Diwali - The Indian festival of Lights

Designing Rangoli with Mattisse,Sophie,Clemence,Nicolas,Cedric,Hugo and Alice at our Ecole Francaise de Bombay at Breach Candy in Bombay

Rangoli Made by little french students in Bombay in 2004

The modern cardboard sequinned readymade Rangoli

Diwali - one of the most popular festivals not only in India,but in several Asian countries .The festival of lights,colour,joy and love.A celebration of the triumph of good over evil by lighting diyas -small colourful clay lamps filled with oil and lit by a cotton wick, lighting firecrackers and multicoloured lanterns ,and exchanging sweets and snacks with friends and family.

Though I come from a Muslim family,as kids , we always celebrated Diwali by lighting firecrackers with our friends and neighbours.When we'd go to our hometown in Manglore during Diwali school vacations,we'd light firecrackers with our cousins.Later,during my phase of teaching at my job at a prestigious private indian school,we'd celebrate this lovely festival with the kindergarten children who'd come dressed in the cutest indian outfits,we'd decorate the classroom with festive art and handmade lanterns and prepare a class Rangoli with flower petals.In the higher classes,the young ones would have a 'Rangoli decoration contest' where their designs would be judged by the school principal .We'd share delicious typical festive sweets and savoury snacks together provided by the school.

A few years later,at my next job at the International french school in Bombay for the french speaking expatriates' children,as a teacher of English and art,I tried my best to teach indian culture and art not only for Diwali,but also other festivals.The pupils,parents and colleagues were thirsty for knowledge and significance of indian culture and thoroughly enjoyed participating in every aspect of  festival preparation.We 'd make paper lanters,paint Rangoli on paper with the help of stencil designs,paint clay diyas and craft replicas of firecrackers.Just a year before moving to Scotland,I got to see Diwali being celebrated in Dubai and in SriLanka when I went on holiday there with my sister which was very  colourful and pompous.

A unique, creative and original Rangoli designed by my friend Prajakta using M &M's and dry lentils

In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope.

Bomb(ed)bay

The city of dreams - Bombay - where people come from all over to make a living and achieve success . India's commercial capital where all industries thrive -Bollywood , television,retail, commerce, small trades and multinational companies,academia , tourism ,the list is endless. The wild crazy city full of warm chaos ,over twenty million people , unbelievably skyrocketing cost of living and a sense of functioning that is unique to anywhere in the world .

   I grew up in the massive suburb of Andheri which I am told is the size of Zurich - only bigger . Navigating amongst the hundreds of lanes , roads , unsystematic railway station platforms and finding your way despite the hundreds of names of  streets and junctions in such a bustling megacity gives you a sense of sharp road skills and makes you streetsmarter than your rural counterparts who grew up in villages or smaller towns with limited geographical surface area . Why is it then that this wonderful monster city has consistently received nothing but stepmotherly treatment in terms of infrastructure and facilities from our politicians despite Bombayites paying the highest taxes in the entire country? 

   All my suburban friends and people I grew up with have always had a lifelong love,devotion and gratitude to this metro city that gives us our livelihood and education . Then something really nasty and unexpected started to happen : it was during my final year in high school ; the infamous Ayodhya-Babri mosque issue led to an aftermath of horrendous riots in Bombay which left absolutely everybody cringing in fear and fatal casualities beyond imagination.Then after a few months,  during our final Board exams in the last year of high school before we went to college - we had given exams for half of our subjects and we heard that there were serial bomb blasts in our own city .The stock exchange,the five star hotels,the airport - a total of 13 vital crowded locations struck in broad daylight .People had no choice but to pick up the pieces in their lives and carry on with their life .

   We Bombayites are so ambitious ,hardworking and busy with the routine in our hectic life that time tends to heal some wounds .Public memory is short ,there is always some or the other natural disaster in India like cyclones and floods, maybe that's why we are strong when we hear of deadly attacks on human life .There was the odd transport strike  now and then which did little to stop the workaholic overprofessional Mumbaikar from reaching his workplace.

After a few years when I was teaching in a private school in Powai which is the eastern zone of Bombay , there were serial bombs exploding in the BEST buses in areas where my co-workers lived like Mulund and Ghatkopar in 2003.The leafy peaceful suburb of Vile Parle where I studied and went shopping to the massive market of 'Bhaji Galli' ( Vegetables street) was affected too ,close to the railway station that me and my friends always frequented. Saddening was an understatement for this unfortunate incident. There were'nt as many casualities from this episode because the worse was yet to follow.

        On 25th August 2003, two taxis loaded with explosives blew up within minutes of each other at the Gateway of India - close to the Taj, and at a busy shopping complex.The attacks were one of the worst in the history of bombings .


       In July 2006 on a weekday peak evening rush hour, a friend called me to ask if I was ok because she saw on the tv that serial bombs have exploded in several local trains which is the lifeline of Bombay . It was horrifying to watch live coverage of the newschannel reporters who were trying to interview survivors and the deadly chaos that followed . As if it was not enough that just the previous year , for the first time , there were unexpected floods in Mumbai in the monsoon of July 2005 . And the devastating Tsunami in the winter of december 2004 a year before that . My girlfriends who had already migrated to the west a few years ago could not stop contacting their family and friends worried which scary disaster would strike India next - natural or man-made .

 For some reason the government cut off all mobile network coverage so communication was impossible because almost everyone is accessible only via his/her mobile phone.Over a 150 people killed,numerous others crippled for life and countless others witnessed grotesque scenes of  blood and gore on the railway tracks while all they were doing was returning home to the suburbs after working/studying in the town.

      Security was beefed up everywhere post the attacks - bags scanned at every public place -shopping malls,cinema halls,airports etc.Too late Mister Defence minister. Some sinister people were already hatching the ultimate terrorist attack plot to stab the nation not behind the back , but right in your face . And that happened three years later when a three day terror attack by ten men left the megapolis,the country and the rest of the world horrified,hurt , dead, injured and scared for life .

   No more needs to be said about the tragic event that happened in November 2008 . The very fact that only ten armed men managed to continue attacking the major public places of Bombay over a three day period goes to show how poor,unfair and disorganised our indian disaster management system is . The bottomline was that despite the previous numerous bomb blasts and terror attacks on Bombay,the city did not have a NSG(National security guard force - a mini-army specifically deployed for emergency public protection ) and by the time NSG arrived ( planes not available , buses were stuck in traffic) , the damage was already done . No amount of public protests, peace marches or petitions could bring back the horror embedded in the minds of victims,onlookers and everyone else who could relate to this large scale hellish event . 

       The next year in 2009 , when the swine flu epidemic struck, the government decided to shut down schools,colleges,universities,cinema halls and major public places for three days. Absolutely everyone seems to be walking on a tightrope since the past few years - not know what nasty surprise could strike next . I hope and pray like millions of others - NONE . We've already had enough . Poor Mumbai claims it has  not lost its spirit but its taken too much already and there is a limit of tolerance . I feel worse because my friends and family claim that work and family keep their mind off the violent attacks that happened in the past , but deep down inside, despite our robotic machine-like lifestyles, we can never forget , nor forgive .

   Bombay has the worst roads in India,leading to the worst nightmarish traffic and pollution whereas New Delhi is on CNG with wide smooth roads , like other cities in India .For some reason, Bombay seems to have lost its glorious charm like Calcutta . We have always been proud of our city no matter how tiny our flats are and no matter how much we are looked down upon by our rural relatives who remind us that they enjoy a better lifestyle with bigger houses , gardens and less stress in the smaller towns .

      The government is now building a sky metro which will take donkey's years to complete. Give it another decade and Mumbai will be even more flourishing ,more prosperous and  less stressful for commuting about . Its like the universal fact of life that its always the innocent, nice , good hearted people who get nasty unexpected things in life , in this case its the hardworking ,cheerful Bombayites who want nothing more than earning enough to look after their family and owning a flat . Let's hope peace prevails not only in Bombay , but also everywhere else in the world .
    

Indian Handicraft mania

Once a professor in college asked us to reflect on this question '' Did you choose the country you were born in? '' I don't think so  I was a foetus for crying out loud .  But if I had to, would I ? I am not sure . We Indians are so blessed that we are brought up in such a diverse multicultural background . Performing well at academics,art,sport with such a cosmopolitan group of friends,students and teachers hones our interpersonal skills and also makes us fluent in  understanding  minimum three languages ,gives you a platform to appreciate a plethora of regional cuisine and a sense of unity in diversity where you know that you cannot survive in harmony if you don't respect each other's background no matter how complex it may be.

Especially when you grow up in a giant city like Bombay - sorry but it will always be 'Beloved Bombay' for me and I refuse to accept 'old new names' forced down upon us by selfish political parties who think that  merely translating 'anglicised' words will make us more patriotic towards our homeland . Obviously not . When you make the brave decision of leaving the wonderful country of your birth and upbringing to settle in foreign shores you tend to hold on even harder to your identity,your mother tongue,your customs,culture and festivities with sincere devotion and nostalgia.Its like a tree trunk being held in its place during a storm by the tough roots underground . Without holding on to your stabilising,reliable,strong ,humble roots you would obviously collapse into nothingness in no time .

I 'm wrapped up in four layers of woollen clothing,two layers of socks and a scarf for survival after havin just guzzled hot coffee before leaving my home to go to the market.And suddenly I miss those sultry roasting afternoons in Bombay when I'd be sweating profusely under the sun while returning home from my teaching job in the bus . My attire like most other girls' would be a sleeveless cotton embroidered long typical indian tunic ( kurta ) with jeans and open flat sandals. Sometimes I'd pop by some shops for brief respite as they'd be airconditioned and at home there was only a ceiling fan.I'd use all the four public modes of transport in the city - the BEST red bus to reach the maze of Andheri station,the local railways to reach the town(a thirty minute train journey) , share a cab with three other passengers at Grant Road station  to reach Breach Candy to my International French school where I taught English and indian festive arts to the french children in primary school, and the bus back to the train station to return home.It was a riot but it worked , and how. That's the wonderful thing about Bombay - you can be in the noisiest places but still feel a sense of calm and assurance that everyone is sailing in the same boat like you.

         No matter how hot the days were, I was at the indian handloom exhibition at Bandra Reclamation grounds everytime it was on. I , like thousands of others , could not get enough of the regional artists , craftsmen and handloom traders who would come from various parts of India to showcase their work.  It was all reasonably priced and a delight to buy not only for yourself,but also for others . At Pondicherry  and Chennai I came across so much more handlooms and handicrafts that were made for export . The saree emporiums and silk fabric malls left me agape and hungry for more . All I wanted was to ogle at the handmade unique  creations that we  can take for granted so often when we see a designer outfit or high street clothing.

   I was materialistic enough to carry sarees and indian outfits from various different regions of India to Scotland though I knew I would'nt wear them that often. My mini room is now  like a walk - in indian handloom and handicraft exhibition for  all my guests and visitors who love marvelling at the sheer beauty of the gorgeous indian fabrics. Not to mention my dangling colourful parrots , Rajasthan's mirror-work wall hangings , hand embroidered cushion covers and bedding, my wooden elephants , jewellery boxes , the list is endless , and I want more !

    I ' ve always been a great India junkie having lived there for nearly twenty-nine  years non-stop , and I 'm a better Indian abroad because I practise my indianness with even more devotion and seriousness to stay grounded. Indian cuisine has been my saviour, so has my outfits and jewellery , wedding photographs,gifts and other memorablia that I have hoarded and refuse to pack away . I'm permanently on a ' high ' and in a state of ' nirvana ' whenever I perform any ritual that reminds me of home and old happy times with my friends and family . There is always an indian element in almost everything I do or say and I cannot help it . Our culture is so rich and its uniqueness is matchless , even a lifetime of exploring India is not enough to familiarise one with all aspects of Indian customs ,traditions and cuisine . 

      I am more amused when I see girls in India in mini skirts or ' posh' western revealing clothing - because I know they are flaunting skin to make a point to others that they are modern  whereas they are actually stuck in an orthodox situation .  And also because they want to enjoy the best of both worlds and given a choice , they'll definitely  pick a silk saree and rich sequinned, jewelled shoes anytime over stillettoes or a t-shirt . I 'm off to polish my precious silverware now that was a present and to rearrange my clothing neatly in my cupboard , the sight of colourful bright indian wear makes me happy first thing when I open my wardrobe compared to the sea of dull black,grey and brown woollen wear I have on the side for winter . I'm glad I can  blend both elements as long as they keep me warm and happy.
  
  
       

Working ladies who lunch

Seafood cake slice - unforgettable : )

Katja's smoked salmon and cheesy spinach starter

Homebaked Desserts to die for

Cattis ' Swedish seafood savoury starter cake

It was at Katja's 30th birthday dinner at Glasgow's oldest and finest vintage restaurant - Three fat ladies at Shandon Belles that out of nowhere,all we four ladies who were dining with the 5pm.com menu thought of an idea . We all work for the same company but hardly ever hung out together as some worked from home,so we were getting on very well at dinner and thought of continuing this practice of dining together, so I suggested we do a 'Ladies come lunch with me' at each other's homes - the only difference being it was not being judged for a winner so its non-competitive . One of my colleagues was already doing a 'Come Dine with me' with his friends and he was hosting an indian theme dinner and he was so excited about not only the food,but also the drinks that it sounded more like a 'Come booze with me' session. We agreed it would be an enjoyable way of getting to experience various cultures.Maria is a lovely Spanish girl living in Edinburgh,Katja is from Germany,Cattis is from Sweden and I'm from India so it was just a co-incidence that our 'Ladies come lunch with me' multicultural club was formed.

          I offered to be the hostess for the first lunch episode a month later on a sunday.I'd set the table with typical indian serveware - stainless steel thaalis(plates) with 2 small steel katoris (bowls) on each one,cutlery,wine glasses, a lotus flower centrepiece etc . I had prepared South-indian coconut based prawn curry,Paalak Paneer,Pulao Rice and dessert . My dear supportive husband was happy to head off to the pub to watch a football match so we could party on. My newfound girlfriends arrived one by one and we ate lunch together after which I showed off some of my gorgeous traditional indian clothes,explaining how embroidery differs from one state to another . I must say the real joy of hosting and serving my guests indian dishes is not only their compliments,but also their appreciation and genuine interest they take in the nutritional benefits,cooking techniques,variations in indian cuisine etc . Then we strolled about the vintage and charity shops near my flat for a while before having a coffee at Tinderbox.

The next luncheon was in Edinburgh at Maria's flat .We got the scotrail from Glasgow and walked up Leith and were treated to a royal feast of home made  fresh authentic spanish tapas with Sangria . Maria demonstrated to us the recipe for Sangria and though she lives in a multiple residence accomodation ,she cooks all her food and grows her own herbs in her backgarden like mint to flavour various dishes and also to make mojitos . We all played the Ludo game in her back garden  which incidentally has its own tweaks of rules in each of our countries we learnt,and lucky me won it after over an hour and half of playing . What a pleasure it was to be served sangria,then coffee and first dessert during the game, and at the end of the game,a second dessert .We were immobile by the time we reached home after thanking our gracious hostess Maria .

       After a while,it was the third lunch at Cattis house who lives in a lovely holiday seaside town outside Glasgow called Troon . Since I'd never visited Troon before,I was excited and I enjoyed the 30 minute picturesque train journey from the historical Glasgow Central Station (It was at the hotel at this station that John Logie Baird had his first television transmission when he invented the tv in Scotland and this hotel has hosted famous personalities including the Kennedy,Churchill,Frank Sinatra etc ). It is a lovely sunny town full of cute houses and we were totally spoilt by our swedish hostess.

Cattis had prepared a delicious ' savoury seafood cake' for a starter that looked so perfect that we could not stop raving at the very sight of it . Lovely recipe made by assembling  tuna,mayo,cooked prawns etc between layers of bread slices and an icing of creme fraiche , decorated with tiger prawns and caviar on top and cucumber and carrot slices along the sides.I've been telling everyone about it eversince ! After lunch,we painted for a bit in the sunny lovely conservatory which Cattis built herself , followed by Tandoori salmon for our main course and a lovely raspberry cake with swedish vanilla cream ,most cooking ingredients are easy to find in the Ikea grocery store . We walked up to the beach and saw the shops and park around before I was dropped off to the train station as I had another party to attend at night  . 

       The last supper was at Katja's new flat .She made an awesome gourmet starter which was the ultimate combination of spinach,cheese and smoked salmon ,then a classic german main course of meat and potatoes and spoilt us rotten with two decadent desserts . I  miss our lunch club so much especially because I'm used to girly get togethers centered around food and movies and shopping, but this one was unique. There are various charity ' Come dine with us' clubs now available by the musular dystrophy organisation where you organise a dinner club with a set of people you know, you contribute a sum to each host at every dinner and at the end,the collected cash is submitted to charity which is a great cause. I guess this is for lazy people like me who'd rather slave in the kitchen rather than run a marathon in the cold for sponsorship for a good cause. I am sure this tv series has inspired the nation to do good to society,after all , at dinner parties we ought to do more than just eat , burp ,and drink . 

A boozy afternoon tea

Apparently the idea of ' Afternoon tea ' started when an aristocratic  princess ordered a few nibbles alongside her tea in the afternoon besides the usual bisuits.In true royal style,small sandwiches,scones and cakes were served with tea and her friends loved this so much,it became a regular habit. Eventually, it became the pastime of the posh ladies of leisure to spend the afternoons having this 'mealy tea' .Till a long time and even now in some parts, afternoon tea is considered a thing of indulgence only the rich women can afford as it often involves champagne as well .Is that why it took me three years to go out for one despite having tried so many restaurants where the food was pricier than this 'posh tea' ?

            After a very long time , me and my good friend Lesley from work were going out and decided to have afternoon tea.Since she'd never tried it and neither did I , we were excited and looked forward to going to the gourmet 'Fiffy and Ally' at Princes Square on my favourite  Buchanan street (I fondly call it Bachchan street after my favourite Bollywood indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan ).  Its the main pedestrian shopping street in the town centre and  Glasgow being the second best shopping capital of the UK after London,  shops on this street are charged the second highest rent  after London's Oxford Street,no wonder many shops there  had to close down during recession times .

Luckily another friend at work remarked that afternoon tea would not be served past 5pm so I panicked and called the cafe to enquire who confirmed that 4.30pm was the last order - so you see, this treat is not really meant for the working class to enjoy once they finish their job -its for the ladies who lunch !Anyhow,Lesley and me were so disappointed as she was finishing work at 5pm and I finished at 4pm as we'd both been looking forward to this for weeks,it was a case of now or never.I decided to be cheeky and show up earlier,order in advance,and wait for her to join me before the cafe closed at 6pm ,which I did (after buying icecream bowls at Poundland) .

                You  can imagine what  level of resistance and self-discipline I had to show cos I had strict orders from Lesley not to touch anything  on the cake stand till  she arrived .And I had this delectable three tier cake stand in front of me  full of sandwiches in the bottom tier,scones on the second , and cakes on the top tier . For half an hour before she showed up , all I could have was my cup of  tea while convincing the waiter that I was'nt being stood up or that I was'nt going to finish it all alone .And once she joined me,we totally indulged,though we could not even finish half of the goodies on offer . And we chatted on even after the cafe had shut and they had cleared our table.It was an evening to remember .

         I did'nt realise one can hire vintage tea cups,ceramic cake stands,delicate cake plates and unique teapots for hosting your own 'tea party' in your home until my friend did that for her birthday party . There are so many 'tea party ' companies that supply merchandise specific to serving tea and its not really expensive if you compare it to the prospect of buying cake stands,vintage cake plates etc. Not only is it a break from doing the same celebration of restaurant/ cinema/pub/museum/spa but its also better value for money and a ' healthy party ' where you can hope not to be hungover the next day (unless the hostess has been too generous with the champagne and the guests have been too  greedy with the cakes ) .

I don't know what it is but I think for us  women , having your girlfriends around for tea is like a grown up version of the game of 'Kitchen Kitchen' that we used to play in our childhood. I remember my mom would buy me and my sister small,brown , toy ceramic teapot and two  miniature teacups to play with our neighbour's daughters and after a while, it would break but not crush into sharp pieces ,just large chunks that were not so dangerous for children at play . After a while,we'd get another toy and once that broke, another tiny tea-set.  We used to be so happy and proud to play with those wee tea sets because we never had a Barbie nor fancied one (till date I cannot related to the Barbie /computer games phenomenon as play for children ).

During our summer vacations in our family farmhouse in Manglore,with my cousin sisters, we used to make a muddy mess with red soil,pretending to be skilled potters .We used to craft small imperfect tea cups and utensils and leave them to dry in the sun on the roof and get scolded by mom for soiling all our clothes all over again with wet earth .It used to be a pleasure to play 'Kitchen Kitchen ' with our dried mini vessels that we little girls had crafted with our own hands though they were brittle and never lasted long .

Perhaps we are reliving our childhood , or maybe its  a way to keep warm in the cold rainy climate and to catch up with each other in a sober , fresh state of mind with a little treat of a home baked cake on the side . In India ,  tea - time is fun because there is always a hot ,filling snack often made at home or bought fresh - like a 'Samosa' (potato pyramid encased in pastry), ' Vada-pav' ,(mini potato burger) 'Veg cutlet'( a veggie version of fish-cakes) .We eat a mini starter in the evening with our aromatic 'chai' when we return home from school or work and have a late dinner after 9pm unlike here in the UK where tea time is often direct dinner eaten when one returns home after work .

My mum-in-law told me that at her wedding,it was her sister who gifted her a whole tea set which is the tradition here and its still in good  condition even after 44  years of marriage . Now I am definitely convinced its big girls  reliving their childhood memories by gifting each other a reminder of their fun times together as kids even after doing the grown up thing of marriage .

New place New craze

The lottery craze among the people here baffles me.Almost everyone buys a national lottery and Euromillions lottery ticket without fail every weekend and  so many of them wake up depressed on Sunday because they did not win despite decades of trying.Apparently because they play the same numbers which is often their loved ones' birthdate and month or year,they hope the formula should work eventually.I still can't comprehend this mass mentality of spending hundreds of pounds over a lifetime to buy tickets and win almost never .

 

              The lottery rebel in me got lucky for the first time when I entered a competition for a magazine online for winning a pair of shoes.My work-mate had brought in a bunch of fashion and gossip magazines to share and bored at work,I emailed the magazine with my shoe size and address and forgot about it until  a week later I got a parcel delivered for me - hot blue satin stillettoes.Not really  a tall girl's need but nevertheless,my colleague did'nt seem exactly happy for me when I told her it was her borrowed magazine that bought me those shoes.Slowly,I started browsing various fashion and lifestyle magazines online in the evenings in my free time to see what kinda goodies they had in offer and I did see that there were so so many.I decided to try my luck and started entering the competitions online-all you had to do was to email them so my template was ready, or you'd had to fill in an application form online for which the autofill function on my laptop was useful.

 

           At first,I got a mini carton of chick - lits - confusing because I am also on the reader panel of another magazine where they send you books and you send them a review. But apparently this time,I had won those books - not the best read though,nevertheless,that motivated me to continue my new craze of ' comping' as its called .I had nothing to lose so I kept browsing gossip magazines,food magazines,gardening magazines,home decoration magazines etc and there's a massive variety of them - weekly,monthly,bi-monthly and so on.I'd spend maybe half an hour  comping online every other day (so now my friends know why I joined facebook only recently!).

 

         Slowly,I started winning small goodies  - mostly beauty products like perfume,shampoo etc and unwanted cosmetics like anti-ageing creams,tanning lotions etc.I won a Sony digital radio alarm which is one of my favourites and winning just gets so addictive-it was like a constructive way of spending time online because I can't be bothered playing computer games or window shopping online.I thought I was the luckiest girl on the planet when I won a designer blue handbag ,but when it arrived ,it was so hedious that I could not imagine gifting it to others-a primark bag was cuter.I moaned on about winning disappointing stuff till my good friend Katja advised me to sell it on ebay because that bag was at a retail price of a hundred quid.I was guided by her how to post a listing online,my digicam was broken at that time so my friend Serge took photos on his mobile of the blue bag and blue stilletoes I had not even worn for over a year,and I created a paypal account and posted my bag and shoes for sale together as an ideal combination.

 

       The very next day people started bidding which caught me totally by surprise,since then I've sold old clothes,used shoes,other stuff I'd win and not use,I guess it got addictive once you see the benefit of the money being deposited in your bank account with a mere click.All the more believable that shopping on ebay is not only convenient for people,its also very addictive and competitive as they want the best bargain online .You'd wonder how people can possibly pay for used stuff,but then its clear that its like shopping for used goods at an online charity shop.Winning branded goodies and selling them on ebay is the best combination for making profit I've had even before starting my own 'BollyFood' authentic indian cookery classes the next year.

 

      Some people say I'm plain lucky but I'd like to quote Andy Murray 's recent saying ''The harder I work, the luckier I get '' . Obviously comping is not as easy as buying a lottery ticket .It takes dedication,concentration and motivation.And the only reason I get lucky occassionally is because all perfume,cosmetic,electronic companies etc have lots of products to promote as a part of their marketing and advertising budget via popular magazines which serve as the style bible of the women.Only magazine readers would apply to win such stuff as it would be foolish for example for a company to give away 100 tubes of the latest handcream launched at a  store,so they rather market and promote it online and in the magazine where they have a larger audience -and it seems to work ! Pray I win an all expenses paid holiday to a sunny island soon .

Shopping for charity

Whoever thought that shopping in a thrift store would contribute to charity to various causes ?Whoever came up with this brilliant idea was a true genius because  its true and it works.

The United Kingdom high street and most commercial areas are dotted with several 'charity shops' where the public donate unwanted items from their home .After spring cleaning,the store staff check each item for defects,dispose off goods that are in bad condition, (often smaller charity organisations come to collect this to send away to far off poorer countries after weeding of unwanted junk) and steam-iron clothes, polish shoes and clean utensils,cutlery etc and price each item that is displayed on sale neatly in store shelves so that the public can buy it at a low price , all sale proceeds towards the specific charity that the store donates to.

The store staff are often volunteers who work part time to gain retail business work experience, or retired or stay at home moms who can choose their work shifts and days that suit their busy schedules.And most stores sell old as well as new stuff like greeting cards,junk jewellery,fairtrade dry food items etc, so its not all old things on sale at these charity shops.That's what makes it a pleasure to browse in these stores because you can find the most unbelievable bargains for clothes,jackets,handbags,kitchen items,books and the works.

I've been shopping at ' charity shops ' for over five years now and I still cannot get enough of them.You can buy the best crystalware,colourful plates,pricey cake stands,vases,jugs, home furniture,designer wear,nearly everything you can use in your home,if you don't mind owning a used item in perfectly good condition.It was unbelievable at first that such new shiny,perfectly packed,in carton things are actually donated by people around who never used it and have nobody else among their friends or family who can take it off them,or gifts that they would'nt recycle for others , or disposing off things when they moved house,or children giving away things they inherited from their parents' home that are not to their liking .It is indeed very altrusitic on the part of these people who give it away for a good cause instead of selling it off on ebay or recycling it as presents for others .And despite the numerous charity shops competing with each other,almost all seem to be in  a profitable business.

One of my friends volunteers once a week in a charity shop and tells me the funniest stories because she helps to sort out donated goods-apparently they get strange items like roadsigns,hospital bedsheets,restaurant cutlery,handbags with pure gold jewellery,whole full suitcases with pure cashmere and silk clothes,unbelievably extra large sized clothing and other interesting stuff . Apparently there are volunteers who will also visit the homes of older people who cannot  personally drop off heavy bags at the shop .  

Most of the common charities are UK Cancer research and British Heart Foundation,there are also Hospices,and in Chichester I've come across a whole mini 'charity shop lane' full of various shops that have their own unique specific charities like 'Age UK' , 'Cat care', 'Spina Bifida research','children's charity' etc .Over the years I've picked up kitchen ceramic serveware,crystal,ceramic pots,vintage handbags,new slippers ,mantle decorations,figurines ,cashmere sweaters etc for peanuts and I also know friends who have picked up prized items like Jimmy Choos for a tenner ! Some people hunt exclusively for designer stuff and buy it at dirt cheap rates and then sell it on ebay for a profit. I love browsing around the stores while strolling about the markets.Its like a posh version of a flea market .

I am not sure if its my bohemian mentality or my typical feminine bargain-hunting trait,but there is something charming about picking up something that had in fact originally been carefully chosen for a high price by the discerning buyer with a good taste . It seems to have more character, an untold mysterious story behind it, and hopefully, a little historical value too .  Recently, while moving house , I donated bags and bags of unwanted stuff to charity .And bought gorgeous Le Creuset bakeware at the 'For Cats' charity shop for just two pounds , the cycle continues .

The grass is greener on both sides

I am not sure where me or  my friends are migrating to next .Thank heavens for the internet to help us keep in touch ,its vital in these times where none of us have time for a personal phone call to bicker about work and catch up on gossip.Recently,I joined facebook reluctantly after much coercion from my friends.The very concept of impersonal 'pokes' and snooping on others online never really appealed to me ,but ultimately I had to give in - and from everyone's location updates and photos,its obvious that we have all become ' modern nomads ' , travelling to new,greener pastures in search of prosperity .

 

            It seems to me aboslutely every parent in India and many other places has a dream for his children to grow up,leave the past behind,abandon the country and settle in the west where he will progress in his career and life.Its awesome how parents who have never travelled to that place want you to move there,as if by intuition,wanting the best for their child - money,lifestyle,healthcare,environment ,and government. Not just the 'big american dream' but the abroad dream had been  on the cards when I was born,and for the matter of fact - most of my friends and peers I know.Its just a mentality , a wish, a feeling and over all, a blessing that elders seem to want you to live - what they never had .Looking back,it is the most important decision of your life -taking off from your country of birth and upbringing and abandoning all your loved ones forever- be it for a further education, a job or to join your partner .

 

          I heard that it was considered a bad thing to do in the ancient times to cross the sea - who knows why?Maybe because it changes your outlook in life forever?Maybe because it gives you a platform to compare the pros and cons of two separate geographical locations?Maybe because ambition could lead to greed for more conquering more like Alexander the Great or Christopher Columbus who discovered America?I remember us our girly group in college moaning in frustration after tough exams when we found out that our regular street food sandwich vendor who had been our saviour for 5 years had migrated to Australia,and my neighbour's taunts at her own son when she found out that our maid's son had gone to USA as a software engineer on a project whereas he was stuck in a rut of a job with the daily stress of crazy commuting in the Bombay traffic .Slowly and regulary,one by one,nearly every other friend,neighbour,relative and acquantaince had packed their bags from India and moved to the west forever.Most of my engineer friends were spoilt by their multinational companies who sponsored their trips via work assignments,others moved with their husbands who were settled abroad,a few others were supported by their pressurising parents who paid for their child's air travel and  fees and living expenses to study at a reputed foreign University.In fact,if somebody from India does not have at least 1 family member in another country,its abnormal,with the exception of certain groups whose ambition is to patriotically serve their own motherland via army/police or other government jobs.

 

 2004 was the year of ' exodus' when 8 of my close girlfriends got married (at the perfectly eligible age of 25 years) and moved abroad.It was so saddening ,but also mesmerising to keep in touch and compare each one's new life.In fact,silly me until recently believed that migration was a universal human instinct until I got asked the same annoying question time and  again by different people : "How on earth can you abandon your own homeland and your immediate family after they have nurtured you all your life and made you the person you are today?How can you turn your back on your family and claim to be a close-knit family when you are not physically around them to look after them in their old age?" I got to thinking - how easy it is for most of us to  decide to move like daredevils ,detaching ourselves so easily from our motherland whereas others cannot even dream of not seeing their parents for years , not eating a home cooked family meal or attending a traditional wedding for decades just because they are busy working away in another continent for the money or for their career.Is it for money or true love or the improved standard of living or to satisfy our nagging parents ' ambitions for us that most of us have moved? Is it because the grass is indeed greener on the other side?If it is then why on earth do we keep longing in our hearts to return to our homeland as the only antidote to  feeling so homesick? Why do they moan so much then when they eventually move back to their own country after finishing their stint abroad?What a strange dilemma this can be.

 

I am not sure of the answer - all I can assume is home is where the heart is - The grass is greener wherever your gut tells you it is - If you believe that your destiny and not your actions landed your in a place which was not even your own choice or dream -then maybe it is.Some of us feel underestimated,saddened by the injustice,politics and state of affairs and just need to get away from it all in a place that they feel valued,respected and left alone to pursue their dreams.Others want to give their children an international cosmopolitan upbringing that they never had, a few others are overwhelmed to be given a platform by their work or University to pursue their career and academic ambitions which did not exist in their own homeland,and some of us just want to join the brigade and be closer to the rest of the people who migrated to be closer to them and miss them less.At the end of the day,wherever you go , whatever you do, one ought to be proud of his life rather than regretful or cynical .And its got to be worth it.The grass is greener wherever you are ,as long as you are content with your life overall .

 

 

Walkaholics Anonymous

Glasgow University pier

Edinburgh Castle garden fountain

Chichester Cathedral

Nobody I can remember ever told me to 'take a walk' but I did anyways, and I just cant stop.Whenever the need arose,or when I need a change of mood,when its time to stretch and get moving from our predominantly sedentary lives and mainly,to reach my destination be it University,the market or a friend's home,I've always preferred to go places walking rather than driving  or using public transport.There is something so healing and  relaxing about moving about actively ,especially in the midst of nature,I'm not sure its our primal instinct to use our legs as our very own personal means of transport to go out to fetch food or to make a living .

             I was fortunate enough to live adjacent to the massive verdant huge air India officers colony which was the little green patch of greenery amidst the awfully polluting Godfrey Philips Cigarette Factory on side and the western express Highway on the other side,bordering the avoidable congested crossroad junction of the infamous Andheri flyover which took years to build due to bureaucracy and political issues.The concrete and vehicular nightmare surrounding all us Mumbaikars is something we've totally grown accustomed to over the years of living,so much so that often,its only during holidays that we remark that we had'nt seen a butterfly or marvelled at the beauty of nature.This residential colony is the respite for hundreds of school and college goers,retired folks,homemakers and the general  public who are sensible enough to commute walking to their institution,temple,office or the market.And it remains till date ,the only rescue route for everybody including stressed people alike - elders with health problems like diabetes and high cholestrol who walk for an hour in groups or alone before heading to work,to make the most of teh fresh cool air before the scorching sun starts to shine in its full glory .

Over the years,I cannot even begin to jot down on paper the memorable,fun,educational and historical walks I've been to - both planned and unplanned.Juhu beach,Jogger's park,Breach candy,Priyadarshini Park(in Bombay), the gorgeous,healing walks along the sandy beaches of pristine Goa and Manglore,the awesome buildings and gardens almost anywhere in Paris ,walking along the Ness islands in the highlands of Scotland,Princes street in medival Edinburgh,and my favourite places to walk in Glasgow-the Kelvingrove park and the Botanic gardens,the cobbled pedestrian shopping zones on Buchanan street and throughout the market place of Chichester town convey the message straightaway  - No cars,just pedestrians -walk on !There is something about walking among the bounties of nature that automatically heals any negative thoughts or a nasty episode at work when you know that you are so far yet so close to your home.The mere memories of monsoon treks with friends,fun strolls with friends to the cinema and guided walks with tourists in a new town are enough to bring a smile to my face at the end of a hard day's work.

Unfortunately not many people I know  resort to walking as  a means of relaxation or exercise.So many of my own friends lead dangerously sedentary lifestyles and are voluntary 'mouse potatoes' at work and 'couch potatoes' at home because of the nature of long hours of work,car convenience and tv and internet addiction when at home.The cold or hot weather can be a major deterrant too,one of my close friends and my sister telling me how embarrassing and unnerving it was to walk on the pavements of Dubai where even labourers travel in vehicles.I am not sure how many can consistently sweat off the calories in the gym or climb steps during lunch at work to remain active,but the bottomline is we have to fight the odds  and give our body a much needed break on a daily basis in an enjoyable manner-be it dance or walk or workout or Yoga.So ,with no offence meant people,please please 'Take a walk '

Jumbo love

The material girl in me shamelessly collects more shoes,clothes and jewellery in all colours,shapes and forms.But of late I seem to be collecting miniature elephants in various textures,colours,sizes and sets.There is the family of four-baby elephant behind his mother elephant-the mamma's boy, and there's the little daddy's girl following her  father elephant. I also have a wooden solo elephant with a 'mahout' (elephant minder) and a mini-chariot on its back for royalty riders, and a single tusker made from teak wood that is wild and has a savage untamed look about him.Somehow,the indian elephant seems cuter and more approachable due to its smaller ears compared to its African cousins. 

I am not sure how this jumbo craze began for somebody like me who prefers human contact to having pets or plants at home to talk to.Maybe its the indian connection, or the very idea of an innocent jungle elephant that fascinates you when you live in a country like the United Kingdom where there are barely any elephants around.

I grew up in Bombay and the only occassional sighting of a tame elephant would be rare on the streets , I'd not held any particular liking for them when I 'd see them at the circus , and because I'd been intimidated by their massive size,I'd rarely venture close to adult tuskers I'd occassionally see pass by the streets. I did marvel at baby elephants with long spiky hair  once during a road trip to 'Gajanur' near Manglore in southern India (Gaja meaning elephant in Hindi).

They say little elephant statues with their trunks raised upwards displayed facing the windows are a sign of good luck.In Kerala where wild elephants abound everywhere,some elders say the sighting of an elephant with its backside facing you will spoil your day.No matter what this loving creature's posture,somehow it seems to bring a smile and sense of amazement to everybody's face.There is something unbelievably graceful about the oxymoron of this giant animal being the most gentle ,helpful to mankind and harmless.Is this why a symbol of Lord Ganesha is believed to be a universal symbol of energy ?I wonder why rhinos don't evoke the same sense of wonder from others despite their huge size and similar harmless,herbivorous traits?

Potato pangs

I'm basking in tattieland (Tatties - scottish for the humble potato ) .I 'm yet to meet a person who does not like potatoes - (with the exception of 'Jains' from India whose religion prohibits them from consuming vegetables grown underground).'Aalu' as its called in the Hindi language is a darling 'vegetable' though many nutritionists are sceptical about its classification -apparently this tuber is neither a technically a vegetable nor a foodgrain - just  a source of carbohydrates .But what a source of delicious versatile fun dishes and snacks that we can't get enough of.

 

I've always been a potatoholic,like many others .'Vadapav' (a wee potato burger-especially the Vile Parle 's famous Babu's shop) remains the popular,addictive snack for anytime in the day,wafers,'Batata bhaji (stir fried chopped potatoes in a basic sauce ),Biryani potatoes and countless other potato based dishes leave us licking our fingers in delight.Even MacDonalds introduced spicy potato wedges and a round flat potato burger on their menu when they launched in India.

 

It was only a couple of years ago when my father -in-law cultivated homegrown organic potatoes in his back garden and served them simply boiled at dinner with roast chicken,did I realise how real,tasty and naturally comforting pure potatoes can be - minus the seasoning,minus the spices,batter or oil .

 

I 'm still fascinated by the sight of a variety and different qualities of potatoes at the supermarket and I'm as chuffed as a child in a candy shop when I see muddy potatoes at the farmer's market.'Edzel blue' is a dark purple coloured one - good for roasting or frying, 'King Edward' is the housewife's favourite variety because of its clean creamy texture,'Kerrs pink' is ideal for boiling and adds a  natural colour to dishes  .

 

Traditional British recipes are termed as comfort food due to the simple hearty combination of meat and potatoes often cooked or baked together like salmon fishcakes,cottage pie,cornish pasties,Irish stew ,Fish pie etc. Besides, hash browns,baked potato,thick chips ,mashed potatoes,roast potatoes, potato waffles etc are other 'hardcore' versions eaten on the side of meat and vegetables often as a source of carbohydrates.

 

Despite the latest 'foodie' revolution in Britain , there's nothing like the humble potato to satify people's palates.Having written a little tribute to this universal favourite tattie,I'm off to enjoy my baked potato with a cup of tea to keep warm in this cold weather

Life changing people , places and moments .

Have you ever had that unexpected  moment in your life when your entire outlook,attitude and perception about your purpose in life totally changed forever? A book or film or a person you met or a place you came across inevitably altered your vision in an uncontrollable manner and touched your spirit like no other experience in the past .

I've never believed in such larger than life ' mini miracles' until it happened to me one day, and a few times after that .Being a rational,pragmatic,overlogical person who always thinks and acts with my head rather than my heart,I ridicule 'experiences' that people talk about that moved them in astonishing ways and improved their life forever.So why have I turned into one of such 'believers' ?

It was my first winter in Scotland after I had just moved post my wedding.Martyn took me to watch a pantomime -my first - and what fun it was at Christmas time, and a week after all that X-mas chaos of buying gifts,decorating,adjusting to freezing temperatures,moaning about the killer windchill ,he took me to watch a classical film 'Its a wonderful life' .For a movie buff like me who appreciates commercial as well as serious cinema,I'd hardly heard of the storyline before,but the fact that the theatre was screening classic black and white films during winter appealed to me so I went along and came out a new person.

For anyone who has'nt watched it,please do.Its so touching how a simple script of a film's story can teach us our purpose in life by watching one man's example-in this case,the protagonist who is so close to giving up after having accomplished so much in life -just because he measures his contribution to society in terms of his professional accomplishment ,overlooking the numerous life-changing differences his living made in various other circumstances to all the people he interacted with in his life.Until he is reminded of what others' lives would have been like without his birth in this world.

Its totally altered my perception towards everything and everyone after that episode.Not that I underestimated anyone in particular or wished someone was never around,but like many of us,I did sometimes question the existence of doubtful people and uncontrollable situations that we end up experiencing on a daily basis.Why do we come across unpleasant , annoying co-workers or classmates  who wind us up and why does everyone else besides me feel the same way about them too? Perhaps they've had a positive impact on others in their life,just like one of us !So let's grin and bear them !

Each and every individual has a unique, special and matchless quality in them that sets them apart from the rest and gives them a characteristic charm.The very fact that a person's birth has brought so much joy to people around is proof that the rest of his life will continue to benefit others by his mere existence .Sometimes its hard to realise how a person made a vital difference in another person's life by being part of it,even if he played his little role and left.

Most of us have hundreds of on-screen facebook friends and contacts on our mobile phone,but ask them to name a few who have really touched their lives and certainly,a handful of names will crop up .I'd like to mention a few of my longterm friends and family members who are and will continue to be my backbone in life, and also two prior ' acquaintances' who at first meeting seemed unimportant,but have moved me forever - Ava and Katja-they are one of my best friends now despite the long physical distance between us.

First and foremost my wonderful parents without whom I would'nt come,survive or thrive in this world.They have loved me unconditionally despite me being an obstinate,fussy,quirky,geeky ,ambitious cum bohemian rebel.My big brother Imtiaz who is a total true genuine gem of a person,so content,so simple,so nice that anyone who meets him always remembers him forever for his intrinsic good nature.My little sister Nazia who 's insatiable positive spirit for enjoying life gives me my vivacious bubbly character,my schooltime buddy and best friend Tasneem who is a total powerhouse dynamo - a serene,enthusiastic,totally family oriented,diligent,talented mother who sincerely cares about each and everyone in her world,my college time friend Manasi who is an exceptional girlfriend - beauty,brains,ambition,passion for life,hard work,all rolled into one ,with a thirst for knowledge and travel,more than anyone else  I know.My friend Pallavi who is special because I met her when most of my friends had migrated abroad after marriage and she's class personified and unlike my other friends,she taught me the importance of good quality stuff and appreciating the finer things in life as she's so well read and well travelled.Not only that - she's such a sweet  destiny's child - happy to be unplanned and discover the joys of life as they come along !

I met Ava by chance as she's my friend Seema's sister -in-law who came as a subsitute for canteen duty in the International French school where I was a teacher .At first she seemed like a pretty lady,very charismatic.Over the months I got to know her as a friend,co-worker and buddy whom I could open upto and she's such a balanced person-I wish I had that mental stability and down to earth charm she has despite her privileged background,family,cute children-meeting her made me realise anyone could have it all and still maintain innocence and stability in life .

Katja is another person who at first seemed like we may not be more than colleagues -but she's absolutely the most energetic person I know-ever !She has an insatiable hunger for discovering beautiful,historical places ,good food,fashion and has such a positive aura and vibe around her with her fresh looks and smile,at first I'd wonder how can one not grumble or gossip -but she really is always such a fun-loving optimist and has shown me so many beautiful medieval significant places that the town and whole world seems like a better place to live in .Right from the 'Ladies Come Lunch with me' club we formed,to the Necropolis of Glasgow,the vintage restaurants and authentic german baking lessons,its been nothing but joyous vibes from her 24/7 .

After these special people who have changed my life ,there is a special place I visited that changed me too-so unexpectedly-The tenement house.For those of you who don't know what a tenement is-its a typical tiny flat built in blocks in industrial cities like Glasgow,where workers' families would stay within their means in cramped cold conditions.For me it was just another monument visit at first,but once I saw the actual tenement and realised what hard,cold ,dark conditions a huge family would live in happily camped around the kitchen stove to remain warm, and that heating would be put on only if an elderly family member was really sick,it got me thinking how priveleged and spoilt we have been growing up in warm and sunny India.

These moments,people and places have changed me forever and made me less of a cynical ,bitter person,yet I'm waiting for the next one and I am sure it will be a total surprise again !

The pointlessness of materialism

'Adopt the european concept of possessing a few,really good expensive classic things '

Shoes,sandals,flatties,high heels,low heels,strappy ankle peep toes,knee high boots,ankle boots,

Dresses,saris,tops,jeans,skirts

Delectable,desirable,addictive,irresistible and oh so tempting above all !

Does it really bring me joy? Of course it does !

I still feel pride,joy and nostalgia about the beauty,color,design and bargain I got on the black flat boots,the wee tan boots,the numerous shoes I have,everytime I rearrange them or wear them,I don’t wanna wear them out or give them away soon inorder to make them last, its like making my joy last ! If only it could last forever ! Its fleeting joy after all - a soda pop kinda kick I get at the time of purchase,and while using them !

Had been looking out for T-bars and wee court shoes - got great bargains and classic designs at clarks recently-incidentally - december was the month I  bought 5pairs of shoes - 3pairs from clarks,low boots from laredoute and I won blue stilletoes and 1pair of choc brown cowboy boots. Had been looking out for thses since ages,now I have them,yes I am happy now !

Yes it feels nice to start the new year on a new note- new clothes( zara ) and new shoes,makes me cheer up post the end of the festivities depression phase when we've all run out of money n ideas to chill during the dark,dull grey mornings!the only positive way to look at the last depressing fortnight of january is to label it the 'love month' -14th jan till 14th feb - wedding anniversary till valentine's day !


Should I buy more ? Should I simply discard n give away to charity my old stuff that I am so sentimental about? Those sunny sultry afternoons after my teaching job that I'd spend hunting in the various export reject stores at breach candy and cumballa hill,the shopping sprees at pondicherry with trainee teachers at Pondicherry during my training for a week,the clothes buying sprees at Brands are us with my pals in the suburbs !those were the carefree days - shopping for big brands with easy money -just for myself !

Culinary therapy

My mother's traditional Manglorean famous green chicken curry

Good food really cures blues ! Its like a drug , when we are upset or bored or just hungry and reach out to eat what pleases us,its a better feeling rightaway .Luckily I come from a family that has always been passionate about food so I inherited  a tiny fraction of my mum's great matchless culinary abilities .Mom's delicacies have always had rave reviews from absolutely everybody and would leave our building's neighbours salivating at the aromas in the kitchen.

Because we lived between the domestic and the international airport of Mumbai,our home was a 'Yummy transit point' for guests who would pop by unannounced  for a meal or a stay only to taste her delights and even at at the last minute,mum would whip up a treat with whatever was available in the kitchen.Right from her 'Adrak ki chai(Ginger tea)' to 'Onion Bhajiyas(pakora)' to 'Pulao Rice' , 'Dal fry' , ' Southindian Chicken curries' and endless other culinary delights,her magical culinary 'midas' touch turned every dish she cooked to an unforgettable tasty treat. Even in  a tiny dingy kitchen in our Mumbai flat,without much sophisticated equipment ,gadgets ,storage space or posh cutlery ,mum always relished cooking each and every meal freshly for us.

At first,since we are Manglorean,mom 's forte was south-indian cuisine,but when we'd return from school and talk about the north-indian lunches we had shared with our classmates,mom experimented and mastered those dishes as well,much to the amazement of our extended family back in the south of India who loved it too.

Since I was a geek at school and university,she'd always send me away to study whenever I tried experimenting in the kitchen and slowly,she trained me and my little sister to cook some of her wonderful mouthwatering dishes that would leave all our guests drooling on for more.Me and my sister Nazia would sometimes bake a ready-mix cake in the pressure cooker when mom would take her afternoon nap and slowly we went on to cook together as a team : Mom would buy the ingredients,I'd chop and process them, my sis would cook and we'd have  feast at home whenever it was possible .From basic 'dal' to 'Biryani' , Chicken curries and seafood delights,north indian as well as my ancestral south indian dishes,chinese as well as italian pastas,we'd cook it all in a jiffy .

Since our upbringing had been very conservative, we daughters  were hardly allowed to go out in the evening, so we'd have our friends around for dinnertime or for home made tea - time snacks . We'd always have our schooltime friends wanting to have lunch with us anyways as they wanted to share my mum's home cooked treats compared to their own often working moms' quick fix dishes.Over the years I developed a passion for vegetarian food and even that was well taken care of by mommy dearest,to date I prefer the taste of fresh vegetables and seafood to heavy meaty curries.Mom even improvised and cooked tasty low fat dishes for my dad during his struggle with his cholestrol control and heart disease and though we did not travel much as a family, we were open to all cuisines and culinary techniques .

I somehow managed to juggle my teaching job and cooking whenever I was home alone,and that helped me hone my skills independenly as well.When I moved to Scotland after my marriage,we had a tiny old cubicle of a kitchen with a retro stove,tiny fridge and an oven that barely functioned as it was the recess of the flat that was converted into a kitchen and had'nt been done up since donkey's years.Despite that,it was my ' culinary laboratory ' where I'd cook the classic indian dishes taught to me by my mother and sister,and try continental cuisine and learn classic british dishes taught to me by my husband like 'roast potatoes' ' cottage pie' ' roast chicken' etc .We enjoyed serving our guests dinners and seeing my hardwork and passion for cooking,my father-in-law gifted us a brand new kitchen which was the best wedding present for us.

Since the delicatassens,farmer's markets and supermarkets were close to where I lived in the westend of Glasgow,I'd love trying out new dishes and cooking classical recipes as well.Juggling a fulltime job and having dinner ready for a husband who is used to having dinner before 6pm is an effort and though I did not manage that on a daily basis,I did reserve weekends for special dishes.

Nothing satisfies me more than having my own space and freedom in my own kitchen.Though I definitely miss having my mother and sister help me to cook,I do savour the joys of ' one man show' when my guests ,family and friends compliment my efforts.Last year,out of the blue,I ended up on national television when I happened to find out about the auditions for 'Britain's best dish' programme at the local farmer's market.It was a great experience because I was one of the ' contestant chefs' representing Scotland at a national level cooking competition and it was my family's traditional signature dish of ' Southindian green chicken curry' that left the judges craving for more.Though I did not reach the national finals,it was encouragement and appreciation enough for me and made my family and friends in India proud that our humble recipe passed on through the generations was considered to be special.

Last winter, as an antidote to the long dark evenings,I started baking cookies and cakes.Tough I'd never baked before, and there was no looking back eversince.I got 'baking fever' soon and I was churning out cookies,shortbread,cupcakes,pies and baked desserts and gave people 'edible gifts' of cookie boxes and 'muffins'.Baking goodies not only fills up the home with a decadent aroma , but also had the added convenience of treats ready in the biscuit jar for teatime ,desserts or midnight munchies.I must give total credit to chef ' Rachel Allen' who inspired me to bake with her addictive tv series on the Good Food channel.With her beauty,elegance and talent to simplify complex - looking recipes, she still remains my number one favourite chef to date.

I must also give total credit to my wonderful husband Martyn who has always supported my culinary experiments and always been my favourite ' guinea-pig' as he gives honest objective reviews.My in-laws,friends and colleagues who are just so greatful that an effort has been made to please them,they seem to be in awe of indian cooking techniques,our spices,the rich diversity and versatility of Indian food.I read only recently that 'turmeric(curcumin)' the golden yellow spice powder helps to cure and prevent so many diseases including cancer and Crohn's disease,no wonder it is considered as a 'holy' spice in India and used in worship,weddings etc.It was within a couple of years of eating spiced indian food that my husband's Crohn's disease relapses disappeared totally and we never realised that this humble indian root of 'Turmeric' played its role.

Eversince,I've been inspired to combine my passion for teaching and cooking and start my own 'Authentic Indian cooking classes' from my home to give learners the real deal behind real indian cooking.Right from buying the good quality ingredients to combining them correctly to whip up a tasty genuine indian dish from scratch is taught by me during our one to one customised classes where a wide variety of north-indian and south indian dishes are on offer.I've even sold the 'circular steel spice box' with homeground spices to my co-workers and pupils.The response,gratitude,reviews and encouragement of the people has been truly overwhelming and I truly enjoy juggling my fulltime job with my side-business that I labelled 'BollyFood Cookery Classes' to signify the multicultural cosmopolitan influence of 'Bombay's food' and 'Bollywood connection because I hail from Manglore which is the ancestral hometown of worldfamous Bollywood filmstars like Aishwarya Rai and Shilpa Shetty.

My passion for languages may have played a major role too in my culinary curiosity,because I speak five languages fluently and have learnt french since schooldays,besides teaching English and Indian festive arts in an International French school to primary school students.The French people have such passion and pride for food and celebrate nearly every meal in a special  way,there has been a lot to learn from them,not only about the cooking techniques,but also about serving food on a daily basis.

My latest craze is Greek cuisine : its medieval roots,the diversity,the simplicity and healthy homecooked meals cooked with so much passion for celebrations,festivities,holidays,weekends or for daily treats are a total delight and in many ways,similar to indian cuisine.

I am not sure where my culinary ambition will take me next,for now I am like a happy go lucky culinary artist who chooses to indulge in my passions whenever I want to,I don't think I'll enjoy the pressure,high tempers,teamwork and monotony of being a professional chef in a restaurant,I'd rather start my own little 'Dinner bed and breakfast' from home where I serve guests a homemade meal from my menu, or I may start a catering business like 'Authentic indian takeaway'.For now , I am forever greatful for this platform of multicultural diversity of food available in Britain and for the fact that almost everyone here is so open to trying out new dishes and are so appreciative of the health benefits of spices enjoy being ' foodies'.I hope to continue making good friends who enjoy life via sharing food because anyone who is passionate about food is passionate about life !