Saturday, 4 February 2017

Photobook初体验

约莫二十年前,为自己的旅程弄几本scrap book是平常事。现在用电脑编排后让别人印刷这么简单的事儿我反而兴致已退,身边朋友做Photobook做得不亦乐乎的,我却从来没参与这热潮。说穿了,一个字:懒。

最近较清闲,适逢老友邀我一起做本photobook给位退休老师,我总算第一次体验印刷相簿这事儿了。

我孤陋寡闻,不知道天下相簿印刷公司选择多得是,直接到Photobook Malaysia的网站买了配套,download了Photobook Designer就开工。把老师的相簿排版完毕(等待下一轮校对),觉得这玩意儿简单好玩,于是又到Photobook Malaysia的网站多买了几本,决定为新年礼物赶工。

应该是去年吧,请外婆拍全家福,“有什么好拍的?这么多年拍了这么多我一张都没看过”她老人家这么抱怨着。想想也是,这年头谁都不把相片洗出,看手机看tablet的照片老人家可能觉得不真实,所以我们孙儿们一直想给她弄本相簿。拖了一年,我就一鼓作气吧。

外婆与我-四十年前的照片
我发动全球所有表弟表妹(呵呵,说得好像我们千军万马似的,其实只有十五人)翻箱倒柜找出老照片,外婆的每一个孙儿有一面特辑,重点是最少要有一张和婆婆的合照。接着是几页是我们平时聚会呀、重大日子的照片,最后是每年的新年全家福。

汇集照片有些难度,毕竟我给大家的时间很短,再加上表弟表妹们有些在不同time zone,有些又得出动阿姨舅舅帮忙,收到的照片并不齐全。除了近年来的digital camera的照片,收到的老照片有些quality很差,最后我只好把家里的老照片都翻了一遍,用Google的PhotoScan拍了下来(这个apps好用,极力推荐)。

由于是第一次用Photobook Designer,我以为选择对的尺寸就可以开始,直到我把整本相册排好,在上载的过程中才发觉我选错了相册设计(我买的是8"x11" Layflat,却傻傻选了8"x11"standard)。在更改相簿book type和binding type后原本的页数有所更动,搞到三更半夜才终于把排版完成,按了“上载”我就上床睡觉了。隔天傍晚(1月19日)从电邮track status时才发觉上载出了问题,我开始紧张(选择express shipment,从上载到出货到顾客收货需要4至6个工作天,如果我在20日解决不了这问题,可能外婆就无法在新年前收到这份礼物了。

1月19日那个晚上,我把整个Photobook的网站翻查完毕,可以用的方法我全用上了,可是project file还是无法上载。我通过电话、电邮、Facebook Messenger等方法求救却完全没有答复。气炸。

1月20日早上九点,打电话到Photobook Malaysia总部,电话另一端自动答复机说我是first in the queue,可是等了至少5分钟才有人接电话,接听态度不太友善,听了我的问题,她第一句就问我是不是用Maxis 4G Home Broadband,我说是,她说“我们和Maxis not compatible, 连网上说的optional method(上载到Dropbox)也不compatible,你就上载到sendspace去吧。”我依照指示上载并另外给Photobook Malaysia一个电邮后他们音讯全无。三个小时后,我上网track status仍然说"pending upload",只好硬着头皮再打电话去,这一次接电话的稍微比之前那个友善,问了详情,查了我的电邮,答应我说他们会在这一天内download并process我的project file,可是,一整天track status都说pending upload,紧张死了。

1月21日我track status终于说in production,我这才松了一口气。趁这一口气还在,赶忙给二姨、三姨弄了西安洛阳之旅的相册。1月22日我们给老师的相簿也终于校对完毕。我不想把自己气死,就扛了手提电脑到叔叔家上载这些project files。

1月25日收到Photobook Malaysia的电邮说我的外婆的相簿和老师的相簿都已经寄出,1月26日中午就收到了。不可思议的是,在我收到相簿的那个晚上,我那封询问上载问题的电邮终于有了回复,他们的答复除了一堆文绉绉的开场白和excuses,竟然是:“I wanted to check if you still require assistance on this matter? Upon checking, the order has been shipped.”我忍不住给他们回了封电邮,建议他们至少在FQA里头说明not compatible with Maxis的问题,并把解决方法列明,客人就不必穷紧张。不过,我不认为有人会认真看待这封customer feedback。

1月27日,阿姨们的相簿也到啦~ 我终于可以确定所有的礼物可以在新年拜年时送上。

对于从file uploaded到客人收到相簿为止的整个流程效率,以及相簿本身的印刷品质,我是很满意的。

可惜,customer service不及格:
第一,response太慢。顾客面对问题时通过各个管道询问,一律没有给予正面答复(我提问的是upload的问题,收到货了才回复我的电邮,牛头不对马嘴)
第二,接听电话的不专业。礼貌不到位不说,update status这么简单的小事没有人愿意做。(我既然不是用寻常管道upload,依据他们的要求发了电邮,他们至少也该给我知道他们是否受到了)
第三,没有改善已知的问题。(既然第一句就问我是不是用Maxis,我相信我不是第一个面对问题的顾客)Corrective actions / preventive actions一律没做,corrections也做得不好。
第四,不重视顾客的建议。我当然不认为别人必须采用我的建议,可是至少总该有些什么礼貌上的回应之类的。我的电邮石沉大海,感受不了半点诚意。

可能有些人觉得我吹毛求疵,可是我觉得我们一直成不了发达国家,“无所谓”就是其中一个因素。做的人无所谓,受的人也无所谓,服务业‘无所谓’久了就‘无所作为’了。

parcel包装不错


Thursday, 2 February 2017

Portulaca Genuses

Does anyone knows the best website to search for scientific name of plants? Preferably I can upload photos and search.

I wish to make clear on a few plants from the Portulaca genuses, but when I googled, wikipedia is normally the first results, and I do have my doubts.....I prefer websites run by botanists in this case.


Portulaca oleracea
I always wanted to know the actual name of "sayur rumi" (we always call it 'sailumi' and I never know the actual name in any languages besides Penang Hokkien). I googled and 'Portulaca oleracea' looks pretty similar. Any idea?
got this from internet since I always forget to take photos of the vege


Portulaca grandiflora
The description in Wikipedia is pretty obvious "Portulaca grandiflora, is a flowering plant in the family Portulacaceae, native to Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay and often cultivated in gardens. It has many common names, including rose moss, eleven o'clock, Mexican rose, moss rose, Vietnam Rose, sun rose, rock rose, and moss-rose purslane." I'm sure this is the beautiful multi-colours flowers that my mum plant in the garden.
from my mum's garden


Portulaca gilliesii
Wikipedia described this as "Portulaca gilliesii ( silk flower ) is an annual plant succulent in the family Portulacaceae , which can reach 3 dm tall. It is native to India and the Middle East , and naturalized world; in many regions it is considered weeds". The photos provided by wikipedia is very different from the 紫米 that I planted. However, if you search google image for 'Portulaca gilliesii', all the top photos show 紫米. So which is which?

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Google了桑,获知桑(学名:Morus alba L.)喜光,喜温暖湿润气候,耐寒。耐干旱,耐水湿能力极强。于是决定把它种在篱笆外的大盆里,任它日晒雨淋,连肥都不施。


去年八月底讨了两枝枝干插下,九月初开始长芽。


九月尾已经长得相当茂盛啦。


在九月至十二月之间,她开花结果好几次了,我们却没空拍照、采摘果实。这就放一张2016年圣诞的花吧。
2016年圣诞节

有时候采摘蝶豆花时看见桑果成熟了,当场采了就吃。不知道几时才有机会拍一拍‘丰收’的照片。

Saturday, 28 January 2017

贺年片

小时候,贺年片是农历新年重大的一部分。新年前在书店、文具店、购物中心的柜台前慢慢为每一个亲朋戚友细选贺年片,在书桌前认真地写上贺语,再贴上邮票寄出(或亲自给同学递送贺年片),整个过程细长而神圣。收到贺年片大家也不忘用把贺年片挂在墙上、摆在桌上,为家里增添新年气氛。

今年,我以为自己稍微清闲,想要画贺年片给亲朋戚友寄上。奈何,我高估了自己的水准,练习了好久都是一些见不得人的拙作,最后只好放弃这个念头。







当然,我的贺岁e卡仍然是参着一些自己的拙作,希望收到的人不嫌弃。毕竟,都是诚意满满的贺语。 愿大家安康幸福快乐。

Friday, 27 January 2017

收割薄荷

之前把妈妈买的薄荷插了几枝在菜圃里,结果薄荷攀生满地,我怕它们把整个菜圃占为己有,于是我们趁妈妈煮laksa时把全部给收割了,然后留下几枝种在盆里。

没施肥,丢在外头任它日晒雨淋,几个星期后又可以收割啦~


虽然收成不算太多……

但是要让妈妈用来弄kerabu beehun给一家吃还是够的。

Thursday, 26 January 2017

妈妈不在家之食谱(六十六): Avocado Devil Eggs



材料:
鸡蛋四粒
牛油果一粒
桔子一粒
三粒cherry tomatoes,切丁
basil适量,切丝
dill适量
炒好的蒜米适量
盐和黑胡椒作调味

步骤:
1. 在锅里放入鸡蛋,让水盖过鸡蛋越半寸。
2. 大火把水煮沸。水沸后关小火煮一分钟。
3. 把盖关上,让鸡蛋浸在热水里十二分钟。
4. 十二分钟后取出鸡蛋,放入冰水。
5. 剥壳后切半。
6. 把蛋黄挖出,放入碗内,加入牛油果、蒜米、盐、黑胡椒、basil丝、桔子汁,把它打拌均匀嫩滑。
7. 把这混合好的蛋黄再放入原本的洞里。
8. 摆上cherry tomato丁,撒上dill和油葱即可上桌。

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

清静无为

到今天为止,我已经五个月没有呆坐在办公室里了。

许多人问我“这么有空,怎么打发时间”。我想说的是,无论谁离开了朝九晚五的规律(我则是朝八晚五时半),每天只有二十四个小时仍然是个不变的定律。唯一的不同,就是你多了运用时间的自由,如果你以为这样子会闲得发慌,那你必定是误解了时间与人生。

我仍然每天只有二十四个小时,和大家一样,我的时间仍然不够用。时间的分配不是茫盲忙,是清晰明确充实。

我趁现在时间自由,尽量配合十二经脉时间作息。胃经运行时吃完早餐,脾经当令时到小院子里耕作,心经运行时睡个午觉,小肠经旺时可以吃午餐,膀胱经运作我就喝下午茶,肾经运行时喝汤吃晚餐,心包经当令就晚餐后散步,过后就看看电视读读书准备睡觉去。



想要吃个早餐,我会到小菜园里看看有什么可以收割的,要吃多少收割多少。从收割到清洗到烹饪到终于上桌有时候甚至要近一个小时,但感觉特别好,很恬然地活在当下。想要吃个零食,我甚至乐于自己炒南瓜子慢慢啃。现代人眼中低效率的事儿,我觉得真实而且乐趣无穷。



我每天还要学画画呀、听音乐呀、读书呀、写笔记呀、看戏呀、茗茶呀、品咖啡呀、拈花呀、惹草呀、耕作呀、下厨呀、策划呀、当司机呀、会亲友呀、叙旧呀、谈人生呀、看看世界呀……哪来的时间打发?

还有女红呢?书法呢?茶道呢?剪纸呢?雕塑呢?传统食谱研究呢?T恤设计呢?中医呢?诸子百家呢?戏曲呢?武术呢?宗教哲理呢?都不够时间了,拿什么消磨?

即使是在蜗牛角上,人生仍然有无尽的选择。别以为眼前的规律是一切,无为就好。

Monday, 23 January 2017

泼墨画

究竟是泼墨了才有物象再有意象,还是有意象了再泼墨方成物象,还是先决定了物象再泼墨方勾出意象?无论如何,终成幅画,是不是?




最近一口气看了刘慈欣地球往事三部曲*和好莱坞电影Arrival*,思绪有一点慌乱。都是泼墨画似的作品,看似迷蒙内敛,其实气势磅礴。泼洒在娟素上的水墨痕迹开初不成物象 ,随着渐渐成形勾出意象。然后,我知道我不知道。

你说,以我们的认知局限,在多维度空间里不小心一眼望穿时间长河,是一种怎么样的悲哀?
你说,若光锥之内是命运,在光锥之外存心或无意泼墨的,是一种怎么样的存在?

如果我不想谈哲学不想深究物理,只想介于知道与不知道之间,行不?
如果我不想知道真相,只想在当下规规矩矩做人老老实实做事,行不?


*注:
1. 刘慈欣的地球往事三部曲为《三体》、《三体II:黑暗森林》、《三体III:死神永生
2. 上网查了一下才知道原来Arrival是改编自科幻短篇Story of Your Life,作家是美籍华裔姜峯楠,看来我又得到book depository进货了




过去心不可得,现在心不可得,未来心不可得……

Saturday, 21 January 2017

枸杞桂花糕

鲜花入菜在中国久有历史,可惜以前南来的都是想要避开苦日子,带到南洋来的食谱多是实际的充饥食物。这些风花雪月的鲜花烹饪在南洋不曾流行,除了广为大家熟悉的菊花茶,我倒想不起传统上我们还吃些什么花馔。我想沾一沾秀气,一直想研究花馔。前一阵子在淘宝买了本《舌尖上的花朵》,却一直没有什么行动。昨天终于下定决心,来个简单的枸杞桂花糕。
《本草纲目》说枸杞性味甘平,养肝、滋肾、润肺,桂花性味辛温,散寒破结、化痰止咳。我这个星期正咳嗽喉咙痛,正适合呢。

材料:
干桂花两茶匙
枸杞一茶匙
冰糖40克
水500ml
鱼胶15克(这一次稍软了,下一次我可能用20克吧)

步骤: 
1. 煮滚热水,放冰糖小火煮至完全溶解。
2. 加入鱼胶,不停搅拌至完全溶解。
3. 加入枸杞桂花煮一分钟,然后熄火焗五分钟。
4. 倒入容器内,待凉后放入冰箱即可。


简单好吃美味又养眼,大家可以试试哦!




Thursday, 19 January 2017

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is one of those books that's always at my bed side.

Of course, I am not qualified to explain The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success to anyone. I am far from mastering these laws. However, I'd like to share how these laws helped me to grow, guided me when I'm in doubt. (I always believe that 真理大同, we have read about these 'laws' from various books and sources but I like how Deepak Chopra makes them systematic, simple and easy to follow if you ever wish to practice.)



1) The Law of Pure Potentiality
The source of all creation is pure consciousness. We are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. When we discover our essential nature and know who we really are, we have the ability to fulfill any dreams we have.

The book mentioned about daily practice of silence, meditation and non-judgment. While all these practices are ways to access the field, at this stage, I benefited the most from practicing non-judgment.
I used to behave as if I am at the center of the universe. I dislike certain experiences, certain things about people, and a lot of things about myself. I got angry, frustrated, disappointed all the time. When I learn to accept, I noticed that most of the experiences are neither good nor bad, they’re just happening. I start to adopt a skeptical attitude about my own thoughts. (Our thoughts often lie to us, and we can feel empowered by choosing not to automatically believe them.)
Don't get me wrong. I am not a saint. I STILL judge a lot! However, as much as I can, as frequent as I can, I will consciously choose to practice non-judgement.


2) The Law of Giving and Receiving
The Universe operates through dynamic exchange. In our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives. The more you give, the more you will receive.

I learn that the gifts of caring, attention, affection, appreciation and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give to everyone you come into contact with. With this, we can begin the process of circulating joy and affluence in life.
I also learn to gratefully receive all the gifts that life has to offer me.


3) The Law of Karma (or Cause and Effect)
"Karma" is both action and the consequence of that action; it is cause and effect. (Just like Newton's Third Law of Motion, every action has an equal and opposite reaction).
If we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. Therefore, karma implies the action of conscious choice-making. (A lot of us make choices unconsciously, and therefore we don't think they are choices--and yet, they are.) The book taught us that, whenever making a choice, one must ask two questions: “What are the consequences of this choice that I’m making?” and “Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?”, then ask your own heart for guidance. If the choice feels comfortable, then plunge ahead with abandon. If the choice feels uncomfortable, one need to pause and see the consequences.

I used to argue about why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. Having this paradigm, most of the time we may feel completely powerless to change our circumstances.
Now, I understand that's just my circle of concerns and I'd rather focus on my circle of influence (my choices). I love the fact that ultimately this law makes us accountable for our actions and for our own circumstances. Our life doesn't just "happen." Our life is carefully designed by ourselves, choices after choices.
If we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. Simple.


4) The Law of Least Effort
This law is based on the fact that nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. This is the principle of least action, of no resistance. This is, therefore, the principle of harmony and love. When we learn this lesson from nature, we easily fulfill our desires. Ultimately, you come to the state where you do nothing and accomplish everything. This means that there is just a faint idea, and then the manifestation of the idea comes about effortlessly. What is commonly called a "miracle" is actually an expression of the Law of Least Effort. Least effort is expended when your actions are motivated by love, because nature is held together by the energy of love. When you seek power and control over other people, you waste energy. When you seek money or power for the sake of the ego, you spend energy chasing the illusion of happiness instead of enjoying happiness in the moment. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates--and the surplus energy you gather and enjoy can be channeled to create anything that you want, including unlimited wealth. 

I learn that I must commit to acceptance. The whole universe is as it should be. No point to struggle to go against the universe. However, this is not as passive as it sounds because I am responsible for my own situation after I accept the situations and circumstances as it should be. Oh, and most importantly, I no longer have the strong urge to persuade others to accept my point of view.


5) The Law of Intention and Desire
This law is based on the fact that energy and information exist everywhere in nature. The whole universe, in its essential nature, is the movement of energy and information. The only difference between you and a tree is the informational and energy content of your respective bodies. You can consciously change the energy and informational content of your own quantum mechanical body, and therefore influence the energy and informational content of your extended body--your environment, your world--and cause things to manifest in it. The quality of intention on the object of attention will orchestrate an infinity of space-time events to bring about the outcome intended, provided one follows the other spiritual laws of success. Intention lays the groundwork for the effortless, spontaneous, frictionless flow of pure potentiality. The only caution is that you use your intent for the benefit of mankind.

I love this law. I have a long list of all my desires (and not necessary material things), and I can let them stay in the womb of creation, waiting for the right time. Having my full attention in the present moment doesn't mean that my desires do not manifest the future.


6) The Law of Detachment
This law says that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn't mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You give up your attachment to the result. Detachment is based on the unquestioning belief in the power of your true Self. 

This law free me from worries. When I practice this, I no longer rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I understand that uncertainty is an essential part of our life. I embrace surprises in life and step into the field of all possibilities. Suddenly, we have an infinity of choices. Fun, adventure, magic, and mystery are waiting at the next corner.


7) The Law of "Dharma" or Purpose in Life
The seventh spiritual law of success is the Law of Dharma. (Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means "purpose in life.") This law says that we have taken manifestation in physical form to fulfill a purpose. You have a unique talent and a unique way of expressing it. There is something that you can do better than anyone else in the whole world--and for every unique talent and unique expression of that talent, there are also unique needs. When these needs are matched with the creative expression of your talent, that is the spark that creates affluence. Expressing your talents to fulfill needs creates unlimited wealth and abundance. There are three components to the Law of Dharma. The first says that each of us is here to discover our true Self. The second component is to express our unique talents; the expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness. The third component is service to humanity. When you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma. 

This is the one that I'm lost. I do not know what are my unique talents. (I'm a master of none) The only thing I can do is to always ask “How can I serve?” and “How can I help?”