If you are not feeling particularly dandy today, I know just where you should be going.

Wikipedia defines “dandy” as:

A dandy (also known as a beau and gallant) is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of Self. Historically, especially in late 18th- and early 19th-century Britain, a dandy, who was self-made, often strove to imitate an aristocratic style of life despite coming from a middle-class background.

As we said earlier, if you would like to bring out the “beau” in you and just happen to find yourself in Hong Kong, Dandy House is the place to be to re-ignite the “importance of your physical appearance.”

I wonder what Dandy House does with regard to “refined language” and “leisurely hobbies” ?!

I snapped this billboard at the Tai Wo Hau MTR station, Red line (Pic: Mike Jansen)

I don’t know what it is with Chinese clothing manufacturers but they seem to have a thing about printing (roman) letters on their garments.

I deliberately say “letters” and not “words” because in 8 of 10 cases what is printed does not make sense, even to a dyslexic.(lol!)

However, sometimes they do manage to capture some of the wisdoms of life perfectly, especially on t-shirts. (I wonder if Confucius works for them in an advisory capacity?!)

I snapped this napping citizen on the Tuen Mun (red) MTR line early this morning:

Confucius says, blondes have all the fun!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) wrote so beautifully:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Ag, what the hell… said the Chinese t-shirt manufacturer:

Let me just print the answer to that question on a T-shirt.

BIG.

Somebody buy this girl a Louis Vuitton bag!

(I took this picture at Tsim Sha Tsui MTR just on my way to watching a World Cup match.)

Just for the record:

 “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…”

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, — I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Confucius (孔子 in Chinese) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher, whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese thought and life.

Here in Hong Kong, and I suspect throughout China and Taiwan, his birthday is still celebrated as “Teachers’ Day”  Pity teachers don’t get the day off work!

Sadly there are many of his ‘wiser’ sayings that have gone unnoticed.  That’s why you have Howzit-HongKong.com  Never say we’re not a useful site!

Here goes.

Confucius says,

If you are in a bookstore and you cannot find that

book you are looking for, you’re obviously in the:

Have a lekke Thursday everybody!

(Thanks for the pic, Mel!)