Monday 27 August 2012

Tuesday Blues

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So the long weekend has gone by ridiculously quickly (as expected) in a flurry of shopping, waffles, cocktails, family, friends and faffing around. A lot of first-time experiences(secret, though, for now) too. Yet no updates here as promised. Sowie. :O  Sort of depressed about going to work tomorrow (9-6, every single day!) but on the upside, at least we shunned the Monday morning blues this time round. Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday, we shall catch up tomorrow for sure. 

xxx

Thursday 23 August 2012

That Friday Feeling

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Yes, I know it's Thursday. But hear me out first. A bad week's turned good, lots of girly fun-filled dates, cocktails and chatter, from alone to single (important transition, note) and okay with that but most importantly, from jobless to job-full (I currently, officially, have three jobs to choose from. Oh dear.) And a dream job at that. 

Well, dream job if you look at it from the view point of a girl in between worlds, no degree in hand as of now but utterly fed up being a mindless shelf-stacking machine. Now to celebrate. 

Hope you're all having a great week - sorry for the AWOL but lots to share over the weekend. 

xxx

Saturday 18 August 2012

Really Round Rotlis

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Part 2 of the Indian Meal Series. Here goes, just a two point tutorial today. Firstly, if there's anything, really, that's going to deter you from hitting the kitchen running, it's trying to get these round. Take it from my sous chef. Boy, did he try. I think the picture says it all ;)However, that very old cliche, practice makes perfect blah blah, unfortunately stands true here. Your saving grace? A higgledy-piggledy chappati tastes exactly the same as a round one. No tension-vension.

A chapatti, (or rotli as known in a my house, roti in Punjabi counterparts) is a (hopefully) round, thin flatbread from India, traditionally made with wholemeal flour and cooked on a flat skillet over a high heat. They're super simple to make - just atta (chapati flour), water, a pinch of salt and a little oil, though the last two are entirely optional. The ingredients need to be mixed to a firm dough, left for 30 odd minutes to make for easier rolling and then you're off and away! You roll 'em out thin (and round, if you can) and dry-fry them. Done. They're part of any quintessential Gujarati thali and ideal because you can use them to scoop up the various curries. Nom nom.

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Point 2: The Gujarati Salad. Yerrrrr, we don't do lettuce. My grandma would say it's like eating grass. Remember what ours looked like? Onion, tomato and cucumber, finely diced, in equal proportions. Then add a splosh of olive/vegetable oil, a splish of lemon juice, a dash of black pepper and a touch of jeera (ground coriander) powder. Yes, we spice our salad, before you remark. Try it though, it for sure tastes good! 

I'm off to make the most of a sunny day - so until tomorrow, it's over and out! Have a great weekened. 

xxx 

Thursday 16 August 2012

Current Obsession

My love for Bollywood knows no bounds. Fact. But I think my love for this sweetheart (name: Ranbir Kapoor) surpasses even that. Nothing like a feel-good song when you're a little low. Hope you readers are well. 

xxx

Wednesday 15 August 2012

The Ideal Indian Meal

Weekends in the the Ramanuj household entail a whole lot of lazing, reading, walking and more than anything, indulgence. Read pigging out (but hey, we do walk it off, okay?!). So here it is - as promised. Indian meals as they go tend to be rather sumptuous. Full on feasts consisting of lentils and curries, accompaniments, condiments and sweets. So you can imagine they only fabricate when I really have the time to cook; not to be attempted when you're looking to throw together something quick. For lack of time today, I'm going to tell you a few rules of thumb - I'll get back to you with recipes over the course of a 'mini-series' if you like. 

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1. First, stop drooling. Thanks.

2. Indian meals are incomplete without poppadoms & pickles. In restaurants you tend to be served these two first; appetiser if you like while you wait for your food. The pickles come in a triad more often than not - a mild chutney (usually coconut based), a sweet one and a spicy, tangy number too. I'm all about the tang, personally.

3. Appetisers are followed by starters (duh) - called chaat. That would be picture numero uno.

4. We Indians usually wash down our spicy creations with milk, which can be flavoured with rose syrup or khus. Trust me, try it and you'll be converted. 

For now, that will be all. But seriously, stop drooling. 

xxx

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Ten on Ten

We all go through good days and bad. Fact. Some are better than others. I'm getting a tattoo this week (finallllllllly!), and its message is something the same,; something I'm looking to live with forever. Reminder.

Recently single, free (and of course alone as well) I've found time for reflection, for catching up with people who've been through something similar and understand. And the best advice I've had, is, to take every day in isolation but every week in continuity. Strive to fill my every day with everything I love and decide at the end of the day whether I'd give it a 5/10 or a 7/10 or an 8/10, aiming one day for the 10/10 again. Then sleep and start over again. Week by week you'll feel better. Good advice? The best I've ever had. Hope you readers are having a wonderful week. 

Xxxx

Monday 13 August 2012

An Instagram Obsession

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I really love, like reeeeeeeeally love Instagram! What, you hadn't noticed? Shhhhh, I know my blog is an Instagram overload. But hush. I can't remember the last time a social networking obsession lasted this long for me (yes, okay, BAR Facebook). It must be true love.
As I scroll through the saved photos on my phone, I'm amazed at the number of meaningful moments I've captured. Sure, there are a ton of snaps of pasta and the sky too but even those make me smile. Really though, there are so many of Sav and I from our first year together that literally would not exist were it not for this silly iPhone app.
I take photos practically everyday but it's only recently I realised I don't reach for my camera too often anymore. And at that point I had a perspective switch. I started to think of my camera and my phone as equals. Sure, quality is not equal... but accessibility makes up for it. They both have serious advantages. I love this. It's EASY. I find myself getting more creative too due to the limitations of a phone camera. It's a hobby that doesn't demand much time at all and I'm documenting life along the way. 
Win-win? Yes-yes. What are your thoughts? 
xxx
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Saturday 11 August 2012

Just a Thought: Ups and Downs

Thank you for this. You know who you are. 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, 
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, 
When the funds are low and the debts are high, 
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, 
When care is pressing you down a bit, 
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, 
As every one of us sometimes learns, 
And many a failure turns about, 
When he might have won had he stuck it out; 
Don't give up though the pace seems slow-- 
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than, 
It seems to a faint and faltering man, 
Often the struggler has given up, 
When he might have captured the victor's cup, 
And he learned too late when the night slipped down, 
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out-- 
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 
And you never can tell how close you are, 
It may be near when it seems so far, 
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-- 
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

Friday 10 August 2012

A Week In Pictures

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1. Janmastami (celebrating the birth of Krshna) at Watford Temple

2. Olympic fever - it's finally hit me!

3. Gorgeous blue skies...

4... and ice-creams

5. How to make a full Indian feast; stay tuned

6. Walks in the park

7. Nights out and new handbags

8. Indian street food - remember my obsession

Wishing you all a happy Friday. 

xxx

Wednesday 8 August 2012

At the Aquarium

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I'm not going to lie. London Aquarium failed to impress - bar a few rather lovely photos we came away with little else. Unlike the zoo, which, if you remember, was delightful (we saw tigers 'making love' for Pete's sake!!!) What, exactly, were a 22 year old and 26 year old doing at an aquarium I hear you ask. Well, we had some time to kill. Plus who doesn't like seeing the odd shark? Hope you readers are having a great week.

xxx

Monday 6 August 2012

Review: The Time Of My Life

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And seeing as we're talking about books, I thought I'd tell you about one I really loved recently (the one I bought on a buy one get one half price offer when I went to get Fifty Shades but ended up reading first when I left FS in the bf's car). In case you missed it in the title and the picture, it's called The Time of My Life, written by best selling 'P.S. I Love You' creator Cecilia Ahern. Having been intent to embark on the Fifty Shades journey, what with the promise of thrill, seduction and mystery, you've got to understand how markedly different in style and substance this was. It's innocent where the latter is dark. It's resolved where the latter is left incomplete. It's Irish where the latter is American.

"
Lying on Lucy Silchester’s carpet one day when she returns from work is a gold envelope. Inside is an invitation – to a meeting with Life. Her life. 

But Lucy’s life isn’t what it seems. Some of the choices she’s made – and stories she’s told – aren’t what they seem either. From the moment she meets the man who introduces himself as her life, her stubborn half-truths are going to be revealed in all their glory – unless Lucy learns to tell the truth about what really matters to her.
"


For me, a pretty compelling reminder to tell the truth and live life well. Please read (girls only).


7/10.


xxx

Sunday 5 August 2012

Review: Fifty Shades

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Yes, yes I know everybody everywhere is talking about it and you're wondering why I'm jumping on the bandwagon too, it's sooooooo mainstream and I'm here to hit you with the same mainstream reviews - "poorly written", "same phrases used over and over", screw it, "James calls 'it' a sex!" Lo and behold, all of the above hold more than an element of truth but that said and done, it holds massive appeal for womankind. Fact. Appeal by the name of Christian Grey. Yes he's arrogant, enigmatic and has rather disturbing sexual tendencies. But he's also rich, mysterious and beautiful. An elite of incomprehensible calibre, doe-eyed for one woman. And we all know that by book 3 blah blah blah Grey has 'fixed up' blah blah blah and they're now enraptured in an amorous relationship of great passion blah blah blah (no I haven't read Fifty Shades Freed, it's common knowledge 'cause it's just that widely written about). And so it's your typical casanova meets simple beauty, simple beauty wins over heart, he falls in love and love conquers all. *Sigh* Isn't that every woman's fairytale? In my opinion, a winner. On a more minor note though, really, James, invest in a thesaurus.

xxx

(see, not mainstream at all)

Friday 3 August 2012

London Love

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No matter how many times I go into London, I find myself gaping at the same sights every time; Parliament, the London Eye, sunshine rippling off the river, vibrant crowds, grandeur tucked away in every nook and cranny. It's like the desire to explore is never satiated. So it's hardly a surprise that on random days off, we take the train in and then just walk, learn, take in. Now, with the games too, has there been a better time?

Sorry for the AWOL, but I'm back now. More Tomorrow. Wishing you all a happy Friday.

xx

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