過去七天我都要早起但不能早睡，因為昨天日經考試，今天日語能力試。每天OT下班後，累得想死，但仍要熬夜溫習。之前浪費了太多時間，這星期追得很辛苦。但結果仍是本小姐一貫風格，得過且過。一星期只有星期天可以睡飽才起床，但今天這個星期天我比往時還要早起，七時十五分已經出門口。兩個考試，分上、下午考，分別考了三個小時。七點我才回到家。累……很累……聽解很難，應該是我Fail的重要部份。我可能是半個聾子，不管是英語、日語，甚至中文，聽解都是我弱的一環。似乎我離三級還有一點距離。下年再努力吧！
有很多天沒有寫日記，令大家擔心實在抱歉，感謝關心我的您們。從今天起我會繼續做一個乖乖的blogger。
就算知道嶺南有很多貓貓，多到數不清的貓，但一看到牠們仍然很興奮，有相機手機在手一定會拍下牠們的貓樣。可惜有不少照片都弄丟了……
hangout (n.) 巢窟
backdrop (n.) 背景幕
portrait (n.) 肖像
e.g. Try to get their picture in their favorite hangout, like the cat cradle, or on the rug in front of the mantle. Wherever it is they feel most secure is likely to produce the most natural and endearing picture. The backdrop can be nearly as important as the portrait itself.
Example from: "Photographing Your Dog Or Cat" by John Steele on ezinearticles.com
Customs will launch an investigation into a toy banned in Australia and recalled in Hong Kong to see if the chemical discovered in it violates the drug control and toy safety l
aws.
The probe came after Australia reported three cases of poisoning involving children who ingested some plastic beads that are part of the award-winning Bindeez toy, made by Moose Enterprise.
Australian authorities reportedly found in the beads a substance that the body converts to gamma-hydroxy-butyrate or (GHB), a date rape drug. The drug is described as "life-threatening" to children.
"We will ascertain if there are any activities that contravene the Dangerous Drug Ordinance and Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance," said a spokeswoman for the Customs and Excise Department.
Widely regarded as a party drug, GHB in liquid or tablet form can relieve anxiety, but it can result in sleep, coma or death.
Toys `R' Us announced it had removed the product from its shelves yesterday but did not release details on how many of the toys had been sold and whether consumers could obtain a refund. The consumers' help line is 2991 6222.
"We are currently following up the matter with the manufacturer while this process is ongoing," the store said.
"We recommend the parents to keep this product away from children until further information is available."
Sogo department store in Causeway Bay reported its stock of Bindeez had sold out.
Moose's Hong Kong office refused to answer questions on the ban yesterday. Overseas reports said the toy was made in the city, though the package only says made in China.
John Ho Wing-shing, of the biochemistry department at Chinese University, said he had not heard of plastic that can turn into GHB.
"It is difficult to tell what turns the plastic into GHB as there are many chemicals involved that serve different functions," he said. "Only the manufacturer knows the formula."
He said the beads might contain GHB or it could be a result of chemical reactions in the human body.
Professor Ho said plastic ingredients such as "phathalate", a toxic softener, had been an increasing concern for regulatory authorities in the United States and the European Union.
Customs records show only one case of GHB cracked in Hong Kong. In 2002, 1.4g of the drug in solid form was seized.
Shop tenants of the ghostly Ngong Ping Village are stocking up on supplies as the reopening of the tourist attraction nears.
Despite persistent poor business since the suspension of the cable car service in June, souvenir shop owner Tim Cheung Kwok-wah said he would spend tens of thousands of dollars on new inventory. "I am looking for new products such as crystal ornaments that can be engraved with our clients' images, and other small items such as necklaces and key chains," he said. "I need to find ways to recover my losses."
Patrick Wong Man-sau, of the Ngong Ping Tea House, said: "We are enlarging our signboard and will move it to a more eye-catching position."
The MTR Corporation, landlord of the tenants and new operator of the cable car system, will cover the cost for Mr Wong.
It also offered all 16 village tenants who struggled to stay in business a monthly allowance of HK$15,000 for October and this month. It said it would consider extending the allowance to next month if the opening has to be delayed.
But Oriental Massage Centre manager James To Ka-ki said he would not expect businesses to revive fully even after the opening because "the public need time to regain their confidence".
hangout (n.) 巢窟
backdrop (n.) 背景幕
portrait (n.) 肖像
e.g. Try to get their picture in their favorite hangout, like the cat cradle, or on the rug in front of the mantle. Wherever it is they feel most secure is likely to produce the most natural and endearing picture. The backdrop can be nearly as important as the portrait itself.
Example from: "Photographing Your Dog Or Cat" by John Steele on ezinearticles.com
十一月四日，星期日，我們又回到嶺南拍照。但當天我們差不到日落才到，而且天氣亦不太美，照片不是拍得很好。反而搞惡照多的是。最高興是看到人多熱鬧，玩得很盡興。
以下數張是我最喜歡的。沒錯，連小姬的照片亦出賣了！
看完正經的相片，是時候看看搞惡照。以下這些照片來自Ella，全都是令人回味的相片。除了右上角兩位小妹妹危坐騎樓令人心驚外，其他都很搞鬼。
當日的公仔亦很搶鏡！
玩累了，最後到酒樓「飲飽食醉」，我們不約而同地長吁短嘆：「聽日唔想返工！」好一班不思進取的畢業生！
Anyway，當日很愉快。感謝大家！
今天的收獲。但仍然買不到想看的《無痛失戀》……
該本日本雜誌是隨意買來練習日語的。買後才發覺，不到一個月我便要考能力試，但完全未準備，好鬼緊張。看來這個月要地獄式溫書。
starve for (v.) 極需要
sidetrack (v.) 轉移話題
e.g. "Brad and Angelina are starved for romance," says the insider. "He usually plans these romantic nights, but it just doesn't seem to be a priority for Angie. They usually end up either fighting or getting sidetracked by the kids."
Example from: "The romance is over" by InTouch
