Nag-celebrate si Paige Hawkins ng kanyang 29th birthday kamakailan kasama ang boyfriend na si Jimmy Lee, mga kapamilya, at kaibigan.
Kumain sila sa The Quayside, isang seafood restaurant sa Stourport, England, na 15 minutes lang layo sa tirahan niya sa Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
Pagbabahagi ni Paige sa ulat ng weekly newspaper na Kidderminster Shuttle last September 17, 2024, “We go to the restaurant each year for my birthday, and I can't rave about it enough.
"This year, I ordered the lobster while Jimmy had the mussels."
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Aniya, kinakain ni Jimmy ang isang mussel o tahong nang may makagat itong matigas sa loob.
Tumigil ang kanyang boyfriend sa pagnguya at iniluwa ang nakagat na matigas.
Sa pagkagulat nilang lahat, isa pala yung perlas.
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Ani Paige, lahat sila ay hindi makapaniwala.
“It was just a small, little one. I didn't know it could come from mussels.
"We researched it and it's really, really rare to come from a mussel. I did actually Google it and I think it was something like one in 10,000.
“I've eaten plenty of mussels and such in my time, and it's never something that I've ever come across.”
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PEARL NAGING BIRTHDAY GIFT
Iniregalo naman kay Paige ni Jimmy ang perlas.
Plano niyang ingatan iyon at gawing kuwintas.
“Or some piece of jewelry to try and keep it safe.
"It was quite a special moment and something I will always remember."
Plano rin niyang ipasuri iyon sa alahero para malaman kung magkano ang presyo.
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Ayon naman sa manager ng restaurant na si Vee Alexander, kada linggo ay nakakapag-serve sila kanilang customers ng mahigit 25 kilos ng mussels.
Ni minsan ay wala pang nakakuha ng perlas sa mga ito maliban kay Jimmy.
“In four years of trading, it was our first pearl," ayon pa sa manager.
"It was a really special find and really rare."
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PAANO NABUBUO ANG PEARL?
Ang perlas ay nabubuo sa loob ng kabibe o shell kapag may mga pumapasok na materials sa loob nito gaya ng maliliit na buhangin at iba pang minerals.
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Dahil dito, nagre-react ang talaba at naglalabas ng mga sangkap na bumabalot sa butil, na kalaunan ay nagiging perlas.
Kalimitang may perlas sa loob ang malalaki at matatandang kabibe.
Wala ring malinaw na palatandaan kung ang isang kabibe ay may taglay na perlas sa loob.
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