I shop , therefore I am

Most women believe in the universal faith that they are born to shop . Why do sane rational people allow themselves to be afflicted by this bug of wanting more and more despite the skyrocketing cost of living ? How can people worldwide be collectively swept away in glee by this massive tidal wave of consumerism ? Its strange but fun and true .

My shopping days began with my mom and sister . Every weekend mom would take us to the butcher , the vegetable vendor , the fish market and finally the snack shops for a bhel-puri (classic roadside snack ) or vada-pav (potato burger ) at Koldongri market at the junction of Vile Parle and Andheri where we grew up. It was the first step when we were being trained on how to choose the best, freshest cuts of meat and fish . I must say, till date , food shopping is definitely one of my most enjoyable shopping experiences more so at farmer's markets and pure vegetable shops compared to supermarket shopping which is more like a food museum for me . I cannot help examine various kinds of packaged , processed foods from all over the world and have often succumbed to trying some novel foodstuff .

The next transition in shopping habits happened in college when we girlfriends would often go to Vile Parle market to buy junk jewelry like ear rings that we could barely afford with our low middle-class pocket money . In those days which seem eons ago, there were no shopping malls , and clothes shopping was mostly buying textiles from the ' matching centre ' at Dinanath shopping center and getting it stitched at the tailor's. Everybody had a personalised shopping experience where the shopkeepers knew you,would order cold drinks or tea for us customers, offer bargains and have a pleasant chat . Shopper's stop department store opened after a few years which was supposed to be a big deal . A few years later, India's first mall 'Crossroads ' opened with a bang in town which caused a major furore as it caused tremendous traffic jams due to the uncontrollably high volume of curious visitors who would come to see what a ' mall ' was all about . Tourist buses had made it a major tourist attraction and they had to clamp limits on visitors as residents undertook protests against the traffic clogging nightmares thay had to live daily .

A few years ago , shopping malls have mushroomed like there is no tommorrow all over Indian cities . Fully air conditioned with cinema multiplexes , food courts , department stores , indian and foreign brands , kiddies play areas , late opening hours all under one roof , its the place to be for families,couples or individuals to escape from home / work or college . There is no doubt malls are here to stay as they cater to our consumerism needs . But it does 'nt fascinate me anymore than my favourite ' export reject ' shops at Cumballa Hill or the ' lucknowi chikan ' tiny shop at Vile Parle. The handicrafts shop tucked away behind the saree showroom houses a treasure of carefully selected handmade indian decor who personally delivers the goods to your home the same day . The massive silk saree emporiums in Chennai and unbelievably low priced high street clothes sold at Pondicherry had me delirious with joy .

After moving to Scotland,it was ' low - street ' buys that continue to remain my favourite like Primark ,Watt Brothers, TJ Hughes , Dunnes etc in Glasgow which is the second best shopping capital of the UK after London. I could'nt be bothered about designer stores and have felt like a fish out of water when I visited them just for a ' look ' . After moving to the vintage town of Chichester where most shops are designer stores or charity shops, I naturally gravitate towards the charity shops which have amazingly new items at ridiculous bargains .

The Royal Wedding 29th April 2011

I cannot help but feel excited about the Royal wedding and I cannot pinpoint exactly why ; perhaps because I have moved closer to London now , or maybe because I have visited the lovely worldfamous golf and University town of St.Andrews in Scotland so many times where the ' Royal love ' blossomed, or maybe because April ,particularly this year is the month of my five year engagement anniversary and four year 'Ceilidh anniversary ' (My wedding reception /scottish dance party).Or maybe because I am just an old-fashioned big romantic at heart that likes to rejoice at  happy endings and glamourous weddings for a loved-up couple.

    According to me, Kate and William really make a great pair and Kate has won the nation's hearts and bowled us all over with her powerhouse personality. Not only is she an immaculate dresser , she is also extremely intelligent , has  a great figure,  height and lovely smile . She knows what she's getting into via this marriage into the royal family and has made the decision to marry at a mature age of 29 years which is great as she's had time to do all she wanted in her twenties after seeking a degree at the prestigious St.Andrew's University . I hope she's being a good role model for other young girls who will be inspired to gain a University degree, take their time to work and find their true calling , get in shape and dress up in a sophisticated manner and finally settle down happily with a man of their own choice.

        The whole of the United Kingdom had erupted into a frenzy yesterday at the Royal wedding with feasts ,street parties and celebrations everywhere in public and private places .What was particularly great was the crisp dry weather and the fact that the wedding date was planned alongside the long Mayday weekend so that everyone could relax . Though I was working from home , I managed to watch most of the wedding and like so many others , I thought the entire wedding was great , and the bride was absolutely classy in her modest gown that did'nt reveal much and had a manageable trail that was'nt over the top .

  I 'd been missing my girlfriends from Glasgow and we were supposed to visit my uncle -in-law Malcolm MacDonald in the evening of the wedding ,but the visit had to be cancelled due to a last - minute medical problem, but that did'nt stop me from having a 'Royal tea-party' of my own with Martyn . I'd been shopping for ' Royal Britannia ' souveniers ,but nothing much caught my fancy and most of it was tacky anyways so finally a disposable wipe-clean plain red tablecloth and Union Jack print tea-towel from Tesco was the ideal base for my tea-table , topped with my two printed tea-pots and vintage cake plates that I ordered online and took ages to be delivered . I  took some tips from newspapers and magazines on how to organise your own 'Royal tea party' and baked some heart shaped cookies , special stuffed cupcakes (bake it, slice the top, stuff with whipped cream and strawberry, replace the conical top, ice with whipped cream and whole strawberry ) and decorated a Victoria Sponge cake in Union Jack pattern with strawberries,red grapes and blueberries . I also iced some cupcakes with cherry blossom petals and some with red and blue icing flowers .  I was glued to the tv screen all day and all evening , and since all preparation and baking had been done the previous day, all we did was relax , sip tea and eat cupcakes all day . It was a small but very original and creative celebration at home sans alcohol so there was no hangover to worry about .

   

Ode to my mother

Mother's day is a day honoring mothers, clebrated on various days in many places around the world. It is the day when you acknowledge your mother's contribution in your life and pay a tribute to her,often with flowers and gifts .

The history of Mother's day is centuries old and the earliest Mother's day celebrations can be traced back to the spring clebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea,wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology.

Ancient Romans too celebrated a spring festival called 'Hilaria' dedicated to Cybele, a mother Goddess.The more recent history of Mothers day dates back to the 1600's in England.Here a Mothering SUnday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent ( the 40 day period leading up to Easter ) to honor mothers.After a prayer service in church to honor Virgin Mary,children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers.

On the occassion,servants,apprentices and other employees staying away from their homes were encouraged by their employers to visit their mothers and honor them.Mother's Day continues to be one of the most sentimental and personal occassions no matter when it is celebrated in any country.

No words can describe the total sacrifice , complete dedication and painstaking work a mother puts in to bring up her child , and no token of appreciation can bring as much joy to any mom as spending time with her children and seeing them truly happy. We may not remember stages of our baby days , or all events of our childhood days but my mom, like any other mom had just one mission in life - to raise a happy and healthy family with my dad , my elder brother and younger sister , though we lived in Bombay without any support system as none of our extended family lived there . ' Ammi ' as we fondly call her has not only given me this beautiful privileged life, but also saved my life on several occassions ,always striving to inculcate great values in each one of us by being a role-model .Both me and my sister have imbibed her passion for cooking ,housekeeping , traditions and gracious hosting .

On this occassion I'd also like to pay tribute to my 'Godmother ' - Mrs.Surekha Atre - my close friend Manasi's mom whom I adore since my college days as she always adopted me as her second daughter and to date continues to inspire me with her tremendous qualities of inner strength , intelligence , her awesome culinary skills and elegant sense of style. And another tribute to my adorable mum-in-law Margaret who is exactly the kind of mom in law I wanted - traditional,old-fashioned,broad-minded and intelligent professional . It amazes me how she managed to juggle her job as a banker as well as bring up Martyn and my sister in law Mhairi so well and she continues to be an understanding , loving , down to earth, non-judgemental friend to me.

Last but not the least - a toast to all my girlfriends who are mommies !You are all beautiful,intelligent,talented and hardworking ladies and hats off to each one of you for juggling home and career -I am as proud of you as your babies !

St.Patrick's day and Pancake tueday

March is a magical month that rings in new beginnings with the onset of the Spring season and clocks going forward for much needed longer days .Hence, there are also many cultural events to commemorate Spring like 'Pancake tuesday' in the United Kingdom, 'Mardigras' in France and in many other countries, just like we have 'Pongal' and 'Makar sankranti' celebrated in January in India with a similar significance.

Bluebells mushrooming in the woods, delightful daffodils blossoming all over the parks,white woolly apple blossoms and pink fluffy cherry blossoms in abundance in their peak bloom remind me of the magical moments I had over four years ago in the month of march discovering these delights of nature with the first time visitors of Scotland like my sister Nazia, my good friends Jim and Carmen and their lovely daughter-Morgan who came from abroad for my ' ceilidh '(traditional scottish folk dance with a live band using classical musical instruments) which was the wedding reception in Glasgow for my husband's clan and friends organised by my in-laws.

I prepare a typical ' Irish Stew ' occasionally which is really easy and a comforting casserole dish which is an all in one meal and a favourite Irish classic served with bread. We also savour 'Scotch Pancakes' which are like sweet wee 'appams', served with blueberries and maple syrup for 'Shrove tuesday'. Scotch pancakes are smaller and slightly thicker than 'Crepes' or 'English pancakes' and remind me of my childhood memories of starting the day with ' cheele ' ( dosas ) for breakfast as per the typical south-indian culinary tradition .

Oatalicious

Oats,commonly known as ' Daliyaa' in Hindi is becoming one of my favourite superfoods as its so delicious and can be used in so many ways. Classed as a foodgrain and consumed all around the world in various forms,its a healthy , filling and a vital source of energy known to aid cholestrol control and provide vital nourishment to children and adults alike due to its high fibre content .

Porridge is a classic staple breakfast in Scotland and in many other nations and is available in various versions and flavours.My favourite is ' golden syrup ' flavour where oats are flavoured with the wicked ' golden syrup ' which is a decadent overwhelmingly sweet and addictive thick syrup used in desserts just like ' Treacle syrup ' used in brown scones and maple syrup used in 'Appam ' like mini scotch pancakes .

Porridge can be simply made by adding milk to rolled oats and microwaving for 5 minutes, topped with honey ,its a delicious, warm breakfast and can be had with a topping of nuts and raisins or freshly sliced bananas too.You can also make your own 'granola' by simply dry toasting rolled oats with almond flakes with a little butter until its golden brown.This granola mixture is so handy when you need an instant no-cook breakfast - just mix a little honey to plain yogurt, thrown in a handful of freshly chopped fruit and top with toasted home made toasted granola and voila - you have a tasty,fibrous,filling breakfast at your fingertips .

You can use ' pinhead oats ' to prepare a classic apple crumble topping and for 'Cranachan' which is a retro dessert traditionally prepred for 'Burns' night'.I also add rolled oats in my favourite choco-chip cookie batter .Recently I tried making eggless oat cookies with dessicated coconut and it turned out quite good , so I'd like to share the recipe for my vegetarian friends :

Ingredients :

1/2 cup plain flour

1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup dessicated coconut

3/4 cup rolled oats

50g butter

2 tablespoons golden / maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Method :

1.Preheat the oven to 160degrees celcius .Line two baking trays with parchment paper .

2.In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour,coconut and rolled oats.

3. Melt the butter and golden syrup.Dissolve baking soda in 2 tablespoons boiling water and add it to the butter and golden syrup . Stir this wet mixture to the dry ingredients.

4.Place heaped tablespoonfuls of this cookie batter and flatten with the back of a spoon .

5.Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Tip - Cookies will be slightly soft and brittle when you remove them from the oven,so do wait until they cool down completely before your store them in an airtight cookie container .

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year coincided last year with Valentine's day on a Sunday  and luckily my chinese friend  Mary had informed me about the festivities at the secretly hidden little China Town in Glasgow that had a parade and celebration every year to commemorate the event . So I took my Glasgow born and bred husband to this little Chinese gem of a restaurant for a festive meal as he had never been to ChinaTown in his own city ever .

 

Despite booking a table for two in time to watch the parade of the dancing lions, we had to wait in a long queue to be seated in the restaurant and ended up getting a seat in the centre table,beneath the centrepiece massive chandelier,my cheeky husband jokingly scared me by saying 'Let's hope the chandelier does not fall on your head ' !!

 

The restaurant was totally packed with Chinese people insterspersed with a few other nationalities, and very well decorated with the new year theme all over. The remarkable feature of this restaurant is that absolutely all their tables were huge round ones with a minimum eight seater capacity - ideally designed for big family outings and get togethers.

 

The menu was overwhelming and taxing to look through as there were scary dishes like shark fin soup and octopus .I tend to order my tried and tested favourites like chicken schezwan noodles so I did and in the midst of the meal,in the jam packed restaurant, a group of dancers entered with heavy drumming in the background with fabulous costumes and dragon masks made of paper mache . This chubby baby boy seated right next to our table started bawling with fear as they approached the centre of the venue and they just parked themselves next to our table after doing a round of all the tables .It was  a low -key version of the parade that happens in the far east , but enjoyable nevertheless .

 

After my trip to  the authentic chinese supermarket ,I was equipped to dish out hot ' Chindian ' cuisine at home , its awesome to see so many varieties of rice noodles available just like the variety of pasta shapes any supermarket stocks , not to mention so many kinds of tofu , oriental sauces etc at the Yin Yang supermarket .

 

I miss the 'Indo-chinese' cuisine served by restaurants in Bombay because in Scotland,the chinese takeaways hardly add any vegetables in the dishes - they know the scots are anti-veggies so they dish out recipes that keep the clients returning . Besides,its too bland for my tastes , so I'd rather prepare my own oriental delights as it hardly takes any time in my Ikea wok .

 

Recently , I came across two moving books by author Lisa See : Shanghai girls        and     Snowflower and the secret fan.  Both are  very well written books about the life of two chinese women who grew up together as sisters and as friends and gave an insight to their lives under the circumstances that one can never imagine . I'd recommend these books to any avid reader or for anyone who wants a peek-a-boo to ancient domestic life in China . Their strong family ethic is as touching as is their dedication to hard work and determination to rise above hardships they are born under - a total inspiration .  

 

Burn's Supper

Every year, on 25th January,a classic scottish traditional event called "Burns Supper'' is held privately to commemorate the birthday of famous poet Robert Burns from Alloway near Ayr in Scotland . It started as a small get together of some of his friends reciting his poems over a wee dram (Drambuie whisky ) and Haggis ( a meat -based dish- because Robert Burns wrote 'Address to a Haggis' )and has now been adopted as a popular traditional event by most Scots when they prepare a classic dinner comprising of fine Scottish cuisine -Oatcakes with cream cheese and smoked salmon for starters,  Haggis which is a  spicy  dish made with foodgrains cooked with meat  (a vegetarian version is also available nowadays ), neeps(mashed turnips ) and tatties (mashed  /roasted potatoes) for the main course, and 'Cranachan' for dessert which is a delicious dessert made with pinhead oats,raspberries,whipped cream and golden/maple  syrup laced with a hint of whisky  . Gatherings can be formal in the form of ceilidh dances or informal at home with family or friends where the dress code is tartan .

            The first Burns supper I was invited for was 3years ago at some friends where a cosmopolitan mix of europeans toasted the event,each one bringing one dinner item from home like a potluck, and others like me,helping in cooking . Usually Haggis is bought from the shops as its too complicated to obtain all the ingredients from the butcher,and is the centrepiece of the dinner table .This is placed on the table after the lead male - usually a scotsman dressed up in a kilt leads the ' Haggis Procession ' followed by the youngest one holding the tray of Haggis behind him followed by the rest of the guests.Guests then gather around the dinner table with their scotch glasses in hand and each one takes turns in reciting a verse from the poem 'Address to a Haggis ' or the lead Scotsman recites it entirely ,stabbing the lump of Haggis with a big knife when the appropriate verse is recited.Dinner follows with everyone else helping themselves to the delicious simple food ,and this can be followed with a dance or games on history of Scotland etc .

            Last year, me and some of my friends decided to organise a Burns Supper my dear friend Karine's house .It took a lot of planning as we had a huge crowd of 25 people and had to estimate when and where to buy the food ingredients from and also, since we were making Cranachan which is a retro dessert recipe as well as cock-a-leekie soup(Chicken soup with Leeks) we had to research and try out recipes from scratch as not many scottish people from Glasgow had even heard of Cranachan , forget tasting it or guiding us with its recipe and cooking tips .

We shopped at three different supermarkets for the food ingredients including Costco  and   attempted a trial Cranachan a day before the party which turned out delicious and prepared for the rest of the dinner .  On the day of the dinner party, we had a hard time peeling the giant turnips as they were so hard,chopping them was even worse , we can't remember how we managed juggling all the tasks together as we do not have any domestic help but finally the starter, neeps , mashed tatties and   cranachan dessert were ready and Rosemary prepared the cock-a-leekie soup for everyone and brought it from home . Martyn was the only Scotsman in the gathering of mixed nationals so he was the star of the party in his kilt who led the Haggis procession and recited the poem and stabbed the lump of  Haggis at the dinner table . Though the preparation was so hectic , everyone enjoyed the meal , the dram and eventually a coffee with tablet which is a wicked scottish version of fudge -its sweeter and more brittle and heavenly though not so good for the teeth because of his heavy sugary content .  

Knitting bees

' Knitting bees ' is a group of friends who get together at each other's houses once a fortnight or more often and knit together .Women have been doing this for centuries,making things for themselves and for their family.Knitting is clothing made in spare moments using just a pair of knitting needles and wool sometimes   around the fireplace , a centuries old tradition that is still being kept alive via knitting lessons passed on through the generations  and various 'Knit and Knatter ladies clubs' being offered at local libraries for free .

 

There is something strikingly simple, constructive and bonding about the ladies who knit as they are a close set of friends who have been doing this for years. Learning new patterns from each other, chatting away while working , reminiscing the old days of childhood and newly wed life , laughing at the good times they have had and comparing their finished products to gift away to their loved ones seems like a much needed change from the hedonistic 'Kitty parties' we are used to back in India with ladies who compete to prepare the best dishes and overfeed each other, gossip and occassionally play card games or gamble to pass the time .

 

It seems like nowadays , knitting is the new Yoga - the peaceful clacking of needles creating a heartbeat , a rythm of rest , a meditative oasis in the midst of a frantic lifestyle . This trend may have started off as a marketing ploy by the wool industry but its certainly taken off . When  I asked a lady why she knits , she replied ''Because it gives her a sense of calm and order as its easy to keep order in knitting.'' And sure enough it is - count one,two,three.Simple numbers,knit one, purl one, yarn over needle , slipstitch.Easy does it.Drop a stitch and catch it up again.It's easy to fix mistakes in knitting .

 

Knitting is straight , orderly , neat rows with even numbers .Though the mind is not like knitting as its always messy and tangled , perhaps knitting in a simple order gives a sense of calm and peace at the times of stress .

 

Farmer's market

A farmers' market is a market in which farmers, growers or producers from a defined local area are present in person to sell their own produce, direct to the public. All products sold should have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholder.

FARMA, the National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association indipendently assesses and certifies farmers' markets round the country to make sure they're the 'real deal' so you can be confident you are buying the freshest, most local produce possible, supporting your local community and economy, and helping the environment by reducing food-miles.

    What makes farmer's markets special is these are probably the only open air food markets available in cities . Besides, there is the added benefit of regional produce that is available  directly from the farmers and butchers who proudly display and sell their wares . Over the years, I've seen farmer's markets with varying stalls selling unique food items like ' seaweed crisps ' from isle of Bute , ostrich burgers , delicatassen from the Provence of France , handmade medicinal soaps with herbs like Nettle, and even whisky ( The oldest soapmaker  Caurnie just perfumes the entire market ) .There is home brewed beer ,fresh  farm vegetables , fresh seafood , homebaking  and seasonal treats for everyone who wishes to have a morning out .

        





     
                    

Tea Room

  A traditional ' Tea Room'  is a must-see place for anyone visiting Britain. More than just a cafe that serves tea , its mostly a family-run , charming place that aims to provide a friendly welcome with home-baked delicacies, a relaxing peaceful atmosphere and an amazing range of teas and coffees too . 

        I happened to visit ' The Buttery ' - a classic English tea room in the city centre of Chichester recently on my day off work when I slept in late and decided to head out instead of spoiling myself all day by hibernating and cooking myself treats all day long . It was beautiful , non-pretentious and truly epitomised the essence of a tearoom - a far cry from the monotonous standard service offered by cafe chains , it has its own unique character that makes you instantly relax and marvel at its atmosphere rightaway.

             The buttery building on South street is known as the crypt but it should rightly be called an undercroft . The structure was originally part of a Guildhall that is known to have been there on the site in the 12th century .In 1396 it was demolished to build the new Vicars hall.

             

      The undercroft was probably used  as a cellar for storage . It has had several uses since then - an antique shop , a horticultural store and for a brief time in the 19th century - the city's post office before it was converted to its present use as a tearoom in 1957 .


                        I ordered a cup of Earl Grey tea and a scone for my 'brunch' which was served freshly within a few minutes.It was the biggest scone I 've seen and was deliciously warm and the tea refreshing. It was pretty busy with people of all ages who seemed busy and peaceful , some enjoying a quiet solo time reading the newspapers, others catching up on casual banter and groups of people at another table in conversation . I paid only £ 3.50 and had a satisfying time out by myself reading my magazine and enjoying one of the most common and simplest pleasures of life - a hot cup of a tea on a bitterly cold day .

          I've seen lovely tea-rooms that display an array of antique ceramic teapots of various shapes ,sizes and colours on the mantle . A few others in smaller towns and  picturesque villages   have a gorgeous setting like a view on the meadows , riverside view or a cathedral view . Most of them offer breakfast and lunch like quiches,pies  ,sandwiches etc . I'm  sure its  the perfect setting for people of all ages , men and women who want nothing more than comfort , peace and warmth to take a break from their hectic lives .


                                         







               

 

Test to become a Brit

I had been studying the immigration statistics,I also memorised the wide variety of welfare benefits available and learned all about the National Insurance . I had pored over the 145 page Home Office publication encapsulating everything I needed to know about the history,the education system,the political system and confusing general trivia about living in the United Kingdom . Studying for an exam after donkey's years is not only challenging,but also unnerving when its a citizenship exam that you pay £ 35 for . Its a tough passing score of getting 18 out of 24   multiple choice questions correct in 45 minutes and if you fail, you pay again till you succeed .

     I had taken two days off work to study as it required serious concentration and pointless browsing through the book was futile as each detail was too specific to remember . I took some practice tests online and prepared myself for the next day which would be my                 ' judgement day ' .

           Then , the fateful catastrophe happened.My just the night before the test at 7pm,my mother in law called to ask me if my family and friends were safe because she'd been watching the latest news that showed horrific terror attacks in Mumbai on the 25th of November 2008 . Because my in -laws had stayed at the Taj the year before that for my wedding,they were more concerned as they could envisage the seriousness of the attacks. Hell had broken loose not only in India, but also worldwide .

       Though my family had quit Bombay to retire in Manglore - our hometown in Southern India, I was obviously shaken watching the news reports on NDTV . It was too late to call India and I spent a sleepless night, and to add to my nervousness on the day of the exam , it was raining in the morning , my taxi arrived late , and he was as clueless as me about the exam centre address . Somehow I made it to the building only to be faced by a mini- sea of 30 other nervous and shivering candidates of various ethnicities .There were Chinese people, Carribean people, Indian and Pakistanis , all obviously discussing the attacks happening in Bombay . Most were economic migrants looking for a better life or , like me, had moved here for love . Some were attempting the test for the second or third time .We all agreed , in whispered exchanges that the test questions seemed irrelevant to British culture . 

       After an unnecessarily laborious form-filling process which took so much time, our exam fee was collected.We then sat in silence .Talking is forbidden . We were even made to remove any hats and scarves  and tuck our hair behind our ears in case anyone was cheating by receiving electronic feeds . The test was tricky, boring and difficult. I don't know how I managed to pass the test in such a tensed state of mind , luckily I had to work after that to keep my mind off the gruesome attacks in my beloved homeland.

        Clutching my passing certificate I called my folks in India to enquire about their safety . I informed my family and friends that I had passed the test though I was not informed of the score. I had mixed feelings - utter devastation at the aftermath of terror in Bombay and joy that I nailed the exam at the same time . It got me nostalgic about the first time I had visited London, just after the terror attacks there in 2005 and how tense the whole city was with security everywhere . Despite that I found Britain utterly beautiful during my stay  - the ecstasy I felt when I first saw huge golden fields full of daffodils , the woods carpeted in bluebells ,  whole mountains purple with heather ,the awesome beauty of the heavenly highlands of Scotland, Loch Ness , the medieval city  Edinburgh that transports you to another era when you step in , and the crazy bargains on the British high street that you can't find elsewhere in the continent .

     Living in Britain also means the much talked about dull, gloomy weather but hey,as my american friends say,British weather is ' tropical ' compared to Chicago or most places in North America which have harsh winters . Here the indoor culture is highly evolved to suit everyone's tastes - the theatres, art galleries and museums are one of the best in the world , and above all, free to enter (most of the museums in Scotland at least) .The Botanical parks are fascinating , so are the vintage pubs and shopping galleries . You meet a cosmopolitan mix of people who could be typical tea drinking sophisticates with impeccable manners , or fun loving quirky ones who work hard and party harder . Strikes are almost non- existent and you have access to food from all corners of the world to suit your pallette . 

           More than anything, Britain is almost the centre- point of the world for transit passengers shuttling between Asia and USA , which makes my home a convenient ' transit point ' for my globetrotting friends . Only six hours by direct trans-atlantic flight from New York , I've had my american friends visit me ,  friends from India have visited  my home too, my sister from Dubai who comes every summer ( daylight till 10.30pm at night in summer  is still fascinating for both of us ) and others who cannot wait to visit .

           My citizenship ceremony was fun for which I enjoyed designing my ' Indo-tartan ' avataar . No longer an outsider, I can now wholeheartedly join the robust debates about British society . A few of my girlfriends from Bombay have already moved and settled here which is a great feeling for me , I hope  many others will soon follow suit , or at least keep visiting me on transit at least , just like my home in Bombay used to be a ' transit point' .

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 .