#Korean Supermarket London

[hiyouuk]

Chinese supermarkets in London Offer a Culinary Adventure Beyond Dim Sum!

London Chinese Supermarket, Asian supermarket in London – Why is it important to have a Chinese supermarket in London? The UK is well known for its broad diversity of cultures and ethnicities, and there is no place more comforting for some than the local Asian and Korean supermarket in London. London is a melting pot of people from all walks of life, whether you are a student who is studying abroad or you have made the move to the UK permanently, there is something comforting and familiar about having an Asian supermarket in London for you to wander through. Our Vietnamese supermarket in London offers a welcoming mix of smells, colours, and inspiration as you walk round, with the familiar packages and produce giving you home comforts, no matter how far away you are. Our Asian food store provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere, even if you have never tried Asian cooking before! There is inspiration on every aisle, and our Asian grocery store staff are always on hand with any recommendations and advice to help you step out of your comfort zone.

[behind-the-screen-of-bangtan]

FRI(END)S

Release date: 15 March 2024

Official page

Announcement

Promotion Schedule

Short Film

Concept Photo: #1, #2

Teasers: #1, #2

Flash Video

MV reaction: #1, #2, #3

MV Photo Sketch

MV Making (Short Film)

Official Instagram stories

Official Youtube playlist

Official Merch

The song was teased right before the announcement with an Instagram story. V also made two posts, one in December 2023, maybe around the time it was filmed, and one around the release.

Samuel Bradley posted pictures on Instagram, including some about the planning of the diner scene.

Locations

Everything was made in London. You can check this map for details.

The Concept Photo 1 and the diner scenes were shot at Ace Cafe (src).

The Concept Photo 2 and the bus stop scenes were filmed on Longton Avenue (src).

The supermarket is the Pick N Save on Kenton Road.

Words

Several words appear in the Short Film, as well as in the Flash Video. It's usually "Friends" turning into "end" but the following words are also shown:

dead

feed

siren

dine

desire

define

Newspaper

The Daily News newspaper appears several times in the Short Film and the Flash Video. The normal text is a lorem ipsum but the main title is "A relationship that becomes eternal by ending". The paragraph below is actually the first paragraph of Layover's announcement:

“Layover consists of six tracks in total - five tracks and a bonus track. To fully appreciate the album’s flow, we recommend listening to it in sequence from start to finish.”

There's also a crossword with the following text:

ACROSS 1 a final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story Please visit the URL of Daily News to check the winner of the last issue of the puzzle.

Miscellaneous

Bangtan Greenhouse identified plants in the flat and at the cafe.

The car that runs over V is a 1982 Ford Escort, sold at an auction in 2021 (auction webpage).

The love interest is played by Ruby Sear.

They used the fennel & propolis toothpaste from Green People.

The red bus is an RF 512 model and the signboard of the fake bus stop indicates:

BUS STOP 463 to Town centre CARNSHAM Burstock Road - Stop G

Someone from the Army film club account pointed out that the camera is always stationary, which reminds of Wes Anderson's style..

Promotion

NME: "BTS’ V attempts to get out of the friend zone on addictive new single ‘Fri(end)s’"

Live performance at W Korea

The live performance was filmed at the Maison Cheongdam La Résidence of Cartier (src). It's revealed in the description box of the video that V had made the song two years prior to releasing it (src).

V also prerecorded 3 voice messages that fans could listen to during the FRI(END)S party (src). You can find a Korean thread about the party here.

[pure-ablution]

Can you give a step-by-step example?

Okay, let’s say, for instance, that you’re in London and you’re looking for a Korean facial massage (kyung-rak). Here’s what I’d recommend you to do:

Get in touch with the more glamorous Korean girls at your university and ask them for recommendations. It would also be worthwhile paying visits to the East Asian supermarkets in your area and checking their noticeboards and any business cards displayed on the till.

Have a look at Korean expat forums and newspapers in the UK. 04UK is the biggest Korean expat forum for Britain, and Korean Weekly (코리안위클리) is the major newspaper which keeps a good selection of classifieds and directories. There’s also the London Korean News.

Research logically. New Malden has the highest population of Koreans outside of Korea, so it would be sensible to start looking there. Use the location tag function on Instagram and search broadly—looking for a “spa” and filtering through results manually is going to be more effective than trying to search specifically for “facial massage”.

When you’ve found any kind of aesthetic clinic run/frequented by Koreans in London, take a look at the ‘suggested’ section on their IG as well as who they are following. Compile a list of every account which looks good to you.

Take that list, and start shortlisting by making notes of the techniques, products, and results shown on their page, their reviews, and their sanitation policies. It’s best to have a top choice and a couple of backups just in case they can’t/won’t book you for whatever reason.

Message the account politely, in Korean if they’ve mostly or only used Korean on their page, and ask any questions you have and book your desired treatment. Remember to take cash (always appreciated, even if they do offer card payments!), be prepared for intense treatments in less-than-glamorous locations, and use Google Translate, inspiration photos and videos, and/or bring a Korean-speaking friend with you (check whether it’s okay to bring a friend first!) to navigate any language barriers.

[foodbazaar1]

Food Bazaar Hayes is your go-to supermarket in Hayes, London, for an exceptional variety of Indian groceries and international products. From authentic Indian spices to Korean noodles, American snacks, Italian pasta, and more, we cater to all your culinary needs. Explore our diverse selection and enjoy a world of flavors under one roof.

[thecreationofevelyn]

31st of December 2022

Today I visited the British Museum to see the Hieroglyphs: unlocking Ancient Egypt exhibition, it was really interesting, and it was amazing to see such historic items on display; I found it interesting the see that some of the Demotic scripts have some similarities to the Korean alphabet. I visited a little Italian cafe afterward and had a latte with Crème Brûlée.

Later on the evening, I visited a Chinese restaurant to have a meal with a good friend and catch up with each other, it was nice to see she has settled into her life in London and is doing well; we visited some Asian supermarkets and got snacks to have while we walked to our area to view the New Years firework display by London Eye, although it was an incredibly long walk, it was wonderful to bring in the new year with friends and family and check something off my bucket list.

[avenirdelight]

Consolation Prize

Son Heungmin

Request: he comes home sadly after a match and you take a shower with him, cook his favorite food, and comfort him. he hugs you like a teddy bear and breathes your scent, slowly kisses you.

The referee blew the full time whistle. She felt her heart broke when the camera zoomed in on Sonny. Disappointment was sprawled all over his face. He looked exhausted. It definitely wasn’t his best performance, and she knew how upset he must be for missing some goals that led his team into a defeat in the London derby today.

He said he would be home by the evening, so she thought that it would be nice if she cooks him dinner. She had mastered the Korean seafood pancake recipe that she learned from his mother, so maybe a comfort food would cheer him up a little bit. She rushed herself to the supermarket to get the ingredients, stopped by the bakery to get his favourite bread and pudding, and started occupying the kitchen as soon as she got home.

Sonny came home when she was just done cooking and about to set the table. He greeted her with a tired smile and she welcomed him in a big hug. But then he got distracted as he noticed something.

“Wait, I know this smell,” he said as he sniffed, still hugging her, trying to search for a clue from the familiar aroma that came from the kitchen.

“Sure you do.”

“Did you make haemulpajeon (seafood pancake)?”

He pulled back from the hug and she just answered his question with a smirk, happy to see a surprised and excited smile replacing the gloominess on his face.

“That’s my favourite!”

“I know,” she giggled. “Do you want to eat or shower first?”

“Eat first. I’m really hungry, I didn’t eat after match,” he sighed, rubbing his belly.

She asked him to go sit down and wait as she prepared the table, but he insisted to help. He beamed when he saw the beautiful seafood pancake. It had been a quite long time since the last time he had it and he was excited for it. He thanked her for making the pancake for him. Coming home after a tiring match to his favourite food was something he didn’t know he needed.

His face brightened up a bit after his first bite of the pancake that she made. He let out a long sigh as he let the tasty flavours spoiled his taste buds. She did nothing but smile at the sight of him savouring the pancake.

“This is literally the same as what my mother makes!” he exclaimed. “The last time you made it, something was still missing but this one is perfect!” He praised her over and over again, saying how delicious the pancake was, making her really feel satisfied because she finally nailed the dish.

She was really worried about Sonny and wanted to ask him how he was feeling. But she decided to wait and let him have his dinner in peace and saved the question for later. They still had the whole night to talk about it, if he wanted to talk about it. She would always be ready for him if he wanted to share what he was feeling.

 -----

The warm water was running down the shower. Sonny was shampooing his hair when he heard a knock on the door. Through the clear shower glass, he saw the door being opened before her head peeked inside.

“Do you have room for one more?” she asked.

His lips perked into a smile. “Come here,” he said.

He watched her as she entered the bathroom and stripped her clothes off, letting out a small sigh when he saw the beautiful sight of her covered in nothing. She put on a shower cap before she got in the shower. He burst into laughter when he realized the pattern of her shower cap.

“Why ducks?”

“Don’t laugh! I lost my shower cap and this was the only one I could find at the store!”

“It’s cute. It looks good on you. Still so pretty,” he joked, earning a playful smack on his arm from her.

“Oh, really? You’d tell me I’m gorgeous even if I’m wearing duck printed pajamas, wouldn’t you?”

“Well, you look pretty in anything… Or in nothing…”

She snickered as he pulled her into a hug, and they both stayed like that for a moment under the warm water. He was getting comfortable, but she hurried him to continue his shower. He was tired and she didn’t want him to get sick from being under the water for too long.

“Your shower gel smells different,” he commented, realizing that it was not the usual lovely sweet scent that was filling the shower stall. It was fresher like flowers, with a hint of sweetness, and softer.

“Oh, I bought a different one. I just wanted to try this new product that I found... What do you think?”

“I like it. Smells more like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The previous one was just sweet. This one is still sweet, but more fresh. It reminds me of your sweet and happy smile.”

She chuckled as she turn around, signalling him to help her wash her back. “So you like this one better?”

“I think so,” he said as he opened the shower gel bottle and smelling the scent before putting the product into his hand and gently rubbing her back. When he finished, he asked her to do the same for him. He let out a relieved sigh as she gave him little massages on his shoulder and back, trying to relieve the tension on his stiffened muscles.

They got out of the shower together. After drying themselves up and putting on pyjamas to keep them warm, she helped him to dry his hair as she told him about her day and updated him about her sister’s wedding. The dress code for the wedding had been decided and the family would need to dress in navy blue. Sonny joked that he would just wear the Spurs navy blue suit.

She had just done her night skincare routine and was tidying up her dressing table when she felt a pair of arms sneaked around her from behind. She glanced at the mirror and saw the reflection of Sonny hugging her, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her lips twitched into a small smile as she turned around. He immediately wrapped his arm around her, burying her in the biggest bear hug ever.

“Hello, you,” she mumbled into his shoulder.

“I’m sorry I didn’t win today like I promised,” he replied. The disappointment and regret in his voice were clear. She hated it every time he spoke with his sad voice on.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s just one match. Let’s win the next, okay?”

“But I didn’t even do my best. I should have pushed more,” he sighed heavily. “Sorry I disappoint you. You were so excited for this derby.”

“You’re literally the best player out there. You don’t disappoint me just because you lost one match.”

She pulled back from the hug. He had his head hung low, so she lifted it up with both of her hands. He was frowning, and she copied his expression.

“I’ll let you be sad today, but tomorrow we’ll wake up with a smile, okay? We got important matches coming up.”

He nodded and pulled her back into his embrace. He didn’t say it, but he was thinking about how grateful he was for the attention she gave him. After his mum, she was definitely his biggest supporter. He told himself how lucky he was to have her who didn’t only care about him but also what he loved and what he did for a living.

He whispered “I love you” into her ear twice, which she quickly replied.

-----

He was cuddled to her in bed; his face was buried on her neck, their legs entangled, and his hand was rested on her waist. The dinner and the shower made him feel really sleepy, but he didn’t want to fall asleep just yet, still wanting to enjoy the comfort of being wrapped around her arms.

“I don’t think it should be a penalty, you know. The Chelsea guy literally slipped on his own foot, and unfortunately Toby was so close to him,” she said as she recalled the scene of the foul.

“Yeah, we felt like the referee was kind of being unfair…” he agreed.

“That’s why you shouldn’t be too upset about this.”

“But I should’ve scored at least two goals…”

“You did okay, you still took chances. It’s just pure bad luck that the ball hit the woodwork twice.”

She was just being honest that Sonny didn’t do his best, but it definitely was not his worst either. Sonny always preferred her to tell him that he doesn’t do good rather than being told only sweet words when the fact is the opposite. It motivated him more to do better. Since she came into his life, he had an extra purpose when he plays which is to make her proud.

“Thank you, baby,” he mumbled, suddenly diverting the topic.

“For what?”

“For taking care of me. I know you made the haemulpajeon to cheer me up. Your hug would have been enough to comfort me, but of course you did more,” he said. He felt so grateful for her who always did her best to console him every time he lost a match. Whether it was cooking for him, preparing a nice and warm bath, or even just giving him a massage before sleep, he was always thankful of the things she did.

“Oh, baby, it’s my pleasure to take care of you.”

“I have two weeks of break next week. I’m going to take you on a lot of dates.”

“Oh, really? What have you planned?”

“Well, there are some places I want to take you to, but I’m still making the plan.”

Both of them fell into a comfortable silence. The only thing that she could hear was his breathing. He felt calm listening to the sound of her heartbeat. They really loved moments like this, just them being so close to each other and sharing warmth.

“You smell so good, baby,” he praised her. His brain just couldn’t stop thinking about how calming and soothing her scent was. The scent of the new shower gel and her natural scent really complimented each other. He kept breathing it as an effort to remember this particular scent, making some space in his brain to store this new detail about her.

“Aw, thank you.”

He wriggled out of her embrace and raised his head. She searched for his face, wondering what he was doing.

“Lean down so I can kiss you.”

She chuckled as she ruffled his fluffy hair. She traced his slightly parted lips with her thumb while admiring his face. All the gloomy expressions had left, leaving only tiredness to occupy. All he needed was a good night sleep, and she believed he would be so much better in the morning.

She cupped his face and leaned down until he reached her lips. He welcomed her in a sweet kiss. His hand that was resting in her waist pulled her closer. As he craved more of the kiss, he propped his body up with his other hand to take more control. He broke the kiss briefly to carefully lay her down before reconnecting their lips. He cupped her face and gently caressed her cheek.

His kiss was soft and undemanding. He was just giving. She felt nothing but his love for her. She held on to his sides because her head always got slightly dizzy every time he kissed her like this.

He gave her a long peck on her lips before breaking the kiss. He gave her a warm smile and little kisses on her cheeks. He nuzzled his face into her shoulder and he was back in their previous position with him cuddled in her arms. She planted a kiss on his forehead as she caressed his back, giving him the comfort that he needed.

He started to drift off to sleep. The last thing he thought before he fell asleep was how disappointed and unsatisfied he was with today’s result. But it was okay because he got her, the best consolation prize he could ever ask for. As long as he got her, he knew that everything was going to be alright.

—

My Masterlist🤍

[batnbreakfast]

My day (partly) in pictures: Went to Bermondsey Square for the antiques market (bought some antique cake toppers, with the grumpy corvid being my fav), had breakfast at a seriously good coffee shop (thanks for the rec @littlemisso - maybe the city and I can sometimes make our peace in regards to coffee), walked from Borough station to Leicester Square (because why not ^^), took a walk around King’s Cross with @iordio (who also took me to a supermarket and an artisan gin market stall - excellent 😄), watched the boats pass the lock (amazing how serene parts of London can be), had the most delicious Korean BBQ burger (and stole quite a lot of Iordio’s chips), then got changed to go and watch a truly impressive performance of Neil Gaiman’s “The Ocean at the Ende of the Lane” (The puppeteers!! The state design!! The choreography!!)), and ended my day after a venture into Soho for a drink (hello fellow queers, I missed this) by listening to a mesmerising cello player on my way to the tube.

[theburgerlist]

𝙂𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 🍔 Big fan of the food at @wtf.burger. The @ubereats_uk only plant based burger restaurant have a few locations dotted around London and luckily I have one a mile away in Park Royal. They use @miamiburgeruk for their “beef” and “chicken”, and ima. Big fan! They’re different to patties like Beyond and Moving Mountains, I’d say they’re more similar to Symplicity. Their chicken is also McDonalds chicken nugget-like, so you do get that value chicken burger taste rather than a thigh piece, and when I say value I don’t mean that it’s in any way not nice, but they’re more along the lines of the supermarket breaded chicken burgers rather than a trip to Chick n Sours. They do rely on sauce though, and unfortunately the chicken burger I got (Korean Chick n Seoul) didn’t have the gochujang sauce it was meant to have in it, BUT even sans-sauce I thought the chicken burger was nice! The “beef” burger was the WTF! Bacon Cheeseburger, I really liked the crispy bacon bits in it, they definitely had that Smokey smell and taste. From looking at their locations I can see that their menu differs a bit depending on where you order from, but their burger, side and drink deal for £12.50 is pretty good considering vegan fast food is still sold at a bit of a premium! 100% would order again, and quite tempted to do so tonight tbh. . . . . . #burger #burgers #cheeseburger #cheeseburgers #hamburger #hamburgers #beefburger #veganburger #burgerlife #burgerlove #burgerlover #burgerlovers #burgertime #burgeraddict #burgerporn #burgersofinstagram #burgerheaven #burgernight #burgerday #burgerjoint #londonfoodblogger (at WTF - Mind-Blowing Burgers) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYq6ebSIXxH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ladyherenya]

This was more-books-than-sometimes month, because rather than take the time to write about the books I'd finished, I just read more books! Also, I read a lot over the Easter break, including some shorter books and a very binge-able series.

Also read: Two-Step and Someone Like Me by Stephanie Fournet, Hooked by Cathy Yardley, “Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears” and “All the Different Shades of Blue” by W.R. Gingell, and “Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” by Martha Wells.

Reread: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer.

Total: nineteen novels (including two audiobooks and one reread), one novella collection, two novellas, two novelettes and one short story.

Cover thoughts: Bellewether’s blue cover is (unsurprisingly) my favourite. I also really like The Ghosts of Sherwood. 

Still reading: A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White and Playing Hearts by W.R. Gingell.

Next up: Torch by R.J. Anderson.

My full reviews are on Dreamwidth and LibraryThing.

*

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (narrated by Saskia Maarleveld): Historical mystery about three young women who worked at Bletchley Park during WWII.

My favourite out of the books I’ve read so far this year. Most of the narrative is set during the war, but interspersed with sections set in 1947 -- when Beth, in a sanitarium after a breakdown, has sent her two estranged friends a coded message begging for help. I loved this, but at times found it stressful and heartbreaking! The writing is so lively and effective and emotional. 4½ ★

 *

Castle Charming by Tansy Raynor Roberts: Fairytale retellings, collection of novellas.

A very entertaining and a somewhat different take on fairytales, focusing on the reporters, Royal Hounds and royalty at Castle Charming. Some of the character dynamics felt similar to those in Roberts’ Unreal Alchemy although I didn’t feel quite as attached to these characters. I’ll read the sequel. 3 ★ 

*

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley: Historical and contemporary fiction, set in Long Island during the so-called Seven Years War in 1759 and the present day.

Alternates between a curator overseeing turning a house in a museum and some of the house’s previous occupants, including a French-Canadian Lieutenant awaiting hostage exchange. Despite the various tensions the characters face, there’s something slow and ultimately gentle about this story. Which is lovely --  I enjoyed the picturesque sense of place and astute observations of people -- but it is less dramatic than I was expecting. 3½ ★

*

Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott: Contemporary romance, set on the Appalachian Trail.

A park ranger and a hiker shelter together during a storm. I was fascinated by the insight into hiking the Appalachian Trail and enjoyed some of the characters’ interactions, although I thought the way the romance unfolded was somewhat anticlimactic. Not always what I wanted, but I don't regret reading it.

*

Legacy by Stephanie Fournet: Contemporary enemies-to-roommates-to-lovers.

Wes offers to move in with his late-best friend’s girlfriend to help her out financially. This sort of hurt/comfort appeals to me. I liked how seriously this story takes Corinne’s messy, consuming grief. I don’t really want to spend any more time with the characters, but I was very invested in seeing them reach a better place in their lives.

Two-Step by Stephanie Fournet: Contemporary romance between an actress and a dance instructor. I enjoyed reading this. I particularly enjoyed how Beau helps Iris with her anxiety about dancing and with her controlling mother/manager. He’s very supportive and understanding! But I finished this with a niggling feeling of dissatisfaction -- Iris needed more opportunity to support Beau in turn.

Someone Like Me by Stephanie Fournet: Contemporary romance between a yoga instructor and her new neighbour, who has just got out of prison.

This one didn’t particularly appeal to me. Although interesting to see the experiences of someone recently released from prison, the romance developed too quickly.

(No, I didn’t read all three of these back-to-back!)

*

Hooked by Cathy Yardley: Contemporary fandom-y romance novella, set near Seattle. Takes place during Level Up and is about two of Tessa’s colleagues.

I enjoyed the characters' interactions and would have liked this more if it hadn't felt rushed. 

*

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn: Historical Robin Hood retelling, novella.

Exactly what I wanted! It alternates between Robin and Marian’s eldest daughter, Mary, and Marian herself. I liked seeing Robin and Marian as a long-married couple, who still love each other and still have disagreements. And the dynamic between their children gave me a zing of recognition, reminding me of my siblings. 3½ ★

*

The City Between by W.R. Gingell: Australian YA urban fantasy (murder) mysteries. Set in Hobart.

I ended up enjoying this series so much more than I’d expected to!

Between Jobs: After a neighbour is murdered, our seventeen-year-old orphaned narrator acquires some unexpected housemates -- two fae, one vampire. Once I got past the opening, with its tales of murder, the worldbuilding intrigued me. I still wasn’t sure what I thought about her housemates or the fact that they call her “Pet”, but was willing to reserve judgement until I’d read more. 3 ★

Between Shifts: About supermarket shifts and shapeshifters. Pet and JinYeong go undercover at the local grocery store. This is a reasonable murder mystery. I was initially disappointed with how something played out (but in retrospect can see how that was actually a positive development for Pet). It ended on a cliffhanger, so I was extra motivated to start the next book. 2½ ★

Between Floors: This is where the series took off, because things suddenly get personal! One of her fae housemates has been captured and the closest any of them get to finding Athelas is Pet contacting him in her dreams.This raises a lot of interesting questions, not just about Pet’s abilities, but about her relationship with her housemates. How much does she trust them and how much do they value Pet’s personhood? 3½ ★

Between Frames: Pet’s housemates are hired to investigate a series of fae deaths around Hobart, which involves scrutinising some baffling security footage.  Another solid murder mystery.  The final pages felt like one step forward, two steps back, but yet again, in retrospect, this was a positive development. I’m glad I could dive immediately into the next book. 3 ★

Between Homes: Pet has moved in with some friends. Hurray for Pet having friends! I think this was the point where I started to feel comfortable with Pet calling herself Pet -- when it's the name used by people she likes and trusts and who don’t view her as a pet at all. 3½ ★

“Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears” (novelette): An awesome title and an entertaining opportunity to see Pet from someone else’s perspective -- moreover, someone who doesn’t know her or what she’s capable of. 3 ★

Between Walls: Pet’s friend Morgana is worried about an online friends and asks Pet and co to investigate his disappearance. Along the way, they discover that there are human groups who actually know a lot about Behindkind. I am also becoming increasingly entertained by the Korean vampire. 3 ★

“All the Different Shades of Blue” (novelette): A great cover and it explains who that guy at the cafe is, but otherwise didn’t really do anything Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears hadn’t already done -- ie., show us Pet from someone else’s perspective. Most of the time, I have enjoyed this series all the more for binging it, but I suspect this particular story would have worked better if I had read it after a period of absence. 2½ ★

Between Cases:  My favourite of these have been the ones where things get personal, and this involves a lot of revelations about who Pet is -- from a fae perspective -- and why her parents were murdered. I enjoyed this one a lot. 3½ ★

*

The Duke of Olympia Meets His Match by Juliana Gray: Historical espionage romance novella, set in 1893 onboard an ocean liner travelling to England. Apparently not the Duke’s first appearance in Gray’s fiction.

I liked the idea here much better than the execution. I liked Penelope, a fifty-year-old widow dependent upon her position as a governess, and I enjoyed her interactions with the older Duke of Olympia. But parts of the spy plot were rushed or confusing, and the resolution was almost-but-not-entirely satisfying. 2½ ★

*

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer: Fantasy. Follows on from the fairytale-retelling A Curse So Dark and Lonely and its sequel, A Heart So Fierce and Broken.

If this is meant as a conclusion to a trilogy, then the ending was a bit too anticlimactic, with a few too many loose ends, to be really satisfying. But I reached the end feeling positive about the story, because I really enjoyed the characters’ interactions. All of the protagonists have to deal with conflict in relationships. I loved the times when they each navigate these conflicts by acting fairly and communicating honestly, when doing so is often difficult and complicated. That’s realistic and satisfying. 3½ ★

*

“Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” by Martha Wells:  Science-fiction short story. Part of The Murderbot Diaries series, set after Exit Strategy.

Very, very short but I really liked seeing things from Dr Ayda Mensah’s (third person) perspective. 3½ ★

*

Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace: Historical coming-of-age fiction, set in Minnesota in 1912-3.

I am very glad to finally have read this! It’s delightful, a fascinating insight into community life in a Minnesotan town, and it effectively captures the emotional experience of navigating a period of transition. After high school, Emily’s friends  leave for college, but Emily has to find her own path to purposefully fill her time, build connections and further her education. 4 ★

*

On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White (narrated by Susan Lyons): Romantic historical mystery, set in London during 1918. Christian fiction. Features characters from The Number of Love.

Arabelle Denler is a nurse working in a London hospital; Phillip Camden is an airman now working for British Intelligence. I enjoyed their interactions, especially once they start to get to know each other. I didn’t like the antagonist’s contribution to this narrative -- between the dangers of wartime and the protagonists’ respective issues, there’s enough tension without her. But what I enjoyed about this story outweighed what I didn’t. 3½ ★

*

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson: Historical fiction set during the Nazi occupation of Italy in WWII.

Nina, a young Jewish woman from Venice, goes into hiding by pretending she’s married to Nico, a Catholic farmer. Robson’s strength lies in pairing details of daily life with likeable characters, realistic dialogue and a sweet romance. I read this quickly and eagerly. But if the characters had been more nuanced, more complex, or if their emotions had been conveyed more vividly, I likely would have found reading this a more emotional experience. 3½ ★

[asrisgratitudejournal]

99

Haha ini title postnya berdasarkan jumlah followers tumblr ku yang sekarang ada 99. Ternyata si postingan Jardine itu sangat laku ya. Padahal ini awal pembuatan tumblrnya adalah to deal with my depression karena merasa nggak berprogres dalam hidup makanya mau nulis things to be grateful for setiap hari atau seminggu 1x lah minimal, dan to make myself feel better. Anyway, mungkin berterimakasih dulu ke kak Dea yang sudah membuatku menulis tentang experience Jardine walaupun itu TMI semua isinya. Sepertinya ku memang harus di-push atau diminta gitu deh baru bisa produktif hm. Sekarang pun sebetulnya masih ada PR ke Kak Davit karena dia minta ku bikin tulisan tentang “ekosistem pendidikan di oxford university yang baik untuk diteladani” untuk di-pos di webnya beliau. Cuma ya gitu, ku tunda-tunda terus karena merasa kurang materi alias susah juga karena aku belajarnya S3 kan di sini, dan aku gapernah tahu S3 di Indonesia kaya gimana(?) jadi nggak apple to apple. Atau ya sebetulnya bisa sih aku tulis tentang S1… well, anyway, pada akhirnya aku mengeluarkan excuses aja sih ini HAHA. Tapi aku coba deh mulai drafting at least outlinenya aja today (ini juga merupakan salah satu usahaku untuk avoiding working today sepertinya…. termasuk dengan menulis post ini juga…)

Terakhir ngepos ternyata minggu lalu! Tanggal 7 September imagine. Itu juga buat julid…. yang betul-betul ngelist things to be grateful tanggal 5 september alias Sabtu minggu lalu. Dari hari itu ke Senin ini udah ada ribuan events deh kayanya, dari yang paling early dulu ya:

Berhasil datang ke departemen pagi ini! Sampai dept jam 9.15 am WOW pagi banget ya. Ini kayanya perdana deh ku berhasil sampai jam segitu selain emang harus ngelab. Ini tapi ku merasa udah agak kesiangan sesungguhnya. Besok mencoba jam 9 teng sudah sampai office ah. Oh iya, ku lagi program akan WFO tiap hari mulai Senin ini! Karena sudah lifted semua restriction kan. Dan memang sepertinya akan jauh lebih produktif kalau ke office. Hari ini targetnya adalah: melihat dan ngeplot data %S yang sudah kudapatkan dari lab di RHUL!

Sudah vote round 1 Ketua PPI UK juga! Sepertinya karena pandeminya sudah mulai berakhir jadi lebih seru ya. Tahun lalu seingatku calonnya cuma 2(?) dan memang ku belum eligible to vote juga sih waktu itu jadi nggak terlalu ngikutin. Tapi yang sekarang ini ada 4 kandidat dan salah satunya aku kenal hehe, sayangnya nggak bisa jadi timses karena masih dihitung sebagai pengurus PPI UK aktif kan sekarang. Anyway, YES sebentar lagi dekomisioner!!! Akhirnyaaaaaaaaaa

Kemarin Minggu plannya mau istirahat aja aslinya. Memang ada kelas DD dan Raka sampe dari jam 0800 sampai jam 1200, terus tadinya pengen nggak ngapa-ngapain aja seharian atau nonton Hometown Cha3x atau Money Heist gitu. Eh tapi tiba-tiba jadi banyak banget agenda after lunch… Call sama sampah, terus meeting sama Bapak Ibu juri juga bahas soal yang bakal keluar besok, paling highlight itu ditelpon sama Teh Rosi sih, dia lagi otw Oxford mau shooting-in Mas Indra terus butuh cameo gitu… jadi yasudahlah langsung mandi saya dan cabs ketemuan di Radcam jam 1500. Seru nemenin Mas Indra shooting di Christchurch meadow, terus beresnya dianter pulang ke rumah sama Teh Rosi + dikasih berkat banyak bangeeet: tahu mentah buat dimasak, nasi biryani, bihun, gorengan bakwan, mini lumpia ebi, kastangel… wow betul-betul yah berkat dari silaturahmi…..

Sabtu malam ku berhasil masak nasigoreng! Kemarin dikirimin abon dari Indo dititipin via Alris, ini abon daging kurban di Karanganyar dibawain papaku ke Jakarta pas PPKM huhu terharu banget gaksi. Yaudah karena ku biasanya makan abon pake nasgor, akhirnya beres badminton (YANG MANA ADL CAPEK BGT) memutuskan untuk ke Sainsburys buat beli tomat dan timun untuk dimakan dengan nasgor + abon. Kebetulan masih punya ayam KFC sisa juga. Jadi ku goreng bareng aja itu ayamnya setelah ku-suwir. Sampe sekarang nasgornya masih ada di kulkas btw….. karena mayan banyak porsinya ku masaknya. Satu hal yang betul-betul baru kusadari lagi setelah kemarin masak: banyak banget cucian piring HUHU. Akhirnya tapi kutinggalin aja itu di sink sampai Minggu pagi sebelum kelas DD baru kucuci…

Sabtu Badminton as usual! Terus ramai ber-8, Prama ngebook 2 courts. Tapi sedih banget starting from next week there’s no more court in Brookes that we can use karena udah ga covid kan… terus kayanya ya courtnya akan dipake sama anak-anak Brookes aja terutama karena ada freshers event and everything ☹ sekarang lagi mikir sih gimana main habis ini hmmm tadi googling ada session di Iffley tapi sama si OUBC gitu. Probably I’ll try that one(?)

Jumat ketemu sama Tamsin ngobrol banyak banget dan senang banget juga! Udah ada target buat submit paper by Christmas this year. Semua data udah ada di aku kan, jadi memang betul-betul tinggal analisis dan nulis aja sekarang…. huf doakan aku ya manteman! Kami juga bahas what to do for the 2nd chapter of my thesis and what’s the plan after I finish my dphil. I’m just so happy to be able to talk freely with my spv tho! :))))

Kamis ke London!!! Ada lunch sama Jardine di kantor mereka terus I got to see so many new people! Jelas ketemu dengan Ben dan Adam Keswicknya langsung *huhu imagine, orang yang meng-inves £40k++ per tahun ke diriku yang worthless ini* -- tbh foodnya ok aja tapi ya experiencenya sih yang memang sangat berharga. Bisa ketemu dengan teman-teman sesame scholars di Oxbridge, ada yang udah submit disertasi tinggal nunggu viva, ada undergrads juga. I’m not into meeting new people sebetulnya. Tapi ya akibat pandemic and I literally just came to a new place where I don’t know anyone, ya lagi-lagi silaturahmi alias networking itu harus dibangun… habis lunch, jalan-jalan ke Chinatown di London. Beli bubble tea yang sangat enak di Kissaten!!! Super wajib beli anyone kalau ke London. Habis itu nemenin Gabriella nyari snowy mooncake rasa white peach ke supermarket-supermarket di Chinatown. Terus ke Oseyo juga! Itu Korean supermarket di London, yang mana ku beli Cold Brew packaging BTS di situ (baru beli RM dan Jimin sih). Terus abis itu ketemu sama Angel yang besoknya akan kembali ke Indonesia. Akhirnya ketemu juga sama teman-teman PPI UK -ku. Balik-balik sampai Ox jam 8 pm gitu? Laper banget akhirnya beli kebab seturunnya bis dan lucunya si Wian melihat ku lagi jajan kebab haha dia baru balik dari lab ceunah. Padahal siangnya ya kami ketemuan juga di lunch Jardine, tapi nggak ngobrol banyak sih cuma papasan aja karena kami beda ruangan.

Rabu-Selasa-Senin kayanya w lagi fase low mood aja jadi nggak ngapa-ngapain, literally stay at home doing nothing. Berusaha untuk baca paper tapi ya gitu lah… sekarang targetnya sebetulnya adalah submit paper ke jurnal karena sudah lewat deadline untuk CPUI ke PUI haha. Doakan aku ya wankawan.

Ah! Minggunya minggu lalu! Terakhir kan ku cerita akan ada talk GEA ya, itu kayanya ngeposnya pagi deh. Terus yaudah, akhirnya talk GEAnya lancar Alhamdulillah (sekali lagi terima kasih kepada Devyul dan tim atas kesempatannya, semoga bermanfaat acaranya). Terus habis itu ke rumah Mas Indra lah saya, dimasakin steak! sangat enak lalu main boardgame: Ticket to Ride (in which I lose ☹) terus ngobrol-ngobrol dan kemudian pulang. Sampai rumah jam 9 pm-an I think…

Wow panjang juga post ini haha. Tapi memang eventful banget last weekend. Bagus sih tapi jadinya I feel like I’m more alive (?) somehow. Oh iya keluarga juga back home Alhamdulillah sehat-sehat, kemarin mama malahan abis main ke puncak sama grup senamnya hadeh. Aku gatau seperti apa kondisi Indonesia sekarang, but thankfully I see less sad thread/stories on twitter(?). Semoga membaik ya. I think the PPKM thing is implemented well. Hope things get better soon!

30.18 11.17 am 13/09/2021

[goodwriterwithbadhabits]

Second Chance

I have never written something like this, so I am totally willing to write more about this scenario. I hope it makes sense.

Master List

~~

“Mom, its not a joke this time, I’m really sure.” 

“I really hope so, darling, for his sake.” You laugh, leaning down slightly to look at the selections of meat. “If he breaks up with you again, I’m flying back to London to kill him myself.” 

“You don’t mean that, mom.” 

“You know I do Opal.” You assure your oldest daughter. “And I’d say the same to Ruby if that Rin breaks up with her too.” Opal laughs, which brings a smile to your face. 

“Speaking of Ruby, how is she?”

“You know your sister, she’s had her nose in the books for weeks now. Claims she has to prove Harvard made the right choice.” 

“Oh because the daughter of a neurosurgeon and an accountant, and the younger sister of a respected paleobotanist is the wrong choice to be a lawyer.” Opal chuckles at the thought, “Where on earth did she get that thought?” 

“I imagine it has a lot to do with your father. The affair, the divorce, she’s much younger than you darling, she had to bear the brunt of it.” You stand upright, looking up as you blink away tears. 

“She doesn’t hate you for it mom.” 

“I really hope not.” 

“How’s Korea? You said you hadn’t been back since before I was born.” Opal changes the subject and you focus back on the food in front of you. 

“A lot has changed. Things are more expensive.”

“Have you run into any old friends?” The smile that forms on your face at the memory of the boys you had once been close to probably looked sad to an outsider. 

“Ah, not yet. But it’s been over 25 years, they’ve probably forgotten about me.”

“You’re hard to forget, mom. I’ve got to go though, I just got to work.” 

“Of course, darling. I expect an invitation soon.” 

“You’ll get the first one. Love you.”

“Love you too, sweetie.” She hangs up with a click and you find yourself alone once again, looking at meat in a Korean supermarket. “Tonight shall be chicken.” You muse aloud, picking up the two packages to inspect them. As you turn, you nearly drop your basket when you see the person behind you. 

His hair is starting to grey at the temples, and his eyes are surrounded by smile lines, but he still looks so familiar.

“Y/n?” The shock on his face is almost amusing. 

“Bang Chan, its been far too long.” 

~~

“27 years, you’ve barely aged a day.” He grins at you over his coffee cup. 

“That would be thanks to make up and hair dye.” You joke, “You look ancient my friend.” He laughs, the hearty boom you had missed so dearly, that has you reaching over the table trying to shush him. “You are so loud.” 

“Gosh, 27 years.” He sighs, “What happened to you?” Its your turn to sigh, a smile on your lips. 

“Well, I met a guy,” His shoulders slump slightly at your words, but you pretend not to notice. “I didn’t really like him, but we had two kids. Two beautiful daughters. And, just last month, our divorce was finalized.” 

“I’m sorry.” You wave him off, not too broken up about it. 

“It’s alright. We only stayed together for the girl’s sake. Once Ruby, the youngest, was off to college we started the process. What about you? I heard Stay Kids ended up disbanding right before Minho went to the military.”

“Kind of. I got really hurt, shattered my kneecap about a week after having surgery for a torn ACL, no amount of physical therapy was going to let me dance again.”

“That really sucks, I know how much you loved that.” 

“Well, it was destiny it seemed.” He shrugs, “Then Minho left for the Military and Changbin went with.”

“How are the others then?”

“It was wild at first.” He begins, sipping his coffee thoughtfully. “Hyunjin and Seungmin live together now, Minho and Jisung got married after Jisung came back from the military. Felix came out, officially, and pretty much changed the face of Korea with that one.”

“I heard about that, It was pretty big in America.” 

“We all still hang out regularly, and put out music from time to time. I’m mostly working as a producer for the new groups out right now.” 

“And what about your love life? I heard you got married.” He smiles sadly, the same way you do when you think about what could have been if you’d stayed in Korea.

“I’ll be honest, in my life there have been two women I have ever loved.” He starts, “One of them, I got to marry for five wonderful years, and have a wonderful son with.” He clears his throat and you can’t help but set your hand over his in an attempt to comfort him. “She died when Eunsom was four.”

“Oh, Channie, I am so sorry.” 

“Its alright, it was years ago, and I’m sure she wouldn’t want me wallowing in grief for the rest of my life.” 

“I think you’re right.” You smile softly at him, trying to convey understanding. “And what about the other woman?”

“Well, 27 years ago I broke her heart and she went home to America, but somehow, I ran into her again today at the supermarket.” You can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up, nor can you stop the blush that covers your cheeks. “I really hope she’s forgiven me, and might even tell me what she’s doing here?” 

“She forgave you years ago.” You assure him, “And ironically, its because she now works at the same place you do.” The smile that erupts onto his face is contagious. 

“Really?”

“I always have technically, I was in the New York office, but they let me move back here after everything was settled.” 

“So you’re here for good?” 

“I am.” You nod happily. “And it looks like we’ll be seeing plenty of each other.” Chan flips his hand, lacing his fingers into yours, the same way that it used to make your heart flutter when you were twenty. 

“Well I for one, and happy to hear that.”

[hiyouuk]

Rapid Noodles: Satisfy Your Cravings with Instant Ramen

Golden Curry is one of the most popular premium brands of Instant Ramen Japanese curry and comes in a block of 8 pieces, enough to serve up to 8 people. This medium spicy version retains the slightly sweet flavour of Japanese curry with a small spicy kick.

[starring-movies]

Killing Eve: Episode Analysis

*SPOILERS*

Season 3, Episode 1 - Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey

The first episode of Season 3 begins about 6 months after the events in Rome, from the end of the last season, and starts with Villanelle getting married to a woman named Maria - now Villanelle doesn’t have a job, she needs a way to support herself financially so she does this via Maria.

During her wedding speech, Villanelle refers to Eve as “my ex”. In S2E1 when she was speaking to Gabriel in the hospital, she also referred to Eve as “my girlfriend”. Both of these instances show us how Villanelle has considered that she and Eve were in a ‘relationship’ of some sort for all this time.

When Villanelle finds that Dasha has turned up to her “special day”, the same shots are repeated from S2E3. Villanelle runs up to Dasha and then tackles her to the ground, which is shot in the same way as when Villanelle runs up to Konstantin and then hugs him in S2E3. The choice to repeat the same shots is implemented to emphasise the difference in Villanelle’s relationship with Konstantin and Dasha (both people who had a big impact on Villanele while she was growing up) - after being separated from Konstantin, Villanelle fondly hugs him; but after being apart from Dasha for so long, Villanelle feels nothing but anger towards her.

When Villanelle is reunited with Dasha, after Dasha crashed Villanelle’s wedding, she keeps calling Villanelle “Oksana” and so Villanelle tells her “you call me, Villanelle”. This is small but clever little detail. Through just this act of Dasha calling Villanelle the wrong name, we are told that Dasha, like Anna, (who also calls her Oksana) is obviously someone who Villanelle knew a long time ago in her past, before she adopted the name ‘Villanelle’.

We are then reintroduced to Eve, who is doing her shopping in a Korean supermarket in New Malden, London. Not only is Eve buying junk food to stress eat, like she did with the sweets in S2E1, but the convenience food also has a deeper significance. When Eve was with Niko he was always the one who cooked, but now that they’ve separated, Eve doesn’t have anyone to cook for her, so she has to buy things like instant noodles because her lifestyle has changed.

While Eve is paying for her groceries, the woman at the checkout of the Korean supermarket is having a conversation with her friend, where she says “nothing says Romance like Rome” and that she wants to eat “spaghetti” the whole time she’s there. “Spaghetti” is what Eve told Villanelle she’d like her to cook for dinner in S2E8, and the comment that “nothing says Romance like Rome” could have been true for Villanelle and Eve, but for them Rome means tragedy and heartbreak instead.

We also find out that Eve has taken a job in a Korean restaurant. She’s decided to recoil back into the comfort of her culture, where people speak her mother language and eat food that she’s familiar with (and probably associates with home and family). In the restaurant her job is making the dumplings, which is a repetitive, mindless task, just like when we saw Eve chopping the vegetables for the roast chicken in S2E1.

Eve copes with her trauma in the same way as she did in S2E1, after she shot Villanelle. Not only does she do the repetitive tasks, but she also watches “It’s Not Just Shopping”, which is a teleshopping programme, just like how she listened to Armando trying (and succeeding) to sell her some “really expensive windows”.

However, although she is coping with the two situations in the same way, there is also a big difference between the Eve we see in the beginning of Season 2, and the Eve we see in the beginning of Season 3. In Season 2 Eve allowed herself, and was eager, to be sucked back into chasing after Villanelle when Carolyn recruited her again; whereas in Season 3, Eve is stronger and has a certain defiance in her actions. In Season 3 Eve tells her boss she doesn’t want to work in the front of the restaurant, but wants to remain in the kitchen, even though that means less money and more work. Eve also tells Carolyn, when she comes to see her at the restaurant, that she has no interest in Villanelle and trying to find her again, and it is only to investigate Kenny’s death that she decides to return to working with her.

In the office of the boss of the Korean restaurant, a Korean programme where a man gets shot in the head by a woman in playing on the TV behind her. When Eve is on the bus, there is also someone reading a book called “Vixen’s Bite”, with a woman with a gun on the front cover - Eve cannot seem to escape being reminded of Villanelle and of being shot by her.

We are then reintroduced to Kenny, at his new job being an investigative journalist at the ‘Bitter Pill’. Kenny has a conversation with Bear, where he says “well, remind me not to rely on you for anything”; which turns out not to be true, as in S3E8 Bear is the one who finds out Konstantin came to visit Kenny on the day he died.

When Eve is at home, she sends a message to Kenny of a picture of a loo roll. This is a call back to S1E2 when Kenny shows Eve to the toilets at the Trafalgar Office and tells her “it’s best that you bring in your own [loo roll] or it just disappears, how many sheets do you need?”.

After receiving Eve’s message, Kenny goes over to Eve’s apartment and during their conversation he asks her “are you still in touch with, er...” (meaning Niko), and Eve immediately thought Kenny was referring to Villanelle. Eve’s trying to convince herself (and everyone else) that she’s over Villanelle, not interested in her and not thinking about her; but the fact that Eve immediately jumps to thinking that Kenny is referring to Villanelle, and not her husband, shows that this is definitely not the case.

In this scene, she is also wearing the grey T-shirt with birds on it that belonged to Niko, he is seen wearing it in S1E1. However, we only see Eve wearing it when she wants comfort; like after Bill’s death in S1E4, and now in this episode when she’s recovering from what happened to her in Rome.

Later on, when Eve goes to visit Niko at the psychiatric facility, she brings him a bag of fruit pastels, but tells him that she already “ate the green ones for you”. Although Eve probably did this as a caring gesture (since Eve ate them, it’s implied Niko doesn’t like the green ones), it emphasises how Niko still can’t manage to gain control over his own life. Niko wasn’t given the opportunity to try the “green ones” (he may have changed his mind and started to like them) or leave them in the bag himself, Eve had already made the executive decision for him and he wasn’t given the choice to eat the bag of sweets how he wanted to eat them.

Eve eating the green fruit pastels for Niko could also be an indication that this was something that she used to do for him when they were first married/more happily married. If you take this view, then it could be that Eve is trying to simulate how things were previously, or she is being presumptuous that Niko wants things to go back to how they were - but he goes to Poland without telling Eve, so we can see he wants a new start.

Whilst working in the Korean restaurant’s kitchen, there are two men working behind Eve, who’s conversation mirrors Eve’s relationship with Villanelle. One of the men initially says to the other man, “first it was infatuation, this is love”. This definitely reflects how Villanelle’s relationship with Eve was portrayed; it began as Villanelle’s obsession with Eve because she had hair like Anna, but by the end of Season 2 she claims that it has gone beyond “infatuation” and that she does truly love Eve. This was probably also true for Eve, also beginning as an “infatuation” in Villanelle because she is an assassin, but then developing into a deeper sense of love; but at the end of Season 2, Eve was not ready to come to terms with her feelings, and Villanelle hadn’t reached the point of realising what loving Eve really is.

The next time the two men are having a conversation, Eve interjects by telling the man “you’re not even crying because of her, you’re crying because... because you feel stupid, because you were stupid”. This is obviously how Eve feels about what happened with her and Villanelle - she’s not upset because of Villanelle necessarily, but more because she feels that she was stupid. The same thing most likely applies to Villanelle as well, she probably feels stupid for loving Eve, and admitting to loving Eve, when she thought that she was someone “special”.

You can read my previous Killing Eve posts here:-

First Introduction to Villanelle

First Introduction to Eve

S1, E1 - Nice Face

S1, E2 - I’ll Deal With Him Later

S1, E3 - Don’t I Know You?

S1, E4 - Sorry Baby

S1, E5 - I Have a Thing about Bathrooms

S1, E6 - Take Me to the Hole!

S1, E7 - I Don’t Want to Be Free

S1, E8 - God, I’m Tired

S2, E1 - Do You Know How to Dispose of a Body?

S2, E2 - Nice and Neat

S2, E3 - The Hungry Caterpillar

S2, E4 - Desperate Times

S2, E5 - Smell Ya Later

S2, E6 - I Hope You Like Missionary!

S2, E7 - Wide Awake

S2, E8 - You’re Mine

S3, E2 - Management Sucks

S3, E3 - Meetings Have Biscuits

S3, E4 - Still Got It

S3, E5 - Are You From Pinner? [Part 1]

S3, E5 - Are You From Pinner? [Part 2]

S3, E6 - End of Game

S3, E7 - Beautiful Monster

S3, E8 - Are You Leading or Am I? [Part 1]

————————————————————————���—

[fortunebusiness]

Kefir Market Size, 2020 Industry Share and Global Demand | 2027 Forecast by Fortune Business Insights™

Kefir Market size is projected to reach USD 1.84 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. Excellent benefits of fermented dairy products on heart health will prove to be a major game-changer for this market in the coming years.

Fortune Business Insights™ in its report, titled “Kefir Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Dairy-based & Non-dairy), By Nature (Organic & Conventional), Category (Flavored & Non-flavored), Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, & Online Retail), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027”. Findings from a 2018 study conducted by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland revealed that men who consume large amount of fermented dairy items such as kefir and yoghurt have a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. Another study, conducted in Brazil and published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry in 2019, showed that kefir-infused fermented milk improved blood pressure and prevented cardiac hypertrophy. With increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disorders, which are the number one cause of death worldwide according to the WHO, the demand for probiotics-laden ingredients such as kefir is likely to spike, as people become more aware of their potential health benefits. 

The report states that the global market value stood at USD 1.23 billion in 2019 and provides the following:

A thorough study of all the factors driving and restraining the     market;

Detailed analysis of the various market segments;

A comprehensive examination of the regional prospects for the     market; and

In-depth research of the competitive landscape of the market.

 Market Opportunity

Increasing Focus on Gut Health to Fight the Coronavirus to Create Opportunities

The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the debate on maintaining gut health, with several health experts emphasizing and highlighting the critical link between the immune system and the gut. For example, epidemiologists at the King’s College London established through research that gut bacteria release many important chemicals, including Vitamin A, which help regulate and strengthen the immune system.

With a vaccine for the coronavirus seeming unlikely in the immediate future, bolstering the gut micro-biome, and the immune system by extension, has become crucial. This is possible, according to the researchers, by consuming healthy amounts of natural probiotics found in drinks such as kefir and fermented foods such as Korean kimchi. The current health crisis, therefore, may generate conditions favorable to the kefir market growth. However, disruptions in supply chains and downturn in economic activities will dampen the growth prospects of the market in 2020.

 Regional Insights

High Nutritional Awareness to Power Market Growth in Europe

Europe, where the market size stood at USD 654.78 million in 2019, is expected to dominate the kefir market share during the forecast period. The central growth driver for this region is the widespread awareness about the nutritional requirements to maintain gut health. Emerging trend of healthy snacking is also expected to boost the demand for fermented milk in the region.

Increasing investment in research to investigate the benefits of probiotic food & drinks by companies in North America will fuel the regional market growth. In Asia Pacific, the market will be mainly driven by the growing interest of consumers in novel, flavored probiotic products, especially dairy-based kefir, which held a share of 71.91% in 2019 in the region.

 List of the Leading Companies Profiled in the Global Kefir Market are:

The Icelandic Milk and Skyr Corp (New York, U.S.)

Maple Hill Creamery, LLC (New York, U.S.)

Green Valley Creamery (California, U.S.)

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (New York, U.S.)

Nestle S.A. (Vevey, Switzerland)

Emmi AG (Lucerne, Switzerland)

Fresh Made Dairy (Pennsylvania, U.S.)

Biotiful Dairy Limited (London, England)

Danone S.A. (Paris, France)

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (Illinois, U.S.)

 Competitive Landscape

Companies to Align Strategies to Serve Evolving Consumer Tastes

With consumer preferences and tastes undergoing continuous change, key players in this market are constantly evolving their strategies to meet the consumer demand. As a result, companies are developing and introducing novel offerings to broaden their sales horizons and build a strong brand value for their products.

 Key Industry Developments:

May 2020: Biotiful Dairy expanded its kefir liquid portfolio with the addition of Kefir Blackcurrant and Kefir Mango flavors. The company’s cultured milk beverages are created by fermenting milk with live kefir grains, which is then infused with fruit.

September 2019: Lifeway Foods released the “Kefir Minis” product range at the Natural Products Expo East held in Baltimore, Maryland. Offered in small-sized bottles for on-the-go snacking, the line-up features four flavors, including Strawberry Split and Campfire S’mores, catering to kids’ tastes and likings.

 Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report With TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/kefir-market-102463

 Detailed Table of Content:

 Research Scope

 Market Segmentation

 Research Methodology

 Definitions and Assumptions

 Market Drivers

 Market Restraints

 Market Opportunities

 Emerging Trends

 Overview of the Parent/Related Markets

 Industry SWOT Analysis

 Supply Chain and Regulatory Analysis

 Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Product      Type  Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions

 Qualitative Analysis (in relation to COVID-19)

 4.5.1 Impact of COVID-19

 4.5.2 Supply Chain Challenges

 4.5.3 Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19

   Dairy-based

   Non-dairy

     Organic

   Conventional

     Flavoured

   Non-flavoured

     Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

   Specialty Stores

   Convenience Stores

   Online Retail

   Other Processed Foods

     North America

   Europe

   Asia Pacific

   South America

   Middle East & Africa

  TOC Continued…!

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[studylustre]

Hi Carol! I do so love your blog. Not study related so I apologise, but I’d really like to start cooking Korean and Japanese recipes as I love the cuisine when I eat out and I’ve found some delicious-looking recipes through your blog. Do you have any go-to blogs or recipe books? And tips for finding ingredients in the U.K.? Thank you in advance for your time!

hello!! i have a few go to’s:

• maangchi is my go to site for all korean recipes. i’ve tried quite a few of hers and they’re 10/10, every time

• justonecookbook is my holy grail site for japanese recipes - again, i’ve tried quite a few from here and they’re always delicious

• not japanese or korean but joythebaker has some amazing recipes ✨ i especially recommend her brown butter walnut brownies + brown butter pecan scones (can u tell i rly like brown butter)

• this isn’t japanese or korean but gets an honourable mention bc it’s THAT good: if ur in the uk, have u ever been to dishoom? it’s an INCREDIBLY tasty restaurant that serves a indian/iranian (i think? i may be wrong though) hybrid cuisine. it’s sooooo so tasty, so do go if u have the chance! anyway, they recently released a recipe book for all their dishes, and they’re 🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟 (i recommend their matar paneer, chicken ruby, masala chai and house black dahl)

as for finding ingredients in the uk, it’s pretty easy tbh as long as ur in a big city like london! u can go to asian supermarkets for any of the ingredients and they’ll have them. if not, try online supermarkets or amazon for more long lasting ingredients like dashi etc

[enabledarmy]

Kpop merch: a UK buying guide 🇬🇧💜

Top 5 places to get kpop merch and albums in the UK

Hi! I live in the UK (as you may have guessed) and support many different groups, but since I first became a kpop fan it's been really hard to find affordable and responsible sources for merchandise. It seemed like everything came from America or South Korea, which can be pretty expensive when you add shipping and import and also isn't super eco conscious (I know most things are shipped in bulk but I still like to buy locally if I can). Plus sometimes it's hard to tell if the site is really legit.

You see new merch releasing online, look it up and it's only available from Singapore for the small price of your life savings and first born child...I'm sure I'm not the only UK fan who's been pretty confused by it all 😅

But recently I've found some great places, mostly based in the UK and slowly but surely my collection is growing and my room is getting happier 😊 It took a while to find these because they're not big/popular places but I've found them great so if you're a UK based fan I'd recommend giving them a try. Here goes!

(Note- none of this is sponsored or anything, just trying to help fellow kstans out)

1) Oxfam online shop (Charity Shops)

Huh, charity shops? Do they even know what kpop is? Well, no, but that doesn't mean they don't stock it 😂 Charity shops are everywhere over here, you probably have a few at least in your nearest town and they stock a pretty random selection of stuff, so you never know what will be there.

I recommend Oxfam in particular. If you check out their online shop and scroll through the music section (there's no kpop section and it won't turn up any search results but sometimes 'korean' works) you'll find a pretty good selection of albums including Jay Park, BigBang, 2ne1, Orange Caramel, Block B, AOA, ZE:A, KARA and more.

The best part is that, apart from of course being a sustainable and ethical way to shop, the person listing doesn't always seem to know how much these albums are worth so you can get a bargain. You might even find some rare albums that you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere. For example, this signed and sealed B.A.P album is still for sale on their site

I bought these ASTRO albums from the Oxfam site for a LOT less than it would have cost me elsewhere, especially because they're both signed and unopened!

2) Depop

Another perhaps more sustainable choice because it's second hand, Depop has some gems if you dig around a bit. Be sure to check the seller reviews so you know they're trustworthy, but so far I've only had good experiences. You can message sellers directly, get bundles to save on shipping and it's just a nice personal experience. My last order was packaged so nicely I thought it was from a friend, and it came with freebies too!

You can also get fan merch too, I got some lovely art prints for only a few pounds! (Felt like robbery to be honest 😅)

3) Oseyo

Oseyo is a 'Korean food and culture hub', with shops and shops/cafes at multiple locations. If you stop by the Waterloo hub you can get hot Korean food to eat in while watching kpop on the TV, buy snacks and ingredients to take home and they have a few albums and cosmetics in store too.

The location is Soho has no hot food but is a supermarket so there's a much wider choice of snacks, ingredients, general home supplies and merchandise. I haven't been to any others but apparently there's one in Manchester with a lot more kpop merch.

I got this calendar from the Soho location, and from the Waterloo one I've bought albums and face masks.

They don't have their own website, but direct online shoppers to 'hmart'. Currently the kpop section seems empty but you can get food there

4) Sokkolab

Sokkolab is an independent shop in London run by kpop fans. It's only been open for a year, but has a good selection of merchandise from different groups, new releases and cosmetics. The shop itself is quite small but still had good stuff, and they're moving to a bigger location soon with seating.

The staff are really nice, the playlists are good and they run events during concert season (SuperM one soon I think) so definitely check them out.

You can order online, including preorders for new releases. I've ordered online as gifts for friends before, and it got here fast although there was a little too much packaging (I'm sure they'll work on that though, they hadn't been open that long).

I also went to the store itself in London, which was really sweet and I got some good stuff even though a lot of it had sold out recently and they were awaiting new stock. I had some birthday money from family and managed to get more than I thought I would for my money, including TXT's The dream chapter: Magic which I'd been trying to get for ages. It had technically sold out but the cool person working there gave me a copy that they had under the counter.

5) Redbubble (for fanmade merch)

I love this site because you can find merchandise for pretty much anything, with art designed by fan artists and printed on the items that you choose. You won't struggle to find your favourite group here! Of course it's not offical merch, but I find them particularly good for stickers, which make good gifts in the post to friends or easy decoration for walls (the vinyl peels off with no marks), device cases etc. They often have deals on so keep an eye on the website.

Honourable mentions:

-HMV

-Etsy (for fanmade merch)

-emp.co.uk (for BT21)

-Argos (for BTS mattel dolls and albums)

-WHSmith (for the occasional stray kpop guide book or magazine)