2020/12/24
Petite Fleur
2020/12/23
Jardin du Luxembourg
A super cold and foggy morning, I am in the Luxembourg garden right now, it's on the Left bank in 6e, a bit larger than Jardin de Tuileries; more trees of maple & chestnut, beautiful fallen leaves...
Here is the "postcard" shot in my guide book that attracted me, although quite difference due to the weather, I am glad that I do come to have my Vienna chocolate inside...being their first client of the day.
My original plan do not include Luxembourg because I tend to spend more time in the Louvre, but unfortunately...& fortunately I have extra days due to the limitation of my museum pass, and that's my reward in return, I am so so lucky.
Walking in Luxembourg, the feeling is quite different from that in Tuileries; Tree vs Flowers, which is my favorite,?...both? I guess. But I think the location do affect a bit of my impression because Luxembourg is located in the Latin Quarter, a student area, whereas Tuileries is in the Louvre & Les Halles district, an epicentral; in addition, Shakespeare & Company bookshop is nearby, that's why, here, is more tranquil & poetic.This is the only photo that I can record to let you know where I was. I've just sneak into a huge store, behind a pair of white painted closing doors, there are two levels of platforms for the storage of orange trees; it's very interesting, because they are quite large actually, may be around 3 meter high, but look like they are "babies"; well protected to keep them warm with sufficient air vent above, and just having their breakfast...
I do want to walk closer to smell and touch them, but the store keeper who is watering somewhere in the dark corner discover me, so...I failed...but still excited, ha ha!
Here is a citrus in another corner of the garden to compensate my lost, what a lovely orange hue in the autumn leaves with slight refreshing aroma, too.Well, maple, chestnut trees, fountains, sculpture, mosaic-culture planter beds, orange tree, hot choclate, museum...,etc; you name it, or even more are the treasure of Luxembourg for the Parisian & tourist.
The locals have their unforgettable childhood memories in this garden, and as a tourist, I find mine's too, guess what?
2020/12/22
If only if...I can...wait
2020/12/21
Jardins Secret - our secret garden
click to enlarge |
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 !
2020/10/25
這是希望
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!
2020/09/05
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!
2020/08/01
Midnight in Paris - The Unforgettable
Click to enlarge |
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 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.
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!
2020/07/25
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...
2020/07/18
Montmartre - part one
2020/07/11
Imagine - My Chat Noir
click to enlarge |
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?
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.
So, what is you choice?
2020/07/10
Following blog 網誌追踪
Cocoadesignlife
2020/07/04
Le Chat Noir - The black cat
Famous re-opening handbill of the Chat Noir by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859-1923)
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2020/07/02
無止境的貪念
2020/05/23
尋找 Francisque Poulbot
事源在巴黎蒙馬特(Montmartre)的博物館内被一系列展品吸引, 尤其這幅令我産生特別興趣, 正因為如此着迷, 連展品名稱及介紹也忘記査看, 不過這也是本人常發生的事...:P
這是一幅相對較特別的作品, 為什麼? 容讓我先來介紹這位畫家.
生於法國Saint-Denis 的畫家 Francisque Poulbot (1879-1946), 自1900年居於蒙馬特, 對當時舊巴黎被遺忘的街童 / 小童特別憐愛; 加上第一次世界大戰期間民間各種的苦况, 他在畫作中大部份以孩童作為主角, 從他們的角度去看/反諷戰爭所帶來的種種...於1923年, 他更在Rue Lepic 開設了ー間藥房, 藉此提供孩童所需; 正因為他的付出, 蒙馬特人特別竉愛這位畫家. 如果你和我一樣也喜愛 Victor Hugo 的 孤星涙 (Les Misérable), 在你看Poulbot的作品時, 也會因着有特別的感受而喜愛他.
Source from Wikimedia Common |
在博物館、圖書館或互聯網上找到不少他的印刷品或手稿展品. 除了彩色作品外, 我尤其喜歡他用單色繪畫的小孩, 也許很有童真純樸感, 也更表達到昔日孩童的缺乏. 而且, 如果仔細看看在畫作内的"對話", 很令人會心微笑.
雖然是法文, 但用手機翻譯, 即使未必完整, 也能會意. 以下是另外一幅我在館内拍下比較出名的作品.
il aura bouffé du boche |
source from Wikimedia Common |
Pas de blague! hein?...me les faut pour ce soir |
在插畫下的"對白"再加上Poulbot的簽名, 是大部份作品的格式及名稱由來; 但剛巧我在尋找的那一幅只有他的簽名, 所以便成"謎"! 雖然在不同渠道也輾轉追査了個多月, 至今仍然沒有頭緒; 不過無論如何, 我相信終能找到. 如果適逢你知道, 可以告訴我嗎? 感激不盡 :D
Finding Francisque Poulbot
image from Wikimedia Common |
il aura bouffé du boche |
Pas de blague! hein?...me les faut pour ce soir |
2020/05/08
Follow me
click to enlarge |
The most difficult decision is whether to have lunch even though, you need one indeed. But I always skip & replaced by fast food or apple because, the café will "drain" my time in the museum, and you will never never want to leave those relaxing café in Paris.
To fully utilize my Six(consecutive)days museum pass, a detailed plan is a must, but still, you'll have to alter your plan due to unexpected scenario; such as renovation or maintenance will temporary close a particular gallery, or a special exhibition may restrict your pass entry in ordinary situation...,etc.
Visiting museum is joyful and indulgence especially in solo, because you don't have any time limit or neediness to concern third parties' issue :P - but of course, the core is you enjoy being alone.
Let me tell you a secret, my original plan is to buy two Six day Pass, but fortunately I've decided not to over estimate of my power and I really need some time to digest/absorb the content.
To conclude my museum journey, I draw this map to share with you, when you follow my steps, I hope you can also share my happiness as well. See you :D
2020/05/04
Musée National Picasso Paris
Let's skip day 6 in the mean time,I will get back to you when Book Three is ready, but, this time, will have to wait for a while.
So, lets visit this museum which I shall say it is raw and subtle - Musée National Picasso Paris.
Situated in a historic monument since 1968 - Hôtel Salé, built between 1656 & 1660. Almost 365 years before? Wow!
I am totally disconnected from reality and try to walk into Picasso's mind. Before this trip, I saw a T.V. series in Hong Kong about his whole life; so, more or less it helps to understand/feel a bit more when perceiving his works.
Those two paintings in Entrée Sortie may not be the most famous one, but I personally like them a lot. They are so simple, a view from window, may be; what we often do in our daily life, but in Picasso's eyes, they became extraordinary.
It is raining outside right now, a bit grey...but when I view from here, I see color.
Besides Picasso's work, I love to view from the windows of this monument, it's frame & a bit distorted glazing, creating an illusory effect, and that's why I can be detached.
Exposed timber structure in the ceiling |
But when these timber structure appear somewhere in the building, sometimes they form part of his art piece; the contradiction of antiquity & cubism forms an interesting combination yet harmonize.
It's stop raining outside when I've finished to enjoy the last art piece; it's time to return to reality, although I wish there is no Sortie.