Slow roasted deliciousness

This recipe was modified from a bunch of different recipes - so lets just go with the following as tested, easy and tasty.

Get a slab of pork (well seasoned) and brown in some butter and olive. While it is browning (about 8 minutes or so) chop up a small onion and mince garlic. Add to pork and stir.

After a few minutes add some smoked paprika (about a teaspoon), some hot sauce (about a tablespoon), extra salt, pepper and a glass of wine or two (I mixed white and red). Bring to boil and add a tin of tomatoes (and fennel seeds if you have some). Place in an ovenproof dish like a clay pot (or if your started this shebang in a dutch oven extra points to you) 

In your heated oven (180) cook the crap out of the pork for about 3 - 4 hours. Check it every hour so that the sauce has not evaporated away and turn every hour.

Take it out of the oven and watch it fall apart in the most delightful way. Served with pasta after adding in extra slow cooked tomatoes and parsley. Or just eat a big slab of meat with polenta.

Old Fashion Bar

What a view, and cute deckchairs with an outlook onto the Guangzhou Opera House, astro turf, a cooling fan and even more cooling cocktails. 

Potential new hang - Old Fashion Bar. Perfect place to drown your sorrows when lamenting your decision to let a bunch of Germans steal your dog. I can recommend the Singapore Sling and the great company c/o my friend on the 19th floor.

Now the dog has returned, I can see this being to type of place to celebrate with your canine friend. I'm not sure of opening hours or address, but head to underground part of the Guangzhou Opera house and head towards the square.

Go slow, slow go

Sometimes life sneaks up on you doesn't it? I don't know, even here you can get into a rut of same old same old. Sometimes you don't realise how stressed you are, or happy (or unhappy for that matter) you're feeling.  And sometimes you don't realise how lucky you are.

It's funny because here life is both really easy and really hard. I don't for a minute take for granted how fortunate I am, but unless you live it, it's difficult to fathom just how isolated and rudderless you can feel. So much is just out of your control and there is not much you can do about it.

But in all of that also comes reflection and the realisation a bunch of folks near and far have got your back. In China some of those people are just a few floors or a mobike away -  others a call or an instant message away. Some of those people of late have saved my sanity. Proper.

And the good thing in all that (aside from the sanity saving) is that when I get back I'll have an extra posse of people in my corner - China folk (and peeps beyond) who will be there when all of this is done and that ain't bad.  

The weekend that was

How is it already Thursday? Time sure flies when you are in the company of the cutest temporary dog in the universe... The weekend just gone was about beers, dogs walks, coffee, dumplings, homeland  repeat. Mix in a trip to the flower markets and a spot of karaoke and consider that all a great combination for a successful weekend.