I am Your Sunshine

[From The Economist]
2004年 Google 開始掃瞄書籍並開放使用者搜尋, 出版商十分擔心他們的文學珍寶將被盜版者摧殘. 然而這項服務讓許多者有機會即時接觸到大量的出版品, 其中很多是讀者原本再多錢都沒有機會取得的. 但除此之外, Google Books 也引發了在人文科學界的一項革命.

長久以來研究人文與語言趨勢的學者只能一本一本書地讀, 程序非常費時費力, 而一個人或是一小群人能讀的書總是非常有限, 幾乎不可能進行大規模的數據收集. 但現在不同了, 哈佛大學的 Jean-Baptiste Michel 博士與他的同事利用 Google Books 的服務作研究, 而他們的第一階段成果本周發表於 Science 雜誌. 繼續閱讀

amazing song

SFS Chorus Director Ragnar Bohlin’s version of Messiah was fluid, smooth and ethereal. The chorus often meandered and eventually disappeared into the metaphorical heaven. I guess it’s a matter of preference. And sometimes freshness is called for. I personally like my Messiah profound and significant. Serious and articulate, like making a relevant statement. But overall the chorus was a delight (gave me chills from time to time, which is something I look for in a piece like this) and beautiful, moving music flowed from the small orchestra like streams gently and pleasantly washed over you. However, the solos were passable at best. Maybe it’s not a fair judgment coming all the way up from 2nd tier (next time I’m gonna be in the orchestra.) I didn’t get the full impact it was supposed to create. The soprano was the worst. It was as if she was trying to showcase what she could do rather than to deliver the music with its intended emotion. I was honestly quite disappointed (in her).

Sunshine squeezes relentlessly through the venetian blinds in my room this morning, announcing a beautiful day. I went out, and the grass was green and violently alive. Maybe it was the sun, but it sure feels like the promise of spring. Yet it’s mid December, winter is just warming up (or cooling off for that matter.) And there were sheep and goats all over the grass along CA-237. I was so happy~ sheep and the sun and beautiful sky. I’m getting everything I love today.

I don’t think I can ever watch Harry Potter purely as a movie. My mind is continually comparing and assessing so that I cannot simply sit back and enjoy the ride. I can’t even tell if I like it or not most of the times. Because for me, it’s just the visual realization of a story I like very much and I was going to watch it no matter what.

It made some necessary adjustments mostly due to the time constraint and because it’s better to show than tell (unlike in a book, you can fall effortlessly into streams of thoughts.) They did a pretty good job in “showing”, such as Ron’s growing jealousy and Hermione’s sending off her parents. However, some delicate and complex emotions are omitted. Like in the beginning where cousin Dudley showed his concerns for Harry when the Dursleys got on their way, the “real” thing that gave Harry away during the chase. Those are neglectable yet powerful moments. Instead, a modern day tunnel car chase was inserted probably to make the movie more exciting? But for people who love the book, it was coming out of nowhere, and for people who never read it, I don’t think they should watch the movie in the first place. From what I’ve heard, if you haven’t read the book, the movie wouldn’t make sense at all. The script is nicely written (way better than the first one), yet it still cannot stand on its own. And what’s with the dancing? If Harry was trying to cheer her up, he should have dance funnier, not acted as if he’s trying for something. That’s bad directing for me.

But in all, it’s beautiful, love the sceneries and sets, the tempo is right and the cliffhanger is not too melodramatic.

ps. Fake IMAX still sucks.

A huge slack of our schedule but with bellies fully content, we took off at 10pm. Didn’t even have time for our planned grocery shopping. In the darkness we sped through the desert, leaving the ever glittering lights of Vegas behind. Prius is a fun car to ride in. I glared at the digital thermometer, announced from time to time excitedly the temperature outside. “Twenty something… Fifteen! Wow wow wow seven degree Fahrenheit!” And was I thrilled to see roadside leftover snow. By the time we passed the dam and got to Courtyard it was already 1:30am Pacific time (2:30a local.) The hotel was quiet with a hint of eerie. The receptionist lady emerged from the back room a moment after we stationed ourselves in front of the front desk and greeted us with an enthusiasm matched the hour, “Glad you can make it.” She said.

Once again, my biological clock has fallen into the middle of the Pacific, but for a purpose, on a mission, or so I told myself. Tender yet crisp strokes on a acoustic guitar, voice like murmur hauntingly lingering in the midair of a daft and still and pale afternoon. Pale and lifeless, by no mean serene afternoon, moisture hovering next to and all around me. Glancing at the song and it is sure as shit.

I was sure as shit. I am. But when I contemplate it, the thing is, even if I’m uncertain, do I have any alternative? And I gradually realized, the meaning of the words crept in and slowly took form, what she meant by taking a chance, a gamble I’m making. I’m at a corner. An ultimatum is not even an option. A simple, with a sad look, “it’s out of my hand” is sufficient to have me beaten. Sure, I can give myself an ultimatum but what then? Any alternative is unattractive, unthinkable. So why bother change anything? But how much longer do I have to stay in this perpetual state of waiting?

Grabbed this book randomly on the shelf in Milpitas Library. I was at a loss as to what to bring on this road trip we were to take. Generally you don’t need a book as much as a bunch of nicely made mixed tapes (CDs), which I had indeed prepared. But we were to fly to and fro Vegas and take off from there, so a book or two was essential. It further proved to be a wise move when we were in line for the Buffet at Wynn for THREE WHOLE HOURS.

The book stood out among its fellow hardcover competitions. I hate carrying hardcover books around. That’s probably why I rarely finished my hardcover books (e.g. Red Carpet and Other Banana Skins by Rupert Everett and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close By Jonathan Safran Foer.) Its description on the backcover intrigued me.

Jamie DeBroux’s boss has called a special meeting for all “key personnel” at 9:00 a.m. on a hot Saturday in August.
When Jamie arrives, the conference room is stocked with cookies and champagne. His boss smiles and tells his employees, “We’re a cover for a branch of the intelligence community. And we’re being shut down.” Jamie’s boss then tells everyone to drink some champagne, and in a few seconds they’ll fall asleep—for good. If they refuse, they’ll be shot in the head.
Escape is not an option. Jamie’s boss has shut down the elevators and rigged the fire towers with chemical bombs. Panic sets in, chaos erupts, and no one is sure whom to trust. Jamie quickly realizes that there’s only one way he’s ever going to see his family again: the hard way.

It seemed to be a pleasant pulp read. So I checked it out, thinking I’d give it a 5-page probation before deciding whether I would take it. In any case, I’ve also checked out Lawrence Block’s Eight Million Ways to Die. It’s been a long while since I last read it. I’d like to rekindle my relationship with Matt Scudder.

So the night before my birthday, lying on my bed I opened Severance Package, and I was almost unable to put it down. I like how Swierczynski introduces his characters one by one in short paragraphs by following their movements prior to the meeting, so you feel like you know the “key personnels” instantly and are drawn to the events that were to happen to the them. But soon, the excitement fell over. What had seemed to be an intricate design turned into something haphazard, albeit lethal, which resembles the mess that confused the hell out of J.K. Simmons in Burn After Reading. The characters are flat and their personalities changed by the minute which makes it hard to feel for them. Their actions didn’t make sense, even the person who kept shouting “this doesn’t make sense” was not making much of it, and newly made revelations were not supported by previously made statements. And I am sure mocking the absurdity of life wasn’t its intention at all.

And the ending sucks! I’m usually very tolerate of mediocre ending cos I know firsthand how a good ending is hard to come by. But this is just plainly irresponsible and trying to look smart when it looks utterly foolish.

Recently I’ve lost my interest in nail polish and perfume and skin care, which were my obsessions a while back. I felt adrift and in dire need to hold onto something. Listening to the Thirteenth Tale, I abandoned my plan to clean up the room, pulled out my bucket of colors, fingering thru my options and settled on Blue. “A way to represent” I thought, “Up the Chels.” Cheering silently, I layered on the base coat and opened Blue Grotto. The smell of chemicals somehow comforted me and the idea of that startled me a little. What have I become of? I dare not to fathom. And then I realized I never really know what a blue grotto is. Turned out it’s a sea cave that beams eerie blue in light. And one is in Croatia. And I thought my life is on a permanent hold that it’s not going A.N.Y.W.H.E.R.E, certainly not Croatia, or, Hrvatska if you wanna get fancy. I’m gonna rot in this hellhole that reeks of mediocrity.

Rye 大概是此行除了 London 除了 Stamford Bridge 之外我最最喜愛的地方. 不過我跟媽媽剛抵達的時候其實心裡有一點小小的後悔.

我們離開 Canterbury 搭上前往 Ashford International 的火車天色已經漸暗, 在 Ashford International 下了車, 剛好看到往 Rye 方向的車快要出發, 我帶著媽媽驚險地跳上火車. 然而抵達 Rye 的時候, 天已經黑了. Rye 不是一個大站, 也就是說過了傍晚車站就沒有管理人員, 一切都要自己來. 老舊的建築陰森森地站在昏黃的燈光下, 寂靜的街上杳無人煙, 偏偏這時還飄起細雨. 這完全不是我想像中的歐洲人喜歡的渡假盛地啊. 我拖著行李在有點陡的石頭步道上喀喀答答地走著, 很怕媽媽心裡怪我騙她要到美麗小鎮卻其實帶她到個鬼城. 我自己也很害怕啊…

好不容易在主街上找到我們訂的 Hayden’s B&B, 進到我們的房間心情有了一百八十度的大轉變. 我們的房間叫作 Chocolate Room, 非常寬敞舒適. 房內還附了茶品茶具及一些小點心. 房外的小冰箱裡有礦泉水與牛奶可以取用. 光是這間房間就讓我們覺得真是來對了!

Rye 是位於英格蘭東南部的一個港口小鎮, 座落在山丘上被三條河圍繞, 居高臨下地望著英吉利海峽. Rye 也是 1066 Countries 的一部份. 1066 Countries 顧名思義就是西元 1066 年征服者威廉入侵英格蘭的戰地, 而這場決定性的戰爭就是 Battle of Hastings. (這也是英格蘭在歷史上最後一次被成功攻入.) Rye 在 1247 年又回到英格蘭人的手上, 而 Henry III 取回此城之後蓋了一個城堡來防禦這個重要的港口. 在十八世紀 Rye 是英吉利海峽上的交易重鎮, 同時幫派走私*也十分盛行. 不過現在的 Rye 是個人口約四千的平和觀光小鎮, 混合中世紀,Tudor, Georgian 風情的建築以及小石子路, 可愛舒適的 B&B guesthouses, 小巧溫馨的茶室, 還有讓人心曠神怡的風景. 除此之外, Rye 也是文學愛好者的朝聖地之一. 著名的 Lamb House 曾陸續是 Henry James 與 E.F.Benson 的家. Joseph Conrad, G.K.Chesterton, H.G.Wells 等也都曾在 Rye 居住. 名畫家如 Van Dyck, Whistler 也都曾到 Rye 取景.

Rye 的幾個主要景點包括屬於城牆的一部份的 Ypers Tower, 現在作為 Rye Castle Museum 的展示間. 而臨近的 The Parish Church of St. Mary’s 更是我的最愛. The Parish Church of Rye (dedicated to St Mary the Virgin) 建於十二世紀, 1377年時法國來的侵略者洗劫教堂還放了把火, 造成嚴重的損壞, 屋頂崩塌而樓鐘也被壞人帶回法國. 然而隔年當地的鄉民航海前往諾曼第, 放火燒了他們兩個城, 把大部份法國人搶去的東西 – 包括樓鐘 – 都搶了回來. 現在掛在外牆的藍色時鐘造於 1561, 62年間, 是英格蘭上下最老的仍在運作的時鐘. 教堂內的彩繪玻璃也十分值得撥空欣賞, 我最喜歡的是北走道西向由 Edward Burne-Jones 設計的窗戶 – The Visit of the Wise Men to Jesus. Burne-Jones 的風格不像一般見到的彩繪那樣繁複讓人眼花撩亂, 他的設計往往簡單明瞭而色彩鮮明讓人想要深探畫面中呈現的故事. 然而, 此教堂除了樸質中帶著細膩的內部, 寧靜宜人的庭園, 中世紀風情的建築之外, 最吸引人的還是爬上鐘樓從傾斜的小門出去來到屋頂, 俯看整的小鎮的景色. 我跟媽媽在上面待了好久, 捨不得下去.

斜的小門
Rye 的景色

Rye 的美妙在於我們腳步所到之處都是美景都是享受, 豐富的歷史在安靜的小鎮中隱約仍生氣勃勃, 隨意彎入一家古董店都可以挖到寶, 小巷子裡的茶室端上簡單卻讓人難以想像的美味點心. 這些都是在大城市裡找不到的幸福.

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I was sort of depressed thinking I was gonna spend a better part of my big birthday traveling (first by plane to Vegas then by car to Page, AZ), so Chiahui proposed we’d celebrate my bday in Taiwan time zone. So I rounded up few good friend at the last minute and headed to my favorite Tanto.

The next morning I woke up early, got ready and headed to SFO. We landed early around 2:30pm; however, getting our rental car, which was a Prius(!), took us a while and by the time we got to Wynn, it was already 4pm. We were utterly naive, thinking, it’s Thanksgiving, you fat Americans should stay home with your family and your awful stuffed turkey prepared the way TSA do their infamous patdowns. But no. I think they were all there. We walked to the end of the line, overhearing somebody said it’s gonna be a three hour wait. Errr….

Anyways, chun and I decided to wait while Chiahui, staved, devoured two pastries at the corner cafe. It was indeed a three hour wait, no kidding, but, nevertheless, we got in eventually, a little pass 7pm.

Even though time was pressing (we still had a 5 hour drive ahead of us, which turned out to be 3.5 hour), we took our time and ate as cost-efficiently as possible. I had a whole plate of Snow Crab legs before I discovered that Alaska crab legs are much sweeter and juicier. I was glad. Cos had I began with Alaska crab, I wouldn’t wanna touch the snow crab. Marsh mellow + yam was divine. Always love Prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe. Taste-like-real-strawberry strawberry gelato. Coffee gelato creamed coffee. And strawberry cake with blue candles on top. We sang happy birthday to me quietly, and I made three wished. It was awesome.

She lies on the cold filthy ground, looking into the sky.
I lean against the white dumpster and sighed.
Nothing in the world can tear us apart.
“I love you.”
Cool autumn air carries her whisper with hints of bad eggs and sardine.
I close my eyes and nod in silence.

Before all of these happened, I’d never thought about life after serving our time. I’d never imagined a life without her. When they ruthlessly ripped the satin sheet off her sweet body, I thought the world was coming to an end. They lifted her off my chest and brought her out. I panicked and squeaked. But they came back for me. A guy hurt his toe when he was carrying me down the stairs and cursed, but I didn’t pay much attention. Because I saw her, standing helplessly in the huge recycle bin, like a princess. My princess. They put me in next to her. My world was restored to normalcy.

We’ve been lying here by the dumpsters for a month now. I don’t know what will become of us. A huge vehicle visits the dumpsters two days a week and it always pulls us out of the dumpster. The guy, who hurt his toe, would sneak out at night to put us back into the dumpster just to have us being taken out again a few days later.

But of course we didn’t know that he was supposed to call somebody to collect us, and, apparently, neither did him.

“As long as we’re together.” I thought.
I don’t care if we spend the rest of our eternity with all sorts and forms of wastes.

A loud clash breaks up the serenity. Something knocks me off balance. The world spins around me until I land on something soft. Before I have a chance to savor the gentleness lying underneath me, a shrill cry pierces through this heavenly, new, feeling.

“Get off of me!” She demands with grave urgency.

“I can’t.” I am a bit stunned by the annoyance in her voice. “Be reasonable.”

“Get off me right now. You’re heavy and you stink.”

I can’t believe it. After all these years lying beneath her welcoming the entirety of her weight, and then some, without one single complaint, she can’t bear me for one minute.

“It’s about time. For once our position is reversed.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You were always on top, remember? All those days and nights I carried your weight. Did I say anything? Did I complain?”

“That’s what you were supposed to do, you stupid piece of shit.”

“Don’t talk to me like that. I worth as much as you do.”

“Pfft. As if.
“You cost almost as much as I do only because those idiots thought I need your support. You’re nothing without me. Get over it, and get off of me!”

“For Christ’ sake!”

There was nothing I can do, and we both know it.

I can’t wait for the day they take us apart, for good.

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the ones I like
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William Wordsworth is never my cup of tea. In fact, I, more often than not, doze off in the words of the romantics. However, when I went to south Wales, how could I resist the calling of the ruin that had mesmerized the great poet hunderds and hundreds years ago.

It was a sunny day. We took the train to Chepstow, a small town bordered England; then took a bus to the abbey. The bus driver had seen all too many Asian tourists who set foot on the stone of Chepstow to get to the famed Tintern. He took his time asking us if we wanna marry him before he told us that yes, his bus would take us to the abbey. I didn’t blame him. One has to do something to fight the tired routine of life, but it’s his fault that we didn’t have time to visit Chepstow Castle.

Tintern Abbey is no longer what it looked like when Wordsworth visited. There were walls all around and a visitor center, and everything is bright and cheerful and by no mean eerie. I bought a huge card with paintings of Tintern along with Wordsworth’s poem. I aspired to read it again on some shattered stone of the abbey but I eventually didn’t. The abbey, even at its ruin, was still grandeur and every intricate detail worth admiring. I exhausted my digital camera’s battery before I was half done, but I’m sort of glad that I did because I was then able to appreciate the abbey and its surrounding – man made or God created – with all of my senses without being confined to the rectangle lens.

It was the last time Alex saw her since their breakup three weeks ago. He went back to their – her – apartment for his stuffs several times, but he never ran into her. Alex’ mother let him move back to the house and in return, Alex had to do household chords that he managed to avoid doing before he moved out. But it was the constant nagging that he’s driving him nuts. He can tell that mother was actually quite happy about having him around, but she’s just unable to shut up about what a failure he is to have lost Lisa.

“Lisa is good for you.” She said, and Alex knows she’s right. He can’t believe he’s actually lost her. The truth is, Alex has no clue what he has done wrong. He couldn’t think of anything and then he remembered the last thing Lisa said to him and the ambiguous smile on her face. There must be something that he’s not getting and he’s convinced that the book holds the key to their relationship. Lisa gave him the book the day after they had a fight. Alex presumed it was just a token of reconciliation and never thought about actually reading it. But now he’s not so sure.

Alex notices the car in front of him has slowed down. He raises his head and finds the freeway backed up from distance. Alex curses his bad luck while fingering through the channels trying to find out what’s going on. By the time he gets to Gilroy, the library is already closed. Out of desperation, Alex bangs on the shut door, but no one shows up. Standing in front of the library, he cannot believe all his effort has gone in vain. He sits down on the curb, reaches for the cell phone in his packet and dials a number he has by heart.

No one answers.

Alex drives back to San Jose, but instead of going home, he pulls up in front of Lisa’s apartment. He rings the bell but Lisa isn’t there. He let himself in. Sitting in the dark, Alex slowly absorbs this place that he called home just few weeks ago. He sinks into the sofa, waiting. Time brushes by him like cold fingers, but he doesn’t move a bit. And then he hears the sound of keys jangling.

The door is open and Lisa walks in.

“Geez, Alex.” Lisa turns on the lights.

Orange warmth fills the room instantly. Alex finds that he misses this place terribly.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I couldn’t find the book.” His words fall on the floor like rain drops.

“What are you talking about?” Lisa softens her tone.

“The book you gave me. I was reading it and it got mixed up in the donation pile. I couldn’t find it. I went to the library and they sent me to the one in Gilroy but there was an accident on the way and by the time I got there, it was closed. I knocked and knocked but no one came out.”

“Alex, slow down. You’re not making sense.”

Alex put his head between his knees.

“I miss you.”

And there is a long silence.

“I miss you too.”

-FIN-

Bath 不若想像中的古典.

畢竟是個渡假盛地, 距離倫敦也不算遠. Bath 的市中心在一堆黃色石頭的建築之中, 各樣名店都不缺. 路上提著大包小包購物袋的人也隨處可見.

不可免俗的, 我們參觀了 Roman Baths 與壯觀的 Bath Abbey, 兩者都是視覺的享受, 但 Roman Baths 又多了點想像. 聽著導覽在 Roman Bath 裡面遊蕩, 感覺真的踏進了 Jane Austen 的世界. 單純又好騙的 Catherine 就是在這裡嘗盡愛情及友情的酸甜苦辣吧. 而久仰大名的 Pump Room, 也沒有讓人失望, 非常的華麗. 除了主要的大浴池之外, 裡面還有蒸氣室. 有些隔室的地板被拆除, 讓遊客可以看到 underfloor heating system 的構造, 而昏暗的冷水池室還有投影重現當初羅馬人泡湯的情境.

Royal Crescent 也是個勾起美妙回憶的地方. 沿著這巨大的半圓緩步走著, 心裡想得是 Anne 上氣不接下氣地在 Bath 跑來跑去, 最後終於在 Crescent 找到 Wentworth, 我也想要有個會寫又誠懇又浪漫的信的 Captain 啊…
You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.

我們住的 Apple Tree B&B 與市中心隔了 River Avon. 全英國有很多條 River Avon. 因為 guess what? Welsh 的河就叫做 afon. 所以其實這些河都叫作河河. 沿著 River Avon 漫步也是樂事一件. 避開市中心的人潮, 河邊的寧靜好像另一個世界. 看著隔岸教堂上天光變化, 河畔初春的花, 離開擁擠與吵鬧, 終於有了點渡假的感覺.

* Sally Lund 的圓麵包真的超好吃. 我完全愛上了 clotted cream. 不知道美國弄不弄得到這種東西.

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Andy (Gervais) 的新 sitcom 經過太多人插手結果成了個大災難. 全國上下最好的評價是 Telegraph 給的 – 沒有評價. 然而還是有一些 potheads 很愛假髮, 怪表情與 catchphrase 那套. 一開始 Andy 非常受不了那些沒有眼光與大腦的人, 但在嚴重受挫之後 (David Bowie 還現場編了首嘲笑他的歌), 最後他還是回到小酒吧找熱情的potheads取暖, 而片尾主題曲在此時響起, 讓人非常非常感到不捨.

前一次去英國, 我們有參加一個 Oxford + Cotswolds 的當地團, 不過媽媽非常不滿, 因為覺得小鎮不若她想像. 於是這次來到 Bath, Cotswolds 非要排進行程不可, 一圓媽媽的小鎮風情夢. 可惜天公不作美, 我們匆匆吃完豐盛早餐後前往巴士集合地點, 天色一樣陰沉, 到達 Stonehenge 的時候已經在飄雨, 風大到無法撐傘. 我們在濕冷中繞著巨石, 聽著導覽, 無法感受巨石的震撼, 卻深刻體會到大自然的殘酷.

關於 Stonehenge 究竟是什麼有很多種理論, 我喜歡 Merlin 那個. 根據 Geoffrey of Monmouth (十二世界的 Celtic 神職人員, 著有 “History of the Kings of Britain”), 愛爾蘭 Killarau 山上的巨人把從非洲弄來的巨石蓋了個叫作”巨人之舞”的石圈, 因為他們相信這些石頭有治療的功效. 後來 Merlin 建議當時的國王把 Stonehenge 拿來當作在與 Saxon 作戰中戰死的三千貴族的紀念碑, 於是國王派 Merlin 以及 Uther (King Arthur 之父) 率領一萬五千騎士去搬 Stonehenge. 途中他們殺了六千個愛爾蘭人, 結果終於要搬的時候卻發現搬不動! 最後還是 Merlin 用他的”小技倆”把巨石群運回 Britain. 讓人不禁想對 Merlin 破口大罵, “你幹嘛不一開始就這麼做就好了?” 那些死掉的六千個愛爾蘭人應該很想扁他.

前往 Avebury 巨石圈的路上我們看到Cherhill White Horse. 這是在全英第三老的白馬, 於 1780 年在一個瘋狂的 Dr. Christopher Alsop指揮之下完成. 據說他是站在對面的山頭上拿著類似大聲公的東西指揮工人. 製作方法是把最上層的土壤挖掉, 露出下面的粉筆 (chalk 到底叫什麼?) 慘白色襯著旁邊的綠茵自然非常顯眼. 聽說維護這隻馬每年要花一萬五千英磅! 山坡上白馬的點子到底是如何來的呢? 有人說是住在對面山腰上的貴族想要為自家增視野添點不一樣的景緻, 也有人說是要對 House of Hanover 表示效忠. 但無論如何, 應該都是在效仿 Oxfordshire 那隻銅器石代的白馬(circa 1000BC) Uffington White Horse.

抵達 Avebury 的時候雨下得更大了, 於是沒有多作停留, 我偷摸了兩下巨石就趕快躲回車上.

中午來到拍攝 ’95 BBC Pride & Prejudice 的小鎮 Lacock. 在小酒吧吃了簡單的午餐, 出來時已經放晴. 小酒吧的對街, 就是 Meriton 的街景, 彷彿 Lydia 跟 Mary 隨時就會從二樓的窗戶探出頭來大聲招呼. (可惜有一排車停在房子前面破壞想像.) Lacock 這個小鎮人數不到兩百, 幾乎整個小鎮現在都屬於 National Trust. 許多建築都還是維持幾百年前的樣子 (大多都是十八世紀之前), 加上許多有名的電影與影集都在這個小鎮取景, 每天來往的遊客不少. 除了經典版 P&P 裡的 Meriton 之外, 2007 BBC 的 Cranford 以及 Harry Hotter 小時候的房子都是在 Lacock 拍攝, 2008 的 The Wolf Man 也有在此取景.

最後, 我們終於來到有英格蘭最美村落之稱的 Castle Combe. 大雨剛過, 這個人口約350的小村莊路上沒什麼人煙, 村莊裡的房子全是由天然石材堆建而成, 是典型的 Cotswolds 建築. 走在濕漉漉的柏油路上, 感覺好像不小心穿越時空闖進了 Stardust 的世界. 事實上 Castle Combe 就是電影 Stardust 的主要拍攝地點. 坐在小溪旁邊, 呆望著黃石房子以及背後襯著的山丘, 時間彷彿停止, 很適合放空.

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For a moment, neither of them spoke. The Fray’s new single flew in the air along with a calming hum of the summer evening. It didn’t seem real to Alex. He could swear he had seen something similar in a movie before, with the same song playing in the background.

“They’re coming to town next month, you know?”

“Huh?”

“The Fray.” Alex explained patiently, “They’re having a concert in the city. Didn’t you like them?”

“Oh, Alex.” Lisa shook her head. She circled around the sofa and turned off the TV. “You can’t act as if you didn’t hear me. It doesn’t work that way.”

Alex didn’t reply.

“I’m breaking up with you, Alex.” Lisa repeated herself.

“Why?” Alex’ voice turned sharp, “Is there someone else?”

“No.” Lisa said, “It’s us. I don’t like us. I like you. Well, at least I think I still do.”
Alex smirked and Lisa continued, “I don’t like the way we’ve become.”

Alex stared at her without a word.

“I guess that’s it then.” Lisa concluded.

She packed a few things and headed to the door.

“I’ll crash at my friend’s tonight.” Lisa glanced at his direction and quickly looked elsewhere, “You… you can stay with your mom for a while, can’t you?”

Alex nodded with a blank expression.

“I’ll be back tomorrow evening then. Does that give you enough time?”

She glided toward the door as if she was afraid of startling him.
At the door she turned around.

“By the way, remember the book I gave you a month or two ago?”

“Yeah.” Alex answered alertly; his face turned red. “I’m still reading it though.” Which was not exactly the truth.

“Nah… it’s fine.” Lisa manufactured a smile.

And she left.

…tbc

In the car, Alex finds the address of Gilroy library on his GPS and sets to go. His cell phone rings as he pulls out of the parking lot. His brows twist when he sees the caller ID.

“Mom.” He tries to sound pleasant.

“It’s none of your business, mom.” The effort was apparently futile.

“No, I have errands to run.”

“I know it’s my turn to do the laundry. I’ll do it when I get home, ok?”

“I’m not trying to avoid my responsibility, mom.”

“And I’ve told you it’s gonna be for just a couple of weeks, okay, maybe a month or two until I find another place to live.”

“I gotta run. Mom.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

Alex hits the steering wheel with frustration and turns the radio on. He needs something to distract him during the drive. It was playing the same song that was on TV when Lisa broke up with him.

Alex was crashing on the sofa that evening, doing his usual brain-numbing channel surfing. Everything seemed calm and ordinary until Lisa came home. She dropped her bag and it made a loud thud as it hit the floor like a bag of frozen meat.

“Alex, we need to talk.” Lisa sounded tired.

“Honey, it can wait til morning.” Alex said mindlessly as his finger continued to press the remote in a steady rhythm.

“No, it can’t. And you don’t even know what I wanna talk about.”

“Well, can’t it wait til morning? I’m really exhausted.”
He added a yawn at the end of his sentence to demonstrate credibility.

“Come on. We never talk in the morning.” She paused, “In fact, we haven’t been talking for a long time.”

“Sure we do.” Alex twisted his upper body slightly so that he could see her face. “We’re talking right now.”

Lisa sighed, “You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t.” Alex grew a little bit defensive, “If this isn’t talking, I don’t know what it is.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. Alex noticed there were lines underneath her eyes that he had never noticed before. She looked really tired. Alex softened,

“Listen, we’re both tired. Why don’t we…”

“I’m breaking up with you.”

…tbc