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Leglessbird Newsletter Dec 2019

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Dear Family and Friends,


Dec 2019 (Click for larger image)

Happy New Year!

2019 is coming to an end and time seems to pass even faster than 2018. In 2019, to say Hong Kong went through some very turbulent time would be a serious understatement, it is unprecedented for our generation. We have been staying safe, and I wish my home city where Jin, Irene and myself were born will eventually emerge better and stronger. I wish those with a strong sense of duty (使命感) also at the same time possess true wisdom (智慧) , because only wisdom can lead us to light, hatred will lead to a very dark path of no return.

We moved in March 2018 to Tai Po, the rural part of Hong Kong, after months of adjustments both physically and mentally, we have settled down and we are loving it. The desire of living a secluded (隱居) life is stronger than ever. As I really wish I can 不問世事,與世無爭 (be carefree of world affairs and desire nothing from the world).

It is a blessing for Jin to be able to grow up in an environment where he can catch frogs, fish, shrimps and bugs; climb trees; feed farm animals; plant and pick rice, fruits, flowers and vegetables. I enjoy cycling and swimming with Jin right in our neighbourhood, I have not cycled much since I left Cambridge more than 20 years ago, Jin was so happy when he got his own bicycle and helmet. Jin is certainly having a very different childhood from Irene's and mine. In Oct, Jin kept a caterpillar at home for 2.5 weeks and it turned into a beautiful butterfly and flew away, our turtle probably enjoyed the companionship of the caterpillar too. Jin said his highlight of the year was to spend his 5th birthday in Tai Chung, Taiwan where we stayed in an isolated part of a mountain, went to a sheep farm, enjoyed a horse riding show and visited a paper church.

Major changes for me in 2019 (1) I started to drive on a regular basis in Lam Tsuen area (I didn't need to drive before in HK nor in UK); (2) I have stopped using Facebook since 6 Dec 2018 and it has been so great. Sure, I had enjoyed in the past posting events photos, family photos and also my 給晉晉的家書 "Home letters to Jin" as well as reading many updates from friends and family. But these benefits do not out-weight the wrongs that this platform is conducting behind our backs. I feel in some way, I have freed myself from social media to regain my precise time and sanity from being manipulated by some algorithms attempting to persuade me to buy things or to vote one way or another, or to lock myself into a cocoon of confirmation bias, though at the same time I wish I could continue to be someone who contributes positive energy into that very same platform. Again this reinforces the idea of living a secluded life not only offline but online also. For my friends who have been enjoying my "Home letters to Jin", I am still writing and as of the time of this newsletter, I have written 194 letters.

This year, I continued to travel and brought my various groups of CUHK students to Cambridge, 2 x Berlin and Silicon Valley, I enjoyed the companion as well as the lessons during these trips, and often incorporate new ideas into my own teaching and corporate training.We also enjoy leisure trips to Taiwan. Irene is glad to be travelling again!

I want to share a Mandarin song that Jin recently loves to sing (often with other kids):
「世上光」(Light of the world)
我是世上光, 純淨又明亮!(I'm the light of the world, pure and bright!)
像一枝小蠟燭, 在夜裡發光!(Like a little candle, shinging in the dark!)
要將黑暗世界照耀輝煌!(Gloriously light up the dark world!)
我是世上明光, 純淨明亮!(I'm the wise light of the world, pure and bright!)

With the current HK situation and looking at Jin singing this song with an innocent voice, Irene and I cannot hold back our tears. We must continue to move forward in 2020.

We wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2020! Please drop us a few lines to share how you are getting on!

Love,
Jin, Irene and Dominic

December 2019

Work
The combination of teaching at CUHK, overseas study trips and outside practice of consulting projects as well as corporate training is keeping me happily occupied.

Cambridge
We welcome Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Toope visiting Hong Kong in April. In addition to visiting Cambridge in May, there had been a number of alumni events. and the Trinity College alumni group has become more active.

Favourite quotes this year
Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace - Nelson Mandela
為了和平,勇敢的人不會害怕寬恕。納爾遜·曼德拉

Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
那些可以使您相信荒謬事情的人,可以使您犯下暴行。-伏爾泰

It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. - Mark Twain
矇騙別人要比說服他們被矇騙了還容易。-馬克·吐溫

Travel
I took 4 different groups of students to Cambridge, 2 x Berlin and Silicon Valley, we visited Taiwan 4 times this year (5 for Irene).

Books
These days I enjoy listening to audio book rather than reading books.I have subscribed to audio book club to listen to at least one book a month.
"Start with why", "David vs Goliath", "Time energy and talent", "Algorithm to live by", "Sapiens", "Why we sleep", "21 lessons for 21st century", "The selfish gene", "Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories: What We Should and Shouldn't Believe - and Why". "You, your child and school", "Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction"

Movies
炸雞特攻隊, "Official Secrets", 

Some photo highlights:

Atitude determins altitude

遇見巨人 ("I am strong, when I am on your shoulder. You raise me up: to more than I can be " - Lyric from the song "You raise me up!")

201908 Taiwan

Jin the painter

Eat your veg, Jin!

Happy Birthday Jin!

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