Jul 29
Today another webhost migration took place. The previous server in our bedroom was on day and night to host the website and even though it’s a quiet iMac from 2006 it bothered me a bit to have it on at nighttime.
I therefore migrated the website to our new NAS and so far all seems fine, however I’d like to hear from you about the performance impact.
Loading ...自從由愛丁堡回家後，我們就忙個不停。我們做了不少Home Improvement。在外國，不少人都是DIY (Do it yourself)，不是真的因為我們那樣鍾情於自己裝修，而是外國人工費高。甚麼也以時薪計。找黑工做，質數就有差別，而且你又怕人家知你住所一切。我們遇到不懂做的，就上網查資料，有時也會碰釘，做錯了就要由頭做起。
Since we got back from Edinburgh, we had been quite busy. We have been doing quite a lot of home improvement. In the western world, plenty of people are doing DIY, and that is not really because we enjoy doing it ourselves so much, but it’s also because it is too expensive to get someone to do it for you. The hourly rate is very high, and if you go for the black market, you end up giving in quality, plus you are never sure if those people are to be trusted or not. They may end up breaking into your house in the future. We sometimes are confronted with things which we don’t know how to do, so then we will get the information online. And sometimes we end up screwing up and having to do it all over again.
這是Julian房，今次做的是換地板。上一手業主在樓上鋪的木地板花得很，而有見我們最近買給Julian的衣櫃當時還未有貨，所以想襯小些傢俬搬動，就快快換了地板。我們先把他房內一切搬到我們房內，感覺即時像回了香港一樣，濟得很滿很滿！跟著，我花了一日半把舊的地板用一錐一釘折掉。看上去容易，但因為上一手業主用了漿糊黏在水泥地上。折好後，又多了六七大袋垃圾。老公在浴室維修天花，然後就接力負責鋪地板。我們用的是QuickStep，原來說明書也有以中文寫的！
This is Julian’s room as this time we were re-doing his floor along with the hallway. The previous owner of this house messed up the floor and made a lot of scratches over it. Seeing the clothing closet we ordered for Julian had not arrived yet, so we decided to take advantage of that moment where we had less to move around, so we quickly did his floor. We first moved everything in his room into our room. It really made me felt like being back in Hong Kong again, all cramped up. I spent a day and a half on removing the old wooden floor, which was glued onto the cement by the previous owner. Then I ended up with some 6-7 bags of trash. Once my hubby was done with his repairing the bathroom ceiling, he then started with putting the new floor on. We chose QuickStep, and even the instructions were provided also in Chinese!
這已是第二第三天的成績了！
This was from Day 2 or Day 3.
除了地板外，我們還買了新梳化。那間公司可以四十八小時內送貨。這在荷蘭很少見的，因為通常都要等起碼三四個月才送貨，就如Julian的衣櫃。不過，起初我們擔心未能搬走舊的那套梳化就吩咐人家遲些送貨。怎知在我把舊梳化放上網免費讓出後，一個小時內我得到不少回應，最後，對方就送了一箱啤酒來換取我們舊的梳化。遲些我們會把那個大暖板換個細小些，多些空間。
Besides the floor, we also got a new couch. This company could deliver within 48 hours which is very rare in Holland. Normally you’ve to wait for some 3-4 months before they can deliver, just like Julian’s closet. But as we were not sure if we could get rid of our old couch so quickly, we decided to hold it off at that time for a bit longer. Just that we didn’t expect we could actually get plenty of responses after having put out an ad on internet for people to come and get it for free. Within an hour, there was someone who was trading a crate of beer for our couch. Yeah, why not?! Next thing we may change would be the radiator that is now quite bulky in the living room.
另外，之前老公把廳內的牆紙換了，我們最近就買了個大鐘，夠清楚！
After my hubby has re-done our living room wallpaper some time ago, we decided it was time to get also a new clock. It is quite big, so easy to read the time then.
另外，又買了這個放在花園的傘，擋太陽。我們還有另外的一把太陽傘，但訂了新帆布，等了四五星期仍未到貨，希望在夏天完之前可以收到啦！不過這把新太陽傘就可以讓Julian在花園他的私家池玩。
We also got a new sunscreen/ umbrella to block the sun. We do have another bigger one, but we have ordered a new cloth, which has now been taking over 4-5 weeks, and it’s still not yet delivered. Hopefully, it will be delivered before the summer ends. Julian can now just play under that umbrella in his private pool.
他要求要把舊牙擦，用來清潔他的玩具。跟著，他好像是擺了個像在打功夫的動作，笑死我！
He asked for an old toothbrush to clean his toys, and then he went doing this funny pose, like doing some martial arts. Quite funny.
最近荷蘭，其實是全個歐洲，都很炎熱。有時還廿幾三十度，又無冷氣，真想死！我的辦公室都無，只得風扇，但室內氣溫可高達廿七八度，有風扇也只是在吹暖氣。所以，最舒服就是坐自己車，有冷氣。你看Julian幾嘆！
Recently it’s been very warm in Holland, actually in the whole Europe. Sometimes it even goes over 30 degrees. There aren’t any air-conditioning here except our cars, not even our office! We have only some ventilators but with the room temperature of 27-28 degrees, the ventilator is only blowing warm air. The nicest is sitting in our own cars that have air-conditioning. See how much Julian enjoyed it too!
連貓貓也熱到儍了！
Even Mac, the cat, was knocked out by the heat.
六月七月過得很快，我的生日在要服侍我奶奶中渡過（請不要對此用英文留言，多謝合作！），而我們的七週年結婚記念就可二人世界，因為剛好Julian去了嫲嫲家去。於是中午我們就去了吃越南餐。我很少外出把美食拍下來，老公常說我們中國人老是想著吃，連食物也要拍下。那又是的，要他停下讓我拍照又好像破壞情調。當日，我們沒做過甚麼特別，只是一人買了條Livestrong wristband。自從我參加過那個單車馬拉松後，因是由Lance Armstrong 發起的，是為癌症機金籌款，我就特別留意關於Lance Armstrong和他發起的Livestrong Foundation。而現在正值是Tour de France，我就更加對此多了興趣。很敬佩Lance Armstrong的戰鬥力，耐力，愛心等等！
June and July have been passing by quick. My birthday and our 7th wedding anniversary. We got to have time to spend together alone on our anniversary because Julian was by coincidence at my mother in law’s. We went to have lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant. I don’t often take pictures of food when we are out together since my hubby points out that it’s odd that all Chinese love food so much that they go taking pictures of food. Well in a way, it’s kind of strange when indeed you’ve to stop to take pictures with the food standing there. On our anniversary, we didn’t really celebrate much, but got a Livestrong wristband for ourselves. Since I took part of the cycling tour event, originated by Lance Armstrong, that raises funding for cancer research, I now have been paying more attention to Lance Armstrong, and his Livestrong Foundation. Plus with the Tour de France going on, these all are drawing a lot of my attention. I really admire his courage, his inspiration, his strong will to fight against cancer, and his caring others.
上星期我得知兩位美國同事患上癌症，一個是肺癌，一個是腦癌。患有腦癌的已是末期，做了手術，但仍有癌細胞，現在在嘗試新藥，希望有效。其實，我舅父去年也是腦癌而病逝，所以我真的希望可以多些新醫療方式，可以令小些人受苦。
Last week I learned that two colleagues from America have been diagnosed with cancer, one with lung cancer and the other with brain cancer. The one with brain cancer is already at the last stage. He already had a surgery but there are still cancer cells left, so he is trying out clinical trial drug which hopefully will help. In fact, my uncle also died last year from brain cancer, so I really hope that there would be more new medical means to treat cancer, to stop the suffering.
LIVESTRONG!!!
真是隔了很久才有心情來坐下寫在愛丁堡之旅的最後一天。這天沒甚麼特別，因要十時 Check out，所以早早起來，辦好退房手續。跟著，問過可以把行李放在招待處，那我們就先坐巴士去Ocean Terminal來個遲了的早餐，早了些的午餐。
It has taken me quite some time before writing this blog of our last day in Edinburgh. It was nothing special. Since we had to check out by 10 am, so we got up early and checked ourselves out. We then asked if we could leave the suitcases behind at the reception and they seemed to be fine with it. We went off to the Ocean Terminal by bus to have a late breakfast or an early lunch.
吃飽後，便搭巴士回去拿行李，打算自己轉巴士去搭機場直線巴士。我們本來安排得算不錯，有不少時間，所以就算走了一班巴士，等一等也沒緊要。
After we ate, we took the bus to go back and pick up our luggages, planning to then take another bus to head for airport transit bus. We planned quite well with sufficient time, so even if we missed a bus, we were not stressed by that, at least not at that moment.
好像等得很無奈的Julian
Julian looking a bit annoyed by having to wait…
我們去到寓所附近的巴士站後，本來想如果只是Daddy自己一個去拿行李，那應該會快些，於是我和Julian就在巴士站等。怎知等了很久都不見Daddy，終於我推著放了東西的BB車，Julian 就毫無怨言急急腳跟在我走。原來，那個招待所關了門，即使是寫明辦公時間為早上八時至晚上八時，而門外貼了張紙條Back in 10 minutes。Daddy等了四十五分鐘，我們猶疑了很久，打不打去那個緊急電話，但那寫條亦註明若非緊急，我們會被罰五十英磅。最後，我怕會走了班機，還是至電去。原來那個印度籍招待員去午飯去，但之前他完全沒有跟我們說會關門午餐去。若不是我說是不是走了班機，由他負責機票錢，他才慢慢地由轉角步行回來！我跟他說道理，他還說我們無權這樣跟他說話！
After we got back to the bus stop nearby the apartment, we thought it would be quicker if Daddy would go alone to pick up the luggages, so Julian and I stayed at the bus stop to wait for him. Just that we didn’t see Daddy the whole time, so I just went pushing the buggy that had a back pack in it, and Julian went without complaining behind me. It turned out that the reception was closed, though it said it would be open from 8 am till 8 pm. There was a note hanging by the door saying “back in 10 minutes” Daddy waited for 45 mins. We doubted whether to ring the emergency line, which did say if it wasn’t for emergency, we would get a fine of 50 quid. We did go ahead and ring that number, seeing otherwise we would miss our flight. The Indian receptionist turned out to be off for a long lunch, and almost didn’t bother to come back until I asked if he would pay for the consequences of us missing our flight. He then slowly walked back from around the corner. I went reasoning with him, but instead he said I wasn’t allowed to talk to him like that.
就是這樣，我們最後要自己招的士去機場，花了廿幾英磅。到了機場，因未可登機，就坐下喝些東西，Julian 又要等了。
Eventually we ended up having to call for a taxi for the airport, spending over 20 quid for that. We had to wait to check in at the airport, so we sat down a drink while Julian had to wait again.
最後在愛丁堡吃的晚餐，算是不錯，出菜很快，味道不錯！Julian與我把那個Fish n Chips吃清。
Our last meal in Edinburg from this trip. It was quite good, and they served the food pretty quick. Julian and I finished the Fish n Chips together.
回到家後，經一番電郵投訴，那寓所高層把的士錢退回給我們，算好吧！
After we got back, we filed a complaint by email, and the apartment’s management did refund us the cost of the taxi ride as a compensation. That wasn’t too bad.
Tour de France 2010, having started with the prologue in Rotterdam yesterday, passed thru our town Hellevoetsluis. I simply set the camera to highspeed shooting and aimed…look what I caught 
第四天是我們來愛丁堡的最終原因，因為當日老公終於可以跟他失散了三十四年多的親爸爸會合。
The 4th day was really what we came to Edinburgh for, because that day my husband will finally get to see his biological father for the first time for over 34 years!
話說在三十四年多前，我的荷蘭籍奶奶可能因一時之氣，離開她的英國老公，自己提著兩名小男孩回荷蘭，當時我老公只得三四歲。奶奶還經律師在荷蘭寄離婚紙給我的老爺。其實當年荷蘭與英國的距離就如現在荷蘭與香港的距離。老公七歲當年曾經跟奶奶回英國找他的親爸爸，但最後被老公的婆婆關門拒絕探訪。我其實可以想像到當年我老爺可能所受的創傷是很大的，失去妻子還失去兩個兒子。當然啦，當年是誰的對錯完全不輪到我們理，我們亦沒興趣知。
The story behind this is about 34 years ago, my Dutch mother in law decided to leave her English husband suddenly, and took the 2 kids along back to Holland. She arranged the divorce in Holland via an attorney. Most probably at that time, the distance between Holland and the UK was like the distance we now have between Holland and Hong Kong. My husband did go back to the UK with my mother in law when he was seven to look for his father, but it stopped by the door of his father’s mother who did not welcome their visit. I can very much imagine how much my father in law must have been going through at that time with losing a wife and his kids. Certainly it does not matter at all anymore to us on who’s right or who is wrong.
四五年前，在我懷有Julian時，老公決定再次嘗試找他的爸爸。其間，他的爸爸也搬過家，而奶奶所供應的出生日期資料一共有三個日期。還有的是，原來老爺是兒時被收養，羅便臣一姓是他的收養父母之姓，跟出生姓名又不同，令尋親路又曲折了一些。經過互聯網絡和一位私家偵探的幫忙，我們終於找到他。老公即時給他寄了封信，但起初老爺沒有收到那封信，是後來我老公再跟他聯絡才找到他。
About four five years ago, when I was carrying Julian, my husband decided to give it another try to look for his father. His father had moved already then, and we had 3 different birth dates provided by my mother in law. Also, my father in law was actually adopted, so Robinson is really the last name of his adopting parents, which is different from his last name listed on his birth certificate. All these made things a bit more complicated. We used the internet and an expert to locate him, and we did find him! My husband sent him a letter first, which my father in law didn’t receive initially. Luckily my husband did try again to contact him.
這幾年老爺的身體不大好，所以一直都只是經電郵、手機短信、和電話聯絡。他已是七十歲呢，還懂用電郵，都算不錯！他還未退休。他住在愛丁堡以外的外效，他決定跟我們在愛丁堡會合。起初他說在Princes Street 的North British Hotel會合，但我們找來找去都找不到。直至我們問過幾位路人才知道那酒店已改名為Balmoral Hotel。我們就先在對面等，然後知道他們在裡面的咖啡室等待我們，我們就入去找他們。我們之前無收過他的近照，所以只有他知道我們的樣子是怎樣。幸好，我們終於找到他。
The last few years my father in law’s health condition has not been very good, so we had only been keeping in contact via emails, sms and phone calls. He is already in his 70′s and he actually uses emails and SMS, which is amazing! He has not retired yet, and lives in a small town outside of Edinburgh. He wanted to meet us up in Edinburgh, and asked us to wait at the North British Hotel on Princes Street. We couldn’t find it at first, but then after asking around, we found out that the hotel that is now known as Balmoral was formerly known as North British Hotel. We waited for a while on the opposite side of the road, and joined them then in the cafe inside. When we went in to look for them, we were a bit anxious, since we had not seen a photo of him before, and only he knew how we look like. Luckily, we found him.
他真的不像一位七十歲老人，只是因健康狀態不佳關系，行路遠些就辛苦些，要慢些和中途休息。他和他的現任太太已結婚三十多年，但沒有孩子。他們從家出來是搭火車的，不過原來每天只得三兩班火車出入愛丁堡，而路途還需時一個半小時。我們曾經提議我們到他那兒探訪，但他還是張就我們。
He definitely looks younger than his age, it’s just that his health condition does not allow him to walk for a longer distance. He needed some rest from time to time. He and his current wife have been together for over 30 years and have no children. They came over by train, and there were only 2-3 trains per day running between their town and Edinburgh. The journey took them well over an hour and half. We did propose to visit him at his place, but I guess he wanted to make it easier on us.
起初老公甚為緊張，怕會不知說甚麼好，又怕失望。我跟他說不要期望太大，那就不會失望嘛！不過，我是局外人，當然容易出此言！起初，在咖啡室內Julian狀態不大好，原來是因為他肚子餓，雖然他之前已吃過一份三文治。我們跟著就去了某餐廳吃遲了的午餐，在那兒Julian就乖很多。他主動要跟爺爺坐，爺爺當然很高興，即使要兩位男仕跟一位小童迫在一起，都完全無所謂。
My husband was kind of nervous before the meeting up, worried not knowing what to say and having silent moments. He worried to be disappointed, so I told him not to expect much, then he won’t get disappointed if things were to not have worked out. It was certainly easy for me to say as being an outsider on this. When we were in the cafe, Julian was not in the mood, as it turned out he was hungry. He did have a sandwich at noon. We went into a restaurant after we left the cafe to have a meal. Julian was then back to his usual self. He wanted to sit next to Grandpa, and certainly Grandpa was happy to hear that, even though the two men with a child in between had to squeeze themselves a bit to sit together, they didn’t seem to mind.
Julian跟爺爺混熟後，還笑爺爺的大肚皮，和說喝了白酒的爺爺面兒紅，令爺爺被他的妻子說他不是。爺爺跟Julian即時有了一份很特別的感情，很是溫馨。而老公亦跟他談天說地，對大家完全沒有陌生感覺，因為老公與老爺的性格上很相似。而坐在老爺妻子旁邊的我當然跟她談談，因為我心想不知她對此感覺如何。她是波斯人，是個很文靜的女子，她在婚前已知我老公的存在。見到這對老夫老妻，覺得他們很登對，我們完全感受到他們的愛。
Julian started teasing Grandpa’s big belly and Grandpa’s red cheeks. Grandpa and Julian seemed to have built a bonding within such a short time. It was really sweet to see. My husband also spent quite some time chatting with his dad. My father in law was no longer a stranger to us, plus it seems like their personalities are quite similar. I also went chatting a bit with his current wife, since I could somehow imagine she might feel a bit awkward. She is from Iran or so, and is quite a quiet lady. She knew my husband’s existence before she got married. Seeing them, we really think they are one great couple together, as we can really feel how strong their love is.
見到他們三代同堂，我很感動和感激上帝呢！
I really am thankful to see this 3 generations together.
之前一天說會給Julian買玩具，在我們等老爺時，我們路經一間Disney Store，就讓Julian選了一份玩具。他那天很高興，不過因為我們說要回家後才拆它出來，那他就不停問何時回家。
We mentioned about buying Julian a toy the day before, so when we were waiting for my father in law, we walked pass a Disney store, so we let Julian choose one toy. He was really happy with it, just that after we told him he could only unpack it at home, he kept on asking when we could go home.
這對背景很令人感受到老爺對孫兒的愛！
This picture is quite touching to me, as you can really see Grandpa’s love towards his grandson.
是時候要回火車站讓他們上火車回家。
It was then time to walk them back to the train station for them to catch their train.
到了火車站，老爺總是不想走去月台去，想跟我們多聚一回。
We got there a bit early, so we sat down, and it seemed like my father in law did not want to head off to the platform yet but to spend a bit more time with us.
這是Julian拍的，不錯嘛！
This photo of Daddy was taken by Julian. Not bad I must say!
Julian跟爺爺今次的最後擁抱
Julian’s last hug during this visit with Grandpa
老爺亦有深深緊緊地跟我擁抱，之後當然是跟老公好好的擁抱。當時我見到亦有些感觸起來，因為不知今次以後，能否再次見面。我們希望老爺的身體會好轉，那樣他還可以好好跟Julian和老公共享家庭樂。當然啦，我們會盡量安排再次見面的機會。
My father in law also went hugging me tight to say goodbye. And of course, with my husband, a very big meaningful hug. I even got a bit touched by that. We wondered when we would see each other again. We hope his health condition would improve, and we will try to make some trips over to have some family time together, especially for Julian and my father in law to get closer.
道別後，老公只想坐下來，修整一下自己的情緒。他很是高興，沒有任何失望感覺，亦很高興可以跟他共享一個愉快的下午。他覺得現在終於可以填補他內心的一個空缺。
After having waved goodbye, my husband just wanted to sit down somewhere to gather his thoughts. He was very pleased and delighted by how well the meeting went, and had really enjoyed the afternoon spent with his father. He said he finally filled the gap he had from his childhood.
我們於是就步行到一間中餐館，桂林餐廳，是朋友介紹的，我亦見到不少網站讚許他們的質數不錯。那兒的侍應很友善，跟荷蘭的唐人餐廳像是好點兒。我負責點菜，Julian亦吃了不少。我覺得食物方面還是荷蘭的好味些，價錢比荷蘭貴些。
We went walking to this Chinese restaurant recommended by a friend of mine, Kweilin Restaurant. I also saw some good reviews on it over the internet. The waitresses were very kind and friendly, so in comparison, they seemed to be better than the ones in Holland. I ordered the food, and Julian ate quite a lot of it. Just that I still think the Chinese food in Holland is better, so as the price in Holland.
吃飽後，我們就回寓所去。因為本來想再約那位荷蘭籍Babysitter幫手看著睡了的Julian，因在短時間內找個新替工很難，尤其是我不熟那兒的人。找了整個早上，打了三次電話給她都找她不到，真令人失望。幸好，當日早上，我在寓所的招待處上網跟一位認識了不久的Blogger在綱上談了一陣子。她是在英國愛丁堡工作的香港人，本來我們未去愛丁堡前她已提議幫我看Julian，但因她工作繁忙，我亦不想打擾人家，所以就找了別的Babysitter。只是當她聽到我的遭遇後，她就提出幫我看Julian一晚，況且這是我們在愛丁堡的最後一晚。於是，在我替Julian洗過白白後，她就到了我們的寓所。我和老公就出了去市中心坐下來喝東西，好好享受二人世界。最想不到這位J小姐竟然怎也不肯收錢，連車費也不肯收！我真的萬分感激這位朋友呢！
After dinner, we went back to the apartment. We initially were going to have that Dutch babysitter to look after Julian after he had gone to bed, as it was not easy to find another person in short notice, especially we don’t know many people there. Just that we tried the whole morning, calling her 3 times, and still couldn’t get hold of her. Fortunately, that morning I was online at the reception of the apartment, and chatted for a bit with a blogger that I have recently been in contact with. She is from Hong Kong and is working in Edinburgh. Before we went to Edinburgh, she did propose to help me watching Julian, but since she was quite busy at work, and I didn’t want to bother a friend, we had then arranged babysitters. Now that she heard what I had experienced the day before, she suggested coming over to help one night, and especially since that night was our last night in Edinburgh. She arrived shortly after I got Julian bathed. My hubby went then into the city for a night cap and enjoyed a bit of “us” time. We were very surprised by this Ms J who refused our money, and not even for the taxi cost! We are very grateful and thankful for her help!
最後一晚了，要跟這美麗的海境道別了！
Our very last night in Edinburgh, we had to say goodbye to this wonderful seaview.
