Is this why the moon is so bright tonight?

Being half Chinese and growing up in Hong Kong, I remember celebrating the mid-Autumn festival with my mum's family.  I remember lighting the colourful lanterns and scowling when being asked to try the moon cake.  I also remember loving the stories. 

Tonight I was trying to recall the myth about the Chinese Moon Goddess, Chang'e, but my memory fails me. So I scoured the Internet instead, looking to jog my memory.
Who would have known that practically every Chinese province has a different version of that story! 

So I read a few different versions, picked them apart and sewed the pieces back together into the story which fitted my childhood.

Chang'e and her husband, Hou'yi, were immortals living in Heaven.  Enjoying a comfortable life, Hou'yi was a well respected archer, and Chang'e and her sisters were known for their beauty.   One day the Jade Emperor's 10 sons transformed themselves into suns, scorching the earth below.  Having failed to take heed from their father, the Emperor summoned Hou'yi for his help.  It is unclear what the Emperor's intentions were, asking Hou'yi to assist in the matter, but when Hou'yi shot and killed nine of his sons (leaving one for the sun), the Emperor was furious.   In anger, he banished Hou'yi and Chang'e to Earth.

Chang'e was devastated.  Seperated from her family and facing her own mortality, she became depressed.  As they began to age, and seeing his wife's despair, Hou'yi decided to go in search of the elixir which would grant them youthful immortality again.  The road was treacherous and long, but the love he felt for his wife, and the opportunity for them to live together forever, spurred him on.

Eventually he reached the Queen Mother of the West who was so moved by Hou'yi's love for his wife, and the perilous journey he took for her, she agreed to give him the elixir.  Taking Hou'yi's hand, she placed a pill in the middle of his palm, " Take this home to your wife.  Take half a pill each, and you will fly to the moon where you can live and rule together, forever." 

Chang'e was delighted when Hou'yi returned with the promise of immortality.
However, when Hou'yi left the room to get some wine for them to take the pill with, Chang'e opened the pouch and was devastated to see there was only one pill.  She did not realise they were to take half a pill each, and in haste, took the whole pill herself.  By the time Hou'yi returned, Chang'e had gone.

Broken hearted Hou'yi was inconsolable and the Gods took pity on him, thereby granting Chang'e and Hou'yi a reunion once a year.  The legend has it, Chang'e is at her most beautiful on this night, ready to greet her husband, and so the moon shines brighter than any other night.

* Today, for the first time in just under twenty years, the harvest moon and the autumnal equinox coincide.  This won't happen again until 2029.   I wonder what that means for Chang'e and Hou'yi?

Sneak Peek: Louise & Russ

Managed to squeeze in an engaged Lovebirds photo shoot this afternoon with Louise and Russ.
We decided, at the last minute, to meet in Woodstock and took pictures in the grounds of Blenheim Palace.
It was perfect.
They were perfect.

In Tandem

"I fancy an adventure today."
I could barely open my eyes, but I could feel Cam's excitement willing me to wake up.
"I think we should take the tandem into Oxford and cycle to Osney Lock and follow the river down to Iffley Lock and then make our way back to the station." 
Pregnant pause.
This was clearly where I was meant to reciprocate with equal enthusiasm.
So I think he was a little disappointed (I am not a morning person) when all I could muster up was a list of problems we had with the tandem, last time we went on an adventure.

A shot of caffeine later however, I had warmed up to the idea, and as we found ourselves ready to set off an hour before the next train was due; we decided to be bold and cycle to Oxford! 
15 leisurely miles later, we pull up at M&S to grab a couple of sandwiches to eat by the river. 
After pulling out all the salad from his sandwich, we ate our food, and continued down the Thames path from Botley to Iffley village, whilst Cam gave me a mini tour of the little hidden waterways he travels down in the kayak along the way.

It was such a glorious day.
And not only because of the weather.
It was just a wonderful way to spend time together, chatting and laughing as we cycled along.
Truly, I never thought exercise could be so much fun!
Banbury, you're next.

Happy Friday ~ Yummy Banana Cake

Yup this post is simply a recipe.
Everytime I come to bake this cake (Cam's favourite), I end up scouring the Internet looking for the recipe.
So here it is, for once and for all.
It's basically a Nigella recipe,with cinnamon and walnuts added to it.
I also compliment it with a cinnamon and vanilla buttercream icing.... yum!

175g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarb
1/2 tsp salt
125g butter
150g sugar
2 eggs
300g bananas
1 tsp vanilla essence
liberal sprinkling of cinnamon
bag of chopped walnuts

Icing -
140g butter
280g icing sugar
liberal sprinkling of cinnamon
dash of vanilla essence

Cam's out at some kayaking AGM right now, but as soon as he comes back:
coffee + warm slice of banana cake + cuddle up on the sofa + Dexter season 3 = Happy Friday :)