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Running Practice
It was a gloomy and cool morning, I slept in and woke up a little late. Didn’t start my much anticipated long running practice until 11:30am. Was targeting to run at least a half marathon (21k), but only managed to complete about 18k, and at a disappointing pace despite the good weather (for running).
The actual marathon run will be held in 2 weeks, I’ll need a miracle to complete the 42k. I’m not very ambitious, instead, I’m just humbly hoping the complete the full 42k run within the time limit. Wish me luck!
Baking Class
Got my friend to take me to a trial baking class last night. It was my first ever cooking class, a very enjoyable experience. There’s something magical about the process of making bread – mixing the raw ingredients, kneading the dough with your hands, patiently waiting for the yeast to ferment, then anxiously waiting more for it to get baked in the oven, and finally tasting that fresh hot bread of your labor, delicious!
Learning to make bread is actually one of my New Year’s resolutions, the trial baking class was a good start, will need a lot more learning and practicing throughout the year. My dream of opening a cafe seems to be reinforced by the bread-making experience, may God continue to guide this vision He has bestowed upon me. ??
(Happy) New Year 2018
Slept early last night, briefly woke up at midnight by noisy fireworks and neighbours’ celebrations. I could never understand why the HK Government constantly pour so much money in ephemeral and polluting firecrackers while so many of its citizens are struggling to make ends meet in this economically polarised city. I actually slept pretty well last night despite the brief interruption.
Started off the new year day by reading God’s Word. I bought an e-book (The Daily Walk Bible), and if I can follow through the chronologically guided reading everyday like this morning, I should be able to finish another round of bible reading this year!
Went for a late morning running practice. Decided not to join the New Year’s Protest as it was a bit late after the run, but I did stop by the Government Headquarters. The protesters arrived while I was about to leave. There were very few people rallying this year. I guess many people are feeling powerless and hopeless towards a Government that doesn’t listen to its citizens.
Never liked politics, but just can’t help but have my emotions affected by it when I see so much injustice, sigh.
2017 Review
Took a quick look at the 7 New Year’s resolutions I made as year 2017 started, I’ve completed absolutely zero items, a couple were even left untouched, but I did make good progress on a few of them, so it’s not entirely futile.
Looking back on some of the major events that happened to me in 2017, many not included in my New Year’s resolutions, the list includes:
- Experiencing the death of my uncle (dad’s younger brother) in March
- Completed 2 half-marathons
- Completed a beginner barista certificate
- Started volunteering to serve the elderly
- Started doing brush-and-ink portraiture
- Month-long vacation in Canada in October
- Experimented and made some satisfactory acrylic paintings
- Served in fellowship for another year
- Started going out with a girl I like
Remembering Mr. Kot
Had dinner with my parents, sister and brother-in-law near my studio last night. In our conversations, we shared our memories of late Mr. Kot who passed away on Christmas Eve. Apparently, my dad had known this good friend since 1986, that’s more than 30 years of friendship! As for me, my earliest memory of Mr. Kot is probably in the 90s when I came back to HK to study high school. Mr. Kot’s family and my family would often bump into each other during our weekly family dim sum lunch on Sundays, Mr. and Mrs. Kot would usually praise how good of a teenager I was (probably out of courtesy), and I usually just return with a polite smile as I could never find the right words to respond.
One of the more fond memories I have of Mr. Kot was one time when his family visited Toronto. I remember driving his family to lunch at my friend’s uncle’s Vietnamese restaurant, he was very happy and satisfied as he said they never had a decent meal during the past few days in Toronto, and I was happy for being a good host to my dad’s good friend.
One of my more recent memories of Mr. Kot is probably last summer when I joined my parents and their friends on a cruise trip to Japan. Mr. Kot was one of the quieter ones among my dad’s friends, but I could tell that he really enjoyed that trip. I remember strolling in the Japanese shops with him and he buying souvenirs for his grand kids while telling me how he remembered everyone of his family members’ birthdays.
My dad said Mr. Kot was just in his early 60s, even younger than my late uncle who passed away earlier this year. I feel sorry for not having the opportunity to say a last goodbye to Mr. Kot.
(Merry) Christmas
Had dinner at home with my parents last night. Towards the end of dinner, my dad calmly told us that one of his long time friend, an uncle who’s very close to our family, just passed away. My mom and I were a bit shocked even though we knew that he had been battling the cancer relapse for the last month or so. Dad told us that this uncle just started responding in his WhatsApp group after silencing for a long time, and that he had started therapy and was getting ready for his son’s coming wedding. So we thought this uncle wouldn’t be leaving us so soon.
My joyous holiday mood just slipped away after hearing the sad news.
I also know of a high school friend who’s father recently passed away, the funeral will be tomorrow, but I couldn’t attend because their family explicitly asked guests with family members’ birthdays in Dec. not to attend (my dad’s birthday was last week).
On this Christmas Day, I think God is trying to remind me again of the purpose He sent His only Son to this world 2000+ years ago – “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) The length of our life on earth is limited and uncertain, so it’s important that we cherish our lives here while spreading the Good News of a life that’s full of love, peace, and hope!
Running
Continuing my regular marathon training this morning, ran about 12k, just 30k short from an actual marathon ?.
With less than 1 month left till running my first marathon, I have been practicing 3 times a week for the last 3 weeks or so. That’s probably still insufficient, I doubt that I can complete a singe 30+k run, not to say 3 runs as suggested by a marathon veteran, within the remaining training days. Can only try my best at this point!
