in britannia

I'm not usually terribly homesick while away, but this week I started to feel more and more yearning to go back home to see my family. Matt came up from Eton to visit, which was nice. And I spent some time chatting online with my Mom, which is always fun. (We had been attempting to use iChat AV for Macintosh, but neither of us has been successful. Grrr.) But the most deep-down of sensations is always the sense of smell. Memories point us to specific events in time, smells can do that and much more: they envelop you in a kind scented haze which may not point to a specific blip on a timeline but which evokes feelings of happiness and comfort. Some of what I miss from home is the smell of my Dad's cooking, so I've been attempting to replicate his food here. In fact, moreso than I did in New Jersey. Dad's steamed fish always had an accompanying sauce of chopped green onions and soy, the smell of which is unmistakably part of my childhood. This weekend, I had the opportunity to cook a simple beef and vegetable soup that my Dad used to make, and which I love. Just cubed beef, carrots, tomatoes, onion, and white cabbage. Not difficult, but after 2 hrs of simmering, it's such a comfort.

Well, into another hellraiser of a week, especially given the added holidays of All Souls and All Saints days. At least I have a big pot of soup to keep me warm.