I relish reading this blog so much! I even wish I could go back to medieval period where I was a lone traveller, at the end of day, I, being both hungry and exhausted, had to enter a stranger's home for help. The kindhearted owner offered me a glass of Gin fruit concoctions and Red Thai Curry along jasmine rice which was too yummy. I was deeply grateful and thanked him a lot. All of sudden, I recognized the owner was nobody else but you--our Hive Poem Star!
Yeah, so happy for your friend to have you in UK; so wonderful for us to have you in Hive! I always believe that friend's value is truly above rubies(from J.K.Rowling).

By the way, I am rather puzzled. I doubt why and how you run down the cold tap when the rice has a little bite？Just for cooling rice down quickly？I have no idea.
Another is how to understand "just grow a pair and tell your idiot brother to stick it up his jumper” correctly？Could you please explain them for me？

Thank you for your great writing which warms my heart! Just as one of your replies saying, it wasn't really about food, but more about compassion or empathy.