il Giardino Romantico

Wednesday morning, I woke up feeling very depressed about what was about to happen during the day. As I progressed, I thought: may be there is no need for this. But deep down inside, I knew it was the best, well, the most appropriate thing to do.
星期三早上一起來，就感到非常的難過。因為我想到當天即將會發生的事情。我走著走著邊想：也許沒這個必要。但內心深處我想這是最好的、換言之是最恰當的安排。
The walk took about eight to ten minutes. It felt like an hour. Or even more. Still feeling rather dubious about the deed, my footsteps got heavier as I approached our destination. You felt uneasy. You knew something was not right. But you trusted me somehow. I gave you infinite kisses, and tried to calm you each second, wondering if you would forgive me and understand that this had to be done in order for a better future to come upon us.
路程大概只有短短的八到十分鐘。對我來說卻像是一小時，甚至更久。一路上我還是對這安排感到疑惑。腳步也就變得更沈重。你也感到忐忑不安。你知道事情有點不對。但你還是依然相信我。我無時無刻親吻你、安撫你。希望你能夠了解我為什麼做這樣的安排。希望你明白，這是唯一能讓我們有更美好的未來的途徑。
When we reached our destination, the details of the procedure was explained to me. I was to leave you there, after I held you for the anesthetic shot. In his eyes, I sensed fear. That feeling soon subsided. And what took place was despair and helplessness. Did you know what was about to be done to you? Would you ever understand my reasoning? Would you ever forgive me? Would you still be the same? I was told to come and pick you up a few hours later.

這個連續假期我來到了中正紀念堂[我不管他改什麼名他在我心中永遠會是這個名]。來到這的目的很簡單：取票。
I came to CKS Memorial Hall with a goal to accomplish: to get my tickets.
一出捷運站就看到這聳動的廣告看板：
The colossal banner at the MRT station:

Trotting here and there;
Pouncing there and here.
Restless is my feline heart
For I know,
Yet I don't.

Gone is the angel
He, who is himself without wings
Had empowered me
The ability to soar.
Gone is the muse

這世界上有幾首歌不但能讓你百聽不厭，並同時使你每次聽都滴下莫名的感傷淚水？
There might be songs that you feel you could listen to a hundred times without ever getting sick of it. But how many songs are there in this world, that can make your tears drop almost every single time you listen to it?
第一次聽到這首歌，是在看Farinelli的時候聽到的。電影描述十八世紀的歌劇界，因為女性還尚未有一席之地，人們必須想辦法將擔任高音的小男孩們永遠保留他們那美妙的聲音。而這個方式，就是將他們閹割。電影中，Farinelli就是這位男高音。從小就有著美妙的聲音。為了保留他的美聲，不成材的作曲家哥哥就騙他說他摔馬導致必須閹割。兩兄弟在歌劇界有了小小成就，卻惹火了對敵的Handel。但Handel的創作卻遠遠超出他那不才哥哥的作品。
It was during the viewing of the film Farinelli that I first heard this beautiful song. The film was about the casteration of young males as so they could remain in the opera house to sing as tenors. Farinelli was an example of such tenor. His incompetent brother plotted against him and used a riding accident as a pretext for the castration. They gained some fame as the audience grew insatiable for his singular tenor voice. However, this upsets their rival, Handel, whose composition exceeds that of his brother.
電影中，主角就是了解自己為何會被閹割的真相後，演唱出他從Handel那偷來尚未發表過的歌曲。
It was after having found out his brother's plot that he performed this stolen, yet unperformed piece by Handel.
上次生日，Jason送的Cecilia Bartoli CD中，第一首就是同樣這首。第一次放來聽，Jason挑戰我的聽力：看看你認不認得這首歌。
This is also the first song on the Cecilia Bartoli CD given to me on my last birthday. The first time I played the CD, Jason challenged me to see if I could recognized the song.
因為實在是太悲哀了，所以一聽就聽出來！
The song was so full of sorrow, that it was rather easy to recall.
每次聽，一閉上眼就浮現出F----得知被哥哥背叛後的悲哀。被這一輩子唯一剩下的親人、又是最信任的人背叛，那是多麼悲慘的一件事？
Every time I listen to this with my eyes closed, I see the betrayal of the most trusted friend and family and how sorrowful it must had been for Farinelli after having found out the truth.
影片中出自於電影Farinelli，主角演唱這首歌曲的一幕。歌詞於影片下方。
Scene from film:

One of my favorite ways to spend the weekend, or any free time I have at hand is to walk into a book store with a marvelous collection of English books and see what treasure there is waiting for me to uncover. However, it has become harder and harder to find what I define as 'treasure'. I suppose this has very much to do with my growing appetite for reading, and hopefully my growing maturity in the habit as well. A good book is not easy to find. A great book is even harder. Yet they exist. And to prove that to you, I now present to you the five books that have completely changed my life.
我在週末或是任何空閒時間最喜歡做的事情就是走進書店看看有什麼寶可以挖。不過好書越來越難找。極品好書就更別說了。也許是因為累積下來我讀得書越來越多，也或者是因為我的閱讀習慣越來越成熟[希望啦]，不過挖寶的歷險記是一次比一次艱難！不過呢，好書還是有的。所以接下來就是要介紹五本完全改變我生命的書籍。由於都是原文書，所以本篇文章的內文我都是先打英文，才將重點整理出來打成中文。而我比須先聲明，我從來都沒修過翻譯，對於翻譯可以說是一翹不通。所以中英都看得懂得朋友們，請別雞蛋裡挑骨頭。Typo歡迎告知，但翻譯內容就別太強求了，好嗎？
1. The Speed Reading Book by Tony Buzan
2. Yoga for you by Indra Devi
3. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

媽咪說叫我今天一定要來跟大家公佈答案。答案就是：啤酒瓶蓋～～
Mommy said I must reveal the truth today.  So, the answer is: beer bottle cap!
你猜對了嗎？
Were you right?
我們家全家大小都愛海Ｘ根。把拔媽咪喝啤酒，我不能喝，只好勉強追啤酒蓋囉！
Our whole family loves Heineken.  I can't drink beer!  BUT I can chase after beer bottle caps!

雖然告訴自己花了這麼久的時間，花了那麼多的精神，花了那麼一大筆的銀子為的主要是完成學業。但，坐那麼久的飛機到了世界的另一頭，如果不趁機到處看看，豈不是太浪費了嗎？
Even though I kept on telling myself, the main reason why I'm spending so much time, effort, and money is to finish my studies.  However I would also be a waste if I flew all the way to the other side of the globe and leave without seeing anything.
目前收尋到的資料還不足以讓我安排更細膩的計畫。但我已經幫自己列出一些清單，提醒自己到了英國，這些地方要是沒看到就等於沒去！
The information I have at hand at the moment is insufficient for a detailed plan.  However, I have made myself a list of things I want to see before I finish my studies and head back home.
倫敦 London

嗨！叔叔阿姨們！想我嗎！？
Hey! Dear uncles and aunties, did you miss me?
前一陣子我的心情很亂喔！因為我搬家了。
I had been feeling quite confused lately because they moved me to a new home.

by Esther and Jerry Hicks
This is the only book you'll ever need to enrich yourself in anyway.  Learn how to make all your wildest dreams come true, and learn to appreciate what you have just so you can have more! 
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Once you have given yourself the opportunity to know what it is, and understand it, you'll be able to use it to better your life in each and any way you can imagine!  Let's just stop and think for a minute?  What made England possible for me?  Have I not attracted that into my life?  Because of my strong "want" to go to England, each and everything that has ever happened to me, I've attracted to help me reach my goal.  How is it possible that an average English teacher is able to save enough money to afford this?  Well, who ever said anything about "saving" enough?  I only wanted to "have" enough money. 
One can find almost any kind of salvation through the perusing of the book.  All you have to do is "ask" and the universe will "answer".  Learn from Esther and Jerry Hicks the basic teachings of Abraham.  Learn from their dialogues on how to better your own life.  Learn to view the world from a brand new vintage point, and discover a whole new land to explore. 
Within only a few weeks of my initial contact with the Law, I've already accumulated so many stories to share.  Knowing that what you want can really be yours if you really and truly want it to is not enough.  Learn the art, and become the master of your own life.  Take the wheel and lead your ship to whichever destination you desire.  You are the captain of your own fate.  You are the master of your own life. 
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