Life in Mexico
The Year they cancelled Christmas
Normally, December in Mexico is a cacophony of song and joyous noise as everyone revels in the festive season. Carols play out of loudspeakers, cannonballs burst in the air like pious anti-aircraft flak and costumed worshipers march through the streets of Santiago to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Not this year. The roads around the Santiago parish are devoid of the stalls selling religious icons and pork tacos. No lights glitter on the boulevard. The annual firework extravaganza that caps New Year’s Eve has been scratched.
That won’t stop Mexicans from celebrating, however. Christmas is a time for families to reunite, and folks will be heading home to Granny’s from not only the US, but from throughout the country. They will celebrate with traditional Christmas cakes shaped like the magi’s crowns and lots and lots of tequila – COVID be damned.
Hopefully, vaccines will eventually arrive and curb the devastating pandemic. With any luck, everything will begin to return to normal in 2021, and we will once again celebrate not only holidays but life in general. Until then, stay safe!
Recipe: Red Curry Fish
I first ate this dish in Thailand and immediately fell in love. This is a delicious and exotic main to serve guests – plus it`s easy to make!
Ingredients (serves 4)
Half-pound of shrimp, shelled.
Half pound of white fish, cut into 1-in cubes.
8 mushrooms, cut in half.
1 can of coconut milk
1 tsp of red curry paste
2 Tsp of fish sauce.
1 Tsp of brown sugar
2 Kaffir lime leaves (or 1 Tsp of lime zest).
Chopped fresh basil and coriander
Lime juice
1 cup of Jasmine rice. (Makes 2 cups when cooked).
Directions
In an electric fry pan or large pan with a lid, mix in coconut milk, red curry paste, fish sauce, lime and sugar. Bring to a boil, cover, then let simmer on low for ten minutes.
Cook the rice.
Add the fish and shrimp and return to boil. Let cook for 2-3 minutes, until shrimp is red and fish is no longer translucent.
Serve on cooked rice. Garnish with fresh basil and coriander. Add lime juice to taste.
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A Paris Moment
“In Paris, when you walk out the door . . . the day springs to life as a full-blown performance, and if you are not part of the audience, you are part of the cast.”
Sometimes your wildest dreams really do come true. No-one knows this better than author Gordon Cope whose life took a very exciting turn when his wife, Linda, was offered a one-year posting to the world’s fantasy destination – Paris, the City of Light.
They find the Paris of their dreams on the Right Bank of the Seine in Le Marais, a neighbourhood rich in controversy, conspiracy, culture, and madness – in short, their kind of place.
In Paris, more than anywhere else, Cope is struck by the immediateness of his surroundings amid centuries of history, and the subtle rhythms and pulses of the neighbourhood. His observations on life in Le Marais – its delightful residents, fascinating history, and sublime culinary experiences in the local brasseries and restaurants – are crystal clear and create an appealing intimacy.
Some days you might find yourself wandering the narrow lanes of Le Marais as Cope introduces you to the denizens of the area. On other days, you might find yourself delving into the colourful history of Paris.
With a wonderful turn of phrase and a wicked sense of humour, Cope provides an intimate account of everyday life in a magical city!
Movie Review
Goodfellas
Streaming on Netflix
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie is based upon Wiseguy, a best-selling book written by New York journalist Nicholas Pileggi. Scorsese and Pileggi collaborated in the screenplay, and the movie was released in 1990 to wide acclaim.
The film is primarily narrated by Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), an up-and-coming Mafioso who uses his amiability to ingratiate himself in the local mob. Along with henchmen James Conway (Robert de Niro), and Tommy DeVito (played by the wonderfully flamboyant Joe Pesci, who won an Oscar for his supporting role), he cheerfully robs millions of dollars from airplane payloads, shark-skin suits from shipping trucks – and virtually anything else that isn’t bolted down.
Life is sweet, with bribes to cops and politicians granting immunity to their nefarious deeds. His downfall eventually occurs not from an FBI investigation, but internal squabbles. Temperamental Tommy whacks a made man, unleashing the ire of Mafia capos, which ultimately motivates Henry to flee into a government witness protection program.
At times hilarious and horrifying, Goodfellas is an entertaining look into the colorful and seedy New York gangster culture of mid-20th century America.
Book Review
The Brass Verdict
By Michael Connelly
In my opinion, this is one of the LA mystery writer’s best novels. Criminal lawyer Mickey Haller, finally recovered from a devastating gunshot wound, finds himself in the thick of courtroom drama when he inherits the practice of a murdered attorney.
Top of the case file is Walter Elliot, billionaire owner of a Hollywood studio. The press is whipped into a feeding frenzy when he is charged with murder after his wife and her lover are found dead from a violent shooting in their Malibu love nest. Haller not only has to find a way to acquit his client but fend off the media tsunami.
Haller has the backing of his dedicated crew but also the unexpected aid of Detective Harry Bosch, an LAPD murder inspector with his own agenda. Together, they peal back the layers of deception and dig for the truth.
I highly recommend The Brass Verdict!
I look forward to reading “A Moment in Paris”. I enjoyed reading your “Moment” in England a few years ago.
It’s a fun book to read! Pass the link on to your friends!
Just the three cats and me here for Christmas….they want tuna. Lynn
Tuna’s a great Christmas dinner!
Merry Christmas to you and Linda! Jack and I will abide by the rules and not see the kids!!
I sure enjoy Jack Kenyan…need to order Runaway Bomb next!!
Merry Christmas to you and Jack! I’m glad you enjoy Jack Kenyon – I have a new book this fall, Dead Man Cipher.
Merry Christmas to you and Linda ! May this next year be a better one for all . Kathleen
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope next year is a lot better than this one as well!
Merry Christmas, Gord & Linda!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Stay safe!
Merry Christmas to you and Linda! I shall have to reread A Paris Moment , looking for Jim anecdotes!
You won’t have to look hard!
G’day Gordon and (especially) Linda!
Always fun to read your newsletter and see some of the recipes you post, hopefully we’ll get to actually taste these sometime at your place. Patricia and I are still trying to get back to Manzanillo but just had our fourth flight cancelled by WestJet, so we’re now scheduled to leave here on January 22nd, but we’ll have to see if that stands in the weeks ahead. I’ll give you a shout when we get down there and maybe hit a tennis ball or two!
It’s going to be an unusual Christmas and New Year without a doubt, but we wish you guys well and will be back in touch again soon.
Cheers,
Stuart & Patricia
Great to hear from you! We are healthy and safe. Hopefully, WestJet won’t cancel your January flight! Nelson hosts doubles at La Punta every Monday and Thursday, and they’ve started at Gran Festival again on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, so we’ll be able to get together for Tennis once you get down. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Hello Gordon and Patricia – met you a week ago at Oasis – Don Kramer sent me your latest email. I so enjoyed reading! Thank you and enjoy the holidays the best you can this year!
Glad you enjoyed it! Happy holidays to you!
Gday old mate,gotta say you don’t sound your normal jolly self.I know the situation in Mexico is a bit shit creekish but I expect you to be chief optimist.go forth spread the hilarity.heather asks ,are you still the chicken whisperer spoken of so reverentially in these parts.love you guys stay safe,
Happy New Year to you and Heather and all your family! We’re doing fine here – easy to social distance. Hope you’re having a lovely summer, we fondly recall boxing day on a beach in Mosman and enjoying New Years Eve at the Oyster Bar on the Quay. Quiet celebration tonight; we’re barbecuing lobster, drinking bubbly and watching the submarine races. Hope 2021 is better – can’t be any worse than 2020. Our plan is to go to France in May if the quarantines lift. Hope the vaccines work, or we’re stuck here for another year.