Bird Study (3) – Feathers growing

On June 18^th, Felix peeped into the nest and found that the birds were covered with more feathers, the colour of which looked exactly the same as their parents.

At this moment, these little babies did not look like fresh meat, but appeared to be a heap of feathers in a nest. With the feedings from the parent birds, growing activities were rapid underneath the feathers. The birds will soon become bigger ones.

Felix said:

Here a photo of the robin nest TODAY.... I think the baby has grown SOME feathers.

A Comfortable climb up Fortress Hill

In recent months, by the side of the Fortress Hill MTR Station, two new luxurious lifts are in service. Each day, they uplift or lower students, teachers, office-workers, housewives and nearby residents to and from schools or high rises at Mid-levels in North Point. These people save a lot of energy in climbing the first 4-storey height with the help of either lift and they can also finish another 5 to 6 storey height by a long and straight escalator. From now on, they do not need to climb those never-ending winding staircases in the past.

The slopes next to the lifts are now well-decorated in modern art and new staircases are being built with covers at their tops so the pedestrians are away from strong sunshine or rain.

Answer to Guessing Game

Daisy, you have got the right answer. Congratulations!

Vivianne, good try! Maybe you will get the right answer next time!

Abby did put her hand into the glass of water. I did not know why she did this. Well I guessed she wanted to touch the water she had been drinking.

Bird Study (2) - Baby birds first seen

On June 16^th, 2007, Felix took a photo of the baby birds that earlier hatched from the eggs. To me, they looked like some chicken meat with some feathers plucked off. The eyes were tightly closed. Obviously they could not see anything at this moment. The babies well packed to one another. They could only be distinguished by their pointed beaks.

Here comes Felix’s story:

The female bird is still sitting in the nest most of the time every day, and often I see the male bird coming back, literally with several worms in his mouth. It was very windy last night, almost like a storm but no rain, so this morning I went out there to take a look, hoping that the little creatures and their nest haven't been destroyed or damaged. The nest was still there, but the mother bird was not there. So I took a ladder (near enough the nest but without really disturbing it) and climbed up and took some pictures. Amazingly there were no eggs in it (I was told the egg are Blue in color), BUT there were 3 baby birds !!! They probably are just newly hatches as they don't have feathers yet. Also it amazed me how nicely the nest was built... from a lot of twigs and bamboo leaves from our bamboo tree, and the edge of nest is secured by a lot of clay -- almost like reinforced concrete !!!

Here is the picture, taken an hour ago showing the babies!

A Dozen becomes Half a Dozen

What is that Mathematics?

It happened at a Maxim’s Cake shop. Last Tuesday, I took a cake coupon to one at City One. I aimed at more expensive cakes. I asked the shop assistant, “How many these bigger cakes can I get in exchange for a dozen ordinary cakes using a coupon?” The young assistant replied, “Six”. The price of each of the cakes in the photo was $7.6. By calculation, a dozen of ordinary cakes (普通餅) cost $45.6.

Those ordinary cakes are thin, normally a little cream at the top. To me, I can finish one in two bites or even in one single bite.

The shapes of these bigger cakes were more attractive to the eyes, so I decided to try these cakes.

I selected two heart-shaped cakes so that they came together as “Heart to heart”. The taste of the “heart” was just like some sugar floss mixed with some flour, a little hard like a shield. The lower half of the cake was composed of layers of cream and cake, having the “Napoleon” feeling. There was no big surprise except the shape.

The one with a “star” at the top was of similar structures as those “hearts”.

The two big chocolate ones are appealing to the eyes because it was round and topped with some icy sugar and crunchy pieces. When it was bitten by our teeth, the pieces tumbled apart. It suited big-mouthed people. The taste was okay, but it was embarrassing to see pieces of cake falling from our mouths when the cake broke.

The oval-shaped chocolate cake were composed of layers of cream and brown cake, just a little bigger than an ordinary cake.

The difference between these more expensive cakes with the ordinary ones is that they have more “layers” and bigger. That’s all.

Next time, I will buy some fruit tarts or cakes with jelly-toppings.

Swimming Pool at Ma On Shan reopens

As summer approaches and the recent change of sea water conditions by algae, swimmers rush to the swimming pools instead of the beaches to play, swim or have sunbathing.

Ma On Shan swimming pool, built in recent years, provides the swimmers of all ages to play. There are winding slides that swimmers can speed down from high level to the water pool below. It is great fun indeed. Others, especially the children, can climb up and down those structures of bars specially designed for them. Some others may wet themselves and stand like penguins in the round shallow swimming pool.

There are chairs for sunbathers to lie down and enjoy the sunshine overhead. For those who do not want too much sunshine can go into the shade of the pink umbrellas.

The two photos have a strong comparison:

The left-hand photo was taken on March 15^th when the swimming pool was still closed.

The right-hand photo was taken recently on June 20^th when the swimming pool was reopened.

Felix’s experience of bird visits

Here is the story Felix tells me:

This is probably the 3rd year (could be 4th year) that I have bird actually built a nest in MY trees in the backyard, even when the trees were small when we first moved in. It was exciting. There is another kind of bird, the cliff willows, that also want to build a nest, but they do this with clay and saliva, and the finish product is a round dark brown colored structure which is hideous -- looks like cancer growing from the house. So they are not welcomed, and whenever they succeed in sticking some clay on the corner wall, I wash it down with strong tap water gun.
Those birds that build a nest with leaves and twigs are welcomed, and they look really like a work of art.
There is little that one can do watching the birds. Many of them are so well concealed that you don't even know their existence until after the season (or a year) when the nest were blown down in a storm.
This bird right now is easy to observe since the nest is low. I can see it without need for a ladder or something. The most I could do is to take a couple photos from a distance. I don't want to disturb them. Some birds kill their young or abandon them if they know some human beings try to get them.
I told you there is a second net in the Rosewood tree. Yes, confirmed today when I saw the bird flying out of it. Quite small bird, but sings beautifully.

Felix identified the kind of bird from one of his colleagues:

I showed the picture to a coworker who is a bird watcher, and immediately he told me it is an American Robin, which in Chinese is 知更鳥(Robin). The eggs should be blue in color, but I dare not try to climb up and check. maybe just leave her alone.

Bird Study (1) - Mother care

Felix began his bird study on June 11^th, 2007. He took a photo of the bird sitting in the nest on his Cherry Blossom Tree. He supposed the bird to be the mother.

This lady bird appeared to have a black-to-grey head. Her eye-brows were white like those of old people. Her beak was sharp, but its colour was dirty yellow. The feathers on its back and wings were greyish black as well. Her attraction went to her bright golden yellow chest. At that time, she might be sitting on some eggs and let her babies hatch out under her warmth.

Felix told me:

Better photo. The bird is about 4-6" long.

Here you can see the first actress on the bird stage!

Another Guessing Game

It was June 6^th, D-day for the Allied armies to land on Normandy in World War II.

Abby landed on the soft pad of the GYM with the help of her mother on the same day, but in 2007. It was an hour exercise for the MOTHER, not the child. The Mother had to sway Abby to and fro on the cartoon swing and others…..

We met Abby and her mother at the GYM. Then we headed down to a restaurant a floor below to have lunch. The sofas of this restaurant were comfortable, BUT the MEAT with the noodles and spaghettis was DRY and COARSE .

During lunch Abby was given some water to drink from a glass.

What did Abby do next after she had drunk some water from the glass?

Here are the options you may choose

A. She pushed the glass away from the table and broke it.

B. She licked the glass with her little tongue.

C. She waved the glass to the waitress to ask for more water.

D. She pushed her hand into the glass.

E. She gave the glass of water to her mother to drink.

F. She drained the table with the water out of the glass.

I shall post up the answer later in the week.

A Tree Hotel at Felix’s backyard (2)

It was 7 days ago, June 11th. Felix went on his story about the family of birds that arrived.

At the same time, Audrey who was good at distinguishing different bird singings told Felix that there might be a nest of birds on another tree.

Let us study Felix's second story first:

The bird is at least 6" long, quite a big bird. The birds that came in the previous years were smaller, only about 3". But no matter the size, it is still exciting. After writing the mail, I went down to the yard again, and saw the male bird coming back literally with a moving worm in his mouth. The female bird was sitting in the nest (maybe sitting on her eggs).
It was afternoon and bright. When I told Audrey I found the bird nest, she asked if it was on the Redwood tree, because she has been hearing a lot of bird songs near the Redwood Tree, so there could be a nest -- I heard the bird singing too, beautiful song,.... I told her the bird nest I saw was on the Cherry Blossom tree instead. So, I went down and explore the Redwood, and I did find a small nest high up, I could not take a picture yet. Need to go up a ladder and get closer in order to see more clearly. Let's see.... This is going to be a small bird, but a good singer, and it should have a red color chest.

Left photo shows the Redwood tree. The bird nest is at the centre of the right photo viewed from below.

The trees in Felix’s backyard must be healthy and welcoming. They well know that the host and hostess are kind and pleasant to stay with!

A Tree Hotel at Felix’s backyard (1)

Recently Felix found a bird nest on one of his trees in San Francisco. Here is his story:

I discovered a bird (actually 2) has built a nest in the Cherry Blossom Tree, right on top of my garden bench. I was sitting there and I heard some flapping so I looked up and found her. I will leave her alone and would not disturb her raising her babies. But just took some pictures.... I will keep an eye on the development though... and maybe more pictures. I could not see any eggs (did not climb up to try) nor any babies yet.

There has been some 5 or 6 nests on my trees in the last few years. Last year I thought no birds came, but early in spring during the storm 2 old nests were blown down in the rain.... so there was some nests last year, but they escaped my attention.

Felix is quite exciting, being the hotel manager. He would like to learn more about his new customers and give us another report. We shall wait and see……

The attached photos show:

1) The tree above the garden bench
(2) Close up on the branch -- nest is somewhat hidden
(3) Further close up, see the bird?
(4) Photo’ed from below the nest.

What has 7-up Restaurant become?

The old 7-up Restaurant (七喜酒樓) in Kowloon City has been turned into a hotel without an English name.

七------>大

喜-------->東

酒--------->酒

樓----------->店

This green hotel is of small scale! There are shops on ground level – a Gas shop, a Jewellery shop, a small shoe shop and some others. It is interesting that when we walk past this hotel, we never know its existence because it looks more or less like a shopping centre instead. There is only a staircase leading to the hotel. I believe this hotel is not really a hotel but a mini-tel (蚊型賓館).

I don’t know how good its business is, but I saw a customer climbing up the staircase to the hotel at the moment I took this photo!

Building of New Prince of Wales Hospital (1)

These photos were taken on June 8^th. The trees in the centre of the building site had been cut down and removed.

Those trees bordering the site were preserved.












A protective corridor for pedestrians along the pavement round the site was going to be made.

Cranes moved in and big iron tubes were brought in too. Some of these tubes had been pushed into the ground in upright positions. Machines were inserted to drill and shovel mud up and drop it on the ground near by. Later on, I believe oncrete and steel will then be put inside and when the concrete solidifies, it will form a pile in the ground. This method of making piles does not create much sound. In the past, the sound of piling (using the old method of hitting a pile into the ground foot by foot) was terribly disturbing!.

Looking at plums can stop thirst (望梅止渴)

On reading one of my recent blogs, Felix remembered the luncheon meat he used to eat in the 80’s. He said that there was a “white pig” on the wrapping round the can and he said it was of the brand “Mui Lam”.

I am not a frequent diner of luncheon meat, so I ask my relatives to tell me if there was such kind of luncheon meat in the past and what brand it was. They answer me right away that it was of “Great Wall” brand. I go on asking them if they are still on sale nowadays. They say, “yes”! Well, it is big relief to me because I can take a photo of these cans of meat and tell Felix about it.

Yesterday, my wife and I dropped in a supermarket and found the luncheon meat Felix loved to eat in Hong Kong in the 80’s. (Look at the left-hand photo)

Since Felix cannot buy this kind of pork luncheon meat with ham in SFO, meanwhile he has to look at the cans of his favourite pork here to stop his hunger. Felix! Wait for next time to come back to Hong Kong to taste it!

The right-hand photo shows the kind of luncheon we ate in the past. It was the brand of “Maling” (梅林牌).

We switch Oranges to Grapefruits

We are frequent supermarket shoppers. Recently, the prices of oranges shoot up to a high level. An orange may now cost $4. Before this, it was $3.3 something. Even earlier, each costs $2.5.

Grapefruits are rich in Vitamin C. Although they are a little bitter to taste, my family accept them. Now they cost $4.5 each and most important they are relatively bigger.

Let us compare the sizes and prices of a grapefruit with those of an orange:

In the attached photo, the size ratio of a grapefruit to that of an orange = 2 : 1 and the price ratio = $4.5 : $4 = 9 : 8.

Normally we eat three oranges a day, one for each. Now the consumption cost will become $12. If we share two grapefruits among ourselves, the consumption cost is $9. The fiber contents are roughly 4 : 3. We now save $3 each day and get more fiber. We believe it is a cheaper way to keep ourselves healthier.

Wall Chart (3)

Chicken meat (white meat) is much healthier than beef (red meat). It appears almost every day in our life. Our chicken broth, Hainan Chicken rice (海南雞飯), curry chicken (咖哩雞), KFC chicken and big chicken drumsticks are good selections in our menus.

Nowadays my wife would like to buy those boneless as well as skinless thigh or broiler leg meat so that she can steam and slice it up to smaller piece to make shredded chicken with special dressing (涼拌雞絲). The taste of chicken meat is best with the dressing (涼拌雞絲醬). Our whole family likes eating this dish with rice! We also garnish the chicken with some sour cucumber (preserved in vinegar). Actually these slices of cucumber will increase our appetite during the meal!

Wall Chart (2)

When I eat pork luncheon meat(豬肉午餐肉), I never know which part of pork meat it is. I guess it is a mixture of the cheapest and toughest parts of the pig. The best parts have already been taken away for sale to get higher prices. Somehow the luncheon meat appears to be very soft. I suppose it has been mixed with some fat and crushed by mixers.

I like Ham (火腿) best because it is a little salty and soft too. I know it comes from the upper part of the pig’s leg. I like it to appear in my sandwiches, salad and fried rice.

Thanks to Felix who gave me ham last May when he visited Mainland China and dropped by Hong Kong. This portion of ham is good enough to boil soup for a year or two, of course not every day but once or twice a month. It is not only treasure to us , but adds much taste to our soup!

This chart shows pork from different parts of a pig. See if you can recognize them.

Wall-chart (1)

Three wall-charts are posted on the shop window of a frozen meat shop. They are there for a long time. Not until yesterday I picked up my camera to take their images down. It is educational to me because they show different parts of meat of a cow, a pig and a chicken. At least I can learn the names of different parts of the meat that we eat every day. Later on we may eat selectively certain parts of the meat we like.

Some may know these names already because they may have learned them in Domestic Science lessons at school. Some may know, for example, Felix Ching, if they have learned something from Anatomy. Some who are good at cooking, such as Mrs. Rabbit, may also know them well!

What do you consider Hong Kong Coliseum to be?

Standing inside the shopping Arcade of Metropolis Tower this Wednesday, I felt comfortably cool. The heat waves outside reached 33 degrees Celsius. There was a better view of our Hong Kong Coliseum from the big glass windows there.

This coliseum is famous, not for its facilities for Sports, but for its role of holding countless singing concerts of our Hong Kong Artist singers. To me, it looks like a money collector-box (聚寶盤). Money keeps flying in.

What do you think of it?

One More Answer!

The object in the recent guessing game could be Abby’s new hat!

Does she look lovely under such a hat?

The Truth is ……

Well, thank all of you for joining my Guessing Game. I never expect you all be so earnest to guess what that thing is! I enjoy very much when looking at your suggested answers. You have added much colours to my blogs!

You are all very great in guessing the answer.

Vivianne: It looks really like a wall-light!

Daisy: A clock is less possible because we cannot see the clock hands. Oh! Maybe you can say that it is a digital clock. Possible!

Connie: A mattress for placing hot pots or plates could be possible. It looks like that.

Philip: A stack of microwave-ware covers could be possible.

Felix: A hot plate of keeping dish/food warm could be possible too!

Lit: You are the first to give your answer and you are right. Congratulations!

Ho Keung and Yin Ping: Though you are late in joining the guessing game, you get 50% right.

The truth is: It is a circular flexible box (伸縮盒) with a cover, a container which has a capacity of 940ml, i.e. 4 cups when extended. Who discovered it? My wife! It was a free gift when buying 3 cans of Sardines in Wellcome Supermarket recently. I did not know what it looked like until I reached home.

The handsome horse at Tobruk Sheep Station

This fine horse is one of the stars at Tobruk Sheep Station, Sydney. It is a tame and faithful one which listens to the order of the rider. I think it has long been the partner of the rider. It knows every step of the performance. Firstly, it brings the rider towards the nearby field to meet the sheep. With the help of two sheepdogs, the sheep are driven. The shepherd rides the horse back with the sheep to the yard in front of the spectators watching the show. He descends from the horse to whistle the dogs to drive the sheep into a narrow passageway. The sheep have to line up there compactly. The shepherd tells the spectators the name of each type of sheep and later shears the skin of a selected sheep from the group.

Driving sheep with a car or jeep is impossible. This horse is a perfect helper of the show.

I love the colour of this horse which is golden-yellow, unlike other colours of black, brown, white or grey. I rarely see horses of this colour in Hong Kong.

What’s this?

It looks like a mirror, but not a mirror. It looks like a plate, but not a plate.

What is it? The answer will be announced later!