
With the typhoon approaching, I purchased more snacks and food to reach that security level and to feel at ease.
一年多前，我嘗試租園圃種植，有園友說：「收割臭草時，要跟植物說聲，我要收割一些帶回家，放在糖水烹調，否則臭草會死去。」又有人打趣說，她出行時，會跟家貓說聲:「我出外旅行啊，是會回家的。」這樣才會讓貓貓不會感到被遺棄。養狗的朋友也知道要與狗狗溝通，安撫牠，才開始為牠們洗澡。
話說我以前同屋朋友養著一隻白色鬆毛貓，客廳是共用的。那頭白貓最愛鬆毛鬆翼地走來走去，梳化是他磨練腳甲的好地方，也知道我不是她的主人。
白貓得到貓奴的寵幸，留主子在家時，通常會開著抽濕機。事實上，貓十分聰敏，他懂得跳上抽濕機按一按抽濕機的開關制，十分享受風自機頂吹出涼風的感覺，他就停在抽濕機機頂的風口位置，就像我們吹頭髮般，把毛吹得蓬鬆。
屋向北，冬天時，有點冷，我房間沒有暖爐或暖風機，年青呀、 蓋被取暖啦! 當然，貓奴特別關心主子的冷暖感覺，外出時，也會特意為主子開著暖爐，貓貓差不多貼著爐邊安靜地取暖，擺出洋洋得意的表情。
朋友都知道我家有貓，因為衣服真的難以完全脫「毛」，尤其是冬天的大衣，惟有與貓毛同存。白貓的神情有時有點兒兇，也有點裨氣。有時會把門口的鞋亂放在客廳，令我們知道他生氣。最難忘的一次是，同屋在公司趕稿，一夜沒有回家，主子除了亂抛我們的鞋履外，也隨意在家便便，以示威勢，情景不堪入目。當年手機拍照不盛行，否則應立即與同屋分享他作的「好事」。現在想回來，如果朋友跟他「溝通」，他會否聽話、會乖巧一點?有人問我，為何沒有想過成為素食者。我對他說:「我深信植物也是有生命的，不過由於不懂發聲，可能會變得弱一點，又或如臭草，收割後，死掉了。」最近學習種植，才懂得大部分的植物比動物需要更多的照顧才能茁壯成長。
I usually feel refreshed after getting plenty of sleep the next day. This morning, I struggled a bit. Waking up, I felt stiffness in my entire body. My scalp needs scratching and a massage to feel relieved. My throat is suffocating, and it’s a little hard to breathe. My spines are locked and need my full attention to release the tension.
Is it because of insufficient sleep? Or am I just a bit stressed? Do I need more serotonin?
Hiking yesterday morning probably left my muscles sore. My muscles tightened and the teacher wanted us to work on our core muscles in my yoga class last night. I tried to stretch and loosen my muscles between tightening exercises. It was a great feeling to have such a long stretch. I always wanted to regain my flexibility and aim to do the split again one day. My muscles are still strained. My racing thoughts are still with me.
How can I work through my day when I do not feel fit to have a more productive writing day? I simply practise breathing exercises, have a warm shower, lie on the sofa, and indulge in my favourite fruits, desserts, and drinks. Self-care is a necessity as well as interactions with familiar faces.
It is joyous to meet familiar faces on the community farm. I am disappointed with my winter harvest. Sunshine is insufficient. But my farm mates are generous to share some of their harvest and plants with me – lettuce, basil, and peppers.
Our farming session will end soon, and we need to take a break before another farm session comes.
By listening to music and watching movies, I can refocus my drifting mind on something else entirely. I must say today was not my usual Sunday morning, I hate my body limits what I can do. But I told myself the weird feeling will be gone soon and I decide not to push myself too much. Tomorrow will be a better day.
People tend not to eat apple skin or bread crust nowadays. This is not necessary and is more like wasting food to me. My friend introduced me to these tiny mandarins from Japan where I can enjoy the skin. I must admit that it’s weird to eat the whole thing, but I feel less “guilty” when I have them.
Known as Kishu mandarins, they are much smaller than regular mandarins or tangelos. Sweet and seedless with a thin, tender edible skin. They are not waxed, and the skin feels natural, not like apples’ waxy skin.
It is always exciting to try out different fruit, but I would prefer not to have too many of them especially the skin of mandarins. Japanese fruits can be high in chemicals as reported in the news. With the expensive price tag, I’d better switch back to regular Mandarins to use the skins for fertilizers or soaps.
As a matter of fact, there is a Japanese version of bananas that you can eat the whole thing including the skin. It’s almost $100 each, and although edible, it’s a strange feeling having the “skin-included” banana in your meal.
We are programmed with habits, especially when it comes to eating habits and preferences. It will take a long time to convince me to try that “edible peel” banana.
While shopping at the supermarket, my friend kept lecturing me about carbon footprints. Hong Kong is such a business city that we rarely have local produce at a reasonable price. Imported food is natural for us.
Though many vegetables come from Mainland China, Hongkongers love produce imported from Japan, Europe, Australia and the US. We do not feel guilty for buying goods that have travelled a long way to the shops. Almost no local farms supply enough fresh pak chop, choy sham, or potatoes for our daily consumption.
Several years ago, a concept store opened called Greenprice that sells near-expired products or canned goods that have passed their best-before dates. I do my regular grocery shopping there.
The stores do not include expired products like meat and dairy, which means that these foods are safe to consume.
I even found it a fun experience to “seek and hunt” interesting and different brands and snacks at an affordable price. Yes, they are imported and create carbon footprints, but by buying these food items, we prevent gigantic food waste that harms the universe.
This month, I purchased chunky peanut butter, chocolates, whole wheat pasta, body cream, and potato chips. They are yet to expire and are a deal. The most important is that I couldn’t find some of these goodies in other stores.
Despite that these items might have travelled a long way, I still advocate green shopping, as these products will be sent to landfill if everyone gives them up.
Hiking in Hong Kong always ends with a happy meal with friends or hikers. It can also be a fun barbecue time in a country park as many hiking tracks are close to the city.
I brought my buddies to join a few visually impaired friendly people for an easy hike today.
The track is home to monkeys, starting at the Shek Lei Pui Reservoir bus stop. Most of the track is flat, wide cement roads, so non-trained volunteers can take visually impaired individuals along the track.
Then we passed through the Golden Hill Country Park by the Kowloon Reservoir, and ended up at the BBQ site at Shing Mun Reservoir. We’re so excited to find the sizzling BBQ smell was back after the public BBQ sites were closed for almost 3 years.
Of course, hiking is not complete without great food, and today, we sat down together at a long table, trying Korean pizzas and fried chicken. Don’t argue with us that Asian pizzas are not authentic or ruin Italian traditions.
Asians are creative and embrace diverse food cultures. We are not satisfied with plain pasta without meat or vegetable ingredients. A pizza with just mozzarella and herbs looked sad to us, so we tried different ways to make our pizzas yummy.
I first tried frozen Korean pizzas 5 years ago. They do not have many ingredients because of competitive pricing, so I add chopped tomatoes and beef or cold cuts on top of my meal.
Korean pizzas, in general, are crispy with a thin crust and usually well decorated with tomatoes, meats, seafood, or even kimchi toppings. If you want extra cheese, order a thick crust filled with cheese. The pizza we ordered at Pizza Maru today looks like a work of art, making our lunch gathering more fun and pleasant.
The chicken comes in so many flavours. The honey garlic ones and beef tasty sauce ones taste fantastic. The meal was definitely a happy ending for everyone who hiked together today.
Do you like chips but want something healthier?
These crispy crackers made of chia seeds, flax seed powder, sesame seeds, and assorted nuts are perfect for a mid-morning snack.
To make this thin crisp, all your ingredients need to be mixed with water, then add honey or salt and bake it for half an hour. I usually don’t have the patience to spend hours baking dough, but this recipe takes just a few minutes. It’s ready to serve and delicious.
Honestly, I do not feel guilty about eating these protein-rich and fibre-rich crackers during a mid-day break. I simply enjoy those anti-oxidant content and nuts.
Bon appetite.
A 10% service charge is usually added to my bill when eating in a restaurant in Hong Kong. We expect to pay more for tipping. Fast food outlets and Hong Kong-style cafes are exceptions. In general, it is not too difficult to figure out the real price of my meal. My friends and I can sit down, eat our meals, and talk freely.
Dining in New Zealand and Japan is simple because I don’t have to figure out taxes, service fees, or tipping. What I see on the menu is what I will pay for. I like this practice as travelling on a tight budget may add stress when spending too much on meals. I prefer focusing on travel experiences such as enjoying the wonderful scenery, checking out an awkward rock formation, or visiting lovely penguins.
Surprisingly, my friend told me that Kiwi restaurants may add a surcharge to the bill during public holidays, such as Christmas Day or Easter Sunday. This is 10% to 15% more to cover the higher manpower costs and operational costs of running a restaurant on a public holiday. A surcharge at the weekend is not common, but restaurants can do so.
Luckily, I didn’t come across this when visiting New Zealand. I was at the Agricultural Show and enjoyed good snacks outdoors. Prices were reasonable, and the tastes were fantastic.
Having to calculate the service charge and tip myself made me nervous about dining out in Canada and the USA. I felt embarrassed if I paid too little, and then I felt ripped off when I paid too much. I once ordered a coffee in a vineyard. When the waitress looked at me, I realized I had overpaid for the drink. I should calculate the service charge based on the pre-tax price. Well, I just smiled at her and wished her a good day.
Thai cuisine is very popular in New Zealand and can be super spicy. Restaurants’ menus tend to be quite small. A simple range of starters and stir-fry dishes are offered. I cannot find any Thai desserts or vegetables. The dishes are prepared with local ingredients and tailored to the strong Kiwi palate.
I found Malaysian satay at a fast food joint. The choice of dishes is simple and is what I was looking for in Asian food.
The Korean offerings seem more authentic. My friend and I visited a family-run restaurant in the Asian area of Christchurch. I love the starters these restaurants serve with lots of vegetables. The Korean stone pot rice bowl was hot and yummy, but the rice could be a bit crispier from the heat. The beef stew tasted fantastic.
Most Chinese restaurants serve a mix of Sichuan, Guangdong, and Shanghai dishes. Some combine them with Western dishes to appeal to less adventurous customers. I am a bit confused by the fried noodles, which are not the typical thick Shanghai noodles. The HK-style egg tarts are tasty but should be called Portuguese egg tarts.
I love the fact that many Kiwis love rice. Although lunch can be quite boring with the choice of sandwiches and salads most days, you can explore some other options if your office is downtown. If you live abroad, be sure to pick up some cooking skills. Then you can always enjoy more ethnic food.
In the morning and at night, the temperature is below 10°C in New Zealand, while it is hot like summer at 26°C in the afternoon. The wind direction affects how we feel about the actual temperature. The forecast said 17°C, but I was wrapped head to toe in winter clothes on this summer day.
The sun is always so bright that sunglasses have become essential. If you dip your feet in the water on the beach, it is not so bad, but the further you go towards the sea, the colder it gets, and the waves get bigger.
In late spring, the temperature is usually perfect for sitting outdoors for a coffee and a meal. Find a beautiful lake, a farm overlooking snowy mountains, a beach, a pier, or a park to lie down and stretch those aching muscles. Bring some chairs to your favourite garden, sit down with a friend and have a bite of good sandwiches, apples, and cheese in the open air.
I enjoy the luxury of being so close to nature on my travels. It is a simple pleasure of not doing much in a day when you are with someone you enjoy spending time.
Check out amazing photos of the Kiwi food here, and enjoy more wonderful pictures in my photobook corner.
The agriculture show resumed to Christchurch, New Zealand after having a break for two years. This show has put a lot of emphasis on sustainability with its online advertising. Nevertheless, plastic cups and plates are still in use, the organiser claimed that they sourced local and climate-friendly partners, used recycled and decomposted materials as much as possible, and of course, donated useful items to the community after the show.
I’m glad to learn that the show organiser tells the audience what they are committed to do to protect the environment.
I absolutely love saying hello to various breeds of sheep, cattle, and horses at the show. The food stalls were of great variety and good quality. The selection was excellent throughout the day. There were many fun competitions, such as gumboot throwing, wood chopping, and educational stalls on recycling aimed at families and serious workers.
I hope there will be more shuttle buses and signage in the future.
New Zealanders seem to be proud of the qualify of animals. Will that affect people’s diet choices? Will Kiwis be hesitated to become a vegetarian or vegan because of their agricultural heritage?
Check out more amazing photos of the Agricultural Show here, and enjoy other wonderful pictures in my photobook corner.
My friend kept giving me useful tips on how to look out for rich farmers in New Zealand. Pay attention to the cars they drive, how many acres of land they own, and very small details. No wonder there is a reality show in Australia where girls compete to win a farmer’s heart.
I’ve found that farmers in New Zealand are respected as much as other professions. There are a large number of farmers in this country. With the diverse landscape, farming seems to be the jewel of New Zealand. Sheep farming, cattle farming and dairy farming are all major contributors to the country’s GDP. These farms can be run with specialised technology, so that their yields can be increased without compromising quality.
Kiwis are proud of their local products and like to support local businesses. Australia is their competitor but the two countries remain on friendly terms.
Hong Kong has imported quite a few avocados from Australia. Kiwi avocados are rarely seen, but some top quality free-range organic eggs from New Zealand can be purchased in supermarkets. Recently, we can enjoy frozen Hoki fish from this country. I hope we will have the luck to taste its dairy products in the future.
Chocolate milk, chocolates, and yogurts are not to-be-missed food items when travelling in New Zealand. This chocolate milk has a yummy, rich taste. There are so many brands of yogurt for tasting.
experience today 