It is school holidays and Elkan is attending summer classes (drawing, swimming and cooking!) Yesterday, he baked us his first pizza! Surprisingly yummy! More cooking classes, please.

It has been almost 2 years since my last BBQ gathering. Felicia and I decided to organise a BBQ party for the clan in Hong Kong this weekend.

I was expecting the old fun of BBQ (like the ones at the East Coast Beach) – setting up the charcoal, getting the hands dirty, skewing the raw cold chicken wings and fanning the fire. Well, the pit at our club house comes with the gas-powered BBQ stove. There is no need for the traditional black charcoal. Just press a button to get the fire going. With a constant fire, it was so easy to get our food cooked. The club house also supply marinated food and BBQ utensils. We had our BBQ in a big cozy semi-outdoor garden with a 8-seater garden table. There is also a sink (with soap) and air-con toilets nearby. Everything is just so convenient here.

Somehow, I prefer BBQ outdoor in the wild – by the seaside. The elements of Mother Nature (like the wind / the rain / the sand / the bugs) were missing here. Hah Hah…I am not complaining…but this is a little bit too clean and "concrete" for me.

(Photo Taken: Sports Day @ Club House – Elkan was playing bowling on the iPhone while the rest of the adults were sweating it out. It’s Sports Day today at Joe’s club. Cousin Mike thrashed everyone in table tennis – with a very big winning gap. Sportsman of the Day goes to Hong Fei. He is the only one who did all 3 sports – swimming with Ethan and table tennis + bowling with the rest of us. So healthy for this old Ah Pek.)

Apple has mastered and formulated the "divine" recipe to win the hearts and minds (and souls) of its consumers. It has been quite a while since we last saw a craze like this. Other than the senseless "Hello Kitty" MacDonald toys in the early 2000s, I cannot recall another electronic brand or product which had such an impact on the consumers. People around the world are just so crazy and mad about Apple products (iPhone, Mac Air).

Yesterday, Apple launched iPad in Hong Kong. The response were as crazy as the previous launches in Japan and the USA. Queues were started the night before and by morning, it was clear that the shops do not have enough stocks for everyone. Within the first hour, all iPads were sold out. The distribution strategy by Apple is so brilliant. Like drugs, the "out-of-stock" sign deepen the "desperation" of the shoppers. Empty-handed shoppers were eager to find out about the next re-stocking. Some even offered to buy "queue-space" in order to secure their own iPads.

Many in the queues were Chinese. Hong Kong is probably the cheapest place to buy Apple products. (There is no tax and GST here!) These "water-goods" buyers came in group to "secure the first units" for their mainland customers. It is a very lucrative business. There are a big demand in China for genuine Apple products. Smuggled goods in China cost 20-35% more than the official retail price.

We were very very lucky today. We were in the right place at the right time. This afternoon, we were heading to our favourite HMV Shop in Causeway Bay when we saw a small line of shoppers queuing outside the Apple Shop. We were informed that there will be a new supply of iPads! What a rare opportunity! We stood in the queue for less 15 minutes and we bought 4 iPads!

Unknown to Felicia – Since early May, I was planning to get her an iPad for our 200th Month Anniversary! After yesterday’s out-of-stock disappointment, I was going to get her another gift. So, you can imagine my joy today when I paid for these iPads! Cos’ today is our Anniversary! Just in time! There can never be another perfect timing!

(Photo Taken: Outdoor Plastic Animal Sculptures, Causeway Bay. Sorry, I don’t buy the message. I just don’t see the connection of plastic bottles and these animals (Polar Bear / Elephant / Whale). You see, Bonaqua (a brand under Coca-Cola) is launching a new "twist-able" plastic bottle and claimed that the new design uses 30% less plastic. Consumers are able to twist and dispose the empty bottles – saving disposal space and providing more convenience for recyclers. Well, I think this outdoor awareness program back-fired and emphasis the harm of plastic materials in our environment. Less plastic doesn’t mean "more environmentally" friendly. One thing is for sure, these animals don’t need our rescue. It is "human" who needs the saving. Maybe Bonaqua should make a plastic "human sculpture" instead.)

(Photo Taken: Western Market, Sheung Wan – What an unusual gathering in Hong Kong. It has been a long time since I met these lovely ladies from my Polytechnic days.)

(Photo Taken: Hong Kong Island – After a gloomy Black Rain on Thursday, the sun + blue sky is finally out this weekend.)

(Photo Taken: "Cupcake Voyage Exhibition" at Harbor City, Kowloon – Look at all these yummy, edible and beautiful handmade cupcake! So irresistible! Wish I can just take one bite at these!)

(Freshly Peeled Grapes – Dun you love them? These grapes come with thick bitter-sour skins and it tastes awful. We just have to peel off the skins to eat it. Just like the good old days when my dad and granny fed me with these skinless grapes. No doubt, it is hard tedious work to peel the skins off but the skinless grapes taste so juicy and yummy! Mmmm… Not a bad idea, maybe I should keep on buying these "thick-skinned sour grapes" so Felicia can peel them everyday for Elkan and ME!!!! Some one should invent a device to peel grapes.)