Happy new year !

You know that I don't enjoy cooking. Not even for my family. They never give me a chance with their varied likes, dislikes and choices. Nevertheless I cook. And my favourite is my biriyani.  As usual the majority of my brood disapprove my biriyani. I've only Mirchi on my side for this dish.

Today I wake up grumpy. And gets grumpier n angrier.  I fail to pin point the reason. So I decide to try out pressure cooker chicken biriyani  to let out the steam. Also it's Hijri new year today.

Why do people use different ingredients? I get tens of customised recipes for pressure cooker biriyani from net. As varied n different as possible. Finally I decide to add coconut milk n yoghurt. As expected  Mirchi and I like it. Forget about the rest.

 Happy new year. When you are in Kuwait, you should cook majboos. If not, biriyani.

Gone with the wind

It's 43 degree. Scorching. Luckily no sand storms this time. Look at them locals! They have set up temporary play area and stuff for kids! Right under the intimidating sun. Great.

 Happy Eid . Today is the last day of the 5 day Eid celebrations. The much awaited 5 days off. How fast days flew away! What did I do? Holidays start off with pest control. While the roaches died  in our flat, we spend the day in 360 mall and Kuwait magic. Next day was spend in kitchen to entertain the guests. Another fine day ended in dinner with relatives. Mirchi's tuitions. Ginger's early morning badminton coachings. Pepper running off with her playmates. Finally shopping @ Mallu mall.

 Phew. Gone are the holy days!

The third child

Church honors parents having 4 children. Funny? Education at Kalari is free from 5th child onwards. Savy? What about the third child? For the first time in Pepper's life, she is exempted from fees. Hee heee. She skips 2 years of Sunday/Friday schools and directly joins in 3rd. And its free for the third child. What a luck.

Jesus revised

This is my first reading of the bible and the life of Jesus in a new context. I like it. Immensely. I find many deviations , altercations and explanations quite normal and amusing. In the revised version-

• Mother Mary dies during childbirth.
• Father Joseph is a rich n famous carpenter, farmer n Rabbi.
• The stepmother Mariya has 3 sons n 2 daughters.
• John the Baptist disowns Jesus.
• Jesus suffers from migraine n poetry
• Jesus was the leader of the revolutionary party, nazrains.
• Jesus doesn't perform miracles.
• Donkey was an expensive commodity.
• Lazar was a traitor.
• Martha, the sister of Lazar was in love with Jesus.
• The heartbroken Magdalene Mary plots against Jesus out of spite.
• Judas had epilepsy. He is not a traitor.
• Herodia and Judas are innocent as lambs.
• Barabas was a revolutionary.

Now. As a descendant  of Thoma, I'm totally confused. What to believe? What not to?

September comes and.....

Kalari reopens after 3 months of rest. Back to the furnace. It's 46 degree. So what? Fresh beginning. Perfect time for new set of vows.This time the resolutions are mild and practicable I feel.

• Reduce tea and coffee. Rice also.
• Dinner before 7. Ignore wine.
• Cycle daily.
• Cook variety food. Eat less.
• Speak less. Work more.
• Finish off all those 101 pending blog posts.
• Write daily.

As simple as that.
Cheers !

springs without smell

I buy the books last year as part of DC Sahityotsavam. As a hefty fan of Benyamin, I don't really know why I kept the books untouched for 1 whole year. And. My good God. I'm shocked beyond my 12 years of Bahrain life. Flabbergasted. Mind blowing.


 


 The books are a mix of history n fiction and of course autobiographical too. The lines merge and divide. I salute the author's courage. Bravo.

A must read for all Gulf expatriates esp of Bahrain.

click...click

I've a confession to make. As you can see, almost all the images scattered throughout this blog is the result of my steady search, copy n paste from google via the concerned sites. Till now I didn't bother to add any links to display image credits. My bad. My bad ! So. On World Photography Day, I've decided not to nick images  from you. I mean book images. Why did I do it? Because who has the patience to photograph the book before reading it? Who has the patience to photograph the book after reading it?  Anyways that's what I plan to do from today. So hereby I wish to give credits to all the images their due credits. That clears my image I guess.

Photo of the day !



The fish curry I prepared which was a huge success during the weekend party.

freedom is to the free

Assumption of the Virgin.
India's 69th Independence Day.
My mother-in-law's 74th birthday.

We don't attend the obligatory mass. We don't bother to go to the embassy to hoist the flag. But we wish Amma and that makes her very very happy. What else we need?

Funny. We go to the fish market, buy some fishes esp guppies this time. Fish tank is ready after 3 months of neglect n starvation n death. With guppies lie our hopes. They are supposed to multiply and fill the tank.

fishy pets

the thousand natural shocks the flesh is heir to

Flat life. I've lived in 5 different flats before settling in the present one. I'm not a friendly neighbor nor I make friends easily. But I did get a BFF and a few close friends. The last man and his neighbors in Vishram society do not remind me of any of my past or present neighbors. Flat life in Gulf is totally different I should say.

Bombay. Real estate business. A filmi sort of builder plans to redevelop an old apartment complex. He offers huge sums to vacate the flats. Except an old teacher everyone concedes. The story goes on n on. Even after the last man in the tower is mercilessly murdered by his loving but concerned n greedy neighbors. Are they greedy? How depressing. My eyes still hurt. The printing is way too small for my old eyes. That's first thing I noticed n disapproved about this book. I've changed my glasses. Progressive. You know how weird n strange you feel in new glasses.

Back to the book. I don't skip a single word. I chew and chew and chew. It's bitter, dry and depressing. The Truth.

looking like nothing matters

Delhi. I'm yet to visit  the capital city. Actually I've never been to the northern parts of India. What a shame !

Day Scholar by Siddarth Chowdury reminds me a lots I've, haven't n should've done in my college, hostel n day scholar days. Lol. Though honest, witty n funny, I won't recommend the novel to youngsters esp wannabe writers nor to my son. Way too much of adult content n anti social activities. Also hostel, PG or barsati, university life has changed for the better I guess.

Shortlisted for The Man Asian literary prize? You kidding?

 The story is about the end of innocence and the dawn of a young writer. Must read for those who had 'enjoyed' college n hostel life yet became successful n happy in life. You know what I mean. Cheers to that.

The concentrated stench of life

I read fast. But sometimes deliberately slowly. Like with Lahiri's books. As a huge but on diet fan of Lahiri, you can imagine my anticipations n expectations regarding this book. To begin with, I don't fancy going through naxalite movements, freedom n partition struggles or mandir-masjid riots anymore. I'm done with those.

Though the first half features '60s Calcutta and naxalbari movement, it drags on and on. From the second half the story races up to a promising end.

The novel tests my patience but eventually warms my feline heart.

whe-e-re are you, my love?

Started as campus journalism and published in 1991, Show Business sketches the rise of a Bollywood superstar, his subsequent entry into politics and the eventual fall and 'The End'. Spicy, comical and unreal like a hit hindi movie. The plot thickens and loosens with self explanatory monologues and witty scripts. The characters resemble many a dead and living Bollywood starlets. Naughty author.


Mr Tharoor's sense of humor is undisputable.  But coming from a prolific writer like him, the book is a huge disappointment. As a die hard fan of Tharoor's personality, achievements n writings, actually I'm shocked out of my shell. Really.

Let me borrow the thought from this book that practically pacified and even erased many of my regrets out. One has to have regrets. A life without regrets is a life lived without introspection, without inquiry. That's not a life worth living. Wow. What a soothie  !

the sacred temple

The book comprises 3 stories written over a period of five years. It is dedicated to the lady of Kollur, raped by two cab drivers. The theme is sexual assaults in domestic n daily life. And pedophilia to top it. Thus the stories are unbearable, traumatic and harrowing.

Subhash Chandran. No doubt, he is one of the most promising young writers of Malayalam Lit. Good luck.

The last of Jeeves n Bertie

Not so amazing facts about this novel:-

• This is the last complete novel of P.G.Wodehouse.
• This becomes the last in Jeeves n Bertie series.
• This story is predictable from the very beginning; so not much novelty.

Nevertheless I enjoyed this masterpiece. 

Happy feet : Day 1

Can you believe this? After this many decades, after this many discussions, we start this big tiny step.... to WALK. Yes. Not me. It's Boz's big fat resolution and I tag along. I'm not that excited because

• I was not prepared, I don't own a walker's costume, so felt altogether out of league with the regulars.
• Sun was still there, I walked staring at the fellow walkers n them at me resulting awkward moments. What should be my facial expression? Must I avoid eye contact? I have no idea about corniche etiquette. Ain't I supposed to walk freely n happily swinging my hands n legs at great speed?
• I sweat a bit, which I didn't like , I'm not accustomed to it. Yuck.
• After the event, I don't spare an elaborate dinner. No, not chappatti, I never eat chappatti.

Anyways. I'm hopeful. Hey, don't tell anyone. If there is any trumpetable result, I shall do it myself. Until then....

It's time to put your eggs in one basket

For the first time since I joined, Kalari begins after Easter ! Usually the year starts on All Fool's Day. Just imagine.... So,  no Easter egg making this time. But at home Ginger is competing with herself. More omlettes this year. Sighs....

happy eggster 

Easter is always at home with family. No guests n ghosts since its working day for men. The working class. Hee heee.

Cheers to the new beginning !!

All the best to the young rascals @ Kalari !!!

Jeeves and the Tie That Binds

As in any Jeeves n Wooster series, Wooster gets an invitation to stay with his aged relative, encounters all the people he wishes dead n gone including one of his crushes, purloins something valuable to clear somebody's misfortune and in turn puts his honor  in grave danger but Jeeves saves the day as usual.

What a delightful piece of work.

So Long and Thanks for all the likes

Did you see my recent FB pictures? I know, you have. Then, what on the cyber world prevented you from liking n commenting on them? Instead you prefer to talk about them in person.

"Was that your mother?'' 

No. It was an ET who happened to visit our building. 

Duh.

Arrey, don't you check them now. My account no longer exists. I deactivate it. The umpteenth time again. All the while it was to save my precious 'me' time and to check my self control. But now. Heartbroken. Yes. I upload a few frozen moments which are terribly important for me. I get 47 like n 12 comments. The very next day, Boz pastes a single picture of us lunching out in a posh Lebanese joint and he bags double likes n comments. What an injustice! You too liked his picture?? Thus this desperate measure. Still .... how could you do this to me? 

Be balanced, Lady!

Hello world...

Hmm...

Today being the brand new day of the month, I'm inclined to take a few resolutions. No, I don't do this every month. I do on a daily basis but this is different. Here is the 'new me' list

• scribble here daily.
• cycle @ 5 pm
• hate food n related stuff
• polish off my mother's lemon pickle n never try any.
• water my body liberally.
• reduce mobile time.
• stop howling @ my kids
• speak less @ Kalari
• hit bed early with an empty belly

Ignore the list. Since I've not much time left, the aim is to make the most of it. I mean the expatriate life. Don't you get ideas. The fat lady has to wait many more decades to sing for me....

Kalari news. The Tamil chums say, " you look so refreshed after four days off!" Do I? Ha ! I do not bother to elaborate on the morning rush, combat with Mirchi, spraying YSL Opium directly to my eyes (today's morning calamity) and the usual marathon to get into the already waiting bus. Oh yes, I use YSL's Opium on a daily basis. Hee heee. I didn't even get time to wash opium off my eyes. (My eyes are still burning, will I go blind?) And yet I look fresh ! Wow. The new chick from Telungana hi fives my three year old dress. Mrs Gee greets her 'English Rose' happily. She calls me English Rose! Me! After all, all is not lost. Today seems to be doing good.

In other news. Winter almost retreats. My feet enjoy sunlight n air after four months of mummification. Sure, they look fair n sexy. I love winter for this reason only. But I almost feel naked n insecure without jacket. Anyways...welcome spring, if there is any in this desert !

Agonizing thought of the day: ''The meek will inherit the earth.'' No. Nah. The meek suffers n dies slowly.... the meek dies everyday.

something attempted,something done, has earned a night's repose

What would one do when confronted with time table and portion for Annual Exam? Not one. Three ! Read Wodehouse n lift up the spirit. Yes!

Ludicrously Chucklesome . Not so much of ROFL moments. The cunning manipulation of phrases n idioms. The word play. Jesus H Christ ! Awwwsome

@ Garden la illuminati

How to get out of this labyrinth of suffering?

Suffering. Yes. I'm going through one of the worst guilt trips of my life.......hope time would heal the wounds. No energy for serious reading so I grab whatever my resident teenager grazed through for a breezy change.

 Since Tintin  I've never spotted Junior giggling through out except while reading The Fault In Our Stars ; but what has this book to do with an Indian- Middle East-teenager? It's riddled with booze , smoking, exaggerated guilt trips , suicide, making out, sex and other naughty stuff and is totally anti- parental. Old values and discussions on religions? My foot. 

The book poses a serious question and doesn't bother to answer it. How will we ever get out of this labyrinth ? How will we ?

If only there weren't so many other people in the world

Lady Chatterley's Lover - D. H. Lawrence

To own a banned book is such a pride; so I buy the book from Broadway with much enthusiasm during my college days  but I don't remember why I didn't read the book. Now I know. Though the classic is mind blowingly open and explicit, the serious discussions seemed to mar its flow and beauty. But now I find them debates more interesting than the torrid scenes. No wonder they ban the book! A must read for those who strive to understand the secret behind physical intimacy ,women's liberation and freedom. Actually I prefer the men read this novel n do the needful. Ha ha !

The night is still young, baby !

Paro: Dreams of Passion - Namita Gokhale

Written in 1984, the debut novel of Namita Gokhale is a dark social satire alarmingly frank in its adult content. The story revolves around a compulsive male nymphomaniac, an exotic elite temptress and the nebulous protagonist. A few comets add charm to the show.

So. My first book of this year is an easy breezy read; totally ticklish and quite entertaining. Moreover no moral to offer which is good at times. 

Happy New Year ! May your passionate dreams come true ❤️