I'm enrolled in a new degree program--Master of BBQ

This summer, I've been able to try a number of BBQ dishes.
This is one of the most interesting assignment so far--my favorite pork belly

Special thanks to Marine Li from Toronto, who generously share with me this recipe.

材料 : 五花腩肉 2-3 斤 粗鹽 適量
醃燒肉料 : 紹興酒 1 湯匙, 幼鹽 2茶匙, 糖 1/2茶匙 , 五香粉1 茶匙

Steps:
1. 先用刀在五花腩肉表皮上刮去污穢物及毛, 用水洗淨, (Optional step: 再將五花腩放入滾水內煲大約10-15分鐘至五成熟, 然後取出過冷河)
2. 五花腩抹淨.. 抹乾. 將紹興酒抹上五花腩上. 再將其他醃料拌勻後再平均抹上.... 皮不用醃..
3. 再把全塊豬皮篕上鹽,放入雪柜at least 5小時。用鹽焗的方法是令到豬皮表面水份全部蒸發, 達至表皮鬆脆效果. 所以, 沒有被鹽覆蓋的地方表皮會較韌.
4. 預熱焗爐至380F，把肉從雪櫃取出,把豬皮上的鹽全部刮走,然後用幾油捽勻豬皮,放入焗爐, ,焗45分鐘至熟,
5. Set 焗爐 to BROIL. 焗多大約8分鐘至豬皮全起細泡。
6.出爐侍凍,斬件上碟;

This is quite simple, isn't it? Bon appetit! ^_^

Recurring dreams

Have you ever dreamt about something over and over again? In Canada, I often dream about teaching back in Alliance Primary School Kowloon Tong, where I had taught for 10 years and was also my home school. In those dreams about APS, I would see faces of my dear colleagues and students. The school building and people appear so vividly to me. I don't recall much of the details in the dream, only knowing that they relate to the typical teaching life in APS. The general mood of those dreams is quite happy, but I also recall once that I had to bid farewell to a good colleague of mine. I can tell I really look forward my return after finishing my theological study here at Regent. I guess these dreams do reflect such yearnings in my subconscious state.

Recently, as an alumnus, I have written a poem for the 55th anniversary of APS. It captures some unforgettable scenes of school life back then. I'm posting it here to share with you.


Blessings by Philip Cheng, Class of 87
To APS, past and present

M any sweet memories came in mind
Y es, as fond melodies rewind

Y earning to live in that space again
E ach moment of past retain
A s I think of that three-storey school
R ecesses ended with a way so cool
… “Ding Ding Ding” as you’re having a groove
S hall you no longer move

I am glad true friendships grow
N ow in touch and still we know

A fter so many years gone by
P ast reminiscence does not subside
S ing our school song with me again
... To God: “Amen” our joyous refrain

「孟買血」、「二號仔」、Fixation

想不到這則新聞可以讓我對自我認識帶來這麼多反省。

報道連結：
全球百萬分之四人擁「孟買血」(Click to read)

小時候一向對自己的血型感興趣。上健教課（即現在的常識）時聽過擁有O型血的人可以救任何人，但O型的人若需要血便要從其他擁有O型血的人獲得血液，而且擁有O型血的人算是少數的一群，相對亦是擁有較大風險的人。雖然如此，小時我曾期盼過自己會是擁有O型血的人，那便可以救多些有需要的人，無論是家人、朋友，甚至陌生人。

看到這則「孟買血」的報導後，我向Connie提起小時的期盼。她的回應竟聯想到我的性格其實與我媽媽頗相似，大家都是喜歡以犧牲自己來成全他人的那類人。在九型人格的性格測試中我是「二號仔」給予型，或許媽媽也會是「二號仔」吧。只令我覺得有趣的是，我是怎樣從媽媽那裡育成今日的我呢？是先天定後天呢？

嘻嘻，其實連我的口吻也像我媽媽。有一次在視像通話中她出於關心的問我回家後有沒有喝水。那一刻雖明白媽媽的關心，但心裡不其然覺得厭煩，關心反變為厭煩，真覺得自己很不孝呢，但那厭煩卻又是不能否定的感受呢！再深一層，除了是因為媽媽強烈的「二號仔」給予型性格外，想到可能大家以往多年來分開生活，實在沒有太多機會在行動上表達關心，唯有在言談中多些表達。總之，這是還要深入了解的領域。

而其實自己也往往會出於好意地「指」Connie做事，例如看見艾莉張張口便緊張地著Connie餵哺她。對阿比又意見多多。自己的「二號仔」關心卻加上了不適當的口吻，有時也會令人感到厭煩、有壓力。我自身的限制（弱點）也是影響著我的家人呢。

最有趣的是這些年來我發現自己愛吃的本相其實很像在大學讀心理學時提到Sigmund Freud 他的psychosexual development theory裡的Fixation。我相信自己就是fixated在 Oral Stage中，表面看似常以滿足口腹為上，實則反映著自己對nurture的渴求，無論是生理或人際關係上。不知道我的童年是怎樣影響著我的成長呢？

由捐血講到性格、自我成長，真想不到這則新聞竟讓我帶來這麼多反省呢！

後記：
印象裡我並未曾捐過血，所以小時候的想法，與其想幫人，可能真正內心想表達的是渴望被需要、可以有別人的注意與認同，(ha, even having this blog site!)就像早前我分享我曾幻想自己英年早逝的動機一樣 (blogpost on March 24, 2010)。 我相信我這生都會一直有這份張力，學習如何面對這內心的渴望，渴望活得relational，渴望在上主的恩典與愛裡得餵養。

Blessed be Yahweh, our Creator, who cares for us so much and patiently builds us up.

Thank you Connie, for giving me the insights, and your continuous love and acceptance.
.

Lining Up For A Cause...

This is quite a queue! Is this a queue for bus? (I had thought so) NOPE. They're lining up for HOTDOGs!! This hotdog stand is no ordinary. It's selling hotdogs with an oriental twist...the Japanese taste....called the Japadog. It's quite well-known in Vancouver (even though I haven't heard of them until during the Olympics) The Japadogs have different flavor. To me, one of them tasted like those octopus balls (but now a sausage and bun instead). The Japadogs are not that expensive (~$5-6) comparing to ordinary hotdogs. But the line-ups can get really long......guess how long it took for us to get our order.......1 hour!!! Would you be willing to wait that long for a hotdog? ^_^

It was quite fun to hear the chef keep thanking his customers loudly and proudly, saying "Thank you ~~~~" in English with a Japanese tone.

The Japadogs are quite yummy. Give it a try if you have a chance! ^_^ I wish to try it again!

陳年舊事—跟這Sci-Fi 的情意結

請你猜一猜這套科幻電視劇“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”是哪個年代的作品？ （tips: 從下文內容應可猜到）

這套電視劇對我很有意義，甚至可以說我是因它而被影響了一生！我沒有誇大，的確是源自一段往事……

在我三至五歲時，我爸因修讀碩士課程而舉家到了美國兩年。當時的電視劇繼電影“Star Wars” 後掀起了一陣科幻太空歷險熱，我最深刻的電視劇有“Battlestar Galactica” ，繼而便是這套“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” ，那些戰機的外形特別令我著迷。

在我們一家從美國回港後不久的一個晚上，爸媽照常在我和弟弟睡了時在客廳看電視，早已臥在床上的我卻未有入睡，反而被外面客廳電視劇的聲音吸引著，那些激光鎗戰的聲音彷佛似曾相識。我定意下床出去看個究竟，發現原來三色台播映這套劇，當我還以為可以重溫這套「我最喜愛的電視劇」時，卻被爸媽阻止，要我立即回睡房睡覺。儘管無奈，一向聽話的我當然照他們的意思做，奇怪的是，我回到床上後不久竟不知為何腦子裡想著的不是這套電視劇的情節，卻是自己很多「唔聽話」的片段，而心裡激盪著一種後悔的情緒：為何我會這麼多「唔聽話」的時候？為何我會這麼壞？淚水隨著內心的悔過流下，繼而飲泣。在客廳的爸媽聽到孩子的哭泣聲便一起進來看個究竟，見到我飲泣，以為是因為他們不讓我看電視的緣故，我卻告訴他們我覺得自己很壞，很「唔聽話」！（現在想起自己竟會這樣想，很驚奇！不知道我這反應會否令爸媽驚訝呢？）結果，爸媽安慰我，指出人有罪性，亦教我向主耶穌求赦免，還帶我作了一個禱告，我便釋然了…到最後是我立即睡了，還是出去和他們一同看完劇集呢？我就記不起了…或者爸媽會有印象吧！弟弟…還是熟睡中zzz

這套劇引起的這個遭遇，在我長大後回顧我信仰歷程中重新回想起來，而且片段還印象深刻。這樣的經歷仿佛像一粒種子，種下了主的恩情在我心中，讓我自小明白悔過被接納的感覺。所以我最近動動腦筋找到這劇原來的英文名稱（因我一直只記得這套劇的中文名稱，現在身處異邦有時都不知怎去告訴我的外國朋友），最終都給我找到了這“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”！ YEAH!! （在搜尋時，有趣地發現原來這劇取材自三十年代的一部漫畫小說，而這小說將會在明年拍成電影版！從宣傳資料所見，原著的造型風格跟電視版的很不同呢！）

最後考一考大家，知不知道這劇的中文名稱呢？其實它的英文名稱多少都給了點蛛絲馬跡的！開始及結尾共有兩條問題，看看有沒有人猜到啦！ ^_^

A terrible January

What a crazy January!! After a merry trip from Hong Kong, we suffered 2 weeks of jet lag. Not only Connie and I rested so little, but it was the kids who kept waking up early in the mornings (e.g. 3 am, being very energetic) Now we know the 'pain' of taking kids on a trip is not during the flight, but to endure the jet lag afterwards.

I fell sick probably due to the restlessness of this new rhythm of life. It was most likely a fiercesome flu which struck me down for more than 10 days!! Those days were really dark: Sleep...get up for classes...eat little...sleep again. School work came to an halt. Connie, Abby and Elly moved to the study room. I was 'quarintined'.

I really feel bad for not bing able to take care of the family. I haven't been so sick for a long time, which made me really treasure a healthy body. Now I'm still feeling weak...keep wearing 4 layers of clothes all the time. May this dark time be gone soon.

Dear God, you are the giver of life. May your light shine upon me. Cast away the darkness in me.

Fall...short

Got so much that I would like to jot down to share with you...reflections from my everyday life. Although there's just so little time......I still want to make an opportunity to remember the beauty and blessings which we may easily overlook everyday.

To see more photos, CLICK ME!

Post-Exam Days

All of my exams are over! My first year at Regent is "officially" over! Thank God for such a wonderful year. I really like to share with you some of my reflections later for I need a while to write them up.

It's been quite busy after the exams. Busy with settling different matters in HK and schedules for spring/summer here. I'm going to work at Regent as an AV technician, recording/working on the sound system for chapel and evening lectures. I also have an opportunity to learn about counselling and case study with a clinical psychologist. This summer, I'll take 2 courses: Reading film - A theological Approach; and Biblical Greek. Both are very interesting to me. We'll see how the courses go!! ^_^

We've bought a secondhand van this week! It's a 2002 Kia Sedona, with 56000km mileage. It's fully loaded with special features and it comes with a deal of $5400.

This buying experience has quite an impact on me. We saw this van on the well-known free classifying/advertising website: Craigslist. I notice that buying a second-hand car actually does involve a large sum of money. I have a fear of making wrong decisions in transactions since I always have bad experiences. I just don't know if I would get cheated this time. Since I've gone through quite a few bad experiences before, I now slowly develop a mutual understanding with Connie that all the important decisions I made should concur with her comments. Connie's opinions and suggestions are really helpful and I know my ideas can be better filtered/improved out from her critical questioning character. With her full support this time, I'm happy to make this deal. I thank God for this great buy opportunity. When I was driving it home today, I was so thankful because I just love the new driving experience. May this van be a great help to those who need transportation.

Lost and Found

I found my long-lost wedding ring on the desk today!!! ^_^ Hurray!!
I know it's at home somewhere since I usually have it placed on the desk with my keys. But it's been out of sight for quite a while. I thought it must have been Abby who played with it and misplaced it somewhere. I told Connie about the lost and she said lightly that it would be an opportunity to buy new rings for us. There were moments that I felt so regretful for losing it and I really really hoped that it could be found. Today I just found it in the stack of erected bibles. I'm RELIEVED now and I should put it at a more secure place so that I won't lose it again. ^_^

1st blog in 2009!

This is the 1st blog in 2009!

It's been quite foggy this month. I was amazed at the scenery under heavy fog. My first impression is: Silent Hill (a horror genre video game which the story began on a foggy setting) The photo shown cannot represent the worst scenario. The visibility in the worst case was about 10m max. A foggy night scene is even more interesting. People and trees behind the backdrop of streetlights were blurred, adding a sense of mystery.

I was amazed on one foggy afternoon when I saw a spectacular scene. On a typical day, I can see the hilly Northern Vancouver from my place. That day I saw that houses at the lower part of Northern Vancouver were covered by a thick layer of greyish fog However, houses on the hilly part were exposed to the sun. It was a big difference. Later on that day, as I drove to Richmond, I saw the changes myself. It was sunny and bright with blue sky overhead from my place, then became foggy and pale as I continued to drive close to the seaside. What a big difference made within such short time and space!!

Connie made a thoughtful reflection from these foggy experience: Sometimes in life the road is not clear. One has to walk on the path with faith in order to see more to reveal. This is a good reminder to our stay in Vancouver in the following years.

Embracing my reading week with Books, Family and Video Games???

It's time for the second reading week!! It's going to be a busy one, and I hope I can really spend the time to read, just like the first one I had in October. Besides, I really hope to spend part of the reading week with Connie and Abby, so that they can be "cheered up" while I'm having some free time!!! ^_^

Coming to the end of this term, I'm thankful that the big assignments are all handed in on time. There'll be final exams in December for all my three courses, but I guess I'm now feeling much more relax than earlier time. Indeed, this is a time for me to learn how to cope with leisure and study. I'm the kind of person who doesn't know how to have fun in a wise way. In the past, I would just spend my holidays in video gaming, even after I got married (when I had my holidays, Connie still had to work, so I'd have my own fun time) I would get so addicted that I could spend hours non-stop playing those exciting 1st-person-shooting or strategy games. I did not find much trouble in that when I started my career and I could always make up sleep time eventually. But now if I play video games as before, I would be slacking off my studies and the result can be devastating. (the indulging experience I had in my university years still haunts me) I think this is the time for me to embrace a new/better way to spend my free time. I like sports but I can never do it just by myself. In fact I never ask people out for playing sports together with me. So I would just be so tied up with myself and ended up in playing video games on my own. Will there be changes in the coming reading week?

出擊！

阿比爸爸成功發動了機動戰士！在上星期五難得有一天weekday假期，阿比爸爸到了銅鑼灣的世貿中心Namco Wonder Park初次體驗了一部與別不同的遊戲機。這部《機動戰士--戰場之絆 》，玩家會在一個270 ° 可視半球形機艙、以100% 仿真操控一部機動戰士，我以「自護國」官兵的身份駕駛著一部初學者的「渣古」，與其他3位不相識的隊友對戰另外4位「聯邦軍」的「吉姆」。對戰過程很爽！兩手要控制操縱捍外還要用腳踏使用噴射氣推進，而且全程可以用附設的耳機和隊友交談，我與其他的2位都是初玩，但藉一起的配搭2局連勝了！而我自己初次的戰果亦十分理想：擊落了5架敵機。很期待可以和自己的friend一起鬥一番！

要玩事先要以$25出一張pilot card（靠它記錄經驗值及得分來升級），再付$35玩十五分鐘（共2局），而且還要輪候約1小時！但我仍然被那逼真的駕駛感吸引著！這次經歷確是圓了不少男孩小時的夢想呢！

我愛Facebook

最近很喜愛聽純人聲唱的歌曲(Acapella)，今晚得教會好友介紹了一首有趣的acapella，歌頌facebook的偉大！很有趣，誠意推介給大家......

世上有多少個我？

世上有多少個「我」？只要在網上的搜尋器輸入自己的名字便可知道！

今天晚上我和老婆試在網上查看某人的資料時，忽發奇想要查看有否自己的資料在網上留下，搜尋結果令我十分驚訝！原來世上最少有另外3個我存在，他們分別有2人在中國大陸，而有另一人是在台灣。以下是他們的描述：

1. 廣東省公安廳-南粵警察網粵鷹 大練兵 維和警察 打黑除惡 ... 鄭xx. 廣州市世紀智慧科技有限公司.......後來發現自己是一間供應警局IT的技術人員。但最初我看到黃色的那些字時，我還以為自己是賊人呢！~_~

2. 牙科 鄭xx. 醫師. 個人專長: 義齒補綴. 一般牙科. 現任職務: 台大醫院北護分院牙科主治醫師......Oh，我是一個牙科醫生嗎？！^_^

最後一位令我和老婆感到十分震驚：
3. 2002年11月,大法弟子石淑芳、高樹英、鄭xx、王延興、孔祥麗,抵制邪惡搜經文,被惡警用鐵椅子迫害。 當時天氣已冷,這五位法輪功學員穿得很薄,有的只穿一條單褲,而且非法上刑的屋裏根本沒有暖氣,是冷屋......Oh NO NO!!!!!!!! 竟然有另一個同名同姓的我是法輪功成員！我很無奈，老婆除了大笑外，也想不到有其他的反應。~_~

當然，真正我自己的名字亦有出現在一些我學生的blog上，亦有一些小學生的名字跟我的一樣。而老婆就很unique，5個搜尋結果都是她自己本人，畢竟她的姓也比較獨特。

Oh，真有趣，不知你會否有興趣看看有多少個跟你同名同姓的人呢？^_^

假若要為父母寫一篇悼文 （下--父親篇）

以下是上星期日開組時寫關於daddy mommy的一些回憶片段，我很欣賞他們為家、為我和弟弟的付出。我本是記下daddy mommy在我心中留下的祝福，請恕我文筆不算太好......

鄭建城生於1947年2月11日，是家中的五子。我父親童年時於廣州生活，後隨父來港定居，兒時父親經歷石硤尾大火，是第一批入住石硤尾公共房屋的居民。父親完成學業後曾在靈實醫院工作，輔導病人。其後因著蘇茵佩女士及蔡元雲醫生的影響加入突破輔導中心，服務在婚前或婚後有需要的人。

父親在教會認識母親，之後開始約會、相愛、結婚。父親與母親十分恩愛，會不時稱讚對方，又不怕在親友面前打情罵悄。他們育有兒子兩名，父親對他們時常記掛，在禱告中常記念他們。父親亦對兒子們很大的自主及信任，但看到令他擔心的事時，亦會主動約會兒子們傾談，表達他的關注。我最珍惜的是我在市外讀大學時父親寫了兩次信給我，信中流露著親切的關心及支持，令我很感動。

父親為人謹慎，處處細心地關心其他人的需要，我實在連他的一半也及不上。父親寧願自己節省下金錢為兒子們買新衣服；又會知道兒子的口味，為他們留下好吃的東西給他們。

父親自小家境不算富裕，卻學會知足，並時常相信天父的供應，這也是他和母親留給孩子的榜樣。他亦是家中的頭，是兒子們信仰的榜樣。我仍然懷念小時每星期一次的家庭崇拜。我們會一同讀聖經，分享，又會講些敏感的題目（青春期^_^）我也期望在我的家中也能延續這個好傳統。

我最感到光榮的是我婚禮中，既不是牧師、主禮嘉賓，卻以父親的身份在台上給我和Connie勸勉，我們深感到父親對我們的祝福。在生育領養的事上縱然或有不同的想法，但父親仍開放自己，接納我們的想法。父親，多謝你！

自己雖然不善關心父母，在行動上表達很多的愛。但容我繼續學習，我在此亦想向父親說：我愛你！

假若要為父母寫一篇悼文 （下--母親篇）

彭穎怡生於1949年2月13日，是家中六兄弟姊妹中的「大家姐」。母親小時家窮，所以年紀輕輕便要照顧弟妹，以及工作幫補家中生計。母親讀書不多，只完成小學便要開始工作。惟母親好學勤奮，在工餘夜校完成中三課程。母親喜愛音樂，特別鍾情於鋼琴的音色，家中雖沒有能力為她提供什麼興趣學習班，更買不起鋼琴，但母親卻會自製一個紙鍵盤，塗上黑白鍵，在自己的努力練習中竟無師自通，彈得一手好鋼琴。

母親在教會認識父親，之後開始約會、相愛、結婚。母親不時提及他們的片段，例如他們以前拍拖時，因為沒什麼錢，他們便一起坐巴士，由起點坐到終點，在長途的車程中傾傾講講，也是一個難忘而有意思的快樂時光。他們婚後亦十分恩愛，會不時稱讚對方，又不怕在親友面前打情罵悄。他們育有兒子兩名，母親時常在自己及人前稱讚他們，鼓勵他們。即使兒子們有失意挫敗，她會以欣賞的角度去給我們打氣。她會以身作則，小時常教我們對人的禮貌及風度。她又為人樂天，遇到困難會教導我們多祈禱去倚靠神。

母親年青時曾任幼稚園老師，她對小孩有耐性及愛心，亦有智慧地培養他們有好的品行，甚得校長同事的讚賞。可惜後因身體不適才要辭去教職。母親無論在工作、家務、以及事奉都態度認真，事事都盡心盡力去完成，我對她這份對人的熱誠及對主的忠心感到敬佩。 我相信我喜愛小朋友的心，以及後來投身小學教育，都有母親的影響。

母親處處細心地關心其他人的需要，但因多年的勞累及車禍的後遺症，現在母親常感到力不從心。作為兒子，我渴望她仍可享受天父每日賜她的力量，及教會弟兄姊妹對她的關懷愛護。

我自己雖然不善於關心母親，更時常抗拒要拖著母親、攬著母親撒嬌。但容我繼續學習，我在此亦想向媽媽說：我愛你！

久違了

Sorry, 多日（月）沒有寫blog，這個阿比爸爸真不像樣！
要繼續寫下自己的記錄需要Ngai 力（不識打tim，請指教！）
最近summer多了時間上網，發現有一個好site. (http://www.facebook.com/)我在那裡找到很多舊朋友，可以同大家reconnect，真開心！這網的layout又多元化，也有很多工具供選擇，可以post相、video、甚至link up我這個blogger的site也可。我誠意向大家推薦.....一起上facebook！