Pigging Out

Its amazing how much one can eat when left all alone with a stockful of food.

My mom always comes around. She brings an empty luggage, and on the day that she leaves for Philippines, she manages to fill up that same empty luggage, with an additional handcarry bad probably weighing 5kg. What would the contents be? Roast duck, Barbecued pork, produce, salt baked chicken, breads. Most of the times she overbuys them, so she leaves them with us, hoping that we'd eat them by the time she comes back again with an empty luggage.

Ok what my mom does is a dangerous habit, in the light of SARS and chicken flu and mad cow disease and whatever viruses in trend going around these days, but that's another topic altogether.

The thing is, she leaves all these stuff behind cause she can't squeeze them all in the luggage anymore. And here I am, stuck at home... and starting to get the need to have something to chew. I managed to gorge on one whole grapefruit, 2 glasses of milk, a plateful of ho-fan (similar to the chinese white flat noodles, except instead of getting cut to look like noodles, they're left in their state and rolled up to form cylindrical 1cm wide 20 cm long) and a whole piece of sweet fried bread. Afterwards I fell into a deep sleep in the afternoon (how do i know its a deep sleep? because I dreamt!) and woke up at 530pm just in time to prepare dinner.
After inexpertly hacking a whole black chicken left by my mom into decent bite size pieces, I dunked them into a pot of boiling water to make chicken broth. And then I proceeded to drink the soup once its cooked, and immediately fell asleep afterwards...

Definitely pigging out. I hope I dont ruin my exercise this way. Gotta avoid having too much food at home.

Gym Progess Week 3

Oct 25-31: Three days.

Monday. Tried the step aero class with raisers for the very first time. It was until halfway through the course that I realized the raisers were a very bad idea. I got to the point were I couldnt breathe. Not good. I managed to kick the raisers off, but i couldnt really keep on jumping anymore. I definitely did a whole lot less compared to that first timer chick that stopped every so and so minutes cause she couldnt get the steps. She looked like Filipino Chinese. I should take note of that and talk to her the next time I see her. The weightlifting class was a bit better. I kept my usual weights and did ok. I really hated the push ups.

Wednesday. Having learned my lesson, I attended the step aerobics class with no raisers. Still panting like a dog when the session was over. I have got to get over these cardio lessons soon. I'm really rusty. Afterwards the weightlifting class was really surprising. Same branch and time as last week, with the same buffed up girl instructor, but it was a packed room. Had all these girls pumping 2-3 times weight more than I am. Not saying Im pumping a lot, but considering some of the other's physiques, I thought they were going to carry weights more or less the same as I was. The guys probably had 5-6 times more weights. It was a pretty wacked session. First time I saw almost everyone pumping serious looking weights. I managed to bring up my weight a bit heavier. Man, that feels good. Too bad im still lousy with working on the tricep area.

Friday. No step aerobics. One session on weightlifting. Managed to maintain my additional weight since last Wednesday. I thought that was pretty good. Satisfied to know Im starting to lift heavier. Cant wait to progress some more.

Its Just a Job

My head is spinning.

Last night I had a great thought. And it was, "Its just a job."

This means that I needn't really get bothered when the CEO keeps on slapping at me that another coworker in a different office is doing the job that i should be doing. Of course, you have to take into account that I'm working on his "baby" production system and any problems that come up from it takes priority first.

We dont want to lose our customers, do we?

Ironically, its the people from the same "other" office that seems to have spawned all these bugs. Not that im saying they do it intentionally, of course, but lets face the facts. No bugs, no problems. no problems, have time. Have time, will do the work that you want me to do.

Priorities, priorities. I'm not getting into fist fights with the other office, but i'm just pointing out that the CEO has everything all messed up. Just because he's the top guy, doesnt mean all adhoc requests that he asks us to do takes top priority. Its not like we're not thinking about his company. For goodness sakes, we're helping him make the money. SHOW ME THE MON(K)EY!

Secondly, I shouldn't be at all worried if my supervisor seems to start picking on my work while my teammate makes similar mistakes that I do. My teammate seems to get off the hook lucky. Oh, and let's not forget the implicit "yes, you can take advance leaves... [blah blah blah] ... but it'll be deducted just in case you leave the company before you actually avail of the annual leave. Yes, [snicker] just in case"

Duh. Talk about a morale booster.

Lets not forget the incessant question asking my teammate does when I work on my own stuff. How to rename a file in unix, how to use zip, how to setup the test system, what to do when so and so fails. What's the database password? Whats the test server password? Its every darn hour. And the worst part of it is, he doesnt jolt them down and asks me the same questions at least 2 more times. How am i supposed to concentrate fully on my work. Hello, would you like me to do your work for you???

I dont like pointing fingers, so I'll just rant here. This is a good outlet. And besides, what are the odds of them looking though this page, anyway.

Darn it. "Its just a job"!!!!!

Paper Electronic Plane Tickets

I've made reservations for a plane ticket back to my home country. Hmm. considering my background, that's a bit confusing. Ok, "back to the country I was born in", then. Anyways, I just got the ticket from the travel agency.

It doesnt look a bit like a ticket.

I managed to get a e-ticket. All i got was a piece of dot matrix printed document that has my name, departure and arrival time and flight number, and lots of numbers indicating the issuing agent. But its just a piece of paper!

I dont have any complaints with it when I use it for my departure flight from Hongkong, but I can already imagine the faces of the security guards manning the airport departure doors in the Philippines. They're required to check the plane tickets and travel documents of people who enter the airport, as a security measure. Eh, seeing a piece of paper and a girl saying its an electronic ticket would probably sound crazy. "Electronic ticket po? eh papel lang to eh! Wag po ninyo ako lokohin..." [loose translation An electronic ticket? But this is just paper! Please don't think we're stupid...]

Err.

Fingers crossed. X*_*X

Gym Progress Week 2

Oct 18-31: Two days.

Monday. After recuperating from last week's horrendous experience, continued to attend 2 continuous classes comprising of step aerobics and aerobic weightlifting. First day of the week my upper body muscles still hurt like hell.

Wednesday. I went to the Central branch for the first time in a while. Had this funny guy for my step aerobics class. I think I remembered him from before (like 6 months ago since I last went to gym) and I thought he was cute. He was pretty different this time, thought he was an entirely different person. uhm. Thought he just got into the class with his jeans and tight fitting shirt and started pumping to the music like crazy. Thought he looked so anal retentive. Afterwards, I attended the aero weightlifting class. Had this girl with a nice looking bod up front, with a flat, historic eygptian looking short hairstyle with monster gothic looking eyeliner and mascara, complete with dark lipstick to match. I know halloween is coming up, but didnt think gym would become a costume dressing class. The instructor was a buffed up girl called Phyllis who looked like she's into serious weightlifting. As usual, my muscles ached until Friday, when I finally decided I was too lazy to head off to the gym cause it was a holiday.

Just a cold thought, by someone from the tropics

Hooray for another holiday tomorrow!

And yet... here comes another deployment on Sunday.

Holiday Friday + Deployment Sunday = Normal Week (darn!)

For the record, its starting to get cold here. And the one thing i dread most is very cold weather. People around here keep on saying its because I come from a temperate country, but honestly, I don't see the connection to it. I've had friends come from my homecountry, and they dont seem to have problems with winter. In all honestly, most of them even love the cold weather. Most people from temperate countries usually adapt to the cold, I mean, sure, the first few days/week would probably leave you with numb for a while, but most people usually get over it.
I simply don't understand why these people here keep on saying that its because I come from a tropical country. I've lived here in Hong Kong for 4 years already, and they still keep telling me that. Its clearly not the case. Im just more afraid of the cold than others, irregardless of where I came from.

Its funny how preconceived notions rule the way we treat people. Strange.

On Personal Temptations and Necessities

I’ve managed to reduce myself to poverty living in just a span of two weeks.

When some people say its easier to earn than spend money, I’m now certain that they’re middle class or low income people who have dipped so down into their financial capability in a span of moments that it’ll take them months, or even years, to get back on track. I’m in such a situation right now, and it pains me to be reminded that Christmas is coming up soon…

Well, at least I’m not so much in the negative. I’m just way off my budget now. No worries.

Two weeks ago I spent for winter clothes and backed up my daily budget for 10 days. Then last week I managed to use up the same amount to get a gift to a friend, leather bag, a blouse and a boots.

Curse the winter for tempting me to get new clothes. If I weren’t so scared of the cold, I’d probably be doing good up until now. Darn my being a fashion conscious person to get myself a matching bag and boots. Curse myself for being the “It’s a great deal I’ve got to get another item to get that HK$100 discount” person. Now I’m a month off my daily budget.

And I have to prepare going off to my home country for the holidays.

(0) Plane Ticket. That’s going to set me back for another half a month… Plus
(1) Christmas gifts to godchildren,
(2) niece,
(3) nephews,
(4) wedding gifts,
(5) baby shower gifts to my brother and my friend’s sister in law.

OMG… Ugh. Now I won’t be able to save anything until the start of next year.

….

Darn. I forgot the 4-year gym membership renewal I had just a week ago.

(Rationalizing) Well, at least I got a wicked, brown leather knee length boots. Sweet.

Now I’m reduced to office lunchboxes, tune fish bread and trams to get by. No more shopping side trips for me. I’m going to lock myself up in my room for the next few weekends and an occasional trip to the library. It’s about time to get that guitar learning session I was planning like 2-3 months ago. Well, at least if I ever pull it off, I’m going to start eating less. Working out more. I better end up spanking sexy after this.

Ok this is enough. Stop. I’m not going to think about this anymore. Stop. I feel like the end of the world. Stop. Stop. Stop.

Gym Progress Week 1

Oct 11-17: One day (?)

Monday. First gym in a very very VERY long time. Attended Basic Step Aerobics class and Aerobic weightlifting class for 2 hours straight. Muscles hurt like hell. Managed not to get to the gym for the next 7 days.

Movies Showing Now

Im going to go flat broke soon. There's a line up of movies that look really well made showing here. And I only have just enough money for a few. Should I wait for the DVD versions to come out? Or should I watch it in a moviehouse, now? *ponder ponder*

Here's the full list of movies showing now:

2046 - (HongKong) Wong Kai Wai's new movie. The last movie I've seen from him is "In the Mood For Love" starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung. Well, this new movie just took just 5 years production. No big deal. Im sure its not THAT good... :(

Bad Education - (Spain) Interesting noir movie about 2 kids and their principal who meets up 10, and 20 years. Received good reviews.

Japanese Story (Australia) - A movie that depicts tension between different cultures, between an Australian lady geologist and a Japanese investor, and how different and the same they are at the same time.

Old Boy (Korea) - Story about a man mysteriously locked into a room for 15 years. When he gets out, he wants blood. Reported to have applied distinctive techniques in direction style. Also pretty violent. Winner of Cannes' Grand Prize.

Amen (Germany?) - Tense and politically complex plot addresses the culpability of Pope Pius XII, who was supposedly informed of the genocide of Jews but chose to do nothing. Mathieu Kassovitz gives a nuanced performance as an Italian priest conflicted by his loyalty to the Vatican and his humanistic responsibility.

Now, which one to spend my money on....

Note#1 : On Writing Blogs Over Extended Periods

Note to self: Never try to write a long blog on the blogger Post page over an extended period unless you want get a session time out, give yourself a heart attack and almost lose an hour's worth of editing.

New Adhesive Discovered

I was working during the afternoon when I found myself thinking of those chicken wings I wanted to cook last weekend.

The first and last time I cooked caramelized chicken wings was probably 2 weeks ago. I got the recipe off my sis-in-law's cookbook. I don't think she's been using it for quite some time now, so i browsed through it. I prepared it, and it looked like my sis-in-law extremely liked it. She practically lapped the wings off the plate. That's first time in a long time.

Its not that I can't cook a decent meal. But she's pregnant, and since then, she started getting all sorts of cravings.. while on the other end, she also started becoming picky about what she eats.

I was planning to cook the same thing last weekend, but by grandmother insisted she cook for us, so the poor chicken wings were left in the fridge, untouched. I also had a head of pechay left over last weekend. Its been hanging around there, and its starting to wilt. Since it seems such a waste to just throw them away, I figured, I'll cook them tonight.

I managed to cook it through, and was just about to add it the "caramel" ingredient when I suddenly thought adding apple cider vinegar would make it taste better. It'll give the wings just the right barbequey-tangy taste. I managed to cook the vegetables while waiting for the wings and at the same time, cook up the rice, and heat up some left overs from last night.

Guess how it turned out?

Note to myself. Never try to multitask in the kitchen when you're not completely familiar with the recipe.

So much for lapping it up. I ended up with over cooked caramelized chicken wings. It was still edible, to say the least. A bit on the bitter side.. you'd probably be safe eating the meat instead of the chicken skin.

It doesn't sound so bad, until you start scrubbing the dishes. The caramel definitely caramelized. It wasnt so bad when the wings were still hot off the pan, but after cooling off, it was as hard as rock. I had to use metal scrubs to get the caramel off the pan. Vigorously. And I need to devote a minute or 2 on each spot with overcooked caramel to get it completely off. I think I probably discovered an adhesive that's stronger than rubber cement. I wonder if 3M will buy the recipe from me.

Too bad.

Well, at least neither one of us had any stomach problems the day after. :P

Ohhhhhhh my back

Blog,

I just managed to exercise 2 hours straight just right after work. One hour for step aerobics, and one for body pump. I think I will feel like dying tomorrow. I know its my fault... I havent been going to the gym for months now, and I just found out my membership will be expiring in 1 month... Nov 29, 2004 to be precise. Man I at least have to make the most out of my membership if anything else. Darn I paid a lot for that.

I think I'd be getting a renewal for my membership, what do you think? I'd be wasting money again?

I need to get my fat ass in shape. URRGGH.

Yours Truly,
X

Budget All Messed Up

Ok here's the thing. I've just managed to make my savings go on the positive side last Friday. Of course, Its not really "savings" per se. Actually, labelling it as a "saving" isnt right. Hmm. I think im causing some confusion. Let me explain.

I set aside a certain amount money for myself daily. A daily budget. Now sometimes I dont really use up the whole amount, and I "save" what's left over. That's the "savings" I'm referring to right now. Using that term might cause some confusion, so I'll just say "within budget". That's more appropriate to describe it.

Now I've managed to make my savings within budget. It was way off the budget cause I got myself a concert ticket to see 周杰倫 this coming Nov 11-14. I like him, he's cute, he's smart, he sings ok, and but the best thing is that he composes his own songs. Beats the hell out of cantopop, which is mostly about smart marketing and usually no talent.

Ok back to the budget. I managed to keep within budget. At least as of last Friday.

Then, uhm, I got myself pulled into meeting up with a friend. She saw a shop that was having a renovation sale; 1 item for 150, 2 items for 250, 3 items for 300. I figured it sounds like a good deal, and agreed to come along. At least together, we'd have greater chances to dropping the per item price.

I ended up buying a trenchcoat, a dress, a skirt, a blouse for 1000. My excuse? I haven't been getting any new clothes since last winter, and winter is coming up. I hate cold. A trench coat will do nicely...... But, darn... now I'm off my budget by a lot again. Just when I thought things were picking up and start saving for my trip this coming December.

Pua Tiong Chiu

Just to remind me ... the fruit of my bleeding toe, lost wallet, cancelled credit cards, sleepy nights. Did I mention that I managed to call the bus company, waited for an hour to get to talk to customer service, found out that they discovered my wallet, went off to Heng Fa Chuen MTR statation during my office lunch break, which turned out to be a large, residential cross warehouse-junkyard-bus garage place? Yes I did.

I managed to prepare the prizes at the last minute; finished shopping at 20:30, got to the party at almost 21:30. Had BBQ at Len's rooftop. Here's the the list of prizes:

1 - Cash
2 - Cash + Bag
3 - Japanese Miniature Display ; Wine Glass + Theme Umbrella, Card Holder
4 - Picture Frame/s, Wooden Massage Stick, Cork Board, DIY Kaleidoscope
5 - Towels, Tealight glass w 3 scented candles
6 - Oreos, Ritz, Crunch, Lays, Doritos

Err. Mark won. Cant wait for next year.

Definitely Making My Day

I just had the most wonderful evening.

4:30 pm and friends calling me up to organize a fukienese Pua Tiong Chiu game by tomorrow. Not that its their fault, but the past few days have been really busy for me. Last week I tried to organize one; two weeks before the event I asked everyone if they wanted date A or date B. After deciding on date A, a few days before the event, I thought i should confirm it with everyone. Last minute, every one backs out.

Great.

So fast forward to today, Thursday. Most of the people wanted it Friday, tomorrow. Sure. Its only 4:30 right now, Ill get off work early and do some shopping. Friend calls. Im really busy trying to finish deadlines. Asks if I can check where "A New Police Story" is showing near her at around 5:30pm. *Sure*. CEO hovering around my desk. So is my supervisor. What are they doing hanging there? If they wanted to talk to me, just talk, ok. Don't hover. Its not nice. How the hell am I going to check the movie schedules with two hawks circling over me. Its not like they think I'm such a great employee or anything.

4:45 pm. CEO and supervisor stops hovering. Called up my friend for her movie schedule request. I should be leaving soon. Cant wait to leave.

5:00 pm. I just remembered I had to finish one last bit of work before setting off. Work work work.

5:30 pm. And Im off!

5:45 pm. I need to eat dinner before I start to go shopping for the Pua Tiong Chiu game. Shit. I just remembered I need to do a deployment for one of our production databases tomorrow morning. at 3am. I should be sleeping early. What the hell am I doing bothering shopping for? Oh yes, friends who are expecting Pua Tiong Chiu. Im the one who's supposed to organize it since I won first prize last year. Gawd, I think I'm going to die. Maybe I should get something to eat first so I can think straight. Oh, its before 6. Yoshinoya beef bowls for HKD$13.00. Good deal, good deal.

6:00 pm. Eating Yoshinoya beef bowl rice. Still not thinking straight. Only 8 people coming with a contribution of HKD$100 each. Need to break $800 down so we can have enough prizes to make the event enjoyable.

Shit, i forgot to call one of my friends who was nice enough to offer her place for BBQ during the Pua Tiong Chiu night. Need to call need to call. Hello?

6:15 pm. Lost in Causeway Bay. Still havent figured out what to get for prizes. Those Roasted Chestnuts look nice.

7:00pm. Running around in Ikea (large home/furniture chain. see www.ikea.co.uk) trying to figure out what's appropriate prize. Shit, its 7pm already. I need to go home soon, I have to work at 3am tomorrow.

7:30pm. Sitting at the park in Causeway Bay. I still havent figured out how to breakdown the contributions. Oh wait, here's a good idea. Yes, that sounds good. I think I will. Ouch. Something wrong with my foot. Its freezing up. I think I'm twisting my ankle. Pulling my ligment. What the hell do you call it in english. I'm getting "diu kun" in fukienese. There. Dammit. Wait. Bright idea. I'll head off to the nearest supermarket chain. Maybe I can find some good ideas there. Damn feet is killing me. Wake up you stupid feet.

7:45pm. DEFINITELY a GOOD IDEA. There's tons here. Oreos, Ritz Crackers, nice face towels. Good good. I'm heading off to Ikea again later. I saw a nice set to handle holders enough to fit into the budget. OMG, this supermarket is really cold. My fingers are going blue. I have GOT to get out of here. Got to get out. Sonofa--- OUCH! I just hit my little pinkie toe with the pushcart. DAMMIT ITS BLEEDING!! Gawd, this supermarket bag is heavy. What's with the diu kun? Why the hell am I doing this all alone?? hold on, this damn supermarket bag is relaly heavy. I thought face towels were just all air???

8:30pm. Got the scented candles. Got the candle holders, got the picture frames. Used my credit card to pay. Shit, this supermarket bag is REALLY heavy. Ouch my pinkie. The glass candle holders and 50 scented candles arent helping any, either. OMG, its 8:30 already. I need to wake up at 3am to work. I shouldn't be doing this, I should be sleeping already. I need to wake up at 3am. Im going to screw the deployment tomorrow if I dont go to sleep. I should be sleeping. I should be sleeping. Whatthef-ck, this supermarket bad is heavy. This ikea bag isnt helping any, either. OooooOOOooooHHHhh my leg's freezing up again... diu kun.... urrggkk...Can my leg just give me a break?!?! I JUST WANT TO GET HOME AND GO TO SLEEP. I NEED TO DO DEPLOYMENT AT 3AM TOMORROW MORNING.

9:00pm. Finally. At home. Boyfriend promised to be home in 30 minutes. He's still hanging out with friends. Dammit. I should have a boyfriend who spends his time with me. I'm tired. I'm really tired. I should be sleeping. I have deployment at 3am. Home swweeet home... I can sleep now.... sweeett.... WHATTHEF-CK??? WHERE'S MY WALLET????

9:01pm. Where the hell is my wallet???

9:02pm. ****Where the hell is my fucking wallet??? ***

9:05pm. F-CKF-CKF-CKF-CKF-CK WHERE THE F-CK IS MY WALLET????

9:10pm. *snob* *snob* I'm just doing my job and helping organize a party. I just sacrificed my pinkie, got frozen over at the supermarket, pulled my leg, carrying heavy loads of glass , candles, towels, oreos, ritz, picture frames... Isn't my sacrifice enough already? Do I have to also lose my wallet? I JUST USED MY CREDIT CARD TO PAY FOR THE IKEA STUFF!!! HOW THE HELL DID THAT WALLET GET LOST?

9:15pm. I just lost all my pictures. Me and my boyfriends pictures. My credit card. My Hongkong ID card. *sOb* My pretty leather wallet!!!! THAT WAS MY FAVORITE! *sob sob sob*

9:20pm. Hello HSBC? I just lost my wallet *sob* I need to cancel 3 cards... Hello?.... Hello??... Uhh... HELLO?... Can you please hurry up? I still need to cancel my other cards you know.

9:40pm. Hello Bank of China? I just lost my wallet *sob sob* I need to cancel 2 cards...

9:50pm. Im pissed. I need to wake up at 3am tomorrow. Damn stupid pinkie is still bleeding. *sob sob* I miss my wallet.. *sob sob*

9:55pm. Hold on. WHERE THE HELL IS MY BOYFRIEND?

10:00pm. Screw everything. I'm getting the fastfood PS2 game my supervisor lent me today and play until 3am. FUCK IT.

Nobel Peace Prize Afterthought

Current U.S. President George Bush isn't going to get the Nobel Peace Prize this year, is he?

US Eastcoast Trips, Nobel Prize

Things to take note of: When in the States, go for Maine/NewHampshire's Appalachian Trail as well as a subway tour of New York City. (I just read that in CNN.com)

This is it. They're starting to announce the winners of Nobel Prize this year. All that's left is the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Nobel Peace Prize. They should have the results out within the day for Literature... I can't wait.

I wonder if I'll win the prize for Nobel Peace Prize? I'm sure lots of people nominated me this year. 10 Million Swedish Kronors will definitely come in handy. Hey but don't look at me, I'm not in it for the money, its just an extra plus. I didnt even know about the prize money til I surfed over at Nobelprize.org last night. Im just in it for the sole reason of being able to leave a legacy to and a mark in the world.

What's that they say? "Betterment of Mankind"? :)

Can't wait. Maybe I can use the money to get a better pair of shoes. The one im using is dying already.

Over the autumn holidays

Its been a while since I've logged an entry. Blame it on the holidays!

Hong kong has just experienced "one of those lazy weeks". Its basically a week packed of holidays that people deem it appropriate to expend some of their annual leaves to avail of a long getaway weekend.

One of them was the annual Autumn Mid Festival Celebration, last Sep 28, where its customary to give people mooncakes. It used to be just the traditional double egg yolks in lotus seed paste, packed with a ton of sugars, starch, and of course, calories. Now they have snowy mooncakes, mung bean mooncakes, black sesame based, and errr... in celebration of the booming coffee business, a coffee flavored mooncake, from where else, but Starbucks.

I managed to gorge on a whole set of mooncakes into my stomach since then. (For those who are unaware, most mooncakes are contained in a square 8in by 8inch tin can containing 4 individually plastic packed moonckare. That's four regular sized mooncakes for you.) That makes 8 egg yolks in... three days. urrk. I wonder how my cholesterol levels are doing.

I was reading somewhere that every year, Hong kong generates tonnes of packaging on these mooncakes enough to fill up most of the landfills available here. Well, I suppose its a good thing China is just a door away. Good riddance!

Which reminds me. China. That's the second holiday for last week. I have a vague sense of these things, but I think the holiday that was celebrated last Oct 1 was the Hong Kong Handover day. or was it Chinese National Day? I just simply know it involves fireworks over at the Hong Kong Harbour, fireworks over Beijing and I dont know where else. I just know it concerns the Chinese government. Hmmm. I suppose Taiwan isnt included there then.

Consider me ignorant? Probably. I couldnt care less to mingle with hundreds of people. Im supposed to be a bit claustrophobic. And I hate too many people. Now give me a uninhabited cave somewhere in paradise, with an ample supply of book, pencil and drawing paper, and I'll be content for years and years to come.

So in celebration of autumn midfestival and hongkong handover holidays, I spent the whole weekend locked in my room, watching DVDs while gorging on mooncakes.

Thank god for the holidays!