《暗戀桃花源》

《暗戀》與《桃花源》兩劇演出檔期相鄰，因為劇場管理人員的疏忽，使得兩個劇團為搶排練場地，爭執不休。兩劇的導演、演員，在彼此的劇幕中穿梭干擾，仍無法解決場地撞期的問題。最後兩個劇團妥協，舞臺分半，各自排練。兩劇演員卻在臺上，相互錯接台詞，兩劇莫名連接，彼此干擾卻又微妙共鳴。最後，《暗戀》一劇導演讓出場地，由《桃花源》先行排完。劇場管理員突然現身，要關閉場地，經現場人員陳情，管理員通融十分鐘，《暗戀》一劇方纔排演完成。

《暗戀》一劇，描述中國東北青年江濱柳與雲南女子雲之凡於上海相戀。抗戰後，雲之凡預備返回昆明過年，行前，兩人相約於黃浦江外灘公園見面。經此一別，兩人卻因國共內戰中斷音訊，各自輾轉逃至台灣，卻闊別五十餘年，不曾相遇。江濱柳垂暮之年，身患絕症，偶然得到雲之凡早已來台消息，決定登報尋人。等待期間，江濱柳向來台後結髮的妻子交代身後之事，獨自陷入舊日戀愛的回憶中。數日之後，雲之凡登門，卻早已各自婚嫁，兩人相對，不勝唏噓。

《桃花源》一劇，敘述老陶、春花貧賤夫妻失和，春花與袁老闆外遇。老陶失望之餘，決定離家捕魚，以圖出路，偶然誤入桃花源中。竟遇一對白衣男女，與袁老闆、春花全然相肖。老陶於桃花源中住下，卻不住思念春花，決意返家偕其同來。返回武陵後，春花與袁老闆早育有一子，生計艱難，相互怨懟。面對老陶出現，驚恐不已，亦不願隨其同去，老陶無奈，獨自又行離去。

劇中另有一神秘女子，不斷尋找一名為劉子驥的男子，不斷舞臺之間穿梭、探詢、吶喊。

看罷《暗戀桃花源》不覺得怎樣教人拍案叫絕，但讓我產生許多反思，就讓我嘗試把這些零星的思緒記下來吧！

> 劇中悲喜交集，一方面覺得《桃花源》有點胡鬧，另一方面覺得《暗戀》有點老土。我向來都覺得悲劇才能感動人心，才能表現出文化人多愁善感的特質，愛看喜劇只因它讓我心情愉悅，能令我（套用劇中那句）「放輕鬆」。難道悲劇才能扣人心弦，喜劇的文化價值又只能停留於娛樂觀眾的層面？

> 可惜只看了香港版，我想三地聯演版定更能突顯出兩地三岸的文化差異。那有點「無厘頭」的《桃花源》，加插著英文字句，尢其突出其「香港特色」。而《暗戀》帶點老土的悲情橋段，則令我聯想到瓊瑤那種六十年代的風格。

> 劇中兩個劇團同時排演的一幕不斷在我腦海出現，一方《桃花源》裡的老陶找到桃花源後仍不斷嚷著要回去武陵，白衣人卻著他不要回去；另一邊箱江濱柳勸妻子回去，別留在醫院陪伴，而他的思緒則不斷回去跟雲之凡分手的上海。
回去？不回去？我想，既然已越過急流到了與世無爭的桃花源，又何必牢牢記掛著戰後千瘡百孔的上海呢？

也許，是時候拋下那份牽掛去靜賞面前的桃花源…

our furry friend

the arrival of this little furry puppy into c's household signifies a step-forward. she is going to be c's companion when she is home by herself. i pray that she will grow up healthily, be a good dog, and be our best friend.

Lunching in Central

I can't remember when I started this almost-weekly lunch with d, but we always enjoy the time when we could talk about work, life, church, friends over a bowl of fish ball noodle soup (魚蛋粉) or treat ourselves to a fancy lunch.

Today, we treated ourselves to Cipriani located in this old building in Central. I have longed for steak tartar since I made reservation, together with marinated salmon, I knew I would have more than enough to fill my stomach. The salmon was delightfully refreshing, which serves as a perfect starter for this ultra hot summer weather. The portion for steak tartar was much larger than what I remember, and it took me quite a while to finish the whole thing. Though I was really full, I couldn’t stop myself from ordering my favourite crepe suzette.

Though it was a pleasant lunch, it wasn’t good value for money. If my memory serves me right, it must have been the most expensive lunch I have ever had (but definitely not the best lunch I have had). Guess we will do a lot more $10 fish ball noodle soup in coming weeks to save up for our next fancy lunch gathering.

are you reading this from your work computer?

I came across this article while I was pretending to read up on recent financial news, and thought my fellow readers would enjoy it too!

If you are reading this from your work computer, you should pay extra attention!

食神爭霸戰

第五屈食神爭霸戰經初賽嚴格評審後，以海鮮、雞、豬、辣、健康菜式及出前一丁六大組別。鍾愛出前一丁的我當然特別留意這個組別的入圍食府。其中位於旺角的『雲南紅大救駕』最令我感興趣，參賽食品名為『出前一丁汆岜夯沸騰魚』，雜誌介紹此菜式以酸湯魚為主，享有雲南菜中之魁的美譽。

我忽發奇想，到底有多少食客可以用準確的發音點這道菜？

3 weeks is a long time

After what feels like the longest 3 weeks of my life, I am finally picking up myself to write.

After all the crying, sadness, anxiety, sickness and pain, comes the recovering me. It taught me a lot about timing, I planned my operation so well that it fits everyone's schedule at work, but God gave us all a different schedule. In the end, I had to re-schedule my operation, and went into the operation theatre in my not-so-fit state. Thankfully, it all went well.

As it says in Ecclesiastes,
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain;
a time to search and a time to give up;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to mend;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace."

See you later!

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21: 2-4)

See you later, Adrian!