My story when in UK (Part 3)

13-14 October 2007 (Saturday & Sunday)

We do not plan to go far away from Mexborough, so we decided to go to city Leeds. On the way, we passed through Wakefield & there was a point of interest called Sandal Castle. Before reaching the place, we thought there was really a "castle" standing up there and awaiting us to explode. But actually, there was only some remaining wall left on the site.

Sandal Castle is a ruin on the edge of the city of Wakefield in West Yorkshire and overlooks the River Calder and Pugneys Country Park. We stopped and took our time to have a thorough walk over there.

Leeds is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England. Picture below is the Leeds Town Hall.

Corn Exchange - Leeds' most treasured historic gem. This stunning Grade 1 listed building is of major architectural heritage to the City of Leeds and also considered to be one of Britain's finest Victorian structures.

Building's wall painted with colourful picture.

The Victoria Quarter, several existing arcades connected together by roofing the entirety of Queen Victoria Street with stained glass, is located off Briggate, Leeds' main shopping street.

Sunday, only go shopping at Meadowhall (you can visit http://www.meadowhall.co.uk/ for detail) located at Sheffield. Our colleagues said to us, Meadowhall Shopping Centre is the biggest shooping place in UK. When visited the place, it was nothing if compare to our Queensbay Mall & Mid-Valley Megamall. We didn't buy anything there.

海角七号 Cape No.7

I like this movie and the content of the letters read out in Japanese. I am sharing out the content of these letters translated in chinese...


一九四五年十二月二十五日
友子，太陽已經完全沒入了海面
我真的已經完全看不見台灣島了
你還站在那裡等我嗎？



友子
請原諒我這個懦弱的男人
從來不敢承認我們兩人的相愛
我甚至已經忘記
我是如何迷上那個不照規定理髮
而惹得我大發雷霆的女孩了
友子
你固執不講理、愛玩愛流行
我卻如此受不住的迷戀你
只是好不容易你畢業了
我們卻戰敗了
我是戰敗國的子民
貴族的驕傲瞬間墮落為犯人的枷
我只是個窮教師
為何要揹負一個民族的罪
時代的宿命是時代的罪過
我只是個窮教師
我愛你，卻必須放棄你





第三天
該怎麼克制自己不去想你
你是南方艷陽下成長的學生
我是從飄雪的北方渡洋過海的老師
我們是這麼的不同
為何卻會如此的相愛
我懷念艷陽…我懷念熱風...
我猶有記憶你被紅蟻惹毛的樣子
我知道我不 該嘲笑你
但你踩著紅蟻的樣子真美
像踩著一種奇幻的舞步
憤怒、強烈又帶著輕挑的嬉笑…
友子，我就是那時愛上你的…
多希望這時有暴風
把我淹沒在這台灣與日本間的海域
這樣我就不必為了我的懦弱負責





友子
才幾天的航行
海風所帶來的哭聲已讓我蒼老許多
我不願離開甲板，也不願睡覺
我心裡已經做好盤算
一旦讓我著陸
我將一輩子不願再看見大海
海風啊，為何總是帶來哭聲呢？
愛人哭、嫁人哭、生孩子哭
想著你未來可能的幸福我總是會哭
只是我的淚水
總是在湧出前就被海風吹乾
湧不出淚水的哭泣，讓我更蒼老了
可惡的風
可惡的月光
可惡的海





十二月的海總是帶著憤怒
我承受著恥辱和悔恨的臭味
陪同不安靜地晃盪
不明白我到底是歸鄉
還是離鄉！





傍晚，已經進入了日本海
白天我頭痛欲裂
可恨的濃霧
阻擋了我一整個白天的視線
而現在的星光真美
記得你才是中學一年級小女生時
就膽敢以天狗食月的農村傳說
來挑戰我月蝕的天文理論嗎？
再說一件不怕你挑戰的理論
你知道我們現在所看到的星光
是自幾億光年遠的星球上
所發射過來的嗎？
哇，幾億光年發射出來的光
我們現在才看到
幾億光年的台灣島和日本島
又是什麼樣子呢？
山還是山，海還是海
卻不見了人
我想再多看幾眼星空
在這什麼都善變的人世間裡
我想看一下永恆
遇見了要往台灣避冬的烏魚群
我把對你的相思寄放在其中的一隻
希望你的漁人父親可以捕獲
友子，儘管他的氣味辛酸
你也一定要嚐一口
你會明白...
我不是拋棄你，我是捨不得你
我在眾人熟睡的甲板上反覆低喃
我不是拋棄你，我是捨不得你





天亮了，但又有何關係
反正日光總是帶來濃霧
黎明前的一段恍惚
我見到了日後的你韶華已逝
日後的我髮禿眼垂
晨霧如飄雪，覆蓋了我額上的皺紋
驕陽如烈焰，焚枯了你秀髮的烏黑
你我心中最後一點餘熱完全凋零
友子…
請原諒我這身無用的軀體





海上氣溫16度
風速12節、水深97米
已經看見了幾隻海鳥
預計明天入夜前我們即將登陸
友子…
我把我在台灣的相簿都留給你
就寄放在你母親那兒
但我偷了其中一張
是你在海邊玩水的那張
照片裡的海沒風也沒雨
照片裡的你，笑得就像在天堂
不管你的未來將屬於誰
誰都配不上你
原本以為我能將美好回憶妥善打包
到頭來卻發現我能攜走的只有虛無
我真的很想妳！
啊，彩虹！
但願這彩虹的兩端
足以跨過海洋，連結我和妳







友子，我已經平安著陸
七天的航行
我終於踩上我戰後殘破的土地
可是我卻開始思念海洋
這海洋為何總是站在
希望和滅絕的兩個極端
這是我的最後一封信
待會我就會把信寄出去
這容不下愛情的海洋
至少還容得下相思吧！
友子，我的相思你一定要收到
這樣你才會原諒我一點點
我想我會把你放在我心裡一輩子
就算娶妻、生子
在人生重要的轉折點上
一定會浮現…

你提著笨重的行李逃家
在遣返的人潮中，你孤單地站著
你戴著那頂...
存了好久的錢才買來的白色針織帽
是為了讓我能在人群中發現你吧！
我看見了…我看見了…
你安靜不動地站著
你像七月的烈日
讓我不敢再多看你一眼
你站得如此安靜
我刻意冰涼的心，卻又頓時燃起
我傷心，又不敢讓遺憾流露
我心裡嘀咕，嘴巴卻一聲不吭
我知道，思念這庸俗的字眼
將如陽光下的黑影
我逃他追…我追他逃…
一輩子

我會假裝你忘了我
假裝你將你我的過往
像候鳥一般從記憶中遷徙
假裝你已走過寒冬迎接春天
我會假裝…
一直到自以為一切都是真的！
然後…
祝你一生永遠幸福！

My second son, JS Growing-Up Chart

To my dearest son,

Hope you will growing up happily and be healthy always...

From: Yours Papa & Mama

Con't again... My story when in UK (Part 2)

6-7 October 2007 (Saturday & Sunday)

Early in the morning at Liverpool, I call my wife and get to know that my son, JS was sick. She is bringing him to see doctor (I did mention to my wife to take good care of my little boy, anyhow, he was fine after taken the medicine). Khor is graduated from Liverpool John Moores University. He do showing me the place where he stayed when in study time.

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880. Background of the picture are the three graces of Liverpool's waterfront: the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.

Some of the photos taken in Liverpool:

After visiting Liverpool, go to Blackpool. Close to the beach & there is a lot of fun fair over there. JL & JS should be very excited to visit here.

Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. Lying along the coast of the Irish Sea, it has a population of 142,900, making it the fourth-largest settlement in North West England. It lies 40 miles (64 km) north-west of the city of Manchester. Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism during the 19th century, particularly for the inhabitants of northern mill towns. Beside is the Blackpool tower, a Blackpool landmark.

Con't... My story in UK (Part 2)

6-7 October 2007 (Saturday & Sunday)

Then we go Castleton, one of the most popular centres in the Peak District. Maybe this is because it has everything the visitor might want - picturesque scenery, a ruined Norman castle, showcaves, interesting geology, good walks and a pretty village.

In front of Castleton Centre.

The village is centred around a square in which the church lies - this is just off the main road and directly beneath Peveril Castle on the hill behind. The castle was built in 1080 as a wooden building and rebuilt in stone around 1175 and the church was begun about the same time. It has a fine Norman arch across the Nave, which was constructed from 1190 to 1250. The tower was added in 1450-1500 and more additions were made in the 19th century.

We go Manchester after this & spent most of time in Primark buying things. When we started to go around Manchester City, is about ~7-8pm already. When driving around the city, we by-passed the Manchester United FC Football Ground (Old Trafford), Manchester. After taking photos, we went straight to Liverpool & stay overnight there.

Manchester United FC Football Ground

China Town in Manchester City

Manchester Town Hall at night. It has been used for the local governance of Manchester, is an example of Vitorian era Gothic revival architecture.