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Bon Journal

Home is where the heart is

A home hardly feels like home if your heart is elsewhere. So if Mohammed can't come to the mountain, the mountain comes to Mohammed.

On this day, London public transport was closed, and the minicabs were king. For the fortunate guests, there were two stops to make today: Yasmin's for Christmas lunch and Lilian's for drinks.

The career woman turned gourmet chef Yasmin got up early to prepare an authentic Asian meal on this quiet day. Her mother supervised and rescued the chicken curry which was on the verge of tasting unauthentic. The minced pork patties were the most difficult to make, if not for a food processor. Arriving midway through the preparations, I was finally convinced that Yasmin did know how to cook.

Christmas is no longer for Christians only. It is one for families and family values. Ironically, New Year is an occasion to be single and flighty.

After years of travelling and being a guest at Christmas, I have learned to appreciate those hosts who bring out the heart in me, making their home feel like my own. Today I experienced all elements of a good Christmas: delicious home-made feast, laughter, conversation, and music.

25 December 2001 Tuesday

Christmas 2001 diary

21 Dec: shopping for Chinese dumpling ingredients in China town

22 Dec:
morning: shopping for cookie ingredients in local supermarket

afternoon: clean house

evening: chop Chinese leaf, mix dumpling filling

23 Dec: make dumplings, welcome guests from Netherlands, Birmingham, and Hanwell

24 Dec: make Christmas cookies

25 Dec: visit Holland Park and Highgate

26 Dec: make music

27 Dec: visit Uniqlo for winter sales, dim sum with friends from Colombia and California; visit music stores, see musical production

28 Dec: entertain new neighbours

29 Dec: revisit Uniqlo, prepare for Sunday

30 Dec: entertain friends from St Petersburg, London, and Dorking

31 Dec: prepare for New Year's Eve.