Homesick Food

Everyone knows that I like eating. Therefore, I miss the food in Hong Kong very much!

Thank you Tracy, my best friend in HK, sent me the coffee and Lee Kam Kee sauce. haha…

I love the ‘dai pai don’ breakfast: egg & ham on toast, a bowl of noodle and a cup of coffee. Immediately it re-charges my energy which enables me to work all day long. haha…

Last week, I got the parcel from Tracy. I am not dare to drink the HK coffee everyday. I am afraid I will use up all very soon. Hence, I will allow myself to drink the very special coffee only on day-off and holiday as a way to reward myself and make the day merrily.

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Mika got a broken toe

Mika has got a broken toe on her right back leg. She has to stay in for 3 weeks. Look at her bandage.. poor little Mika babe.

New Year Family Day Out — Lake District

On the second day of New Year, we planned to have a family walk at Lake District. It is said that there is like a fairly village. When I personally visited there, I realized why. I love Lake District and it’s so beautiful.

We had a 6-hour long walk today. The whole family was so tired at the end of our journey.

On the way back, Mark phoned his friends to check the golf game on the next day. He didn’t concentrate on the walk so in the end, we lost in the forest. He was so panic as it was sunset. Thanks Lord that we met some people whom taught us how to get to our destination.

Mark kept saying,’Since you and Mika are here with me, I dont want my family gets any problem. That’s why I was so panicking.’ He is a very responible husband!! haha

Mika was so happy on that day and her tail kept wagging all day. hee hee.. Here are some of our pictures.

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By the way, we will plan to visit there again. Next time, we will stay in the B&B there and spend more time at there.

New Year Eve — Wales Trip

Last year new year eve, I left Mark alone at home and headed back Hong Kong to continue my work. So, he’s really ‘New Year Eve and Home Alone’. Was it too cruel for him?

Finally, I am here and celebrated our first New Year Eve. We went to Wales for dating. haha… Thank you Irene for looking after our Mika baby. We can drive our new car, VW Tiguen, for dating.. wow…

We have asked our friend, Finchy, about the famous spot in Wales. Mark also has done some research. He took me to the slate mine where the child labour worked at in the Victorian times. Wow… an adventure day out I love it!!  We explored new places and shared the new experience together. This is the idea of our dating. Yes, we must keep dating after getting married. haha… sweet sweet..

Our first destination is Leechwedd Slate Caverns. Slate is the raw material which is widely used in the UK for different purposes, for example the house roof or decoration. In the Victorian times, a lot of  child labour were taken down to the slate mine which is hundred metre deep to work in the dark for more than 12 hours a day. It’s such a poor and dangerous working area for the children. When it blasted, it claimed a lot of people lives. In fact, that mine is no longer used. Nowadays, it has become one of the mine museum to show the people the hardship of the miners’ lives in the past.  I did really enjoy the mine adventure tour but I don’t think I can withstand the miner’s job.

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Then, we headed to the Isle of Angelesey. It’s an island located on the north of Wales. Like going to the HK Airport, we passed the bridge then we landed on the island, haha… We stopped at Moelfor which is a small viilage located on the coast side of Angelesey. We had our romantic hot lunch at a pub where we can enjoy the superb seaview at the same time. By the way, the sandwiches provided by that pub are so big that I can’t finish it all.

After lunch,  we walked along the coastline and explored that area. As there is near the sea, the weather is relatively cold and windy. While we were walking, I kept drying my nose. We didn’t stay at here long as Mark and I both felt freezing cold. We would rather have a sightseeing tour in our new car. haha…

We both enjoyed our ‘child-free’ romantic day out. We will find another new place to explore for our next dating. hee hee

At night, we stayed at home and had the count down for the new year. We also shared our new year resolutions, hee hee..

Christmas Day

On the Christmas morning, Mark and I woke up after 930am. It was very late and we are so lazy that lying in bed for such a long time! The Dorans were excited with the traditional Christmas morning as we will exchange and unwrap the gifts. I was very lucky that I can get a lot of presents again. Thankyou so much for all your kindness and care. My dear husband got me this wonderful smart toy – iPod touch. He is very thoughtful that the new gadget can enable me work and check mail on the train journey. I like this toy verymuch. Thankyou lo gong.

Also I got a lot of gifts for my kitchen. My mother-in-law got me a very delicate pizza dish; my sister-in-law got me the oven dish and Gordon Ramsey cookbooks and nan nan got me a very fancy snack dish. Haha my kitchen is getting more and more professional! I will get my Japanese breadmaker so I can make the Chinese and Japanese style bread.

After the cheerful morning, we got ready for the annual big Christmas Dinner. Wow first of all, we helped each other to pull the Christmas quacker and then we started our appetizer, cocktail prawns.

The main dish was Roast Turkey and Pork. Also, we got the stuffing and veggie to go with our Christmas Dinner. I was so happy to have my great banquet. hee hee

For the dessert, of course, we had the Christmas Pudding. Although I don’t have a big interest in it, I like to have a bite at Christmas Day.

At night, we watched the festival version Royce Family. Wow… it’s hilarious and my whole family laughed at the last part of the episode. I asked my husband why this drama is so popular in the UK. He told me it can reflect the real life of the UK people and retell in an exaggerated way.

So far, I have been staying in the UK for more than half year, I still dont really enjoy watching the English drama at night. I prefer the HK one like Justice Court Series & Healing Hands Series.

Christmas Eve 2008

Same as last year Christmas, the Dorans gathered at Yorkshire Tracy’s home for the celebration. One different thing is we needed to relocate our doggie, Mika, to our friend’s home — Paul & Jo’s home.

On the 24th Dec morning, we took our Mika-chew to Paul’s home with her Christmas hat and gift, super big Christmas sock in which full of her favourite snack and toys.  Then, we drove our new car, VW Tiguan, and headed to Yorkshire.

Mark and I were both hungry so we had our lunch at McDonald’s. Mark was severely hungry so he quickly swallowed one Big Mac Meal, another extra cheeseburger, one McFlurry, and 1/2 Chicken McNuggnet. HaHa, he was touching his belly and said,’I am full now’. haha…

In the evening, we went to the church where is near his sister’s home for the Christmas Eve service. Wow.. it’s full of people and we had to sit on the special area where is very close to the stage. The church organized a comedy drama which was performed by the youth in that community to retell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. I do think it’s very creative as the story was told from the point of view of the inn’s owner. The youth were engaged in the performance. At last, the church lady (sister in Lord) led us singing a very famous Christmas action song, ‘12 Days of Christmas/ Five Golden Rings’. Although it’s not a religious hymn,  it brought the jolly atmosphere among the crowd. It’s the first time for me to sing that song in English with ACTION….

Source: Muppets & John Denver 2007

At night, we went to a pub for the Christmas Eve dinner. I had the Fish and Chips which was too large and I hardly finished it. My husband still got the ‘full’ feeling in his tummy so he only ordered the chicken bacon salad. hee hee..

On that night, we  slept in late night and we were all looking forward to the Christmas morning. hee hee..

London Christmas Shopping Trip 2008

My friend, Amy, visited England at Christmas. We miss each other very much. Although I can only stay in London for 2 days, I do think it’s more important to meet my Hong Kong friend.

Actually, the time duration of the train journey is as like as going to work. However, the train ticket fare is 5 times more expensive!!

Anyway, we had a very nice trip in London. Thank you Amy!!

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Manchester Christmas Market

Before Christmas, Peggy invited me to have a visit with the Christmas Market in Manchester City.

Wow, the first thing I can think of is to try different kind of European Food! Surely, we did achieve our mission!

Before dinner, we went to China Town for a drink. I miss the Taiwanese peril milk tea for a long time!!! Please give me one!

After that, we went to a Japanese Restaurant. The food is fairly good, as like as the small-scale Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong. In fact, I am very satisfied with it.

Thank you Peggy for taking me there! haha

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Yin’s Kitchen

I haven’t uploaded the photos from the Yin Kitchen for a long while… Here they are…

 BBQ Ribs — 20 July 2008

 

 

   Chicken Bacon Roll with Pea Risotto — 6 Sep 2008

 

 

   Roast Pork Chop with Pea Risotto — 14 Sep 2008

 

 

  Chinese Buns — 22 Sep 2008

Derbyshire Trip

On the Halloween day, the Dorans, totally 5 people & 1 dog, went to Derbyshire for a family day out. The view there is splendid and the weather is quite nice. We enjoyed the trail walk very much. We had our lunch at a local pub. My puppy, Mika, suddenly jumped up and had a big bite of my hot beef sandwich on the table. wow….

Since it’s Halloween day, Mika has got a new outfit. Thankyou my friend, Orange, who sent 4 new cute outfits for Mika. Irene and Mark love the Bumble Bee suit. Irene said the ‘Burberry’ one is very classy and good for Christmas. The passerby on the trail also appreciated Mika’s new look and said,’ oh.. look at the dog in the bee suit’ haha…… It keeps Mika warm for whole day. I guess she loves it, hee hee…