Mince piessssssss

Sheer torture, I tell you, to look at pictures of mince pies, quality chocolates, and Christmas pudding. Xiamen’s not exactly New York, or Shanghai for that matter. I hark back to 1992, when a visit to Sevenoaks in England yielded my first real taste of mince pies.

Mmmmmmm……

Need I mention our annual Christmas tradition in Singapore, a feast, a mighty feast of gastronomical delights at my uncle’s townhouse? Turkey (and I get more than a sliver), roast beef, potato salad, my aunt’s specialty macaroni in chicken broth (okay, not very Christmas-y but it’s our tradition), chocolate fondue (if my cousin is in town with his chocolate fondue pot), Christmas pudding, and Blue Stilton with port?

Aaaaauuuggggghhhhhh……

This is why I’ve got a Santa Claus decoration hanging outside our front door. This is why we have a foot-high tree. This is why I’ve gone out and bought two large Christmas stockings that hang in the bedroom. If I can’t get to eat like I normally do at Christmas, I’m going to do something festive even if it turns me into The Grinch at the end, goddammit.

Ho ho ho.

• 10 Dec 2004