h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Nia hao Angela ,

The holiday season is nearly over in the UK; I had to work all over Christmas and part of the New Year, but it’s all part of the job. I did have Christmas Eve and New Years Day off, so it was not too bad.

I do not have a winter holiday; my first holiday this new year will be in the spring. Springtime is such a lovely time of year, a time when all is renewed and the trees and plants are starting to grow again.

We have many Chinese grocery stores in our country, but where I live they are not as big as the ones in the cities. The Chinese grocery stores I have been to are always clean and the Chinese owners are polite and helpful.

I have been to many, many Chinese restaurants over the years, not only in the UK but also Spain. Chinese food in my country is very popular. In my country we have small Chinese food shops where we can telephone them in advance, order the food and they cook it and then we go and buy it and take it home to eat; we call them “Take-Away” restaurants, because we take the food away to eat at home. It is the same with Indian food and Italian Pizza shops. Though I do not know of a Japanese one! The people in my country, mostly, would not eat raw fish.

Chinese food has been popular in the UK for decades. On our television there is a very famous Chinese chef called Ken Hom; over the last decades his TV food programmes have been very successful and he has written many books; I have a number of Ken Hom’s cookery books.

Chinese food is delicious, nutritious and quick. I did not realize that you would not know this; Chinese food is famous throughout the world. All our supermarkets carry Chinese food on their shelves; it is very big business.

My wife and I have used a wok for many years, it is fabulous to cook with; actually I cannot think of any of our friends who do not have a wok. We often prepare and cook our own Chinese meals at home. Some ingredients are impossible to get though, for instance seaweed, so we have to use an alternative. Also we stir-fry all our homegrown vegetables.

You are correct the majority of people in the west drink tea with milk/cream/sugar I think this is appalling. I am like you I prefer to drink tea as it was meant to be, as you say, “…to feel the spirit of the tea…”; that is so poetic.

Well, it is late the two girls have been in bed for a few hours now, so I will follow them, I am tired (It is 0220 hours on Friday 5 January as I write).

Thank you for speaking with me, I enjoy out ‘chats’; chat is colloquial English meaning to talk, to speak, usually informally, in a relaxed manner.

Best wishes Angela
zai jian
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Ni hao Angela ,

I have done a very silly thing; I replied to your thread and previewed it before posting, but forgot to post it, please accept my apology.

I do not have a winter holiday, my first holiday for the New Year will be in the spring, a time of year I like very much; it is like a rebirth, heralding the coming of summer.

I am a little amazed that you are surprised to discover we have Chinese grocery shops in the UK. Chinese food is extremely popular in my country and is held in great esteem. Over preceding decades a gentleman called Ken Hom has appeared on our television; he is a Chinese chef and has had many programmes on our TV teaching us about Chinese food.

Where every you go in my country, whether it be a small village or large city, you will find a Chinese restaurant. We have certain types of Chinese restaurants, we call them take-aways; we telephone our orders to them then pick up the food, ready cooked, and take it home to eat, this is very popular.

We have been eating Chinese food for many years I love it. One of the main cooking implements in our home kitchen is a Chinese wok; I cannot think of any of our friends who do not have a wok in their home. Stir-frying has been made popular by Mr. Hom and is now a basic way of cooking in the UK; it is quick, healthy and tasty.

Though I believe many of the Chinese meals we eat have been Anglicised, so I would like to experience the real thing, but that would mean a visit to China – now that would be an expensive meal!!!

(I have been to one – past tense, meaning you have visited one in the past.
I have gone to one – meaning you are visiting one at this very moment.)

Indian food is also very popular in the UK, this to we like very much. Japanese food is not well liked over here – raw fish is not appealing to our taste, though it has started to be more accepted.

Most western people drink tea with milk and sugar; I dislike this, preferring to drink the tea as you poetically say, …”to feel the spirit of the tea…” I also drink coffee with nothing added to it. Some times I may add a little lemon juice to my tea, but not very often.

I have never tried green tea, but it is widely available over here, I’ll give it a try; it is supposed to have many redeeming properties. Next time I go to the nearest big city I will visit a Chinese grocery shop and try to get your white tea (Anji).

Have to go, it is 0415 hours (on Sunday 7 January 2007) and I am feeling tired, so I’m going to bed.

zai jian Angela



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Angela ,

I have posted two threads to you, both the same, sorry this was a mistake. Please read your "Leave a Message" area. Too early in the morning and I am tired.

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Ni hao Angela ,

I am having problems posting, I am not certain you are receiving them; so just in case I.ll post this last one again.

I do not have a winter holiday, my first holiday for the New Year will be in the spring, a time of year I like very much; it is like a rebirth, heralding the coming of summer.

I am a little amazed that you are surprised to discover we have Chinese grocery shops in the UK. Chinese food is extremely popular in my country and is held in great esteem. Over preceding decades a gentleman called Ken Hom has appeared on our television; he is a Chinese chef and has had many programmes on our TV teaching us about Chinese food.

Where every you go in my country, whether it be a small village or large city, you will find a Chinese restaurant. We have certain types of Chinese restaurants, we call them take-aways; we telephone our orders to them then pick up the food, ready cooked, and take it home to eat, this is very popular.

We have been eating Chinese food for many years I love it. One of the main cooking implements in our home kitchen is a Chinese wok; I cannot think of any of our friends who do not have a wok in their home. Stir-frying has been made popular by Mr. Hom and is now a basic way of cooking in the UK; it is quick, healthy and tasty.

Though I believe many of the Chinese meals we eat have been Anglicised, so I would really like to experience the real thing, but that would mean a visit to China – now that would be an expensive meal!!!

(I have been to one – past tense, meaning you have visited one in the past.
I have gone to one – meaning you are visiting one at this very moment.)

Indian food is also very popular in the UK, this to we like very much. Japanese food is not well liked over here – raw fish is not appealing to our taste, though it has started to be more accepted.

Most western people drink tea with milk and sugar; I dislike this, preferring to drink the tea as you poetically say, …”to feel the spirit of the tea…” I also drink coffee with nothing added to it. Some times I may add a little lemon juice to my tea, but not very often.

I have never tried green tea, but it is widely available over here, I’ll give it a try; it is supposed to have many redeeming properties. Next time I go to the nearest big city I will visit a Chinese grocery shop and try to get your white tea.

Have to go, it is 0415 hours (on Sunday 7 January 2007) and I am feeling tired, so I’m going to bed.

zai jian Angela



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