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The Dark Bathtub: #4

They clung to each other and in that moment, there was no one else. Only the two of them united in their cause. Huddling together they watched it taking in every detail, ever colour and every sound. It was nothing new to them for they had seen it many times before but the fear, the excitement, the suspense never got old. The feelings were always as fresh as they had been the first time they had seen it. He held out his hand to her a sign of comfort to what was to come. They held on to each other, knowing what was coming but each, in their naive way, hoping that it would not happen.
But the elephant always appeared as the clock struck six and the grandfather clock lay in pieces.


© Nancy Laidler 2012

Coco Delights!

To conform to female sterotypes, I Love chocolate. However I becoming ever more discerning about the chocolate I do and don't like. At this point in time I prefer dark chocolate, and preferably lindt, though
Cadburys had it's place. I say had because Cadburys in the UK and Cadburys here in Hong Kong are two completely different beasts and the Cadburys out here isn't nearly as gratifying.

Today however I broke the mold and purchased a bar of dark chocolate based purely on the label (Ali - Hope you love this!). This turned into a win on so many levels. The chocolate (70%) was lovely, and the bar itself was tiny. Lots of joy and not very much guilt thanks to the size of the bar (the other boon to having a penchant for dark chocolate being that you can't eat a lot in one go :)

Dropping degrees...

It's November. It's that time of year again when the poppies come out and the travesties of years gone by are remembered; our heroes honored and when there is a mutual hope that we will never see anything like that again. And so the hunt for the poppy has begun. A hunt this year because in Hong Kong there is more seeking required to find this flower, and I cannot let a Remembrance day pass where I am without one. In addition I am feeling the urge to purchase one of these:

A poppy for all year, the knowledge I will always have one (though I can guarantee I will probably still end up with a good seven of the regular ones per-year - always happens) and my money will still go to the British Legion. Hard to see the flaws in such an investment.

Remembrance day has always been important, but it seems even more so this year. That probably has a lot to do with being away from home, and it being something that makes me proud to be British and proud to be British. Hanging on with traditions is a way of keeping home alive.

The other thing November has brought to Hong Kong is "colder" weather. It has fallen bellow 20C, but has yet to fall below 15C and yet the scarves and coats are out. I have to admit that I too have been feeling a pinch chilly very much to my shame. My hardy northern-ness is suffering in this warmer climate.

On the other hand I have a new favourite fruit:

Even though the dragon fruit looks bizarre, if you are a fan of kiwi fruits odds are you'll like this one. It's not as tangy but the texture is similar. My next challenge is to attempt a salmon chowder, now that the weathers getting cooler. Here's hoping it works...

Sepia Sunday

A few weeks ago now I had a weekend that was a belter. Epic in every way. It was weekend of firsts with my first Kareoke and my first swim in the sea and a weekend that contained one of the most epic farewell parties I have ever attended (hence the Kareoke) followed by the hangover swim in the sea.  Last weekend was Halloween, that of course featured dressing up and LKF (Lan Kwai Fung) packed to breaking point. I have never seen such madness in my life.

The Kareoke was mental:

Followed by Halloween several weeks later:

The Loss of friends (for however brief a time you knew them) when they return home to the UK is always worthy of a great celebration, and  the craziness of Hong Kong at Halloween was not something to be missed, not this year anyway:

Take a look at how packed this place was!!

After all the *ahem* partying, came the come down (others nay call this a hangover). This was my cure:

not to mention the additional swim in the sea.

This place has it's pros and cons and people come and go, but you couldn't ask for a better place for all of that to happen!

Change is going to come.

The first three months out here were tough, there's no denying that. Being so far away from home; adjusting to jet lag whilst working; missing simple things; missing comparatively nothing. It took the three months everyone said it would to settle in. The following three months were amazing.

At the six month mark I've been, not quite floored, but buffeted. Call it an emotional hurricane if you will, though I have no doubt that Hurricane Sandy more than outweighs my feelings of misery.

There had been the possibility of kind of (in a round about way) touching base in the next few weeks, that's now not happening. It's not a blow per se, but it's not ideal either. In addition things going on back at home make me wish I were there; wish I could lend a hand or simply just be around if needed. When on the other side of the world, dropping everything isn't as easy. As a friend said, you feel like nothing should get in the way of you being with your family, but then life just happens. It does happen. And in this instance it sucks.

As you get older, the trappings and the hooks that held down your childhood begin to disappear and fade. People die, houses get sold, minds and memories get lost. Knowing all this will and does happen doesn't make any of it any easier. Watching it happen to friends and distant family makes it, if anything, harder when it comes round to being your turn. And when you are one of the youngest in the family the loss of that childhood is more pronounced and happens at a faster rate.

And then you remember that you are away for Christmas. That it is the first time that any of your immediate family has spent Christmas away.

The Childhood dreams are over. The transition has happened and nothing is ever going to be quite the same again. Did the final break come when I moved away, or was it going to happen regardless. They may not be an answer, but the one thing we know for sure is that whatever we do; whatever our actions (or not), change is going to, and will, come!

You're toast!

One of the things I did before I left home was make my sister a set of stationary featuring toast (sad I know but that's the way it is.) Since leaving home I've missed her hugely and I've been sending her letter - we're on a mission to bring snail mail back! However on our most recent coresspondance there has been no sighting of the aforementioned toast.
But the toast is back....and on a snail mail mission soon!!!