(S2E2) Thoughts in pictures

Sometimes, a picture can tell a good story...

Homemade seafood soup

Inspired by the recipe of my favourite TV chief: Keith Floyd, I managed to make a home-cooked seafood soup. Very yum. The ingredients were simple but totally fresh. I went to the fishmonger around the corner of my neighbourhood, picked two tiger prawns, two langoustines and a piece of cod. Everything was collected with a smell of sea. Then, I went to a local market for some vegetables: giant leeks, onions, carrots, some red peppers and coriander. What I did next was fairly straightforward: tossing everything into the boiled water. Seafood after vegetables. It is said that for Floyd, 'fun is the first ingredient in any recipe'. After about 20 minutes, I was fulfilled to enjoy my own simple, refreshing and rich seafood soup. I guess I did have fun.

When in Rome, do what the Romans do

Celebrating Christmas in a traditional manner is sort of a new experience for me, as I normally crazily celebrate Spring Festival (the Lunar New Year) as the main one instead. But hey, as an old saying goes: when in Rome, do what the Romans do (入乡随俗). Thus, for the third time, this year’s Christmas, my husband and I went back to a small village near Cambridge to visit his family. Maybe it was because the whole concept is still new to me, just like a kid, what excited me the most was unwrapping the gifts. Shamefully, whenever I received a gift at that time, I didn’t even try to put efforts in pretending or overplaying my sincere gratitude with a long sentence or two. All I did was to tear apart the wrapping paper as quickly as a flash (also said thank you equally quickly) and then explore what was inside curiously. I felt very satisfied to sit among the colourful and glittering papers on the floor. I think I should try to grow up more next year.

New Year’s Eve special

Every New Year’s Eve is special. Yes, I am obsessed with the concept that I need to mark this day heavily. For the past four years, I spent that night twice in London to watch the legendary firework (and twice without the tickets. I ended up standing outside St. James Park and had a peak of the corner of the feast). Another year, I celebrated it in the street party in Bangkok (tropical weather is indeed the best). This year, I was still in London, still had no tickets for the firework. Then I gave up on the obsession with party or crowds' excitement. Instead, we simply went to a seafood restaurant for oysters. When the raw oysters slid through my throat and down to my stomach, I wrapped up my resolution and sighed: happy new year, people.