McTag wrote:I'm no good at anagrams, my brain isn't wired up that way.
Clary, did you do these yourself out of your own head, or use a clever electronic device/ program/ software?
The software between my ears is a bit too squishy.
McT
I made those up when living in India with nothing to do, in 1973. Softwre can't always do it for you. For instance when my husband fell in lerv, his inamorata became, for me, Carmen S. Catfish, as she was anagrammed. Software wouldn't have picked up the S... But I once won 5 quid from Private Eye for making Harold Wilson into Lord Loinwash. I've been at it a long time.
Sorry folks, that was a digression inside a digression...
Now Possum AND margo would be a good visit!
Be patient, margo, your Red Shoe Moment will come!
Most likely when you're least expecting it, but it WILL come, I'm certain.
Update - HK is a strange place!
I don't know how many of you have enjoyed the delights of HK, but it is a real city of contrasts. Yesterday I went to a brilliant French film (Bon Voyage - see it if it comes your way) in the International Film Festival, the venue a state-of-the-art cultural centre. I came out and there was loud and majestic music filling the air over the harbour. Then I saw that in time to the music, lights from all the skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island, across the harbour from me, were scything the cloudy air in a dance of light-rays. This phenomenon continued for about half an hour, and then I found a diminutive woman selling brightly pulsating brooches, necklaces etc all of a piece with the laserlightshow. And a little bit further on I found a place where I could buy tripe on sticks or fishballs, or a tuna sandwich; and the McD's was also full of people... and everyone was out with the family, all ages, at 9 p m, and then I went back and saw a much more bizarre and completely incomprehensible film by Peter Greenaway, avant-garde Brit film maker. ANd then I walked back to the hotel past 'massage parlours' and noodles stalls and Indian tailors and 'copy-watch' salesmen - at 11 p m and perfectly safe. And when I got back to the 'guesthouse' a sweaty Indian threesome were unloading beds and bedding from the lift and taking it - where? And as I was going into my building a chap at the door was offering special massage to everyone who passed...
It isn't like home!
Funnily, it does sound like home to me, Clary. I'm beginning to understand why so many people from Hong Kong come to live in Toronto. I've had co-workers from HK, who say Toronto is kind of like a quieter HK. I didn't 'get' that before.
I was wondering, Clary: are you homesick at all? It's been quite a while.
I have been, Olga, especially when I first got to Hong Kong and nobody I knew was here - it was like going back to a school when everyone you know has moved on.
I miss the kids, and my friends, and sometimes my house!But the problems I left behind are all the better for being behind me!
I don't know if time is the important thing when it comes to homesickness. It rests on whether you're having a good fulfilling time, I think!
ehBeth wrote:Funnily, it does sound like home to me, Clary. I'm beginning to understand why so many people from Hong Kong come to live in Toronto. I've had co-workers from HK, who say Toronto is kind of like a quieter HK. I didn't 'get' that before.
That's really interesting. I've been pondering that question, and striking up conversations with locals to try and find out what they think. A well-travelled woman in her early 30s told me she'd been to Europe and America but there wasn't nearly so much to do in any of those places as in HK. But of course she has grown up here and has loads of friends, which I'm sure comes into the equation. Being constantly entertained can't be the whole of it!
Clary
Yes, it must feel rather strange to go back to a place that holds lots of memories & find that everyone you knew & shared the place with has gone.
There must be ghosts of friends all over HK, as you travel around ...
How long will your work there take? Sounds like you're well & truly ready to hit that dusty, travelling road again!
sure I am!But I have a picky editor - rightly so, she wants the books to be vry good - and haven't finished the first one yet - have done 6 drafts of one chapter!
SO will probably be here till mid May at least. Depends when people get fed up with hosting me too!At the moment I'm in a smart but small-roomed duplex in a 'new town'. the old market towns of the New Territories have been converted into dormitory towns for the city, and this is a nicely planned private development with greenery (and mosquitos as it's been wet) all around, a pool, a shuttle bus to the railway station.. nice but characterless. My host is a busy barrister, he was a friend of my husband's and our eldest boys are the same age - met at 10 months and now are 25. His wife is an educational tv producer. Nice and hospitable, but I am never completely relaxed with the Chinese - as they aren't with me.
I heard from Simon in Cambodia, sounds as if he's enjoying it all, and about to go on to Vietnam.
Mid-May, Clary!
Six drafts of the one chapter!
Well then, you'll have to create some heavy duty diversions, then! <thinking, thinking ...>
yes yes
Except brain and body entirely taken up with this work - from here it takes me 1 and a 1/2 hours to commute, walk + real train + underground train. But tomorrow I'm invited on a boat trip with some NZ friends
Hurray!
Freedom for one day! Enjoy yourself, Clary!
(In the meantime keep thinking about those diversions!)
And I'm going to the final film in the festival, 'Pas sur les levres' which from its title I would imagine to be about a French prostitute!
Now we're getting somewhere!
How about a little shopping therapy, too?
where to start!If I were a size 8 I could shop till I drop, but as I'm twice that, there is precious little I can fit into! And all those Chinese knicknacks etc - been there, seen that, done that!
Olga!!!!!! - you're an evil woman!
Evil? You call that evil?!
She didn't even bring up jewelry, scarves, purses or cosmetics.
perfume - I have a favourite. Shoes are a problem. Again, the narrow Chinese foot may no longer be bound to look like a lily, but it's smaller than mine - I have about 2 pairs of shoes, one for summer and one for winter. I'm sorry I'm just not a shopping person. Jewels - never wear more than a few cheap things, hardly have occasion for the gold and diamonds - scarves - purses - have some - cosmetics - hardly use them. Conserving money where I can anyway. I bought some lovely and expensive prescription vari-shading glasses with bendy frames tht you could sit on iwthout breaking, does that count? God I'm cheap and boring!!
margo wrote:Olga!!!!!! - you're an evil woman!
Evil? Evil?
This said by the woman who encouraged me to buy the expensive (by msolga standards) red shoes? And who then resisted buying anything herself, despite my best efforts? Ha! is what I say, margo! Ha!
Perfume & shoes!!!!!! 