每年聖誕節的慶典都是以水兒的生日開始的，人家有福氣，出生在學校開始放假、家家戶戶都歡歡喜喜準備過節的時候。今年他放假後在倫敦多待了幾天，與朋友有約，不過還是在他生日的頭一天晚上回到了家中。老早就預定了一家帶米其林字樣的酒吧餐館：我希望去一個比較精致的地兒、而水兒不想吃那種份量就夠一口的菜，這一家酒吧餐館就算是我們倆的一個折衷。拍了我和水兒點的，教練的不讓拍：
 
往年的聖誕節，12月初就會預定火雞、開始買聖誕禮物，因為除了孩子們，聖誕節都會有朋友一起來家裏聚餐。水兒生日的時候也正是裝飾聖誕樹、包裝聖誕禮物的日子。今年首先是水兒建議不要火雞，改gammon，山兒花兒一致同意；然後山兒和花兒說今年不打算在他們家裏裝飾聖誕樹了，因為他們節前出去補度蜜月，聖誕節會回家來；再然後呢，教練覺得我這一年太忙太累了，提議今年不邀請朋友，就我們一家5個人過一個安靜的節日。都很有道理，我也樂得人從眾，今年聖誕節就全麵簡化吧：沒有聖誕樹、禮物也不包裝（以保護環境之名，虛偽）。
說簡化，孩子們回來了，飯還是要做的。24號做了兩頓中餐，每頓四菜一湯，不重樣也不剩菜，很好。做了豬肚雞湯，加上老家帶來的蓮子和百合，那個甜甜粉粉的感覺是我喜歡的。下圖中是羊蠍子燉白蘿卜油豆腐和筍幹，筍幹也是老家帶來的。
下午總算沒下雨，去打了半場球（九個洞）。仍然是教練做球童，帶著我們四個蝦兵蝦將，玩scramble：兩人一對，每次都選兩人中的最佳落球點打下一杆。這回我和水兒對陣山兒花兒，一上來就連贏山兒花兒三個洞。有水兒的距離和我的穩，我們打經驗不足的那倆那是所向披靡，切。
為了給他們一點希望，我們從第四個洞開始讓山兒花兒一杆，沒想到他們熱身了，借此翻身連贏我們三個洞！既然打平了，就不能再讓球了，於是我們再次回到起點狀態，最後三個洞，水兒和我一勝兩平險勝：）
其實真正的贏家是教練，看著我們這些學徒一個個玩得興致勃勃，他這教練心裏美滋滋的。瞧他給我們拍的照片，咋看著像複活節找彩蛋的呢：）
聖誕節午餐是西餐了，水兒主廚、我打下手。從計算每一樣食物進出烤箱的時間和溫度、到準備食物的先後順序，一環扣一環，最後結果堪稱完美，食客們吃得很滿意。我覺得這一頓飯最出彩的還是烤土豆。水兒的技藝達到了相當高且穩定的水平。這裏有記錄方法：烤土豆。
上個圖：聖誕節的gammon午餐和前幾天水兒做的意大利千層麵（Lasagne）：
水兒喜歡做飯，廚藝在他的大學朋友圈小有名氣。今年生日本來說給他買塊表，結果他點名要一把手工打造的餐刀。總算聖誕節前收到了，他讓刻上去的字是：
For the roads...they go on
without end.
他給我們科普，這個 quote是來自於一個叫Xenoblade Chronicles 3的遊戲。他立馬把哥哥送他的用來玩遊戲的骰子和餐刀拍照，發給他朋友們看了，可見他多麽喜歡這兩樣禮物：）
聖誕節那天，老媽在老家的教堂參加活動，發來了80+老人的合唱節目視頻，讓我無比感恩，截屏留在這裏。城裏關於退休養老是熱門話題，我每次看見80多歲的老媽和她們那些退休老教師的活動照片，就備覺安慰，記起聖經教導，“不要為明天憂慮”。
今年聖誕節於我們還有另一個很開心的節目：Doctor Who 60周年專集和聖誕節特集回來了。Doctor Who是一個英國的科幻係列劇，主角the Doctor是時間之王（time lord），可以跨越時空旅行，而他的永生是通過regeneration來達到的：每次regeneration就會換一個形象（演員）。60年的起起落落，近代的熱度是由David Tennant從2005年起扮演的第十代Doctor燃起的，可惜，第十三代Doctor選用的女演員, Jodie Whittaker,完全沒找著感覺，這部劇的收視率就被政治正確帶到了溝裏。
Jodie是一個出色的演員，但就是不適合於這個角色。她從2018年演到2022年，共31集，不得不說，她從來沒找著過那個外星人、時間之王的霸氣和非人類感。這可能是演員本身的問題，很大程度上也是編劇的問題。在這點上，佩服007係列電影的導演，記得當時他也有選用女演員的壓力，但他拒絕，說這個角色就是為男演員寫的，如果要來一部女特工的電影，就當重新創造一個角色。
今年呢，趁著60周年慶典，David Tennant和他原來出演時的編劇團隊一起回歸，今年出了三集特集，外加停了六年的聖誕節特集。
這部劇水兒從三歲開始追起，十幾年間，除了每一集新出的，我們還把過去幾十年的劇集全部看過至少一遍。水兒的一個同學的爸爸，在閣樓上存有一箱子Doctor Who的書，知道水兒喜歡，就都送給了他，、、、總之我們算得上超級劇迷。
華人中極少有知音，有一次網友丹哥文中偶然提起這部劇，追問之下知道丹哥也是超級who fan，又驚又喜！跟水兒說起我有一個網上的華人朋友也是who fan，想知道他的看法，水兒於是寫了一段他對今年四集的觀劇感。我直接存英文，既是作為我和水兒之間的交流記錄，也是分享給網友丹哥的。
I was really excited in the lead up to the 60th anniversary specials this year. It had been about 6 years since we had genuinely good Doctor Who, and now Tennant and Russell T Davies were returning, so I had faith that these episodes were going to be a return to form. Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed with the first special, The Star Beast. While it wasn’t terrible, it also wasn’t the breath of fresh air that I was hoping it would be. The first half was very fun, and seeing the Doctor interact with Donna’s family was a joy, but the plot itself was somewhat lacking and the resolution far too convenient. Overall, it felt like more of a mid-season filler episode rather than an explosive opening to the 60thanniversary and after it, I felt quite apprehensive about the upcoming episodes.
However, my apprehension was completely unfounded as the second episode, Wild Blue Yonder, was utterly spectacular. It was such a clever episode filled with phenomenal acting, interesting twists and complex mysteries. It was this episode where the 14th Doctor truly felt like a new incarnation of the Doctor, and David Tennant is an incredible actor for making his performance feel so distinct. The whole episode revolving around just the Doctor and Donna allows for some fantastic character work as well as some genuinely chilling scenes. This was one of the best episodes of Doctor Who maybe ever, and gave me so much hope for the upcoming era.
Finally, the 60th anniversary specials ended with The Giggle. Although the title is rather silly, the episode itself was another fantastic story. The way they explore the Doctor’s character, his trauma and his mental health is masterfully done and so emotionally and narratively satisfying after years of a Doctor who’s character was lacking in depth. Neil Patrick Harris also gives a standout performance as the Toymaker, portraying a truly chilling and threatening villain, with his facial expressions and shifting voice being a highlight of the episode. Ncuti Gatwa’s appearance towards the end of the episode was a surprise, but a very welcome one. In just a few short minutes, he manages to gracefully cement himself as the Doctor, and I am very excited to see more of his performance. The bigeneration allows Russell T Davies to address the complex continuity and traumas of the Doctor and explore his mental health as a consequence of this, while somewhat resetting his character, allowing Tennant’s Doctor to remain on Earth and deal with his trauma so that Gatwa’s Doctor can have a fresh, vibrant start. I did feel that certain aspects of the episode were lacking, specifically I felt the sequence in the Toymaker’s realm was somewhat short, and catch was an underwhelming game to use as a climax to the episode, but overall it was truly fantastic and one of the most emotionally interesting and satisfying episodes of Doctor Who in a long time.
The 2023 Christmas special marked a new era for Doctor Who, with a new Doctor and a new companion. While the story itself was somewhat middling, Gatwa and Gibson both shone in their new roles. The Doctor himself was energetic, charming, emotional, and showed great range just in this episode. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing some more serious, tense moments with him but he has made a very good first impression. Ruby Sunday was also a very charming addition to the cast, and her chemistry with Gatwa’s Doctor is fantastic. All in all, it was a decent beginning, and now I just want to see more.
這應該是我2023年最後一篇博文了。感謝網友們的相伴和鼓勵，謝謝文學城編輯們的支持。祝大家節日快樂，新年闔家幸福安康！
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