A ride on Highways

9 months after I get my driving license, I finally jumped on a private car and had a ride on Highways at a rainy night. It was a Golden access driving course (just squeezed out a few hours before deadline). I drove from Yuen Long driving school, got on the "circular" Highway to Tolo Harbour, passed through Shing Mun Tunnel, Tuen Mun Highway and back to driving school by Yuen Long Highway. Total 73 km.

When I marked the schedule a month ago (sunny for a whole month) I thought it would be great to drive at night (no sunshine, since I apply a plaster on face I have to hide away from sunshine, otherwise my face will be red and swollen like Spiderman) and it would be perfect if it rains (learn the skills), I thought it would not happen but it did.

The second day, I drove from driving school to the airport (overcast & wet weather) which I can drive up to 110 kmph on North Lantau Highway! Though I had driven 70 mph the same speed here in the UK (on A40 which learner can go, not a higher speed M40), I felt great! Total 99 km.
There was a funny thing that the first time I drove through a paid tunnel, I got to pay toll, but I did not drive closer to the little tollbooth, my palm could not reach the officer's fingers, even though I was nearly stood up (cannot… cos my foot was on the break, it's a auto, not a manual car) I cried out "my arm is too short~" then the lady officer stretched out her whole right arm to catch my toll which was nearly dropped onto the ground. She might think I am a little idiot. The tutor teased me for that...the next time I paid tolls, I was smarter.

Do you think driving a manual van cool? It is! I can drive a manual van, but the seat does not fit my short legs; so I choose an auto private car this time, it's more comfortable that no more hand break and gears, my hands only need to control the steering; no clutch up clutch down, my left foot can rest all the way.

The Years Flow By

Last time I have introduced The story of Ah-Fa, this time I want to talk about another favourite song The Years Flow By.

I admire Anita, Mui Yim-fong (10 October1963 - 30 December 2003) very much since I was kindergarten pupil, properly because she had sung the theme songs of Dr. Slump and Arale-chan (スランプ アラレちゃん) and The queen of the thousand years (せんねんじょおう).

When I was about five years old, I held a pencil and sang "The years flow by..." I sang and sang, and that little terrapin petted inside the small aquarium stood up, listened and nodded with rhythm. I was so young that I listened to the songs and sang out Bad Girl, Evil Woman fluently, but never understood the lyrics. Hence, I listened to The Years Flow By and thought it was about "watery durian", even daddy had explained the meaning I was too young to understand.

I have listened to numerous ads versions, new revisions throughout the years and find no one else can sing better than her, but made me sick. In my opinion, only Anita Mui can sing out the meaning and feeling of the song, that no other 20-year old girl could give, because she entered show business since as a singer when she was five, she performed Chinese operas and pop songs in numerous restaurants and nightclubs, all her experiences made her matured rapidly.

When I have grown up, I found the score and played it self. However, I cannot get that feeling. Well I understand the lyrics now.

Sorry I am not good at giving comment, so there please look at the lyrics, listen to the song and try to understand, and feel it (sorry again I will not translate the lyrics). (After posted the original version at my old newsgroup in 2003, Anita died…)

The Years Flow by
Lyrics by Cheng Kwok-Kong Music by Kitaro

望著海一片滿懷倦　無淚也無言
望著天一片　只感到情懷亂
我的心又似小木船
遠景不見　但仍向著前

誰在命裡主牢我　每天掙扎　人海裡面
心中感嘆　似水流年　不可以留住昨天
留下只有思念　一串串永遠纏

浩瀚煙波裡我懷念　懷念往
外貌早改變　處境都變　情懷未變

Chinese version originally posted at my old newsgroup a day in 2003, revised & translated in Feb 2007