Clawing back normality: Bangkok cat cafe reopens after virus shutdown

回到常態：曼谷貓咖啡廳在因病毒歇業後重新開放

【摘要2020.5.16.自由】◎周虹汶

As Thailand’s capital cautiously reopens many restaurants shuttered over coronavirus fears, the feline “employees” of the Caturday Cafe are back at work.

隨著泰國首都謹慎恢復許多先前在冠狀病毒恐懼下關閉的餐廳營業，「貓週末咖啡廳」的貓「員工們」返回工作崗位了。

The few dozen friendly cats typically lounge around the cafe, breaking up naptime to saunter over to human customers for snuggles and belly rubs.

幾十隻親切貓咪通常在咖啡廳周圍閒晃，午睡時間結束就漫步走向人類顧客，討抱抱或摸肚肚。

The friendly furballs give some much-needed outside contact for Thais who have mostly been confined to home during weeks of semi-lockdown with most non-essential businesses closed.

這些友善的小毛球提供給好幾週以來大多關在家的泰國人，一些亟需的外在接觸，那段期間半封城，多數非必須商業活動不營業。

Like other businesses across Thailand, the cafe has new rules aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. Before entering, customers must have their temperature checked and wash their hands, and once inside must wear a mask at all times.

如同泰國其他商店，這間咖啡廳有新規則來遏制病毒擴散。入店之前，顧客必須檢查體溫和清洗雙手，一旦進門就必須一直戴著口罩。

As an extra precaution, the cats have dry baths, their fur brushed and eyes cleaned every day. （Reuters）

那些貓每天乾洗澡、梳毛和洗眼睛，做為額外預防措施。（路透）

新聞辭典

claw：名詞，指爪、螯、鉗；動詞，指用爪子抓；claw black，片語，指奪回。例句：When my cat is hungry, he starts clawing at my head.（我的貓餓時，會用爪子抓我的頭。）

lounge：名詞，指閒晃、客廳或飯店、機場、劇院的休息廳；動詞，指懶洋洋地倚靠、閒逛、懶散地混時間。例句：They lounged away the day playing online games.（他們玩線上遊戲打發了這天。）

confine：動詞，指限制、禁閉；名詞，指範圍、界線、約束、限制。例句：Please confine yourself to the subject.（請別離題。）

Less Is More

少就是多－微型房屋正夯

【摘要2020.5.16.蘋果】

The cost of maintaining a materialistic way of life means that people have to work constantly. A smaller, simpler way of living will lead to saving time and money, so we have more freedom to enjoy life. Tiny homes also tend to be better for the environment because they require less electricity and space. So, the next time you catch yourself thinking that bigger is better, remember that sometimes, less is more.

維持物質主義生活方式的代價就是人們必須不斷工作。較小規模及較簡單的生活方式將能讓你節省時間和金錢，如此我們便能有更多自由享受生活。微型住宅往往也對環境比較友善，因為它們需要的用電量和空間比較少。所以，下次當你發現自己覺得東西越大越好時，記得有時候少就是多。

生活必備字詞

materialistic a.物質主義的；拜金的
constantly adv.不斷地
lead to...　　導致╱造成..
Being too curious about the affairs of others can lead to trouble.