My participation in charity work

The Potala Palace, Tibet

Hi,

I am going to give a presentation on my participation in charity work.

I am very interested in voluntary work of a charity.

I am a volunteer in World Vision. I choose this charity because I think the task is very meaningful. I assist my best friend who is also a volunteer in this charity covering the jobs of sending messages to the other members to inform them having meetings and then raising the destinations to start journeys to the poor villages in Mainland China by giving the villagers food, money and other daily materials. The activity is carried out half-yearly.

Although I am already over fifty-seven years of age, in the midst of the fourth range of the population of Hong Kong, which is between fifty to eighty years old, I consider I am proud to be one of these prosperous human resources to contribute my effort to the society.

World Vision is an international Christian relief and development organization. It aims to help children and families, provides emergency aid and tries to increase public awareness of poverty around the world. World Vision now helps over 100 million needy and poor people in 100 different countries around the world. One of the ways to help them is by child sponsorship. Of every contributor giving two hundred Hong Kong dollars monthly, one of these children is being released from poverty, having the chance of going to school to be educated.

I appreciate the opportunity of being a volunteer in this non-profitmaking organization. I enjoy it. I think I am being one of the luckiest persons in Hong Kong since I am supported by my parents, my brothers and sisters, my husband, my sons, my relatives, doctors and nurses, teachers, schoolmates as well as colleagues… etc. On the contrary, my meagre effort of showing my awareness to society is just like one of the tiniest pebbles on the huge beach.

Thank you.


Mary
8.8.2007 & 26.2.2011

a tiny bee

我像一隻小蜜蜂，
準備充足來過冬。

Mary

顏淵是孔門弟子中的模範生

顏回樂道

孔子弟子三千，最得他歡心的首推顏回。顏回家貧，生活艱苦，但他沒有半句怨言，只知遵守老師教誨，律己修身，秉持高尚的仁義道德標準。

孔子多次在學生面前稱許顏回，並要求學生以他為榜樣。《論語雍也》記載：“子曰：‘賢哉，回也！一簞食，一瓢飲，在陋巷，人不堪其憂，回也不改其樂。賢哉，回也！”“簞”是古代盛飯的器皿，多以竹編成；“瓢”則是以葫蘆對半剖開而成的勺子，可作舀水或飲器用。“一簞一瓢”意即少量飲食，後喻生活簡樸，解作安貧樂道。

顏回並非喜愛簞瓢陋巷，而是不會因為貧困累心而失其所樂。他知足常樂，好學如故，難怪萬世師表對他鍾愛有加。

茶餐廳

to stop and take a quick meal in Star Ferry Pier HK side

a taste of natural resource

a favourite one situated in Cheung Chau, School Rd.

a small caf 'e in Tung Tau Chuen Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon.

MY favourite place to eat is a small 'cha chan teng'. I like to order French toast and iced lemon tea. French toast and iced lemon tea are quick to make and they arrive quickly, which are good when I'm starving hungry. Mary

失而復得的喜悅

失而復得的喜悅

一個北風呼呼星期五的晚上，天空陰沉沉的，氣温很低，剛剛參加完夜校英文期考的我，加上經過一天辛勤的工作，便到附近的〈好旺角〉餐廳進食雲吞麵和油菜，怱忙地搭上歸途。我乘搭那輛小巴全車滿座，隔鄰座位的陌生男士，也抵不住打起瞌睡來了。由旺角中心小巴總站到沙田，只消二十分鐘的車程便可到達沙田，我準備下車的時候，我聽見一聲「嘭！」，遂往座椅下張望，隔鄰乘客也往下張望，看見沒有東西留在座椅下，我們便下車了。我漫步到慣常光顧〈沙角邨大牌檔〉飲鮮奶，付款的時候，我又發現我的銀包不翼而飛！

勉強鎮定後，我致電給我的家人，他們異口同聲地説：「在小巴裏遺失了錢包，是很難找回的。」我的夜校同學也是持著相同的見解：「提議我回家休息，明天到警局報失吧。」當時我的銀包裏大概有二千元港幣，又有身份證、回鄉證、職員證及一些零用錢。

但是，我心有不甘的感覺，想一想：呀。靈機一觸，現在已經是晚上十二時了，天色又那麼陰暗，或者會有一線生機，在漆黑的環境下，那些乘客又那麼怱忙，或者他們沒有發覺他們的椅子下有一個銀包啊！

基於以上的念頭，我飛的士趕到站頭，我的大兒子也趕著到旺角和我會合及陪伴我，我的小兒子也駕車到沙田候命，他們對我的關心，真是令我感動極了。那些小巴司機開車門給我上車，但是他們担心地說：「你找不到的，你十時半上車，現在已是差不多凌晨一時了，那有可能找到哩。」為了令我安心，他們還是讓我逐一上車找尋，香港地真的有很多好人，他們合作地翹起雙腳讓我找尋，有些乘客甚至用電筒給我照明，令我感動極了。我本來是坐在第三行座位的，我便由第三、四行開始向前排座位找尋，已經找遍了六、七部車也找不到，我覺得有些灰心，到第八部車了，唉，「是最後一部了，」我心裏盤算著：「如果這輛車也找不到的話，便回家吧。」

照前一樣上車找、由第四行座位向前找，也找不到。司機回轉頭温和地向我説：「太太，你找到嗎？」我向著他的方向望過去，只見金光一閃，說時遲，那時快，我急速地拾起我的銀包！！心中的喜悅從心裏面笑出來，一直湧到眼睛裏泛著欣喜的淚光。我舉起銀包說：「這是我的銀包啊！」其他乘客也微笑起來，有些則笑著點點頭，我又打開銀包，內裏原封不動，我抽取身份證，舉起它，向他們展示，我發覺有一位乘客甚至輕輕地拍起手掌來。我連聲道謝，便下車了。

我的銀包原來停留在第一排座位前、司機背後地上的縫隙裏。因為「天時、地利、人和」的配合，即「天黑、地方的懚蔽、乘客的沒有發覺。」我才能找回銀包。這麼奇妙的遭遇 -- 失而復得的喜悦 -- 發生在二零一零年一月十五日的晚上 . . . . . .這麼難忘的經驗，一定會牢刻在我的記憶中。

Mary姐

Visit to Macau

Dear,

What a wonderful visit to Macau in these two days of Easter holidays!

We got on a turbojet at about eleven o'clock in the 2.4.10 morning and reached Macau at exactly twelve o'clock! The first thing we did on our arrival was to go to a hotel. It was called Hotel Golden Dragon. Before we left home we had made arrangements so that everything was now ready for us. After getting comfortably settled we went sightseeing. We found that Macau had about a million inhabitants. The climate was rather cool and sometimes a little damp, but we were very glad to be in such a fairly cold weather.

We had lunch in a Chinese restaurant nearby. The food was delicious. I like the stir-fryed rice most. Then we went by taxi to the Science Museum, afterwards, to Koon Ya Street, Taipa, where was very crowdy. On the way in the taxi, we saw Statue of Kun lam, Lotus Monument, Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Friendship Bridge. There were many casinos in Macau. They were all famous tourist spots. I bought souvinors for my friends and myself. After walking for an hour, I felt tired and my right leg ached. Notwithstanding what'd happened to my pain, I hurried back to the hotel for a rest. At about eight o'clock we took supper in Tatuda Japanese Restaurant in the hotel. The service was of low class but the food was quite okay, not counting the melted ice-cream.

In the next morning, we went to 'Sun Ma Road' and then we had a delightfull lunch in the rotation restaurant of the Macau Tower. The food was very tasty. I like them very much and I ate a lot. Wow! I'll certainly go there next time.

We returned to Hong Kong at about five o'clock. We only spent two hours on transporation from Macau to Hong Kong. Very fast.

On the whole, I appreciated the hotel which we lived. However, next time if we go to Macau, we'll join the Kwan Kin Tour to Macau as agreed because the price is cheaper and the schedule of visit'll be much easier yet more convenient. However, a trip planned by ourselves is also desirable.

Attached are some beautiful photos we had taken in the trip.

Thank you. Happy Easter!

Keep smiling, keep shining,

Mary
written on 2.4.2010

---Untitled---

AN old man went on a trip to Italy with his wife to celebrate his seventieth birthday. They came to a coffee shop and ordered two cups of coffee. The old man told the young waiter, "This shop is as old as I am. I used to come here every time I visited Italy when I was young. The coffee was just terrific and I've always been longing to come back."

Later, the coffee came and the old couple could not wait to have a taste of it with excitement. Having taken a little sip, they put down their cups immediately and looked at each other in disappointment. The old man asked for the waiter and made a bitter complaint, "The coffee is so different. It doesn't smell or taste like coffee. It's more like water."

The waiter explained with patience, "This coffee shop is already seventy years old, just as you are. So it is natural that the coffee is becoming weaker and weaker. You should know perfectly well about that!"

Note : Drinks that are weak are made with a lot of water and therefore do not have a strong taste.

2006年5月3日

夜校 — 我的尋夢園


「理想的書籍是智慧的鑰匙。」— 這是大文豪、大思想家托爾斯泰所說的。如何評定為理想的書籍？如何選擇理想的書籍呢？大家試想想，用怎麽途徑？用甚麽方法？

解答以上的問題，當然是：學校。

出來社會打滾了這麽多年，回頭一想，原來答案卻在學校裏。

夜校是我的「尋夢園」。

相信夢想，建立目標，相信您的夢想。

披星戴月的日子，給我的印象是美妙的，開心的，滿懷希望的 — 荃灣官立夜中學是一片樂土。

那裏有慈祥的、和藹的、親切的老師，他們懷著熱誠，教得漂亮，教得健康。他們似乎有一種超乎常人的力量，春風化雨，洗淨我們的頭腦和心靈 — 令我相信自己的夢想是會實現的。

他們時常提及我們將來的前途，例如，中學會考哩。又令我們明白「飲水思源」，知道自己民族的起源和歷史:中國的歷史歷程；數學的計算和理解 - 增進我們的信心；英文為溝通工具：增廣見識；中文的欣賞 – 陶冶性情；及科學的見證：擁有常識。凡此種種益處，令人心情舒暢，頭腦清晰。

小時候，我曾經幻想自己是一位超人，用自己與生俱來的雙手，一副頭腦，就能得到好日子了！這是對了四分之一，其實還有另外的三點是：教育，機會，應變。如你的機會真的來臨了，所學的教育就幫上忙了，應變也是以上三種準備的滙合。所以夜校是我的『「夢」校園』，意思是說由學校裏孕育出來的。

我們要相信夢想，然後將夢想變為理想，然後一步一步的去實現，變成事實。這要靠我們努力，刻苦，持久堅毅的精神。

最後，讓我引述偉大科學家愛因思坦所述的話：「恒心和耐心最終會得到報酬的。」萬世流芳大教育家孔子也曾說：「譬如平地，雖覆一簣，進，吾進也。」願同學共勉之。

Mary姐
於3.5.2006所作的文章

'out' in joy

Happiness,

I always feel young because I have confidence in my thesis, moral, merit, morale, ethics, value of life, aim, dream that I created and followed in my young time. I'll continue in these excellent rules till I'm 'out'. 'Out' means the end of the life. Where-upon, I'm happy.

In view of the above faith, I'm confident that I'll be a fit person for the rest of my life.

'Out', then come into the another route of 'entrance',

God is my best friend,

Mary.

Happiness

I really enjoy my life. The most important thing is to enjoy my life – to be happy – it is all that matters.

Mary,
19.2.2011

快樂往往不是來自擁有得多，而是計較得少。

夜幕低垂

大澳一景

大澳六記

大澳是一個漁村，位於大嶼山的西北面，面向太平洋，是觀賞日落的好地方。

大澳的棚屋是由特別的木材（沉木）(梓木）（排木）或（楠木）製造，堅固而且耐濕，抵抗水流、雨水、狂風、及日曬的侵蝕，曾有原居民說他們已經在這裏居住超過百年了，他們異口同聲大澳是人傑地靈的福地，大概有兩千居民。原居民生活簡單悠閒，他們持有樂天、善良的特質。你有同感嗎?

閒遊大澳街道，廟宇林立，它們已有三百年歷史的了，大多數是用麻石為建築材料：有觀音廟、天后廟、關帝廟、洪聖爺廟、侯王古廟等；大澳有很多食肆，如蓮香酒家、福滿林酒家、威尼斯酒家，其記茶餐廳等等…，美味的食物足令遊客流連忘返。那裏又有一檔小販，是做「鷄蛋仔」燒餅的，很有趣味，只見他將煮食器皿放在炭爐上烤貝，淋些黃色的麵粉蛋漿到窿窿裏，不消三分鐘，就有一餅色香味頂好的「鷄蛋仔」了。前年賣十元一餅，雖然今年已經漲價了，還是其門如市，大排長龍，真奇怪。

另外，大澳的乾曬鹹魚也很美味的，是大澳其中的一項特色，只見一盆盆的竹盤上擺滿了鹹魚，有馬友魚、牙帶魚、立魚、倉魚、紅衫魚、膠魚、白飯魚等等，各色各樣的鹹魚，令人垂涎欲滴，很想趕快回家煮鹹魚肉餅煲仔飯吃。

大澳的「瀨尿蝦」是新鮮從海上捕捉回來的，也很便宜，只是二十元一斤左右，那些擺賣的檔口從來都是賣一斤瀨尿蝦就贈送多給你四兩，則一斤的價錢就買到一斤四兩瀨尿蝦，有內地遊客曾經打趣說道：「你的稱陀是特造的嗎?抑或你嫌錢鯹?」他們卻說：因為大澳漁民每天都捕捉到很多瀨尿蝦，漁獲豐富，供過於求，況且瀨尿蝦離開海面生存很短時間，與其到晚上把他們倒掉了，不如送一些給顧客，還能賺到一些開心回來，顧客開心，他們又開心，一舉兩得。其中少部份是九寸至一尺的長度。椒鹽瀨尿蝦或白灼瀨尿蝦也是同等美味的，如與辣椒醬加些鼓油佐膳，芥辣亦可，那就更美妙了。可到蓮香酒家代為煮食的，加工費為大概三十元左右。

民宿的價格也很經濟，大概三百元至四百元不等，由蓮香酒家行過幾間鋪頭就可以找到訂房櫃位，「事頭」是做油畫上色T-恤生意的，也做沖調咖啡廳生意：整齊妥當;民宿是二座兩層高的村屋，樓下為廚房及衛生間，樓上為睡房，有蚊帳設備，清潔舒適；加上陣陣的涼風夾雜海鹽的味道 — 由大海吹到大澳，吹過大橋，紅樹林，吹過寥寥可數的漁舟，到達民宿的二樓去，當其時，你一定會覺得不枉此行的了！

敬祝中秋節快樂 !

Mary姐

An interesting date

Amy and David had a date last week. They were good classmates. One Monday afternoon, David asked, “Amy, do you like to go with me to the cinema on Saturday?” She replied she was pleased to come. David liked Amy for she was a quiet, beautiful, gentle and cheerful girl with long straight hair.

Amy was so happy, excited and nervous that she wanted to have a complete change in her appearance in order to impress David. Hence, she had a hair cut and went shopping at Fashion House and Lee’s Hair Salon respectively the following day after school. She bought many items and some clothes.

Time did fly. Very soon the Saturday date arrived. When Amy was leaving the house, her mother reminded her, “Have a good time and not to be too late home.” Amy responded, “OK, Mum.” Wow! What a different look of Amy! Her hair was short with a pointed punk style. She dyed her hair in lovely purple and brown colours. She put on a lot of make-up by means of pink cheeks. She wore a low-cut light-blue T-shirt with orange-striped sleeves. In addition, she wore two sparkling ear-wings. Moreover, she put on a pair of tight floral jeans and white high-heeled long boots! A colourful bracelet was worn in her hand. She also carried a small red hand-bag.

When David saw Amy in the cinema, he was surprised and felt gloomily. He did not like her costumes. Finally, he suggested that he would leave her alone. She was sad and regretted of her outfit. Amy alertly proposed to run home immediately to have her appearance restoring to her previous look. David agreed. After two hours, they met again in the cinema and had a good time that night.

Mary.

(286 words)

Below is one of the hot questions arisen in Public Examinations F.5 to F.7 in Hong Kong recently!!

I’m going to give a presentation on the following subject.

Drug addiction in Hong Kong- is it dangerous and how it affects the young people in Hong Kong? How can the society help them?

Terrifying topic : the drug addiction in Hong Kong is dangerous. It affects the youngsters in Hong Kong in a disaster way. Many innocent boys and girls take drugs. There're much help from the society to lend a hand, however, some young people do not cherish them. Shocking, isn't it?

Triad societies and criminal syndicate are soaking into the primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong nowadays. Of course, there are other places being damaged by these illicit societies in Hong Kong. They take the advantages of the youngsters' curiosity, vanity, self-destruction, depression to bring them to the lure. Although the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has launched various kinds of effective measure to draw away the bad elements, the result is not desirable. A great pity, isn't it?

The HKPF and HA have shouldered the problem hand-in-hand. The Hong Kong Police Force cracks down on crime. The Hospital Authority launches campaigns to remind the youngsters to keep aloof from the drug. There are a lot of advertising programmed against drug addiction shown on TV, radio, internet, clubs, schools, colleges, universities ….etc. Concerned posters are also held everywhere in public areas. The HKPF give talks in commercial centers, plazas, parks. Their slogan is that the narcotics are harmful to our health which may lead to death. Some slogans are really smart and active, such as
'Taking drugs? Eating dirt!’
'Stand hard! Say no to drug, refuse drug’
'Stand firm! Knock Drugs Out.’
'Say No to nightmare!’
'Not Now Not Ever.’
'Please call 186186 for help.’
Ultimately, some of those taking drugs may go to Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre for cure.

The Education Bureau educates youngsters in some ways of telling them about the danger the drug will bring to them. There are medical checks for students coming to schools, too. The narcotic drug, which is a destructive medicine, may affect their brains and urge them to do things unintentionally and wrongly which, sometimes, are risky to their lives. Once the youngsters take drug, their career is stopped up. They're without dignity. They’ll capture every possible means to gain the drug. Upon their becoming to a poorer and poorer situation; finally without any money, they'll trapped themselves into the burrows of theft, liar, robbery, committed suicide and other negative circumstances.

Last but not the least is that we must teach the youngsters to change their attitudes to life. Positive thinking, hope, dream, love are excellent, very beneficial, and important. It is revealed in the well known old saying by Sir Bertrand Russell, the twentieth century world-famous psychologist, that ‘The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge’ has much truth of it.

What a worrying fact we must pay attention to!

Thank you.

Mary.

欲通遊世界，必先知遊香港。

A misty day in Tai O

three sisters 排排坐，食粉果。

An advent in Tai O.

What are they waiting for?

似睡又似醒，

似去又似留；

半聲不敢出，

為的等食來。

Mary姐

語林

足下之物

鞋，古時稱為“履”，又因形制不同而各有專稱。清代段玉裁說：“古曰履，今曰鞋。名之隨時不同者也。”據說黃帝之時已有鞋，鞋的出現固然是為了護足保暖，但也標誌着人類由原始生活逐步走向文明。從出土文物可知，商代的鞋制已相當成熟。

《詩經‧魏風‧葛屨*》是一首關於縫衣女的詩歌。詩云：“糾糾葛屨，可以履霜。摻摻女手，可以縫裳。”先秦時一般稱鞋為“屨”，用葛布縫製的鞋謂之“葛屨”，猶如夏天的涼鞋。詩歌道出縫衣女在寒冬為女主人縫製衣裳的苦況：雙腳穿上縫工細密的布鞋，踏在霜雪上；雙手纖細瘦弱，在寒冷中勉力縫製衣裳。縫衣女最後把衣服做好，當女主人試新衣時還侍奉左右。可惜披上新衣後，女主人只顧整妝添飾，對縫衣女不屑一顧。通過側面的描寫，詩歌也道出縫衣女因為地位卑微而遭冷待的命運。

“屣”是鞋的別稱。《三國志‧魏書‧王粲傳》記載了一則關於屣的故事：蔡邕是東漢名士，文辭出眾，博學多才，深得朝廷器重。蔡邕家中經常才彥雅集，賓客盈堂。某日王粲前來拜會，蔡邕聞訊，急不及待出來迎迓，忙亂之間竟把鞋穿倒了。其後眾人發現王粲不過是個小伙子，不禁驚訝。蔡邕卻說：“此王公孫也，有異才，吾不如也。吾家書籍文章，盡當與之。”王粲擅於辭賦，後來果然成為文壇巨匠，獲後世譽為建安七子之一。這個小故事便是“倒屣相迎”的典源。“倒屣相迎”也作“倒屣迎賓”，比喻熱情迎接來賓。

古人席地而坐，入室脫鞋，人多時便會出現鞋子零亂錯雜地放在一起的情況，這便是成語“履舄**交錯”的意思。“履舄交錯”可作為賓客眾多的比喻，當中也隱含不拘禮節之意。“舄”是古代君王百官等參加祭祀及朝會時所穿的禮鞋，與普通鞋的區別，在於舄有雙層鞋底，上層為布，下層為木，這樣即使在郊外舉行儀式，雙腳也不會因為站立太久而沾了地面的濕氣。這說明鞋除了因季節不同而製作有別之外，也因穿着場合的不同而有所區別。

有高筒裹起小腿的鞋謂之“靴”，本是北方少數民族的特有裝束，戰國時才傳入中原，成為漢人服飾，穿靴者以軍人居多。《新唐書‧李白傳》便有一則關於靴的趣聞：唐玄宗賞識李白的才學，多次召見宴請。李白素來藐視權貴，有一次借醉在宮中羞辱宦官高力士，要高力士當場給他脫靴。玄宗被李白的才情所吸引，忘了這個要求有違宮中禮節，高力士見此雖感無奈，但也不得不依從。據《新唐書》所載，玄宗本有意賜李白官位，卻被楊貴妃以淚勸止。李白“自知不為親近所容，益驁放不自脩”。李白詩風豪邁奔放，骨子裏也帶半點桀驁不馴。

“屐”是另一種形制的鞋，底部用硬木製成，下面加上兩條木齒，即使滿地泥濘或青苔也不怕濕滑。東晉年間，木屐盛極一時，因為當時文化重心偏處江南，而該帶氣候較為潮濕。另一方面，穿木屐也符合當時士大夫擺脫傳統，追求解放的精神。據《南史‧謝靈運傳》所載，南朝宋國的山水詩人謝靈運經常穿木屐探尋深山幽谷，“上山則去前齒，下山去其後齒”，這樣就如履平地，無懼山坡陡峭。想不到詩人除了文思豐富之外，也甚有科學頭腦。後世把謝靈運改良過的木屐稱為“謝公屐”或“登山屐”。

談到木屐，還有一個感人至深的故事。話說晉文公未登國君之位時，流亡期間曾獲介子推輔佐。晉文公飢餓時，介子推甚至割下身上的肉煮湯給他喝。可惜晉文公即位後卻把這個恩人忘記了，而不求功名的介子推與老邁的母親自此隱居山林。晉文公一朝覺醒，為彌補過失，親自求訪，可惜介子推避而不見。後佞臣建議放火燒山來逼介子推露面，不料介子推寧死不從，竟與母在火海中抱樹同亡。晉文公懊悔悲傷不已，命人用剩下來的樹身做一雙木屐，穿在腳上。日後每當憶起介子推，晉文公便嘆曰：“悲乎，足下！”據說“足下”一詞自此成為平輩之間的敬稱，而百姓為悼念介子推，相約每年在介子推忌辰禁火冷食，後世沿襲，是為寒食節。

日本侵華

親愛的同學：

中國歷史是一門不可多得的科目，它除了擴闊我們的視野外，更能啟發我們做人的道理，及至知道中國民族演進的過程。以下是關於近代史中精彩的一頁。

日本侵華的史實

九一八事變
1931年9月18日，日軍駐中國東北境內的關東軍炸毀了南滿鐵路其中一段。日本指是中國軍隊破壞，炮轟瀋陽。中國軍隊奉命不抵抗。日軍佔領瀋陽，分兵侵佔遼寜、吉林、黑龍江三省。

一二八事變
1932年1月28日，日本以上海市民抵制日貨、毆打日僧為藉口，派海軍陸戰隊進攻上海閘北，十九路軍奮起抵抗，戰事進行了一個多月，在英、美、法、意等國調停下，簽訂了＜淞滬停戰協定＞。史稱一二八事變。

七七事變
1937年7月7日，日軍在宛平城外進行軍事演習，藉口一名士兵失蹤，要求入城搜尋被拒，開炮轟城。中日戰爭正式開始。史稱七七事變。

抗日戰争勝利的原因。
中國人民同仇敵愾，英勇抗敵。實行全民抗戰。在戰況不利的情況下，仍然堅決抗日，全民抗戰。作戰策略奏效，中國疆域遼闊，採取持久戰術，日軍兵力分散，泥足深陷。日本偷襲珍珠港，美、英與中國結盟。中國得到盟國援助，得到最後勝利。

對於以上的史實，作為中國人的我們，實在難以忘懐的。你同意嗎？

敬祝
快樂！


Mary

Happy Chinese New Year 2011

Happy Chinese New Year

Hi,

Since the Lunar New Year festival is drawing nearer and nearer, many housewives in Hong Kong are engaged in a bustle of frying activities. These activities are usually done on the 24th to 25th day of the twelve Moon. The Pearl River Delta Open Economic Zone is a prosperous portion in China. The Pearl Estuary are filled with the Eastern and Western Culture nowadays. Yet, many women there are still having long-established ideas on Chinese New Year. They follow the Chinese New Year traditions strictly on its cheerfulness and joyfulness thesis.

According to the customs, housewives at this time are preparing a variety of pastries to welcome the visitors. They may come to their houses during the New Year period. And, this kind of fried food are also received and sent among the friends and relatives.

The frying custom, which originates from the Kwangtung Province, is especially popular among the people of the Pearl River Estuary. Many girls still retain the traditional features of Chinese New Year food. They cook many kinds of them, for example, the chin-dui '煎堆' which mean the wonderful words of "Full of chin-dui, full of wealth in your home" in Chinese ' 煎堆碌碌，金銀滿屋'.

The fried slices of potatoes and sweet potatoes are welcomed for the New Year in the serving tea activity. Some of them are in a form of a coin which signifies 'money'. The round shape of chin-dui is taken to mean 'reunion of the family'.

The ingredients of these pastries are flour, sugar and lard which usually make the outer "crust". Sesame, lotus seeds, coconut, red beans are often used as stuffing.

During the seventies and eighties, many young girls at the age of 12 to 16 were taught these culinary arts. They were also praised for honour with their cooking skills among members of the family.

The beautiful appearance of the finished products attracts much attention. For example, an unblemished chin-dui would bring good luck to the whole family in the new year ahead, as they reckon.

Happy Lunar New Year!!!!!

Mary,

2.2.2011