2009年5月22日 星期五

大喜之日-倒數二十九日

  本該是昨日就寫了,但是太多事情做了,又想早點就寢,所以到今天才寫了…

  昨早,大多時間都在网上尋找有關巴黎的旅店和宿舍。我們在結婚後就會馬上往歐洲渡蜜月,其實也不是整個歐洲,只是我喜歡的法國和意大利。整個行程大約是十二天,四天在巴黎,其它時間就會在羅馬和米蘭。

  巴黎是個很貴的地方,所以旅店也不容易找。我們想找的是可以煮飯燒菜的宿舍,可以省上在外用餐的費用。找了很多間,不是價錢高,就是沒有廚房。

  有一間較滿意的,叫Village Hostel,一間雙人房叫價一夜70歐,有自己的沖涼房,有無線网,也有廚房。唯一想先了解的是:可以在早上就登記嗎?因為在网上是說要中午後才能登記的。還有一間叫Modern Hotel,是個二星級的旅店,有個人洗澡房,只是沒有廚房。我們想可能可以帶自己的飯,在房裡自己煮點什麼的。哈哈,若是給人知道,可是大笑話。它的叫價是一夜63歐,是比Village Hotel便易一點。若是能一到巴黎就登記的話,我想我會選前一間,雖是貴了些,但至少還能煮,也不必偷偷地在房裡煮,我是這麼想。

  我先發了電郵給這兩間,待他們回復後就可以做定了。因為之後就是訂飛往羅馬的機票了。

  希望是如此。希望一切能如愿以嘗。

  就到些為止了。

2009年4月7日 星期二

大裝修

 小弟的房間要進行大裝修了!
  yours truly is going to have a big renovation to my room..

 原因:因為小弟我進結婚了,而為了準備迎接新娘子、兩人開始人生的新階段,就得好好佈置一下房間。
  reason? I am going to ge married. And as a gesture of my sincerity to welcome my bride to begin our new journey in life together, I have to do SOMETHING about my bachelor room..

 在找了兩個禮拜,請了三位屋內設計家來評估後,終於找到一位滿意且公道的。三位不是朋友,就是朋友介紹的。
 after two weeks of search and three renovators later, we've finally found one whose price is reasonable.. all the three are either friends we know, or recommended by friends..

 第一位是朋友,但評估的不是他,而是他的幫手。他開的價還好,有點高。我覺得可能還可以再低一點,所以又找其他的朋友,問看是否有好的可以介紹。
  the first one is a friend, but the one who gave did the initial calculation of renovating the room is not. the sum he gave to us was okay, but somewhat on the high side.. so we went looking for second option as we think the price could be lower..
 
 友人介紹來的是一位新山的,開的價更是嚇人。還以為請新山的人來做,會更便易點,沒相到事舉愿違。廚櫃就要多300新元,門也要多180新元。
  my friend recommended his former partner, who is from malaysia. we have thought that their price would be more competitive, but much to our surprise, it was not: the cost of doing a new cupboard would cost S$300 more, the door S$180 more.. so we had to find the third option..

 就在上星期日,聽到母親“三缺一”朋友的丈夫是做裝修的,就借著友情的名義請他來評估評估。他今天來了,看了後開了個“友情”價。包括廚櫃和三個門,是1800新元,也是三家中最公道的。大家開覺得滿意,就答應由他來包辦了。
  last sunday, when i called my mom to tell her about the price not being reasonable, her friend who played mahjong with her overheard our conversation, and recommended her husband, who is in this industry as well.. he came this morning, did some calculation and gave us a 'friendship' price.. it is S$1800, for cupboard and three doors, which is most competitive among the three.. we were satisfied and so the deal was settled..

 現在我可以開始把房間清理一番,把堆積了多年但也沒有多大用途的東西清掉;不然加上娘子的東西,恐怕咱們的房間是裝不下。我們也是希望房間是越少東西越好,看起來舒適、簡雅。
  so now i have to clear out my room, and throw away those stuff which have been accumulated for many years and were left untouched for as long.. we would not have enough room for my wife-to-be's and my stuff, and we really wanted to have as fewer things visible as possible in our room.. simplicity and comfort are what we are aiming for..

 到時有了進展,才把照片放上部落吧!
  that's all for now, would post some pics as soon as there's any updates! ciao!

2009年3月24日 星期二

在馬路旁

 此散文乃小弟在學習翻譯課程的華文寫作這一門時所寫的第一個練習,也是小弟最自豪的一篇,在此現醜了:
  
  就在那一刻,本是互不相識的路人,都在那晨光微露而車聲嘈雜的馬路旁聚集起來。
  衣服朴素的婆婆提著籃子,聚精會神地看著小紙上的幾組號碼,嘴裡念念有詞,也不擔心自己是多麼靠近馬路;那滿臉寫著睡意的二十幾歲的上班小姑娘,和同伴述說著她作晚三更半夜還守在電視機前追看她的“巴黎情人”;頭上挂著耳機的文藝係青年,名牌墨鏡端坐在他那尖長的鼻梁上,陶醉在電子音樂的世界中。他當然不知道站在他身旁的是一位提著藥湯的中年婦女,眉宇間銷著她對躺在病房裡的丈夫的無限憂心,也揪心著那即將來臨的醫藥費和住院費…
  最重要的是大家都沒有留意到那衣裝筆挺的男士那不定的眼神,不斷“評估”每一位站在馬路旁的路人和他們的神情,他正在物色下一個幹案的目標…
 
  散文的題材是以一個早晨的馬路旁,人們都在等著交通燈變色時的一個情景;沒什麼主題可言,但可以說是在早晨的時候,人們最沒有防備的。各個身雖是起了,但精神還是在伴睡狀態,腦子不怎麼清醒,最容易成為小偷的目標。小弟我是沒有遇過,也不曾聽過,不過是一時的靈感而已。請在此,為小弟提些議見,讓小弟也有進步的機會。

  就此…