A friend from Denmark told me that the 'potato holiday' starts today or so. Traditionally, children had to take a break from school to help their parents dig up the potatoes at this time of the year. Now with child labor laws in place this doesn't happen, but instead of working, children are taken to holiday resorts courtesy of their parents.
Why am I mentioning this?
Just thought it was a cute fact to know about the origins of a certain holiday.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Something is wrong...
I saw three headlines of news articles side by side telling me that something is wrong. Can you figure it out?
"Torrential rain causes problems in much of Andalucía"
"Threat of water restrictions looms after third year of drought"
"Magdalena Álvarez Minister for PUBLIC WORKS"
"Torrential rain causes problems in much of Andalucía"
"Threat of water restrictions looms after third year of drought"
"Magdalena Álvarez Minister for PUBLIC WORKS"
“We have fulfilled our promises to Malaga, and a lot more besides”
With no regrets for decisions made, Magdalena Álvarez believes that her ministry’s investment of 946 million euros in Malaga is fully justified
Monday, October 8, 2007
Ghost Story
Reading about the Japanese journalist who got shot at close range in Burma reminded me of my friend Shoko's husband, Akihiro Nonaka who has been leading a free minded group of journalists called Asia Press International for many years.
I don't believe in ghosts even though I used to read a lot of horror stories, but her husband's story from Cambodia really sent shivers up my spine.
I don't remember what or where exactly the journalists visited that day but it was some site were there had been a very bloody massacre. One of the journalists was very much affected by this, feeling strong waves of sympathy for those who died there, and was warned by one of the locals that it was not good to let yourself feel that way because the earth bound spirits might follow him back.
Anyhow Akihiro and the other journalist didn't really think much of this and went back to their hotel. Everything seemed quite normal until there was a power failure at around 2am or so in the morning and then there was a loud rapping at the window of the hotel.
I don't remember the details of this story as Akihiro told me this more than a decade ago, but I think the hotel staff told them not to ever open the window when this happened.
This happened again the following night and so they decided something had to be done.
I think they went and had some Buddhist monks say some prayers and make some offerings. I don't remember exactly what they did, but they did this and they shortly left the country.
The Cambodians seemed to believe that the earth bound spirits had followed the sympathetic journalist back to his hotel and were rapping his window asking to be let inside.
I really don't know what to make of this story. It could be that even seasoned war zone journalists become nervous when visiting massacre sites and that the words spoken out loud have the power to cast some kind of spell on your mind if said by the right person at the right time....and well, your imagination makes things that seem supernatural happen.
Many other explanations can be explored but I found this story frightening because more than one person seemed to witness it at the same time.
Anyhow it's not a story one wants to remember in the middle of the night if one lives alone. I think that's why I'd put this away in the back of mind for years...
I don't believe in ghosts even though I used to read a lot of horror stories, but her husband's story from Cambodia really sent shivers up my spine.
I don't remember what or where exactly the journalists visited that day but it was some site were there had been a very bloody massacre. One of the journalists was very much affected by this, feeling strong waves of sympathy for those who died there, and was warned by one of the locals that it was not good to let yourself feel that way because the earth bound spirits might follow him back.
Anyhow Akihiro and the other journalist didn't really think much of this and went back to their hotel. Everything seemed quite normal until there was a power failure at around 2am or so in the morning and then there was a loud rapping at the window of the hotel.
I don't remember the details of this story as Akihiro told me this more than a decade ago, but I think the hotel staff told them not to ever open the window when this happened.
This happened again the following night and so they decided something had to be done.
I think they went and had some Buddhist monks say some prayers and make some offerings. I don't remember exactly what they did, but they did this and they shortly left the country.
The Cambodians seemed to believe that the earth bound spirits had followed the sympathetic journalist back to his hotel and were rapping his window asking to be let inside.
I really don't know what to make of this story. It could be that even seasoned war zone journalists become nervous when visiting massacre sites and that the words spoken out loud have the power to cast some kind of spell on your mind if said by the right person at the right time....and well, your imagination makes things that seem supernatural happen.
Many other explanations can be explored but I found this story frightening because more than one person seemed to witness it at the same time.
Anyhow it's not a story one wants to remember in the middle of the night if one lives alone. I think that's why I'd put this away in the back of mind for years...
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Glamorous Life of Semi-Retired People
Well, today I've been reading about how to unclog bathtub drains. I've also had to plaster up holes in the wall where a carpenter's assistant managed to drill holes in the wrong place...yes, it's very glamorous!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Spaghetti with Smoked Swordfish, Peperoncino, Garlic, Lemon Zest and Fresh Rucola
I haven't posted any recipes here because I'm too lazy to figure out the exact amount of ingredients I use. So if you'll just look at my experimental dishes as 'cooking ideas' instead of 'recipes' and use your own good judgement for how much of each you want to use - my notes might even be useful!
Ingredients for 1 person:
Fresh Rucola (enough to garnish the plate of pasta)
Smoked Swordfish
Grated Zest of 1 Lemon (preferably the small green variety)
Lemon juice (1/2 - 1 lemon, depends on how sour you want it to be)
Coarse Sea Salt
Freshly Grated Black Pepper
2 Garlic Cloves, Sliced
2 Dried Peperoncino (Seeded)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1. Start boiling the water first and throw in a generous amount of salt when it comes to a boil.
2. While waiting for the water to boil prepare the grated lemon zest and make thin strips of the smoked swordfish (as much as you want). Slice the garlic cloves thinly. Seed the peperoncino. Remember to cut the lemon in half so you can squeeze it into the sauce when the time comes.
3. Start boiling the pasta. This will take 7-10 minutes depending on the type and brand.
4. Start the heat in the frying pan and throw in the slices of garlic, peperoncino and heat it up. Let the heat release the flavours! Then turn off the heat and throw in the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and smoked salmon strips (you don't want these to cook - just get them a bit warm).
5. Drain the cooked pasta and toss the spaghetti in the frying pan (don't heat it!).
6. Put everything on a plate and garnish with a generous amout of fresh rucola.
Enjoy!
Ingredients for 1 person:
Fresh Rucola (enough to garnish the plate of pasta)
Smoked Swordfish
Grated Zest of 1 Lemon (preferably the small green variety)
Lemon juice (1/2 - 1 lemon, depends on how sour you want it to be)
Coarse Sea Salt
Freshly Grated Black Pepper
2 Garlic Cloves, Sliced
2 Dried Peperoncino (Seeded)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1. Start boiling the water first and throw in a generous amount of salt when it comes to a boil.
2. While waiting for the water to boil prepare the grated lemon zest and make thin strips of the smoked swordfish (as much as you want). Slice the garlic cloves thinly. Seed the peperoncino. Remember to cut the lemon in half so you can squeeze it into the sauce when the time comes.
3. Start boiling the pasta. This will take 7-10 minutes depending on the type and brand.
4. Start the heat in the frying pan and throw in the slices of garlic, peperoncino and heat it up. Let the heat release the flavours! Then turn off the heat and throw in the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and smoked salmon strips (you don't want these to cook - just get them a bit warm).
5. Drain the cooked pasta and toss the spaghetti in the frying pan (don't heat it!).
6. Put everything on a plate and garnish with a generous amout of fresh rucola.
Enjoy!
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