What if?
I have been asked what if… Shiro fell in love with a Indian Coolie boy? Well – she didn’t. So I have a short story of another Tea Makers daughter who did. Here is Kami’s story: If only I could forget ‘Stop the car Sunder,’ Kami pressed the button. The glass window slid down. Cool tea-country air invaded the air conditioned climate-controlled atmosphere of the chauffer driven Mercedes Benz. ‘Yes Madam,’ the rolling Indian Tamil accent of the driver combined with the fragrance of freshly plucked tea sent a shimmer down Kami’s spine. Read on:If only I could...
The Children of the Empire deal with desires good and bad
Desire is the feeling of wanting to have or do something. It motivates behaviour. In contrast to general motives or likes, desires are “about” specific objects or people. Desires can be good and healthy leading to positive life changing actions; or they could be unhealthy and unwholesome. I could like to have a couture dress – but I don’t necessarily desire it sufficiently to spend hundreds of dollars on it or make the sacrifice of foregoing something else to get it. On the other hand, I could have a strong desire to be a medical practitioner and spend a lot more time and money studying to get there. But again, there are some desires that I may never fulfil, whatever I do – or sacrifice. I will never be a ballerina! Some desires are strong and make us really...
Anthony’s first breakfast: Egg Hoppers
Anthony’s first breakfast in Sri Lanka was a delicious meal of Egg Hoppers! Chapter 3 Page 20 ‘Anthony stared at the two egg hoppers. They looked like pancakes with a crisp brown border, each with an egg fried sunny side up on a cushiony centre. On the rim of the plate were small bowls of colourful sauces. The blend of aromas was not like anything Anthony had experienced. And yet, it was enticing to his taste buds. Suddenly ravenous, Anthony sat down, and ignoring the knife and folk, devoured the food with his fingers – which, he reasoned, was probably the correct way to eat it.’ You can find a recipe at: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/hoppers You can get egg hoppers at any Sri Lankan eatery –...
Stringhoppers and Kiri hodhi
When Anthony and Shiro first meet (in chapter 4 page 35); she is eight years old. He is sixteen. Anthony says: ‘I will have you know, Miss Rasiah, that we British are the only reason that your father has a job and you have bread and butter on the table.’ To which Shiro responds: ‘And you should know that we never eat bread and butter. Maybe if you said rice and curry or stringhoppers and hodhi. But you have no idea what those are, do you, sir?’ Here’s your opportunity to learn all about this absolutely yummy Sri Lankan breakfast. http://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/string-hoppers-kiri-hodi...
Shiro’s letters to ‘Ann’ Ashley-Cooper
At the end of the novel ‘Empires Children’ Shiro tells Anthony: ‘I can’t wait to show our children the letters Ann Ashley-Cooper wrote to me’ What were these letters? Read about these here: Ann’s Letters to Shiro when Shiro was in Boarding School The smell of fresh baked bread tickled Anthony’s nose. The ornate little metal table on the veranda was covered with a handmade lace tablecloth. The monogrammed crockery and silver cutlery neatly arranged. The poached egg was cooked to perfection and the home-cured ham juicy and pink. Picking up the fork, Anthony studied the Ashton crest. He pushed the egg around on the plate. He stabbed the thin white skin of the poached egg and watched the rich red yolk erupt. Damn his stupid...