(Camera: Samsung WB600)Across the busy Nathan Road on a freezing rainy morning came a lady so warmly-clad that cycling became a clumsy endeavour. Notwithstanding this, she rode on this bike with shopping in the front basket and, more notably, some filled the makeshift back basket on which a white plastic sheet was meticulously placed to fend off the raindrops. As if these stuff and the slippery wet surface had no bearing on balance, she had one hand on the bike handle and the other holding an umbrella, crossing the thoroughfare with ease.
To most mums, the sense of duty to the family rules them as the moon rules the tides. But they always make as little show as possible of being burdened. These excellent matrons, who could have never in their best days been pretty, are actually the most beautiful persons to whom we will find in our middle life living happily without giving back enough care and attention as they age.
To the excellent mum in your heart, let's salute.
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Postscript: Nathan Road is the lifeline of the Kowloon Peninsular, Hong Kong. It runs almost the full length of where the British colonists first rented the peninsular (the Hong Kong Island had actually been taken over eariler) from the harbour front to the Boundary Street. That's why the Boundary Street is so named. Nathan Road was named after the 13th Viceroy of Hong Kong (1904), Sir Mattew Nathan. He was a Jewish born in Paddington, London. He also held the viceroyship in Queensland of Australia from 1920-25.
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