feast to cure melancholy / 治憂鬱之大餐

過去這個星期行程大滿檔，身心俱疲，週末和卡洛回到三周前去過、位於Camden Lock的風味茶屋Yumcha，上次去的時候陽光灑滿整間茶室，昨天天氣有點陰，窗外的樹葉翠綠依然，我喝了加了牛奶的焦糖甜心茶，又吃了可口的司康餅，整個大滿足，吃完之後沿運河散步，天黑之際的街景很迷人。

My schedules during the past week were superhuman. I was mentally and physically exhausted. On the weekend Carol and I went back to the adorable teashop Yumcha located in Camden Lock. Last time when I was there with Caterina and Jazel, it was a lovely sunny day with sunlight reflected from the windows. Yesterday the weather was cloudy, but the tree leaves are of a fresh yellow green as usual. I had very sweet Caramel Sweetheart with a yummy scone. I was almost healed. After the afternoon tea, we took a stroll along the canal. The cityscape at dusk was really enchanting. 

接著和James逛了倫敦政經學院一圈之後，發現他們的學生好認真，星期六傍晚電腦室滿滿的都是讀書的孩子，我們坎貝爾藝術學校週末是不開門的呢！

Then we had a tour in LSE with James as our guide. The students are so hardworking. The computer room in the library is packed with kids  on Saturday evenings. Hardly anyone goes to Camberwell School of Arts on weekends! 

晚餐我們參加了「治憂鬱之大餐」，用餐的場所在圖書館，每個人進場會拿到一張卡，上面有一個特定的角色，因為古早人相信身心的健康起源於人體各種脾性的平衡，如果不均衡會產生燥熱、憂鬱、易怒和冷淡之現象，很妙的是我拿到的是憂鬱，雖然我沒有心情低落，但我的確長時間工作、沒時間好好吃飯。

We had a "feast to cure melancholy" for dinner. The venue was in the library of Wellcome Collection. Everyone was given a card upon entering and assigned a role. People in the past believed that mental and physical health results from the balance of all humors in human body. If there is any imbalance, one is likely to be sanguine, melancholy, choleric and phlegmatic. It was a coincidence that I got the role of Emmanuel, who suffers from melancholy. I was not in low spirits, but like her, I did work long hours without taking much time to eat properly. 

現場的工作人員有的負責幫大家診斷，有的則給大家處方和治療的食譜，我面對的傢伙太帥，我不知不覺又畫起圖來，好不開心啊！

The staff helped everyone diagnose our problems and gave us prescriptions and recipes. The guy whose group I was assigned to was so gorgeous that I couldn't help drawing him and then other staff members. It was such a wonderful evening! 

這是開胃菜，主持人在上每道菜之前會報上菜名，但我忙著畫圖，沒認真聽，只能憑自己感覺猜，這個吃起來有點像肉乾。

This was the appetizer. In fact, the host announced the name of every dish before it was served. But I was too busy drawing to pay attention to her. Based on my limited understanding of food, this tasted like shredded meat. 

主菜一魚一素，魚片和薯條蠻好吃的。

The main courses were comprised of two dishes. The fish and chips were rather scrumptious. 

素食有馬鈴薯和洋蔥。

The vegetarian dish contained chips and onions. 

這是鴨肉小點。

This was a snack of duck meat. 

最後一道是奶霜配水果乾。

The last course was cream with preserved fruit. 

這一餐真是特別的體驗，不過如果食物份量乘以五倍，在冷冷的冬天裡就更令人滿足了！

This meal was a very unique experience, but if the food portion had been four times larger, it would have been so filling in cold winter!