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8 september, 2026

paddington bear

This evening I rewatched the first movie of the Paddington franchise. Wow, I genuinely forgot how much I love that guy. For context, I recently travelled to London and visited Paddington station and the Paddington Store, I even purchased a plushie, keychain, and marmalade chapstick... but he is so much better than I recall.


This is a perfect film. Each and every actor does amazingly in their roles. I love that the children are treated with respect and their ideas are taken seriously. Mr. Curry is a perfect depiction of a 'Brexit geezer' and I'm really happy he comes around at the end. I love Paddington the bear!!


click to view Paddington's marmalade recipe*
  • 1.5 kg large Seville oranges
  • 6 cups water
  • 4 cups white sugar
  1. Place oranges in a pot of boiling water for a moment, then remove and scrub to remove any dirt and wax.
  2. The white pith of the orange can make the marmalade quite bitter, so take half the oranges and halve from stem end, then slice thinly with a sharp knife. Place in a large pot.
  3. The other half, grate the orange peel and place in the pot.
  4. Cut away the white pith and discard.
  5. Slice the leftover orange as finely as possible and place in the pot as well.
  6. Cover with a lid and let stand to soak for 24 hours.
  7. Next day, turn on the stove, and bring to a boil and simmer for 1.5 hours.
  8. Cover and let stand again for 12 hours.
  9. The next morning, stir in the 4 cups of white sugar and bring to a boil.
  10. Remove the lid and let simmer for 1 hour. For more accuracy, you can use a candy thermometer and remove from heat when the mixture reaches 220F.
  11. Let cool before spooning into large glass jars.
  12. Place in fridge to store.

* - Source

1 september, 2026

persona 5

I have played a lot of video games. I've played Persona 3 Reload and Persona 4. But very few games have moved me as much as Persona 5 Royal has. What an amazing game!! It feels so good to play, the UI is perfection, the soundtrack is heavenly, and the characters are lovely. When the credits rolled after I completed the Third Semester, I felt a gaping Persona-shaped hole form in my chest.


I cannot recommend the game enough. Please play it on whatever console you can and enjoy it as much as I did. I already own a Joker figure now and have Morgana the cat hanging from my rearview mirror.


click to view the recipe for Leblanc Curry*
  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ½ cup flour
  • 3 tbsp garam masala, ground
  • 1 tbsp turmeric, ground
  • 1 tsp coriander, ground
  • ½ tsp cumin, ground
  • ½ tsp fennel, ground
  • ½ tsp fenugreek seeds, ground
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon, ground
  • ¼ tsp allspice, ground
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, ground
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp tonkatsu sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 4 lbs chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 2 tsp garam masala, ground
  • 1 onion, diced
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 5 carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 apple, finely grated
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 15 grams dark chocolate
  • ½ cup greek yogurt
  • ½-¾ cup cooked rice, per serving
  1. Place a deep pot over medium-high heat. Saute the onions and garlic with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil until softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and 2 tsp of garam masala. Add the chicken to the pot and cook until browned, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the carrots, chicken stock, water, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  4. Add the potatoes and grated apples. Place the lid slightly ajar and simmer for 30 minutes, occasionally skimming any foam that appears.
  5. While the chicken and vegetables simmer, make the roux: combine the flour and spices in a small bowl. Melt the butter in a pan over medium-high heat, then add the flour and spices.
  6. Mix until the flour has absorbed all the butter. Add the tomato paste, tonkatsu sauce, and honey. Once combined, turn off the heat and set aside until the simmering is done.
  7. Ladle a small portion of the roux into the pot and slowly mix it in. Repeat in several batches, taking your time to fully incorporate it.
  8. Finally, stir in the chocolate and yogurt (these mellow the spice, so taste as you go). Serve with rice.

* - Source