Elgin Street and the Old Summer Palace

[中文：伊利近街和火烧圆明园]

Sipping sangria in a tapas bar at Hong Kong’s Soho District, looking out the window, one could spend hours watching cosmopolitan humans spewing out one of the world’s longest elevator systems. Next to it, a street sign reads “Elgin Street.” Hardly anybody knows who Elgin was, or what he had done to deserve a street named after him. If not because of a recent deliberation with a quaint academic about Hong Kong’s early colonial days, I would not have bothered to research about him either. By reading up on the history which embroiled the life of this forgotten character, however, I’ve discovered the justice in history.

伊利近街和火烧圆明园

[English: Elgin Street and the Old Summer Palace]

坐在充滿不同國家民族色彩的香港蘇豪區的一家西班牙餐廳，一邊喝 Sangria， 一邊看絡繹不斷，由行人電梯冒出來的各色人種，我可以看上一個下午。在這幅充滿活力的浮世繪的旁邊是一個小小的路牌，上面用中英文寫著 “伊利近街” 和 “Elgin Street”。留意到這條小街名字的人不多。知道個中歷史的人更是少之又少了。假如不是最近有位殖民地遺孀出奇地跟我 “辯論” 鴉片戰爭和早期的香港殖民地景象，我也不會發現 “伊利近伯爵” 這個有縱火狂的大英帝國精英。

春节掠影 Chinese New Year Snapshots

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Snake Year! 

I hibernated during the holidays. But between indulging meals and fitful naps, I did make some notes and jot down a few writing ideas. Slithering through the scattered pages now, I’m discovering that writing doesn’t necessarily work better with organisation. I normally just turn the computer on when an idea strikes me. It’d be done and sent before I have a chance to regret or fully appreciate the pointlessness of it. Now that there’s a list in front of me, all my good ideas look kind of tired, like gourmet dishes that have turned cold and unappetising. Perhaps I’d be hungry enough to reheat one in the microwave in a day or two. 

Meanwhile, a few pictures to mark the New Year. Two of them are by my great friends Anne-Marie and Richard. I'm fully responsible for the goofy titles. 

恭喜发财新年好！

过去一个多星期好像间歇冬眠，在吃喝与小睡的循环中度过。偶尔有个合适的念头出现，便随手拿纸笔写下，等假期过后再处理。谁料现在对着清单上的课题，有如一盘盘凉了的饭菜，算它珍馐百味也失去了原来的胃口。现在才知道写作也得靠一股劲。平常念头一动，便赶紧开电脑动键盘，趁热情未冷把内心的说话写出，来不及自觉多余便完成上载；原来冲动是我写作的一种动力。清单上冷冰冰的几道菜式，可能要再过几天才弄热再吃了。

暂时借几张春节掠影（其中两张是我的老友曲卫东和安玛丽的大作，但标题是我胡乱加上去的）祝大家蛇年身心舒畅，逢凶化吉！

Empty Lantern Flowers 空心灯笼花

“Fishy Talisman” by mon ami Amazing Anne-Marie
朋友安玛丽的大作 “一帆风顺”

New Year Revolution
春节大革命

“Hong Kong Big Bang” by Richard Kok
老友曲卫东大作：爆到七彩