今日は、イギリスのお母さんと呼んでいる、大昔に英語留学した時にとてもお世話になったホストファミリーのお母さんに会って来ました。先生だった方と3人でレストランで食事の予定でしたが、色々あってお母さんのお家でチャイニーズのデリバリーをランチに頂くことになりました。イギリスのお母さんが大好きなものの1つがチャイニーズレストランのカレーなので、野菜カレーとビーフカレー、他に酢豚やビーフの黒胡椒炒めやチキンとカシューナッツの炒め物、炒麺。イギリスのチャイニーズにテイクアウトやデリバリーは、なんだか何を食べても同じ味、どれがカレーなのかわからない(笑)。

I went to see my “English Mum” – the lady who was the host mother when I lived in England many years ago. Initially the plan had been for her, my friend, and I to go to a restaurant for lunch but for a few reasons we changed our plan and had Chinese delivered to my English Mum’s house and had that for lunch. My English Mum loves the curry dishes they have in these Chinese restaurants so we ordered Vegetable Curry, Beef Curry as well as Beef in Black Pepper Sauce, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken with Cashew Nuts, and Stir-fried noodles. I must say if I hadn’t done the ordering I wouldn’t have known which ones were the curry dishes – they all tasted similar to each other!

美味しいとは言えませんが、とりあえずお腹は膨れたし、ゆっくり会えて色んな愚痴も聞いてあげられました。

体が自由にならなくなって1年ほど、何かと辛いとは思うけれど、一緒に笑えて良かった！

Even though I cannot say it was delicious, it filled me up! It was lovely to see her and to be able to let her get all the frustration out by talking to us.

It’s been about a year since she became incapable of moving much and I know it’s very difficult for her but it was good to be able to see her laugh and laugh together.