Real or prop II

To my surprise, Kay also received the same letter of threat that I got last December. As she rarely opened her mail box, it's become a delay for 7 months. Just curious if there will be any other artist in this building who got this letter.

Training

Recent training for patience. Photo by Sara.

Christmas dinner

We don't celebrate Christmas for religious reasons like most others. However, because of the holiday mood, we do feel like doing something special. When I reviewed the last 15 Christmas eves, I actually didn't remember how special they were. It's always dinner at home; for a couple of times, there were also one or two guests.
What I remember the best was the first Christmas eve in my old flat. It was such an excitement being in a new place. I even bought a real Christmas tree, something I never did before and ever since. A good friend and his partner called Johnson were invited over. It seemed to be the first time I met him but for sure it was the last time. He was then entering to his later stage of cancer disease. We had some pan-fried salmon, wine and very nice chats. It was such a lovely evening.
Johnson hasn't appeared in my conversation with my friend for very very long time. I may suppose he has already rested in peace. But every now and then, Johnson still pops up in may mind; maybe I just couldn't remember much other Christmas eves I had.

Real or prop

Yesterday when I opened my mail box, I found a letter posted to my studio address but not any recipient. Being curious in its handwritten address, I opened it immediately. To my surprise, it's so much just like the imagined "props" of a triad movie which I exhibited in the 14QK show at Para/Site a couple of weeks ago. But this is not in a movie or an art exhibition. It's a piece of A4-sized paper, on which there are handwritten Chinese words "1819 burns you to death. Leung Chi Wo". Overleaf there's a no. which seems to be an HKID and the name of a person "Fung ??? On" whom I could hardly know. It's really mysterious, not far away from a movie plot indeed. A couple of burnt "joss notes"(usually as offering to the dead in Chinese ceremony) are enclosed. Could it be a joke or threat? But for what? For the first time, I reported a criminal case to the police for its possibility of a real threat, or to get a clue of it. As you could imagine like what you have seen in the movie, I was interviewed by a CID detective in a small room. They're serious about it and started investigation right-away like sending this letter for forensic test for finger prints.
Of course I hope it's only a joke but I don't think it's funny. Never thought this could happen in my real life! And what happens if the police really arrest the person who sent this to me.

Rain

It has got real rain these days since I came back almost 2 months ago and I started to like it somehow. Maybe it's sad when we had "sunny" days, it also meant hazy and polluted.

1949,1968,2004

Chung Yeung Festival is coming. The other day we did a family visit to my dad's grave. It's this typical room of multi-level niches for ashes in east Kowloon. Not far away from my dad's, I spotted this plaque on which was a photo of an old woman and a young man. What intrigued me was they were couple. The man was born in 1917 and died in 1949 (a life of histories!) The woman was born in 1926 and passed away in 2004. So, she was only 23 when he left at an age of 32. So she had been widow for another half a century, far much longer than the life of her husband. Then there's also their son, his ash right next to theirs. He was born in 1949 (when his dad died) and passed away in 1968 (year of turbulance too) at 19 only. These figures allow a lot of imagination and association. It seems difficult to think without consideration of a country's history. So, what happened in 2004....?

Loss of space

Yesterday I went for a walk in the hills of Sha Tin, a trail exactly the same as I did nine years ago. I remember last time I left the hill and came to a small lawn before entering to the town centre which I enjoyed much with BB. This time the lawn has gone and it sits a huge ramp of the expressway.

Airport

Airports are just like cathedrals in our times. They are all similar, grand and full of glass. You know what it means when it's not well attended. Travelling is something like faith, its experience becomes respected.
Yesterday I went to the airport for the first time not for anyone's arrival or departure. I lost my wallet in the airport (to be precise, the aircraft which already commuted between airports after 2 days) and have it found and returned. My belonging left its owner and travelled thro' countries.

Back to Hong Kong

Almost 2 months in Australia have passed. Back to home and started to meet old folks. Last night it was a small dinner with friends. It seemed like ages we didn't see each other before.

I shall have some re-collection of the days in Australia as not yet into the mood of an usual work life.

Night ride

Last night I went to a deaf kids' parents meeting as the beginning of my research of the sign language here. It's held in Holder, a suburb 12 km away from the city of Canberra. For a moment I was thinking to go by bike all the way there. Then when I thought of the highway, it seemed not a good idea to do it at night. However, for its remote location and rare bus services, I decided to take the bus to the Woden Interchange and continued with my bike for something like 5km. All sounds not too bad. But when I have had my quick sandwich after the bus journey and walked out from the mall, I found myself right next to the highway. Having spent sometime in my google map, I started my bike journey at night. I was leaving the main traffic and the area turned so silent. I came to a road where was no street lamp. In the darkness, I recognized my way with the starlight and the light from the remote houses. I had to stopped when there was a car coming as its frontlight was just too bright for me to see anything. Then there were ups and downs that you never realized on the map. For a moment I was having the picture of Tour de France in my mind. However, there was a slope where I simply had to get off my bike. Actually the silence and stars were very enjoyable. I found myself in the countryside! For this journey of 5km from the city to the suburb via a no-man's land, I spent 1 hour & 15 min.

The meeting was interesting though, it's a different story. Once in my mind: " Would there be anyone who might give me a ride back?".

I returned alone, on the same route to the bus interchange. This time, it was only 30 min!

Physically mobile

Today I bought an used bike and immediately felt ready to move around. Canberra is such a city not really designed for pedestrians. If you want to walk, you're supposed to do it in the park or the promenade. It's a city of roads but not streets. Roads form the fabric of the city where only objects with wheels are mobile!

Anyway, I had a nice short bike tour along the lakeside. Nothing to complain then!

The landmark National Museum of Australia on the lakeside - sculptural & deconstructive - I don't like it much although I haven't visited inside yet.