I sat in front of telly all afternoon today to watch the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. I would have gone out to watch some bit of it if the weather had been nicer. It's been pouring... I've lived in London for nearly 25 years and have done the same (sitting in front of the box) when Princess Diana and Queen Mother died and watched happier occasions such as Queen's Golden Jubilee and Prince William's wedding.
There were, of course, loads of other numerous gossips, but what always amazes me is the professionalism of the Queen. She really is a pro. Today, for example, she had been standing on one of the barges for something like five solid hours. Don't forget that she is 85. I had been sitting for five hours anxiously waiting for her to sit down, but she didn't. She wasn't the only one. Prince Philip (her husband) is 90 and he didn't sit down, either. I very nearly stood up from my comfy chair to show respect, you know.
The Emperor and the Empress of Japan had been in London a few weeks ago (I'm Japanese and I know this sort of thing) to attend Diamond Jubilee dinner. As part of their tour in London they popped around to Holland Park, and someone I know went to greet them - as part of a large crowd of spectators. Then the Empress apparently approached her and started talking to her. She obviously got very nervous, but in the middle of this nerve-racking moment she noticed how smooth and beautiful the Empress' skin was. She said to me that she very nearly asked the Empress, aged 77, which skin care product she uses.
These royalties are all pros, really. It's very easy to say, "Oh, that's all they do" or "They are used to it" or "They are meaningless money wasters", but how many impeccable pros are there out there? A pro, in my view, is someone who has a clear vision of the job, awareness of his/her responsibility, stamina and dedication to the job, and the ability to keep the highest standard; and the Queen is a pro. Hip, Hip, Hooray!
Having been engrossed in telly, there was not much time left to cook supper. Simple and delicious 20 minutes meal here.
Ingredients (for 2 people):
(for the pork)
8 pieces of thinly sliced (about 5mm) pork loin
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 inch cube ginger, grated
1 teaspoon sugar
(for the rice)
1 small spring cabbage (not Savoy), roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
5 anchovy slices in oil, drained
2 people's portion of cooked rice
Mix the soy, grated ginger, and sugar and marinate the pork slices for 10 minutes. Get two large frying pans ready. Put one of them on a high heat and pour a tablespoon of oil. Add the anchovy fillets and allow them to melt. Add the garlic, cabbage, and a teaspoon of any oil. Stir around a bit until the cabbage wilts and add cooked rice. Mix everything well and season with little salt and lots of black pepper. Turn off the heat.
Put the other frying pan on a high heat. Pat dry the pork slices. When the pan is really hot sear the pork slices for one minute each side. Put the rice on the plate and plonk the lovely pork on top.