昔日文章

Every Sunday Toby gets to meet up with his grandparents together with his mom and dad after Mass. They usually go for lunch at a different place each time. Toby enjoys this family gathering. He likes food and appreciates the atmosphere. Everyone casually（隨意）tells a little about what has taken place（發生）during the week, the others feedback a bit to keep the conversation（對話）going.  Today is Sunday again, also, it’s National Day（國慶日）, which means there will be another holiday tomorrow. There is absolutely no rush and Toby’s family can spend more time to have a very relaxing lunch. When the piles and piles of bamboo steamers（蒸籠）arrived at the table, all started to take big gulps（一大口） of food hungrily. After a round of dim sum, they slowed down and started chatting and eating at the same time. Toby’s grandparents kicked off（開始）with the latest political（政治） climate and issues（事件）, condemning （譴責）one of the political parties which Toby’s parents strongly support. Apparently（當然）Toby’s parents defended（辯護）the accusations （指控）and reiterated（重申）the stance（立場）of that par ty. So happens there will be a procession （遊行) by that same party in the afternoon, Toby’s parents wanted to bring Toby along to show support. Of course, this idea irritated（惱怒）the old folks a lot. A happy gathering turned into a heated（激烈的） debate. In one hour’s time, the procession will start. All four adults are waiting for Toby’s decision as to join the walk or not.  What would you react if you were Toby?  I am at such a young age, politics is not for me. I will keep my ears shut and pay no attention. Of course, I will not join the procession as there are much better things to do for a teenager.    I should respect different thinking from different people, try my best to understand controversial （爭議）viewpoints though I may not fully catch （理解）them. I should be aware of whatever is happening in the place I live in. I should not limit myself to purely listening to people near me, I should also search for more information from different sources, then draw（作出）my opinion （看法）. When I get older, I may have another viewpoint, and nothing is binding（具約束性）, I can think differently at different life stages. There is no need to be afraid to take a wrong stance. 

When you are happy, what would you compare yourself with by using a simile? A lot of Hong Kong people use “as happy as a fairy” to describe their happiness. However, English-speaking people use a kind of shellfish to emphasise their joyous feeling.  The little boy is as happy as a clam（非常快樂；心滿意足）because he has received a nice Christmas present.  Clams can be steamed, boiled or fried. They can make a lot of delicious dishes for us. Why do English-speaking people think that clams are happy? The full versions of this expression may tell us the reason :  as happy as a clam at high tide  as happy as a clam at high water  At the coast, “high tide” or “high water” means the time when the sea reaches its highest level. When the tides are low, clams are easier to be caught. However, when the tides are high, clams are safe and “happy” because they are more difficult to be found and eaten.  This informal expression is mainly used in conversation. Scholars found some early written evidence in the U.S.A. in the middle of the 18th century. As pointed out by The Dictionary of Americanisms (《美語詞典》) in 1848, “as happy as a clam at high water” was a very common expression in the coast of New England, a northeastern region of the U.S.A., where clams were found.  Nowadays, the shortened version is more widely used than the full version, probably because people prefer a simpler form and are quite familiar with its meaning.  During this festive season, I wish that each one of you will be as happy as a clam. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Glossary Simile 比喻 Shellfish 貝類食物 Joyous 歡樂 Clams 蛤蜊、蚌、蜆 Full versions 完整的版本 High tide 漲潮 Evidence 證據 Festive season 節日

A recent research suggests that parents who want their children to grow up to be healthy adults should teach them cooking skills. Do you know how to cook? What basic cooking skills have you acquired? Boiling water in a kettle ("teakettle" in American English), opening tinned food ("canned food" in American English) or using a rice cooker to cook rice?  While Chinese people use woks with long-handled spatulas for stir frying, deep frying, steaming, and stewing, Western people normally use frying pans, saucepans and cookers ("stoves" in American English). A gas or electric cooker consists of a grill ("broiler" in American English), an oven and some hobs ("burners" in American English). After cooking, we need to do a thankless task, which is the washing up. American people use "wash the dishes" to describe this least favourite kitchen chore. However, it is very important to keep our utensils clean to prevent breeding of bacteria. The last kitchen job is to help your parents dry the dishes with a tea cloth or tea towel ("dish towel" in American English). Don't mix this up with a towel, which is used to dry yourself, not dishes! Without doubt, cooking is a life skill that everyone should learn. As Jamie Oliver, a famous British chef, said, this is sensible, practical knowledge that students can take into the world and actually use. Whether they're cooking for friends or feeding their future children, they will be fending for themselves, saving money and using these skills every day for the rest of their lives. Glossary: Spatulas:鏟 Stir frying:炒 Stewing:燜 Saucepans:（長柄有蓋的）深平底鍋 Cookers:炊具