Sau Wai Chiu

Teamwork with 72 Kindergarteners.

2009-07-02T23:59:00.004-04:00

The Kindergarten graduation was important to my daughter. Therefore, I held myself accountable to make this celebration look good. I had so much fun designing/making invitations and programs. But this piece of artwork I especially enjoyed working on. I drew the school building in Adobe Illustrator, blow the art up to 12 ft x 9 ft and printed it out on 90 pieces of 11x17 papers. Each graduating kindergartener colored one of the papers. Then, I tiled them up and tape on the back. Voila! A gigantic backdrop perfect for the Kodak (or Canon) moment!

This baby is smarter than I am, right ~mom?

2009-06-08T18:53:00.004-04:00

My daughter and I were watching TV together. There was a commercial about a learning program that can teach an 8-month old how to read. It even showed an action video on tiny babies reading books out loud. My daughter asked me, “This baby is smarter than I am, right mom?” I said, “Not really, I bet she can’t draw as well as you do. Everyone have different strength.” My daughter smiled.

Maybe one day I should ask my mom, “Steve Jobs is smarter than I am, right mom?” And she may reply, “Not really, honey… Hum… You can draw straight lines without rulers… I bet he can’t do that...

L'Or de Jean Martell - Stunning Bottle.

2009-04-19T01:34:00.005-04:00

Made Up Story.

2009-04-05T00:05:00.004-04:00

My daughter needs me to tell her a made-up story every night after we turn off the light at bedtime. I usually just made up some quick stories about apple, banana, flower, butterfly and stuff.

Tonight, the story went like this:

One day, there is a baby squirrel, looking out from his tree hollow home after the rain, and says, “Daddy, look at the rainbow over there. I wish I could see it every day.” Daddy squirrel looks outside the tree home, and sees the bare lands around him, thinks this rainbow from far away truly brightens up the otherwise very dull view.

Then, daddy squirrel goes across the village and finds some very beautiful purple flowers, eat the seeds, and goes back to poo around his home tree in a curve line. Next, he finds a blue flower, eat the seeds, and goes back to poo another curve line along side the first one. On and on, he finds green, yellow, orange and red flowers from all over the village and does the same with them.

A few days later, baby squirrel wakes up super early and he looks out the hollow. “Wow. That is beautiful.” And here it is, a garden full of multicolored flowers made up of a rainbow shape! It sure is stinky, but it looks amazing!

Daddy squirrel says, “Son, I could just simply says ‘I love you’. But I decided to create this enormous garden to show what I would do for you.” The baby squirrel is so happy and gives daddy a big hug. – The End -

My daughter liked the story and laughed at the poo part. She didn’t even know that I was brainwashing her with my firm believe: CREATION MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY!

Keep going and we will get there.

2009-03-07T17:46:00.003-05:00

While playing “Chutes and ladders” with my kids, I’ve learned one of the most important things in life: Gratefully accepts ups and downs. Without them there is no game.

Watch Out! The next wave is coming.

2009-02-06T17:11:00.001-05:00

I introduced Adobe Photoshop to my daughter a couple weeks ago. She picked it up like it was her second nature. I believe by she is 6 years-old, she would be ready to learn Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects and all the fun stuff. Then by 8, she would be ready to take on real-world graphic design projects. By 12, she could cover for me in my studio, or would demand for her own studio. Then, I should probably take some time off, wander the earth and search for ways to work along with this new wave of super-young talents.

Oh- It is 2009 already?

2009-01-24T08:41:00.003-05:00

2008 was definitely not my typical year. A lot of good things happened to me, but so were the bad. And they sort of related to each other so I can’t tell which is which anymore.

One thing I know for sure though, even when shit happened I was still the same happy Sau Wai. I guess all the challenges had made me broke my usual routine and handled things differently. And it turned out to be kind of exciting.

Just like Sean at Good Will Hunting says, “…People call these things imperfections, but they're not, aw, that's the good stuff….”

A good sketch is better than a long speech.

2008-11-10T17:39:00.007-05:00

Do you ever need to say things over and over again? If you have a terrible-two or a terrible-three at home you would know my pain. My solution? Make a sign, like the one above.

Paste this in the naughty corner, and it can save you a lot of breath. You can download a pdf here and let your kids experience the magic of visual communication…. Just don’t tell me if it doesn’t work. I really need some confident these days.

How old are you, my son?

2008-09-29T16:15:00.003-04:00

My son has a pair of “sad” eyes and always looks like he is concern about the country and the people. Sometimes, when he was playing and I asked him if he was happy, he always make a sad face and said, “No, I am sad.” And I always rub his face and laugh it out... But, what if he is really sad? Well, since we adults always underestimate the stresses that the kids are going through, I just assume that he can’t be that sad.

To giving up on this insensitive mom, my son directs his energy on mommy’s computer instead. He is not even three-and-a-half years old and already knows how to turn on my laptop, open Firefox, type in “noggin”, then enter the website to play the different games there — all without assistance. After he’s done, he would go to the apple icon and click “Shut Down”… Then, turns to look at me and says, “I am happy now.”

I realize that my computer has replaced his security blanket. What next? Girls? Oh, yes, girls…

My son has two babysitters (for different period of time of course). One is an extremely beautiful 21-year-old girl with blonde hair; another one is a mommy-kind like me. He adores both. But only kisses the pretty one… and I always wonder why… Let me ask my husband, maybe man knows better.

Weekend Project.

2008-08-10T17:28:00.005-04:00

I spent the Saturday decorating the wall at my new office. The kids came along with us. While I was having so much fun sketching the background image, my son teased me, “ Mom, you can’t draw on the wall. Draw on paper!” Umm… Oops… Like mother like son. I guess soon I will find the wall at my home as colorful as this one.

“World Traveler” is Hitting the Beach this Summer.

2008-07-10T13:17:00.003-04:00

When I was 16, I told my puppy love that I would travel the world after I graduated from college and would spend 5 years on each continent. First France, then Egypt, then Beijing and etc. So that I would have experienced many different lives instead of just one… Of course, he sighed “you will see when you grown up.” I hated it when he said that but I ended up proving him right.

Fast forward 20 years, I have spent all my working hours in Manhattan. It has always been my comfort zone.

But Manhattan, I will soon be saying so long. Our work place is moving 25 miles east toward Jones Beach. It is so near yet so different. There is an excitement stirring inside me, along with a bit nervousness. I almost feel like we chose to “burn the boats so we must stand and fight.” Changes initiate energy. It is going to be a new journey with fresh ideas, hard work and new accomplishments. Long Island, here we come!

Happy Father’s Day!

2008-06-15T22:55:00.002-04:00

Just gazed a title “Will Dad Ever Do His Share?” on the cover of today’s The New York Times Magazine. Didn’t have a chance to read the article yet but guessed it maybe about how mothers spend more energy caring for kids than fathers do. That made me think: Joey has always been doing equal share of parenting with me. I didn’t realize that it was rare. Maybe I should consider myself lucky. Okay, here honey: Happy Father’s Day! Love you.

Things About Talks.

2008-05-31T00:32:00.003-04:00

Many years ago, a new friend asked what I was studying at Parsons School of Design. I told her Communication Design. She joked, “Really? Communication? You don’t even like to talk.” I reply, “Gal, the key word is DESIGN. So, I can communicate without TALKing.”

Years later, I started going to client meetings. Each time, my goal was to conduct the whole creative presentation in 4 words, “The work explains itself.” Of course, I would also throw in a big smile (… a form of visual communication).

Then, the “higher power” probably saw that I might never hit my “talking quota”, so it sent me two children. First I have to sing and read to them. Now, I have to talk (and repeat, then repeat again) to them.

I finally realized that it really take good effort and intelligence to talk interestingly. I had been good listener for so long… it had been the easy role: no risk of saying something wrong or boring, not much thinking involves other than sincere responses to the speaker.

Talking is a whole different ball game. It could be so dangerous. Just look at Sharon Stone’s Karma talk initiated hundreds of forum users taking sides attacking the US and Chinese governments in such an absurd way. There was just one actress made an improper remark (stupid verbal communication) while displayed a half-smiling face (heartless visual communication), and it almost started a war. Such an eye opener, stupid talks could be so powerful.

Did I say stupid twice? Sorry, I better talk nicely so good karma will come to me.

Idea is king? Or is it something else...

2008-05-08T11:18:00.007-04:00

I made this print on exactly February 20, 2002, 8:02pm in the silkscreen lab at Parsons School of Design. The instructor said my idea was brilliant. I laughed. On the next day, I hanged it up on my metal cabinet with a piece of magnet. In no time, this print had become invisible to anyone – including myself.

A few years later, I learned about this artist called On Kawara. This painting is one of his Today series. Here is a quote from Wikipedia, “Since 1966 he has made a long series of "date paintings" (the Today series), which consist entirely of the date on which the painting was executed in simple white lettering set against a solid background. If Kawara is unable to complete the painting on the day it was started he immediately destroys it.” This work had been viewed / respected / sold / talked about throughout the art world around the globe.

Both of our work had similar kind of concept: To preserve the uniqueness of the moment. And mine, seems to me, has an extra twist of flavor on it. Why mine became unnoticed, and his became world-renowned? Simple. He treated his idea like a big deal. And I didn’t.

Okay, let me be more proactive this time. Later on, I will call up some clients to see if they are interested in hosting an evening event on:
20 08 (year)
20/08 (date/month)
20:08 (hour:minute)
So, at least I can design the invitation card with this “brilliant” graphic solution…… oh. damn… August 20 is a Wednesday… chance is slim… maybe I should host a party myself just so I can print that invitation… Who to say it is not worth it.

Random thoughts on raising kids.

2008-04-18T07:28:00.004-04:00

I have a 9 year-old, a 5 year-old and a 3 year-old. (All have the same father.) 9 year-old is our design firm and the younger ones are cute little creatures. It has been so much fun to raise them. And I learned a few things along the way.

GRATEFULLY ACCEPT ANY HELP THAT WAS OFFERED. My mom help me taking care of the kids while I work — I gratefully accept that. My colleagues pull an all-nighter so I can go home on time for the kids — I gratefully accept that. Just remind myself: always appreciate it and help back (or help other) whenever I see a chance.

EFFICIENCY MATTERS. Now I can shop the whole season’s wardrobe in 2.5 hours simply because I have better things to do. Guess what? I still look okay.

COMPETITIONS CAN HURT. The slightest comparisons can hurt the bonding between siblings or co-workers. Cons outweigh the pros. Avoid it if possible.

MESSY IS GOOD. If the house is always nice and neat, that means the kids don’t get to play with toys enough. If the company is always under control, which means it is not running fast enough. Just remind myself: reasonable disordered is fine, dirty is not.

To be continued… I am sure the best is yet to come.

Imagine all these freedom.

2008-02-01T11:06:00.000-05:00

A girlfriend of mine just came back from an adventurous vacation. She traveled through Hong Kong and Korea all by herself—for 2 months! On the other hand, I have been staying here, doing my typical work. All I can feel right now is envy.

Now, I am wondering if there is a way I could sneak out from my everyday life for 2 months without making a fuzz. Walking the earth all by myself like a super-cool lone ranger.

I am not too worried about my work. I have the best team in town at my office. It is for sure that the business will still be running when I come back in two months.

I am not too worried about my husband. He is back in playing his radio control car. It will keep him busy for a while. I would be back before he even notices that I have been away.

The kids… what could I tell the kids? Ok. I could tell them that mommy is mommy bear. And mommy bear needs to hide and sleep during wintertime. And I will be back when the weather is warm. It doesn’t mean I don’t love them, but that’s what mommy bear needs to do… Oh boy, I already feel the separation anxiety even just the thought of this.

Well, I guess I will have to postpone my plan for 15 years. For those of you who are waiting to read my exotic travel journal, please check back in year 2023.

New Year’s Wish for 2018: Quick Fixes for All Problems…

2008-01-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

Why…she has near sight? Here is a pair of eyeglasses made just for her.
Why…he is nearly deaf? Here is his hearing aid.

It was so easy to take these scientific inventions for granted. Come to think about it, wouldn’t it be great if there were always quick fixes for all kind of problems?

Why…he has depression? Here is a filtering device that would let him see only the happy things in life and blur out all the unhappy factors.
Why…she is autistic? Here is a translation device that can help her communicate with the non-autistic people seamlessly.
Why…he is paralyzed? Here is a wireless jumpsuit with built-in muscles that take order directly from any part of his brain.

Etc. Etc. Etc. Plug and Play. Instant solutions. No addictive drugs. No side effects… Baby, dream on…

Our company's 15 minutes of fame.

2007-11-29T14:17:00.002-05:00

Now everyone can turn a blurb into a book. Colleagues, no more unfair advantages.

2007-11-20T15:10:00.000-05:00

In the old days, graphic designers always get the girls. Why? They could do photo-retouching to make their dream girls flawless. They could use those flawless pictures to design books. Then, they could hand-bind these one-of-a-kind books and give their dream girls big surprises. Usually, they get hugs and kisses in return.

Now, this wonderful world for graphic designers is over. Everyone can legally download free design software with pre-made page templates. All you have to do is to pick the page template you like, drop in pictures and write some ingenious copy. Upload the file… Hang over $20 or so… In two weeks, your own book is in your mailbox.

To know my enemy, I did a test drive myself and published the first art book for my daughter. The outcome is not bad. I got something to brag about and be able to show off my daughter’s passion of art on a professionally machine-bind book. I am hooked. Making books with “them” could become my guilty pleasure.

So, who is that enemy taking away our advantages and leveling the playing field? www.blurb.com that is. Yes, right. Thank you very much.

Love or Spoil?

2007-10-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

If you really love someone, would you push him to his best? Or would you let him feel very comfortable around you (which means no complains, no pressure, just let him be himself)? I am the lazy one, so naturally I pick the second approach. So far, it worked well with my love life.

Then, the kids come along. I always want my kids to be my best friends, so I take the second approach as well. Now, my daughter is my little girlfriend who tells me secrets from school, and my son adores me. I know that my kids are becoming junk food babies; and I know that my daughter is becoming quite self-centered. I know all that need improvements. Did I take any action? Not much. I was hoping my husband would be the bad cop. Did he take any action? Not much. He was hoping my mom would be the bad cop. Did my mom take any action? She is by far working the hardest on this, but she has bottom line too.

The fact is, we all need to be loved at the end of the day. Everyone wants to be the good cop. All the coaching and training would create distances – long before the kids would understand and appreciate it. Sorry, at this moment, allow me to be selfish. I need a lot of hugs when I get home…Wait, who is spoiling whom now? Hey, kids. Stop spoiling mommy!

Hello!? What did you say about me?

2007-08-31T09:45:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, I was digging through some old stuff and accidentally found this workbook called “Self-Scoring Personality Tests”. It was unused. I must have brought it when I was a lost kid and tried to figure out what kind of person I really was. The reason of why I didn’t take the test back then remains a mystery.

Couldn’t resist the curiosity, as a self-aware adult nowadays, I took the test. After answering 210 questions later, I found out that I am a “shy and warm-hearted” person. Wait a minute, isn’t it suppose to be me 10 years ago? I thought I had already evolved to be a “Determined and Authoritative” person, no? The result indicated that I still need an extra 100 Points to get me into that category. Bummer! I still can’t believe the result.

Well, this triggered me to think of something deeper. What if in a few years, my kids see themselves different from what the world (teachers, classmates, test scores, etc.) sees them, what should I tell them to do?

Should I:

(1) Tell them the other people’s point-of-view about them doesn’t worth noticing? (That may not work since I may be that other person. And I don’t like being ignored.)

(2) Tell them to change their point-of-view to level with the world? (Well, no. We are in the society of celebrating mediocrity and everyone starts to look the same and act the same. It is always more fun to rebel against the norm, for better or for worse. The last thing I want to do to my kids is to take away the fun from their lives.)

(3) Tell them to change the world’s point-of-view to level with theirs? (That’s it! It seems to be the best idea. Just hope that my kids wouldn’t turn into another Mao.)

Who ordered the “Husband and Business Partner Combo”?

2007-07-22T01:41:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine recently started helping her husband on his business. And she said, “Sau Wai, I don’t know how you and Joey stay married (after so many years of working together).”

Ladies, Let me tell you: It is easy because it is all good.

For your reference, here are the pros of working together with your husband:

(1) You get more me-time after work. Why? While the regular couples need to devote all their free time together because they miss each other so much at work. You two have enough of each other at work so neither of you would be so needy anymore.

(2) You can save a lot of emotional stress about the relationship. Admit it: No matter how much you trust each other, there are times when you would feel uncomfortable with his attractive clients or co-workers. Well, by working together, you are monitoring each other 24/7. Although it doesn’t guarantee nothing will go wrong, at least it avoids the stress of false alarms.

(3) The two of you will eventually become one. After a few years of intensive interacting with each other, you will learn to predict and get to understand each other’s thinking process. Even sometimes you will disagree with each other, the “understanding” part would make the arguments more objective. (And you two can apply the same skills you learn from work on making decisions for the home and the kids, too.)

(4) Since husbands and wives tend to be the toughest critics of each other’s work, it constantly pushes each other to improve the work.

(5) Last but not least: Knowing that if you fell into the ocean, he would definitely jump down to save you. And vice versa… What more could you expect from a business partner?

WARNING: This is not for everyone. If you are married for at least 3 years and your husband is still your best friend, then go for it.

Dignity and Strength

2007-05-29T23:56:00.001-04:00

My daughter is being fascinated by the story of Mulan, the dramatized version from Walt Disney, of course. When she is old enough to understand what real war is, I am going to tell her a story of her grandmother (her father side). This wonderful lady has survived the war zone; and as a little girl she was as strong and smart as Mulan. And I am going to tell my daughter the story in Chinese:

‭伍老闆、伍大嫂是廣州路岡人仕，兩口子恩愛非常，男的慷慨勤奮、女的巧手伶瓏。家境不俗，擁有餅鋪、果園及魚塘。伍家中記餅鋪的廿四味更是全村出名。當年第一次世界大戰的軍人也常來幫襯，飲後精神爽利，還差人送來牌扁大大讚賞一番。‭ ‬

‭伍大嫂雖然不是絕色美人，但面容祥和、神態優雅。這一天，她正在做一件絲綢的棉襖，是一件很小、很小的棉襖，將要給她肚內的嬰兒。‬她的大兒子將近兩歲了，懶慵慵的坐在母親旁邊，大大的眼晴望著母親輕輕地將絲綢的扭扣繡在棉襖之上，很柔、很軟。伍大嫂在想︰究竟這件棉襖會穿男孩子身上，還是女孩子身上呢？‭ ‬一個寒冬的晚上，謎底揭開。是個女孩子，白白嫩嫩的小臉，眉宇之間卻有一份剛挺之氣。照道理，一個富有人家的小姐，又何需要如此氣質。伍老闆、伍大嫂欣喜地望著這銀月下英氣洋溢的小臉，終於將二女兒取名為銀英。

‭銀英自幼活躍好‭動，不足兩歲便足跡佈滿果園，以及果園中的每一‭個樹。‬有一次不小心失足，從黃皮樹上高處墮下，昏迷了三天。但經童子尿救醒之後，又沒事人一般，匆匆的往樹上爬去了。伍老闆、伍大嫂也拿她沒法子。無憂無累的生活，在父母護蔭下的孩子，人生的苦惱跟她像是不應發生何關係。

‭但銀英四歲的時候，卻發覺了身邊大人的臉開始蒙上陰陰沈沈的顏色。隱隱若若，像是聽到父母說什麼要和日本人打杖。小孩子聽了不明白，打杖是什麼鬼東西。只想到既然打杖會令人苦惱，又何必要打？‭ ‬有一天，銀英‭百無聊賴的在家看天，看到日本軍機在廣州上空散下一排排的炸彈。小小的人兒還以為是什麼新奇事物，高聲大叫︰「很有趣啊！很有趣啊！飛機呵蛋啊！」聽在大人的耳裡，一句一句地震在他們的心坎，大家都不知所措。伍大嫂連忙掩著銀英的小嘴，叫著銀英的小名︰「阿妹，不要說話。」 ‬說著雙眼泛淚，深深的嘆了一聲。心想，就算要自己承受所有苦難，也不願年幼子女們受這戰爭之苦。

戰事開始之後，人民生活漸苦，頻頻走難、食物短‭ ‬ ，到處也供日本人搶劫一空。伍老闆是仗義人，不忍見鄰居空著肚子，就不時拿中記的存貨給大家吃。漸漸連自己家人也不夠吃了。幸好，家裡還剩下一些白銀。‬伍老闆老早就將白銀藏好在大缸之中，再將之沉在魚塘之底，以避日軍耳目。每當急需之時，他就充當游泳般，到塘底靜靜淘一塊來應用。當然，白銀也會有用完的一天。‭
‬
‭本來就算是怎樣惡劣的環境，一家人齊心合力捱下去也不覺什麼。無奈在戰爭的第二年，伍老闆身患重病，加上走難時舟車勞‭ ‬ ，還遭日本人毒打。不久就因病去世。‬死，他從不怕，就是捨不下愛妻及五個年幼子女‥漢英、銀英、英林、順英及銀鬆。‭ ‬‬傷心也來不及，走難的日子仍要繼續。一家人睡禾草、吃豬糠、夢中每每發抖。

‭有一次，伍大嫂領著孩子避到鄰村的親人家裡。夜深之後，陡地聽到身邊一聲雷霆巨響。一家人驚作一團，不敢作聲，硬著頭皮叮聽身邊的‭靜。炮火之後，周圍一片死寂，靜得可怕‭ ‬。 ‬過了一會，大家唯有繼續睡覺。‬當銀英雙手觸及床頭之際，驚然發覺那原本在床頭的牆，如今變得一片空空如也。到天亮之時，才清楚看見床頭的一道牆已被炸得整塊倒塌在外面，化為片碎。‬伍大嫂額前滴汗，想到如果不幸地這道牆倒塌向屋裡面⋯‭ ‬這種精神虐待，一個無依女子。願觀音娘娘保祐，已是唯一的希望。

‭有一天，伍大嫂遠遠看見一個日本軍人行到村裡去，看來不外是要準備姦淫劫掠。一家人便匆匆躲到竹樹林之後。眼看日本人在一個中國男子身邊經過時，二話不說就一刀將其首級斬得整個飛起，屍橫路上。銀英看得哭了，還能強忍著不作聲。英林當堂嚇得幾乎破膽、全身抽痙、口齒緊閉。伍大嫂及時將保嬰丹吹入兒子的鼻孔‭ ‬內，才救得孩子一命。‭ ‬

一劫連一劫。廣州終於淪陷，被日本人佔領。炮火停了，但整個城市已給洗劫一空，四周一片頹垣敗瓦。每個人都在忍受著飢寒，而且身心都累得幾乎崩潰。食物用盡，孩子瘦得像排骨。伍大嫂固執的要留所有的孩子在身邊，但又怕將他們活活餓死。終於忍著心，物識了一戶沒有孩子的好人家，將最小的女嬰銀鬆送給了對方作義女，只希望女兒從此得到溫飽。‭ ‬當時銀英五歲，卻比任何的小孩子懂事。天‭性堅強，家中的大小事務都落在銀英小小的背膊上。

可惜是生於重男輕女的時代，怎樣能幹的女孩子在某些人眼中也只是一般的賠本貨。當時很多窮女兒都被長輩賣到富人家中當童養媳，開始其怨憤一生。一天，銀英的五叔極力游說伍大嫂‥「四嫂，我識得有人在找新袍仔，我看不如就將銀英送過去，好過一齊餓死吧。說到底，最緊要抱緊兩個仔。」‬六叔卻道‥「四嫂，仔女都是自己生的，一齊餓就一齊餓好了。」 ‬伍大嫂給說得亂了。‬前路茫茫。銀英與弟弟含著淚互相對望，也不說話，兩顆心都塞到喉頭上去。‬伍大嫂看在眼裡，於心不忍，連忙拒絕了五叔的提議。而當晚，一向不愛哭的銀英卻哭了一整晚，淚水沖掉了整個童年。自此明白到，自己要像大人一般，乘擔自己命運，不能淪為家累。

‭伍大嫂後來決定送銀英往表姑媽處當工人賺飯吃。表姑媽是個寡婦，有七子一女。她在一個叫土哇的小島上擁有一大片果園，而很幸運地未經日軍搗亂。銀英小小年紀就此隻身離鄉別井、寄人籬下。幸好長得聰明伶俐，表姑媽一向都對銀英特別喜愛。‭表姑媽的果園出產各種各類的水果‭ ‬ 菜，有楊桃、林柿、李子、荔枝、庶、薑、竽頭等等。豐收時，一籮籮的貨都寫有永安號的字樣，一船船的運到市集去賣，陣容強大。銀英到步後第一個任務，是在果樹林中的廚房中燒飯給在園中工作的男女工人。男工都是高頭大馬的北方人。相比之下，銀英細小得像一個娃娃。‭而這個還不及灶頭高的小娃娃卻一點也不示弱，每天一早就企在木箱上洗米燒飯，打掃雜務，養雞養鴨，幹個不亦樂乎，從無怨言。唯一不慣就是想家，很想家。尤其當小表妹童言無忌，‭ ‬ 氣一來就對銀英說‥‭ ‬「這又不是你的家。」噢，更加想家。‭不過，有失當然有得。銀英在表姑媽家短短數年，卻學得一身好本領。種庶夾糖、撐船運貨，無作不能。‭因為銀英做得多學得快，表姑媽也就放心交予重任。漸漸，銀英就成為果園中的小管工，帶男工收割、領女工除草。難得工人們都樸實單純，大小事每每都向銀英請示，有趣得很。而這時，當時得令的銀英卻很羨慕一個人，一個很美、很美的女人。她是表姑媽的妹妹，銀英叫她表姑姊。眾人暗地裡都稱她為「水觀音」。「水觀音」飽讀詩書，一手字漂亮得無與倫比。銀英每天渴望表姑姊會教她學字。可惜，世事那會盡隨人意。結果到走的一天，表姑姊也沒有教她一個字。

‭銀英走的時候是十一歲。中國抗戰勝利，家家戶戶都忙於重拾家園。銀英歸家時，表姑媽相送。相處了多年，無論銀英對表姑媽，或表姑媽對銀英，感情非淺。也沒有‭ ‬ 人流涕的場面，一切不言而寓。‭ ‬‬銀英回家後，和哥哥一起擔柴去賣。有時，天光行至天黑也找不到買主。有次更遇著大雨，柴越來越重。兩人唯有賤價賣回給柴鋪，認真生意難做。當時日軍已經徹退，國民黨的官員也紛紛重歸故里。伍大嫂在市集賣菜時聽說有些軍官家裡需要傭人，不外乎燒頓飯和湊湊小孩。伍大嫂就著銀英去試試。雖然工資微薄，總好過日曬雨淋。‬卻想不到，這一著竟是送羊入虎口。‭ ‬

‭銀英的僱主是湖南人，男的是國民黨軍官，女的晚上外出上班，職業不明。銀英每晚都要在僱主家留宿，方便照顧他們的一對三、四歲的女兒。‬十二歲長得亭亭玉立的銀英雖然爽朗豪邁，但也有一般女孩子的敏感細緻。在軍官家的第一個晚上，銀英就機警地察覺到屋內有一股不尋常的空氣在流‭ ‬ 。於是，回到工人睡房之後，立即將門反鎖。而且將睡床移到門前頂著，以防萬一。夜裡，銀英聽到門外腳步聲。不一會，軍官隔著門說：「阿英，小女要渴水。」‭ ‬‬銀英想到屋內只得這個男人及自己和兩個小孩，還是不出去為安全。畢竟防人之心不可無，便道：「事頭，我不出來了。你們說好不用當夜的。」‭ ‬軍官無奈，在門外留‭ ‬ 了一會，便行開了。夜更深，銀英忽聞門鎖震‭ ‬ 之聲，持續了一些時間。門外人不得要領，聲音停了。銀英不發一言，心中有數。‭ ‬ ‬第二天清晨，女僱主還未歸家。銀英硬著頭皮到廚房沖茶。軍官若無其事，自顧自的沖了一杯奶粉，著銀英喝下。銀英唯有冷淡地推說自己不愛喝奶。軍官老羞成怒，索‭性從後抓著銀英的頸，企圖灌她喝下。銀英豈是這麼容易就範。掙扎轉身，一手就抓走了軍官的眼鏡，飛身逃出露台，威脅著要將眼鏡擲到街上。軍官一來看不清楚，銳氣大減。二來人在露台，也不想將事情弄大。兩者一時僵持不下。時間像停頓了一樣，好不容易才等到女僱主歸家。銀英一面將事實如盤托出、一面將自己東西收拾妥當。趁女僱主掌起掌落在打丈夫之際，銀英離開了這地。掉下了這份工，一路上回家也想不到怎樣向母親交代。講事實又不好意思，這種荒唐之事又怎可說出口。越想越慌，忍不住邊走邊哭。

‭銀英回到家。伍大嫂正在忙著，心情也不好。見到女兒回來，以為女兒吃不得苦，受些小氣就不幹了。喝罵了女兒幾句，就在抱怨生活迫人。銀英也不懂應對，唯有繼續哭。銀英的六叔在旁看出了苗頭，於是問：‭ ‬「阿妹，六叔知你不是偷懶的人。你是不是給人欺負，講給六叔聽。」‭ ‬銀英也不想母親誤會自己，便將事實說了。伍大嫂知道錯怪了女兒，心裡也不好過，同時也為女兒憑機警而保著了清白之身而慶幸。於是說：‭ 「阿妹，你做得很對。這份工幹不得。」‭ ‬此時此境，母親的支持就像是在大海中找到平原，銀英感到安穩了。

‭後來一次偶然的機會，銀英再一次要鄉別井，而這一站是香港。有一天，在香港當住家工的表姊回鄉。閒聊提及到銀英的前途問題︰‭「阿妹，不如你跟我出香港闖一闖吧！打住家工，只要肯捱肯做，就不用餓飯了。」銀英想了一想，便道︰‭「其實，我最想日頭去工廠打工，晚上去讀夜學。」表姊爽快地應承了。應承時也不是不真心的。不過正所謂唔熟唔做。打慣住家工的表姊最終也帶了銀英打住家工。讀書的願望又破滅了。打住家工就是當別人的傭人。主人閒閒一句：「我以後就叫你阿芳。」‬銀英也就無端端成為了阿芳。

‭幾年之後，南北韓大戰。英軍派兵助陣，在當時為植民地的香港設立軍部，並聘請一批地度香港人擔任煮食洗之職。‬當時銀英跟著表姊的姊妹團一行數人去碰運氣，都被取錄了。而且薪金不錯。當然也不是易賺的錢。烈曰下洗衣涼衣，不出數日銀英雙手就給太陽燙得長滿水泡，痛入心沛。‬不過在軍部中精采日子也不少。就在軍部工作了不久，銀英找到另一半。以後生活仍舊艱難，但是愉快更多。

Business Idea Number 360: Imported from Heaven.

2007-02-16T09:48:00.000-05:00

If I have the money, I would buy a small country and call it Heaven. My people would be specialized in producing indulgent products for export. Just imagine, a box of chocolate labeled “Imported from Heaven” surely sound a lot tastier than “Made in USA”.

My Beloved Art Director.

2007-02-14T23:36:00.000-05:00

" border="0" />“If you love everyone, everyone would love you.” I told my 3-year-old daughter. So, we spent the last weekend making Valentine’s Day cards for all her friends in school. We used stickers, rub-on lettering, scissors, metallic cards and all kind of fun stuffs. She was very excited. By the time we finished the eighth card or so, her little hands got tired. So she ended up art directing me to finish up the rest of the pieces for her. She asked me to cut the cards in certain shapes: such as squares, heart-shapes and triangles. Then, she picked out the rub-on lettering in certain colors and styles and ask me to rub them on certain positions. After that, she placed on stickers to wrap up the pieces. By the time we finished all fourteen cards, I managed to keep my art director very satisfied. And I also managed to guard my scissors from the several attempted steals by her fellow 1-year-old director-to-be. Mission accomplished!