Seafood Angel hair Pasta in Brandy Broth

Wow, it's October already.

There is a sense of deja vu as I write this thesis, looking at SPSS data and trying to make sense of everything else. In 2004, I wrote my honors thesis on the strategies that children used to solve problems. I wrote that feverishly. Lost without a sense of direction. I went without sleep for days, often hiding in my room under a pile of papers without getting any real work done. There was real fear in not completing in time yet feeling unsatisfied with every word I have written. One would argue that honors is different from doctorate level. Basically you have 1 year to finish a dozen or so assignments, attend all classes and conduct research at the same time. Looking back, I have no idea how I managed to get it completed in time. This time round, after juggling coursework and clinical work for the first 2.5 years, this last year is for me to concentrate on writing and finishing data collection. So at least I have some time to just concentrate on this. No assignments, no clinical work- just this. It is unfair however that hons thesis is less than half the length of what I'm doing! The irony of things!

The fear is still here while I attempt this thesis. It's in an area that I previously have no experience in. However, I am blessed with a superb supervisor who can read my anxiety levels and statistics at the same time. I like to believe that I have grown a little after experiencing hons. No more working through the nights. No more meal skipping.

The coordinator of my writing class once said that during post-grad, you need your routine and sense of normality. A balance lifestyle filled with rest, exercise and good food as much as possible. I realised why she said that. We need that stamina to run the final sprint. A LONG final sprint. The mental and physical exhaustion can be overwhelming. You still loose track of days and time. The best protection really is to pray, mediate, exercise, sleep, rest and play as much as possible.

and eat well of course. Preferably with alcohol in it.



Seafood Angel hair Pasta in Brandy Broth (serves 4)
300-400grams of mussels flesh (half shelled, if not, clean mussels and boil it in big pot of water. Discard unopened ones)
1-2 pieces of white fillet fish (I like barramundi)
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
Chives
250 grams of Angel hair pasta

Brandy Broth
1 tablespoon of garlic
1/2 cup of stock
1/2 cup of brandy
Olive oil
sea salt
cracked pepper

Method
1) Heat oil in pan. Cook garlic till brown.
2) Meanwhile, cook pasta in a big pot of water. Drain. Divide pasta into 4 portions.
3) Add all seafood in pan. Cook for 3-4 mins. Stir in mushrooms
4) Add stock and brandy. Simmer for 10-15mins.
5) Add salt to taste. Stir in chives.
6) Pour broth and seafood into pasta portions. Season with fresh chives and cracked pepper.