THE INCIDENT OF THE BISTRO SIGNBOARD

On the last day of the APAC Summit the boss asked me to take the support team out to lunch. The team that worked many late nights and arrived extra early in the mornings to ensure that every meeting runs like clockwork certainly deserved a reward. I opted for a cosy, unpretentious French bistro not far from our office that offers set menus at affordable prices.

I’m afraid I cannot reveal the name of the restaurant or show you any photos.

You see, this morning I informed my boss that we’re going to lunch. Where? he wanted to know. I mentioned its name. He looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “I think I might have broken their signboard this morning.”

Excusez moi, what was that again?

“This morning I was walking with my wife, we were talking and I clashed into a hanging signboard.  A piece fell off.”

“My head hurts now,” he complained.

“It wasn’t my fault,” continued the gentle giant, looking very depressed indeed. “Who hangs their signboard so low?”

And so I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that any photo that I show here will be condemning. Which is too bad, because the food was FABULOUS!

Did I take a photo of the chipped signboard?  Oui, bien sûr!

I have to add that my boss also hurt his little finger while he was packing up to go home this evening.

"This isn't my day today!" he sighed.

会议后

​好几个月前得知新上任的Global CEO 不好应付。所谓新官上任三把火，一接棒便将公司内阁重组，好几位高层惨遭遣散。他来新出席亚太会议，我每时每刻过得如履薄冰。但自上星期二“面圣”后，我反觉得他比上一位CEO更平易近人，许多事情他亲历亲为，让我如释重负。上星期的APAC Summit成了历来最轻松的一个会议。 

今早同事问：Busy times are over? 我答：Thankfully, yes! 同事笑: I can tell. I felt the craziness all week last week! 

纽约office 送来谢礼。意外的惊喜让我happy了整个上午。 

除了花还有小抱枕。抱枕上面的字句我非常喜欢。

杂记

星期六。

近来的天色老是灰灰沉沉。

下周公司会举办APAC Summit。今早先回办公室工作了一个小时，然后跟Tryphena喝咖啡小聚。再匆匆赶到书城搞会议要用到的name tags，又拜访了几家文具店物色相称的lanyards。

事情办完后到Cats Socrates 探访。一向钟情于乡村杂货的我觉得店里的音乐、小饰品、书籍、笔记本、明信片、zakka布料都非常讨喜。 是从国外引进来的关系吧，有些货品不便宜。还是忍不住买了个cookie cutter, 真够败家的!  

傍晚突然下雨了。

忙中作乐

最近为着筹备APAC Summit,忙得天昏地暗，这个周末决定好好款待自己。先到发廊换了新发型，再做个facial。 好久没见面的Joanne从上海回来，我们一同去喝早茶。

去年的农历新年，Jo的父母从新加坡飞去上海陪她过春节。本来一家人乐融融准备迎接马年，但天意弄人，伯父在农历新年的前三晚突然在睡梦中离世了！消息传来后除了震惊，难过，也从新意识到世事难料。Jo也因此深深领悟到应该多花时间陪陪自己的母亲。 

对于我的父亲跌倒住院一事Joanne也表示关心。Jo比我小好几岁，但有时候她是我的老师，听我平平地倾诉后，热心指点，给我献主意。有这样的朋友真好。 

买了两只鸡腿，晚上配上红萝卜、马铃薯一起烤。用了海盐、蒜头、香草和橄榄油简单地调味，让它们在220 度C的烘炉里呆上20分钟。 鸡肉很嫩又多汁，下次得把鸡皮烤得更香一点。