我想把 Rene Magritte 帶入公司

Ceci n’est pas une pipe (This is not a pipe) by Rene Magritte

1. 這星期我將會超級無敵忙。星期三要做一個 presentation，我今天埋首做 powerpoint，很想借 Rene Magritte 的話說話，希望成功。
2. 劉若英說：「就像我的右腿，因為幫助左腿，而傷得更重。」

張艾嘉跟我說「或許你的腿代表了你的心，因為你的心不舒服，所以你的腿一直沒好。」為了治傷，我飽讀醫療書籍，懂得她說的道理，也聽過醫療界所謂的「自我療癒」理論。我開始不去理會我身體上的疼痛與不便，開始去尋找內心真正的缺口。

比起車禍、摔跤、開刀種種帶來的痛楚，心裡的殘缺會不會遠為巨大。這是說，如果艾嘉師父所言切中要害的話。或許這一路過來，我好強，我獨立，其實是種逃避。 或許我跟很多平凡人一樣，需要一雙可以互相扶持的雙手，或甚至依靠的肩膀。就像我的右腿，因為幫助左腿，而傷得更重。我曾經以為有勇氣就可以自由自在，其 實我是否更渴望一個不用費力就能安全待着的地方？所有我曾經以為的理性、我堅持的自尊，其實也可能就是任性、冷漠、逃避？ 這樣鑽研下去真是不用活了!

閱讀

我幫一位部門主管舉辦 skip level breakfast，有六十多位同事出席活動，說了很多意見。部門主管表示謝意，請我吃午餐，地點又當然是我最喜歡的 Living Room。

在 Living Room 的大樹幹旁，我穿一條雪白長裙，背後綁一個大蝴蝶結，正午的陽光肆無忌憚地照出一室的明媚。我掀開 Rene Magritte 的畫冊，向部門主管逐一介紹 Rene Magritte 的圖騰。

我的意思是：生活除了工作，還有很多美好事物。

IT 的同事們大部份都沒有閱讀的習慣，而閱讀，能讓我們的世界豁然開朗。開卷，真的很有益。

我的 IT 男朋友也閱讀，但他讀的東西我都沒興趣，也看不懂。不過這是好事，我喜歡去喜歡一個我不能夠完全懂得的男人。

嘿，我喜歡找一個對像去祟拜，這樣我的心便有了著落。

《你何時結婚》

報載高更的畫作《你何時結婚》售價創新高。

談高更一定離不開大溪地（我知我知，官恩娜丫嘛）。高更在中年來到大溪地這個盛產珍珠的原始國度，起首時卻為其歐洲化的一面有點氣餒，幸好高更意志堅強，守下去畫下去，才有這些畫風別樹一格的大溪地仕女圖。

我不肯定我認識高更在先還是梵谷在先。在亦舒小説《圓舞》中女主角承珏一時貪玩化了個濃艷妝容，她的監護人傅于深便給承珏看高更筆下的女人。自始承珏便常常一張素臉示人，不能忘懷的只有囗紅。

至於梵谷，應該是從台灣作家三毛書中讀到的。中學二三年級時買了梵谷的畫冊，《星夜》令我驚為天人。

現實中當年的梵谷及高更應該惺惺相識，不然梵谷不會邀請高更一起渡假，高更離開前後梵谷又發神經剪掉自己的耳朵。

常説警世藝術家必然有病，不然他怎麼看得到凡人看不出的脈絡？又或他怎能看出凡人看不出的脈絡後仍能心境如水，心態平和？

是以梵谷腦袋有病，他精神分裂；是以高更身體有病，他是淋病梅毒之類。

沒有病的可能惟獨是一個畢加索。這個能夠拒絕可可香奈兒的男人，其精神自有其幹練之處。

至於我，我的最愛已經從梵谷轉到達利，最後落戶 Rene Magritte。

繭

廿二天年假餘下十五天，在這盛夏，我一次過把它放完。

離開工作，什麼也不做，一個人悶在屋子裡，看電視，看書，讀別人的部落。一星期過去了，我的精神狀態有所改善。心境平靜了些，比較能注意自己身體的需要，一年前的傷口，也真的開始癒合。這次休假，是一次真正的休息。

如果我有錢，我想去什麼地方的療養院住兩星期，把生活全交給別人打理，自己就只顧發呆。

Wai Lim 帶我去吃飯，餵飽我的胃，不過心呢，還得靠自己填滿。麗口說以為我老早好了，當然不，那麼大的創傷，我需要的是很多很多的時間。

好久好久沒有去博物館，可能下星期我會願意出門口。

Picture: Rene Magritte's "The listening room"

「你何時結婚」

報載高更的畫作「你何時結婚」售價創新高。

談高更一定離不開大溪地（我知我知，官恩娜丫嘛）。高更在中年來到大溪地這個盛產珍珠的原始國度，起首時卻為其歐洲化的一面有點氣餒，幸好高更意志堅強，守下去畫下去，才有這些畫風別樹一格的大溪地仕女圖。

我不肯定我認識高更在先還是梵谷在先。在亦舒小説《圓舞》中女主角承珏一時貪玩化了個濃艷妝容，她的監護人傅于深便給承珏看高更筆下的女人。自始承珏便常常一張素臉示人，不能忘懷的只有囗紅。

至於梵谷，應該是從台灣作家三毛書中讀到的。中學二三年級時買了梵谷的畫冊，《星夜》令我驚為天人。

現實中當年的梵谷及高更應該惺惺相識，不然梵谷不會邀請高更一起渡假，高更離開前後梵谷又發神經剪掉自己的耳朵。

常説警世藝術家必然有病，不然他怎麼看得到凡人看不出的脈絡？又或他怎能看出凡人看不出的脈絡後仍能心境如水，心態平和？

是以梵谷腦袋有病，他精神分裂；是以高更身體有病，他是淋病梅毒之類。

沒有病的可能惟獨是一個畢加索。這個能夠拒絕可可香奈兒的男人，其精神自有其幹練之處。

至於我，我的最愛已經從梵谷轉到達利，最後落戶 Rene Magritte。

哀，六四。哀，香港的六四。

「生活的考驗，極為嚴酷。還未打倒甚麼，我們首先已被打倒了。我們對我們相信的主義，或遠離，或重新演繹。我們會因此而失去。我們的同志朋友。我們慢慢會知道，原來我們的智識與信念，亦不過一時一刻，正如我們的生命，有開始，有結束，有限制。」

黃碧雲《後殖民誌》

黑夜就是給我黑色的眼睛；但既然我有眼睛，我焉能不尋找光明？

Picture: Die grosse Familie by Rene Magritte

Rene Magritte -> safe mode

太陽底下無新事

情緒作祟，我哪會不知道？只是我任性，只是我愛任性，所以愛哭就哭。（丫，爆佢樽啦）

你是情場老手了，對我耍小性子視若無睹。但煩得跳腳，你怒吼：「你睇下對手係咩人先啦！」

翌日回公司開會傾了一輪正經事，忽然脾氣消了，心也豁然開朗了。當夜與你晚飯，我把前事當笑話。

今天慵倦，不想見任何人，不想出門。我寧願獨留在家，一個人讀亦舒，聽王菲，吃冰糖燕窩。

「你睇下對手係咩人先啦！」確是至理明言（乜得你咁多金句）。

嘿嘿。

picture: Rene Magritte's La Magie Noire

（來訪我家者，若要買手信，可考慮送厠紙或廚房抹手紙或冰糖燕窩。yeah!）

Eng Write-up 黃碧雲 小資產階級 Rene Magritte 失眠

A walk in my dress

A walk in my dress - FastPencil

Eng Write-up 黃碧雲 小資產階級 Rene Magritte 失眠

Blogger 70thfloor's Top 7 Tips for Video Interviews

Hello World.

I just have done my first video job interview. The interviewers showed up on my iPad on time and we spoke (I spoke) for 30 minutes.

I have given a lot of thoughts to get myself best prepared for this video chatty time. Here are some of my considerations which might be helpful for any video interviewees.

1. Get your Plan A ready and have a Plan B
Upon being notified about the video interview, decide which equipment and video conferencing programme you are going to use. Make sure you have everything. Check all hardware, software and network to see if they are working fine 30 minutes before the interview is going to be on air.

Make a Plan B, in case your Plan A fails. A Plan B should have the exact components as Plan A. So Plan B should consists hardware, software and network.

2. Set the scene
Donald Tsang or Victoria Beckham always sit or stand in front of a good background when they are portrayed in interviews. Make sure the things behind your back appearing on the screen that your interviewers will see are cozy and nice.

Set up the camera so it focuses on you. Apart from your face, it is good to include your shoulder, desk, and a little bit background in the view.

Optimize your scene setup by closing the windows to shut away noise from highways and neighbour. Remove any motion objects. Lock your dog in the bathroom (>_< as a matter of fact I DIDN'T). Turn off your voice devices. Turn off your phone in particular.



3. Get dressed
You may wrap yourself with a boring black suit when you attend face-face interviews. But depending on the nature of the job you applied, you can dress down a bit at video interviews. (Of course if you are taking the video interview in the office then you are already in your normal business attire) But no matter it is a shirt or a good quality cotton tee, it is wise to choose solid conservative colors, e.g. black, Royal blue, brown. White colour will reflect lights on screen and it does not look good.

Never wear something with stripes or lousy patterns. They make the camera mad because it is busy reconciling these patterns when you move, resulting in a subtle delay on the screen. Then your outfit looks like they are "vibrating".

3. Manage the microphone
Use a headset which is equipped with a microphone (aka the iPhone headset) to listen and speak. This enables clarity for both sides.

4. Keep an eye on yourself and look into the eyes of the interviewers
Monitor your appearance in the "picture-in-picture" screen from time to time. Be conscious about your body language.

Besides, make sure you maintain constant eye contact with the one whom you are speaking with and you pay attention to his/her facial expressions.

5. Simon, I have a question for you...
Simon, Peter and Sam. All these threesome are your interviewers at the video interview, but when you want to address Simon, you cannot "turn your head towards" Simon. Likewise, you cannot make direct eye contact with Simon when you are speaking to him.

It is therefore important to get the names of the interviewers beforehand, and to use the names to address the person when necessary.

6. Handy props
Plan about the interview flow. For example, if you are applying to a job at a fashion brand, you might show your most favourite dress from the brand when you are talking about your passion about the company.

7. Smile and make sure your smile is nice
Smile when you pause. Smile when you finish an answer. Smile gracefully when your interviewers are thinking about their next questions

Wear a bit China Red lipstick when you attend a video interview. So your smile speaks for yourself even when you are not speaking.

Thank you for visiting me. Good luck!

Eng Write-up 黃碧雲 小資產階級 Rene Magritte 失眠

Killing Silly Billy

我懷疑因為我是潛意識的信徒，所以我跟 Hitchcock，Dali, Rene Magritte，以至 Anthony Browne 一見鍾情。唔係咩？近日給母親煩得要死，勾起很多童年陰影，昨晚發惡夢母親把我的 Omega 胡亂交託給人修理，手錶拿回來，錶面的寶石都給人盜去了。

多麼 symbolic 的一個夢。夢中驚醒後一身冷汗，不知所措，只有連忙沐浴穿戴整齊上班去，但成天都心事重重，不能自己。

下午開完一個 WebEx 會議，曲終人散後我按著自己的心口跟自己說：「喂，焦慮發洩左啦。Let go 啦。」

我不知怎說。但這情況就像我失眠，然後擔心自己失眠，結果剪不斷理還亂，失眠的問題更行更遠更深。

很 Silly Billy 呀可？！

"Billy used to be a bit of a worrier." Billy worried about everything from hats, shoes and clouds to rain and giant birds. Both his parents tried to soothe and reassure him, but Billy still worried.

One night, while sleeping over at his grandma's, Billy confides in her. Grandma says, "Well, my goodness, dear. You're not silly. When I was your age, I used to worry like that. I've got just the thing for you." She returns with Guatemalan Worry Dolls and tells Billy to share his worries with them then put them under his pillow and they will do the worrying for you.

Billy does this and has quite a few restful nights until he begins to worry about the burden he is placing in the worry dolls. It doesn't seem fair, he thinks. Browne resolves the problem in this way, "The next day Billy had an idea. He spent all day working at the kitchen table. It was difficult. At first he made lots of mistakes. He had to start again many times. But finally Bill produced something very special..."