Jardins Secret - our secret garden

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It's over a years time since I've been returned from Paris, time flies. I hope I can still remember every moment that moved my heart in those days and record them in details before I forget :P

As scheduled, last book of the year (4th book of Petit Paris) Jardins Secret is ready to be released on 25 December 2020 -  the best time of all.

Talking about beautiful garden, Paris may not be "Number One" in the world, but it must be one of a kind . Whether for those belongs to the memories of the Parisians in the good old days ,  Jardin du Luxembourg;  the royal garden,  Jardin des Tuileries; or those artistic related private ones of Rodin and Monet ...they are absolutely beautiful and romantic, I have to say!

When I started to select photos for this book, "family & friends" are two words that came into my mind; it may therefore will disappoint some readers (hopefully not), because not much related to the "must see spots" have written but it's so true that family & friends are what I've seen while walking along in the garden, so...I write down to share with you. 

Unless we live in our own in an isolated island, otherwise we' ll bond to our family & friends; the relationship is strong and deep but fragile as well. We may build by our greatest effort but destroy unintentionally...

I am forgetful but not in these two issues, although it may be a disaster some how that trap myself, and unless I go back to cultivate my petite garden again,  it may gone forever... So, sometimes it do need a bit of courage to face the fact... & Act!

Year 2020 will end after a few more weeks, it's a harsh year to all of us in the whole world, if this little book can evoke some one who you love or care, call him/her...

How are you my dear? 

Wish you well and Merry Christmas !

 

 

 

 

這是希望

 今天早上吃完自家早餐後，本應該按原地計劃開始新一天的工作，但剛才從窗邊往外看到的情景，令我不得不停下來寫這篇網誌。

跟平常不同的是，今早來到街上的清潔工是一位青年人；瘦削的身形穿着新簇簇又很不合身的工作服，啡紅的短髮及閃亮的手錶，卻沒有配戴任何清潔手套或防晒帽。當他停在不銹鋼的回收箱面前，除了例行收取垃圾之外，他把回收箱推離地鐵站的牆邊，把藏在縫隙的垃圾也一併清理。

也許是新手關係，時兒在思索應如何處理不同的垃圾：先挪移又長又大卷的橫額？掃出來散佈在地上隨風飄揚的垃圾？仍在深處不肯＂離場＂的鷄毛掃.…還是先把回收箱移回原處？

決定隻身把回收箱位置還原，才知道那長長的鋼箱並非如想像般容易對付。左邊回位時，右邊已壓着掉在地上的掃帚，推回右邊救起掃帚，左邊又回彈...一來一回重覆兩三次，好不容易費勁地完成，見他仔細檢示着掃帚頭的損毀…收拾工具，又在繼續下個＂站＂！

我站在窗前看着這一切，良久…口罩遮擋了青年人的表情，也許疫情下令他不得不投身這個行業，是無奈？不願？還是有幸仍可以工作？我想我永遠不會知道。但從整過過程，我卻看見是忠於所托，就這麽簡單，直接；也就是我所認為仍然有的希望！

做個遲多少少先引退嘅設計師

原來都有好一段日子無寫網誌了，可能係全球疫情期間有好多其他鎖碎事要理，又或者我真係唔想特登停落嚟。

唔經唔覺已經去到九月入秋，我嘅引退計劃亦都展開咗一段日子啦。家居工作室入面一箱箱嘅室內設計物料，俾我反轉再反轉，希望可以俾人或者回收，因為做呢行嘅朋友都知道，D物料好多都好鬼靚；而且有D係好難先攞得到，要丟去垃圾站，始終有D吾捨得，成日同自己講：或者第日會有用呢？結果即使唔係要引退，擺吓擺吓都擺咗好多年；到今日，都係要清走…

原本立定心意2021年1月1日會唔再叫自己做室內設計師，點知…竟然俾我遇到最後一個工程，而係無理由唔做嘅，仲要係由今年跨年到2021年中。或者係命運安排，希望好頭好尾啩😅

於是前幾日過開香港區，就順便行去久違咗好耐嘅洛克道。話說嗰日天氣極悶熱，兼且係下午兩三點，照計咁嘅環境之下條材料街冇乜人都係正常嘅，但係，嗰日俾我嘅感覺要用＂蕭條＂同＂死寂＂嚟形容。

我個人習慣係舖頭門口快速望入去，見到有吸睛嘅＂料＂同＂人＂先會再入去仔細＂尋寶＂，不過…我見到嘅係冇開嘅舖、冇執同冇更新嘅貨丶冇表情嘅人、冇坐出嚟嘅貓.…整體感覺係好多塵嘅＂灰色＂！

結果，原本諗住發掘吓有咩新料/產品嘅我，只係慢速沿住洛克道由銅鑼灣行去灣仔方向落埋港鐵回歸九龍⋯

冇錯，過去年多，全球變化真係好大，特別係香港；由社會運動，疫情到全球國家宣示主權等等，全部都衝擊住每一個人。要我哋係咁疲倦嘅環境之下提起精神，有時真係講就易；冇經濟壓力同下一代嘅人都有擔心，何況係有下一代同手停口停嘅小市民呢？所以我見到嘅情景，一D都唔出奇，只係無奈。諗番起舊時嗰種人多車多，條街爆滿出貨入貨；舖頭員工同時又要照顧有無限問題嘅街客同埋，差唔多日日都見住嘅師傅.…嗰種熱鬧得嚟又有D混亂嘅good old days!

又係老鬼心態，睇完料搵間茶餐廳，強勁冷氣下一邊歎奶茶油占多，一邊八掛吓隔離嗰枱師傅呻D乜；雖然係咁細嘅空間入面，你一句我一句，嘈到拆天，但係總可以專心聽到一D趣事；呢種＂特異功能＂其實都係做呢行嘅＂收獲＂⋯又係另一種令我有DD懷念嘅日子。

講咗咁多，都係要返回現實；或者今日、今個月甚至今年、明年，大環境都未必有乜大改善，但係就正如我地幫人設計裝修咁，殘舊破爛嘅地方始終會變番完整同靚，只要肯付出同行動；所以係我寫網誌嘅呢一刻，我仍然深信，好老土咁講：希望在明天！

地球人，一齊努力啦！加油！

Midnight in Paris - The Unforgettable

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Years ago, I had received a souvenir from my client, a lovely box of chocolate - from Maxim's, Paris. I'm sure the chocolate was delicious but the box was my favorite, always. Whenever I've looked at the illustrations on the "tin", I'd wonder what exactly this place was looked like in the year of Belle Époque?

In fact, this 1893 bistro found by Maxime Gaillard is not far from my hotel, located at No3. rue Royale, 8th arrondissement; travelers can still enjoy an unforgettable night there now a day.It's not only famous in its Art Nouveau decor, but linkage of those well known peoples who were there once before...

..."Midnight in Paris", One of my favorite movie (written & directed by Woody Allen), which is also another motivation of my Paris trip.

When Gil (Owen Wilson) and Adriana (Marion Cotillard) being transported further back from 1920's Paris to a bistro in the golden age, there, is Maxim's.

In the movie, Gil was getting lost in the street corner after a gathering with his fiancée & friends, while walking back to his hotel; a mysterious old Peugeot appeared & invited Gil for a ride...which drove him back to 1920's. Since then, every single mid night, he found himself participating in the life of F.Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, T.S. Eliot, Man Ray, Dali, Picasso...a dream-able circle of people for this dis-enchanted Hollywood screen writer who are writing his first book. But the one who captured his heart was Adriana - Picasso's mistress.

Whether Gil would finally stay in 1920 with Adriana, or further back to the Belle Époque which Adriana is willing to die for? I will leave this for you to discover!

Everyone who watched this movie love the story line and equally the location of those mysterious scenes. I was drown in this 90mins illusion every time I am watching this movie.

Let me tell you there is another "unforgettable" moment that you shouldn't miss - the opening scene : a 3,5 mins. of postcard show of the Vintage Paris with the background music of "Si tu vois ma mére"(Sidney Bechet)...don't miss it, you'll know why!

p.s.: the watercolor for Chat Noir was inspired by all of the above and salut to those "unforgettable".

Si tu vois ma mére presented by Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band

Montmartre - part two

...continue

"why the train door kept closing when boarding?...Oops!!!!"
Manual Operation! " I seeeeeeee..."

So, I missed the stop...but never mind, just another ride at the opposite platform will do, no hurry!

Although Montmartre is now in the boundary of Paris, it do has a different charisma once I've come out from the Metro station.

The super fresh air? the tranquil atmosphere without much traffic? the infinite "upward motion" to lead you somewhere? the people in a much leisure gesture?...may be everything that counts, I think.

Wow! it seems I am a bit "too leisure", visitors already crowded in front of Sacré-cœur, as well as inside. I have a special experience there but let me tell you later in other post.

The weather is fine but windy, so it's not easy to stay long in the exterior unless the sun comes out to warm up the air. Well, of course the scenery is stunning when you are "up up high", even superior if you climb up to the top of Sacré-cœur, but not this time.

In order to be "leisure", I carry nothing except my phone + an apple. This photo is so worst that the low resolution and freezing hands shaking resulting the pixelate housing at far end; but it seems time freeze, while I am wondering what were the citizen doing right there in those pixelated houses in the year of Belle Époque? and up here?

Divine Comedy...is now in my mind!

There are a lot more places you can discover in Montmartre, usually they have their own stories behind. But those related to painters or writers are far more attractive to me. La Maison Rose is one of the unique café located on cobble stoned pavement that you shall never miss it. It's as charming as a rose, for sure.

The story behind? I would like to invite you to read this post Top 10 Historica Facts about La Maison Rose - by Molli a very detail & good post that can bring you back to it's past! Thank you Molli.

Okay!I remember I have to let you know whether Montmartre is a "danger zone" or not? Absolutely not in day time, how about at night?

I am afraid I can't tell you this time, because my pair of sore feet beg me to leave, but I promise myself in front of La Maison Rose, I shall return!

In fact, I guess "fascinating" may be a more appropriate word to say, let's see...

 

Montmartre - part one

Day 6: Cold and Windy, Sunny - 13173 steps

Arrondissement 18 - originally it was not in my itinerary, it is one of the district classified as "danger at night" and advised especially to solo traveler; well, let's come back to this later on.

If you still remember I am having some extra days due to the squeeze of full day visit to the Louvre, so, "where shall I explore tomorrow?"

I have a thought that I may regret if not visiting Montmartre this time, why? I don't know, just have a feeling of...

So I take some time to plan my metro route, first time since I've been here on the 6th day, because I walk all the way through except from the airport. Enjoyable to my eyes but not my feet, and it's time to take a break for one day.

The metro system in Paris is not so scary to a Hong Konger that get used to be with our own metro system; but truly speaking, the route that I've planned is not so satisfied by the staff at the counter of Pont Neuf Station.

The morning is chilled, when I walk down into the Pont Neuf metro station; while I am taking my time to investigate the ticketing machine...either my slow motion or my Asian face catch the eyes of "lady Pont Neuf", she ask /shout to me (cos' I can't hear at the beginning as I am too concentrate to my "toy" + there is no passengers, except me)

"Bonjour...madam, where do you want to go?...I see...your map is not good...use this...oh oh oh, the route you've plan is not good...you better ride from here to here...change the line from here to there...and voila! arriving there!! Remember, change the line at St.-Lazare, remember!"

"Sure! I trust you, merci beaucoup! Au Revoir!"

"Hey, it's simple...." after a few minutes on the train...I've discovered something wrong...

Imagine - My Chat Noir

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The first drawing after completing all text/ or short poems will be the book cover.

Although Chat Noir was in fact a cabaret in the past, I love to imagine...or I suppose it did exist as a companion to the performers, especially to the cancan dancers in those good old days...so, I want one, too :)

My first impression to this symbolic black cat is her pair of eyes, so mysterious with a embedded power which seems telling us, she is not only her companion but protector as well.

The painting in my book "La femme au chat" (the women with the cat) is a version of 1882-1884 by Adolphe Léon Willette exhibited in Musée de Montmartre.

The magnet I've bought there is another version titled "Une paire d'amis" (A pair of friends.) The raw line work of La femme au chat is beautiful but the title Une paire d'amis is much more meaningful, don't you think?

This picture instantly reminds me of a cancan dancer (although there is no specification of this lady is a cancan performer). Early before, most of the cancan dancers are prostitutes not until this performance was highly paid in Moulin Rouge, living of them were greatly improved, as well as being famous around the world.

Besides Adolphe, Toulouse-Lautrec was another artist who always include cancan dancer as one of the element in his paintings; different gestures are artistically expressed.

You can find so many chat noir souvenir now a day in Paris. Designers love to use the traditional handbill version (but wait a minute, look closer, it’s not the original; compare with the one in my previous post). Anyway, I got this playing card as a gift from a Chinese storekeeper of a souvenir shop in Montmartre, so sweet! Merci :D

So, what is you choice?