Love you never lose...

Love you never lose... Even if she does not call you. Although she lives her fears. Even if you think of anything else. Even if you leave off without saying anything... 

When you love you never stop loving. It is always a trace. A trail. A word. What then over time become tenderness and complicity...

 

So why even today this jolt? Why the sudden urge to stay there forever? So... suddenly... like a storm in the middle of August... 

It's not easy to leave and go back, change language, quickly close a door to open another, only an illusion, a door open for her will remain forever. Hope or maybe you want to, or do not want, you want to stay but you have to leave. Do not just hop on a plane and fly away to delete everything and act as if nothing had happened... it happened, I fell in love and I can not pretend nothing has happened, she is always there, before my eyes, like a sun beam or a star which shows me the way. I can not avoid, I can not pretend that there was nothing. The mind says to forget but the heart does not listen and continues on his way. 

I don't want to woke up where I don't want to be. Now I'm still here, portrays of two worlds and two passions, split in two, as if everything is possible, as if it were enough to close your eyes to find the moment of grace before they go away forever...

Do not just stay far to clear everything and act as if nothing had happened ... It's not enough. Because if something happened once it happened forever; and is no longer in my power to push back her in anything, or "as if it had never been." And yet I can reconsider it, watch it (or re-watch it) in a different light, the light of how I am "now", which is a light different from that I was or we were at the time. This doesn't mean that watching it in a different light doesn't make me suffer any more, but it will be a pain differently, because "understands" that already lived, so much so that even more of us are the same, even if we delude ourselves to "be still together"

The distance hurts me, makes me suffer, like the silence. Each raindrop is a tear of happiness to have known you, but also of sadness for not being there with you anymore.

"Memory is a cruel mistress with which we must all learn to dance."

(The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton)

Missing you

“Missing each other is already belonging” I read this morning on Facebook. A quote from the writer Lailly Daolio that led me to some reflections that I would like to share with you.

Feeling of lack

The feeling of lack is one of those we feel most ardently in our lives. We miss a loved one, a friend, a parent or a child but we also miss countries and places, situations and feelings. Is it belonging? Yes, what we are missing is certainly part of our life and our existence. It was or is.

The feeling of emptiness generated by lack makes us understand the strength of a feeling and the value a person has in our life. The shortcomings related to the family are self-explanatory: undoubtedly the absence of a child or a parent are very strong feelings we all feel for good reasons - a departure or a journey - and for less beautiful reasons - mourning or separation due to events, a voluntary separation of one of the parties – in any case it is a shortcoming.

Loss

The loss of the loved one is intense and wonderful. It could mark us a partner away for work but also a lover who we cannot see or hear. The person who decided to interrupt the stretch of life together is missing. Equally important is the lack of places - where we lived or where we were born - or of feelings and situations - lack of love, friendship or sense of family -.

How can we live with this sense of emptiness generated by lack? Of course it depends on the situation. If we talk about the loss of a deceased person we must necessarily feel pain and then let go of this feeling. The person who is no longer with us has left something very important in our lives. If we come to miss them, therefore, let's not forget the beautiful moments we spent together.

Every now and then let's take refuge in those memories, in his words, in his teachings or in his hugs but let's do it with a smile and not with the pain of no longer having them. I quote this phrase from Saint Augustine I love very much: "Let us not despair at having lost a loved one, but let us rejoice at having had them".

If we miss a person in the family because they have decided to end the relationship - unfortunately this also happens - then we owe it to ourselves to metabolize this abandonment and then let go of any feelings of anxiety, fear and anger associated with it. Negative feelings don't make us feel good and don't even bring us back to reconnecting with that finished relationship. Let's avoid crowding our minds with questions about how it is possible for a father to abandon a son or a mother to leave a daughter in difficulty.

We can never know the aspects of that person's mind. What we can do is love each other, seek contact at the beginning - especially because he will make us feel like we have tried everything - and then dedicate ourselves to our happiness. There is happiness even without those people. It exists if we want it strongly, if we cultivate it, if we look for it in what is next to us. In most situations it happens that too focused on understanding why that relationship ended we lose sight of the wonder and gifts that life has given us. A person who loves us, a child, health, the magic of emotions.

Love

And now we come to love. Missing your loved one is the first step to understanding that person has true value for us, they belong to us. We miss her looks, her words, her messages, her smile, her caresses and hugs. We miss her and we find her in every song, in every film, in every word read in a book.

It's like that, it's part of love. What to do? We must rejoice if this feeling is part of a relationship that works and that does not make us miss the feeling of being the most loved person in the world. Even if the lack generates a void, the awareness of being part of one whole with the other person must make us feel good.


Especially if we know – and we always know – that the other person misses us too. Let's think back to the last hug or kiss and stay there for a while... smiling and enjoying those wonderful sensations. This helps us overcome the lack until the next hug.

If the relationship is not reciprocated, we need to change our attitude, a nice turning point and we start again. Let's not stop where there is no happiness for us. It is not fair to ourselves and the life we have been given.

We don't deserve unhappiness and we must always feel true and sincere love in our lives.
The one that overwhelms you and makes you unexpectedly emotional. The one that makes you get up in the morning thinking about the person you love and knowing that they are thinking of you. The one that keeps you physically distant but united in heart and soul.

If this is not there, that journey is not made for us. We have to get off the train and do it as soon as possible, before the right one can pass alongside us without stopping.

The finished love. This is very complicated. Here we need to recover all the strength necessary to be able to love ourselves to the point of understanding that that story is over and we cannot keep ourselves anchored to an idea that belongs to the past. The end of a marriage, a cohabitation, an engagement or a simple relationship is not a failure.

It is important to impress this in our minds because it is the first block we impose on ourselves. We made a piece of life together with that person but now it's time to close and look beyond. The lack, especially in the case of long relationships, is often dictated by habit. No longer setting the table for that person makes you feel empty, just like no longer seeing the toothbrush in the glass or not having a person to organize Sunday with.

The kiss goodnight or the complicity in preparing breakfast in the morning is a lack. Missing the daily phone call and chatting before going to sleep. Well, this is often what's missing. An idea of family, of couple, of shared everyday life. But this is not love. L

love is missing breaths, kisses, hugs, smiles, gestures and words that only that person could give us. Talk to yourself: if emotions are missing and love is no longer reciprocated, you know what to do; If, however, daily gestures are missing, then work on habits and insert new ones into your life. The first few days are difficult but give yourself a month and you will find yourself setting the table counting the right guests without even thinking about who is missing.

The idea of love and happiness shared with another person can be reconstructed with the new. But we must be ready to welcome it…

Places

And, finally, if you miss places and countries near or far. Well, go... take a trip to recover the wonderful emotions that they give you or move if you think that your life elsewhere could be better.

Banh mi - Sandwiches ideas

This is a classic Italian panino, or called also "tramezzino" with salami, boiled carrots, mortadella slices, tomato and artichokes in oil, salad. It's a must eat in Italy!  

These are ideas, sometimes they come to me and I try to put them into practice.

Vietnamese sandwich: A world-renowned street food with special flavor

Vietnamese sandwich, or “Banh mi”, is a dear name that has been deeply imprinted in the minds of many Vietnamese people. It has become the pride of the nation and a quintessential representative of Vietnamese cuisine. Going through many ups and downs in history, the Vietnamese sandwich has now crossed the national border and left its mark in the world’s culinary scene.

“Banh mi” is a Vietnamese sandwich that you must try if you are planning for Vietnam travel and tourism. This iconic sandwich has consistently been ranked as one of the best sandwiches in the world. Besides its delicious flavors, let’s find out why this sandwich is so well-liked around the globe.

1. What to know about Vietnamese sandwich?

Origin

In the early 19th century, the French brought baguettes to Gia Dinh (Saigon) to satisfy their culinary demands. In order to bake hot delicious bread to serve the needs of the upper class, they built the first brick-and-mortar bakeries in Vietnam.

This French-origin specialty quickly gained its popularity in Vietnam. That was also when Saigon’s people modified the baguette into a typical Vietnamese type of bread which has a length of only about 30-40 centimeters. Vietnamese baguette is more hollow, the inside is soft while the outside is crispy. This is also the feature that creates the unique identity of Vietnamese bread compared to its Western counterpart. Vietnamese bread has a rustic appearance and unforgettable flavor.

Then, by the hands of talented Vietnamese bakers, Vietnamese bread, which bears the spirit of Vietnamese people, was created. Initially, there were only a few small but very famous bakeries, such as Hoa Ma bread shop, that sold Vietnamese baguette. Then, the bread was gradually modified until it has the current size and length. Experiencing many ups and downs in history, today’s bread, or Vietnamese sandwich as it is usually called, has become a special Vietnamese food.

Fillings

The main ingredients for making Vietnamese sandwich are sausages, meatballs, roasted pork, liver pate, stewed minced meat, etc. There are also eggs, fish, shredded chicken, ham, or butter, etc. A delicious sandwich consists of not only meat, but also thinly sliced ​​cucumbers, pickles, coriander, onions, scallions, fragrant basil, etc., and especially an indispensable sauce to bring up the famous delicious taste. The sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, salt, pepper, fish sauce, soup powder, mayonnaise, and even chili sauce. Traveling around the three regions of Vietnam, you will see that the Vietnamese sandwich in each region has its own unique flavor, but they are all delicious and well-loved by many people.

For a long time, Banh Mi has become a favourite food of Vietnamese people. 

2. How much is a loaf of bread in Vietnam?

Which meal do Vietnamese people have Banh Mi for?

Banh Mi is considered a popular fast food and is usually eaten for breakfast or any other meal of the day. Thanks to its reasonable price and widespread popularity, Vietnamese sandwich has become a favorite dish of many people.

The average price of a loaf of Banh Mi

Usually, a Vietnamese sandwich is sold for 15,000-35,000 VND (around 1.2$), which is considered the most common price. For famous and long-standing bakeries, the price can be up to 50,000-70,000 VND (around 2.4$) thanks to their delicious tastes, special sauces, and quality ingredients. These shops may use high-quality ingredients such as foie gras pate, sausages, boneless pork rolls, smoked meat, etc.

This Vietnamese sandwich, with 6 layers of fillings, is sold for 58,000 VND (around 2.3$)

3. The 5 most popular Vietnamese sandwich types

Depending on the fillings, Vietnamese sandwiches may have different names. Below are the 5 most popular types of Vietnamese sandwich.

3.1. Omelet bread

Omelet sandwich is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich variation, with eggs as the main ingredient. The eggs can replace meat as fillings or they can be used alongside meat such as pork sausages or slices of roasted pork belly. The eggs can be scrambled or made into an omelet, served with pickles, soy sauce, chili sauce, etc. Due to its simple preparation, this variation can be found at almost every food vendor.

Omelet bread is a simple yet very appetizing dish.

3.2. Chicken bread

Chicken bread is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich made with grilled chicken slices as the main ingredient. A loaf of chicken bread is typically smeared with liver pate and mayonnaise. Then it is stuffed with shredded grilled chicken and topped with pickled daikon and carrots, sliced chili peppers, coriander,  slices of cucumber, and a little soy sauce. You can add a finishing touch with a dash of freshly ground black pepper, if preferred.

This type of Vietnamese sandwich is popular throughout Vietnam.

3.3. Grilled pork bread

This popular Vietnamese sandwich is widely available in most Vietnamese restaurants and sandwich vendors. Choices of meat can be pork belly, pork shoulder, pork chops, or pork butt. Preparation of the meat can be steaming, pan-frying, or grilling, which is the most popular. In addition to the grilled meat, cucumber, tomato, pickles, and a rich sauce help bring a unique flavor for this variation of bread that is both delicious and nutritious.

Grilled pork sandwich is frequently purchased from street food vendors.

3.4. Juicy crushed pork meatball bread

This is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich made of ground pork meatballs as the main ingredient. The meatballs are typically made from a combination of ground pork, corn starch, fish sauce, garlic, black pepper, scallion, and jicama. Juicy crushed pork meatball bread is typically topped with coriander, pickled daikon, carrots, and chili peppers, if desired.

This variation of Vietnamese sandwich pleases both the taste buds and the eyes.

3.5. Shredded pork rind bread

This flavorful and aromatic dish is made of thinly sliced pork rinds and marinated pork, tossed with roasted rice powder and fried garlic. This Vietnamese sandwich often has many other delectable fillings such as egg meatloaf, grilled lemongrass pork chops, and egg rolls. To make it an even more awesome combination, vendors also add scallion oil, fresh herbs, cucumber, tomato, carrot, pickled radish, and fish sauce.

Pork rinds add a very unique flavor to the Vietnamese sandwich.

4. Where to buy Vietnamese sandwich on your trip?

Every region of Vietnam has its own special variation of the sandwich sold at street vendors and eateries, from Da Nang, Nha Trang, to Phu Quoc, etc. You can also find many well-known long-standing banh mi brands in Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi

The traditional Hanoi bread only consists of a little butter, liver pate, potentially shrimp, ham, char siu, a few slices of pork, and thinly sliced ​​spring rolls. Accompanying vegetables are usually only coriander and cucumber, while the sauce used will be the traditional ground chili sauce that is often used with pho (a kind of Vietnamese noodles).

Some famous places selling bread in Hanoi include Banh mi Pho Co, Banh mi Ba Dan, or Banh mi Nguyen Sinh.

Banh mi Pho Co – an irresistible delicious bread shop in Hanoi.

Scoppia la guerra nel Mar Rosso?

Il Mar Rosso è bloccato dai ribelli Houti, un gruppo sciita che dal ‘94 in Yemen combatte contro il governo del Paese, probabilmente con armi fornite dall’Iran.

Dal 2004 gli Houti guidano un’insurrezione armata e dal 2014 lo Yemen è scivolato in una sanguinosa guerra civile, nella quale non è mancato l’intervento esterno da parte dell’Arabia Saudita che ha tentato di reprimere gli insorti.

Oggi questo gruppo di fuoco ha deciso di approfittare della guerra in Palestina per crearsi una scusa per attaccare le navi commerciali occidentali.

Fingendo che sia per dare supporto alla causa palestinese, gli Houti hanno bloccato l’ingresso nel Mar Rosso attraverso lo stretto di Bab El Mandeb. Da lì hanno attaccato più di sedici navi commerciali battenti diverse bandiere e dirette in diverse parti del mondo.

E chiariamo subito che è falso che siano nel mirino solo navi israeliane e/o dirette in Israele. Anche perché visti i pericoli che ci sono nell’attraversare quello stretto oggi tutti i grandi trasportatori hanno deciso di non passarci più.

Il blocco dell’ingresso del Mar Rosso significa che il Canale di Suez è di fatto chiuso, e non potendolo raggiungere le navi sono costrette, per arrivare nel Mediterraneo, a circumnavigare tutta l’Africa. Come si faceva prima del 1859.

Gli Houti attaccano le navi con atti di pirateria, o peggio ancora con l’uso di droni esplosivi, oggetti assai insidiosi perché con basso costo sono in grado di affondare intere flotte di navi, anche militari, rimanendo però difficili da contrastare, se non con l’uso di costosissimi missili.

Ma i costi per difendersi, rispetto ai costi di attacco, sono sproporzionatamente più elevati, rendendo conveniente attaccare direttamente il luogo da cui i droni partono.

Insomma, sul tavolo ci sono tutti gli elementi che giustificherebbero ampiamente un intervento armato immediato in Yemen da parte delle forze occidentali.

Sì, quello che sto dicendo è che se non fossimo la civiltà decadente che siamo, se l’occidente non fosse la bestia morente che ogni giorno dimostra di essere, anche solo per istinto di sopravvivenza, imporrebbe immediatamente un ultimatum agli Houti, scaduto il quale interverrebbe militarmente sulle regioni yemenite occupate dai ribelli, risolvendo il problema Houti per sempre.

Anche perché le ricadute economiche degli attacchi che stiamo subendo nel Mar Rosso sono e saranno impressionanti, visto che per il Canale di Suez ci passa il 12% del commercio mondiale. Il 30% dei container e il 20% del gas e petrolio trasportati via mare. Prodotti che stanno già aumentando di prezzo proprio a causa di questa situazione.

Numeri impressionanti che giustificherebbero sì un intervento.

Intervento che servirebbe in primo luogo a ripristinare la sicurezza della navigazione, ma soprattutto che chiarirebbe al mondo intero che cosa succede quando si mette a repentaglio un’arteria fondamentale del commercio globale, dopo anni in cui ci siamo mostrati deboli e vulnerabili.

Quello che invece avviene è che gli USA danno il via all’operazione Prosperity Guardian, inviando, insieme ad altri paesi alleati, navi militari che dovranno fare servizio-scorta alle imbarcazioni commerciali. Pattugliando l’aerea e mantenendola sicura.

Un’operazione di basso profilo che serve a dare una risposta alle esigenze commerciali, pur rimanendo militarmente sotto il pelo dell’acqua, e tradendo così l’immenso terrore che proviamo per una eventuale escalation regionale.

Ma la puzza della paura, gli animali, la sentono.

E infatti annunciano in risposta che il Mar Rosso sarà la nostra tomba, perché loro, dicono, hanno la capacità di affondare la nostra flotta.

Anche l’Italia fa la sua parte e invia in anticipo una fregata, la Fasan, che era già previsto dovesse recarsi nel Mar Rosso a febbraio nell’ambito dell’operazione europea anti pirateria Atalanta.

Specifichiamo, visto che ne ho sentite di ogni, che la Fasan è uno dei fiori all’occhiello della nostra Marina.

Al momento però le navi commerciali continuano ad essere attaccate, e non si esclude che anche quelle militari possano diventare bersaglio dei droni, come gli Houti hanno promesso.

Come finirà?

Presto scopriremo chi perderà il gioco del bluff, ma, se non sarà oggi sarà domani, prima o dopo questa incapacità di reazione e questa debolezza sbandierata ci porteranno a subire una dolorosa stoccata. Sperando che non sia l’ultima.

Fonte: Andrea Lombardi emailing

A

I will not post any photographs of her or even mention her name.
She'll understand.

All that is wonderful at the beginning of our story I hope will turn into the story of our life, the one with a capital S, the one that will make us happy and let us experience the fairytale ending, while I tremble at the thought that it could turn, along the way, into an adventure with a sad and empty ending, which will break our hearts. Love is so immense that it knows no half measures.

Starting a long-lasting relationship is no joke, and if I say it as an expert, it's to be believed, even if the stereotype states that women are increasingly launched towards married life, while men, on the contrary, are increasingly reluctant to commit, the truth is that I seem the one of the two more oriented towards a long-term relationship and she is still evaluating the offer. We have only taken the path of "serious history" but it is always very important to evaluate the situation well, and we are both doing this.

Of course, there was love at first sight (I'm also a specialist in this) and no one asked questions, because there was no need given the total and immediate harmony. Yet in real life it is hardly like this, and a relationship must be cultivated day after day: it is not a chimera that once achieved will solve our problems. The chemistry of falling in love is sacrosanct, but it must be combined with other factors that blend and complement each other in the relationship of life as a couple, until the story is consolidated. But sometimes you are not ready, you can make mistakes or you come to a crossroads where you have to figure out how to continue.

I didn't ask myself questions about my future with her because I thought she might be the right person for me, and she certainly is, I just have to avoid making mistakes that could somehow ruin the harmony that has been created between us and wreck everything. This is why I began to ask myself if my intentions are serious, because it is one thing to read a text in which idyllic to catastrophic scenarios are presented to you, and another thing is to understand if beyond any reasonable feeling, she is really the woman that I was looking for and ours could be a lasting relationship and so the time has come to put myself on the line.

It all started in November 2022, I'll leave out the details. From that moment we started talking, exchanging thoughts, hopes, goals, stakes, ideas on how our relationship could be founded, initially as a friendship and then something more. That something extra was not classified as marriage even though the implication of marriage was not latent but alive, for various reasons. First of all, we both came out of bad marriage stories, we both have children. Getting married was not but could be the option on the table, it is difficult to live together in the country where we both live, especially under the same roof, the laws could create problems for us, sharing one's life more or less assiduously is the objective to be achieved and to compensate for the mutual shortcomings - no one is perfect - and aspire to a simpler life free from worries.

Considering that you are around thirty-five years old (only on your identity card) and I am a gentleman who has long passed middle age, our paths could converge to follow a common one with a lot of joy, a spirit of collaboration, inner happiness, respect , trust, lots of happiness, joy, loyalty and love, because the last must necessarily exist.

What I look for in our relationship? 

Kindness 

It may seem strange but it's true, as a man I appreciate an attitude made of sweet understanding, gentle ways and acceptance of who I am. Feeling valued and loved is the place to start. All her gestures are affectionate, not even my ex wife has ever behaved like this. She continually seeks physical contact, even just touching me with a foot or holding my hand is a sign of affection. Considering the environment where we both live (Vietnam) it's a lot. I'm happy with her.

Security

Like all men, I too have my own idea of charm and attraction. But, although there is a 'common line' for which a woman is considered attractive, it's important she knows how to recognize her own value and not be afraid to show self-confidence. Being self-confident and aware of one's qualities is a great element of charm.

Cheerfulness

I wasn't looking for a comedian, a sense of humor was enough for me, knowing how to appreciate my witticisms and her ability to entertain myself are qualities that I really appreciate. Positivity is generally contagious, and it's a way of dealing with life that makes me feel better. She has these peculiar characteristics, when we are together we laugh almost all the time, obviously not like happy geese on command, the joy comes from the happiness of sharing fragments of life together. Then she is a master in self-irony and has the ability to lighten heavy situations by de-dramatizing. In short, I was looking for someone capable of taking life with joy like her.

Emotional support

She does not have a typically feminine specialty, namely that of criticizing every action, phrase, thought made by her partner. Someone will tell me that it is still early, perhaps so but I have not seen even a few timid attempts, everything is fine with her and if criticism comes, as happens in all couples, it will be soft and painless, she will not be the type of woman who offends the partner. In a healthy relationship we support each other, and even if daily life can give rise to misunderstandings, subjecting the other to constant criticism or worse, being blamed is not a situation we can aspire to.

Simplicity

Like all men, I don't like things that are too complicated. Even about my life partner. This also applies to aesthetic parameters, self-care is fine, but I could hardly really expect and appreciate absurd aesthetic levels.

New motivation

In a relationship I also look for motivations, news and suggestions that lead me to detach myself from my habits. This would also apply under the sheets, although I think it's premature to address that. I am originally a shy man who has only become emancipated in the last few years and maybe even a little clumsy in certain situations. That's why my woman should surprise me and realize my fantasies even before expressing them.

She lives between desire and reality, between will and power, between present and future. She is a straightforward woman, with all the implications that means. She is part of a proactive, ambitious, vigorous generation that doesn't give up, that loves to dream. She is more capable of accepting the ambiguities and uncertainties of life, thanks to a strong ability to move in a chameleonic way. Sometimes she can also be cynical and unscrupulous, but often more objective than previous and subsequent generations: she knows how to wait for a need, a dream, a passion; she knows how to make a wish come true, step by step; she knows how to embrace a goal and move forward with obstinacy. But she is also a woman who has suffered, and the recent loss of her mother contributes to this and makes her more exposed to certain considerations regarding her life. 

Undoubtedly she is weaker, not even much because she always has that determination distinguishes her, but being emotionally involved in the latest events of her life leads her to consider with greater attention what she currently has at her disposal, and if this awareness is useful, certainly knowing there is a man (me) who loves her above all else is certainly an aspect not to be underestimated and not to be missed.

She is the splendid woman I love.