每年圣诞节的庆典都是以水儿的生日开始的，人家有福气，出生在学校开始放假、家家户户都欢欢喜喜准备过节的时候。今年他放假后在伦敦多待了几天，与朋友有约，不过还是在他生日的头一天晚上回到了家中。老早就预定了一家带米其林字样的酒吧餐馆：我希望去一个比较精致的地儿、而水儿不想吃那种份量就够一口的菜，这一家酒吧餐馆就算是我们俩的一个折衷。拍了我和水儿点的，教练的不让拍：
 
往年的圣诞节，12月初就会预定火鸡、开始买圣诞礼物，因为除了孩子们，圣诞节都会有朋友一起来家里聚餐。水儿生日的时候也正是装饰圣诞树、包装圣诞礼物的日子。今年首先是水儿建议不要火鸡，改gammon，山儿花儿一致同意；然后山儿和花儿说今年不打算在他们家里装饰圣诞树了，因为他们节前出去补度蜜月，圣诞节会回家来；再然后呢，教练觉得我这一年太忙太累了，提议今年不邀请朋友，就我们一家5个人过一个安静的节日。都很有道理，我也乐得人从众，今年圣诞节就全面简化吧：没有圣诞树、礼物也不包装（以保护环境之名，虚伪）。
说简化，孩子们回来了，饭还是要做的。24号做了两顿中餐，每顿四菜一汤，不重样也不剩菜，很好。做了猪肚鸡汤，加上老家带来的莲子和百合，那个甜甜粉粉的感觉是我喜欢的。下图中是羊蝎子炖白萝卜油豆腐和笋干，笋干也是老家带来的。
下午总算没下雨，去打了半场球（九个洞）。仍然是教练做球童，带着我们四个虾兵虾将，玩scramble：两人一对，每次都选两人中的最佳落球点打下一杆。这回我和水儿对阵山儿花儿，一上来就连赢山儿花儿三个洞。有水儿的距离和我的稳，我们打经验不足的那俩那是所向披靡，切。
为了给他们一点希望，我们从第四个洞开始让山儿花儿一杆，没想到他们热身了，借此翻身连赢我们三个洞！既然打平了，就不能再让球了，于是我们再次回到起点状态，最后三个洞，水儿和我一胜两平险胜：）
其实真正的赢家是教练，看着我们这些学徒一个个玩得兴致勃勃，他这教练心里美滋滋的。瞧他给我们拍的照片，咋看着像复活节找彩蛋的呢：）
圣诞节午餐是西餐了，水儿主厨、我打下手。从计算每一样食物进出烤箱的时间和温度、到准备食物的先后顺序，一环扣一环，最后结果堪称完美，食客们吃得很满意。我觉得这一顿饭最出彩的还是烤土豆。水儿的技艺达到了相当高且稳定的水平。这里有记录方法：烤土豆。
上个图：圣诞节的gammon午餐和前几天水儿做的意大利千层面（Lasagne）：
水儿喜欢做饭，厨艺在他的大学朋友圈小有名气。今年生日本来说给他买块表，结果他点名要一把手工打造的餐刀。总算圣诞节前收到了，他让刻上去的字是：
For the roads...they go on
without end.
他给我们科普，这个 quote是来自于一个叫Xenoblade Chronicles 3的游戏。他立马把哥哥送他的用来玩游戏的骰子和餐刀拍照，发给他朋友们看了，可见他多么喜欢这两样礼物：）
圣诞节那天，老妈在老家的教堂参加活动，发来了80+老人的合唱节目视频，让我无比感恩，截屏留在这里。城里关于退休养老是热门话题，我每次看见80多岁的老妈和她们那些退休老教师的活动照片，就备觉安慰，记起圣经教导，“不要为明天忧虑”。
今年圣诞节于我们还有另一个很开心的节目：Doctor Who 60周年专集和圣诞节特集回来了。Doctor Who是一个英国的科幻系列剧，主角the Doctor是时间之王（time lord），可以跨越时空旅行，而他的永生是通过regeneration来达到的：每次regeneration就会换一个形象（演员）。60年的起起落落，近代的热度是由David Tennant从2005年起扮演的第十代Doctor燃起的，可惜，第十三代Doctor选用的女演员, Jodie Whittaker,完全没找着感觉，这部剧的收视率就被政治正确带到了沟里。
Jodie是一个出色的演员，但就是不适合于这个角色。她从2018年演到2022年，共31集，不得不说，她从来没找着过那个外星人、时间之王的霸气和非人类感。这可能是演员本身的问题，很大程度上也是编剧的问题。在这点上，佩服007系列电影的导演，记得当时他也有选用女演员的压力，但他拒绝，说这个角色就是为男演员写的，如果要来一部女特工的电影，就当重新创造一个角色。
今年呢，趁着60周年庆典，David Tennant和他原来出演时的编剧团队一起回归，今年出了三集特集，外加停了六年的圣诞节特集。
这部剧水儿从三岁开始追起，十几年间，除了每一集新出的，我们还把过去几十年的剧集全部看过至少一遍。水儿的一个同学的爸爸，在阁楼上存有一箱子Doctor Who的书，知道水儿喜欢，就都送给了他，、、、总之我们算得上超级剧迷。
华人中极少有知音，有一次网友丹哥文中偶然提起这部剧，追问之下知道丹哥也是超级who fan，又惊又喜！跟水儿说起我有一个网上的华人朋友也是who fan，想知道他的看法，水儿于是写了一段他对今年四集的观剧感。我直接存英文，既是作为我和水儿之间的交流记录，也是分享给网友丹哥的。
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.
这应该是我2023年最后一篇博文了。感谢网友们的相伴和鼓励，谢谢文学城编辑们的支持。祝大家节日快乐，新年阖家幸福安康！
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