London Symphony Orchestra

Just bought two concert tickets this morning for LSO. I am not particularly keen to attend the Lang Lang one on 26APR, but then for HKD350 (second lowest price), I chose to give it a go, just to see whether he could handle Ravel's Concerto in G. Just learnt that his new name is "Bang Bang" - because he only knows how to hit the piano without a deeper understanding of the music he plays!

The second night's Mahler 5 is very attractive. With Berg's violin concerto as bonus, this is a treat! I very much look forward to listening to Daniel Harding, who is a young and sought-after conductor in Europe.

Steak House

Trying to find a really good steak house to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary. Thinking about Ruth's Chris Steak House at Admiralty or The Steak House Wine Bar and Grill at the Hotel Inter-Continental. Anybody been to these two restaurants before? Any other suggestions?

《愛樂》雜誌

《愛樂》雜誌 has changed to bi-monthly issue. Much richer in contents and lower price. The January/February issue is about Chopin's music. Only $18! Must-buy for classical music lovers. Why haven't we got something similar in Hong Kong?

《愛樂》簡介
《愛樂》雜志是中國大陸首屈一指的古典音樂刊物，創刊於1995年，匯集世界各大唱片公司最新唱片信息，提供權威的新唱片品評推薦，以最完備的資訊與最通俗易懂的解讀，幫你尋求古典音樂入門捷徑。

《愛樂》雜志經周密策劃，即將出版改刊后的第一期。改刊后的《愛樂》為雙月刊，針對廣大讀者希望接觸古典音樂卻苦於找不到途徑、廣大家長希望輔導孩子古典音樂素養卻找不到教材的需求的情形，由淺入深，每期以100多頁篇幅組織古典音樂研究與欣賞專家撰寫的“古典音樂欣賞入門”專題，深入一個個作曲家及作品，提供豐富的入門指導。改刊后第一期介紹如何欣賞肖邦的鋼琴曲，第二期將介紹如何欣賞貝多芬的交響曲。
改刊后，《愛樂》將強調古典音樂欣賞入門及提高。每期還介紹一件樂器、連載歌劇發展史，強調實用性與連續可收藏性，希望通過一本本累計，集成一部豐富的古典音樂百科全書。

CD and DVD

Bought a few CD and DVD last Friday. Very much looking forward to watching them:

- Madonna - The Confessions Tour

- Paris Je Taime

- 林海峰是但嗡踎低噴飯 (already finished - absolutely 1st class!)

- An Inconvenient Truth

- 父子

Tell Me on a Sunday

This is the song I am going to sing in the annual dinner. Not many people know this - the title song of one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's early musicals (1979), subsequently transformed into Act I of "Song and Dance" (1982). I have loved this song ever since I heard Michael Crawford sings it. Hilarious Lyrics by Don Black. I couldn't find the score of it until yesterday - an online sheet music provider, www.musicnotes.com, provided instant printouts of this song. It even provides transposed version.

Tell me on a Sunday

Don't write a letter when you want to leave
Don't call me at 3 a.m. from a friend's apartment
I'd like to choose how I hear the news
Take me to a park that's covered with trees
Tell me on a Sunday please

Let me down easy
No big song and dance
No long faces, no long looks
No deep conversation
I know the way we should spend that day
Take me to a zoo that's got chimpanzees
Tell me on a Sunday please

Don't want to know who's to blame
It won't help knowing
Don't want to fight day and night
Bad enough you're going

Don't leave in silence with no word at all
Don't get drunk and slam the door
That's no way to end this
I know how I want you to say goodbye
Find a circus ring with a flying trapeze
Tell me on a Sunday please

Don't want to fight day and night
Bad enough you're going
Don't leave in silence with no word at all
Don't get drunk and slam the door
That's no way to end this
I know how I want you to say goodbye

Don't run off in the pouring rain
Don't call me as they call your plane
Take the hurt out of all the pain
Take me to a park that's covered with trees
Tell me on a Sunday please

Meaningful Comics

Copied from ShowHappy.net



















如果擁有一雙翅膀，又會怎樣

Singing in Annual Dinner

For some reasons, I don't feel like singing in annual dinners. I don't like people asking me to sing just because I sing well. I don't want it to be a casual event and people take it for granted. I just want to sit back and enjoy an evening.

Ivan Fischer's Mahler 2

Bought this two weeks ago. Listened to it just now. I haven't got an SACD player, but the sound effect of this Mahler 2 is truly amazing. You can listen to all the percussions, the organs, etc that you probably missed in previous versions. Although I think the climax was not built up as effectively as Rattle's CBSO unbeatable version (which is still the best), Fischer's contribution in this Mahler 2 is commendable. He took a relatively slow tempo throughout, which could be inspiring at times (except for the 2nd movement, which is a dance and therefore should not be too slow).

The price of this CD is outrageous. But then, it is an SACD. And being a Mahler fan, and a Mahler 2 fan in particular, I could not help but bought it. Good to have listened to something new in this version.

Definition

Just want to know, how do you define a "中年人"?

一切都是最好的安排

This is an interesting story copied from another blog. A long one, but worth reading.

從前有一個國家，地不大，人不多，但是人民過著悠閒快樂的生活，因為他們有一位不喜歡做事的國王和一位不喜歡做官的宰相。

==========

國王沒有什麼不良嗜好，除了打獵以外，最喜歡與宰相微服私訪民隱。
宰相除了處理國務以外，就是陪著國王下鄉巡視，如果是他一個人的話，他最喜歡研究宇宙人生的真理，他最喜歡嘴邊的一句話就是「一切都是最好的安排」。

==========

有一次，國王興高采烈的到大草原打獵，隨從帶著數十條獵犬，聲勢浩蕩。

國王的身體保養得非常好，筋骨結實，而且肌膚泛光，看起來就有一國之君的氣派。隨從看見國王騎在馬上，威風凜凜地追逐一頭花豹，都不禁讚歎國王勇武過人！花豹奮力逃命，國王緊追不捨，一直追到花豹的速度減慢時，國王才從容不迫彎弓搭箭，瞄準花豹，嗖的一聲，利箭像閃電似的，一眨眼就飛過草原，不偏不倚鑽入花豹的頸子，花豹慘嘶一聲，仆倒在地。國王很開心，他眼看花豹躺在地上許久都毫無動靜，一時失去戒心，居然在隨從尚未趕上時，就下馬檢視花豹。

誰想到，花豹就是在等待這一瞬間，使出最後的力氣?

花豹突然跳起來向國王撲過來。國王一愣，看見花豹張開血盆大口咬來，他下意識地閃了一下，心想：「完了！」還好，隨從及時趕上，立刻發箭射入花豹的咽喉，國王覺得小指一涼，花豹就悶不吭聲跌在地上，這次真的死了。

隨從忐忑不安走上來詢問國王是否無恙，國王看看手，小指頭被花豹咬掉小半截，血流不止，隨行的御醫立刻上前包紮。雖然傷勢不算嚴重，但國王的興致破壞光了，本來國王還想找人來責罵一番，可是想想這次只怪自己冒失，還能怪誰？所以悶不吭聲，大夥兒就黯然回宮去了。

==========

回宮以後，國王越想越不痛快，就找了宰相來飲酒解愁。宰相知道了這事後，一邊舉酒敬國王，一邊微笑說：「大王啊！少了一小塊肉總比少了一條命來得好吧！想開一點，一切都是最好的安排！」

國王一聽，悶了半天的不快終於找到宣洩的機會。他凝視宰相說：「嘿！你真是大膽！你真的認為一切都是最好的安排嗎？」宰相發覺國王十分憤怒，卻也毫不在意說：「大王，真的，如果我們能夠超越『我執』，確確實實，一切都是最好的安排！」

 國王說：「如果寡人把你關進監獄，這也是最好的安排？」

 宰相微笑說：「如果是這樣，我也深信這是最好的安排。」

 國王說：「如果寡人吩咐侍衛把你拖出去砍了，這也是最好的安排？」

宰相依然微笑，彷彿國王在說一件與他毫不相干的事。
「如果是這樣，我也深信這是最好的安排。」

國王勃然大怒，大手用力一拍，兩名侍衛立刻近前， 他們聽見國王說：「你們馬上把宰相抓出去斬了！」
 
侍衛愣住，一時不知如何反應。

國王說：「還不快點，等什麼？」

侍衛如夢初醒，上前架起宰相，就往門外走去。

國王忽然有點後悔，他大叫一聲說：「慢著，先抓去關起來！」

宰相回頭對他一笑，說：「這也是最好的安排！」

國王大手一揮，兩名侍衛就架著宰相走出去了。

 ==========

過了一個月，國王養好傷，打算像以前一樣找宰相一塊兒微服私巡，可是想到是自己親口把他關入監獄，一時也放不下身段釋放宰相，嘆了口氣，就自己獨自出遊了。走著走著，來到一處偏遠的山林，忽然從山上衝下一隊臉上塗著紅黃油彩的蠻人，三兩下就把他五花大綁，帶回高山上。

國王這時才想到今天正是滿月，這一帶有一支原始部落，每逢月圓之日就會下山尋找祭祀滿月女神的犧牲品。

他哀歎一聲，這下子真的是沒救了。

其實心裡很想跟蠻人說：我乃這裡的國王，放了我，我就賞賜你們金山銀海！可是嘴巴被破布塞住，連話都說不出口。當他看見自己被帶到一口比人還高的大鍋爐，柴火正熊熊燃燒，更是臉色慘白。

大祭司現身，當眾脫光國王的衣服，露出他細皮嫩肉的龍體，大祭司嘖嘖稱奇，想不到現在還能找到這麼完美無暇的祭品！原來，今天要祭祀的滿月女神，正是「完美」的象徵，所以，祭祀的牲品醜一點、黑一點、矮一點都沒有關係，就是不能殘缺。就在這時，大祭司終於發現國王的左手小指頭少了小半截，他忍不住咬牙切齒咒罵了半天，忍痛下令說：「把這個廢物趕走，另外再找一個！」

==========

脫困的國王大喜若狂，飛奔回宮，立刻叫人釋放宰相，在御花園設宴，為自己保住一命、也為宰相重獲自由而慶祝。國王一邊向宰相敬酒說：「愛卿啊！你說的真是一點也不錯，果然，一切都是最好的安排！如果不是被花豹咬一口，今天連命都沒了。」

宰相回敬國王，微笑說：「賀喜大王對人生的體驗又更上一層樓了。」

過了一會兒，國王忽然問宰相說：寡人救回一命，固然是『一切都是最好的安排』，可是你無緣無故在監獄蹲了一個月，這又怎麼說呢？」

宰相慢條斯理喝下一口酒，才說：「大王！您將我關在監獄，確實也是最好的安排啊！」他饒富深意看了國王一眼，舉杯說：「您想想看，如果我不是在監獄?，那麼陪伴您微服私巡的人，不是我還會有誰呢？等到蠻人發現國王不適合拿來祭祀滿月女神時，誰會被丟進大鍋爐中烹煮呢？不是我還有誰呢？所以，我要為大王將我關進監獄而向您敬酒，您也救了我一命啊！」

國王忍不住哈哈大笑，朗聲說：「乾杯吧！果然沒錯，一切都是最好的安排！」

==========

在人的一生中所遭遇的困難挫折  在當下或許是如此難以接受，
但在過後突然某一時刻中會覺得
這是最好的安排

 ～*～*～*～*～ *～*～*～*～*～*～*～

不完美，正是一種完美 ！
我們老了、都鏽了，都千瘡百孔了
總隔一陣子就去看醫生
來修補我們殘破的身軀
我們又何必要求至自己擁有的人、事、物
都完美無暇　沒有缺點呢？
看得慣殘破　也是歷練　是豁達　是成熟
是一種人生的境界！

有道理

一位夫人打電話給建築師，說每當火車經過時，她的睡床就會搖動。
"這簡直是無稽之談！"建築師回答說，"我來看看。"
建築師到達後，夫人建議他躺在床上，體會一下火車經過時的感覺。
建築師剛上床躺下，夫人的丈夫就回來了。他見此情形，便厲聲喝問："你躺在我妻子的床上幹什麼？"
建築師戰戰兢兢地回答："我說是在等火車，你會相信嗎？"
【頓悟】有些話是真的，卻聽上去很假；有些話是假的，卻令人無庸置疑。

Goldberg Variations for String Trio

Bought this from Pro Sound yesterday without a thought, as I love Goldberg Variations. I haven't finished it yet (baby crying, etc), but I have the feeling that I will still love the Glenn Gould piano version more. This would a very interesting recording that I will definitely spend some time to listen to, not to mention the players are all well respected soloists - Nobuko Imai, Mischa Maisky and Julian Rachlin.

What a night!

My baby was so well-behaved last night! He slept most of the time (if I held him) from 10:00pm to 12:30am. I fed him 2.5oz milk powder at 11:30pm and finished at around 12:15am, burbed him for 15min and put him to bed. He slept right through to nearly 5:00am this morning. What's more, I didn't even change a diaper last night!

Hey! Hey!

大國崛起

Just bought this DVD set, which has been a hot topic recently. I want to watch it very much but just wonder when I will have the time, given the new situation at home...

Frustration

I carried my baby starting from 9:30pm last night. He wouldn't sleep and kept crying once I put him on his bed. This carried on for 4 hours until 1:30am. During these 4 hours, I changed 5 diapers for him, fed him two bottles of milk powder, burbed him for over 1 hour at least, etc. When I was just finishing the final diaper, he peed right in front of me. I lost my patience and yelled at him. My wife came out and took over from me. I went to bed straight away, but couldn't sleep for half an hour...if I could cry, I would have cried.

I thought my EQ has improved dramatically in the past 4 weeks. But I was wrong. I was still the old me. I lost my temper just as easily. I was frustrated and exhausted. I felt so bad that I treated my son that way. I felt so guilty.

Now I know why people beat up their kids, or throw them out of the window, or even kill them...

Lladro

One of my ex-customers (actually his wife!) sent me this gift for my baby. Nice gift. Being realistic and materialistic as I am, I couldn't help wonder whether I could return it in exchange of cash! It is a work of art - no doubt about it. But I can hardly find a place for it in my small flat. What am I going to do with it now?

For your information, this sculpture costs EUR190! Here is their website:

www.lladro.com

Non-Stop Feeding

Why is our baby eating on a non-stop basis and why does he refuse to sleep until it is 2am in the morning? Ironically, he has not been gaining any weight and we start to worry about him...