工作時間又有改動。現在逢星期一二五返朝八晚五，歸家休息一陣或者跑吓步，再由七點做到凌晨。通常我會騰空星期三四，瞓到自然醒，視乎心情去散步、睇書、睇戲，的起心肝執吓屋，又或者索性乜都唔做。餘下周六日重可以見朋友。如此安排，有工開啲日子當然好累，但一星期有四日假，又係幾爽。
The rota shifted again. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays meant eight to five, a short rest or a run at home, then back on from seven until the small hours. Wednesdays and Thursdays I kept free: waking when I woke, walking, reading, a film, a half-hearted tidy, or nothing at all. Weekends were for friends. The working days were hard. Four days off a week still felt rather fine.
四月初開始新時間表前，剛好同屋又準備返新工，兩丁友有三日假期。有晚吹吹吓水，講到不如嚟一場說起就走的公路之旅，隨即決定去康和郡，訂好房、求其揀好幾個景點，翌日清早就踩行油門西奔。
Just before the new hours began in early April, my flatmate was about to start a new job. Between us we had three free days. One evening, half in jest, we floated a road trip on a whim. Cornwall was settled at once: rooms booked, a few places marked, and by first light we were already heading west.
由雷丁到康和，全程二百五十八英里，重遠過北上曼徹斯特。中間停過幾次休息，前後六粒鐘先到目的地彭贊斯（Penzance），坐到屁股痛痛地。好彩一路有個伴，而且沿途風景很美，唔算難捱。
Reading to Cornwall is two hundred and fifty-eight miles — farther than Manchester up north. With a few stops along the way, it took six hours to reach Penzance. By then we were thoroughly saddle-sore. Company helped, and the road was beautiful enough that the miles passed.
到埗第一件事，兩丁友搜尋當地最佳酒吧，搵到間嘢專賣康和麥啤。場內熟客見到兩個外地人來訪，非常熱情輪住請飲。結果幾款麥酒試唔晒，倒有各種各樣烈酒落肚，隊到啤啤夫，晚上九點幾就收隊返歸大覺瞓。
First order of business: the best local pub. We found one devoted to Cornish ales. The regulars spotted two outsiders at once and took turns buying rounds. We never finished the ales; spirits of every kind found us instead. Thoroughly drunk by half past nine, we retreated to bed and slept like the dead.
又好彩因為早瞓，我哋第二日七點已經起身，殺去蘭茲角親近大自然。蘭茲角英文Land's End意為「地之盡頭」，係英格蘭最西端。由此望向遠方，係一條筆直水平線。抬頭一望，好多海鷗吼住我手上杯雪糕，不得不防。
Early to bed meant early to rise. By seven we were off to Land's End — England's westernmost point, a place whose name means exactly what it says. Looking out, the horizon was a single hard line. Overhead, gulls eyed the ice cream in my hand. Best keep watch.
自從離開香港，兩年無接觸過大海。忽有陣陣海水味隨風撲面，諗起那些年會去海怡半島望住個海食M記睇日落；諗起以前半夜三更遊車河去舂坎角望住個海食宵賣；諗起去西貢露營，一早起身係畀海浪聲嘈醒……
Two years since leaving Hong Kong, and not once had I touched the sea. Then the salt came in on the wind, and with it the old scenes returned: South Horizons, McDonald's by the water at sunset; a midnight drive to Chung Hom Kok for a late snack by the shore; camping in Sai Kung, woken at dawn by the waves…
到我回過神，已經流淚滿面。
By the time I came back to myself, my face was wet.
室友靜靜遞來一支菸。各位小朋友唔好學。
My flatmate passed a cigarette, quietly.
是時風很大，吹到頭都歪埋。
The wind was fierce. It bent the head sideways.
是時風很大。手在震，根本點唔着支菸。
The wind was fierce. Hands shaking; the cigarette would not light.
不遠處傳來一聲慘叫。原來有海鳥在半空大解放，雀屎隨風襲中一名少女。
A scream nearby. Mid-flight, a gull had relieved itself; the wind delivered it straight onto a young woman.
是時風很大，一頭金髮添班駁。
The wind was fierce. Blonde hair, mottled with white.
風很大，吹不散傷痕。
The wind was fierce. It could not blow the wounds away.
風很大，會引爆笑彈。
The wind was fierce. A laugh could still go off.