Grandpa 's Journey

 A certain   evening, at a friend’s home. What a stage it became. A small gathering of old friends turned into a joyful celebration of music, friendship, and extraordinary food. The kind of evening that reminds you: life is not measured in years, but in moments like this. 🎤 Singing from the Heart We may not be professional singers, but when the microphone is passed around among friends, every voice sounds beautiful. Old songs. Classic melodies. A few emotional ballads. A few powerful duets. Some high notes bravely attempted — and enthusiastically applauded regardless of success. At our age, karaoke is no longer about performance. It is about connection. About memory. About singing the soundtrack of our youth together. And that is priceless. 🍷 A Table Worth Celebrating Before the singing warmed up our voices, the food warmed our hearts. The lamb racks were magnificent — beautifully seasoned, roasted to tenderness, rich and aromatic. Each slice revealed careful pr...

Some birthdays are quiet. Some are grand. Mine this year was smoky, spicy, slightly oily — and absolutely perfect. Alison chose Jin Gang Shan BBQ , a Northern Chinese Harbin-style barbecue restaurant. The moment we walked in, I knew this would not be a “light salad and soup” kind of evening. This was serious food. The kind that announces itself with chili, cumin, and sizzling skewers. And honestly? At my age, if you are going to celebrate, celebrate properly. Harbin-Style BBQ — Bold, Spicy, No Apologies Northern Chinese barbecue is not shy. It is: Spicy Oily Fragrant Generous Exactly the kind of food that wakes up your appetite. We ordered the usual heroes — beef, lamb, pork, chicken — plus vegetables and mushrooms. And yes, squid too. Grilled seafood with chili and cumin has its own personality — tender, slightly chewy, and very satisfying. The lamb skewers came out glistening with spices, sprinkled generously with sesame seeds. You could smell the cumin befor...