Pretty interlude 美人关？

E called me one Sun evening for a 2-bedroom condo for lease in Griffintown with budget around $2000 when I was having dinner with friends.  He was staying in one airbnb apartment that he did not like it and wanted to move as soon as possible.  Therefore I scheduled few visits for him in the same area nearby his workplace in multi-media city with the similar rental rather new 2-bedroom condos.  E then told me these new condos are all alike and he actually likes to live in a cozy historical building.  Oops, so the searching cateria is totally different and he needs to adjust his budget.  I sent him few beautiful old port brick condos matching his preference.  He asked me out of sudden if he can check some info not related to the condos.  I said sure.  He then asked me if I know the female broker who showed us one of the condos few days ago is married or not.  Haha, is Mr. E going to date the broker if she is not married?  The broker actually did not dress up or put on nice make up and she was late for our viewing and checked the wrong condo electricity bill during our visit...  Love is really hard to predict, isn't it?  Eventually Mr. E decided to increase his rental budget to lease one beautiful brick historical apartment in Old Port from a young  male listing broker without leasing the new condo from the female broker he likes.  He is still a rational guy not mislead by the sudden pretty interlude though. I hope that Mr. E can settle down in Montreal well and build his family and home soon with a pretty wife then.  Bonne chance!

周日在朋友家做客共进晚餐时，美国籍的E 先生来电询问一个Griffintown出租的两房公寓。 他目前住在临时租的airbnb，希望可以尽快搬到一个自己理想的家园。  我根据他原来询问的两千左右两房公寓的条件在他工作地点附近约看了几个雷同的公寓，他却跟我说这些新公寓都差不多，一点特色也没有，其实他更想租老港有历史痕迹的旧建筑老公寓。  我这才理解真正面对面谈话以后，客人说的和之前在通讯软体沟通的讯息截然不同。  我和E解释我可以回家后给他再看看是否有老港优质的老公寓出租会立即发给他，并告诉他这类的房子房租一般也比普通的公寓要高，房源也相对少，尤其冬天季节。  最后，我们还是找到了几个比较接近他可以接受的房租价位的老公寓，其中一个一房带家具和私人大阳台的看着十分适合他。  他没有回复我是否有时间和兴趣看其中几个老公寓。  我便主动向他推荐那个我觉得适合他带阳台的公寓，建议他可以看看，再决定是否可以和房东谈谈价格。 E 想想也说好，可以看看再说。 突然，他问我是否可以问一个房子以外的问题，我说可以呀。  他其实看上几天前迟到了10分钟给我们看房的另一个女经纪，向我打听她是否结婚了，哈哈！  那个女经纪其实没有特别打扮，也没有特别漂亮，反尔有点傻大姐的感觉，查水电费还查错了公寓地址。。。真是各花入各眼，情人眼里出西施呀！真逗。 言归正传，E 先生倒是对我推荐的老港一房带大阳台的老公寓很满意，最后也愿意付比最初告诉我更高的租金租下他理想中的蒙城老港公寓。  世事难料，从最初的两千左右的两房新公寓，变成接近三千的一房旧公寓。  希望感性的E先生可以好好地在蒙城老港安顿下来，接着也顺利赢得美人归，在蒙城立业成家。 哦！ 最后租的老港公寓是和一个年轻小伙子经纪租的， 嘻嘻！E 先生还是十分理智，没有被爱情冲昏了头，而决定向他心仪的傻大姐经纪租她的新公寓。

Pride & Respect!

Pride & Respect!

It was actually my first time witnessing Montreal Pride this year.  I am glad to see all individual companies, groups, families either simply passing the parade or dressing up particularly for the event; everyone had showed their respect and recognition to the event whether they support or disagree LGBTQ communities. 

This recalled my first week arriving in Montreal on my way to my husband's work place for lunch with him everyday.  I could easily hear  4 to 5 different languages (not English nor French) spoken among different families in the hospital and Canada is such a  true immigration country.  Once immigrants leave their own country, they will discover a new world speaking foreign languages with people having different lifestyles and thinking than them.  We have to learn to live peacefully with people from 194 countries in the world and try to respect billons of people out of our motherland. 

Gradually, we also become aware and sensitive that there is actually no language or culture barrier of human good and ill will.  For instance, the Pakistan lady next door who speaks no English nor French will sometimes sweep off the leaves in our yards unintentionally without mentioning a word to us. Days by days, months by months, we build our trust between us without communicating much to each other.  We feel so lucky to have her helping us to water our plants with simple sign language when we are away for holidays.  On the contrast, we thought that it could be trustful of engaging the tax specialist recommended by the Chinese Service Centre who speaks the same language with similar culture; we ended up with absolute disappointment and yet lost confidence in all Chinese tax specialists.  The tax specialist dared to increase the price 3 times more than what we agreed on our first appointment at the point of finalizing our tax declaration.  In addition, she had never been able to attend to us as appointment time given but keeping us waiting for at least one hour each time.  Yet, she was so worn out during the tax season that we were so afraid that she might make mistakes in our declaration. 

During the recent volunteering and some business related charity events, I cannot believe more the old saying: how you carry yourself and your actions tell who you are.  One's speech and action deserve whether the respect of disdain of others.  It has nothing to do with language, culture, wealth, public opinion or weapon!  

We all have a heart of flesh and eyes to distinguish one true self of kindness or inhumanity or disguise; the fact speaks louder than words as the Chinese proverb: fire cannot wrap in paper.  Only those who know how to respect and be truthful to others find their peace of mind with no fear!  Isn't it clear why someone is so unfavourable and fails to gain  respect and loses his pride to others?

尊严&尊重

其实这是我第一次经过，目睹蒙特利尔年度的同志尊严游行盛事。  不同的企业、团体、家庭、种族、个人都欢欢喜喜地或精心装扮或只是好奇路过地共襄盛举，无论是支持或认同同志运动与否，大家都给予同志和参与者肯定和尊重。

这让联想到我第一周到蒙特利尔，每天步行到医院和先生共进午餐的路上或在医院的食堂可以听见至少4、5个家庭用自己的母语（非英语或法语）交谈，见证了加拿大这个移民社会的大熔炉。  每一个新移民离开自己熟悉的国家和环境，走出去以后就可以发现外面的世界和自己原来的国家不经相同。  我们必须学习尊重来自世界194个不同国家和另外几十亿的人与我们的差异，和平共处。  

渐渐地我们会发现也许大家说着不一样的语言，生活饮食习惯和想法也大相径庭，可是人性的恶与善似乎完全没有语言的隔阂和鸿沟；只要用心感受，了然于心。譬如隔壁家不懂得说英语和法语的巴基斯坦太太总是一脸祥和地在院子里打扫，总不时静悄悄地顺便把我们的院子的叶子也都清理好，一句抱怨或邀功的话语也没有。  久而久之，我们即便语言不通却培养了无声的默契和信任，每次出差就比手划脚，把家里的钥匙交给她，麻烦她照顾家里的植物。 反之，以为大家用中文比较容易交流和沟通，相信华人服务中心介绍的会计税务所，经过第一次咨询确定报税价格以后开始递交资料，每一次的约定的时间都要等很久；而他们的客户太多，个个都累得眼睛都快张不开；效率低之外，我们更担心他们是否会因为体力不支而出差错。  最不可思议的是最后报税当天，他们就地起价，要收我们之前说好的三倍价钱！

而这些日子在食物银行帮忙及开始参与一些华人慈善和商业的活动，心里更加认同英文的一个说法 -the way you carry yourself and your actions tell who you are- 一个人的一言一行体现了自己的尊严和斤两。  我们究竟是否可以得到别人的尊重和认同，并非语言、文化或任何的外在财力、舆论或武器可以控制的！  

人心是用肉做的，世界的每一双眼睛都是雪亮的，事实胜于雄辩，纸包不住火。  无论你如何争辩、掩饰，大家都看在眼里，感受着你的一言一行的真伪。  如果你懂得平和地尊重别人和彼此的差异，毋庸置疑你自然也会得到应得的敬重。

千夫所指的原因何在？ 咎由自取。

Kind Hearted R!

Kind Hearted R!

R was late for the visit because of the metro issue when I first met him.  He bowed and apologized to me when he arrived.  I was very impressed and touched by his sincere gestion.  The first apartment we visited was in a very bad condition although it is very near to the metro station.  We tried to arrange few other visits within his budget for a 2-bedroom in the coming days.  Still we did not find a suitable one for him.  R said that he felt bad and he really hoped that he can rent one from me as soon as possible because I had been helping him to search one for some time.  I told him that I am very grateful for his appreciation because most of the clients nowadays take it for granted for the time and efforts that we spend on the search for them. It happens often that all the efforts go in vain when the clients eventually decided to rent with another  agency.
R also did not mind visiting one apartment by himself when I was having a meeting in Quebec City.  It is how he found an ideal apartment for him and his brother.  I tried to prepare all the documents as soon as possible and explain to the collaborating broker that R could only do e-signature because of his training.  We were lucky that all partners were very understanding and worked efficiently, so we managed to lease the apartment that R had chosen.  
I am truly thankful to R for his kindness and sincerity to encourage me to keep on endeavouring to service every client I can, even though there are many other discouraging obstacles.  
One kind heart makes life different!

仁善的R！
第一次和R约看房的那天，他因为地铁故障而迟到了；看见我时，他的第一反应是深深一鞠躬道歉。  我为他的真诚举动所深深感动。  然而我们看的第一个房子虽然离地铁站很近，房子的状态却太残旧不堪。  接着几天，我们连续看了好几个在他预算之内的两房单位，却没有找到合适的房子。 R 表示有点愧疚让我花了不少时间和精力，希望可以尽快通过我们的经纪公司找到合适的房子，才不会让我功亏一篑。 我心存感激地告诉他如今大部分大客人都觉得那是我们理所当然要付出的代价，其实也确实是我们分内的工作，可是有客人可以体恤我们周章奔走，真的太欣慰了。 我也无奈地和他分享，经常有客人和我们看了许多房子之后，最后还是没有办法达成交易。  
有一天我人在魁北克无法和他一起去看房，仁慈的R一点也不介意地说他自己去看就好了，正因为他的大度大量吧，那天看的房子就是他想要给自己和弟弟租的新一点又比较宽敞的公寓。 当我回到蒙城即刻替他准备好文件也和对方经纪解释R因为集训无法打印他们特定信用记录公司所需要的文件和亲笔签章；他们也网开一面特别允许他透过电子签字完成他们要求的信用审查。  我们十分幸运各合作伙伴都很有效率和体谅彼此的难处，终于顺利帮R租到理想的房子。  
我满心感谢R的善良和仁慈鼓舞我继续竭尽全力为每一个客人服务，即便千奇百怪和让人气馁的事迹不胜枚举。  我真的愿意相信一颗善良的心能为自己和别人带来好运！  

Bienvenue chez Zoe à Montreal !

Bienvenue chez Zoe à Montreal !

Zoe would like to thank Anabel/Chi Lily sincerely to bring her back to writing and rediscover her own blog which has been abandoned for years.

Zoe nearly forgets that she was once a Chinese feature writer/columnist years ago for magazines.  She used to write in her little chambre de bonne in Paris and shared what she had experienced in the city of fashion with readers back home in Malaysia & Singapore.

After Zoe relocated to Hong Kong to work in 2009, she wrote less and less till she did not realize that she had stopped writing.

August 2019, Zoe hopes to write again in her blog to share her new adventure in Montreal after Hong Kong. A big thank to cheri Chee for supporting Zoe to start her real estate career, so she can organize her time better for traveling home during winter (Chinese New Year), volunteering at Share the Warmth on Thursday and writing from time to time than rushing to work at publishing house from 8am to 4.30pm daily.

Lastly, but most importantly Zoe now has more time and chances to make new friends and help others to settle down in Montreal.  Enchante! Bienvenue à Montreal & chez Zoe! Zoe will slowly share more her Montreal stories here in her blog! (zoeho.blogspot.com/facebook.com/Zoe.Ho.mtl)

欢迎光临至佩的蒙特利尔之家！

至佩要衷心地感谢宜君让她重新写字，找回被自己弃置多年的部落格。 
想当年，至佩经常埋头在她巴黎的小房间给星马地区的杂志写专栏，分享她在时尚之都的所见所闻。 
时过境迁，至佩几乎要忘记自己也曾经是女性杂志的撰稿人。 尤其2009 因为工作关系移居香港之后，书写的机会和次数越来越少，不知不觉就不再写东西了。
2019年8月，至佩要重新书写她离开香港，安居蒙特利尔的新挑战。 也特别感谢先生支持至佩的安居置业事业，让她可以比较随心所欲的安排工作和假期，冬天可以回家跟家人团聚过农历新年，周四可以去食物银行当义工，偶尔写写字，不再像过去一样每天赶着8点到出版社上班，下午4点半下班回家做饭，日复一日。
如今至佩比较有时间和机会结识新朋友，同时也可以帮助别人尽快在蒙特利尔找到可以安定下来的住所，真好！
幸会在蒙特利尔及至佩的部落格里相会！至佩接下来会陆续分享更多她和朋友们的蒙特利尔的故事。一期一会！

五元五分钟的幸福时光！

上周五下午我坐我喜欢的天星小轮从尖沙咀去湾仔移民局办理居留，办好后又坐我喜欢的电车丁丁去中环金融中心和与佛有缘的善良福四代小弟喝下午茶。

 我和可爱的BERSIH孩子们在我们的Whatsapp ROJAK 聊天室里说，我只花5港元 （小轮和电车分别都只要2.5港元哦！）坐了两种我喜欢的交通工具，真幸福！  5港元的幸福时光！调皮捣蛋的E 用她每天算计着的汇率写说我的5港元幸福值星元、马币多少，我回答说：我的幸福不兑换！ 

今天周一，经过上两周的狂风暴雨，阳光露脸，灿烂温暖，还有贴心小蚂蚁送来太阳花问候我是否无恙？我说好多了，谢谢关心。  再和孩子们分享我今天又花了2.8港元买了雪糕到公园和乌龟们一起晒太阳，又一个美丽的五分钟幸福时光！我还自夸自己是五元五分钟的幸福时光达人，哈哈！

也借花献佛， 将向日葵送给J兔伯，请他在心里也种一株向日葵总是向着阳光、积极光明走，我们常常真的可以轻松自在、单纯地享受当下的每一个五分钟的幸福时光，不必要的枝节刁钻和煞风景的争辩可以抛开！

希望大家都可以和乌龟学习慢活，珍惜享受有阳光的幸福时光！

收信快乐！

那一年我很幸运在香港可以飞去台北听万芳二十年来的第一个个唱。
朋友笑我买一张唱片就可以了。
只有自己知道万芳如何陪我哼唱过一个又一个走路、坐车上班、下班，喜怒哀乐的二十年，从18到38，还好有万芳温暖的歌声。

  万芳也一直是我去台北的动力和理由。
6月15日，我和万芳有约。现在就去Asiamile 订机票。走吧，走吧！

LA VIE EN ROSE

 I missed my ferry back to DB and I got the last bouquet of flowers from the guy on wheels. So, there are red & white roses at my windows this week.