8月23日 星期六

 

本以为今天会像平时周末般睡上一整天，但中午左右就醒了。花了2-3小时整理房间，没法，实在太乱了！煮了些吃的，看看电视，一天又快过了。

 

傍晚6时约了朋友去逛朝阳公园。好久没拍照了，随身带了照相机却忘带把储存卡带上！只好瞎逛！原来朝阳公园很小，没一会就走完了。朋友请了我去附近吃饭，过后回到朝阳公园的大银幕前看奥运比赛。看了男子10米跳水，中国前5跳都领先，但在最后一跳被追上，屈居第二，可惜！

 

到朝阳公园最大的收获就是知道明天晚上10点朝阳公园回放烟花！

 

11点左右，一位在酒吧认识的朋友给我发短信问我要不要去跳舞，虽然感觉有点累，但还是答应了！我是在三里屯认识这小女孩的，她舞跳的非常棒，我两第一次见面一起跳了一晚舞后我向她要了电话。哎，北京很难找到好“舞伴”的，既然遇到了就不能轻易放过！

 

这是我两第二次约出去，我到三里屯时都快一点了。那晚我喝得比往常多，加上身体状态本就不太好，到早上五点左右就呆不下了，觉定先撤。出来走了半天也打不到车！哎，这是奥运最后一天呀，很多人都出来狂欢，大家都在这时候回家，路上当然没车啦！

 

好不容等到一辆车，刚上车后面就跟着上了三位黑人，他们是田径参赛者，来自美国和牙买加，要回奥运村，叫我让他们同车。他们可算走运遇到我这好心人，我同意让出租车先送我回家再送他们回奥运村，在车上我们还聊了些废话！

 

 

8月24日 星期日

 

早上六点回到家，头疼，睡不好，醒了好几次，头还疼！三点Leo来电说4.30pm去打羽毛球，我答应了，四点起床发现全身乏力，决定不去了！坐在电视前继续开奥运比赛！

 

晚上一朋友到我家，一起吃饭看奥运闭幕和观看朝阳公园的烟花。

 

 

8月25日 星期一

 

Monday blues! 忘了这天干了些啥事！

 

今天我自己做晚饭了！

 

晚上回家没奥运看了，觉得像少了些什么似的，无聊，看Jeffery在广州买回来的香港电视连续剧，看到早上5点！

 

 

8月26日 星期二

 

今天很像迟到了！

 

下午公司开会讨论“执行”，大家都很认真，除了我！

 

晚上又继续看连续剧到第二天早上5点！

 

 

8月27日 星期三

 

今天我们终于搬了，从朝外搬到西海。

 

同事们都很期待这天的到来，我却一般。今早花了半天收拾东西，丢了很多垃圾！也好，清理下自己的“家产”，把无用碍地占尘的丢掉，旧的不去新的不来。

 

晚上同事们一起去吃饭庆祝。可能大伙儿都太兴奋，喝得太快，七人只喝了四斤酒，但都喝高了。过后去唱歌，他们又叫了啤酒，11点左右大伙儿都站不稳了！

 

在唱歌时Amanda来电，很高兴！她就是那种好朋友，彼此很少联系，感觉淡淡的，但却那么的深，互相关心，常在我低落时来个电话鼓励我！一个值得珍惜的好朋友！没有她的鼓励，我想我没今天，尤其刚到英国那段日子，她的坚强给了我很大的动力！Amanda，认识你是我人生一大收获，谢谢！

 

以我酒量来说，这晚我也喝了不少，5杯左右吧！奇怪，没头疼！头脑也很清醒，很理性。回家路上和朋友发短信，他说了一句令我有灰灰的感觉，他说“友情值得珍惜 但 北京不相信眼泪”，一时间也说不出啥，反正就是灰暗的感觉。

 

 

8月28日 星期四

 

今天是第一天在四合院上班，第一就迟到！他我和Jeffery九点半才离开家，到公司十点多啦。哈，Leo比我们还迟！他昨晚是真的喝多了，今天还有点blur blur的。

 

午饭后我和Leo到昆明出差。袁静听说Leo去昆明，也一起跟来。3.30pm的飞机，6.50pm到。9点多另一同事到了后才一起去吃晚饭，因为晚了，所以客户只好带我们去吃粤式小吃。食物还不错，点多了，吃的有点饱所以不想立刻回酒店，客户建议我们到翠湖转转。

 

晚上的翠湖很清幽，没月亮，但星星很光，天上的云映在湖中，微风带着淡淡的花香，犹如诗境！

 

 

8月29日 星期五

 

整个早上在开会！

 

午饭是那种“中国特色”的：老敬酒，客套话一箩箩，前后吃了两个多小时，简短一字：累！

 

回来酒店小睡了一回，五点出发去西山。走了一个小时，大概2/3路，3-4km吧，因时间关系没上到山顶。在下山路上遇到一对好心夫妇，载了我们一程，还介绍我们去吃菌类火锅。

 

晚饭后去“金马碧鸡坊”逛，没啥特别，商业区+酒吧。买了些小首饰又回到翠湖边去。

 

 

 

It was the last day of Beijing Olympic Games. As a whole this is a successful event. China has done a good job for holding the Games and managed to gain to most gold medals.

 

At 10pm at night, there were fireworks display at Chaoyang Park. It can be viewed from my flat. It was stunning!

 

A friend came over to watch the closing ceremony on TV and the firework display. We were supposed to went out for dinner first but he was late. As there wasn't much eating places around my flat, in order not to miss the programme, we decided not to eat out. We went to the supermarket just round the corner to buy some food and ate while watching the show. 

 

Below are some photos taken from my balcony.

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promised that I will write at least 2-3 times a week but it seems that I am not keeping up with the count. Sorry!

 

This is a restless week! Things seem falling apart. Not particularly busy but still not able to get my work done. Watching Olympics Games every night. Works are behind schedule!! Oh, PL, wake up, wake up!

 

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Thank God for watching me. He always sends me someone whenever I needed help. He gives me AW the whole of last year. She listens to me, gives me strength and made me one piece. I get through my first year in Beijing – not lonely, having her with me, though she is at the other end of the Globe.

 

Then we both get busier with our own live. There are lesser and lesser emails and phone calls. Life still goes on...

 

God deliver JP to me again early this year. She is also a saviour! I first met here back in 2005. I came back from my long summer break. I have no place to stay. She is very kind and offered a room. JP is one of the greatest housemate! She not only let me stayed at her house, she also cooked dinner for me almost every day. No matter what time I got home, there is always cooked food in the kitchen! She knew I am super lazy and hopeless in housework. She not only cooked, she also did all the house chores. She knew I won’t eat any fruits because I am lazy to cut them. She prepared and kept them in boxes for me. I just have to take them out from the fridge – ready to eat! What a wonderful friend and housemate!!!

 

Early this year, I was very low. AW was busy. God sent JP to me. She was there to listen to me. Talking and listening are good ways to release stress. I was not alone here. I have someone to turn. I felt strength after analysing my situation with her. In a way, she guided me out of the mist.

 

Every time I was alone and miserable, God heard my scream. He sent someone to me. Since I came to Beijing, I hardly speak or write to SF. But surprisingly, we talked a lot lately. There were few times when I really need someone there to talk to. SF called – all the way from London. We can talk for hours. Not necessarily talking about my problems but she was there to help me to pull through nights. She brings laugher to me. I was cheered up after the calls.

 

I am not sure if my “luck” will run out. I tell myself that God won’t give up on me but I was blessed so much that I am really worried that there is a day when I will use up all my “credits”.

 

These few months, things seems falling apart – but not really so. I am miserable because of work but I started to go out on Sat night. Start to have fun. Life is no longer as dull. Besides, now that AW, JP and SF are all not there for me, I met new friends – my neighbour, the Turkish lady, the cool dancing girl, the reporter friend (and some weird people) … all of them add colour to my life in some ways. And more importantly I started to share my problems with my parents. I know they are always behind me. There is always a place for me to turn to when I am tired, when I need help and support…

 

I am alone here but I am not. I am grateful for what I have, what I have been through. I am happy for who I am and where I am now. No regrets!!! Thank you!!!

 

 

Don’t know how to describe my weekends… in general, should say it’s a good one…

 

Saturday was a beautiful day – breezy day with clear blue sky. The temperature was excellent. It was definitely below 30 degree Celsius! It was gorgeous outing day!!!

 

For once I can sleep without turning on the air-con and not woken by the heat. I first woke up around 10-ish. Saw the beautiful sky, got up, set up my tripod and took few shots from my room. I was planning to go out – keep wanting to go to Ritan Park (日坛公园). Took out my cameras and batteries. Oh, they were long buried underneath all my mess. Found them at last!

 

I didn’t go out eventually… why? Hehe, what else? I stuck in my beloved bed till around 4pm! Yeah, I’m amazing and unbelievable!!! Emm… I did get up for a while. Set up my tripod in front of my window and took few photos. Can see Chaoyang Park from my room. Zoomed in and took few pic of the beach volleyball competition venue. Also gotten few shoots of the new CCTV building. Happy!

 

My neighbour texted me at night – surprise, surprise! She asked if I wanted to go out. Of course yes! We wanted to try somewhere different from the usually Sanlitun. We first went to Chaoyang Park West Door (朝阳公园西门) – nothing there :( Then went to a place called 南楼鼓巷. Oh this place is cool – all old buildings, hu-tong, artistic shops, quiet pubs/ café or drinking places. It was quiet that evening. Maybe due to Olympics. I love this place. Will want to come back again during day time.

 

We can’t find any pubs for music and dancing, eventually decided to go back to Sanlitun!!!

 

Sanlitun is a party-party place! It’s vibrant! It didn’t take me long to dive into the bubbly atmosphere! I met the little Chinese girl again. Oh like dancing with her. She is cool. But that evening she was not in good form. She is upset because of her boyfriend. We kept “club-hopping” the whole night. By the time we head home, it was 7am! This is the first time I hang out all night since I came to china. It’s a date worth jotting down – 16 August 2008!

 

Oh, my neighbour is not as crazy as me. She left just past midnight. For such a long evening of course there are more little stories to tell but can’t really recall them now. Emm… I was not drunk. I didn’t drink at all – extremely sober the whole night.

 

Surprisingly, I didn’t sleep late on Sun. I was sleeping in my living room and woke up around 11am. It was a lazy day on Sunday. Was a couch potato. :p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Started this on Sunday in the plane to Hangzhou but didn't complete it till now...

 

xxxxx     xxxxx     xxxxx     xxxxx     xxxxx

 

Hi dear, I have not heard from you for sometime. Hope you are copping well. As promised, I will try to write something each day. Err... it seems a bit tough and unachievable to write each day, so let’s give some discount – say at least 3 times a week?

 

I wanted to go out partying on Friday night after the opening ceremony. I was nicely dressed, made-up and all ready for party but found that there were no cabs available! :( No choose lor – be a good girl and stayed home lor.. :(

 

On Sat, I wanted to sleep whole day but don’t know why I woke around 10-11am. Laid in bed for awhile but could not sleep anymore! Again be a good girl and woke up “early” – my definition of early. Hehe…

 

Can’t recall what I didn’t in the afternoon. Maybe watch TV, surf net, text friend… It was quite windy on Sat but it’s still very hot. The wind was hot wind! Around 7ish, I went out for a walk around my area. I have no idea where should I go so I just walk along the river (or a big drain???) right next to my apartment. I took some photos as I walked. It has been a long, long time since I last used my camera.

 

I put on headphone with blasting music as I walked. I then decided to walk to Chaoyang Park – this is where the Olympic beach volleyball is held. It took me about an hour to get there. Yeah walked very slow – made few photo stops. I didn’t get into the Park. I think it’s not allow because of the Games – emm… not sure, didn’t attempt to get in.

 

By the time I get to the part where I was heading to, I was starving! Yeah I haven’t taken dinner yet. Wanted to head back but saw a bunch of kids playing there so sat down there to watch them. Took some photos of the kids. They were lovely – was happy to be surrounded by kid. I promised to develop the photos for them. If I ever get sick of my job or find someone who can

 

I headed home around 9.30ish. Walked very quickly on my way back. Reminded me the time when we walk home together after work. It took me about 30min to get home. It was 10pm when I got home. I had a clubbing appointment at 11pm. In the next 45 min, I cooked dinner, ate, wash up and showered. Fast leh? Hehe… just cooked eat fried rice. :p

 

The clubbing night out was great fun! Didn’t have this great feeling for sometime! Just dance practically none stop for 3 hours. Was dead tire after that! Oh, I met a young Chinese girl. She can dance very well – very hip-hop and reggae style. Like her!

 

Got home around 3am! Can hardly move! Tell you one scary thing… I thought of taking a short rest before I wash up. But I dosed off on bed with my contact lenses on. Woke up about an hour later. When I tried to remove my lenses, one just tore off and left part in my eye. It went onto the upper side of my eyeball. I kept tearing and blinking but couldn’t get it back to the front end. It took me awhile to remove it. It was scary experience where I was thinking what would happen if I could get it out! Luckily I manage to remove it after a bit of struggle. My eye was bloodshot red!

 

Sunday was an easy day for me. Again, I could sleep late – woke up before 11am. My whole body was aching. When to Jeff house for lunch, came back wanted to clean my room but dose off. When I woke up, it’s about time to get ready to go Hangzhou.

 

That’s gone my weekend. Nothing much done…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

今天是七夕情人节，也是我爸农历生日。没给他打电话，星期日打了，那是阳历生日。

 

明天，周五，8月8日，奥运开幕，经争取终取得明天休假。很高兴，整天都想笑。不懂的人可能会以为我情人节佳人有约呢！

 

今天才知道这星期日要到杭州去，周一在长兴很公司一起开中介会。本想明天或后天先到苏州去，“避运”，星期日再到杭州和Leo会合，但明天又想呆在家看开幕和烟花，想了想还是别赶来赶去的，呆在北京吧！

 

同事很高效，定了星期日到杭州机票啦！很像是3折票，那就不改了！

 

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Despite I am happy and excited about tomorrow day off, I still have lots of outstanding works! Emm… tomorrow have to work from home. But have been very restless about work lately!

 

Today a friend called me when I was at Jeffery’s house. I was there for dinner, as usual. I chatted with him. He is in Heilongjiang – somewhere right at the border of China-Russia. He was telling me how great that place is – by the river, breezy, over-seeing the border, having beer. Russia is just right across the river. The sky is high, the stars are bright. Never once Beijing is like that!

 

Why bother telling me all that? I am not there! Teasing me! Worst still, after the call, Jeff said I am flirting with lover. He said I should go home and have private talk. Oh gosh! Told Jeff I only met this guy once. But Jeff said from the conversations, there must be something between us!!! 真是水洗不清！

 

Emm… if there is something between him and me, I won’t deny! But there isn’t any. I am sure Jeff will tease me in office for this call!!! I do have good impression towards this friend. Find him interesting! So far, apart from my colleague, he is the only man I find we can talk at same frequency. But we are still not lover type.

 

Hai, I think I am very slow and passive when come to love relationship. I be can playful and curious but I am not forward type. An old friend once asked me whether I am from a broken family. Why am I so stingy when come to relationship? He thought I was being hurt or being betrayed before. No lor. I am just don’t trust feelings. I need more concrete things, more certainty. This only comes with time.

 

Err… why am I talking about this? Maybe because it’s Chinese Valentines today. So it’s okey to talk about love and relationship… hehe… what a right timing…

 

 

      

 

         

 

         

 

Has been waiting to speak to him but just unable to get hold of him. These couple of weeks he has been busy with closing an investment, at the same time trying to call back an investment. I see him started to smoke again this week – must be very stressed up! He has been so occupied! I really don’t want to break the news now. But I am running out of time… Please, please, please give me the opportunity and courage to face this!!!

 

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I am very unproductive this week. It has been a week and I have not even finish the interim report! Lots of disruption in office. Spent lots of time on the phone. At least 2-3 calls re the Battery job. Worst thing is that I am having ulcer – at the back of my tongue. Can’t even speak properly. :p

 

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Olympic is getting closer. This morning the traffic was bad. There aren’t that many cars and people compare to normal days but the traffic stood still. Must be due to road blocks somewhere. Emm… the touch in is Sichuan today and will be arriving Beijing tomorrow. Hopefully it wont affect me travelling to/ from office.

 

Beijing is just too empty. – a bit like being deserted! Depressing…

 

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Spoke to an online friend today. Once in a blue moon, the topics are rather serious. Funnily enough I felt silly and meaningless – just talking to the wrong person the wrong topics. I would rather talk rubbish…

 

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Dear Angie, I have not been hearing from you for long long time. You must be very busy! Since when did we stop chatting on msn? I know it’s my fault. I am the one who skipped replying email first. I also can’t remember what I was busying about but I didn’t write as much late last year! Then back in early this year, I get very depressed because of my job and I just didn’t feel like writing. Then into Spring, you started to get busy with all your activities and was seconded to Switzerland. We just keep missing each other! I think we now also make less effect to meet in msn.  Well, I we knew this will eventually happen. Anyway, I know you are always there for me…

 

I will try to write as much as I can on the blog space so that you can read it whenever you have time or whenever you feel like it. I will still be using the same old style and still be talking about daily stuff – trivial details. Even though we are half way round the world, you can still know about my daily encounters. Hope this can keep us together.

 

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Oh today walked to buy DVD with Jeff and his wife. Can you believe that the DVD shop is closed? What else? Olympic again! All the pirated DVD shops are closed. Last week I popped into two DVD shops in town with a friend. They stopped selling pirated DVDs. No more movies, just TV series. Of course those original. I bet now you cannot easily find any pirated DVDs!!! So who said the Government cannot control plagiarise discs? Its just a matter whether it wants to do it or not!!!

 

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Oh yesterday news: 16 people died in an attack (terrorists?) in Xinjiang. The minorities are taking this opportunity to express their view to the World. Emm… can’t blame the Government being so rigid in Beijing. The show has started and the whole world is watching it. No matter how costly it is, China just need to finish it – and must be a good ending…

 

 

周六从我家阳台看到天安门放烟花了！那晚能见度很高，从高处瞻望，烟花从屋顶上冒出，是另一种味道！

 

烟花虽灿烂但短暂，来不及把相机拿出它就消失的无影无踪了。八月八日我会先设好三脚架，边看电视，边等待另一场更灿烂、美丽和持久的烟花！

 

 

Just spoke to a friend – 3 hours we spoke. This is normal. My record with another friend was 11 hours! That was crazy. I was very attached to her and will tell her very single things that happened to me.

 

Lately I start to speak to another friend. It’s weird; We hardly speak or write since I came to China, but we started to talk on the phone after my trip July trip to London.

 

I had a pleasure weekend. Woke up early on Sat to play badminton with Leo and Jeff. Had lunch and dinner at Jeff’s house. Was not feeling on Sat night – had headache and feel like throwing up. My mum called but didn’t speak long. Talking made me felt like more air was getting into my stomach and made me felt worst. I think my mum was nothing coz I sound very dull on the phone. Anyway, don’t bother to explain – just hang up very quickly.

 

After that wanted to sleep but dare not lie down on bed coz worried that the food in stomach will throw up. So sat and watch TV in the living room. Ended up stay up till 4-5am!

 

On Sun I slept till 6pm! Woke up and went to Jeff’s house for dinner. Her mum cooking is good. It’s the southern style so it suits my taste. Emm… since Jeff’s wife and parents came to Beijing, I have been going to his house for dinner very often.

 

It’s 5am now. Got to go. Will write more next time.