tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13110246045951873292024-03-19T13:59:44.630+05:30The Maria Goretti Corner...I want to hug each day , look love into his big brown eyes and smile, and make the most of this one life that I have...without any regrets...maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-27194520095268350002017-02-03T12:38:00.001+05:302017-02-03T12:38:11.703+05:30WHAT I LEARNT IN 2016 - JANUARY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizzXzJCoAkofEQoHflKrBhGayj2E6jBfnsPOzphyphenhyphenfcBfcp53x_lzSCbJkDF9UhJymPDsWWw_P9-u4HUBlaM6PtuCJUvB0c_08FdJKewXqwi1_-p95VsRg3x0tqE_zK-n9dRd_rZLUF6ZN/s640/blogger-image--375612155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizzXzJCoAkofEQoHflKrBhGayj2E6jBfnsPOzphyphenhyphenfcBfcp53x_lzSCbJkDF9UhJymPDsWWw_P9-u4HUBlaM6PtuCJUvB0c_08FdJKewXqwi1_-p95VsRg3x0tqE_zK-n9dRd_rZLUF6ZN/s640/blogger-image--375612155.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziggy Mars and Zeke Zidaan..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So I lost my Taz on the 26th December 2015, after a long struggle with not being able to let go and sickness.<br />
I let him go, not because I did not crazily love him and want him to stay, but because, I realised that this is not the kind of life, he should be living.<br />
Life for me just changed that day, he was the love of my life, if there is a soul that got me and knew how I felt, I know he did, and for me to let go of him was one of the most heart wrenching things I have ever done in my life, but it also showed me, that I would have to sometimes let go of hearts that I truly love, not because I don’t love them , but because I love them too much, and that's probably how it will stay, whether they are in my life or not.<br />
I hated my home post Taz.<br />
It was horribly quite, it had sorrow and heart-break looming over-head like a dark cloud, and even the leaves refused to sway on the trees.<br />
Dew drops settled on the floor like a wet blanket.<br />
I just could not deal with the fact that I came down everyday with no brown eyes that were happy to see me, and I had no furry love to cuddle and talk nonsense to.<br />
I have actually called to to Taz.And wanted to see him once more.<br />
But at the same time, I really did not want to lose any more ones that I love.<br />
I had lost 3 doggies, Betty-Boo, Ninja and Taz.<br />
And no I did not want to deal with one more pet that I would lose.<br />
<br />
So when my Vet sent me a picture of a really sweet black Labrador with the saddest 'come love me eyes'.<br />
I just sent me a mono syllable answer ‘NO’.<br />
And that was that.<br />
And so life continued and I missed Taz terribly, but I knew that like a love story that will have a sad ending, I could no longer keep anymore pets.<br />
Till I was one day having a conversation with my yoga teacher Eefa, and I was telling her about Taz, and she said that she lost her pet too and did not have one for the longest time, but as soon as she did, she wondered why on earth, she did not get one earlier.<br />
<br />
So I actually thought about this, really hard, and felt why should I say no to love and happiness, when I can actually have it.<br />
Yes I have lost three pups that I loved crazily, and why would I stop myself from feeling love, and being able to love, when all I had to do was reach out.<br />
<br />
And I went back to that picture my Vet had sent me of that black pup, with the ‘Please love me eyes’..<br />
And I knew that I was getting him home.<br />
And so on the 28 Jan 2016, I took Zeke and Zene straight from school to Dr.Karkare’s veterinary clinic and was handed, this black pup with the saddest eyes ever, and as I saw Zene hold him, I knew, it was all going to be wonderful again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3K_IH3y5hqycKt7pQl8WsAzcULgyu2teVfLLYbO8F-xrPOsz_WHUX8-G4RmHA7urq7dvHDLdyiAya2GmG7ZHQk_s697DeaNx-Q62TpPgHKXKNkoWRUbJOzQIs9GJojQ-84neWUyPSzbO/s640/blogger-image--1727903583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3K_IH3y5hqycKt7pQl8WsAzcULgyu2teVfLLYbO8F-xrPOsz_WHUX8-G4RmHA7urq7dvHDLdyiAya2GmG7ZHQk_s697DeaNx-Q62TpPgHKXKNkoWRUbJOzQIs9GJojQ-84neWUyPSzbO/s640/blogger-image--1727903583.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad black pup and Zene Zoe..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
He got into our home , and destroyed most of everything in the months to come, did not want to be hugged or cuddled, slept under my study table, next to my feet while I wrote, ate up the legs of all my chairs in my home, they now look genuinely’Distressed’..<br />
He has chewed the bottom of all my dresses, because he likes hold the edge oh my clothes and take me for a walk, has littered his way into most places I wanted him not to go, and has barked at me like I was a stranger getting into my own home, he jumped broke his hind leg and now has a rod with 10 screws in it, has chewed the ZZ’s slippers, devoured dirty socks, that we prayed would be thrown out of his system as soon as possible, has uprooted my flowering plants, and run away with it if I shouted at him, has been bullied and slapped by the cats that live in my garage, that I started feeding post Taz, And behaves like a thug and chases them , only if one of the home members are around him, he has made friends with all the colony dogs, and wants to go out and play with them all the time, every time he hears them in the garden, he comes and tugs at us, and makes cute sounds, which means, my friends are out and I want to go run with them.<br />
So on the 28th January it has been a year since he came into our lives, and I totally love it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSsnEhtVQIw4SPzOPnINQoIQRAS21fBY2anTzufZJ8N7XWeHzRQMGilO7yIzHCevvsE3HzdzldEur795L2ljFPB4Jf-T8D4jLCucTZgcoYMqaa9hwMYBgnW5Xc8RafijJlWd5mSbfbrwy/s640/blogger-image--1013626783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSsnEhtVQIw4SPzOPnINQoIQRAS21fBY2anTzufZJ8N7XWeHzRQMGilO7yIzHCevvsE3HzdzldEur795L2ljFPB4Jf-T8D4jLCucTZgcoYMqaa9hwMYBgnW5Xc8RafijJlWd5mSbfbrwy/s640/blogger-image--1013626783.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little thugster...ZiggyMarsWarsi...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Today Ziggy Mars wants to be hugged and cuddled and wants to be chased while he runs of with a coconut in his mouth.<br />
What can I say he is born on the 2nd Dec 2015, is a Sagi puppy and I’m totally in love with him, he showed me that I can always feel like I do about my Taz who is now a mulberry tree in my garden, But I still have place in my heart for him, and always will.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3jVY-Rp3-65L5GvwfjSsHdhGIeb6W-U_-uMERUOe1gapVH2qpBjZoreGgiRfSKk9bOlfTxCaVCRITlePNCqalAf34eBzXZwO0r2058aGnGMuCJzcjrrVIxgWIWv1ZxBM7yJMOOBFOt1D/s640/blogger-image-1305369824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3jVY-Rp3-65L5GvwfjSsHdhGIeb6W-U_-uMERUOe1gapVH2qpBjZoreGgiRfSKk9bOlfTxCaVCRITlePNCqalAf34eBzXZwO0r2058aGnGMuCJzcjrrVIxgWIWv1ZxBM7yJMOOBFOt1D/s640/blogger-image-1305369824.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziggy Mars my little love...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So yup, in the event you lose someone you love , if you had to let them go, leave them or they just one day never returned.<br />
Yes you will love again, and it will be differently beautiful.<br />
But love you will , because that what our hearts are made for, to simply LOVE.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzOeFuC_81-tIfnvVPVecPrPbyvqFRxhQgWsCCghPAl3zceiX6wI-Am1vJsH2Kmcn_yhJww2RVLbXqO828UG8QAGYKvlB_Pc3lCD43_qnIPFSyESu3C-7QxR8sRwdJJtVcKN-FnA7LS8n/s640/blogger-image--1471407147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzOeFuC_81-tIfnvVPVecPrPbyvqFRxhQgWsCCghPAl3zceiX6wI-Am1vJsH2Kmcn_yhJww2RVLbXqO828UG8QAGYKvlB_Pc3lCD43_qnIPFSyESu3C-7QxR8sRwdJJtVcKN-FnA7LS8n/s640/blogger-image--1471407147.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziggy Mars my Sagi Crazy pup...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-3679965355443075632016-05-09T16:15:00.000+05:302016-05-10T10:36:11.692+05:30DAY 119 - CHEESE CAKE..THAT'S REAL AND NOT CHEESY...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So it's been a really long time ..<br>
Since I wrote..<br>
Or was excited to do something new..<br>
<br>
Mostly because I have become just plain lazy or then , nothing was really exciting me enough...<br>
Till Vivaan called me one day and asked me to make him a Nutella cheese cake ..<br>
Now the thing is , Vivaan is not just someone, I really love..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">He is someone I know since he was a little embryo in his Mama's tummy..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have seen him from his diapers to his cool shorts.<br>He is adorable, full of manners, has swag , is a nimble footed foot baller ..<br>
And he has an added advantage..<br>
He is Mini's little boy ..<br>
And that's an advantage he will have, for the rest of my life..<br>
<br>
I was seriously tickled pink that he called me, and very politely asked, if I could make him a Nutella cheese cake..<br>
I was so happy, that he felt that he could just call and ask, like you would with someone , you treat as your own..<br>
It made me feel really really happy..<br>
Like Mini and me have done something right together.<br>
I have always maintained that kids are the best and purest part of any relationship..<br>
And that's the part, we have to always keep free from all outside influences..<br>
<br>
Well I had never made a Nutella cheese cake before , and so I was game.<br>
This had bloody better be damn good, because kids are honest with what they like or dislike and , I think it's best that way..<br>
<br>
So I googled a bit and finally found two three recipes, that made sense to me and , so I decided to do a trial before his birthday, so there are no last minute shocks or disappointments..<br>
I sent him half a cake for tasting.<br>
While the other half was devoured by the ZZ's and my parents.<br>
Vivaan called me a day later, saying he loved it..<br>
And so I was given the complete pleasure of doing Vivaan's 13th birthday cake.<br>
Which I really want to share with you, its easy, a bit lightly complicated, but just follow the instructions..<br>
So sometimes in life you need to follow the rules, most other times, if you do , you miss all the fun...<br>
<br>
So here is Vivaan's 13th Birthday Cake..<br>
For a little man, who is just the nicest little fellow I know..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">And thank you for waking me from my kitchen slumber ..<br>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM4ZNHuc0Xic-B9mUiecA_poRo8N_-xB9sa1e6C66_bAiHNmWkiA93aoLtaDc41AX4SyHtBzJt2YnZGLn0pV5eU0EN0RwWBTSh7_l13By1UhqRBOm0BcRLXqd5uOS2qtGNdI3iiRtBVBd/s640/blogger-image-289867912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM4ZNHuc0Xic-B9mUiecA_poRo8N_-xB9sa1e6C66_bAiHNmWkiA93aoLtaDc41AX4SyHtBzJt2YnZGLn0pV5eU0EN0RwWBTSh7_l13By1UhqRBOm0BcRLXqd5uOS2qtGNdI3iiRtBVBd/s640/blogger-image-289867912.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivaan Kabir...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY VIVAAN, stay blessed and happy...<br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">NUTELLA CHEESE CAKE</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Crust</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">8 digestive biscuits</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">4 Oreo or Bourbon biscuits</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">3 tbsp of melted butter</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Method</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Put all the biscuits in a zip lock bag and with a wooden rolling pin, crush the biscuits together , they will be kind of sticky because of the cream in the biscuits.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Pour it out in a bowl , add the butter and mix till it looks like wet sand.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Taken a pan and line the sides of it with a little butter and then grease proof or butter paper, this makes the un-moulding process easier.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Press this mix at the bottom of a spring form pan , one that has a removable base .</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Press it down with a spoon , so the base is nice and firm..</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Put this into the fridge for a minimum of half an hour..</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Filing for the Cheesecake</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">12 gm - gelatin leaves or sheets</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">180 gm - cream cheese</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">90 ml - Amul cream</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">2 - eggs</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">1 tsp - Vanilla essence</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">80 gm - sugar</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I small box Ferrero Rocher's chocolate</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">290gm - Nutella</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Mix the cream cheese and the Amul cream together, till soft and batter like..</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Dissolve the gelatin crystals in 2 tbsp of boiling water, add it to the cream cheese..</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Keep it aside, stirring from time to time, till it is about setting.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Place the egg yolks , vanilla essence and 50 gm sugar in a bowl, and cook it over a Bain Marie or a pot of hot water also known as a double boiler, till it becomes a pale yellow colour, and is nice and thick, take it off the fire, and continue beating it till it becomes cold, add this to the cream cheese mix.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Now in a separate bowl, beat the egg whites really stiff, then keep adding 1tsp of sugar to the stiff egg-whites, till they convert to a meringue consistency. I did this because I liked the texture and the consistency , its thick yet very light.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Add this to the cream cheese, egg yolk and gelatin mix, fold it in carefully.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Now take the base out of the fridge and add the roughly chopped Ferrero Rocher's chocolates on the base, pour a little of the cream cheese mix onto it.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Then pour half the bottle of the Nutella on to the mix, and stir it around with a tooth pick.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Then add the remaining cheese cake mix, and let it rest for about 15 minutes, then take it out pour the remaining of the hazelnut from the bottle onto the top of the cream cheese cake, put it back in for 10 minutes, then with a fork, just very lightly, whirl the Nutella into the cheese mix very lightly.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Now let it rest in the fridge for at least 5 hours , till the cheese cake is firm and ever so slightly wobbly, and can hold its shape, so that's its easy to slice.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">I made this again a few days later, and while I was alone in my kitchen, I was thinking to myself, like I often do...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">I feel in life, that NOW is just always the best time ...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">To learn or do something new...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">To say sorry...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">To say thank you...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">To say please... &...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">To say "I love you" ..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">I think now comes with its own "Super Power"</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">It's like the Star Wars Saber sword, that lights up with amazing amount of energy that makes things happen...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">But I also realise that if you are in the now, it's not necessary that the person you are addressing all your energy to, is on the same page as you..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">So Newton's third law of Physics , does not apply here..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">For every action, there has to be an equal and opposite action..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">This applies to motion .</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">But in Life, its a bit different..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">For every action there is an equal or unequal amount of reaction, or then sometimes nothing at all..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">Geez..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">So lets figure this out, together..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">If I want to learn something new, me and only me can make that happen..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">Like I want to learn Kashmiri food..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">So I'm trying my best to make that happen..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">But if I'm going to address my "please, sorry, thank you and I love you" to someone else, then I am expecting , an acknowledgment back ..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">Right ?</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Like a perfect scenario ,would probably feel like like this ..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">1-please may I ?</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">- yes you may/no I'm so sorry you may not !</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">2-I'm so sorry for</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">- it's OK don't do it again/ it's not OK at all, I don't want to have anything to do with you..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">3-Thank you so much</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">- Oh , don't mention it / that's really nice of you to thank me, very few people do.</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">4- I love you</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">- Oh my God, I love you too / err I love you, but not in the way , you love me ..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">So on and so forth..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">So these are ideal situations , and yes I feel that that's how we would like situations in our life to unfurl..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">But then what if it does not ..</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">What if no one responds to our "please, sorry, thank you and I love you" ?</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">Are they bad people... ?</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">I don't think so , I think their "now" is not coinciding with our "now", that's all...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">And no matter how hard it is to make sense, you are just going to have to make peace with it...</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Have I confused you enough..?</span><br>
<span style="color: #444444;">Great ! Because I'm confused myself..</span><br>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br></span>
So while I was sitting alone at night and eating a fully loaded piece of acceptable sin...<br>
I was thinking of what my very wise and practical friend Mini once said to me ..<br>
<br>
She once told me , that sometimes I have a Calvin and Hobbes relationship with some people...<br>
(Frankly I totally love Calvin and Hobbes, and one day I will build myself a transmogrifier and ..<br>
Well the rest of the plans I'm absolutely not sharing with you ha ha ha)<br>
Well if you do not understand what 'A Calvin and Hobbes relationship is..<br>
Let me decode it for you..<br>
It means that , the other person is not real and what he/she says to you or how he/ she behaves with you, is just a figment of your really fertile imagination...<br>
Which basically means<br>
1.You are nuts..<br>
2.Have lost your marbles<br>
3.Probably need help<br>
4.You are cuckoo, but not the feathered variety.<br>
5..Just need a slice of this delicious Nutella Cheese cake..<br>
<br>
So then if you want to ever figure, a relationship status, you need to apply the "Now Formula", to save yourself time for bigger better things that are just waiting for you ..<br>
This helps you figure , in the words of an amazing funny fellow Sagittarius Jaaved Jaffrey, if that person in your life is "Real or Na-Real' ha ha ha ..<br>
<br>
So depending what situation you are in or think you are in..<br>
You say Please, Sorry, Thank-you or I Love You..<br>
And wait, if your now is not coinciding with their now, you may be able to deduce 2 things..<br>
1. Maybe you are not priority.<br>
2. Maybe you are again reaching out to Hobbes, who is alive only when no one else is around and so safe to say, is not part of your real world, and so is Na-Real..<br>
Ha ha ha ha....<br>
<br>
I think it's just better to eat cake sometimes, than try to figure life.<br>
If any of you out there, take part in the 'Now' , I hope it goes all fantastic..<br>
<br>
I meanwhile , am just going to hang a while longer, with my really yummy, delicious, hazelnut filled slice of heaven..<br>
With lots of love from "Maria's Kitchen "...</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5bz-A36l9wF_0damQL8zpPZHobSHPbJrpfZ3VtYkNEP_qQfXs228uydhkEzxroppqziN2rJb7R9_9-f9qyuUUun2SBEYEQnDu8f4dyrBaTICjP7s4FJia6GnM9llzL5AUC5OHofzaAFk/s640/blogger-image-1654962761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5bz-A36l9wF_0damQL8zpPZHobSHPbJrpfZ3VtYkNEP_qQfXs228uydhkEzxroppqziN2rJb7R9_9-f9qyuUUun2SBEYEQnDu8f4dyrBaTICjP7s4FJia6GnM9llzL5AUC5OHofzaAFk/s640/blogger-image-1654962761.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivaan Kabir's 13th Birthday Cake...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
P.S. I don't have any picture of a cross section of this cake, as it was devoured..<br>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-62372839425307051222016-01-30T17:41:00.000+05:302019-11-07T23:32:49.815+05:30BREATHE IN...BREATHE OUT...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
I completely believe, that there is always a preassigned plan, to why people meet.<br />
And what ensues , good , bad or mad, is what makes our life always richer, no matter what the experience.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgA8V_tDbmfoiabfXbrZ75NxxTu2DZ8iczECaG0k7hvOelwBla_u2viyme81FhDEgGB8YamF9bh6i1hxy68K-DeKfqq80LviOweeHsxdq1x6SBsr2qr13vPzqMgnv8hPOML0HjmHUuvKr/s1600/27b49617-ca70-417b-8331-79a75dec073b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgA8V_tDbmfoiabfXbrZ75NxxTu2DZ8iczECaG0k7hvOelwBla_u2viyme81FhDEgGB8YamF9bh6i1hxy68K-DeKfqq80LviOweeHsxdq1x6SBsr2qr13vPzqMgnv8hPOML0HjmHUuvKr/s640/27b49617-ca70-417b-8331-79a75dec073b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAGIC...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And so somewhere in November, I met Nikhil after years for a dinner, at a brewery called The White Owl, where I collaborated on a menu with Chef Dinesh..<br />
And Nix, was able to make it, it was a small sit down and so all of us were able to have a nice conversation with one another, without pushing through a crowd or being drowned by loud music.<br />
<br />
So I was trying to catch up with all thats happening with him in his life, and in the middle of all this, he tells me about his brother Nitish's company Fleetfoot Adventures, that does these amazing dive holidays in the Maldives.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
And as I was anyway going to do my Open Water PADI in the Andamans over New Year, this seemed like a cool idea.<br />
And so I asked a few of my girl friends, and then finally Radhika and me along with our kids, were booked to go diving in the Maldives, and would be bunking two days from school ha ha ha ..<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">JANUARY 22 ,2016,</span></span><br />
So Zeke , Zene and me wake up at the bizarre hour of 3.30am, because we have a 6.15 am flight to Bangalore, Well even though they were excited about the holiday, they really were not jumping out of bed at that time, so I had to drag them out of bed and they crawled back in..<br />
Then I was told by Zeke, that he has to bunk school and that's not good, so I told him , well it's his choice, if he wants to stay back , while Zene and me dived in Maafushi-Maldives.<br />
I think that worked and he was up brushing his teeth.<br />
In a bit we were off to the airport, where we met up with Nikhil, Jay, Radhika and little Dhruv..<br />
<br />
YUP...checking in , so early in the morning is really exciting, specially when we were all going on holiday, so we did our little chaotic number at the counter, and then proceeded.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdy0frIo063AJBZpsvQJrHtqPBhoSFbdwK4KtNnGarLcLTj-fubbj9hiEjBmXEXxQlb4T9emn8PGc5iNaSp4u8mF7xQJLmZH4wsNayyF3ZoQn7fYY_S6YV5aqi-v6mLrDGtZU_27cEWmx/s640/blogger-image--1794032084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdy0frIo063AJBZpsvQJrHtqPBhoSFbdwK4KtNnGarLcLTj-fubbj9hiEjBmXEXxQlb4T9emn8PGc5iNaSp4u8mF7xQJLmZH4wsNayyF3ZoQn7fYY_S6YV5aqi-v6mLrDGtZU_27cEWmx/s640/blogger-image--1794032084.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check-in...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Zeke and Zene were quite kicked meeting Nikhil, but were playing it cool and not yet asking for autographs and photographs yet ha ha ha, I told them that Nikhil is a VJ and we used to work together, and the best DJ India has, and he has the coolest job of playing his favourite music.And they proceeded to have a discussion with me, about how they play videos from YouTube...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7VdhO7XPEn6bIUBBNamCDWYjOOsEN-m87wvrirX2rR9bJ5tJfQH_s-bl2xv67htItw-Jp_ia8qLTimW1yJHOHQRw2jnzEsOMug3okx6r435bXUVS1rkSZpPBYz8LfE0sJAlU2PH8spqz/s640/blogger-image-2057476607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7VdhO7XPEn6bIUBBNamCDWYjOOsEN-m87wvrirX2rR9bJ5tJfQH_s-bl2xv67htItw-Jp_ia8qLTimW1yJHOHQRw2jnzEsOMug3okx6r435bXUVS1rkSZpPBYz8LfE0sJAlU2PH8spqz/s640/blogger-image-2057476607.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mumbai Gang...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
We all got onto flight, ate a yummy litchi and broccoli sandwich, courtesy Radhika, and passed out.<br />
We reached Bangalore , and there was a buzz in the air...<br />
<br />
We met the rest of the gang..<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Anup.J.Kattukaran</span> - Insta @anupjkatFantastic<br />
Chief Optimist at 1st December films, Underwater photographer and explorer (even better than Dora ha ha ha)<br />
If I ever have to do a funky photo shoot, he is going to be the guy..<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Sudhir.Makhija</span>- Director at Doctor films, Passionate-Chef, Foodie and super-Dad<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mia</span> - All of 13 , very well behaved , super fun , wise and an amazing singer.<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ahmed Mohammed</span> - Naturalist and owner of fringeford.com, Wayanad, and will hook a fish soon ha ha ha.. (I'm going to walk though this beautiful forest soon )<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jay Punjabi</span> - insta @JAY_PUNJABI ,Artist manager at Submerge and my Advanced Open Water PADI Buddy and total Rock-Star..<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Radhika Sawhney- </span>insta @radhikasawhney , ad-film producer and super-girl.<br />
<br />
We all finally said hi to one another, over our dosas , Idli's, filter coffee and general chatter, and in a bit boarded our flight to Male.<br />
When we hit Male, the blue of that water just did something to all of us..<br />
The kids all just started playing together "UNO', the supposed adults picked a bite , got down to just hanging ..<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_BQj7w_EK28hujVYL3fAs8aEqLegb0w3YRa0YI-4iqDWcEXsjk7vcvJWqgEHxHsEM-Mv-RsbHGJG35AWfiKaNV5ACq-6gqQdprhr9XiPCbn1ye1CTDOSnLfAohPpI9yv94IrcXP-rxWe/s1600/blogger-image--1377035234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_BQj7w_EK28hujVYL3fAs8aEqLegb0w3YRa0YI-4iqDWcEXsjk7vcvJWqgEHxHsEM-Mv-RsbHGJG35AWfiKaNV5ACq-6gqQdprhr9XiPCbn1ye1CTDOSnLfAohPpI9yv94IrcXP-rxWe/s640/blogger-image--1377035234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we could be called the "ADULTS"...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And what ensued was three days of completely balanced chaos and madness at sea.<br />
<br />
We checked into our hotel, and then hung around a bit, then went to the dive shop and got our wet suits and fins in order, and then proceeded for dinner.<br />
And because we were a big bunch of talking laughing people, it took some time before we all were able to order.<br />
The guy serving us, was quite amused to see us all laughing, and was sharing his observations with us,since it is the Maldives, yup, its a honeymoon destination, and he said most of the couples are either being extremely romantic or then fighting ha ha ha .<br />
<br />
Well as none of us there were on a honey-moon, we were all generally having a blast..<br />
And then before we walked back to our hotel, we went to the shore to sea baby rays in the moonlight.<br />
I was just thinking, I have never been so very happy and comfortable with a bunch of strangers in such a small span of time.It just never felt like we had just met a few hours ago.<br />
Well tomorrow was a long day, and so 5 minutes post wishing Jay a Happy Birthday, I crashed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JANUARY 23, 2016.</span><br />
We woke up really early, and everyone slowly poured out of their rooms, some sat on the beach, some for breakfast, the kids were really excited, Zeke was going to be doing his Certification for Open Water PADI along with Mia, Radhika and Mak.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXhVrkoKKwAFq_rEddTeMlNLnQHKnrimehXsYPrq4lJ7Q1FMjVZYKAxaPjyy49Cc_eB8sTqMQev4rp5kiDozUmE4iEjrHLGXsQ9PxgN-r1lVDaSHHnGvAn3ftfGCePhRoOy_sOgipESx1/s1600/c3c2a789-4314-4b59-9898-863cb4553fe9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXhVrkoKKwAFq_rEddTeMlNLnQHKnrimehXsYPrq4lJ7Q1FMjVZYKAxaPjyy49Cc_eB8sTqMQev4rp5kiDozUmE4iEjrHLGXsQ9PxgN-r1lVDaSHHnGvAn3ftfGCePhRoOy_sOgipESx1/s640/c3c2a789-4314-4b59-9898-863cb4553fe9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open water PADI Certification ..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Jay and me we going to be doing our Advanced Padi.<br />
Ahmed was going to dive and fish, because thats what he loves.<br />
Zene was allowed to do her Bubble maker as she is just 8 and Dhruv his Introduction to Padi.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1avMHWqG75YomO7IXo5_bdw_fCfsfrpBoQjYirWnexPeoPQDLgMYYUmfuKtceaGWdSXFqXjL534PLyTdH5G8aRtnazTrpqWv9I3IJYiPx2Y2VgWdgbRPhaDEh2T1HPtXoN8A26reNseBs/s1600/eb3db596-c88f-4bf3-bb42-699fc24065ca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1avMHWqG75YomO7IXo5_bdw_fCfsfrpBoQjYirWnexPeoPQDLgMYYUmfuKtceaGWdSXFqXjL534PLyTdH5G8aRtnazTrpqWv9I3IJYiPx2Y2VgWdgbRPhaDEh2T1HPtXoN8A26reNseBs/s320/eb3db596-c88f-4bf3-bb42-699fc24065ca.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Mia & Dhruv </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdkPZaMspTBdOuufOTO0O6vFzlIiNZMD8DP1Ak5J-QQwHm5VoV7GV85hhUU9ui50lck-4ta9ERAeN1NZgKSEzLp8O8L1zxYVb3S6omPwh9pv6sdVUWZywxsLC0C3yxWmo0f40n9GjgJxf/s1600/08fcc1ac-3edd-4806-8fa0-cf4862f998ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdkPZaMspTBdOuufOTO0O6vFzlIiNZMD8DP1Ak5J-QQwHm5VoV7GV85hhUU9ui50lck-4ta9ERAeN1NZgKSEzLp8O8L1zxYVb3S6omPwh9pv6sdVUWZywxsLC0C3yxWmo0f40n9GjgJxf/s400/08fcc1ac-3edd-4806-8fa0-cf4862f998ab.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Shanti.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nikhil was our Zen bringer, motivator and the guy who just did everything right .<br />
<br />
And so started our three days of under-water bliss, sometimes scary , filled with adventure and wonderment.<br />
<br />
As I was doing my Advenced PADI along with Jay , our first dive was a Deep dive where we went down to 30 meters, ha ha ha ha .<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoov7tAcc-3AmiU4-TlIYMvnG0nW5h-LCzZw_9o8d9oxOSGD4c1c5evVdQpTa5kwQa8sQr6yR65EJfszHtzsKLbPPO0jsASKSY-FG1TKiOc7QDZnWLWy_AJkmt4j3MbBpEancxq88JiDX/s640/blogger-image--289792357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoov7tAcc-3AmiU4-TlIYMvnG0nW5h-LCzZw_9o8d9oxOSGD4c1c5evVdQpTa5kwQa8sQr6yR65EJfszHtzsKLbPPO0jsASKSY-FG1TKiOc7QDZnWLWy_AJkmt4j3MbBpEancxq88JiDX/s640/blogger-image--289792357.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And everything is OK...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well if truth be told, I could never have even imagined me doing something like this, say about as recent as a year and a half ago, but it just felt so smooth and effortless.<br />
<br />
Our first dive was at DM Giri , we went down 30.8m , the visibility was about 15-20m , It was Jay's 223nrd birthday, I really don't know too many 23 year old's, who would bring in their birthday with a dive, and somewhere in that blue, Nix opened up a lovely banner for Jay , I think it was such a beautiful way to celebrate , and we were up in 46 minutes, beaming from ear to ear, everyone surfaced from their respective dives at the same time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNKwFZd_GOXCntIO6820kqr8rxTJbVGOmwLFLFQK9leI6r0A03GHMMiMj7WtiJY7EjkVsEJtRweVOOaEJmwrkqqKf5_q5BRiwXryRPxUpzbG-DhkIh86uf1UdOomI5KWqLA6gQmSFZNI4/s1600/7f133ae5-0083-4fd0-a310-eacb0fbcadb7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNKwFZd_GOXCntIO6820kqr8rxTJbVGOmwLFLFQK9leI6r0A03GHMMiMj7WtiJY7EjkVsEJtRweVOOaEJmwrkqqKf5_q5BRiwXryRPxUpzbG-DhkIh86uf1UdOomI5KWqLA6gQmSFZNI4/s640/7f133ae5-0083-4fd0-a310-eacb0fbcadb7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAPPY BURRRRDDDDAAAY JAAAAY....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And after getting on the boat, we were all so sick, I just kept wondering what the hell am I doing, on this boat , rocking in the high seas, and through this my little Zene slept, more because she was really upset, she was not allowed to dive.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mjM4LPKok3jJJaPOPrJvngofDcro1OW2-xBgxgQXt76utyOdTuxtI6cVSJrqbsj_BJbYXtt7Ls7MAa7E8FX3JbIp0xwW92M7b5l-kHUnWs5G1c5dPC_a7SOKRHFGYfg_Dl6py1624F14/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mjM4LPKok3jJJaPOPrJvngofDcro1OW2-xBgxgQXt76utyOdTuxtI6cVSJrqbsj_BJbYXtt7Ls7MAa7E8FX3JbIp0xwW92M7b5l-kHUnWs5G1c5dPC_a7SOKRHFGYfg_Dl6py1624F14/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were all quite queasy and trying to find our sea legs.<br />
I made a mental note to just have ,bananas the next day ,and not a proper breakfast.<br />
I was not liking these rough seas, but I was loving the company on board, It was a mad-house of extremely talented and crazy people, and through all the complaining about how sick we were feeling and blowing our noses to clear our sinuses, we all got to know each other better.<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52l6cumUbzt9tTIcqiwIi3ew6V9_4QRFfWQiDW4Q-WFGGQAMCuTQZ7ypPeOGsKmC7NPcpYhKRr_h9XPIw5cwVHwFJ0w_P93HWGbkrJ6eHPygSw2VYG4au3zsCPXKnk1MUrfODl8UwI4D6/s640/blogger-image-324555258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52l6cumUbzt9tTIcqiwIi3ew6V9_4QRFfWQiDW4Q-WFGGQAMCuTQZ7ypPeOGsKmC7NPcpYhKRr_h9XPIw5cwVHwFJ0w_P93HWGbkrJ6eHPygSw2VYG4au3zsCPXKnk1MUrfODl8UwI4D6/s640/blogger-image-324555258.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just have no words...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were all feeling bloody sick, we all almost looked like sea-kelp, but our next dive was a wreck dive, and hell, none of us were going to miss this one,we were diving at Kudagiri, and as soon as we all jumped into the water and dunked our faces in , everything started to calm down, the wreck was beautiful and filled with fish and beautiful coral, tons of fish, we went down 30.7m, and everything was peaceful and pretty, time really flies under-water, and by the time we were up, 47 Minutes had passed.<br />
<br />
Its wonderful to watch the expression on every ones faces, when they come up from the blue, there is a sparkle in the eyes, and a big bright smile on the face and as soon as the regulators are out of our mouths, everyone starts talking, despite all the salt water getting in , because no one has quite reached the boat.<br />
<br />
It was a sequence now, suit up, hold the regulators and mask in place, big step into the ocean, dive, come up chatter , feel sea-sick repeat.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu4dywx5wfjEnkjVcyjMejMfDvxKDiSrtENHjgAAfOUh5ZOZj08LCH8LQxc2OSqCkYbvCL8kISgAS525ihrEY3jt2kSwZJhhC0h7wA5ohWobwM7T3HpsP57-lJyoVCjQLW0ISnl_RMCKC/s1600/e607ea8f-5046-4833-bc3b-173dcdac4ad7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu4dywx5wfjEnkjVcyjMejMfDvxKDiSrtENHjgAAfOUh5ZOZj08LCH8LQxc2OSqCkYbvCL8kISgAS525ihrEY3jt2kSwZJhhC0h7wA5ohWobwM7T3HpsP57-lJyoVCjQLW0ISnl_RMCKC/s400/e607ea8f-5046-4833-bc3b-173dcdac4ad7.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's always better when you dive with friends...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our boat took us back to land for lunch.<br />
<br />
I don't think I have had a more exciting time than this.we all were so hungry, and full of stories, about everything we saw and felt.<br />
I was not looking forward to the evening, I had a night dive.<br />
I'm horrible in the dark, in my own home, I hate to sleep alone.<br />
And this diving into the unknown in pitch darkness, was really not exciting me in the least bit.<br />
But I also knew , that I was never going to bail out, I was in for the terror ride ha ha ha .<br />
<br />
As we boarded the boat, Nix was a picture of calm, making videos posting it, Jay was chilling, on the stern with the wind in his face, Ahmed who had decided that this would be the right time to catch some fish, was very busy, with a knife in hand and a chopping board, cutting fish.<br />
<br />
My heart was pounding, but on the surface I kinda looked calm.<br />
What the hell was I even thinking.<br />
I really was not looking forward to this, but I suited up,<br />
and told my Instructor not to leave me alone.<br />
The only reason I think I actually dived , was because Nikhil and Jay were also diving with me,.<br />
If I was doing this course alone, at this point of time, I think I would have just , stayed on the boat and fished with Ahmed.<br />
<br />
You know the fact is...<br />
I'm not as fearless as I portray myself to be.<br />
But that's my front for the kids.<br />
Inside me there were nervous Casper the friendly ghost bubbles bursting.<br />
<br />
Anyway it was a beautiful full moon night, and I was trying to distract myself with it.<br />
Well we dived at the wreck again, so it was kinda familiar ground and yet, the night brings its own sense of suspense.<br />
I realised two things, I may never do this again and I probably am a more mountain and forest person..<br />
Because a night on a mountain with just stars for company , is for me the most magical experience.<br />
(Like I had at.Mt.Kilimanjaro)<br />
<br />
That dive under water for me was actually not as scary as I imagined it, now that I think about it, but its just that my mind was not helping me relax, there is a lot more action under the blue at night, you see even more fish, you can watch them hunt , and they look scarier than they are.<br />
<br />
For me the coral I saw, I think that's what made my night dive spectacular, the coral on that wreck was the most luminous colours of mauve, blue, green , yellow orange and white.<br />
The looked like bunches of flowers arranged for a beautiful evening, and a beautiful full-moon night it was, and every time you hold your torch against you, to block the light and look into the deep, you see the flash-lights of the other divers, its actually very very mesmerising.<br />
And in retrospect, I think I am still bloody a Poochie-Tiger, but given the chance and the right company, I will do this again.<br />
<br />
At 5 meters , which was our safety stop, I for the first time in my life, experienced first hand, 'Bioluminescence"..<br />
That for me was most fun and just a stunning experience, I was just thinking, while I was moving my hands to see them light up, is that, there was really no need for me to deep dive, I could have just waited here and had a magical time ha ha ha<br />
I felt really lucky that I got to witness this, because this happens just in Puerto Rico, San Diego and the Maldives,<br />
Basically this is plankton, that have evolved to glow in order to startle or distract potential predators.<br />
Well , let me just say, I was not a predator and I did not not get distracted..<br />
<br />
Once we all got back on that boat, we just sat on the deck with the wind in our faces and chatted in the moonlight.<br />
Life is good.<br />
<br />
We went back and then got ready for dinner, but by the time , we all reached the place we wanted, it was shut and so we finally had dinner at another place , and it was really tasty, fish curry rice, fried rice, garlic butter prawns chicken curry, by the time we were finishing, the boys came over to join us , from there happy land, and little Mia, got a birthday cake organised for Jay, whose birthday it was. Little Mia went to the kitchen and got the chef to freshly bake this for the birthday boy, how cool and totally enterprising is that.<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday Jay, I don't know another 22 year old quite like you , and I'm really happy to have met you and dived with you and Nikhil on your birthday..<br />
You really do SPARKLE..<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRVAomj5pS_MmqkKCzMxnGs9QbyNlgOodyhhsimqzUm20SDs3WFf48ZIhL_q_Oy4QUxDk3ceARjMGNkzQUidPb7qXnN8bZMRohVNXJO45sylmyK3gtoYUvLNC1l51Fw5DLqL2kCrCybpC/s640/blogger-image--484523168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRVAomj5pS_MmqkKCzMxnGs9QbyNlgOodyhhsimqzUm20SDs3WFf48ZIhL_q_Oy4QUxDk3ceARjMGNkzQUidPb7qXnN8bZMRohVNXJO45sylmyK3gtoYUvLNC1l51Fw5DLqL2kCrCybpC/s640/blogger-image--484523168.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birthday Boy..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The kids were passing out, so post singing for Jay , and biting into a piece of his cake, we left.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I think all the nights I just slept like a baby, I think we all did.<br />
It was the sea and the salt, the fresh air, the wild waves and the calm of being under the sea<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JANUARY 23, 2106.</span><br />
We were all up early, messaging one another good morning, and lets meet for breakfast, and by 8 am we , our kids , bags, chocolates and food were all speeding , for a fun morning dive to Guraidhoo Corner..<br />
I was really excited about this dive, it would be the first time I would be diving to see sharks...ha ha ha .<br />
And I was excited and bloody scared and nervous all simultaneously, I was secretly hoping that there would be none.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikD7esxk8WGCQwf5AQnJSS9TZptSLoZn02htwX2grx3WZxzpb4Sa4vZdeGaQADe8rWjXnCuCQV3DDg_t_piC_-OZ3AaOEiTEkOQCpLyyB4zBKxYZXjtm8EW-MWQjXz2LtOXoMurUaPfwQ/s1600/0a4025aa-b7fc-4e23-bd2d-6706879c7e4f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikD7esxk8WGCQwf5AQnJSS9TZptSLoZn02htwX2grx3WZxzpb4Sa4vZdeGaQADe8rWjXnCuCQV3DDg_t_piC_-OZ3AaOEiTEkOQCpLyyB4zBKxYZXjtm8EW-MWQjXz2LtOXoMurUaPfwQ/s640/0a4025aa-b7fc-4e23-bd2d-6706879c7e4f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello from the other side ....ha ha ha ..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Zeke , Radhika, Mia and Mak were also diving here, but not the same place, so we went our way and they went there's.<br />
<br />
We went down to 29.3 meters and then to the edge of the reef , where the sides plunge down and held on to the reef just before the big blue, and as we were kind of finning our way, to station ourselves, when Nikhil makes the shark sign and points to one sleeping, right in front of us..<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickeMBUTQxTiukv5fcZU7thhqVKNa6Xe9LjIDtOmM4rVdqM7S6zzgZUHB1p8b77D0_pk347GKZ9NRLJ8lijSlrcBrmCCIJo6b4c7SmrC3u4jdHlR2DuPRHgCaMQBSXD9N1OBCBVyYCdvS8/s640/blogger-image--971887675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickeMBUTQxTiukv5fcZU7thhqVKNa6Xe9LjIDtOmM4rVdqM7S6zzgZUHB1p8b77D0_pk347GKZ9NRLJ8lijSlrcBrmCCIJo6b4c7SmrC3u4jdHlR2DuPRHgCaMQBSXD9N1OBCBVyYCdvS8/s640/blogger-image--971887675.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shark, Shark, Shark,Shark....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I did not react , like I imagined I would..<br />
I was most calm and so fascinated looking at this feared Fish.<br />
And as we were finning closer, I had a few voices in my head head talking to me, 'Like really Maria, you are actually finning towards a sleeping shark, ha ha ha, you have totally lost the plot, or then maybe you never had it..<br />
And Nikhil and Jay were behaving like they were just about to meet friends, it looked like the most normal but abormal kind of scene.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoQcYB8ECixYCwwSF5tn2_6UyOKRz8ZZDVlgsIck4lgG7YrXHwi-O0RzlrgRQtIxex-T33E1scO4xOsoyVJMf6I-bMWiKLxeUE3Xs4a3kRgMj8QDgkx3K_cn0WJhZCf-wx9piy4MXPN2n/s1600/dcbc22df-cd32-4d65-bc1d-c19729b1b737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoQcYB8ECixYCwwSF5tn2_6UyOKRz8ZZDVlgsIck4lgG7YrXHwi-O0RzlrgRQtIxex-T33E1scO4xOsoyVJMf6I-bMWiKLxeUE3Xs4a3kRgMj8QDgkx3K_cn0WJhZCf-wx9piy4MXPN2n/s400/dcbc22df-cd32-4d65-bc1d-c19729b1b737.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thuthu...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was both amused and bemused by what I was doing, and then Thuthu my instructor, signalled me to hold on to the reef and "rubbed his thumb against his fingers " which was some sort of a distress signal , and alerts the sharks.<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1391NHiQpVSSDTGTwjVnKTRKhEZRUAkQ4SOtI0C5SMbJdgG5Ao3HkmZrSdGf0UiTshkk9OObdRoU0Rtdu9hygV2m07WFpC9bIxnXIHjAgwCZ9QYmb8O6XK3yfeF4qGirh0z4hCx_NxPtT/s640/blogger-image--79367646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1391NHiQpVSSDTGTwjVnKTRKhEZRUAkQ4SOtI0C5SMbJdgG5Ao3HkmZrSdGf0UiTshkk9OObdRoU0Rtdu9hygV2m07WFpC9bIxnXIHjAgwCZ9QYmb8O6XK3yfeF4qGirh0z4hCx_NxPtT/s640/blogger-image--79367646.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And slowly very slowly, they all started swimming out of the blue to where we are, I can't even for the life of me explain how surreal this all felt, I think we saw about a dozen or over of grey reef sharks, and it actually felt fine, my heart did not race, I was not stressed, I was just really fascinated to witness their gracefulness, in their natural environment, will I ever do this again <span style="color: red;">? </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Oh Bloody Yes.</span><br />
I was also told that they don't just randomly attack people, like you watch in films, and by the end of my three days, I had seen white-tipped sharks, black-tipped sharks, grey reef sharks and eagle rays.<br />
<br />
It felt exactly like when I met the white lions in their playground in Africa, that same feeling of thrill and absolute respect.<br />
<br />
And then as my oxygen tank was getting used up, I realised that I was ascending to the surface, because I was getting lighter, and the weights I had carried did not seem sufficient and everyone was still down, I kept trying to go to them, but I was not getting to them easily, damn crap..<br />
<br />
My only hope was Anup, who does brilliant underwater photography and moves around like a dolphin performing a ballet, well I was hoping that he turns around, and to my luck he did, as soon as he was turned with his eyes looking up, I just did the most ungraceful flapping of hands and legs together ha ha ha , like a frog trying to do Jazz, but failing miserably, but it worked.<br />
Anup saw me, and helped me get down again..Like I said, he also is an amazing life guard.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVY6hR3Ej4qH2_LWzZjXVzvTveZbC7i0QlFPEI4zNIwg_QtMxS3OQmVgDDfu3brsijWojg14P0wCQ3E-5ND9doSyB5MbQ7X0xOne2MvP-3LuOniU9vdGkRntWQT87H7RyrR2pEMaVf__x/s640/blogger-image--2006452495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVY6hR3Ej4qH2_LWzZjXVzvTveZbC7i0QlFPEI4zNIwg_QtMxS3OQmVgDDfu3brsijWojg14P0wCQ3E-5ND9doSyB5MbQ7X0xOne2MvP-3LuOniU9vdGkRntWQT87H7RyrR2pEMaVf__x/s640/blogger-image--2006452495.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anup the mer-photographer..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I stayed on the boat, for the next dive, Zene and Dhruv were on the boat yesterday , and Radhika took them snorkeling , while I was diving.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUTPJLabMrqqhDN0MhSI-PSqb4Svzaow1pEYMYgVjIFwe0Z07-V6JbTkEtRQK6ZU3bEfC8rAKTda8o6b1-dpGKcOJ4Bu2T_7sx9BnH8Htdd5sNA4QZ86ALLtkys_8npaMJsTOXBl31iHk/s1600/e6b94b81-b3d9-4c4f-bae3-147472793660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUTPJLabMrqqhDN0MhSI-PSqb4Svzaow1pEYMYgVjIFwe0Z07-V6JbTkEtRQK6ZU3bEfC8rAKTda8o6b1-dpGKcOJ4Bu2T_7sx9BnH8Htdd5sNA4QZ86ALLtkys_8npaMJsTOXBl31iHk/s400/e6b94b81-b3d9-4c4f-bae3-147472793660.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Im gonna get that fish", "THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY ?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So today the rest of the group dived, and Ahmed was now fishing , since he had not yet managed to catch any fish ha ha ha ha ….<br />
He is gonna kill me…but can't because he lives too far... (Claps her hands and laughs even louder)<br />
<br />
So as soon as everyone dived in, Dhruv, Zene and me , also got into the water, and we just stayed in between the reef and the deep blue, we were quite happy there on the surface, with Zene and Dhruv, putting there head's up every one minute to discuss the fish we saw..<br />
All was flowing and floating really well, the current was really peaceful , when all of a sudden, I saw all the fish , pass us in a great rush to our left..<br />
<br />
WHAAAAT THE….<br />
I held both their hands and peered into the blue onto my right..<br />
Nothing..Absolutely nothing..<br />
But I did not feel too safe, having dived from about , close to this spot ,for sharks…<br />
So I convinced the kids to get out, and as we dried and came up to the stern of the boat, what do I see, Ahmed, with his pieces of fish, and hook and thread, dunking it into the sea, that's why all the fish were rushing to the other side..<br />
I wanted to push him in…<br />
<br />
Well, the kids were most happy to join him and the captain of the boat in the whole fishing process, while we waited for Nikhil, Jay, Mak, Zeke, Radhika and Mia to surface,<br />
Meanwhile Ahmed decided that, they all must jump into the water from the top deck, because its fun,so that's what everyone started doing ha ha ha ..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTclbAAQAx6VQnIQz3vLcKjURgshkk8Kp4Gqd_gOc-f4Sq83J_Tj8Aeo8lj92FkWYNmJQUWAigITPJUXLykTC7YmrdXM-n0oYOyscLXmP7orM7QgklFBTJ6ELWxnYC780_Wmc7wYCTMQi2/s640/blogger-image-1831837574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTclbAAQAx6VQnIQz3vLcKjURgshkk8Kp4Gqd_gOc-f4Sq83J_Tj8Aeo8lj92FkWYNmJQUWAigITPJUXLykTC7YmrdXM-n0oYOyscLXmP7orM7QgklFBTJ6ELWxnYC780_Wmc7wYCTMQi2/s640/blogger-image-1831837574.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lettttttts JUUUUMMMMPPPPPPP......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I have never ever done this in my life, neither had Radhika, but we all did this, I think it was the deep blue and the crazy company, then Nix and Jay did amazing back flips, while Mak and Anup took photos and recorded it..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD8Fn1s7VRjn6QcZa6AdYDTkpoK5GRtpjXlMnC1Ps5BL49JoyTp8VSS0hjeegH94v7BuNnf1RZKHOVd06QtWVK8ku_chckgRzBBxeARPacacJwVgU9T_v26wzG1ywEmutgHUfNEtTOMRR/s640/blogger-image--825433198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD8Fn1s7VRjn6QcZa6AdYDTkpoK5GRtpjXlMnC1Ps5BL49JoyTp8VSS0hjeegH94v7BuNnf1RZKHOVd06QtWVK8ku_chckgRzBBxeARPacacJwVgU9T_v26wzG1ywEmutgHUfNEtTOMRR/s640/blogger-image--825433198.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay and Nikhil flip out ......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then Nikhil and Jay, were throwing the kids into the water amidst many squeals and laughter.<br />
It was just too much fun..<br />
Something I will do with this crack group again if we manage going all together..<br />
Well we all went back laughing and smiling and really hungry.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBxFVfOKRI8brKa9JdBBirdUJtcyWQA-7IwBR6fwnixcYqzwX_f0fK2leFGsw3Deytxrxymdnf_HvkGI363m2gYWVrFNZfYyx3kBa5dAb_6qTFjpKld_7vu-QDQ8SBI0h_z8R3C5PXWb4/s1600/1c83122d-2545-4bc6-95e9-691112e37272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBxFVfOKRI8brKa9JdBBirdUJtcyWQA-7IwBR6fwnixcYqzwX_f0fK2leFGsw3Deytxrxymdnf_HvkGI363m2gYWVrFNZfYyx3kBa5dAb_6qTFjpKld_7vu-QDQ8SBI0h_z8R3C5PXWb4/s400/1c83122d-2545-4bc6-95e9-691112e37272.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zene enjoys her little fling...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Post lunch Jay and me did our Peak Buoyancy dive in the Maafushi reef, while the rest went diving in the deep .<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVdvVFHrRz0BztcIKcgD9wOXDDhP6rDOSn0Y9jxtzrSTl_KPuXIL4vqbuE6muBmCSoleWf_VmSQOkl-qvDMPYtlwxmj5PGcpHJnCqWK7cRvj8UBSH2_M17IrWEiWFnP-VtvWfF6fBcNTI/s1600/IMG_3194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVdvVFHrRz0BztcIKcgD9wOXDDhP6rDOSn0Y9jxtzrSTl_KPuXIL4vqbuE6muBmCSoleWf_VmSQOkl-qvDMPYtlwxmj5PGcpHJnCqWK7cRvj8UBSH2_M17IrWEiWFnP-VtvWfF6fBcNTI/s320/IMG_3194.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dhruv enjoying his fling...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The kids were busy dancing and showing Mia what all they can do.<br />
After our dive, I picked them up , and they went for scooter rides and then jumped into the aqua-green sea, it was just so much fun, the water is transparent and warm and inviting and you just feel totally yummy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sunset here was absolutely stunning..so we just sat and watched it .<br />
And then a made the kids sit for a photograph, and for some time, I just did not tell them that it was done ha ha ha I'm a Witch sometimes..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7qHINWOVAK6CqTJfnCLxm5ePwlxQM_d-1ABRo7bP-lbmG4MdH_wQJIYZVEU07PrTmLFlRcCgb_uuWiJB-IangXJCOnL2JBuF4q7NYPaZv9THIaHyzBEnYmH0yGaRqnWwDQeUPmuVCJno/s640/blogger-image--991580742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7qHINWOVAK6CqTJfnCLxm5ePwlxQM_d-1ABRo7bP-lbmG4MdH_wQJIYZVEU07PrTmLFlRcCgb_uuWiJB-IangXJCOnL2JBuF4q7NYPaZv9THIaHyzBEnYmH0yGaRqnWwDQeUPmuVCJno/s640/blogger-image--991580742.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the sunset...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Post that we showered and went for dinner, a nice big dinner , a buffet dinner , stuffed ourselves and laughed our way home..<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">25th January 2016</span><br />
We all got into a wonderful flow, wake up, chat, eat together, talk rubbish, poke fun at one another, laugh at one another and at ourselves and go diving.<br />
<br />
Today was a really exciting dive, we were going to Kandooma Thila, which is a huge reef under water, that you first have to go down to, and from there proceed to dive lower down along the wall of the reef, and from there is where you see the big ones..<br />
Thats where the action is Thuthu said..<br />
<br />
Ha ha ha what on earth was I and everyone diving here thinking...<br />
You need to be a little nuts to be a diver..<br />
But I realised a year ago, that I liked being on boats and diving, and even more that that, the kind of colllection of aqua loving atoms..<br />
I think I found one more kind of "my people" , besides the mountain and forest people...<br />
<br />
It was the open Water PADI Certifications, fun dive too , so we all went into the blue together.<br />
Mak, Mia, Radhika, Zeke, Nikhil, Jay, the instructors Thuthu and Sohay and me.<br />
I now had stopped hesitating about that "one big leap" into the sea..<br />
<br />
The moment I got in, the first thing was the colour, this shade of blue was very very different from anything we had dived into yet and it was the most deep blue, but not dark blue...<br />
There was no reference point , no wall , no bottom , just hurling waves, we could see from the inside, with the sun streaming through..<br />
It was my prettiest dive...<br />
<br />
We were in at 27.8 meters with a visibility of 40 meters and in a bit of time, about 14 minutes, we were actually lost, the current was so strong that day, that we had been pushed off the reef, and so just could not find any reference point to start our dive.<br />
<br />
At which point of time, I just held onto Thuthu , for dear life and immersed myself in the blue and the shiny plankton. I can try and describe this blue with plankton , but I may not be able to do justice to what I saw , ok it felt and looked like, the softest and prettiest shade of mesmerising blue mal, adorned with the tiniest and the sparkliest diamonds, of the perfect cut , clarity, colour and weight…<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtubxSCjNEb2rdR60d5p3EQJdIO1f9Gy_34lmRpwTUC4IFWobG_0bablsCtSwjVvwET6xO-aKyejU_h0Z2OMMT5msZXJvRQ9nZL_msVMitEIybcq_3FYssnBa_TwN_FlkUQZv5IcsAWd5p/s640/blogger-image--1719804693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtubxSCjNEb2rdR60d5p3EQJdIO1f9Gy_34lmRpwTUC4IFWobG_0bablsCtSwjVvwET6xO-aKyejU_h0Z2OMMT5msZXJvRQ9nZL_msVMitEIybcq_3FYssnBa_TwN_FlkUQZv5IcsAWd5p/s640/blogger-image--1719804693.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahmed...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I was calm, the sea is not my best friend, never has been, but with Nikhil, Jay . Anup and Thuthu, right there in the deep blue, everything felt LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO.<br />
<br />
So we had to abort the dive and come up to the surface, where the waves were so rough because of the current , that we were just being hurled around, our boat was nowhere near us, and Thuthu signalled for quite some time, finally even I began to use the whistle on my BCD, I started laughing, and really felt a bit Kate Winslety ha ha ha , I had officially lost it..<br />
<br />
We had just aborted a dive, we were far from our boat , and everyone was fine and smiling, like we just landed on the moon..<br />
Im thinking its probably narcosis, and if you don't know what it is , please ask @nikhilchinapa he does a wonderful explanation.<br />
<br />
Well we finally got back on that boat, Just in time to see the other team emerging, with huge smiles on their faces and so excited, telling us about sharks and eagle rays, and you should have just seen their faces, they were alit , like millions of plankton had settled on them , they were filled with wonderment , awe and happiness, Oh damn, this has to be done again..<br />
<br />
So we changed cylinders and Jay, Nikhil, Anup with his camera , Thuthu and me got back in..<br />
<br />
We were back in that beautiful blue, I was feeling a bit nervous , but every time I saw everyone with their fingers in OK, I calmed down.<br />
<br />
We were over our reef, we went further down from there and went to the edge of it , and were soon facing the deep blue, and swimming right there were sharks, just calmly going about there sharky business, not even bothered about us, in the least bit, now in retrospect, I feel the time we spent in the deep was just too little , but I guess that is good enough a reason as any ,to want to go back there, which I do.<br />
<br />
And then when we came back higher , we also met a turtle, My day and trip was made, infact this was not the first time here, Everyone feels happy when they see a turtle, and Jay was also having a full conversion with the little fellow,which actually made me quite jealous ha ha ha in a good way.<br />
And ofcourse Anup always went back and told the kids that I chased the turtle and it was no more, and the kids actually started believing him..<br />
Well , I'm waiting for his son to grow up, so I can spread stories about his dad...ha ha ha<br />
<br />
And then while we were doing our safety halt at 5 meters , these boys started fooling around with the spare regulator , and there were bubbles everywhere, so this I guess is what you do , when you are comfortable in the water, about to ascend, and have enough of oxygen in your tank and you are nuts..ha ha ha ..<br />
I started giggling, but was also a bit worried about losing my regulator, damn this whole diving holiday was ending too soon..<br />
<br />
We got back up, and then all of us were going to be diving at Biyadhoogiri, that felt really awesome, smiling happy faces, all sun-kissed , mad chatter , laughter, that's what filled that boat, and if I could do exactly this again I would.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We all went back in , for the very last dive together, Ahmed, decided to fish , as he had already dived in the morning.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuuowqmfWwcMA3dv0xwQkvEGuvwZIa47GaeWB-7tb2UWAEddQQ_beCRj57WEPAyaOGHQm4YEYrczKg5JPZFmkRNDAT7HRmA6Me0p4W3p9fOr__vSJqFQvNYQbBM2B_KCVWHkeN4-efvVz/s1600/3b197678-1c1f-4f51-9a14-2a6c386e2cc7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuuowqmfWwcMA3dv0xwQkvEGuvwZIa47GaeWB-7tb2UWAEddQQ_beCRj57WEPAyaOGHQm4YEYrczKg5JPZFmkRNDAT7HRmA6Me0p4W3p9fOr__vSJqFQvNYQbBM2B_KCVWHkeN4-efvVz/s400/3b197678-1c1f-4f51-9a14-2a6c386e2cc7.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radhika </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7O8iRw8OQViCSh0OZlvS1lBHNcLfz9h3CCogVEKgoGPkVKjxi-rt0ty1Gmm2VZzn7yqbKK3u0Vzg08X2NB1FEeY11wn4wlXkbYsbjT631GQhWAnljCT2d-1b6ftchCYvG_tzfThcTHsS/s1600/bd1a9107-3964-427b-a25f-871751789fcc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7O8iRw8OQViCSh0OZlvS1lBHNcLfz9h3CCogVEKgoGPkVKjxi-rt0ty1Gmm2VZzn7yqbKK3u0Vzg08X2NB1FEeY11wn4wlXkbYsbjT631GQhWAnljCT2d-1b6ftchCYvG_tzfThcTHsS/s400/bd1a9107-3964-427b-a25f-871751789fcc.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zeke Zidaan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was the last time I was going to be hearing, "All right divers , hold your mask and regulators, and splash, splash, splash..everyone was in.<br />
<br />
We went our separate ways, both the groups and then suddenly met one another somewhere mid-wall of a reef, and we behaved like we had not met one another in ages, much bubbles and plenty of hand signals later, we were suddenly all posing in the water, for photographs, ha ha ha , it felt so comfortable and weird simultaneously.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQqUZz4Ko4gcpZOZx8gG3ZyW8r8KV2uf2v3kQsP6FOS4Wt_kVujzIV1fFqX6SAcGa9jWnJJ6mnnmbH7eY7K3zssoGnJUaswl91mJTNgIz5UCHDm-_rcXrRsMFQL-s9-zgejhP9zmiJFu3/s640/blogger-image--28875048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQqUZz4Ko4gcpZOZx8gG3ZyW8r8KV2uf2v3kQsP6FOS4Wt_kVujzIV1fFqX6SAcGa9jWnJJ6mnnmbH7eY7K3zssoGnJUaswl91mJTNgIz5UCHDm-_rcXrRsMFQL-s9-zgejhP9zmiJFu3/s640/blogger-image--28875048.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nemo & Mama...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRMnmDKDBO86N-Bnz8QuBE6cvGiP9nkYJJZqnvSeSKFqcbsTGWme4vvcC7h4v5PHggT3u3SFt83mK-uVj_WKkeBzhp71wymn2ggu8Djo5ZEsXTCJIknw-nf7VQ570Ey5cvMZvNgh2VoaV/s1600/dfd89fae-38ce-49d7-a9bc-5cf4cea5a1fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRMnmDKDBO86N-Bnz8QuBE6cvGiP9nkYJJZqnvSeSKFqcbsTGWme4vvcC7h4v5PHggT3u3SFt83mK-uVj_WKkeBzhp71wymn2ggu8Djo5ZEsXTCJIknw-nf7VQ570Ey5cvMZvNgh2VoaV/s400/dfd89fae-38ce-49d7-a9bc-5cf4cea5a1fc.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radhika & me...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We did a lot of posing in the water, and at one point, I was trying to strike a pose, which was just not happening, buoyancy issues, its the same like boy-Friend problems on land ha ha ha ..<br />
<br />
But the good thing is that I made Nikhil , laugh under water, he giggled and Jay heard him, and so its fine, I'm a slightly buoyant finning comic ha ha ha , I will find this perfect buoyancy one day, and when I do I will have much to say, to him , till then, I'm Ok swimming like Dory..<br />
<br />
Well we were told before getting into the water , that we need to follow our own instructors, and so I did..<br />
And you know what, I was the only one.<br />
Which brought me back to a fact of life..<br />
<br />
"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.."<br />
<br />
By the time I realised, that Anup, Nikhil and Jay had not followed, I was far ahead, and I wanted to go back to meet them all, so I signaled to Thuthu, that I want to swim back to the group, to meet my little boy, but my sign language really sucks , because, he showed me clown fish and sea anemone, ha ha ha , by the time , I found them , we had to go back up , and it was madness again with the bubbles, there were smiles and there were giggles under water. we all surfaced , completely satiated, I could not have asked for a better time, we all got back on that boat , saw dolphins and just had such a joyous time over the most beautiful waves..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOhiLjLu3uTtcObf8Mc71uLxzZHZZifuYyO_4AQXNfMGvfMF4haA7N8ulLpAgiOIA4ldZHYaZJR-T5pc0by1fh7Y6Ae98RALzOnXa6raSf1bUXwXOXknwCv57bYvxCHz7HkneUdxLjfc0/s1600/4a959e22-6e93-4adb-a85b-58d5f4a73ad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOhiLjLu3uTtcObf8Mc71uLxzZHZZifuYyO_4AQXNfMGvfMF4haA7N8ulLpAgiOIA4ldZHYaZJR-T5pc0by1fh7Y6Ae98RALzOnXa6raSf1bUXwXOXknwCv57bYvxCHz7HkneUdxLjfc0/s400/4a959e22-6e93-4adb-a85b-58d5f4a73ad3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thuthu with his students..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We all had lunch , and then Jay and me, went to finish our final dive, which was our Navigation dive, which I was begging Thuthu to do on land, because I was so sleepy, but I was not convincing enough..<br />
Well we finished that really quick , because we dived into the house reef, and that was that.<br />
Jay and me finished our Advanced Open Water PADI Certification yeaaaaah...<br />
We were done.<br />
The thing is now, I just need to keep diving , so that I get more and more comfortable with myself and my gear and the temperamental sea, with every dive.<br />
<br />
We went and joined the rest of the gang doing water sports, and then Zeke, Mia, Radhika, Mak and Jay , filled theit dive books, post which we all went for yummy dinner, the kids were really tired and went of to sleep.<br />
<br />
And the rest of us, decided to go and have some fire water ha ha ha .<br />
I think the moon that night was the most beautiful I had seen , it seemed like it had a rainbow around it, something about Mercury no longer in retrograde, said my friend Jaya.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCr1UMj7dZM7l3cCuart0_SVGl_ukYSb-sQ53eAmpTD1KfJwMj-iA8AjHTM8-19g4wMURYoOVuQdrABwkExNicqRS78eHkT9oHlznXLUJzN00UJG24WNn3xFfBd6t3IeEYe0mhDuwsgLs/s640/blogger-image--1471758505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCr1UMj7dZM7l3cCuart0_SVGl_ukYSb-sQ53eAmpTD1KfJwMj-iA8AjHTM8-19g4wMURYoOVuQdrABwkExNicqRS78eHkT9oHlznXLUJzN00UJG24WNn3xFfBd6t3IeEYe0mhDuwsgLs/s640/blogger-image--1471758505.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I don't know what it was , but it was just quite magical.<br />
<br />
JANUARY 26, 2016<br />
We all travelled back to our respective cities and homes.<br />
Amidst much missing and separation anxiety.<br />
<br />
The thing is this, I never imagined that I would meet a bunch of strangers ,that I would completely, be in sync with, this does not really happen to me often, infact never.<br />
And I don't remember laughing so much and always having a smile on my face twenty four seven.<br />
I guess the fact that there were no pretences and no masks , made a hell of a lot of difference, well I did try and put sun-Screen , but that really does not work for me.<br />
We were all feeling sick, blowing our nose and sometimes puking, it does not get any more real than that, I guess.<br />
Also when you dive with one another, there is a sense of trust that builds, you look out for one another..<br />
<br />
I did things I have never done before, and I'm not talking about going under water 30 meters, or hanging in shark territory, or diving in a dark sea.<br />
<br />
But we jumped off the boat from the top deck, Radhika, Zeke, Zene, Dhruv, Mia and me dived into the sea, we had never ever done that,<br />
I actually saw an angler who never caught a fish ha ha ha...But who never gave up and was always laughing regardless...<br />
I met a pirouetting underwater photographer.<br />
I saw Nikhil snap chat from the middle of the ocean because there was such "FantaAstic" network.<br />
We all just had a smile on our faces perennially , and the life I led for those three days felt completely normal.<br />
<br />
So coming back to reality is taking some time, and I'm not really wanting to..<br />
<br />
Some combinations of people and places are magical, and may never happen again, but I'm happy to have been part of the magic dust..<br />
Lets see what the future has in store for all of us..<br />
But as a very dear friend of mine wisely put it, "Till then drift dive"<br />
<br />
<br />
I want to thank a few people for making this holiday so darn special..<br />
<br />
CHENGS_- for organising this crazy diving trip , and putting us all together, I must tell you that you have shuffled our normal lives a bit and dusted off a lot, I hope to dive with you really soon.<br />
Please get well soon.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8m8WzNH79iBKoQy6e6Y3XhgbzcAOJwkwlijti3yyNolCT3IZXjwl2cPpP4picdLvOkF-3SmYkXK7HV7eBOBHHDw3SW-ssgeEzGhD7lzAgHS8hur_VL7RlaDyk1dUM2Jdsk3CDfxn-N_n/s1600/54413fdb-007c-4b6f-88e5-ee89d2277ca3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8m8WzNH79iBKoQy6e6Y3XhgbzcAOJwkwlijti3yyNolCT3IZXjwl2cPpP4picdLvOkF-3SmYkXK7HV7eBOBHHDw3SW-ssgeEzGhD7lzAgHS8hur_VL7RlaDyk1dUM2Jdsk3CDfxn-N_n/s400/54413fdb-007c-4b6f-88e5-ee89d2277ca3.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chengs,,,</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7axVi006bVU-eq0qkgm53kLfMoGql_95G7oAIdHTPsqz1z4VvZIHUBgE7WPaYf8CDHzjvCxbldAC5z7Wq1KX57k8ddFNBmPufkR7ixNNPTDPB5ettuwZQHFFKHTYGDBS3akFIl4xyHWUE/s1600/a3e31013-1cd2-4067-b49d-80432732fd84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7axVi006bVU-eq0qkgm53kLfMoGql_95G7oAIdHTPsqz1z4VvZIHUBgE7WPaYf8CDHzjvCxbldAC5z7Wq1KX57k8ddFNBmPufkR7ixNNPTDPB5ettuwZQHFFKHTYGDBS3akFIl4xyHWUE/s320/a3e31013-1cd2-4067-b49d-80432732fd84.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John & Kiera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
JOHN and KIERA -I did not get to spend a lot of time with you guys, but John, I wish you all the best,and since you can so comfortably dive, you can now explore swimming ha ha ha , and Kiera, I really hope you can dive soon, because I know, you really really want to, stay happy guys<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAK- It was great getting to know you , you are such a trooper, Thank you for all the food, will hopefully have a meal with you the next time we are in Bangalore, and your soup was bloody outstanding. For someone just about doing there PADI , you were so comfortable with your camera in the water and such a fun person to hang with.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVoT_lAICcWpmFCHZQvBiX8gMceGyT50_sEOMzXUlmr8uGq-sPFJ9qpgfuZNU6RbIguEsE69CmDQhoXLicYEGFzAwR_7eqszdWoiIwv83xalDaR9KerJp_t4qgrVXBbJGQIJ9cese1B7T/s640/blogger-image-1873918586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVoT_lAICcWpmFCHZQvBiX8gMceGyT50_sEOMzXUlmr8uGq-sPFJ9qpgfuZNU6RbIguEsE69CmDQhoXLicYEGFzAwR_7eqszdWoiIwv83xalDaR9KerJp_t4qgrVXBbJGQIJ9cese1B7T/s400/blogger-image-1873918586.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sudhir A.k.a Mak...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MIA- you are just a smart and fine little 13 year old, so well behaved, with it, funky and such a beautiful voice, in Rihannas's words, 'Please don't stop the music"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6CFv52qUEsnJPXQy2GzseR_2IBHAKpFxgZxQkYeZ8rDtp_Jr1Rx1lrZbNKRwHislw0ZigUU1Ip5V2R5y-NJTyCy5qeYiGBcvj-1-ds9dUNiro8UbZLGdomVlijvOOiNmJlfspS-q9X87/s1600/93ab0dad-f32e-4cd0-8c48-3ae57249613d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6CFv52qUEsnJPXQy2GzseR_2IBHAKpFxgZxQkYeZ8rDtp_Jr1Rx1lrZbNKRwHislw0ZigUU1Ip5V2R5y-NJTyCy5qeYiGBcvj-1-ds9dUNiro8UbZLGdomVlijvOOiNmJlfspS-q9X87/s320/93ab0dad-f32e-4cd0-8c48-3ae57249613d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mia..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ANUP - And I mean this from the bottom of my heart, You could be part of an international, synchronised swimming team, and I mean this not as a joke..but absolutely seriously, you are like poetry finning.<br />
I don't know too many, who can get into the water, handle a heavy cameras and have perfect buoyancy.But the thought of you in a one piece swimsuit and a swim cap with glitter on it and a smile plastered on your face , with toes and finger tips pointed and doing a pirouette…aaah ha ha ha ha , that just made my day..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9q36hfE73pbFsHx2snu8vuS08xLpikNNbbo2ZjPOgCJpx-yvycsLz40dSZDpumkF4fNTpo7DX4n-0fwpi21vVdWCpQMuyTytFXT3PJ2eS2y9vl38NqtzFC3KJ-AfKZ-5kcudi99UUmEh5/s1600/blogger-image--1502807773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9q36hfE73pbFsHx2snu8vuS08xLpikNNbbo2ZjPOgCJpx-yvycsLz40dSZDpumkF4fNTpo7DX4n-0fwpi21vVdWCpQMuyTytFXT3PJ2eS2y9vl38NqtzFC3KJ-AfKZ-5kcudi99UUmEh5/s400/blogger-image--1502807773.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
No , but all the laughter aside, you are just an amazing underwater photographer, fearless, perfectly buoyant , also saves lives, does not hurt coral and knows the names of most of all the fish we saw, and besides that you are just a funny and good human being, and I hope you don't mind staying friends with me, given the fact that once in a year, I may just get featured on Page3, if I agree to pay for it ha ha ha... </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ivDnB9CoDRMHLVIFe3Wbwg7knTV9d48Df11j7rNDjP-cTwOtmC0hSyN1MwcphmtKzAzS0ICmqU6CD_zoiE92NOa-EWzgrl8ojpk9MLnvTvC7EhsQor8Nc5EZfHCGiFmS19_QK6rDeTKx/s1600/23054709-abd9-4e00-a169-51059a1c06ae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ivDnB9CoDRMHLVIFe3Wbwg7knTV9d48Df11j7rNDjP-cTwOtmC0hSyN1MwcphmtKzAzS0ICmqU6CD_zoiE92NOa-EWzgrl8ojpk9MLnvTvC7EhsQor8Nc5EZfHCGiFmS19_QK6rDeTKx/s400/23054709-abd9-4e00-a169-51059a1c06ae.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahmed the Angler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
AHMED - I don't know what to say to you, will laughing hilariously suffice, you are a mad , crazy person, and i'm happy to have swum in the Blue with you, well you made even sea-sickness fun, that scene where you were cutting fish bait into precise pieces with a blunt scissor, is forever etched on a huge screen in my mind, with a laugh track ha ha ha ha ..<br />
I really wish that Poseidon is nicer to you the next time around, or then I suggest you start sending pretty gifts to Thalassa , maybe that will work, or maybe then learn to play the flute like Pan..<br />
I'm just making suggestions, but you please feel free, to do what you have to , to get you that fish on your hook..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9knVmNJq6olUvIyA-kAhIGpNudVrmueILjG0r6F2bJmRSMzOQS5_jMS-BMZlFvS0hqB20AvG4z7kLDQZJrqhix1ErmFt9x2bHUcoXNSJVEBDY__32qVFdG7aYWXvUImGr594pack4IsH/s1600/3fd30939-9396-42be-b155-6975a04d5e5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9knVmNJq6olUvIyA-kAhIGpNudVrmueILjG0r6F2bJmRSMzOQS5_jMS-BMZlFvS0hqB20AvG4z7kLDQZJrqhix1ErmFt9x2bHUcoXNSJVEBDY__32qVFdG7aYWXvUImGr594pack4IsH/s400/3fd30939-9396-42be-b155-6975a04d5e5d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay having a heart to heart ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
JAY - I'm so happy to have met you, and was really lucky that you were my buddy for our Open Water Advanced PADI, you are the prince of cool.<br />
I was happy that we could laugh together at the various situations, that we kinda caught together ha ha ha .You are just so sorted, and such a lovely human being and such fun company,you are brave and kind, that is just such a beautiful combination.Please swish your magic wand over my kids., so that they grow up at least half as sorted as you. Oh and lest I forget, please stop wanting to spend time with Moray eels, I really think there are prettier fish out there, or then turtles ha ha ha<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb-obpryHZYV693GJ09sFjGf-xKM3zLKwX1_ZzgfrSf9z8JNZnzKtnpKGCUYFxlq2hxeVFtXqWaHHHC7aIAenHLi1yJeIwPjpVDpPS3uIkEtSdXhVjnJFN9C1lTyYvr_9mlOg7SXexWCb/s1600/f7d528ea-c0db-4814-bbb4-e85a6db977c2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb-obpryHZYV693GJ09sFjGf-xKM3zLKwX1_ZzgfrSf9z8JNZnzKtnpKGCUYFxlq2hxeVFtXqWaHHHC7aIAenHLi1yJeIwPjpVDpPS3uIkEtSdXhVjnJFN9C1lTyYvr_9mlOg7SXexWCb/s400/f7d528ea-c0db-4814-bbb4-e85a6db977c2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radhika the mer-maid..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
RADHIKA - I love travelling with you and Dhruv, its always comfortable and fun and easy, and I know we will be doing many more holidays together, we have done some mad stuff and have many more crazy things to do, and thank God we broke the jinx..<br />
To trying to party with sleepy kids, to many flights, car journeys and boats, surfing, diving,to sun-rises and beautiful sunsets, to sand, sea, cycles and rain-forests..<br />
Stay your lovely self always, you are the hottest diver I know and are beautiful inside out..<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhAx_aiXtRddtRGHX6zxNiVT0_Ie1YS-rPMlhzlXtgpH65ic76HKnTzhyphenhyphenbIS6Qd6odgLjOpPd63Bjzy6i51U7siRm_8sKiEPd4qmtn750Nz4EE33j66DwP8dWNBeNk5Nu5YIgFQt-L7dy/s1600/a8934dc4-3a62-4511-837e-4a197a1f9886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhAx_aiXtRddtRGHX6zxNiVT0_Ie1YS-rPMlhzlXtgpH65ic76HKnTzhyphenhyphenbIS6Qd6odgLjOpPd63Bjzy6i51U7siRm_8sKiEPd4qmtn750Nz4EE33j66DwP8dWNBeNk5Nu5YIgFQt-L7dy/s400/a8934dc4-3a62-4511-837e-4a197a1f9886.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikhil the Zen-Master</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
NIKHIL - Yup, you have always guided me the right way, from handling a live audience, to introducing me to Baz Luhrman's- Everybody's free to wear sunscreen and how it should be part of life, to diving into a dark sea.<br />
We have both come a really long way.<br />
And yes doing that night dive was a bloody 'Fantaaastic" idea, and I'm in the next time we go diving, you please stay in touch, because if I do get Alzheimer's early, I won't remember who you are, because we did not meet often enough ha ha ha ...<br />
And that wont be nice..<br />
And thank-you for the music..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpf1cDA0_wrCX0g-jTIF9owecwMq5qGhm10KkJpsdB1dVhisnMjt8D68bD9Qywz2D9aeXS4GFwu_JBWQ6zDZqy7LKe0DYQgfsrPaFEKHi2oJeEPKMVf6WmBpfQxfnSpyttPI45opD9DLA/s1600/38144220-a2f0-4872-85f3-c79532b985e0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpf1cDA0_wrCX0g-jTIF9owecwMq5qGhm10KkJpsdB1dVhisnMjt8D68bD9Qywz2D9aeXS4GFwu_JBWQ6zDZqy7LKe0DYQgfsrPaFEKHi2oJeEPKMVf6WmBpfQxfnSpyttPI45opD9DLA/s320/38144220-a2f0-4872-85f3-c79532b985e0.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zeke the Certified Open-water PADI Diver..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
ZEKE, ZENE & DHRUV - I love travelling with you adventure seekers .<br />
You are the Power Rangers, Dora and Diego, Peppa pig, Zack & Cody , Avengers, Fantastic 4, Chota Bheem and Hanuman all rolled into one..<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-U8XmmSstnOUh-DAk-GVuMAfLMYHOfQPOHI7MVMCpZujdPTnoTiUZ39LKkEDc5AHscDGT0A7dUVPWQuOL6E2Wt2Px7bfgGuPkliREGO-2CVhkPwHaMOhH0A78rLhqw_PjQVJpZa7djzC/s1600/b3a4a2de-5830-4b70-af98-c793732d05f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-U8XmmSstnOUh-DAk-GVuMAfLMYHOfQPOHI7MVMCpZujdPTnoTiUZ39LKkEDc5AHscDGT0A7dUVPWQuOL6E2Wt2Px7bfgGuPkliREGO-2CVhkPwHaMOhH0A78rLhqw_PjQVJpZa7djzC/s400/b3a4a2de-5830-4b70-af98-c793732d05f6.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zene my little fire-fly..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love hanging with you guys, though sometimes, I want to pack you in a suitcase and just courier you really fast back home.<br />
But holidays through your eyes are the best..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdw-3DOzXEdmfDt1UOI12FG_JmI9Y_xQK4c3mGtXpK_e39jhBJtXzOTWdUd_l7uog-aBS1r-c12b_zi3_vHYG9pvBvppMRkvGZtmTJBOW4MpiuKF4XCFYJLUK9w7R0qu5DzBv3ZX9Q5hl/s1600/8b8b1eed-e65f-4a96-8c88-4e152add3177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdw-3DOzXEdmfDt1UOI12FG_JmI9Y_xQK4c3mGtXpK_e39jhBJtXzOTWdUd_l7uog-aBS1r-c12b_zi3_vHYG9pvBvppMRkvGZtmTJBOW4MpiuKF4XCFYJLUK9w7R0qu5DzBv3ZX9Q5hl/s320/8b8b1eed-e65f-4a96-8c88-4e152add3177.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dhruv the musicical groover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuphNUDbR-bKfGq2EGEYxheezO3lmR9lF-2t2_o3SX5qMRBtEHltecfPnFuPqCp5dKxm5xvtUDaWU95NazSlI5NIFTHN9D2zcETGb2-F6v1-CZKqBFt_4AFUb__y04yDLHVzOS3bW3tvR/s1600/a3fa6122-a4f4-4d6f-93e4-8eea62ca85b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuphNUDbR-bKfGq2EGEYxheezO3lmR9lF-2t2_o3SX5qMRBtEHltecfPnFuPqCp5dKxm5xvtUDaWU95NazSlI5NIFTHN9D2zcETGb2-F6v1-CZKqBFt_4AFUb__y04yDLHVzOS3bW3tvR/s640/a3fa6122-a4f4-4d6f-93e4-8eea62ca85b7.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strike a pose, there's nothing to it....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And now that I have finished my speech..<br />
Can someone please present me with an Oscar ha ha ha ha ..<br />
<br />
P.S. Just remember in life, never hold your breath...<br />
Breathe in..breathe out..<br />
Everything will be much more than just OK..<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-68037565069550885162016-01-20T17:04:00.000+05:302016-01-20T23:07:49.079+05:30MUMBAI MARATHON.. 02. 12. 56 ..YEAAAAAH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So let me tell you that I don't really have a bucket list, but as I live life, and do the things I do, I have begun to realise , that yes, this is part of the bucket list, that I don't yet have ha ha ha .<br />
And its fun to live life like that, in the moment..<br />
<br />
I have realised that some plans do not work out, and the life you live on the side , while making these grand plans, is what makes life absolutely interesting.<br />
So I have never really been an athlete but , I fell in love with running when I was in the 6th standard..<br />
I have been running ever since, mostly off than on, but run I do..<br />
My mom always insisted that I have a glass of Bournvita before a ran, but I abhorred milk, so I used to have two tablespoons of yummy Bournvita and leave ha ha ha<br />
Carter road was my space ..<br />
And I ran , every morning during my summer holidays ..in brown school tennis shoes..<br />
Despite the fact that they were not the best running shoes,But I still did not know that ha ha ha ..<br />
<br />
Every sports day , I used to really look forward to standing on that podium to receive a medal ..<br />
But I have never ever won a running race in school ever..<br />
I was not the one who the house looked up to for points, when it came to sports day<br />
I was more Hermione of Hogwarts.. and quizzes, elocution, dramatics, debates,singing..<br />
That was my thing ..<br />
So school and college passed and I forgot about sports medals.<br />
<br />
Till I found myself standing at a starting line for my kids sports day..<br />
And my school memories just came tumbling back ..<br />
I used to mostly at least fall once .and I remember once , my teachers actually put up the red finish line again and were cheering "run Maria Run" I was last ..<br />
<br />
<div>
So standing there in line in my kids school..<br />
Something inside me was excited and the other half was really frightened..<br />
Zeke and Zene were screaming , exactly what I say to them , "run like a cheetah is chasing you Mama"<br />
At what point I realised, anything you tell your kids, will at one point of time, be used "for or against" you..<br />
I wanted to do this well and show them that , when you do something you do sometjing with your whole heart and soul and put all your energy into it , it works..<br />
I ran that day like I have never run before..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT0IYQudRA9BVqRyOrP5_eUkAAMBh7cOCkfnx9ZT8pUst7Pd0MePz4pxV3vujreo78MpG2uE8-n8JgMz_pWTNwuldHoKYlAdUEMUA2tO-7nv3V3-NnsjgoZHz9EFQxuQDThtfHJa_a17u/s640/blogger-image--1507698273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT0IYQudRA9BVqRyOrP5_eUkAAMBh7cOCkfnx9ZT8pUst7Pd0MePz4pxV3vujreo78MpG2uE8-n8JgMz_pWTNwuldHoKYlAdUEMUA2tO-7nv3V3-NnsjgoZHz9EFQxuQDThtfHJa_a17u/s640/blogger-image--1507698273.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ran like the whole forest was chasing me..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Like the whole forest was chasing me ..<br />
All I could see was that finish line ..<br />
It was a 400 meter race and I finished with a huge lead..<br />
<br />
I hate competition if you ask me ..<br />
But this was one race, I really wanted to win..<br />
This run was for my kids and me ,for all the times I fell and all the times I never won..<br />
But this was just the start of many things that I now do ..<br />
To inspire my kids..<br />
No I don't like waking up in the morning at 4.45am ..<br />
But I do it, because, Zeke wants to go running with his Coach Firoze, and I want my kids to get hooked to running..<br />
<br />
It is my life saver..<br />
It's cheaper than therapy ..<br />
And it's the best thing you can do for yourself ..<br />
It's your me time..<br />
<br />
I had never run a marathon..<br />
Though it is something I always wanted to do , with my friend Shayamal..<br />
He is an inspiration to me..<br />
<br />
So last year, after I finished my book and the rains eased up, I started running again, and while I was running, I really thought that maybe this year, I should try and run, the Marathon, and not the dream run, but the Half Marathon, the 21k..<br />
Ha ha ha ha , frankly at that point of time, even the thought of the sound of 21k was a joke in my head, but you never know if you can or cannot do something, unless you actually actively are a part of it.<br />
And I really really wanted to run a marathon...<br />
So I called my marathon man Shayamal and I signed up through Salaam Bombay a charity , and that was that.<br />
So then in October , I just started running on the beach like I do , in between the time that Zeke was training<br />
.<br />
Till Shayamal one day , called and gave me the number of Brinsten (<a dir="ltr" href="tel:9869394969" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">9869394969</a>) and asked me to call him , he is the man I should be working with for the Marathon.<br />
So I did, and I was to meet Brinsten on the beach.<br />
And so as usual I took Zeke for his run and then ran to the spot to meet Brinsten.<br />
He is a tall man , absolutely fit and has the kindest voice.<br />
So we talked for a bit, and he asked me about my training, and I told him , that I just run, that's about it.<br />
And we realised I could not quite train with him all through the week, except on Saturday and Sundays .<br />
And so that's what we did.<br />
We started with some long runs on the beach, interval running and rest , and then, runs I enjoyed the most, long runs in Bandra, from Bandstand to Carter road and back to those who are familiar with Bandra.<br />
Then he made us do , what I mentally termed, {"What the $&(&*%#@!! am I doing ?} run, because it was just 45 minutes of us running up and down , Kane road, which is bloody vertical...<br />
It was horrible , but what can I say , we all enjoyed the torture.<br />
Then he would make us run, from Bandstand right to St Andrews Church, or then Salman Khan's house for all you Filmy's out there ha ha ha ..and from there to Mehboob Studio, then up to Mt.Mary's church , then down the slope, up the next slope that was vertical, then to the Bandra fort and continue from Bandstand again, this was one loop.<br />
As we all ran, or huffed and puffed away,we would meet one another, in various stages of happiness, distress and undress ha ha ha ..<br />
Now when I think of it, I find it all very funny, but practice was not a joke, it was tough, and because Brinsten and his coaches were so awesome, we were all able to run, as well as our bodies allowed us to.<br />
<br />
We then started doing long runs, I had to do my 14k alone , as I missed that run, and I just wanted to not be lagging behind, so I did it, on the beach, and every time I ran, I would keep sending Brinsten , photos of all the runs I did and the speed I did it at.<br />
We then did our final 17K on the 3rd of Jan, I had just come back from doing my PADI Certificate and was pretty up and about.<br />
That was a great run, because we did part of the route.<br />
This was not easy at all, and a precursor , to what we were all to be part of in the next two weeks.<br />
<br />
But what I realised is that Brinsten from November onwards, very slowly, started changing our mindset to running a long distance.<br />
And by the time we got closer to the Marathon, if he said , so we are going to do a 17 this Sunday, it just felt like normal conversation.<br />
So much so , that when we went to pick up our bibs a week before the Marathon, Shaheen and me were picking of pamphlets from all the cities that are doing various Marathons, around India, from the mountains to sandy beaches ha ha ha<br />
We have calmed down a bit now, and will take an informed call about where we really want to run.<br />
<br />
I fell sick a week before the Marathon, Flu like symptoms, I think it was just nerves.<br />
But I did not want to take a risk, so I willingly went and took an injection , so that my immunity gets a boost and I DONT FALL ILL.<br />
What I loved the most was the carb loading, I have a really healthy appetite, and so Jaya took me out for Thali one day, when we were to actually supposed to go buy cool clothes to run in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAizQHJmeF_uEFZLd8TmGw6vgc8DJzLeYFzVVqfc-yLLAHycqOiRTbWvP77x9Gl2SqmJv43U4Kq3w5i5sq5ws62UcmuGmZ4XazdzcCyQAqzJuGNBAxpmjQyXNbZ3MznaOTW6KSl-3CsjP/s640/blogger-image--1267004083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAizQHJmeF_uEFZLd8TmGw6vgc8DJzLeYFzVVqfc-yLLAHycqOiRTbWvP77x9Gl2SqmJv43U4Kq3w5i5sq5ws62UcmuGmZ4XazdzcCyQAqzJuGNBAxpmjQyXNbZ3MznaOTW6KSl-3CsjP/s640/blogger-image--1267004083.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My uncool running gear..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Because everyone concerned said that my running gear sucks and I was not smartly dressed to run.<br />
Well, so I did go shopping with Jaya, and came back with a tennis skirt ha ha ha and a stomach full of yummy vegetarian Thaali..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y9iwn5eKHUfX1ezT5Jo0AetEjN5f1VylAAAUf6GO5n_em8V01cKQSTNFni6803dL1VSr5vQNyekRcGAotknouPHkYcIfgDLwK8llB5wBi0E1MY9p7oZEo8ObwuNKDftAqroxmbAiHvat/s640/blogger-image-459934191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y9iwn5eKHUfX1ezT5Jo0AetEjN5f1VylAAAUf6GO5n_em8V01cKQSTNFni6803dL1VSr5vQNyekRcGAotknouPHkYcIfgDLwK8llB5wBi0E1MY9p7oZEo8ObwuNKDftAqroxmbAiHvat/s640/blogger-image-459934191.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My carb loading week was fun..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well since the skirt was bought, it had to be worn, and since as a rule, you don't wear new clothes to run in,and neither do you wear a tennis skirt, the skirt went over my old and very often worn cycling shorts, I could not do any more, I could not be bothered.<br />
<br />
So we continued with our carb loading, Shaheen sent me lip-smacking yummy biryani one day , and I sent her vegetable pasta and baked chicken , on saturday, and we were really happy with all the food that we were eating.<br />
Saturday morning, Zeke wanted to go for a run, and I decided to go for a long walk, on the beach barefoot, which now in hindsight , I feel was really foolish, because our beaches are not really devoid of glass sometimes.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv_Msj2UuL7NrEuWR2gehwWvAt_6oGOSMRHZ35YDK0HwKnw_Xv95jdRPyDrOzHztv9rZxmzdH7IvSsX6XdeDjE3qscecGyBl1QX_u23BsE529XYnKjzSQbHwNWvIDxHp2olXzIwp_muME/s640/blogger-image--1888429804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv_Msj2UuL7NrEuWR2gehwWvAt_6oGOSMRHZ35YDK0HwKnw_Xv95jdRPyDrOzHztv9rZxmzdH7IvSsX6XdeDjE3qscecGyBl1QX_u23BsE529XYnKjzSQbHwNWvIDxHp2olXzIwp_muME/s640/blogger-image--1888429804.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barefoot and calm..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, my feet were fine, but I lost my Glasses, and did not know, till I reached home and needed them for some work.<br />
Then the whole drama, of going to the beach, searching, speaking to the police if you please ha ha ha ha , you should have seen their faces, they looked at me , like I was cuckoo..<br />
But I needed my glasses, I had to run the next day, and so I prayed to the Saint of Lost things, St.Anthony and begged of him for a miracle, and I found them , with Zeke's, Running Coach if you please.<br />
All's well that ends well.<br />
<br />
Zeke . Zene and me, made a nice big pasta lunch and all was good.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8xEfo0b7u1Bx3YsTZbU61odJCJqcTEgM42Ak6qq6f51cSMHtrn4VehKJP-ENCOx5POInF0GdmTvwIonVWC1kGy8rUswAjMVF9koaCszFhPzellTyY4CSDF1iHHpM433d0K6EkJ_5gpiz/s640/blogger-image-155433912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8xEfo0b7u1Bx3YsTZbU61odJCJqcTEgM42Ak6qq6f51cSMHtrn4VehKJP-ENCOx5POInF0GdmTvwIonVWC1kGy8rUswAjMVF9koaCszFhPzellTyY4CSDF1iHHpM433d0K6EkJ_5gpiz/s640/blogger-image-155433912.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zeke and Zene helped cook lunch before the BIG day..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I really wanted to sleep early, and so by 8.30, after putting my clothes together, and keeping all the food I had to eat in the morning nicely arranged in the kitchen, I was getting ready to go to sleep, when I realised that Shaheen's kids were coming to watch her run.<br />
Well I made the biggest mistake of mentioning this, and all hell broke loose, Zene sobbed like I was leaving the country for ever, and just wanted to be part of the Marathon.<br />
After trying to figure how to take the kids there for quite some time, by 11 pm, my driver, thankfully agreed to come early morning home, to pick them up.<br />
So my boy Vijay, the nanny Vinita , my driver and kids, would all be meeting Brinsten sir at Churni Road, and would wait there till I passed them and then go home.<br />
I finally went to sleep.<br />
<br />
3.05AM my alarm rang, I woke up dressed and then went down to eat, like Brinsten Sir had told us.<br />
So there was raagi roti with Peanut butter, boiled sweet potato , bananas and dates.<br />
I just could not eat a thing.<br />
I packed it all, ate two dates, and drank some water, and carried my coffee with me.<br />
Shaheen picked me up and the first thing we realised, is that we have dabbas of food with us like a picnic, we picked up Sheeba, and proceeded to the Worli, amidst lots of hilarious laughter.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOu5kY6_phXXG_sv-5R12ssyoTcOudU3c0HrRjVJVktl5w-NEFMwH8XDIgyT1fZ-DO1bqalchxMQH18Q-9krLK0ZXTS3DU3Q8cKgzjy57XDU66xEn7DcSgkYN6o5KleGA3dZJIGkflN91/s640/blogger-image--1381398311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOu5kY6_phXXG_sv-5R12ssyoTcOudU3c0HrRjVJVktl5w-NEFMwH8XDIgyT1fZ-DO1bqalchxMQH18Q-9krLK0ZXTS3DU3Q8cKgzjy57XDU66xEn7DcSgkYN6o5KleGA3dZJIGkflN91/s640/blogger-image--1381398311.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All roads lead to the Marathon 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The energy there at Worli at 5 am in the morning, was simply electrical.<br />
Everyone was all geared to run, and so excited<br />
It took us sometime to navigate to where we had to start the Marathon..<br />
But we were soon in line..<br />
Brinsten came to meet us and stretched with us..<br />
I was a bundle of nerves..</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh_G1ySilnjW6Tq36fX9yC3RIaBb6YmhbN7sUcZmbi17-mVzoQEaeu-UCWLR2v60Bhshalkdy6AE-Lq9n4hyphenhyphenv8Y87TlGw_iygbG0ePg3KsjKd7cLBO_q-iVbhxM-_uCPe94YGYaK5TIf0/s640/blogger-image-162315688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh_G1ySilnjW6Tq36fX9yC3RIaBb6YmhbN7sUcZmbi17-mVzoQEaeu-UCWLR2v60Bhshalkdy6AE-Lq9n4hyphenhyphenv8Y87TlGw_iygbG0ePg3KsjKd7cLBO_q-iVbhxM-_uCPe94YGYaK5TIf0/s640/blogger-image-162315688.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And as I had never done this before, I was waiting for a gun to go off, or someone to say ..<br />
On your marks, Get set ....GOOOO..<br />
But nothing like that happened, everyone started setting their watches, and I heard a roar of 5...4...3...2...1...<br />
And everyone just started running..<br />
Exactly at 5-40 am...<br />
So so did I tell you, that my Radio tunes did not start , because network near the Sea link is not the greatest, I just about managed to put my Puma trac on..and I just began to run..<br />
Of course I felt like a tortoise in the middle of a track of galloping horses, who were all whizzing past me.<br />
The deep desire to just try and run fast with them for a bit, was soon slapped into place by, the sensible part of me, where the voice of Brinsten, was giving us instructions on how , we should run at our own pace.<br />
A day before that I spoke to David who is involved in the Marathon, and he said, just listen to your heart, don't stress it, let it feel comfortable..<br />
Well, I really want to apply this theory to my life..(but that is a whole new story)<br />
<br />
And so I started running, it was simply bloody alive, that whole strip, with athletes, people who just love to run and first timers..<br />
And as we got onto the bridge..<br />
I realised that I needed music no more..<br />
Everyone's feet running became a beat, and as everyone was running at their own pace, it felt like a Percussion concert<br />
It was fantastic..<br />
thud,,thud,,thud,,,thud,,thud..<br />
So many thousands of feet running together, some in unison, some off-beat but in a beat of their own, and some in harmony..<br />
I had finally found my beat, while I ran on the beautiful Sea link..<br />
My feet , my heart-beat and my breath..<br />
They had started to finally sync..<br />
Though I have run before, this kind of synergy had never happened before, it was dark..<br />
And yet it was the most alive I have felt in a long time...<br />
<br />
That Sea Link took forever, I'm so used to drive over it , and so when you get onto it, you just know that this is going to be quick..<br />
But it just took forever, and as we turned on the bridge,there was a full on bhangra dhol playing, that really does lift your spirit..<br />
I just kept on running, I was no longer bothered about the music, I had my beat going on in my heart and my breath..<br />
By the time, we did the whole sea link and turned back to Worli sea face, there were already people on the streets cheering all the runners on, there were so many stations on the bridge and all over the route, for water and Enerzal, and people clapping ..<br />
<br />
This was a party , but only if you could run through it, At the 10 KM marker, my RadioTunes kicked in and I heard my tracker saying you have just finished 10 k in..<br />
And before I heard the timing, I just pulled my ear phones off..<br />
I did not want to know in how much time and at what pace..<br />
I was going to enjoy my run, run according to my heart , not over do anything and finish my 21k without stopping, giving up or collapsing, because David had told me, to be careful of pushing yourself as a first timer, because you get caught up in the whole energy around you, I had that in my head.<br />
Running on the road to HajiAli , someone called out my name and pushed me on, thank you , whoever that was.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Pvwm6FjHyShLXlNq5tZPyrJVb3AjmeJSJ_uYq9RvsCzXo0ovh_LWHle_DNSB7vroNf4mYiZV5EvyUHsEjp4qpaGZa5pgwoHDG2ocg7sGnvz_vkPRJ35J6oLasTkvuNpYN-ALPbOxHxZg/s640/blogger-image-371761865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Pvwm6FjHyShLXlNq5tZPyrJVb3AjmeJSJ_uYq9RvsCzXo0ovh_LWHle_DNSB7vroNf4mYiZV5EvyUHsEjp4qpaGZa5pgwoHDG2ocg7sGnvz_vkPRJ35J6oLasTkvuNpYN-ALPbOxHxZg/s640/blogger-image-371761865.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Mumbai for cheering us all on..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then was that slope to Jaslok Hospital and then the Kemp's corner bridge was coming up next..<br />
I just kept myself hydrated, That's all I did, I had dates in my pouch and sugar, and from time to time, I popped that into my mouth at pre-decided location markers in my head..<br />
I don't know whether this helped me go on, or the energy of everyone running helped me..<br />
But I just went on..<br />
I was like Dory in "Finding Nemo" ..'keep on swimmimg, keep on swimming" ..<br />
But in my case it was 'Keep on running, keeep on running'..<br />
I just did not want to stop, because I was too scared that I would not be able to start again if I did..<br />
And so everytime I came across someone, walking with their head down, I would call out and say , 'c'mon don't stop run, c'mon run"..<br />
It felt good, because it was also like ,I telling myself that..<br />
I did not stop , on the slope to Jaslok , neither on the Kemps corner bridge..<br />
I just remembered what Brinsten Sir had told me, just look to the highest point and keep on running, that's where you need to be..<br />
I finished the slope, and on my way down called Vijay , who was standing on Churni road, with my kid's Zeke and Zene..<br />
I just wanted to know if they had reached, because I really wanted to meet them , if they woke up so early to come cheer their Mama, if they had not yet reached, I would have slowed down, (its not that I was running like a cheetah, I was ok) I was really happy, though I was tired, I still had enough energy to go on, approaching Churni rd station and seeing them there, was just so so awesome,</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevzu9S-k5WyoLZ7g__z76VlXuWGLKgDGxUzMD8DQ6yyIbD37TxTCTBot7T0QABY89s6EaDfYYS48Gbqa1xpdxqYIw58-xiDrFwtKoFqqiQjgu81CwxaP1wEyp_pbg5B_ET6bmUEYRWXKu/s640/blogger-image--1053483379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevzu9S-k5WyoLZ7g__z76VlXuWGLKgDGxUzMD8DQ6yyIbD37TxTCTBot7T0QABY89s6EaDfYYS48Gbqa1xpdxqYIw58-xiDrFwtKoFqqiQjgu81CwxaP1wEyp_pbg5B_ET6bmUEYRWXKu/s640/blogger-image--1053483379.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vinita didi, Zene, Vijay Bhaiya , Zeke and Ashok Uncle.. all came to cheer me..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I hugged them tight, took photos of them, Brinsten Sir took a photo of us together, I showed Zene, that I had worn the socks, she gifted me for Christmas, </div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO6f7ZEofYaV38WOv2SpR-WRuhlG-tmkuSkhMRANxfg5fX7OylFbI5OAwVQyMZqXWhrLPAFbXFNp-6t56LVlChGtvTZoW8ZvQjN47AaNsjLwMlJ-mPfbPi3XpaJKnqFuZwbzNajsDqYFH/s640/blogger-image-3602318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO6f7ZEofYaV38WOv2SpR-WRuhlG-tmkuSkhMRANxfg5fX7OylFbI5OAwVQyMZqXWhrLPAFbXFNp-6t56LVlChGtvTZoW8ZvQjN47AaNsjLwMlJ-mPfbPi3XpaJKnqFuZwbzNajsDqYFH/s640/blogger-image-3602318.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lucky socks...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
they were the lucky socks with lots of love from her for the Marathon, Zeke had given me tips about how I should run on curves and posture, so I told him I followed all his instructions, and in true Mama style, told them to now go home , eat their Breakfast and go on with whatever they had to do for the day,<br />
<br />
I had my fill of good energy and continued, this stretch was a bit tough for me, since I took a small break, but I was happy, I did not have much more, I continued running , there were people lining the streets, offering you water, peeled oranges , dates , biscuits and just cheering you on, there was music in some places, and it was just such an energy filled place, as I turned left from Jazz by the Bay, I saw the sun shining up in the sky, not fully out and yet threatening to go ablaze really soon, I knew I needed to finish soon, because I did not want to run with the sun blazing, when my body was anyway heated up, But I also remembered that I should not push it at the end, like Brinsten Sir said, because the Finish line is still a distance off.<br />
<br />
I continued at the same pace, listening to my breathing and the beat of all the marathoners feet, When I turned left at Flora fountain..<br />
I could hear the festivity and the cheering of people, I knew I had now come to the end, when I saw the ' 500 meters more to finish" marker, I then started running a wee bit faster ,like Zeke had told me, "Just charge' , he had said, well I could not charge ahead in full steam, but I was really ecstatic and quickened my pace a bit,<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYEzl6tSiyUlHMrHF5uZbocPjXGCFYQjjEHojo6p9bw8JHbp9ApV2G-94GLwKKdnw8GRCnZHLl3TLqe1d7sUDEqU9qD2qLQzhKxhk5rZnSnVWCROibXYTWpVsZgmJeSZ76MB18Xtyrb6r/s640/blogger-image-46651312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYEzl6tSiyUlHMrHF5uZbocPjXGCFYQjjEHojo6p9bw8JHbp9ApV2G-94GLwKKdnw8GRCnZHLl3TLqe1d7sUDEqU9qD2qLQzhKxhk5rZnSnVWCROibXYTWpVsZgmJeSZ76MB18Xtyrb6r/s640/blogger-image-46651312.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happppppppiiiiiieeeeeeeee....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Crossing the finishing line , felt like I had just won an all expenses paid trip around the world.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Its the most exhilarating feeling in the world, I met some of the runners I trained with and everyone was asking everyone about their timing, I finished my marathon in 02-12-56...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAiY2-DDnwdk-jQj5JX8H0lXhHukVqE269IIT1frnbH9790LjApS4IRNYDbSJ5lKzr6AKhTDbrvtWL10RJigAtwvtCLQsyR_4gxi2IbOna3g25HDsD7DBqPFtOKk7Xv4QjIutIIWRcUmm/s640/blogger-image-421748401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAiY2-DDnwdk-jQj5JX8H0lXhHukVqE269IIT1frnbH9790LjApS4IRNYDbSJ5lKzr6AKhTDbrvtWL10RJigAtwvtCLQsyR_4gxi2IbOna3g25HDsD7DBqPFtOKk7Xv4QjIutIIWRcUmm/s640/blogger-image-421748401.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was ecstatic...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
Ha ha ha ha I was bloody happy, I finished it, without , stopping , or falling or giving up.<br />
But I'm not the giving up kind..<br />
I don't do that easily..<br />
And when I started the marathon at 5.40 am , I knew in my head, that I was finishing this without stopping..<br />
<br />
The best ting about it, is .it really tests you, makes you do your best, your body and your heart tell you what you can or cannot do, while you are running, and all you have to do is listen.<br />
And that's why I love running, it gets your head, heart, pulse and body in sync..<br />
It felt like a meditation and a party simultaneously.<br />
<br />
Yes it was tough, but because I knew I'm not giving in to anything , I just went on..<br />
From the finish line, everyone walks to Azad Maidaan, to get their medals, there are recovery centers there, music and just marathoners of all ages, size and gender sitting, stretching, talking and laughing.<br />
This is my first ever official hard earned medal..<br />
And I went to collect it, as there were still few women as compared to men, the helpers clapped as I went to pick up my medal..<br />
Yeeeeaaaaah...<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6rtUu5QTae1Z-zRANw0PxhztbFy5ub5a0XI1iKQA1-lLY6UC5GE8grlexG8hF26TX7p_mXAO61FnMoSohyU63Je3Pk_VvH8Rb3arPJfzA3XEKAiQtKCzC_eRA3sTD7kc4llgpRnmJ8UC/s640/blogger-image--1562005785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6rtUu5QTae1Z-zRANw0PxhztbFy5ub5a0XI1iKQA1-lLY6UC5GE8grlexG8hF26TX7p_mXAO61FnMoSohyU63Je3Pk_VvH8Rb3arPJfzA3XEKAiQtKCzC_eRA3sTD7kc4llgpRnmJ8UC/s640/blogger-image--1562005785.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So tickled pink..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I bloody felt on top of the world..<br />
I walked around like that for some time, in a tired daze , with a big smile on my face, then went and had a huge breakfast.<br />
Medu Vadas, Masala dosa, eggs, and slices of cake.<br />
And then went in search of Shaheen who had also finished.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnc_64JUfhcUglnCaTAWDvD0cZzBRmDlgRaEKeGTlvWsi8k_F8_CaIzwrCsW90N3VcSUltoVQdzaZRM23-pXNbjX3dlqCaWEiJcNKJTpf7x71xy5cpfIB9JFVv23Lfq1vSh0qOiji9rPR/s640/blogger-image-585763042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnc_64JUfhcUglnCaTAWDvD0cZzBRmDlgRaEKeGTlvWsi8k_F8_CaIzwrCsW90N3VcSUltoVQdzaZRM23-pXNbjX3dlqCaWEiJcNKJTpf7x71xy5cpfIB9JFVv23Lfq1vSh0qOiji9rPR/s640/blogger-image-585763042.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sparkly one..Shaheeniiiiiiieeeeee.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We screamed hugged each others sweaty bodies and sat on the floor and shared excited notes on how we did it..<br />
And then waited for Sheeba, we then went picked up Sheba's medal, put it around her and were just happy.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30A8G3SH4V740gV2n94_b9JIPKRDpHTmFmW5o0nKUX9M-_MWtQwCpW_CK2umBSGEuNmAWW_UcmAgXsSpQ0iIFiTrsJ9wyHYFeriIvfth7Kr4JV2ibCGzzi3kRN-HIcP_vTjImPGULScmA/s640/blogger-image-147879662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30A8G3SH4V740gV2n94_b9JIPKRDpHTmFmW5o0nKUX9M-_MWtQwCpW_CK2umBSGEuNmAWW_UcmAgXsSpQ0iIFiTrsJ9wyHYFeriIvfth7Kr4JV2ibCGzzi3kRN-HIcP_vTjImPGULScmA/s640/blogger-image-147879662.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheeba the rock-star..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I now know why people run Marathons..<br />
Its a personal thing, more than running for a charity or an organisation.<br />
its just you and yourself all the way.<br />
Much respect to everyone that runs, and the ones that do the 42..<br />
I just bowed to all of you ..<br />
<br />
Its also a great equaliser, it does not matter who you are or what you do, whether you reached the venue in a train, bus , walking or a chauffer driven limosine, once your time starts, its just what you put in , that you get back..<br />
That's as simple as it is...<br />
And the only reason I could run is because you feed off the energy of the runners, its so inspiring.<br />
I ran with thousands technically, but I still ran completely alone.<br />
And I loved each and every moment.<br />
<br />
I must say the next day, My thigh muscles were killing me, and sending secret messages to my brain saying, "You have done enough, rest now for the next 6 months, and eat more carbs , you need it " ha ha ha ..<br />
But my heart knows, it needs to run, and so run I will.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA6-tl-7wZbINh4KFujREv7jXFV-fCnmG2CwrL7xfon2b3KiH5CT5iYpfjCdCe7owD7w52VXwFvkrJB8e3orkedZVK9_VSvcKBaIcq9keH3laPF54XpzV99SYP9NtJnhfAaHZrrSEHWZI/s640/blogger-image--1136489863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA6-tl-7wZbINh4KFujREv7jXFV-fCnmG2CwrL7xfon2b3KiH5CT5iYpfjCdCe7owD7w52VXwFvkrJB8e3orkedZVK9_VSvcKBaIcq9keH3laPF54XpzV99SYP9NtJnhfAaHZrrSEHWZI/s640/blogger-image--1136489863.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole "BE FIT" Group, after our last 17k..Thank you Brinsten Sir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Thank you Brinsten Sir, for being such an amazing coach, for so positively reinforcing our insides to believe that we could go this, for building our stamina from strength to strength, for pushing us to do better with each run .<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1mgFdNCnGMh_5S8P2s3ZOdnGrUreUW21jzpHe3fIrD3HM4lyMkXDvNamEz_2j2bvuEcLsc_nMDuu-pMjJRekcEvC9fesIfmH0CbrZF9_GQc0UooEqyDqZLzZfyCrVmSfay64qr6Am9Dd/s640/blogger-image-352772666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1mgFdNCnGMh_5S8P2s3ZOdnGrUreUW21jzpHe3fIrD3HM4lyMkXDvNamEz_2j2bvuEcLsc_nMDuu-pMjJRekcEvC9fesIfmH0CbrZF9_GQc0UooEqyDqZLzZfyCrVmSfay64qr6Am9Dd/s640/blogger-image-352772666.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brinsten sir and moi...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And helping us to find "our happy" as we ran.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ1FlSvR_Cryh2v9DcG44OUWoka8UD_tttf8VT8lsIOxUiisT5wm_5bnNVsMVsMeUqdSOZNYoJqLuA8-MDpomyFBgNo3bmhzpt_sMs4g3-eYTKMETXU75Dp_CwrSrXQT6wxNcAPwKCNaz/s640/blogger-image--1789421461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ1FlSvR_Cryh2v9DcG44OUWoka8UD_tttf8VT8lsIOxUiisT5wm_5bnNVsMVsMeUqdSOZNYoJqLuA8-MDpomyFBgNo3bmhzpt_sMs4g3-eYTKMETXU75Dp_CwrSrXQT6wxNcAPwKCNaz/s640/blogger-image--1789421461.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheeba, Shaheen and me..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thank you my Shaheenieeeee for all the early morning laughs and banter, and Sheeba for your smiling face and happy positive disposition..<br />
<br />
Thaaaaaank Yooooou.....<br />
To all the marathoners on the road, who called out to everyone, and kept the energy high..<br />
To all the volunteers, who stood on the streets giving us water and Enerzal,<br />
To all the people and kids who came out and cheered us, and offered us food and pushed us to go on..<br />
Thank you David and Umang, from the bottom of my heart .<br />
Nikhil Chinnappa ..You are a doll, that's all I want to say , yup a very macho muscular guy, but a doll.<br />
<br />
Thank you my Zeke and Zene, thank you for coming to cheer me , so early in the morning, for my lucky socks and for all the running tips.<br />
And Arshad...For being you ..<br />
<br />
At the moment I'm on a high, inspite of all the soreness, and yes I don't want to stop running..<br />
Its the one thing that actually realigns all my chakras and calms my insides ha ha ha ha , makes music and feeds my soul.<br />
I'm just so happy That I was able to start my 2016 with this truly amazing, exhilarating, humbling experience.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year 2016 to all .<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZLplbQJ94QhQQFv0siKLDXEOdfMFZwtfyD10jzawkuvkPVx0GuJrD89gZbqYADmKM6zbW1Mfgu-PC_TqN2kUz6d4uZd1Li1yzX5YCCwVnRKlveZXKL-gTL2jvkWN97ol4fkJ9w_9Vaxy/s640/blogger-image-1628281325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZLplbQJ94QhQQFv0siKLDXEOdfMFZwtfyD10jzawkuvkPVx0GuJrD89gZbqYADmKM6zbW1Mfgu-PC_TqN2kUz6d4uZd1Li1yzX5YCCwVnRKlveZXKL-gTL2jvkWN97ol4fkJ9w_9Vaxy/s640/blogger-image-1628281325.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-2619980557113254302016-01-07T19:42:00.001+05:302018-12-26T14:31:01.863+05:30GOOD-BYE MY TAZ...TILL WE MEET AGAIN..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rj9gRfQxn5NEDN2zyI8V92WDo0zmEmLsagVu9k1Mxr-UwtSHLeSQLVys_PrI9ZpJ7xa5LHLhpHnAYSvo4gZnpkLm7tKebdvbg-rznaRLasZWFdzge9aYTVARdo0zWhEkFqfgTBLBuixw/s640/blogger-image-1639383805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rj9gRfQxn5NEDN2zyI8V92WDo0zmEmLsagVu9k1Mxr-UwtSHLeSQLVys_PrI9ZpJ7xa5LHLhpHnAYSvo4gZnpkLm7tKebdvbg-rznaRLasZWFdzge9aYTVARdo0zWhEkFqfgTBLBuixw/s640/blogger-image-1639383805.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja and Betty-Boo..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">And so on the 27th of November 2000, he came bounding into our lives.</span><br />
A little black shiny pup ,born in my bathroom , to my beautiful golden Retriever Betty Boo and my boxer Ninja who was actually a poet .<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUiVGzbx-wyjzU1EOOatoN4coeKI2_pAdHYSvj2NIaxNZd8nMcVAiNec6h1iisDh38uY_iEZbpI4eSPibS7XA34ylLh7GrXxtvJnIozS3HBXabTcHwQO0_9zzQOCPUi6ukfR4Sj3lVQ6V/s640/blogger-image-1067026819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUiVGzbx-wyjzU1EOOatoN4coeKI2_pAdHYSvj2NIaxNZd8nMcVAiNec6h1iisDh38uY_iEZbpI4eSPibS7XA34ylLh7GrXxtvJnIozS3HBXabTcHwQO0_9zzQOCPUi6ukfR4Sj3lVQ6V/s640/blogger-image-1067026819.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja.Migi.Warsi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMnJM2_qxfCLR36Jsuk0A4-g9Cm9V1unM-RiQXBfb51_Iut17DLB-duCRCcHAMg45ESfOLpgduw5rX0zfu5MJ83_bu6AhoQkljCwhaiaCa6frRAtvKRpaRxIIV4fYHitGCNKHqAECELmQ/s640/blogger-image--1628308311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMnJM2_qxfCLR36Jsuk0A4-g9Cm9V1unM-RiQXBfb51_Iut17DLB-duCRCcHAMg45ESfOLpgduw5rX0zfu5MJ83_bu6AhoQkljCwhaiaCa6frRAtvKRpaRxIIV4fYHitGCNKHqAECELmQ/s640/blogger-image--1628308311.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betty-Boo. Bing.Warsi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were out having dinner,when Betty Boo began giving birth and as soon as my help called and said, "Shhhhabji Beeeti ki Bacha hua, kala hain"</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We quickly wrapped up my friend Chopie's birthday dinner and drove home like Schumi..<br />
By the time we did reach , the third pup was on its way.<br />
Meanwhile Betty Boo, sat in my bathroom , and wagged her tail as she saw me, and I sat with her as she gave birth to 7 beautiful pups. They were in my palms as soon as she ate up the birth sack.<br />
She was absolutely comfortable with me holding her new born pups.<br />
And looking at all seven of them , sleeping in a little basket eyes closed and cuddled , 4 black and 3 fawn coloured was my greatest joy.<br />
7 Sagittarius puppies, you can just imagine the mayhem..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoseINQ4JqGi2kujC-tCdymC0v3sFRWd49xOp2UO-eCrawOvFvUUK5fguu_yQziHMxUOLvAeDp4B9CH6s5tZnvd-ajtq_kMLlTJLHQ4Bv27BTlrG7kG2USrlzn0YRkRiNXfMBpFraWkQ6/s640/blogger-image--908476698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoseINQ4JqGi2kujC-tCdymC0v3sFRWd49xOp2UO-eCrawOvFvUUK5fguu_yQziHMxUOLvAeDp4B9CH6s5tZnvd-ajtq_kMLlTJLHQ4Bv27BTlrG7kG2USrlzn0YRkRiNXfMBpFraWkQ6/s640/blogger-image--908476698.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most crazy fun time..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25MzCOcSSxwx_eh9SJW-YEJ16SPGAJzq7YoFC6BWVTkExcrFaTcwtZs2-Uh9hlMByhqmygQCeDGOe8V5piku00rmlirovg48Lkwm_VNUZlEK68v4St4v19y1SUVxCYb17R5kG7EiknN8g/s640/blogger-image-791814693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25MzCOcSSxwx_eh9SJW-YEJ16SPGAJzq7YoFC6BWVTkExcrFaTcwtZs2-Uh9hlMByhqmygQCeDGOe8V5piku00rmlirovg48Lkwm_VNUZlEK68v4St4v19y1SUVxCYb17R5kG7EiknN8g/s640/blogger-image-791814693.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so difficult to let go..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And so started the madness, 7 puppies and two full grown dogs at home ..<br />
Of course all the pups had to be given away, I could not be keeping 7 of them , and I chose the one I wanted to keep, she was a light fawn and a ball of fat and was sooooo cute , I was In love with her.<br />
And Arshad chose the one he wanted,</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdpe__zfehec_P08-DoDBmwyeogoArd9HdnQg-sd8oI9gPFuGmYaDWBlE7rWoCdVa9ou0shqwt-dIS4J1PnGZ37zhCmFo00K2o_08yu7yEdVR_fOQamQpiwjQV2NcpXIAesKwxG_ZwJjk/s640/blogger-image--462005264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdpe__zfehec_P08-DoDBmwyeogoArd9HdnQg-sd8oI9gPFuGmYaDWBlE7rWoCdVa9ou0shqwt-dIS4J1PnGZ37zhCmFo00K2o_08yu7yEdVR_fOQamQpiwjQV2NcpXIAesKwxG_ZwJjk/s640/blogger-image--462005264.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arshad and Taz..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
He was black, very very naughty, was big, yipped a lot and had an "A" on his chest.<br />
After about a month of the pups being with us , it was now time for them to go .<br />
And I wanted none of them to actually go.<br />
But as we could not keep 9 canines, I decided that I would pick a particular day and time and all my friends who had made their choice of pups, had to come and collect them , because giving one everyday was just too heart breaking.<br />
And so between 11-1pm on a Sunday , all the pups finally left.<br />
Arshad was adamant that the black pup stays, and I was totally heartbroken.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ701DoEvXA9yyFuz4sZ7vcKgkYjfqRXEl7_DED6UQeuUpUH-Im9dPWhus77Uc7VxMT6uLjke52ru6_XrxWSe2BJ8gdcbS2XGlev8pqrIMDiemzUMTSt9F1hNnPZMDQVaBqaYvcXjbzG_G/s640/blogger-image--766860830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ701DoEvXA9yyFuz4sZ7vcKgkYjfqRXEl7_DED6UQeuUpUH-Im9dPWhus77Uc7VxMT6uLjke52ru6_XrxWSe2BJ8gdcbS2XGlev8pqrIMDiemzUMTSt9F1hNnPZMDQVaBqaYvcXjbzG_G/s640/blogger-image--766860830.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monsti puppy ..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The one I wanted went to a family with 4 kids, infact they took 2 pups, that I visited for quite some time.<br />
Arshad's black fellow with the "A" on his chest stayed with us.<br />
<br />
I did not like him ,and wanted nothing to do with him, and just stayed away from him for a bit.<br />
But he was really naughty and charming simultaneously and after sometime, he just followed me and Betty-Boo around , depending on who is feeding him or cuddling him.<br />
He loved to be loved and was crazily fiesty.<br />
<br />
And soon the trio of Betty-boo, Ninja and Taz was what my day was made off..<br />
I took them everywhere I could, they went swimming at Juhu beach every time I was not shooting, and went with me sometimes to my MTV sets when I was.<br />
They have travelled with me to my home in Vasai by trains and jumped into rickshaws with me too.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUYNEwnpoijDbHsSju5LkPl8BVAfe34_-ljqTgr8n9Cp0Az-GNVbdXdcgHAHjD92Etx2s0Nwi63GUNI-WF5GW1OKnYQXY4uAvBFSgggRsu_PF9w88UnCagIO7RguhJvAhbnYnPgf6b8dR/s640/blogger-image-1036445539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUYNEwnpoijDbHsSju5LkPl8BVAfe34_-ljqTgr8n9Cp0Az-GNVbdXdcgHAHjD92Etx2s0Nwi63GUNI-WF5GW1OKnYQXY4uAvBFSgggRsu_PF9w88UnCagIO7RguhJvAhbnYnPgf6b8dR/s640/blogger-image-1036445539.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little pretty Betto-Boo..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I lost Betty Boo in 2005, she had a large heart, not good I believe in a canine's world, I knew when she fell ill in Dec that she did not have long to live, on the 25th when I went for mass, I looked at her and asked her to not leave before Christmas dinner, she loved roasted chicken, and I fed her all she wanted on the day , on the 28th , she breathed her last in my arms, I saw the light go out of her brown eyes...<br />
Not a good place to be..<br />
<br />
2 years later in 2007, I lost Ninja..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjo7fejaK8huCTIL5mhjokjPCwT2x3s-LtE6bACmG5nUrKCbliibUErAUI1HAU8_W4jdtc3XaMQEGb1TWBh0lyw3wdsiCcH5HtY2mkQKa7D715yvMjw0A8ljEc_D6PaZeKPosa3SVzEPe/s640/blogger-image--1571972800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjo7fejaK8huCTIL5mhjokjPCwT2x3s-LtE6bACmG5nUrKCbliibUErAUI1HAU8_W4jdtc3XaMQEGb1TWBh0lyw3wdsiCcH5HtY2mkQKa7D715yvMjw0A8ljEc_D6PaZeKPosa3SVzEPe/s640/blogger-image--1571972800.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
On 15th December again on a December morning ..<br />
He too had a large heart ..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTstOdrDmDyitB-Qzhh7hWurRp4tXqceqrtQffHj_XGqbiCX9-0NGDxLsQukuZZt5YeaDconEYlkvDgrfU3Sn1ITrVJl85Bu9CUZznNTWIIQoJ_dRqaMDkeu2gc1wOPKh4k97iOOllsqBx/s640/blogger-image-1727430122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTstOdrDmDyitB-Qzhh7hWurRp4tXqceqrtQffHj_XGqbiCX9-0NGDxLsQukuZZt5YeaDconEYlkvDgrfU3Sn1ITrVJl85Bu9CUZznNTWIIQoJ_dRqaMDkeu2gc1wOPKh4k97iOOllsqBx/s640/blogger-image-1727430122.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pouting with the pout himself..Ninja..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And since then every December, I used to get a bit paranoid, I used to scrutinise every move of Taz and a visit to his vet was mandatory, all his blood tests etc and saw to it that he was fine.<br />
<br />
He was a mad , big, scoundrel and I loved him.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zmC-P83rw3nryZQv8MGbXEaqYClm84R-Q8DMoZbcuTeH03b0BTGjY65rbnKvVb_MUAZ8SCcQD1PYIXeIHJvlHWAvTFhnOqwMtYtXVtzP9THaKjKcGigMHlyk5bqRaTeqdhV-Wh1_2X4u/s1600/IMG_1546.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zmC-P83rw3nryZQv8MGbXEaqYClm84R-Q8DMoZbcuTeH03b0BTGjY65rbnKvVb_MUAZ8SCcQD1PYIXeIHJvlHWAvTFhnOqwMtYtXVtzP9THaKjKcGigMHlyk5bqRaTeqdhV-Wh1_2X4u/s320/IMG_1546.BMP" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My love..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
His coat shone a black blue and he just looked like a panther sometimes to me, with that shining black coat, and those cute eyes that I loved so completely.<br />
He was very clear that my hair should never be tied and so every time I wore a pony Tail, he would have no peace till he pulled the band out, and ran around with it , with me chasing him.<br />
Garlic used to drive him nuts and he would pounce on it and bark at it ..<br />
He grew up with Betty-Boo and Ninja, and so learned the ropes of eating and where to do what really fast .<br />
He did not like people who were dressed shabbily and barked at them .<br />
He just ran with Betty-Boo and Ninja everywhere.<br />
And would cuddle up with me and sleep, and then in the middle of the night, would jump off and cuddle with Betty-Boo his mum, between the two of us, he was a much loved and spoilt brat .<br />
Ninja used to bark at him when he behaved badly , and he would quietly sit down and hang his head, and then Betty-Boo would come and get in the middle and lick Ninjas face and take the prancing brat away, I think he almost always had a naughty smirk on his face, and those eyes, they were the cutest, just like his mom and dad.<br />
<br />
And then one day in 2002 , when I got back from hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka after a month, these three came to greet me at the door , and while they were all on me,and I was holding them and petting them, Taz and Ninja got into their first fight.<br />
So they were fighting about who is going to be the Alpha male of the pack.<br />
<br />
And so started a series of fights so horrible, that it came to a point that I had to give Taz away.<br />
Because he was a beast full of muscle and used it, and Ninja my loving docile Boxer, was always left a mess, with me screaming and crying in the middle and Arshad trying to break them up.<br />
It's horrible watching two souls you love, fighting in this horrific manner. Taz always left Ninja mauled and badly injured.<br />
Taz was fighting over me, he would not allow Ninja to come near me, and would get into a fight with him, every time Ninja walked to me.<br />
I was advised to give him away, he was very young and would get used to a new family , also he never ever harmed humans .<br />
So we found a place for him in Pune, and he was scheduled to go .<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1XjxxWvJ12Nc2q3TmAc2UJ57INrYVibtI4bDovzVOls_5Z4jG5EzkA2vFYyY5Tij7wZdm0Fr8DAPA9hFMPa49m6MEUidecCymGWsgW_7aAffeD_nxjwICRZyhsl6RNaC2XqULHB5a9Kw/s640/blogger-image--845446922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1XjxxWvJ12Nc2q3TmAc2UJ57INrYVibtI4bDovzVOls_5Z4jG5EzkA2vFYyY5Tij7wZdm0Fr8DAPA9hFMPa49m6MEUidecCymGWsgW_7aAffeD_nxjwICRZyhsl6RNaC2XqULHB5a9Kw/s640/blogger-image--845446922.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boy I could not let go off, until I had no option, but let him go..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But I just could not let him go , so I built a door between my two floors and kept them all together upstairs when I was down , and they were fine together, or then separated the boys and spent time with them separately.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRkq7ahGYX_iwwJHdthZhbH25_sY7NS5PH7O1ZdC8pEmBgWe6o_SjswTpY0N-brR3To1xa7fjl8XjMxYZPRfINNKCxJfqDMe_Cj3xROFLAy0v7HJLwTXsZgg8xOn4zmmncWhv6DP_ncJc/s1600/zene++zoe+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRkq7ahGYX_iwwJHdthZhbH25_sY7NS5PH7O1ZdC8pEmBgWe6o_SjswTpY0N-brR3To1xa7fjl8XjMxYZPRfINNKCxJfqDMe_Cj3xROFLAy0v7HJLwTXsZgg8xOn4zmmncWhv6DP_ncJc/s320/zene++zoe+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys being scolded...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After Betty-Boo went away , then Taz and Ninja spent a lot more time together, and calmed down a bit, but then my Ninja too left and it was just Taz and me.<br />
<br />
We went for many walks together, and he would growl at any dog that wagged their tail at me , or that wanted to be petted by me, even if this was his friend otherwise.<br />
This is exactly what triggered the fights at home.<br />
He was terribly possessive and just wanted me to himself.<br />
And so I just walked with my Taz Tigi alone , and stuck to him , talked to him, played ball and hide and seek and we were the happiest.<br />
He was my running partner and was a beautiful big strong fella, I always felt safe with him, he was my angel and my love all rolled into one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKQgbzVuwNzuRi9bEpl4M8Pku75Q6gsL8fKsIaX0O7gRkcVAuMHnMYLj68MsAi5-f9EBlCfO5gdcBpR4hnkJCtJR5LyWwacb99GLW0SPbne2wL1tYh3ZhRmf6z3mK7Wr9mEke0lEshAU0/s1600/IMG_1439.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKQgbzVuwNzuRi9bEpl4M8Pku75Q6gsL8fKsIaX0O7gRkcVAuMHnMYLj68MsAi5-f9EBlCfO5gdcBpR4hnkJCtJR5LyWwacb99GLW0SPbne2wL1tYh3ZhRmf6z3mK7Wr9mEke0lEshAU0/s320/IMG_1439.MOV" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After Ninja passed away, he took up permanent residence by my side and under the dining table where I fed the kids, infact it was almost funny, every time I called Zeke for lunch , dinner or snack , and carried Zene to her seat that was attached to the coffee table in my kitchen.<br />
Taz would run into the kitchen and sit under it, facing Zene.<br />
Zene was about eight months, and wanted to sit in her own seat and feed herself and was just about eating everything, and so as she fed herself and dropped a lot of food, Taz just gobbled everything that fell off from her hands , from her lap and under the table,<br />
It was a beautiful synergy , I had the cutest vacuum cleaner and everyone was happy.<br />
<br />
Taz was playful and has never ever harmed any person ever, but I think he used to get the most fiendish delight in scaring people.<br />
I remember this one time, there was a journalist interviewing Warsi, and he just came right next to her and started growling a low growl , and every time I shouted at him , he would look at me twitch his eyes in that Tazzy way and wag his tail.<br />
<br />
I never ever grew up a dog person, I was that kid who was most petrified of dogs, I was the kid that got bitten by one.<br />
So they were just not my thing<br />
But Betty-Boo , Ninja and Taz changed my life for the better.<br />
They say that till you have loved a dog, a part of your soul lies unawakened and that is the truest thing I have experienced.<br />
<br />
I love Taz, I will always be more partial to him .<br />
He is my baby, my boy, my protector and guardian angel .<br />
And there is a place in my heart that will always stay his, no matter what, just like I know I occupied his whole heart<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXwlMb_ytPSTYzMBKzLtBK0NM7ZRwvC_p3Dz74d3gGLuoUUfR61yvOehfocd8mc9wYenEJfz00FjJk_PWlo7R3s8Lctu7VYfyZEKPGeY3BlLyZk_apuFubbS4_JFMa40Qfdw2jesKDN28/s1600/_MG_4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXwlMb_ytPSTYzMBKzLtBK0NM7ZRwvC_p3Dz74d3gGLuoUUfR61yvOehfocd8mc9wYenEJfz00FjJk_PWlo7R3s8Lctu7VYfyZEKPGeY3BlLyZk_apuFubbS4_JFMa40Qfdw2jesKDN28/s400/_MG_4349.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His kisses were the best..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
He loved me to bits.<br />
I was his person, and he was my love.<br />
<br />
I remember him sleeping out side my room at night and barking if the lift even passed my floor, the kids and me were never worried with him around us.<br />
I felt safe with him around me.<br />
He was not the kind of animal you wanted to mess with , if you did not know him.<br />
He looked bloody ferocious to everyone, and when people would say , please tie him up, I just understood .<br />
<br />
But I never tied Taz up, he mostly just always sat right next to me.<br />
He was my mad , crazy, loving, Tazzy puppy.<br />
He was full of love and was always trying to fit into my lap along with Zeke and Zene, because he never really knew how big he was, and he would look at me with a sad look, hang his head and make sad eyes, and till he did not shove his big face into my lap with the kids, he just grumbled and kept trying.<br />
<br />
We used to sit watching cartoons like this and eat pop-corn together.<br />
Zeke and Zene , knew him as their older doggy brother, and that's how they introduced him as to everyone till Zeke turned about 8.<br />
He was my shadow, my lamb , my love and my hug.<br />
He was the pup who was as hungry as me always and was always up and about for anything at anytime, my Sagittarius companion ready for any adventure .<br />
<br />
Two years ago , on my birthday, he fell terribly ill.<br />
So ill, that I thought I was losing him .(So the blog before this was written at that time)<br />
But I guess he was not yet ready to leave and we nursed him back to health.<br />
He had severe Arthritis and because he was a big burly fellow , his legs giving way was not the nicest thing to happen.<br />
Sometimes I just lay him on a mat and carried him down , sometimes he walked.<br />
But he miraculously got better , with a whole lot of medicines and steroids.<br />
I don't think he was ready to leave yet and I was definitely not willing to let him go.<br />
I really wanted him to get better and just live normally, eat, walk, bark and sleep, that's all.<br />
And he slowly got better.<br />
I began to understand his frail body better and every time there was a change in weather , I knew we had to just take extra care of Taz .<br />
<br />
Fortunately for me, last year on the 3rd of Jan 2015, he moved with us into our new home, 10 Casa Zen.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97Az2gH31eIid6dqKa_LoX4-qfUh8m7Dnn7Ti_V6Q9Vr-LnsjxnCok2cXeoD-tTG1W17uMTNwA2H9hWGdtPXHy_-ObNaepRfZiw3bF450iLDUaxIVLH1u66yJTIzg4SAFT3ZkYvUJdbWp/s1600/IMG_2389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97Az2gH31eIid6dqKa_LoX4-qfUh8m7Dnn7Ti_V6Q9Vr-LnsjxnCok2cXeoD-tTG1W17uMTNwA2H9hWGdtPXHy_-ObNaepRfZiw3bF450iLDUaxIVLH1u66yJTIzg4SAFT3ZkYvUJdbWp/s400/IMG_2389.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was always with me while I shot..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here he had a ground to run and a big place to walk around, but he never ran, but he did get better here, because he walked a lot on his own, he would follow me wherever I went , and would bark if he did not see me and would call out till I said, "Stop it, Tiggi you know I'm here"<br />
He would basically hang everywhere I hung , even while I shot , the camera men and the entire crew knew that he would find his way somewhere really close to me to hang, he loved my kitchen, he loved good food and so we fed him , baked chicken , till he went away.<br />
<br />
He could not climb up stairs anymore and so knew that at the end of the day , when I went upstairs , he would sit on his carpet and sleep.<br />
<br />
So Zeke and me wake up early for a run, and always eat a banana, before we leave, and so Taz was fed a banana every morning too.<br />
He then had a French toast , followed by his Chicken for lunch and dinner and in-between everything that he ate.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSGlAPWCTJKSC9mvzc-FdefA0kNPnHpdP5T4zJ6SLhmSiijf9yOuKSr8mkuRs0GjFNyjf9gJfZ5emE9A6dzmFJFvm_haM0A_-wCbY1Pc01cTyED4Lmk80nEFKwziwmR6QlVJVmxFoPeju/s640/blogger-image--1239897101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSGlAPWCTJKSC9mvzc-FdefA0kNPnHpdP5T4zJ6SLhmSiijf9yOuKSr8mkuRs0GjFNyjf9gJfZ5emE9A6dzmFJFvm_haM0A_-wCbY1Pc01cTyED4Lmk80nEFKwziwmR6QlVJVmxFoPeju/s640/blogger-image--1239897101.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10, Casa Zen misses you my Taazu...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In November last year, he again fell very ill.<br />
His arthritis had kicked in again and he was not able to get up.<br />
But he had a fighting spirit of a samurai warrior and as long as he did not give up on himself , there is no way I was going to let him go without a fight.<br />
He also had a growth on his back an abscess that was bacterial, that in the past two years had grown four times its size, but I would keep getting it tested and that was that.<br />
Taz turned 15 on the 27th of November 2015, I was not sure if he would make it till then.<br />
<br />
Our vet had spoken to me on and off about euthanasia , but how do you take a pet that is eating, barking, sits up and looks at you , all other bodily functions working .<br />
I could not.<br />
So I walked with him when I could and carried him in a carpet in times he could not, he also stayed for my birthday that is on the 8th of December, I gave him all he would have liked to eat.<br />
His abscess had started giving him trouble and I think the weight of it, stopped him from being able to walk.<br />
And we could do nothing about it, we could not take it out two years ago either, because, Dr.Karkare said that he may not be able to make it back from anaesthesia, and so I had no choice but let him live without taking it out and watch it grow.<br />
<br />
And in the midst of all this chaos of taking him for his morphine patch and keeping him pain free , I meet Aarti a dog whisperer, because of my friend Sambo, and that was really the most beautiful experience.<br />
I don't know if you have heard of animal whisperers, but they can communicate with animals and if you even for a second think that animals have no feeling or do not understand what is going on , let me tell you, they are far more evolved than you and me and definitely far far nicer.<br />
Getting Aarti to communicate with him and the stuff he shared and felt, is something I will cherish with me forever, I'm blessed to have met her when I did, so along with his daily medicines, he was also on a Bach flower rescue remedy.<br />
<br />
I loved sitting with him, I used to just talk to him and he would just look at me and at times , when I went quiet, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">he would bark as if to say , why have you stopped, talk some more.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I did.<br />
Some times, the kids and me would just make our beds around him and sleep around him.<br />
I knew he was going.<br />
I just did not know when.<br />
It was very sad to see Taz not being able to run around, but he was happy , he ate food with great Gusto till the very end.<br />
<br />
On the 24th, his abscess was not good at all, l took him to the vet, Dr.Karkare looked at it and said,"It's not going to get better Maria, you have to let him go".<br />
I knew that, but I was just not being able to , because Taz would still sit up and look at me or lie down and bark for me to sit next to him.<br />
So the bacteria in his absccess has gotten really bad , and the doctor said, that it was now festering and he would be in pain.<br />
So I asked Dr. Karkare, if I could take him home and get him on the 26th at 9 am..<br />
I gave him his painkillers, and we were home, he did not walk on the24th at all.<br />
But walked with me on the 23rd, that was the last time he walked.<br />
<br />
So on the 24th , I continued baking my meringue and kept talking to Taz who was sitting in the hall.<br />
The kids and me went for mass, and after we got back, we cut our brownie cake and all wished each other Merry Christmas.<br />
Taz was up and about, so he got a bite too.<br />
I was just happy to see him eat .<br />
We slept by 1 probably, the next morning I was up and had some more Meringue to bake and a red velvet to cut and cream, so I got busy with that .<br />
So the whole home got busy , and Taz being Taz was barking for someone to come sit and talk to him as he was completely unable to get up.<br />
Once the food was done and the kitchen was cleared, all the gifts went under the tree, I just wanted Taz to have a nice bath.<br />
So that's what I did, completely showered and shampooed him till he smelt like a little pup and his fur was all soft and shiny black and grey.<br />
He looked so sweet, though frail.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE7cAK1S5QM0yqXK0It0MuXfDL61ZfWLRkEMHF5KCN8dE63uF0gODc8dAv1QeBda3C8Nz01tK8c8GnpaZH6BcR52kgNfke2HNukuzzBxLtP0SFCmv0Opxk7__4bHjg1wp1tIHN8aOmXzM/s640/blogger-image--799011430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE7cAK1S5QM0yqXK0It0MuXfDL61ZfWLRkEMHF5KCN8dE63uF0gODc8dAv1QeBda3C8Nz01tK8c8GnpaZH6BcR52kgNfke2HNukuzzBxLtP0SFCmv0Opxk7__4bHjg1wp1tIHN8aOmXzM/s640/blogger-image--799011430.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post his Christmas bath..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Christmas lunch as usual was a lot of fun, and everyone petted Taz and talked to him .<br />
By 8 pm, lunch finally wound up.<br />
I had a 9 am appointment with Taz's vet, the next day , that I had no intention of keeping.<br />
The whole house slept.<br />
The next day we went about with our chores and the cleaning of our home as usual.<br />
The dreaded 9 am had passed, and Taz and the home continued with our day.<br />
I just behaved like I had never made that appointment.<br />
I cleaned Taz , applied medication on him and tried to feed him , he did not really eat the whole day.<br />
He drank a bit of water and I just hung with him on his carpet.<br />
Vijay (my house help who has looked after Taz for about 10 years ) and me were figuring what we should make for Taz for dinner and how to keep him fine.<br />
I told him I'm not being able to take Taz to put him down.<br />
<br />
At around 6 pm, I went to change Taz's dressing, and realised that the place where the abscess had burst, was not closing up , and there were 2 other places that were not looking good at all.<br />
I cleaned him put his medicine and the finality of his situation just hit me like a ton of bricks.<br />
<br />
We were both hanging on to each other for dear life.<br />
And nothing else mattered.<br />
I was completely torn, I knew that if I did not take him to Dr.Karkare, his abscess would give way a little bit everyday , till he is gone, and he would go slowly in a miserable way.<br />
And no, I did not want him to be in any pain.<br />
<br />
I called Dr. Karkare , I told him I'm bringing Taz in.<br />
We all just sat around Taz and petted him , spoke to him , said our good-byes, and sobbed.<br />
`<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Jc9FgzrrAEKRT_iwdpEl0K8q8TvoZpUO-98dulqjG949nmf2qe0i00jT9FSZu_JkKB2TOXxSRu2QEINqAAYpnl94_kDRY9es9ki_cYft_fPO74rKmZULzwER2FtXqr4hZuy0i6bt6kH6/s640/blogger-image-1345486964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Jc9FgzrrAEKRT_iwdpEl0K8q8TvoZpUO-98dulqjG949nmf2qe0i00jT9FSZu_JkKB2TOXxSRu2QEINqAAYpnl94_kDRY9es9ki_cYft_fPO74rKmZULzwER2FtXqr4hZuy0i6bt6kH6/s640/blogger-image-1345486964.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I think , the thought of a part of him going a bit everyday , till he completely gave into his suffering, is something that I did not want for my beautiful, black, brave, loving , possessive Taz.<br />
<br />
I gave in.<br />
I was taking him to be euthanised .<br />
I don't think I have ever come to a place , where I have actually let go of someone, because I loved him so deeply, that the only way to continue loving , is to let him go.<br />
I have often read about letting go of someone you love .<br />
But this, this was the real fucking thing.<br />
And I hated it.<br />
I talked to Aarti and told her I'm taking him to the clinic.<br />
<br />
Vijay and I took Taz, we wrapped him in a soft blanket , I sat with him in the boot and just softly cried.<br />
He just pushed and shoved his way around, till he had his head in my lap.<br />
My cousin Penny Ann was spending the day with me and she accompanied me to the clinic.<br />
In retrospect I'm glad she was there.<br />
She was like a little calm pillar of silent strength.<br />
<br />
Taz was very calm, I think he knew, his eyes looked beautiful and he looked at me with great love.<br />
I just kept talking to him in my happiest voice, Dr.Amrita who was going to administer his injection, gave me a few papers to sign, that I did very calmly .<br />
She told me to take my time.<br />
Which I did.<br />
<br />
I then just sat with Taz.<br />
Yes,God did give me two extra years with him, he did not take him when he was terribly ill two years ago , and now it was time for me to return him back to his keeper, without him suffering.<br />
<br />
Taz.Tigi.Warsi chose me , I did not choose him.<br />
He chose me to love him, and unknowingly I slowly did,with my whole heart and soul.<br />
He is definitely my soul mate.<br />
He completed me and made me braver and more loving than I am.<br />
He taught me , that when you really and truly love someone , you will let them go one day, not because you want them to, but because they deserve a better place.<br />
<br />
And Taz did deserve to be able to run, bark, chase birds, run through flowers, swim in the sea, chase waves and be pain free.<br />
I wanted all this for him and more.<br />
I held him and he just put his head in the nape of my neck , I hugged him tight .<br />
And I just sobbed internally and then talked to him happily , I said ."Bye my Poppy , you are my little Tiggi, I love you the most and I always will".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6qw-3wv0CkYCHnhK9sMsf40153L5DEZ9-0SoswelIio5T5w7hkylAll9l5ShpI9u3ReLFYHtS52hVlqz3CS_ttyMLElVkkwvsva4HUjK5Im7fn-z0-F9oD366r8Mnf8GAmgsGcy0koBY/s1600/blogger-image-1226695853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6qw-3wv0CkYCHnhK9sMsf40153L5DEZ9-0SoswelIio5T5w7hkylAll9l5ShpI9u3ReLFYHtS52hVlqz3CS_ttyMLElVkkwvsva4HUjK5Im7fn-z0-F9oD366r8Mnf8GAmgsGcy0koBY/s400/blogger-image-1226695853.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I kissed him a lot, he smelt like the puppy, I held in my bathroom fifteen years ago, black as night, my Betty-Boo and Ninja's baby, I hugged him and told Dr.Amrita , she could go ahead.He just kept sleeping in my arms, and softly passed away.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc5cCN5AhvSCr6_4UNcyWaHk2Yar1hPUj4Fvj91vn8Qa8wcUQEJJ3NMairyh_VtCgyRv5YeMZNZ5dZOEnuzWO0geKHpdShJ_0ubTmoiwlLuQNHsG53l-z0Yn3-uy-vV-J_lwuP767EZrD/s1600/DSC00074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc5cCN5AhvSCr6_4UNcyWaHk2Yar1hPUj4Fvj91vn8Qa8wcUQEJJ3NMairyh_VtCgyRv5YeMZNZ5dZOEnuzWO0geKHpdShJ_0ubTmoiwlLuQNHsG53l-z0Yn3-uy-vV-J_lwuP767EZrD/s320/DSC00074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I miss these eyes looking at me and this wet nose..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXRskUEWi6xNPjm8qr-9T_a4P8G6bYbqvEkfwKivEwS1EdrK2xDmfyNV9d3ZefMJAUjxBvV1-q3-6C2NHz8tPmyuZ9Otmpuyo1NGAWWk-LIR9nes6zN-ABG5rDVJ_H0hRZ__4ZkT8rCjE/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXRskUEWi6xNPjm8qr-9T_a4P8G6bYbqvEkfwKivEwS1EdrK2xDmfyNV9d3ZefMJAUjxBvV1-q3-6C2NHz8tPmyuZ9Otmpuyo1NGAWWk-LIR9nes6zN-ABG5rDVJ_H0hRZ__4ZkT8rCjE/s400/IMG_1183.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barking at the crows, was his favourite pass-time..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I felt calm, relieved, happy and totally heart-broken simultaneously.<br />
My little Monster-Puppy..<br />
My Love,Taz.Tigi.Warsi.<br />
Left to run free and happy 26th December 2015, 7.51pm..<br />
He is now a little Shiny Ebony Angel, and I'm sure he is running amuck through daisy fields and chasing butterflies and jumping into rivers..<br />
And that is what makes us both happy..<br />
<br />
I MISS YOU TAZZY<br />
I ALWAYS WILL...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAy1PoZDs0HeS-Omdz0tZWQIdByGB7AmbOmA7m15G3Tj51QE25oCj4en4dnGVyCkpHKRXkvIGKu-Y5GzkGvKSXTW7HvXr_xp4bo2XM1U4iXCDpLRP2j4ZSOVKTwfdDFAxvDnm6mJyXLohY/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAy1PoZDs0HeS-Omdz0tZWQIdByGB7AmbOmA7m15G3Tj51QE25oCj4en4dnGVyCkpHKRXkvIGKu-Y5GzkGvKSXTW7HvXr_xp4bo2XM1U4iXCDpLRP2j4ZSOVKTwfdDFAxvDnm6mJyXLohY/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With me at every step..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1ZsjFEOebN5nKAxpKcLt5hyo9ktmBz53lz22uwQl3CIhlHs10TlI9QstQRLW-RR_0D1Tg56_Mn8G-IXGIGQbqaLuH1wSV9ym6h-E9A9VlLqvMvvd6HEw5RmaN07K-mPDcnn1oNL_5-Hj/s640/blogger-image--1790724884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1ZsjFEOebN5nKAxpKcLt5hyo9ktmBz53lz22uwQl3CIhlHs10TlI9QstQRLW-RR_0D1Tg56_Mn8G-IXGIGQbqaLuH1wSV9ym6h-E9A9VlLqvMvvd6HEw5RmaN07K-mPDcnn1oNL_5-Hj/s640/blogger-image--1790724884.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-90556501086975586012016-01-07T17:41:00.001+05:302016-01-07T19:42:41.809+05:30BETTY-BOO, NINJA & TAZ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Written Decenber 2013..<br />
<br />
<br />
And as I sit with my Taz..<br />
I know he is going..<br />
To a kingdom..<br />
Where he will run amuck with his other four legged family and friends..<br />
His beautiful mum Betty-Boo..<br />
His poet dad Ninja..<br />
His neighbour Bozo..<br />
And many others..<br />
He met on his walks through paths and plains..<br />
Where he chased leaves and fire flies..<br />
<br />
He was born 13 years ago..<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCdpAtJBedyQRiabf8sY9lE-lyjwuU-5oKxyN92HSrB40HLczQ9BCPKz3oqsNHiux9JxhaC3_XhZhpm-k8BPDhdey9VpPZDcliHasRXIZkIgSPqPpTjxMSx4FuVarF_23SF9vIQWdJcVW/s640/blogger-image-24867807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCdpAtJBedyQRiabf8sY9lE-lyjwuU-5oKxyN92HSrB40HLczQ9BCPKz3oqsNHiux9JxhaC3_XhZhpm-k8BPDhdey9VpPZDcliHasRXIZkIgSPqPpTjxMSx4FuVarF_23SF9vIQWdJcVW/s640/blogger-image-24867807.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The naughty little ones...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To my beautiful golden retriever and my Boxer Ninja, about whom I'm going to tell you more..<br />
<br />
They fell in love ..<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteQ9EnVDHZhHwU5l_Z4tPMomRboUwOwu5Up_eQ11XGFdYee4Hull2Dn-lMWn9ZsukpNSSx9VlMXfwjCk3MJwzDCYeU3gjEjgWlgWnza1yLMlEnuNFVTFlCxpCw5EEqJCK_Bm6TBJS8R9g/s640/blogger-image--1378047554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteQ9EnVDHZhHwU5l_Z4tPMomRboUwOwu5Up_eQ11XGFdYee4Hull2Dn-lMWn9ZsukpNSSx9VlMXfwjCk3MJwzDCYeU3gjEjgWlgWnza1yLMlEnuNFVTFlCxpCw5EEqJCK_Bm6TBJS8R9g/s640/blogger-image--1378047554.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betty-Boo & Ninja...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This fellow was the first of the litter of 7..<br />
He came out shiny and totally chubby..<br />
Panther black was his coat..<br />
And a big A on his chest..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwNvLo9niyUoHyDDen2g5aQnkGNDeq7hA1Ou8rWuObMZnaLL220imrzPEqkvLU9x3HZpZH8RE84Lj142lipRkdTHMg2ypa4oioXeYEgjF9995Vrx5BO4AaZBD-UoEM789ns9bY6bGnw_4/s640/blogger-image-2017085632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwNvLo9niyUoHyDDen2g5aQnkGNDeq7hA1Ou8rWuObMZnaLL220imrzPEqkvLU9x3HZpZH8RE84Lj142lipRkdTHMg2ypa4oioXeYEgjF9995Vrx5BO4AaZBD-UoEM789ns9bY6bGnw_4/s640/blogger-image-2017085632.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taz.Tigi.Warsi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As if to say..<br />
You belong to me "Mr.Warsi"..<br />
<br />
I loved another..<br />
A beautiful fawn chubby girl..<br />
That I played with everyday..<br />
Because Taz was always meant to go away..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In the mean time I pranced with this motley litter that nibbled on my toes..</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDphYPUylA0xsqJYjDzUWeC5YQZ_dYjkC3uivtfEw8wZZRlIs19LoOWERAiS6STKRjtYmh8gzQl1ukK2tC1i-kajG99g-mZfGeaPx5TXmQNU3zWGOcl1bD9TdcjSAvBijDcX7AZLAb1VE1/s640/blogger-image--799422787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDphYPUylA0xsqJYjDzUWeC5YQZ_dYjkC3uivtfEw8wZZRlIs19LoOWERAiS6STKRjtYmh8gzQl1ukK2tC1i-kajG99g-mZfGeaPx5TXmQNU3zWGOcl1bD9TdcjSAvBijDcX7AZLAb1VE1/s640/blogger-image--799422787.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could have kept them all..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Taz was never the one I wanted to keep..<br />
He would be going to another home like the rest of the pups ..<br />
<br />
But one day, Warsi looked at him,and decided he was the one that's to stay ..<br />
I held my chubby little fawn and just wept ..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDB97t38AoGeRzvm3JpswwXA4agbBbJJWSzYR9Aw52C_CWwk8iX6D10nR_fEzjX6nGTM5wqN7ZsC69EIumg6GBEAIcNiwrqIS-lECCuy30086vWcdwRuOUwRhofBw0aTvDZ9k_mAJ53LT/s640/blogger-image-1811926241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDB97t38AoGeRzvm3JpswwXA4agbBbJJWSzYR9Aw52C_CWwk8iX6D10nR_fEzjX6nGTM5wqN7ZsC69EIumg6GBEAIcNiwrqIS-lECCuy30086vWcdwRuOUwRhofBw0aTvDZ9k_mAJ53LT/s640/blogger-image-1811926241.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heartbreak is an old friend, my little chubby, who I gave away..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I let them all go one day..<br />
In a span of two hours..<br />
4 fawns , 2 blacks..<br />
They were all gone ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eWtkhPgzf-341OOqHXmFRrEUEHSxn8k5lRO1uQOoMNLMc4ZiHry_jpa26OUQkoneR2sx5epqvHYrmhpNmXl4sdf-X-nLMTUAreW1VqeFSXLC3daqS5-fggiendpOXmzs-fdhJeQ3blQ9/s640/blogger-image--1853621607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eWtkhPgzf-341OOqHXmFRrEUEHSxn8k5lRO1uQOoMNLMc4ZiHry_jpa26OUQkoneR2sx5epqvHYrmhpNmXl4sdf-X-nLMTUAreW1VqeFSXLC3daqS5-fggiendpOXmzs-fdhJeQ3blQ9/s640/blogger-image--1853621607.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That little Black mound to the extreme right, my love "Taz"...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To homes of ones who will cherish them to their dying day ..<br />
<br />
Taz stayed..<br />
And pranced around the house..<br />
I was pretty upset..<br />
With this pup who sat like an elephant in a lodge ..<br />
He walked around..<br />
Played with his mum and dad..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And just went around, behaving like the puppy , that we just had to have ..</span></div>
<br />
He had the naughtiest little black shiny eyes..<br />
That would light up every time,the door bell rang..<br />
And he would bark with all his might ..<br />
And wag his tail like mad..<br />
So confusing this little Sagittarius puppy running around my hand..<br />
<br />
And slowly, but absolutely very surely ..<br />
He just got inside my heart..<br />
His bark..<br />
His wag..<br />
His black eyes that looked at me with that spark..<br />
He followed Betty-Boo and me ..<br />
Everywhere we went ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyi-YOfFJziMe_BOugskSUiKI3MrOIq-6Adq5n_-ytdXMA2tPc-QjTm5q2VbmiVOeOSOn9OFiy9Ylk50uSb5o9yG7hUzjjcSifgjJseSUGYypjwaWuLIOowxZlLlza3wgrQJoup6cp5Yi/s640/blogger-image--290783676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyi-YOfFJziMe_BOugskSUiKI3MrOIq-6Adq5n_-ytdXMA2tPc-QjTm5q2VbmiVOeOSOn9OFiy9Ylk50uSb5o9yG7hUzjjcSifgjJseSUGYypjwaWuLIOowxZlLlza3wgrQJoup6cp5Yi/s640/blogger-image--290783676.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father and son time..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While his dad Ninja sat at the window ..<br />
Where many a sunshine time he spent ..<br />
<br />
I loved these three and they loved me..<br />
A more magical love I have not had the privilege to have felt ..<br />
To be included in this pack...<br />
Was the best thing in the world ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZTs_1CRoWvdaxGTvh8qyi2gqq9Ob6uLFgjuDod0X_3QrPCb16i-2qqcijFEI12I8_RgIwsI88on24PASZELWFM5uNhQh1fuSY5Hy7Q1fvdQ6jDen8P42RxHX2uLCDjGMRBbicKzZqYG1/s640/blogger-image--672948416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZTs_1CRoWvdaxGTvh8qyi2gqq9Ob6uLFgjuDod0X_3QrPCb16i-2qqcijFEI12I8_RgIwsI88on24PASZELWFM5uNhQh1fuSY5Hy7Q1fvdQ6jDen8P42RxHX2uLCDjGMRBbicKzZqYG1/s640/blogger-image--672948416.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
We ran early mornings..<br />
In and around my building ..<br />
While Ninja walked and ran amuck like boxers do..<br />
And Betty-Boo hid in bushes, and wagged her tail so hard..<br />
I never knew if she was hiding or playing with Taz ..<br />
Taz my little panther pup..<br />
Ran with me with all his might ..<br />
<br />
The three of us have run at Juhu beach ..<br />
And swum in waters salty and clean..<br />
Have picked up fights with other packs..<br />
Got bitten ..<br />
Scarred..<br />
And also scared to smithereens ..<br />
But nothing ever put down their spirit ..<br />
Even if I shouted at them in fright..<br />
<br />
I was their princess..<br />
Their girl..<br />
And they looked after me..<br />
<br />
No one and I mean no one was even allowed on my floor..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0-D_yQWXwYZDHWVo3NqD8FlFvHHAoh4GiAZSI52FgWBpbe1AkgDTGfoa8tXdBFL2V14x7WJdpdgZUoSPpUxm_Dv_g0TlHqt05zuxY8fv8Go0tvGWHvUu8c3EpZjnPKphmpIMJqfVnj-t/s640/blogger-image--325040125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0-D_yQWXwYZDHWVo3NqD8FlFvHHAoh4GiAZSI52FgWBpbe1AkgDTGfoa8tXdBFL2V14x7WJdpdgZUoSPpUxm_Dv_g0TlHqt05zuxY8fv8Go0tvGWHvUu8c3EpZjnPKphmpIMJqfVnj-t/s640/blogger-image--325040125.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They just sat , in front of my door..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They snarled ..<br />
And pricked up their ears at the tiniest sounds at night ..<br />
The kids and me all lay snuggled asleep ..<br />
Happy in the knowledge..<br />
That even if I was alone..<br />
I was in the most awesome company a girl could keep ..<br />
<br />
Life went on for really long this way..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvAgBnkMvvKfsgCDoH3Go0X-PDVLpFUAR3POZUJ8vypGbIkBzLtno-nQD7lRquq_v3E6hLK9IZGROayut-0t3-jzJzQl69UuYscs1N2FTq-9bxyeUhXtObyyjNjI4rpy3tPwymG1XmELX/s640/blogger-image-310638268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvAgBnkMvvKfsgCDoH3Go0X-PDVLpFUAR3POZUJ8vypGbIkBzLtno-nQD7lRquq_v3E6hLK9IZGROayut-0t3-jzJzQl69UuYscs1N2FTq-9bxyeUhXtObyyjNjI4rpy3tPwymG1XmELX/s640/blogger-image-310638268.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
And then one day after 9 years,in 2005<br />
My Betty-Boo went away..<br />
It was December ..<br />
And I just knew ..<br />
She had very little time ..<br />
And that she knew too..<br />
<br />
One bright morning..<br />
I heard her bark..<br />
It was as if to say..<br />
Come say bye..<br />
I'm going away..<br />
She had not been well..<br />
I ran up with Zeke in my arms..<br />
And broke down ..<br />
As she lay her head in my lap and slowly very slowly ..<br />
Those brown eyes,that I so loved ..<br />
The light in them went out..<br />
<br />
She was my first baby.<br />
Warsi gave her to me..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkxwxkkkWwkCSzguIfZ52SGuDH5TCRO44VVVKeDXIidY0p6BZvWYGDkKkCqxQqQgv6wReRCZM8YSjtgjCjBML8OTXipu6bFFm2DXtqXqT2xd9_SwYqU2QCgsH_he1oIr7Gn_Vgk97zktI/s640/blogger-image--231952830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkxwxkkkWwkCSzguIfZ52SGuDH5TCRO44VVVKeDXIidY0p6BZvWYGDkKkCqxQqQgv6wReRCZM8YSjtgjCjBML8OTXipu6bFFm2DXtqXqT2xd9_SwYqU2QCgsH_he1oIr7Gn_Vgk97zktI/s640/blogger-image--231952830.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I had never had a puppy ever of my own ..<br />
And she was my little Maddy ..<br />
A glutton to the bone..<br />
She had the sweetest disposition..<br />
I have ever had known..<br />
She came to me a Vegetarian<br />
Till she met a lamb bone ..<br />
Sprightly,beautiful and completely hungry<br />
That was my Betty-Boo to me ..<br />
Paris Brest was the most favorite of her vices..<br />
Then there were chicken legs and tomatoes cold as ice ..<br />
<br />
I put her ashes into the sea..<br />
Where we swam and ran ..<br />
And played so freely ..<br />
<br />
Now I was left with the boys..<br />
Who had a history of fights that were not so nice ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjVzvcQ2D9ElEmvYip7xIsMZurh9Uy-PjoW_p8xtooauoiEeVK03RQ5NkgW4ryKDIs3pOviKnBEmDCBsHfCWx_KtLwQ64ursI6-zhtPRtG6uHVVT3sJmY9wvYeepr4KtaKDUCu1h-JsIi/s640/blogger-image-1416364490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjVzvcQ2D9ElEmvYip7xIsMZurh9Uy-PjoW_p8xtooauoiEeVK03RQ5NkgW4ryKDIs3pOviKnBEmDCBsHfCWx_KtLwQ64ursI6-zhtPRtG6uHVVT3sJmY9wvYeepr4KtaKDUCu1h-JsIi/s640/blogger-image-1416364490.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a big fight, they never understood , why I had to keep them separated from me..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fighting to be the head of the gang..<br />
To be Alpha male ...<br />
They fought tooth and nail<br />
These stupid male canines ...<br />
<br />
But after Betty-Boo left ...<br />
They both sat together and spent a lot of time ..<br />
Ironing their differences out, on a window with sunshine ..<br />
A little quieter and a little mature they seemed to be my 9yr old boxer Ninja and my 5 yr old Taz puppy ..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrErzUiSj-HG9-XuQDQOQvhyphenhyphenIPkm7QZxmCXFFA2JzZ3tvNHCWgwseUYrgBXSE3K9Hgo_xTVtaAWzACwxuXoJpUol4LX0SlmEJHYdkttzANYYmH_uKoWizjkDo71EfJBLdTENBZRGRAqCa/s1600/mr.+flintstone+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrErzUiSj-HG9-XuQDQOQvhyphenhyphenIPkm7QZxmCXFFA2JzZ3tvNHCWgwseUYrgBXSE3K9Hgo_xTVtaAWzACwxuXoJpUol4LX0SlmEJHYdkttzANYYmH_uKoWizjkDo71EfJBLdTENBZRGRAqCa/s400/mr.+flintstone+033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This continued for quite a while<br />
And it frankly looked fine ..<br />
They went everywhere together..<br />
To eat, to bathe, to sleep in stormy weather..<br />
Specially when crackers burst..<br />
I saw Ninja always sitting calm and Taz going berserk..<br />
<br />
I never knew what was going on in Ninjas mind ..<br />
He was a poet ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtqHy5fJKREXJ8d1WHcXIx12ZQo8ZZ7uXRv8k43NkSFryjhlj5spE6em4C9P4R6nXHs69OrklIAm_t4SJeRk9pi4NaWCYLcC9FUrn8TueTsfv6-j3_IgpMBltPDGxvXcQOm_Neh0xdeXx/s640/blogger-image--1465064721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtqHy5fJKREXJ8d1WHcXIx12ZQo8ZZ7uXRv8k43NkSFryjhlj5spE6em4C9P4R6nXHs69OrklIAm_t4SJeRk9pi4NaWCYLcC9FUrn8TueTsfv6-j3_IgpMBltPDGxvXcQOm_Neh0xdeXx/s640/blogger-image--1465064721.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja always thought of himself as a tiny pup...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That much I know..<br />
Because he sat at the window ..<br />
With that far away look in his eyes ..<br />
And was never bothered with all the noise.<br />
He looked like he was, writing of wonderful things..<br />
About love and other beings..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnPuoTHIFvAo8Edb35UpIDE0C75upa5E0IvajELjP8cmPfBfPTDL1h0tBhvZbJdQFqLfEwfecWRQx1HB0kFlqWA3jOjRDxzb1OBnXwdhMyOwzkA66qdtWwX3Whe8n3kymVVM8EwKE-FBD/s640/blogger-image-1067695551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnPuoTHIFvAo8Edb35UpIDE0C75upa5E0IvajELjP8cmPfBfPTDL1h0tBhvZbJdQFqLfEwfecWRQx1HB0kFlqWA3jOjRDxzb1OBnXwdhMyOwzkA66qdtWwX3Whe8n3kymVVM8EwKE-FBD/s640/blogger-image-1067695551.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could anyone not love Ninja..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But when he wagged his tail, it was definitely not like the rest of the doggy guys..<br />
Ninja was different..<br />
And loving in every way..<br />
He picked up fights , with anyone who dared to look my way ..<br />
But he was a lover , not a fighter..<br />
He never fought a single fight he started, but he fought, for the ones he loved..<br />
He kissed you , like he has never seen you in years..<br />
But when he farted, it could singe the hair in your ears.<br />
That was my Ninja, the puppy that never grew beyond the mental age of two...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4aLCoDuYm7dCqXgcuKwMpI5QzJF96JnsVZZjLgW93eFWOs1XCBKiM8tmetCkB6qI2baL4yOIyK5niGHM0y6rUMCtXKOqR-Nf5uKXq77LxzwcHPhyAvFeVIOrDbPWYtzEryq3gtsoTN93/s640/blogger-image--1560514207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4aLCoDuYm7dCqXgcuKwMpI5QzJF96JnsVZZjLgW93eFWOs1XCBKiM8tmetCkB6qI2baL4yOIyK5niGHM0y6rUMCtXKOqR-Nf5uKXq77LxzwcHPhyAvFeVIOrDbPWYtzEryq3gtsoTN93/s640/blogger-image--1560514207.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Amit.Ashar for this picture..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Till a December in 2007<br />
Ninja fell very ill..<br />
They said like Betty-boo<br />
He had a large heart too ..<br />
I was in pain to see him deteriorate ..<br />
Not walking and shaking his adorable bum and wagging his tail any more..<br />
He just lay down on his mat near my bed room door ..<br />
Taz jumped around him..<br />
And licked his face ..<br />
And spoke to him in his own little doggy way ..<br />
But nothing worked..<br />
<br />
One December morning, I heard Ninja, whimper outside my door..<br />
Zeke and Zene were fast asleep...<br />
I went to sit with him ..<br />
And whispered in his ear..<br />
"No no <span style="background-color: yellow;">Migi </span>don't go , don't go "..<br />
But my little Ninja was already walking away..<br />
Wagging his tail and scampering on a beach, where Betty-boo was joining him anyway...<br />
He looked lovely as he slept , no pain no worries anymore...<br />
<br />
And then Taz, my little 7 year old was left alone..<br />
He took up residence in my kitchen, under the table to to precise ..<br />
And got fed by Zene..with all her rice...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It was really funny, if you can picture this scene..<br />
So I call the kids for dinner..<br />
And Taz proceeds to take his place under the table, my black puppy, totally camouflaged and unseen..<br />
He was my cute vacuum cleaner, just like his mummy and Daddy..<br />
<br />
Zene and Zeke became his friends..<br />
And he just followed us everywhere we went..<br />
In the park, down for a walk and even the loo..<br />
He was just always everywhere to say helloooo..<br />
He became one of the kids..<br />
<br />
He was Zeke and Zene's doggy brother..<br />
And that's what they told their friends..<br />
And I was happy because, he really was my baby..<br />
<br />
The kitchen was his favorite place..<br />
And while I cooked, he sat and looked at my face..<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjj4qa8nE44Q0wcg9XFVjn47rDJy_Gmaq6GuNpEC6LCkK6cy7FhvQOK1T29ET0AI6Xywuy9pKjNxfa0SX8lt4VBlTYpUWhfQu84TdBroYV9CIpP0rWuaIMvCRosptsonNthkkwhcEcS2y/s1600/IMG_1490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjj4qa8nE44Q0wcg9XFVjn47rDJy_Gmaq6GuNpEC6LCkK6cy7FhvQOK1T29ET0AI6Xywuy9pKjNxfa0SX8lt4VBlTYpUWhfQu84TdBroYV9CIpP0rWuaIMvCRosptsonNthkkwhcEcS2y/s400/IMG_1490.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His favorite pass time, wpold be sitting with Zene's crocs..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And wagged his tail in approval of the aromas, that wafted in the air..<br />
Then of course, he wanted his share ...<br />
<br />
I could never take him for a walk on my own..<br />
Because he would pick up fights ..<br />
With any other animal that came towards our way..<br />
<br />
But to run with him was a complete delight..<br />
Strong , big and muscular..with his tail wagging freely..<br />
Ears flopping in abandon, and a tongue hanging out free..<br />
Ha ha ha my partner in flight<br />
My little Tazzy..<br />
<br />
While I trained to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro..<br />
He ran with me every day..<br />
And while I ran up and down the stairs , he stood near my door and crooned away ..<br />
<br />
He looked very frightening..<br />
To those who never did know, he has the soul of a kid..<br />
So I kept up the pretense, about how ferocious and ill tempered he is..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwHhtuZJsNBisW5pXy48vwFzZDmCgFH1abMiNc9cM-o-xwnIxXIKeYP5u5yRN9vkEOaHxKrhbdCZ9CZNv0QCcaQxqhYQVAnxsM_NPrwaMrDvLl5-hYmvkBCt7D5zkjy2VoQPy2OQCyC2p/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwHhtuZJsNBisW5pXy48vwFzZDmCgFH1abMiNc9cM-o-xwnIxXIKeYP5u5yRN9vkEOaHxKrhbdCZ9CZNv0QCcaQxqhYQVAnxsM_NPrwaMrDvLl5-hYmvkBCt7D5zkjy2VoQPy2OQCyC2p/s320/IMG_3869.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zene with her doggy brother..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He used to grrr sometimes, at the ones he knew were frightened of him..<br />
I think he took great pleasure in feeling like a king..<br />
<br />
He and me would have conversations of the voooooow...voooow kind..<br />
That had a certain tune when he was happy ..<br />
Or then a complain in his voice ..<br />
<br />
He has sat with me while I fed him chocolate and also while I cried..<br />
Been with me at my happiest and also trying times..<br />
<br />
How do I let go of a part of my soul...<br />
While he breathes slowly..<br />
His muscles suddenly hanging on his bones..<br />
He cannot sit , he cannot stand..<br />
Cannot wag his tail..<br />
He just looks at me , twitches his ears and cocks his eyes up and down, and acts so brave ..<br />
<br />
This Taz , my pup from the ones I will always love..<br />
Is going away..<br />
My black mad Taz ..<br />
I will love you forever and a Day..<br />
<br />
You have given me your all and everything ..<br />
And loved me the most in your life..<br />
I want God to be kind to you ..<br />
And help you be fine..<br />
I will miss your beautiful, innocent, hungry, bounding, funny presence in my life..<br />
But I'm letting you go ..<br />
<br />
Is that not what you are supposed to do , to the ones connected to your soul..<br />
They may but only physically go away...<br />
<br />
But in my heart you will always stay..<br />
My little panther pup..<br />
The one that was not given away..<br />
You are mine..<br />
At least for this life time...<br />
<br />
And I will be there for you, till the universe takes your breath away ...<br />
<br />
I'm going to stop now..<br />
Because I actually can go on ..<br />
About my three puppies, whose pet names were Tigi ( Taz ) , Migi ( Ninja ) and Bing (Betty -boo)..<br />
And all the fun , they sent my way..<br />
It is true, if you ever want to feel real love..<br />
Love an animal..<br />
And see what it does to you ..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Yes I will cry, when my Taz goes, because he will take with him selfless love of the highest kind..<br />
Will cry for all the love I lost ..<br />
All the love that went away..<br />
<br />
But thank-you dear God , for sending these three my way ..<br />
<br />
This is my love story..<br />
Of the most beautiful kind..<br />
Where it was just love exchanged with nothing else in mind..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWhe5Czm7dThJQDR4O-wWMdFnVAKE6WdaHeuF1oemiLdzI7zc-u65ooH-AoOFtWoY2oz7IVsTm72DelFl7ZJ9-Ms1sOSWcp7QdqcoCYcuz1Dc_qsilmUjA3sAxdK3NmfQNOB9cnUnb1HF/s1600/betty-boo%252Cninja+n+taz+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWhe5Czm7dThJQDR4O-wWMdFnVAKE6WdaHeuF1oemiLdzI7zc-u65ooH-AoOFtWoY2oz7IVsTm72DelFl7ZJ9-Ms1sOSWcp7QdqcoCYcuz1Dc_qsilmUjA3sAxdK3NmfQNOB9cnUnb1HF/s400/betty-boo%252Cninja+n+taz+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
To all who have lost a pet ..<br />
I know it's not just that..<br />
It's much much more..<br />
It's a piece of your soul ...<br />
<br />
But the thought of them running wild..<br />
Is the most beautiful scene to keep for all time..<br />
<br />
<br />
Dedicated to Tigi (Taz) , Migi (Ninja) and Bing (Betty-Boo)..<br />
<br />
P.S.I wrote this 2 years ago, when my Taz was really ill, but he recovered and I had two more lovely years with him, this is a dedication, to all three, who are together now and the love I found through them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-70631900048668988762015-11-08T21:19:00.002+05:302015-11-09T09:53:22.924+05:30MY BOOK IS OUT 15TH NOVEMBER 2015...YEEAH..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And so next Sunday my book that I have been working on for the past two and a half years will actually be a reality.<br />
It's quite a scary thought and also very exciting.. .<br />
<br />
To be a published food author ha ha ha<br />
Is something, I never ever thought about..<br />
Maybe I don't think too much .<br />
I'm more of a, do what makes you happy person...<br />
<br />
And so I hope that this book brings much happiness to everyone who goes out there and gets it for themselves or for someone they love.<br />
<br />
To me this book has been a journey into my past and my present<br />
It has been a long tedious , interesting journey and like a holiday of discovery into my own being through ingredients and simple cooking techniques.<br />
<br />
This book is something that transpired between the universe, Arshad being a very fine actor ,me refusing a show I did not feel good about , Ajay Mago my publisher amd Bhutan "The land of happiness"<br />
<br />
So I went to Bhutan as Arshad's + 1, because he was invited to be part of a panel discussing films at the Bhutan Literary Fest with the likes of Gulzarar Saab , Sharmila Tagore and other artists of their ilk.<br />
I was never supposed to go , because I was going to be part of an amazing 24 hrs show to raise money for a cause.<br />
But after speaking with them, I was not feeling good about my role in it.<br />
I always feel that when you do something in life work wise, it needs to make a difference to your own being and needs to make you feel a little happier.<br />
But if it is status quo and making you feel not that fantastic about yourself , or you feel like you are being given a raw deal..<br />
Then I'd rather sleep..ha ha ha<br />
Or in this case travel..<br />
I work in weird ways what can I say..<br />
<br />
And so I bowed out of that TV show, asked Arshad if I can go to Bhutan with him and left for this beautifully country .<br />
<br />
Like they say what is meant to be is meant to be .<br />
I met my publisher Ajay Mago here, and he made me laugh so much , that we ended up friends.<br />
And so, he told me that he had read my blog and would love to do a recipe book with me.<br />
But I did not take him seriously , and thought it was polite conversation.<br />
And so, after a year of trying to figure if he is serious about wanting to publish a food book with me and he trying to figure whether I'm serious or not about going ahead and starting this.<br />
I officially started working on my book .<br />
<br />
After Culinary school , I frankly had no set plan whatsoever .<br />
Yup all I wanted to do was cook .<br />
And the impractical romantic (no idea about how to run a business) part of me wanted to open a small Cafe in Versova, Andheri (because that's where I live) ,and I would serve freshly baked bread and have a fixed menu for breakfast , lunch and supper, because I wanted to shut early and go home to hang with my kids.<br />
(Ya I'm filmy that way)<br />
<br />
I come up with the most impulsive impractical ideas most of the times.<br />
But I'm willing to work really really hard to see it through.<br />
Hard work has never frightened me ever.<br />
<br />
I really feel if you want something in life , you only get luckier at achieving it ,if you work hard.<br />
So I started working on my book.<br />
Only thing is being neither a full fledged Chef nor a writer.<br />
I could not have asked for more trouble.<br />
<br />
So I first started with jotting down all the stuff that I already make at home .<br />
Then the food I loved to eat when I travel.<br />
Then the food that I grew up eating in my mums home which is out of this world.<br />
Then all the food I learnt on my own through television shows and books I have read .<br />
My favourites from my blog.<br />
Then the food I make for my kids.<br />
The food I make for Christmas.<br />
Then a recipe each I learnt from my friends Mini Mathur, Shaheen Abbas, Banita Hamal, Eefa Shroff , Amit Ashar , Sheeba Hussain and one with Special Permission from My Principal Andrew Maxwell at Tante Marie.<br />
<br />
After I put all this together.<br />
It was time for me to put it in a book format.<br />
And for the life of me , I could not understand how.<br />
So first I just thought maybe I should do a seasonal menu, then I changed it to a festival menu ,then when nothing made sense I just shut it all and waited for a flash of brilliance , which never came ha ha ha .<br />
<br />
Then I just went down to basics.<br />
I'm not a chef.<br />
I never will claim to be one .<br />
But I'm in love with the process of creating food and feeding people that I love .<br />
(So ya there goes the business venture, since I cannot tell people , I don't like you , please I'm not letting you buy my bread ha ha ha )<br />
<br />
And so finally I decided to divide my book into Months .<br />
And dedicated each month to a person, friends or then an occasion or feeling and soon I was in business.<br />
I then got down to making menus and getting my recipes in order.<br />
So I had 7 recipes from my friends, now I could start my book..<br />
All I needed was 65 more of my own favourite recipes..aaah ha ha ha ha<br />
And that was a bloody pain.<br />
And to further throw salt on my wound , I get to know, that most recipe book writers have a team of people , who research ideas, recipes, do trials, tastings and ideate and put a book together.<br />
so I promptly called Ajay and asked him ''Where is my team?" and Ajay being Ajay says to me, "Babes, you are your own team" aaah ha ha ha , we both laughed about it , and I went back like Cinders to my kitchen, at times I was so fed up trying to develop something, I used to sit hoping I meet a brilliant chef like the rat in Ratatouille ..ha ha ha<br />
Yup I was going slightly cuckoo..<br />
And I had Ajay to blame for it ...<br />
<br />
I had to jot down everything to its last tsp and ml, oh my God , and I had 72 recipes.<br />
Everything in the book I cooked more than twice, once to try it out , the second time to see if it really works , so had friends to taste it and then finally for the shoot .<br />
Some recipes I cooked just once, those are my favorites.<br />
Some I cooked photographed and then felt...Naaaaah<br />
<br />
The shoot was a mad, fun, crazy affair.<br />
That took its own sweet time, in the middle of moving kitchens and then house and of course holidays and kids exams ..<br />
<br />
Amit Ashar my friend and fantabulous photographer agreed to be part of this roller-coaster ride, he always knew how he wanted to shoot it.<br />
And there is no one who could have shot this book with so much warmth and sunshine like he does, he is a Virgo , so he always finds something beautiful in every picture, to bring out its story..<br />
So he only wanted it to be shot in real sunlight..<br />
Under a tree that would provide a lovely dappled effect caused by the leaves, swaying in the breeze.<br />
And that was his take on how it should be .<br />
And I trusted his judgement and went with it .<br />
<br />
Sambo my clothes stylist since MTV, was going to style my table , and between her and Amit, they decided on colours for every month .<br />
And moved pots and plants , together , Sambo scouted around for cute stuff to put on the table and got various combinations of table cloths .<br />
<br />
Bhavna came with food from her home,and I exchanged mine for hers ,because I did not want to eat my own food at all, except some times.<br />
And she then slipped into the role of reflector holder and general calm bringer.<br />
<br />
And then there was Vijay my helper and Sous Chef , who has been with me for 10 years, he understands my kitchen madness and without his efficiency in handling my ingredients and my kitchen quirks , I would not have be able to do this easily.<br />
<br />
We all went about our chosen business.<br />
I cooked and plated my food, without adding anything artificial , or overcooking or under cooking it, to enhance its appeal.<br />
What you see is what you get.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Zeke , Zene and Arshad were my permanent Guinea pigs and my most straight forward critics, but after some time the kids began to believe that , they had to critique all the food that came on to the table ..<br />
" Mama these eggs are a bit too hard boiled"<br />
"Why are we eating dal again?"<br />
"So why are we eating food ,that is not going in the book"<br />
Oh my God.......so I had to politely tell them that , they would get a kick on their collective arse's, if they did not quietly eat what was served on the table ..<br />
"That's just not fair, now that we have told you how to make your dishes tastier, you are being mean "<br />
And so the saga went on...<br />
<br />
Simultaneous along with the cooking, I also began writing and realised that nothing was flowing out of me , as it did so easily in the blog.<br />
Maybe I needed a muse ?? Ha ha ha<br />
And so I realised that the only way I could write was when I was not told that I had to..<br />
Ya .. So I realised I have some issues concerning authority , regularity and freedom..<br />
<br />
But I slowly put pen to paper..<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz05AUTPJBSxEMDL52_3YT1Nd7_zgzEuPc5ZXD24UQyfTLF_T-MxVzOpO2eOEhuW5T-yvs-3mR8Prv7Qp06tkhfpECjAIJ3JjfZZGdFLy0UH0bpk1AMolgBytZ-l9NiQwVdn2i0P8dmTN/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz05AUTPJBSxEMDL52_3YT1Nd7_zgzEuPc5ZXD24UQyfTLF_T-MxVzOpO2eOEhuW5T-yvs-3mR8Prv7Qp06tkhfpECjAIJ3JjfZZGdFLy0UH0bpk1AMolgBytZ-l9NiQwVdn2i0P8dmTN/s400/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a>And on good days, wrote like a fiend.<br />
I also began running..<br />
And the more I ran ..<br />
The more I wrote..<br />
The more I wrote ..<br />
The more I cooked ..<br />
And the more I cooked ..<br />
The more I had to run..<br />
<br />
My book then went into edit and came back , with a maximum of five lines per recipe.<br />
Ha ha ha so I know that this was a recipe book and I need not have a story to all of them ..<br />
But I guess I had a lot to say ..<br />
<br />
So I have lots of the written word ,stored with me ..<br />
Along with a whole lot of recipes that I replaced in this book ..<br />
<br />
But I'm happy with what has happened to it .<br />
Amit then introduced me to Sucharita who did the final design of my book. And I could not have asked for someone who understood me better..<br />
<br />
Well Ajay, Dipa, Shoili , Sharboni, Amit, Sambo, Vijay, Bhavna and me are pretty happy with what we have in hand ..<br />
<br />
And Arshad is happy that I finally learnt to cook small quantities ..<br />
<br />
All is well that begins well..<br />
Our book is out on the 15th , I think the best is yet to come ..<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-67895832783589636772015-09-12T17:08:00.005+05:302015-09-12T17:08:55.588+05:30DAY 118 - FOCACCIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So who does not like being in love...<br />
I don't know anyone, who does not like that feeling..<br />
Unless of course it is unrequited, but then..<br />
Life is unpredictable ..<br />
S@/#* Happens !!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHMnn-thlYCbwHQoG2ZcZWBHLRjz5RWssRaQvCv5NRqSk24KcszaOZs_gmRv9CSJDFL4Czfz2JPepzsk8_ftffx3P5tDt3kpG3QQjg2IpUInAdyZ1PIxqx9yqUQo7OiWCB8nySCly8kz7/s1600/blogger-image-1906728117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHMnn-thlYCbwHQoG2ZcZWBHLRjz5RWssRaQvCv5NRqSk24KcszaOZs_gmRv9CSJDFL4Czfz2JPepzsk8_ftffx3P5tDt3kpG3QQjg2IpUInAdyZ1PIxqx9yqUQo7OiWCB8nySCly8kz7/s320/blogger-image-1906728117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
But that's another blog...ha ha ha<br />
<br />
So let's get back to being in love..<br />
I love it ..<br />
Totally and truly..<br />
And what I love most ,is that big fat smile, that just does not go away..<br />
<br />
In life I feel it's very important for love to be part of your life..<br />
Whether in the form of people, animals or a passion..<br />
It just makes life a better way to live..<br />
<br />
There are a few people that I completely love in my life, but I'm not going to give you any names, because I don't want to be politically incorrect , I'm trying to not always put my foot in my mouth..this year ..<br />
<br />
Then there is Taz my 16 year old mix-breed doggy-love-muffin, who is a cross between my Golden retriever Betty-Boo and my Boxer Ninja..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXDGi8gzsH9Ih7AOW2voG_-ueCreVYhfl_9dtGppZqY80WCXVelIb2zqh5CUjw5TJRweOpjkyhrEzJ051TvYKSYq1dwrMUyBEHEugdUeEbc-FKZY8nMpU4oDgYXmdrvflTFSm4Oroa-7f/s1600/blogger-image-120308254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXDGi8gzsH9Ih7AOW2voG_-ueCreVYhfl_9dtGppZqY80WCXVelIb2zqh5CUjw5TJRweOpjkyhrEzJ051TvYKSYq1dwrMUyBEHEugdUeEbc-FKZY8nMpU4oDgYXmdrvflTFSm4Oroa-7f/s320/blogger-image-120308254.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NINJA & BETTY-BOO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6qw-3wv0CkYCHnhK9sMsf40153L5DEZ9-0SoswelIio5T5w7hkylAll9l5ShpI9u3ReLFYHtS52hVlqz3CS_ttyMLElVkkwvsva4HUjK5Im7fn-z0-F9oD366r8Mnf8GAmgsGcy0koBY/s1600/blogger-image-1226695853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6qw-3wv0CkYCHnhK9sMsf40153L5DEZ9-0SoswelIio5T5w7hkylAll9l5ShpI9u3ReLFYHtS52hVlqz3CS_ttyMLElVkkwvsva4HUjK5Im7fn-z0-F9oD366r8Mnf8GAmgsGcy0koBY/s1600/blogger-image-1226695853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6qw-3wv0CkYCHnhK9sMsf40153L5DEZ9-0SoswelIio5T5w7hkylAll9l5ShpI9u3ReLFYHtS52hVlqz3CS_ttyMLElVkkwvsva4HUjK5Im7fn-z0-F9oD366r8Mnf8GAmgsGcy0koBY/s320/blogger-image-1226695853.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TAZ TIGI WARSI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgMVBQ1I3p6vaWYPANANAQZqmaUoKFonMCJrZJ4yDh2P1tcal9TaMDwawE4mTgpeVJQhRpJEWaEKYbkKwz9ZOZT_MZbz3kdeC6PbC7Yow5BlyjIiM1MW-TdTX88h3PpN4FCRK4hBBedCX/s1600/blogger-image-896967514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
I love him, like totally love him, and I know he has not too much time, because he is really old and has arthritis, and he has to go one day, and he will, till then I will just love him to bits..<br />
<br />
Then , the other love of my life is travel, and that is something that I plan to do voraciously, for the rest of my life.<br />
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgMVBQ1I3p6vaWYPANANAQZqmaUoKFonMCJrZJ4yDh2P1tcal9TaMDwawE4mTgpeVJQhRpJEWaEKYbkKwz9ZOZT_MZbz3kdeC6PbC7Yow5BlyjIiM1MW-TdTX88h3PpN4FCRK4hBBedCX/s320/blogger-image-896967514.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; text-align: center;" width="213" /><span style="color: #0000ee;"> </span><div>
<span style="color: #0000ee;"> </span>To go to a new place and find my way around with a map, or just get lost and discover paths, old structures full of history and their food culture is one of my most satiating joys..<span style="text-align: center;">Oh and of course shopping ha ha ha ...</span>Then there is running that I do, really well, physically and mentally..ha ha ha<br />
<br />
And then of course there is food..<br />
That I fell in love with very very organically ,and have discovered so many nuances about myself , and about the art of making "Food Glorious Food" ..<br />
That I realised that it is one of my happy places..<br />
<br />
I also realised that sometimes, love is all about timing..<br />
And timing and me , are old friends , that have always missed one another..<br />
And on the occasions that we were able to meet..<br />
It has been totally magical..<br />
I have a lot to thank God for ,and I do..<br />
<br />
I think saying Thank-you is the most amazing thing you can do in life, not only because it is a good thing to do , but also because, it acknowledges the kindness and love in the other person...<br />
<br />
Ok so ,for starters I'm over the moon, that I'm interning in a Patisserie near my home.<br />
It's called "Petits Plaisirs Patisserie ", and Chef Javed is just the most talented and patient and generous Chef I have met.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSd2Zfu5CY5q0MBAfifCk8X7HbnHrl2F-t1crNUhkCO42gI515thc2XLZxWyLAJh4MOVWYXpput5FvM14s94ab7MDrmFUfW9p4ahd__XuTUfgHf4ZyhnKsD4aDWFGP8krAdgMGAaJHFnTw/s1600/blogger-image--1144777554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSd2Zfu5CY5q0MBAfifCk8X7HbnHrl2F-t1crNUhkCO42gI515thc2XLZxWyLAJh4MOVWYXpput5FvM14s94ab7MDrmFUfW9p4ahd__XuTUfgHf4ZyhnKsD4aDWFGP8krAdgMGAaJHFnTw/s400/blogger-image--1144777554.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chef Javed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the first time , I'm actually working in a kitchen , and I hope to work here for a good amount of time.<br />
I would have liked to go back to school , but that is really not possible anymore, and so my pastry school is going to be this Kitchen.<br />
And I have a really wonderful set of talented pastry Chefs in the making , that I get to work with everyday.<br />
Saachi, Niyati, Chef Ajit, Amit, and Swapnil...<br />
And then there is Chef Javed, who has such a positive , quite, generous way of running his Patisserie, that I feel totally lucky to be part of their everyday craziness in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So today I'm going to share with you something that I have wanted to make since my Friend Shalini, took me to this Bakery somewhere off Jersey, and introduced me to this totally yummy Focaccia..<br />
<br />
It was light , totally tasty, had a layer of apples on its crust and was served with a drizzle of a balsamic reduction..<br />
And , it has been haunting me ever since I bit into its yumminess in May.<br />
<br />
So last evening after work , all I wanted to do is make this , and eat it ..<br />
So here it is<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">FOCACCIA...</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">INGREDIENTS</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">All purpose flour- 260gm</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Yeast - 10 gm</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Water - 150 ml..but don't pour all in together.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Olive oil - 4 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Chili flakes- 1 tsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Mixed herbs - 1 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Rock salt - a sprinkle</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Apples- 1 ,thickly sliced</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Olive oil- 1/2 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Butter -1 tsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Cinnamon - a pinch</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">METHOD</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">Mix the yeast into 100 ml of water and keep aside, for 2-3 minutes, then add 11/2 tbsp of oil to the water and yeast mix.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Add the above mixture to the flour and very slowly bring it all together, add the remaining 50 ml water to the flour , and see to it that the dough is not too sticky.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Over turn this mixture on to a little flour and knead it well for about 5-7 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Leave it to prove, in a bowl , which you have nicely smeared with the remaining oil.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">After about 40 minutes to an hour , it will have doubled in size,(I left my dough in the fridge overnight ) knock it down , add the remaining oil , from the bowl and all the herbs, knead it all into the dough, and shape it in to a nice circle , not more than 5 inches inches in diameter , and leave it to prove again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Then after 25 minutes when it has proved again, just very gently press it flat with your finger tips.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Now arranged the cooled cooked Apples on to its surface, and sprinkle it with rock salt, and leave it to prove for another 25 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees and bake the Focaccia for about 18-20 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">Apple topping </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Heat a non stick pan and then add the oil,then the butter and as soon as it sizzles , add the apples to the heated pan and let it cook for about 3 minutes on either side .</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Sprinkle with cinnamon and leave it to cool </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">Serve it with some balsamic reduction or just plain olive oil and Balsamic vinegar will also do ..</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
And so this morning , after I had baked my bread, I most greedily bit into it while it was really hot .<br />
<br />
And all the different flavours, just burst into me like a rainbow in the sky..<br />
Yes please have it with a little Balsamic and olive oil emulsification..<br />
The soft herb bread, the sweet apples , the sea salt and the balsamic , together is just a party that you will not want to stop .<br />
<br />
You know in life , it takes all kind of experiences to make life well lived.<br />
The bad to appreciate the good, and the Good to get over the bad.<br />
That is the circle of our life and I bet you , that no one single person can escape this.<br />
<br />
It takes all kinds of interactions in life to bring out the best in you .<br />
And yes , I do believe that , everything you want does come to you , at the time it is supposed to .<br />
And sometimes it just does not ..<br />
Well at times like that , just go for a run ,cry your heart out..<br />
And get back to getting used to the fact , that life gives you almost everything , but keeps you wanting ..<br />
And if you are able to let go of the wanting ..<br />
You eventually find your place of peace and happiness..eventually ..<br />
<br />
Ok in my opinion, things can make you happy for a bit ..<br />
People for a while more..<br />
But ultimately things break ..<br />
And people break up with you ..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xGxYnPzQLE4YohGNJxpzZbfI5Ac9rZ9jJATmoJqn_EQFkM9vM1ylkXnBo7vpkgVVcADJ-oPFKlPD_z0WhXbPQ4ZXpcM04iHLuzhloKbkmq1HNKHU0vqKGs5cnqooCmxoZosk5cwFusW8/s1600/blogger-image-1006268466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xGxYnPzQLE4YohGNJxpzZbfI5Ac9rZ9jJATmoJqn_EQFkM9vM1ylkXnBo7vpkgVVcADJ-oPFKlPD_z0WhXbPQ4ZXpcM04iHLuzhloKbkmq1HNKHU0vqKGs5cnqooCmxoZosk5cwFusW8/s320/blogger-image-1006268466.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Just don't give up on your own little fire that shines so bright ..<br />
There is so much love inside us ..<br />
But it's funny how we are always looking out ..<br />
No one can make you feel loved or make you happy<br />
Unless you yourself are not in peace and a little in love with yourself ..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfheXG0Vre8aO_KxLm2yD0gnebSrUF60BfiiDljQCwCkEDRzQNHjlKs48EmfOPT7XOW1wvgNs0IhDDZhH_zULjmWBz_NpzS93wgsllNTVUnHOLLTQMVh5zvBrTcmxL9e4QULNkRiPp36Qu/s1600/blogger-image-1704932754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfheXG0Vre8aO_KxLm2yD0gnebSrUF60BfiiDljQCwCkEDRzQNHjlKs48EmfOPT7XOW1wvgNs0IhDDZhH_zULjmWBz_NpzS93wgsllNTVUnHOLLTQMVh5zvBrTcmxL9e4QULNkRiPp36Qu/s320/blogger-image-1704932754.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm serious, don't laugh ,I know it sounds weird ..<br />
I'm sure you think I'm cuckoo..<br />
And of course you are right ..<br />
But just think about what I said ..<br />
<br />
While I just bite into this really yummy piece of flour ,that has magically transformed itself in a fluffy piece of Focaccia, after it has been , beaten and pounded and had to also go through fire ..<br />
Well that's the way life is ..<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTs7AmD7puRk7CwRS7SefyVE3f79zCjGkhYG_Tyfo_iGmByhaj3ln7QgzdElDDA-5k-9owE3tx5mmM38hN0nJLYplU6ZD2P-F1AQDRduhzcroyaRrIMi6rOAystTggbotrgodysGM-NMK/s320/blogger-image-601833631.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home-made Apple topped Focaccia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbKc-NGod3wwitJwFa9AUXW7xl47nyv1jRkukmeikMQjp8X72beuX2cXrKhgCqsZWmokkqUrCcTjGCPdxSFKlHKt0EDAYd8Ayg1viTHI5Kl2YnD1iPjMI8RNNjsntwI613LDCLA6XW4SU/s1600/blogger-image-1309865428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbKc-NGod3wwitJwFa9AUXW7xl47nyv1jRkukmeikMQjp8X72beuX2cXrKhgCqsZWmokkqUrCcTjGCPdxSFKlHKt0EDAYd8Ayg1viTHI5Kl2YnD1iPjMI8RNNjsntwI613LDCLA6XW4SU/s320/blogger-image-1309865428.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTs7AmD7puRk7CwRS7SefyVE3f79zCjGkhYG_Tyfo_iGmByhaj3ln7QgzdElDDA-5k-9owE3tx5mmM38hN0nJLYplU6ZD2P-F1AQDRduhzcroyaRrIMi6rOAystTggbotrgodysGM-NMK/s1600/blogger-image-601833631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"> </a>I<br />
<br />
I really loved my Focaccia , please do try and bake it, and please do send me photos at my Twitter handle @mariagorettiz..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
With much love from "Maria's Kitchen"<br />
See you all again soon , as soon as I fall in love with another incredible morsel of food ..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTs7AmD7puRk7CwRS7SefyVE3f79zCjGkhYG_Tyfo_iGmByhaj3ln7QgzdElDDA-5k-9owE3tx5mmM38hN0nJLYplU6ZD2P-F1AQDRduhzcroyaRrIMi6rOAystTggbotrgodysGM-NMK/s1600/blogger-image-601833631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-48469504237322973412015-06-30T23:31:00.000+05:302015-07-01T01:01:13.334+05:30DAY 117 - PALAK PANEER ..FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
And so how you live life , or live with the choices you make ..<br />
Is what finally makes or breaks you ..<br />
All of us are beautiful inside out ..<br />
That's my consensus..<br />
<br />
And then life happens ..<br />
How we behave during the great times and deal with the bad times..<br />
Is the stuff our core is made of..<br />
<br />
Some of us are easy to please ..<br />
Some sceptical of every move ..<br />
And yet others who just take each day and confuse the hell out of it ..<br />
Some live within a picket fence, too worried to step outside..<br />
And then some just live , each day like it maybe their last ..<br />
<br />
I have realised that , what's food to one , maybe poison to someone else!<br />
And what's special to one , maybe average to someone else ..<br />
<br />
So the best way to live , is to see that you are at Peace with yourself ..<br />
We'll easier said than done ..<br />
<br />
Yesterday after two years of writing and trying out recipes..<br />
Shooting , re-shooting ..<br />
Scrapping every word I wrote ,to writing again ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uQhbS1HkX1iMLbbIZrNVHgOi0ppwll3Oq_-sxuqoPMWJytz72AZTys4IKKdocRkDUjuOgUG6UQBfO8I5zIJW_iCRqxKjDdDPI4fFjzY5rOSQksbrcO65UBMv89tavI3NZuiDtgOiN2be/s640/blogger-image-2081824188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uQhbS1HkX1iMLbbIZrNVHgOi0ppwll3Oq_-sxuqoPMWJytz72AZTys4IKKdocRkDUjuOgUG6UQBfO8I5zIJW_iCRqxKjDdDPI4fFjzY5rOSQksbrcO65UBMv89tavI3NZuiDtgOiN2be/s640/blogger-image-2081824188.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I finally closed the final draft of my book !<br />
I was so so happy and , so relieved ...<br />
I sighed a loooong sigh of relief!<br />
I don't think I have worked so hard in a long time ..<br />
And after ,I finished reading it from first word to last word..<br />
My life actually played out to me, in the many hues and colours that I have lived..<br />
And I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot of people that I have to thank ..<br />
That I did..<br />
Really hope I don't forget anyone..<br />
<br />
Because unlike so many chefs , who are able to churn out books ..<br />
This one baby has been quite difficult ..<br />
<br />
So today in the middle of this book discussion..<br />
Let me lead you to my recipe of "Palak Paneer" ..<br />
I know , that for most of you , this must be part of your weekly cuisine..<br />
But for me it is special, because I never ever , had this as a kid..<br />
So here it is , something common that is special to me.. ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://youtu.be/tdGX36IHf34">http://youtu.be/tdGX36IHf34</a><br />
<br />
<br />
So getting back to my book..<br />
It's my love-child ..<br />
And it's always going to be , most special..<br />
Yesterday , reading through it, was fun and also a very emotional evening for me ..<br />
Every recipe, had a story , in my head that I may or may not have told ..<br />
And frankly , like my editor told me , it's a recipe book , not a diary ha ha ha ..<br />
So there is very little chatter..ha ha ha<br />
<br />
So I will continue to blog ..<br />
As I always do have a lot to say ..<br />
And it just gives me immense peace to have just said ,what I feel ..<br />
Really try it ..<br />
It feels good ..<br />
<br />
So my book ,is now on its way to get "Proof-read" ..<br />
Then we will do a dummy book to check ink on paper and colour..<br />
And then , it will get into production ..<br />
<br />
I don't know if I'm ever going to do another book..<br />
But I'm not going to say "never"..<br />
Because today my friend Sambo , said to me " All the things that you say , you will NEVER do , is what comes back to bite you ..<br />
So I'm not going to say this is my last book ..<br />
But I'm just going to say ..<br />
I'm really happy and excited about how it has turned out ..<br />
<br />
This book has been lots of fun ..<br />
And also a lot of hard work and tears..<br />
There were some days, I had not a word written..<br />
Because I'm not a writer..<br />
And I used to sit with my phone ..<br />
(Oh yes , I wrote this entire book on my phone..)<br />
And wait .. And felt .. Oh my god ,what the hell , have I got myself into !!<br />
<br />
But I also realised..<br />
That the way in, is also the way out ..<br />
And the way out, is the way in ..<br />
Ha ha ha ha<br />
I hope you are as confused as I am ..<br />
<br />
See the thing is..<br />
I just gave it my best shot ..<br />
The rest , I have left to the forces of the universe ..<br />
<br />
Maybe like how I find "Palak Paneer " special..<br />
There will be a few people who will find my book special ..<br />
And that's good enough ..<br />
<br />
I know that once you bite into my version of "Palak Paneer"<br />
You will love the freshness and the fact that there is no cream in it ..<br />
And it still does not take away from the taste ..<br />
So do make this and let me know how you like it ..<br />
<br />
As for me ..<br />
I have written too much ..<br />
Tasted too much ..<br />
Edited too much ..<br />
Cooked too much ..<br />
<br />
I now want to go on a holiday ..<br />
Climb up a mountain..<br />
And watch the sun rise ..<br />
Is that too much to ask for ..????<br />
In my scheme of things ..<br />
Not at all ..<br />
You have to just want it badly enough ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And I want to go to Machu Pichu ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYK10ja-AZIxb-I5aYkGVcpgS8Ef0tplKcFIvPGZBRcJWwosJ9GKOjKo1QxtJePiFlxXqGFwjc_lpp9ZQDuItL8fJZ-ptM9rDx2C7uhsHiFUU50xZboqQNwfLqM5DoGwEeNxeq812HUyw/s640/blogger-image--1665456969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYK10ja-AZIxb-I5aYkGVcpgS8Ef0tplKcFIvPGZBRcJWwosJ9GKOjKo1QxtJePiFlxXqGFwjc_lpp9ZQDuItL8fJZ-ptM9rDx2C7uhsHiFUU50xZboqQNwfLqM5DoGwEeNxeq812HUyw/s640/blogger-image--1665456969.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtzcXG61No6xQUivTX-rpKctfbPE8sJ-crk7yeUx7ydICNuMKPvCPL1EJ0vXgP1TKS_UG2oO3rmmk85QkenGYHOuinjE9mitCxrWblVPSfq0C8zyiu48r60NRpxdVfMZXkuCSh-fYg4J_/s640/blogger-image-1797823990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtzcXG61No6xQUivTX-rpKctfbPE8sJ-crk7yeUx7ydICNuMKPvCPL1EJ0vXgP1TKS_UG2oO3rmmk85QkenGYHOuinjE9mitCxrWblVPSfq0C8zyiu48r60NRpxdVfMZXkuCSh-fYg4J_/s640/blogger-image-1797823990.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
So as I sit here , at my computer , biting into roti and Palak paneer , and reading bits from my book" "From my Kitchen to yours..food, love & other ingredients"<br />
I feel I need to correct some more stuff..<br />
Add a few lines, edit a few words..etc etc..<br />
So will get down to working , till late into the night ..<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And when I don't want to work anymore , will count the stars ..<br />
With lotsa love , from "Maria's Kitchen "<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KdQMxxK7JMX6Xgl5xKC2TRXQSYviDn8H9tojcMDoW9wIXheJXlmNGt9k-gjDxV0hWz0vTlk-zao-Ui1WJFq9gZTrf8SJBfW_V3hIX3qppcsGYC7sEmx_YcsUjZcPz-RVnKFXF5CtUOPk/s640/blogger-image-398493595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KdQMxxK7JMX6Xgl5xKC2TRXQSYviDn8H9tojcMDoW9wIXheJXlmNGt9k-gjDxV0hWz0vTlk-zao-Ui1WJFq9gZTrf8SJBfW_V3hIX3qppcsGYC7sEmx_YcsUjZcPz-RVnKFXF5CtUOPk/s640/blogger-image-398493595.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-52499788181929288382015-06-29T09:12:00.000+05:302015-06-29T09:12:36.283+05:30DAY - 110 CHEESY BREAD ROLLS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You know the best relationship you can have in life ...<br />
Is with yourself..<br />
Yes love does make this world go around..<br />
But do you know any loving relationship that is just all about only love and only love ..<br />
Well ...<br />
<br />
We go through so many phases in life..<br />
The single want to be in a relationship ..<br />
The ones in a relationship wonder whether it's better to be single..<br />
The ones who have no kids, look with longing at the ones who do ..<br />
And the ones who do , just want a break some times..<br />
<br />
So yup it's just human to want what you don't have or can't have ..<br />
But what's important in life , is to try and find happiness where you are..<br />
If you can be happy with yourself..<br />
Single, attached, on holiday, at work, pregnant, without kids, with kids, friends or just reading a book under your bed..<br />
I think you will then be just fine..<br />
<br />
I sometimes feel like running away ..<br />
Have you ever felt like that ..<br />
With just a book and some money to travel..<br />
Where I'm going to go , what I'm going to do ..<br />
Without a plan..<br />
And that's what makes the whole thought so adventurous..<br />
<br />
But I also know that it's really stupid and not practical at all...<br />
<br />
A lot of people who are in love with one another..<br />
Run away with one another..<br />
And then real life catches up with them..<br />
<br />
Which is why most of the amazing love stories in the world end in a tragedy..<br />
<br />
Seriously ..<br />
What does this say about love ..<br />
<br />
I'm not a cynic..<br />
I'm all for love and its myriad complications...<br />
I'm also impulsive and mercurial..<br />
Not at all a good combination at all ha ha ha ...<br />
<br />
And so with life I have understood a few things..<br />
To get to the top of the mountain, you need to walk up, the view will get better slowly..<br />
Very slowly ..if you try and race to the top, your body does not acclimatise ....<br />
you just have to take it slow..<br />
You cannot make someone love you , even if you want them too..<br />
But you can love who you want to , there is no tax on that ..<br />
Sometimes it's nicer to walk away than spoil what you have in a relationship..<br />
Sometimes it's very very imperative that you speak your mind..so you have no regrets..<br />
Kids will be there own person, not an extension of you (note to self)..<br />
As a caretaker we have to keep them safe and bring them up as good caring human beings...<br />
And so on and so forth ..<br />
<br />
I grew up believing in star signs, then one day I read I'm not Sagittarius but some new star sign called Ophiuchus....<br />
Whaaaaat ?<br />
I mean really ..So does this change my entire chemistry with other star signs...<br />
So do I get along with the earth sign or are we not supposed to ..<br />
Is the water sign not going to douse my spirit ..<br />
Will the air sign be there to fan my flames ..<br />
Fire was me ..<br />
Now I am ...what ?<br />
<br />
So yup the world sometimes confuses you ..<br />
<br />
"Gosh Maria,I never expected this of you "<br />
Oh really ..???<br />
I want to say ..!!!<br />
<br />
Why do I have to live up to anyone's expectations ..!<br />
When I have not yet put up a chart for myself..!<br />
I'm me..<br />
I'm just supposed to live ..<br />
I'm supposed to dream , chase my dreams , make mistakes and start all over again..<br />
Alt- Ctrl-Del...<br />
That's just a computer application ..<br />
<br />
But yes , I know that in life we get along with some like salt seeps into water ..<br />
And some people are like chalk and cheese..<br />
And then there are still some that are like balsamic Vinegar and Extra virgin olive oil..<br />
That look like they were never meant to be together, but when they emulsify, you just can't separate the two..<br />
It's like soul mates..<br />
It does not really matter post that..<br />
Because that taste of the emulsification just stays..<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3B1uIpaYc4_W3tV1LDOxTssl7F4MRs5SspHf4Ph1bCdiW3PxPgx9q2uzSfF8mYH4W3PzE1tvWa3M7sCy9G0glmo4MOvn3ER3VonSV5Dvoe-ExBKtmUOm0hY3Hz_BHBvXRB_1gbXh8W2nu/s640/blogger-image-976434871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3B1uIpaYc4_W3tV1LDOxTssl7F4MRs5SspHf4Ph1bCdiW3PxPgx9q2uzSfF8mYH4W3PzE1tvWa3M7sCy9G0glmo4MOvn3ER3VonSV5Dvoe-ExBKtmUOm0hY3Hz_BHBvXRB_1gbXh8W2nu/s640/blogger-image-976434871.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Oh gosh I'm really getting soppy ..<br />
Ha ha ha..<br />
Ok today I want to share with you ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://youtu.be/hEeWG81dOZ0">http://youtu.be/hEeWG81dOZ0</a><br />
<br />
<br />
This is just the nicest combination of ingredients ..<br />
And gives you a bread that is beautifully soft , and the flavour of the cheese and the butter , just seals the deal..<br />
<br />
Oh yes sometimes you eat bread..<br />
And sometimes you go on a no carbs ways of life ..<br />
Basically it's your life ..<br />
Do what you want with it ..<br />
<br />
I'm just going to bite into the softness of this home-made soft cheesy bread that has a healthy dousing of butter , and it's filled with love from me to you only from "Maria's Kitchen"...<br />
<div class="gmail_signature">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-33930616408242297162015-06-26T08:35:00.000+05:302019-09-20T10:02:45.206+05:30I MET AN OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So yesterday as usual I was running on Juhu beach , when I came across a turtle stranded, it had quite a crowd gathered around it , it had its left front fin missing..<br />
The little fellow, actually he has about 21/2 ft was trying to get back into the sea but was unable to swim back against the thrashing waves on the shore!<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWZNUGdT3yIu0JpRrmo5fek0idhyB-W2xWtUherDS-7ZNWD8K8K5qwnsvrVHyIBXrfKVRhS6FBfePPqDOVnhgjGgeA7oUcHihVu1SaJ9MJJYWgRhp4o2rBnUy0JILc5R3NneYDaRT2XXf/s640/blogger-image--820743162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWZNUGdT3yIu0JpRrmo5fek0idhyB-W2xWtUherDS-7ZNWD8K8K5qwnsvrVHyIBXrfKVRhS6FBfePPqDOVnhgjGgeA7oUcHihVu1SaJ9MJJYWgRhp4o2rBnUy0JILc5R3NneYDaRT2XXf/s640/blogger-image--820743162.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
There was another gentleman there like me who kept trying to call an animal rescue number , but so early in the morning , nobody was really picking up the calls!<br />
I then tweeted a video of the Olive Ridley Sea turtle , and Prerna Pradhan responded with a number that I called!<br />
It was the number of Nilesh from P.A.W.S. who immediately sent Kala to have the turtle collected!<br />
While all this was happening, there were lots of concerned citizens who came to that spot , and were asking if anyone has called for help ,because most did not have a phone as they were on their morning walk or jog !<br />
And the ones that did have phones, were clicking their fingers in its face and taking photos!<br />
I think we sincerely need to include ,'How to behave with animals " as part of our learning in school.<br />
<br />
I was there for an hour and a half , with this other concerned gentleman , whose name I did not ask, and 4 other guys.<br />
In that 11/2 hour , there were many attempts made to put the turtle back in the water, but he just always landed back on the shore!<br />
By around 8 am ,after I had picked Zeke from his Athletics training , we sped back to that spot, because I just wanted that turtle to be in safe hands !<br />
There were 6 of us who were there hanging around the turtle for that whole time till he got rescued!<br />
In the interim period , many came took photographs and left ,some prodded him and some waved in front of his face...Seriously !!<br />
And then one elderly guy who picks plastics off the beach , wanted to take him to put him back into the water , on another part of the beach!<br />
When we did not let him touch the turtle,he got really upset and gave all of us ,trivia about Turtles like he had done an In-depth study about them ,because he spent so many years on this beach ..<br />
<br />
I sat next to the turtle just before he was taken away and petted his wrinkly neck ..<br />
He did not move away or flinch !<br />
Not because he liked me ,but more because I think he was scared,I don't know, I'm just assuming stuff here!<br />
<br />
But it felt good to sit next to this beautiful sea -turtle !<br />
Zeke and me wondered how his fin got cut!<br />
Maybe it was stuck in a fisher's net, maybe it was a shark attack or then maybe a propeller..<br />
I don't really know..<br />
But I was happy that I went running yesterday and chanced upon him ..<br />
<br />
You don't always get a chance to meet an animal from the wild !<br />
And further more, to even be part of the crowd of people, to rescue one !<br />
But to meet an injured animal , is a very sad feeling, how scared he must be, away from his family , his habitat, among humans, chatting around him, carrying him to take him back to sea, and some waving in his face!<br />
Everytime a wave washed near him, he would turn towards it and try to walk back into the sea, but was unable to .<br />
But he never really gave up you know.<br />
There is a lot we can learn from nature , if we are just willing to observe and not own, or destroy!<br />
<br />
The gentleman in the blue t-shirt who was there throughout and only left when the animal rescue person came , I wish I had got his name !<br />
<br />
I felt very good yesterday after a very long time !<br />
I felt one with the universe !<br />
I felt like even if we can all do a little bit of good..<br />
It all just binds us together in a circle of life !<br />
<br />
As for the turtle, he is in hospital!</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUpOafTfbc3BzFv0X3eW1A7H3t-tBy5bE4RT2S2qGokMrirVQvvPIFfwB2w51UI3Mnqg99eMPsrDc-r-0Cgu_cVTSeq2tKiBFMg4aDxiqqfrKkA5shyphenhyphen1XhS_6Ofep7N_LVLgSEPNLwBSe/s640/blogger-image-273212216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUpOafTfbc3BzFv0X3eW1A7H3t-tBy5bE4RT2S2qGokMrirVQvvPIFfwB2w51UI3Mnqg99eMPsrDc-r-0Cgu_cVTSeq2tKiBFMg4aDxiqqfrKkA5shyphenhyphen1XhS_6Ofep7N_LVLgSEPNLwBSe/s640/blogger-image-273212216.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwCSB4UjFaILfL3Il3oBE5Ekp_4-ygJnlyt4afnQW58m1v7n9W2nQKdVNcFkXLAVkkW3GSHToCDouNJlPywFwOHN0o1EoSIIKEjGlgM60RrKLhb6dxwUWwcgnMashgbmR28sEWp4xBmY-/s640/blogger-image--2062586823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwCSB4UjFaILfL3Il3oBE5Ekp_4-ygJnlyt4afnQW58m1v7n9W2nQKdVNcFkXLAVkkW3GSHToCDouNJlPywFwOHN0o1EoSIIKEjGlgM60RrKLhb6dxwUWwcgnMashgbmR28sEWp4xBmY-/s640/blogger-image--2062586823.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And from here , he will go to the Dahanu Wildlife Rehab Center, that already has 50-60 turtles that have been stranded on various beaches, whose fins get chopped due to the fishermen's nets!!<br />
<br />
The police on Juhu Beach took my name and number , along with the rescue workers , before they let the turtle be taken from that shore!<br />
So I do feel like I belong to him in some way !<br />
He chose me ..<br />
And it made me feel very wanted and special.<br />
<br />
The last time I saw a green sea turtle , it was in the Reef waters of Australia , where it so beautifully swam near me , so I reached out and touched it 's back..<br />
<br />
I'm glad I saw this turtle on the beach and I'm glad he was rescued!<br />
But it was heart-breaking to see it had a fin missing !<br />
<br />
You know in life , we come a cross so many people every-day !<br />
We don't know there stories or their lives!<br />
They may all look physically perfect !<br />
But let me tell you from experience , that none of us are fully whole on the inside!<br />
Most of us have more brokenness that anyone can imagine !<br />
So with this thought , if we can just be nice to the people we meet !<br />
And treat everyone with kindness!<br />
I'm sure we would all be investing in a better world for our children and the ones to come !<br />
<br />
Have a lovely blessed day</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mUhWxV2Xu3iFhXk_U51NhYFTyKFksR-4Txsfw06UMBGKIbelO3E0HP99fDzX3h8GMSqcn531j0MG1Aqp9rLqmCZ4ZPbjs52fifikq34LXBwO3n1ClIrQbCfL4Tp9NcRf1jcenrsjePKj/s640/blogger-image--2115435790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mUhWxV2Xu3iFhXk_U51NhYFTyKFksR-4Txsfw06UMBGKIbelO3E0HP99fDzX3h8GMSqcn531j0MG1Aqp9rLqmCZ4ZPbjs52fifikq34LXBwO3n1ClIrQbCfL4Tp9NcRf1jcenrsjePKj/s640/blogger-image--2115435790.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-17800724550187845212015-06-15T10:51:00.001+05:302015-06-17T04:46:46.215+05:30DAY 116 - TEHRI...OR THEN MERI..HA HA HA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes I find much solace in words..<br>
Sometimes I feel like if I'm not able to say, what I want ,my heart will burst ..<br>
Have you ever felt like that ?<br>
<br>
And so when I started my blog in 2010 ...<br>
It was just that..<br>
It was a vent ...<br>
A passage ..<br>
A walk ..<br>
A run ..<br>
A trek ..<br>
All in one !<br>
<br>
I really did not think or measure my words!<br>
Before I pressed, the send button..<br>
Never edited it , except for grammatical errors or spelling mistakes ..<br>
The rest ,was just ,what flowed through ..<br>
<br>
It did not matter to me ,whether anyone read what I wrote or everyone read what I wrote ..<br>
To me it was catharsis ..<br>
It was release ..<br>
It was my stage with or without an audience ..<br>
I still danced ..<br>
Sometime it was pantomime..<br>
Sometimes it was Tap..<br>
Sometimes Jazz..<br>
Sometimes the waltz..<br>
<br>
And with every send ..<br>
Something inside me set sail into the galaxy...<br>
Like the universe is now part of me ..<br>
And I had slowly found my little corner in the shade of an elm tree..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">That was just mine ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">And whose shade, I could share ,with whomsoever I choose to ..<br>
<br>
Where I lay down under ..<br>
Looked up at the skies ..<br>
Inhaled the flowers..<br>
Watched birds fly ..<br>
Squinted at the sun..<br>
Smiles at the moon..<br>
And generally learned to be happy with myself ..<br>
I learnt a lot from the ones who wrote back to me ..<br>
<br>
I felt a beautiful circle of life forming ..<br>
And I realised that it does not matter who you are , where you come from , what you do or don't do in life ..<br>
It's what you feel and what you do about those feelings that really matters ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQdYrwXFofZuCoEVfiQYG1EGCNbELI5TvOb_GmoyNTYPNw3iG22iIrOscsjElbpmIQ6ei23jM6eg_IISJOx6YiIEuvcZ77vNTtF1RfLLrx5mnetQU6iwl59u6fJJ-4Rnl368bfhYqmP9n/s640/blogger-image--1787763689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQdYrwXFofZuCoEVfiQYG1EGCNbELI5TvOb_GmoyNTYPNw3iG22iIrOscsjElbpmIQ6ei23jM6eg_IISJOx6YiIEuvcZ77vNTtF1RfLLrx5mnetQU6iwl59u6fJJ-4Rnl368bfhYqmP9n/s640/blogger-image--1787763689.jpg"></a></div><br>I learnt to cook very very slowly ..<br>
I learnt to enjoy that process..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">With every mistake , my resolve to get it right , just grew stronger ..<br>
I loved the hap hazardness of the way I put things together ..<br>
I was not traditional in my approach , I was not right , but neither did it feel wrong..<br>
The food on my plate evolved..<br>
The ingredients I used changed a bit..<br>
Or then , i just started adding new stuff to the old..<br>
<br>
I know I'm not a writer ..<br>
Not in the traditional sense..<br>
I'm just a product of feelings and emotions ..<br>
That's what drives me ..<br>
I need to feel it ..<br>
I can't weave words out of thin air ..<br>
Like my friend Jaya, who is just a beautiful writer , and magically spins words like spells..<br>
Or my friend Lalita who is just the funniest and most practical writer I have read ..<br>
<br>
Sometimes I felt that I wrote so much ,that I had driven myself to the edge of the water..<br>
Where either ,I needed to retreat or then swim ..<br>
Sometimes I just sat there , looking at the waves..<br>
Sometimes just walked on the waters edge ..<br>
And then sometimes just swam till the saltiness and me were one ..<br>
<br>
Writing to me is like cooking ..<br>
And cooking to me is like the stupid poetry I write ..<br>
Maybe not everyone gets it ..<br>
And frankly I'm fine with that..<br>
Maybe it's not meant for everyone ..<br>
Just me ..<br>
<br>
I realised that cooking is an extension of how I feel ..<br>
And writing is the sides , that I serve my food with ..<br>
<br>
I want to learn more and more..<br>
I want to learn how to make traditional Indian food..<br>
To get the tadka just right ..<br>
To be able to make Kashmiri food ..<br>
To learn stuff from my friends Mums ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">To learn Indian from my friend Mini, who has a special magical hand ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">To capture my mums essence in the food I make, which is really difficult ..<br>
<br>
To just explore ..<br>
Every facet of life that I can ..<br>
To start at the bottom ..<br>
I'm fine with that ..<br>
<br>
So today I'm going to share with you a dish I learnt from my friend Jaya..<br>
She writes as beautifully as her green eyes smoulder..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://youtu.be/thE57sRFeFc">http://youtu.be/thE57sRFeFc</a><br>
<br>
It's a simple dish ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It's something her mum Aunty Mridula makes , that she passed down to me !<br>
And I enjoyed every moment of cooking it ..<br>
It can also be made with meat but that's for another day ..<br>
So after every dish I cook in my kitchen ..<br>
My crew devours it ..<br>
Ha ha haha<br>
And that's the best part of the show ..<br>
The part that you dont get to see, but the part that feels , absolutely awesome, to me..<br>
<br>
So I just want to say , this mustard flavoured rice is totally yummy ..<br>
And no you don't have to measure your calories or your carb intake all the time ..<br>
Enjoy it ..<br>
For what it is..<br>
Tomorrow is another day..<br>
<br>
So while I ate greedy morsels of this amazing Tehri..<br>
I was thinking ..<br>
There is so much you can learn from everyone you meet ..<br>
And all you have to do is be open to the experience ..<br>
<br>
Everyone comes into your life for a reason ..<br>
Some change your life 360 degrees..<br>
And sometimes you bring a magical change into theirs ..<br>
<br>
So live each moment and enjoy each morsel of food ..<br>
Take chances..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">But remember ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Don't be reckless with other people's hearts and don't let anyone be reckless with yours..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is from the Baz Luhrmann song "Everybody's free to wear sunscreen " that my dearest friend Nikhil Chinnapa introduced me too, eons ago ,that is like a bible for life ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://youtu.be/sTJ7AzBIJoI">http://youtu.be/sTJ7AzBIJoI</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Well the first part of that sentence I do practice , the second part , is still under construction </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sometimes when you love someone , you trust them , to not be reckless , with your breakable heart , but things always or mostly never go according to plan ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">But you can keep the love ,that is you always glowing ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Choose to be happy ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Choose to live life with all your awesomeness..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">And remember , to keep coming back here because , we have lots more to talk about to one another over plates of food made with lotsa love ..<br>Siempre from , "Maria's Kitchen"<br>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com6Montehiedra Town Center, Plumbing, Kitchen and Bath, Caimito, San Juan 00926, Puerto Rico18.336643 -66.06591630000002618.336171999999998 -66.066546800000026 18.337114 -66.065285800000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-46945856500576003412015-03-28T23:17:00.000+05:302016-01-28T08:23:01.481+05:30DAY 114 - JUNGLEE MUTTON<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
So in this world of ours where most things are artificial and have an expiry date..<br />
How do we know who is really real, in this chemically enhanced journey through life.<br />
Or is it like food, the one that is au Naturale does not have too long a shelf life.<br />
So we are then made to believe, that all that is real will not last.<br />
How can we distinguish between the "real " and to put it in the words of Javed Jaffrey ,the "Na-real"..<br />
How would I know..????<br />
I think we just have to go through life, take everyone at face value and continue walking.<br />
<br />
And try and live as close to our own truth as possible.<br />
Or rather as close to the secrets we keep.<br />
I know that judgement has to be kept for the last day, like the Bible says..<br />
See I'm Catholic that way..HA HA HA<br />
And frankly , who am I to judge anyone , anyway ???<br />
<br />
But the thing is if I were to meet you in a crowd and smiled at you and you smiled back at me, who is to predict the shelf life of this moment???<br />
Is it fate..??<br />
Or it the actions that you and me take..???<br />
<br />
We were born wild..<br />
And then humanity took over, or the lack of it...<br />
<br />
But I have realised that you can't tame a heart..<br />
You may adhere to how you have to behave in society..<br />
But have you ever thought of what you would actually do if there was no society to answer to ..<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Sdm9jwT2COJM1pmuBUeOHPHUG8WXHbFL402UNHDet9AWQ21mfq25bkFTNVi_V6iBw1PEulgw0AkGYfs7_6brAvP4GSKGv_12o9e_XRWZPBg8gve2WRsOfd0pz9DNV8U4x-EUj_f0_tH/s640/blogger-image-1178355849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Sdm9jwT2COJM1pmuBUeOHPHUG8WXHbFL402UNHDet9AWQ21mfq25bkFTNVi_V6iBw1PEulgw0AkGYfs7_6brAvP4GSKGv_12o9e_XRWZPBg8gve2WRsOfd0pz9DNV8U4x-EUj_f0_tH/s640/blogger-image-1178355849.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I realise that I love people,but I'm not a crowd pleaser..<br />
I don't have to be nice to someone I may not like..<br />
And so more often than not..<br />
I will just stay away...<br />
There are very few that I may open my heart to...<br />
And I also know, than when you break your heart, only love can heal it ..<br />
<br />
Sometimes in life, I do put on my mask on,and add my artificial sweetener and walk around...<br />
But that does not really last too long..<br />
It's actually just lasts for the duration of a song ..<br />
<br />
And so today I just wanna tell you that all that is wild...<br />
May not be as dangerous , as we have been convinced to think ..<br />
It's more a pureness that we are not used to....<br />
And that's why we do not know how to deal with it ..<br />
<br />
Have you ever looked into the eyes of a wild animal ..????<br />
<br />
The closest I ever came to ,was in Zimbabwe 12 years ago ..<br />
And I was frightened by the sheer physicality of <span style="background-color: yellow;">that</span> beautiful lion ..<br />
All it did ,was look at me ..<br />
And me at him..<br />
And those eyes were the most truthful I have ever seen ..<br />
They were raw..<br />
I never understood what they said ..<br />
And in that rawness<br />
There was a connect ..<br />
No I did not want to meet him with no steel gauze to separate us ..<br />
But he looked at peace in his dense forest and at me on the other side..<br />
<br />
And so today I want to share with you a recipe that is very basic..<br />
No frills..<br />
No fancies..<br />
What you have ,is what you cook with.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/Zpe7mDNK9Z8" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/Zpe7mDNK9Z8</a><br />
<br />
And while I cooked this...<br />
I wondered ..<br />
What is it about us humans that need a veil..<br />
That need a safety net..<br />
So you can see the other person , but can't really walk to their side..<br />
<br />
In my next life ..<br />
I'm going to just be a lioness..<br />
I'm going to hunt when I'm hungry ..<br />
Go to the watering hole when I'm thirsty<br />
Love when I can meet my lion without all these borders and demarcation lines..<br />
And just live ..<br />
Wild and free..<br />
<br />
We have a lot to learn in life .<br />
<br />
Firstly I have seen that in someways we can be like animals<br />
We all play around with our prey ,before we destroy their souls..<br />
Sometimes just for fun .and sometimes because we are stronger than them ..<br />
Or then just damaged souls,ourselves.<br />
<br />
I'm thinking that we were all born with a purpose in life ..<br />
And no it was not to save the world or another person..<br />
It's just to be the best person we could be .,<br />
And if we were all going to just try and do that ..<br />
This world that we live in , would be a better place ..<br />
Be kind to one another..<br />
That's the least we can start by doing ..<br />
And so as I today make you "Junglee mutton"" ..<br />
I just want to say ..<br />
Keep things simple .<br />
Keep relationships free ,from frills and fancies...<br />
Be real ...<br />
That's all we need to be ..<br />
And like the animals in the wild, don't hunt if you are not hungry..<br />
Don't pretend to love , if love is not what you seek ...<br />
<br />
<br />
So as I sit here in my corner of the world...<br />
I just want to say , you may be a vegetarian or a non-Vegetarian reading my blog..<br />
And so if I can spill my self here ..<br />
Just write back a line ..<br />
If I touched a string in your heart in some tiny way ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
As for this recipe..<br />
It's yummy..<br />
And I'm not going to be bashful about it ..<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQMiXd7fFFd0s_kUbSvgcUDTEOxlRD9sZt7w9RcgbnMrJfjgAt67WNAvJoCZYr0wgET4qVDu9AbJvedUKl85DqfKtr5Id05dNFuP7svOOEFlzhmCiV9NMIXaxkvmFTmcloa1HeYK-BRbH/s640/blogger-image--328844292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQMiXd7fFFd0s_kUbSvgcUDTEOxlRD9sZt7w9RcgbnMrJfjgAt67WNAvJoCZYr0wgET4qVDu9AbJvedUKl85DqfKtr5Id05dNFuP7svOOEFlzhmCiV9NMIXaxkvmFTmcloa1HeYK-BRbH/s640/blogger-image--328844292.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Food is like love ..<br />
Half cooked is really s big waste of time of ingredients and emotions ..<br />
If you are going to cook .<br />
Then do it well and with complete indulgence ..<br />
With lotsa love from "Maria's Kitchen "<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-11835078287737345652015-03-10T15:38:00.003+05:302015-06-29T09:09:39.358+05:30DAY 113 : BAKED VEGETABLES WITH PASTA.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The thing is though we all belong to the human species...<br />
We are all wired differently..<br />
We girls grow up reading fairy tales, where Knights in shining armours and blazing swords save the day and ride us into the sunset.<br />
Well it all sounds pretty idealistic..<br />
<br />
But the problem is , the boys are not reading this fairy tale, they are busy solving murder mysteries and saving the world.<br />
With Bond like gadgets, so tiny that they they could fit into the tiniest pocket of my tightest skinny jeans..<br />
<br />
And so there arises the problem between us..<br />
The battle of really crazy expectations, which in my opinion is the root cause of all problems..<br />
Barring a few like , we find in algebra, which I hated solving..<br />
<br />
As an economics student, it was grilled into me that in the future we are all dead.<br />
I think that's when I began to realise..<br />
It's now or never.<br />
<br />
I'm not one to just jump into the deep end of the ocean, and expect to be saved..<br />
But I did realise, that at some point of time, we all need to be saved, sometimes from our crazy self and sometimes from the decisions that we make that then complicate our lives.<br />
<br />
In 2010 after having my Zeke and Zene, I got back to a bit of work.<br />
I happily agreed, because it involved a long standing affair in my life..<br />
FOOD..<br />
I love food , and I have always been like that, always perennially hungry.<br />
You can offer me food ,after I have eaten a meal and I will have a bite.<br />
I can eat before a meal, during my meal and after my meal..<br />
<br />
Well somewhere down this gluttonous path I realised, that I actually began to fall in love with the whole cooking process.<br />
And more than that, to just look at the faces of the people who are eating the food I cooked gives me immense satisfaction.<br />
<br />
I'm a lazy person..<br />
I really do not like hard work..<br />
If I had to go out and look for a job, I would be jobless, that's what I am right now ha ha ha..<br />
But this recipe is really worth staying in the kitchen ,a little while longer for.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
THE BAKED VEGETABLE RECIPE IS IN MY BOOK, "FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS"AND WILL BE ON THE SHELVES MID SEPTEMBER<br />
<br />
Well if you ask me am I qualified in anything, the answer is no.<br />
So while I was hosting this food show in 2010, all I wanted to do is to actually go back to school and learn how to cook.<br />
I zeroed down on Tante Marie, it was in London, 8 hours away from home, my college best friend Lorraine lives there..<br />
And of course the queen of England , who has yet to make friends with me, but probably on my next trip... Ha ha ha<br />
My course started end September, the latest I could pay my fees were by the end of August, and for the life of me , I just did not.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
I was too scared.<br />
Not scared of the work, I loved the thought of going back to school.<br />
Nor the travel, I was born for that..<br />
<br />
Ok....I was just too frightened to sleep alone.<br />
I had never ever slept alone.<br />
Ok stop looking at me like me like I'm some bed-hopping diva..ha ha ha ...<br />
<br />
All my life and through my work, I had always shared my bed-room with my sister, or then jumped into my co-Vj Mini's room and never left..thank god we became really close friends, so that was a great arrangement, but otherwise, make-up crew, my female directors etc..<br />
And now my kids..<br />
<br />
So this damn sleeping alone in Woking..<br />
Was messing with me big time.<br />
Most of my friends, told me you will be back in a week , barring a few.<br />
<br />
So finally the day came when I had to take off, it was a Saturday, on Monday I would be in class.<br />
Warsi dropped me to the airport, and held me tight and said, " Baby if you feel like coming back in a week , just do, don't bother about anything"<br />
He is really sweet that man...<br />
<br />
But I looked at him, and in my bravest voice said, '1 will see you in 12 weeks"<br />
Frankly I was petrified..<br />
But I got onto that plane, full of crazy excitement.<br />
Half of me was running through the streets of London was the other half was sitting frightened in her bed..<br />
I finally reached London,took a taxi to Woking.<br />
Lovely little place 40 minutes from Waterloo station as i later discovered..<br />
<br />
I loved my land-lady on sight.<br />
Eve was pixie like and full of beans, she reminded me of my friend Sandy.<br />
Yup I lived in a home-stay..<br />
A room in some one's house.<br />
Because the thought of a hotel room , gosh not at all.<br />
I settled in..<br />
<br />
It soon was 10 PM..<br />
I then went to her side of the house , said good-night and then popped the million dollar question...<br />
No I did not ask her if I could sleep in her bed, but the thought did cross my mind...ha ha ha<br />
I asked her to please open the connecting door.<br />
She looked at me like I'm psycho.<br />
But she did.<br />
<br />
I walked to my comfy bed, pulled my duvet till my nose..<br />
It was now time for me to go to sleep with all my favorite scary moments and monsters..<br />
It's like I take them all with me every where I go..<br />
I lay down, I said my guardian angel prayer..<br />
And just waited..<br />
Well there was no knight in shining armour to sit by me, or hold me tight.<br />
I had to save myself from my very very lucid imagination.<br />
And I did one day a time.<br />
<br />
It was a very very uneasy night..<br />
I woke up really early and went for a run, through this beautiful park behind my house..<br />
when I got back , Eve was at the table, eating breakast..<br />
She looked at me and said, 'You're an early bird'<br />
Ha ha ha only on holidays I thought to myself, and then proceeded to tell her how amazing my run was through that park.<br />
"What park", she said, "there is no park here, just a forest behind that has birds, and foxes and a few stray wolves..."<br />
<br />
Ahhhhh ha ha ha ..<br />
So I ran free, with the birds in their nests and foxes in their holes and wolves on the side..<br />
<br />
On Monday when I got my chef whites and my knives.<br />
I just came home, knighted my self with some Merlot ..<br />
And that was that..<br />
<br />
It was now or never, I was my own knight, my own self-help book, my own psychiatrist , my own light at the end of a 12 week long tunnel..<br />
Yes I had wonderful friends who constantly kept intouch with me, and that made it all better..<br />
But that time alone in Woking, made me brand shiny new and the girl I met on the other side of the tunnel at the end of those 12 weeks, well she was still all over the place, and lost, but was totally happy with it ..<br />
<br />
I love all my flaws..<br />
That's what makes me... ME..<br />
And so I just want to say that sometimes what frightens you the most is actually what will set you free...<br />
<br />
So as I bite into these perfectly baked vegetables, I'm actually thinking of you , and wondering will you try this, or will you just let this moment pass..<br />
I would not<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw1spVGEMdHeTOQKezEVRJu_wg8EU6LSRFMrtPTWhGRkJorOsDz2RNh1NDLURhHocVY8LOe6T0-64XK-i9yiScXcIMyOkCme_zQX6_j7jcKH47vFdG2EbiQrdNlTiT-Cb4gaRpz9sRIQI/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw1spVGEMdHeTOQKezEVRJu_wg8EU6LSRFMrtPTWhGRkJorOsDz2RNh1NDLURhHocVY8LOe6T0-64XK-i9yiScXcIMyOkCme_zQX6_j7jcKH47vFdG2EbiQrdNlTiT-Cb4gaRpz9sRIQI/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Its now or never..<br />
<br />
Yup that's all..<br />
<br />
With lotsa love and yumminess, only from 'Maria's Kitchen"<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-75952895346093871742014-12-14T18:42:00.000+05:302015-06-29T09:12:07.298+05:30DAY 112 - WHOLE BAKED CHRISTMAS CHICKEN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
So this recipe is a very very special one , it's the type of bake I have seen my mom do since I was just a little girl peeking over the table ..<br />
My mum was like speedy Gonzalez in the kitchen ..<br />
She would churn out the most amazing stuff in a jiffy...<br />
And was always trying out new things.<br />
Our home was a favorite haunt with my friends..<br />
She always had a stock of muffins at home ..<br />
And in the summer, her mango ice cream was most loved and wanted amongst my friends..<br />
<br />
It's funny that we spend all our growing years arguing and opposing everything our parents said to us or made us do..<br />
To find out later in life..<br />
That we are actually them ..<br />
Sometimes when I'm talking to my Zeke and Zene , I literally stop mid sentence..<br />
Because I was about to say the same exact words my mum said ..<br />
And if they were so wrong when we were young , then how come we become them,when we have kids...<br />
It's so weird, that we become a version of our parents, who we may or may not agree with..<br />
And so life goes on..<br />
<br />
I read somewhere, that if you want your family traditions to continue, you should involve your daughter, because she is the one who will keep your family traditions alive and will pass it down..<br />
The boys ..<br />
Well there is a lot I can say about boys, I think we spoil them..<br />
But the one thing I would like to say is that, most are more complicated than us girls, but are better at looking cool and unaffected..ha ha ha<br />
<br />
So this recipe I'm sharing with you is not just a recipe..<br />
It's part of my<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> childhood memories and a growing up I did when I studied at Tante Marie.</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #351c75;">THIS RECIPE IS IN MY BOOK, FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS" THAT WILL BE ON THE STANDS MID-SEPTEMBER.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Christmas is a very beautiful part of the year..<br />
During Christmas time , you automatically take stock of your life..<br />
And it just all happens so organically ..<br />
<br />
I guess it's the end of the year assessment of your own life and relationships..<br />
So how many are still as close to you ,as they were in the beginning of the year..<br />
How many strangers do you now call friends....<br />
And how many close friends are now strangers....<br />
Well that's quite a lot of introspection, happening, if you are really delving into it and not speed skiing on the surface..<br />
<br />
So during Christmas you write cards, or send SMS's , or what's app friends..<br />
Some special ones you will call and face time..<br />
And that's how it is today so connected by the world of technology, and yet I feel there is a coldness about , connecting via a machine.<br />
I miss receiving hand written cards.<br />
But I don't send them either, so frankly I should not expect any..<br />
<br />
I remember, along with the sweets that we would be busy making, we would also be either making or then buying special cards, to write and send to family and friends.<br />
And just before Christmas, a big ribbon was hung and all the cards we received would be hung from wall to wall.<br />
My kids don't ever see that...<br />
I don't make cards anymore...<br />
I don't send or receiveany either, except from a lovely old uncle and Aunt..<br />
<br />
I feel like a little part of my life has just disappeared ..<br />
Like a missing soul ...<br />
But I'm thinking, maybe next year , this is what I should do..<br />
Gather all the paper and start from scratch, and hand write cards to my family and friends..<br />
<br />
I don't go around giving sweets anymore either..<br />
I still remember, after mid-night mass , and that was truly held at mid-night..<br />
We would first run home, to find our toys under the tree but Santa, would always be missed by just a bell..<br />
Damn damn damn...<br />
And then we would all run to one another's houses and wish everyone..<br />
Hug and kiss everyone actually..<br />
Till I grew up , and then it was just a hand-shake and an awkward kiss on the cheek ha ha ha ..<br />
I think that was the only night we were allowed to stay up late..<br />
And then in the morning, my mum would get bustling in the kitchen..<br />
<br />
She would have Vindaloo, and Duck Moile , a potato and Mayo salad, fugiyaas , a baked chicken and then dessert would be all the Christmas sweets and a trifle pudding..<br />
We would then have an inch of red wine (Made by my daddy)..ha ha ha<br />
It was actually literally poured an inch..<br />
But it was such a thrill to say cheers ..<br />
And then sip on it and have all the food on the table, after which , we were so full of eating and exhausted with the late night, and the early morning that we slept..<br />
<br />
And thereafter the week would be, just going visiting family and friends and having people over..<br />
And eating left overs..<br />
I loved that..<br />
<br />
I'm just realising that in the age of no technology, we made it a point to stay in touch with all who mattered..<br />
Today in spite of all the tech-equipment, we don't..<br />
Or then we think that by sending a smiley to someone..<br />
You are keeping in touch..<br />
Is this not a sad state of relationships..<br />
<br />
I think I want to go back to my childhood , and continue life from how I lived it ..<br />
But I can't..<br />
So I have to start with right now..<br />
<br />
I'm going to start with me and my kids..<br />
They need to know how to stay in touch with people that matter for real..<br />
Writing a letter to someone and posting it is not old fashioned, but really sweet..<br />
Need to teach them simple stuff.<br />
Like return a call, you may not think that person is important enough, but that person thought so , that's why they called you .<br />
Reply to messages, it's really not so difficult..<br />
I'm not saying that people who do are wonderful people..<br />
But the ones who don't, just tell you , that you don't matter..<br />
Need us all to understand that by saying 'Please, Thank-you and Sorry' and really meaning it ..<br />
Can actually change our own life..<br />
Writing a letter to Santa, even though we know he is not "a" single person, (but a hoard of loving souls , who keep him alive , for the next generation...)<br />
Is the best gift you could give yourself..<br />
<br />
I write to Santa, every year ..<br />
Sometimes it's a happy letter..<br />
And sometimes I realise that there is a part of me that wants stuff that I'm never going to get...<br />
But "Hope" is beautiful..<br />
It's what keeps us all alive and smiling..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8U18CU3t8e83ZREGm7uGg8oq8q2yQtgg2q4u6d9SkyN9N_W-KdLe2mcgh_xl-gDAbaT3CFdTK2kAk4cTrKRxVorfxE5Btu5krtnqCyZONh1_IXbNGOrBRiMclk5vQNK86wkcgibqUEIu/s640/blogger-image--1340394079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8U18CU3t8e83ZREGm7uGg8oq8q2yQtgg2q4u6d9SkyN9N_W-KdLe2mcgh_xl-gDAbaT3CFdTK2kAk4cTrKRxVorfxE5Btu5krtnqCyZONh1_IXbNGOrBRiMclk5vQNK86wkcgibqUEIu/s640/blogger-image--1340394079.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And so this year too...<br />
I have made my grown-up Christmas list..<br />
Knowing fully well, that if you do want something from the bottom of your heart, the universe gives it to you eventually ..<br />
Whether you are still interested or not..<br />
ha ha ha<br />
<br />
This year, I just want that each and every woman in my country can breathe safely..<br />
That the kids are kept safe in mind , body, heart and soul..<br />
And that when we SMS, email, what's app or call one another..<br />
We really mean what we are writing or saying..<br />
If not for yours sake, then for the person at the other end..<br />
They may just believe you ..<br />
<br />
So yup this Christmas..<br />
I just want to say, this recipe is something that just does not have ingredients, but is filled with moments and collections of memories in my life..<br />
It's years of different Christmases, writing cards, posting cards, opening envelopes, hanging cards on ribbons..<br />
To calling friends and family..<br />
To sending messages , SMS 's , whatsapping, FB greetings to Twitter messages..<br />
I hate emails..so don't do that..<br />
To making calls after more than the childhood quota , of an inch of red wine ha ha ha ..<br />
It's all encompassing ..<br />
<br />
So with lotsa love ..<br />
Merry Christmas..<br />
<br />
P.S. If you are going to make this baked chicken, at least try it out once before Christmas..<br />
It's easy, but I never got it right the first time..<br />
But then maybe , you will..<br />
All the best and stay happy ..<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoB8vHLJ2FQqsHYQASUC4M6NgvzNirtntwGlbxJjdmO0Xde7DuJYnaZkpHgVP86_iPrlGGHxzZ7KDBhoQTi1_Ydt7BHjGrkXYgr7mp5Mk4t7CGdLmomZq3AWrvpjk4D5XC8mHalvBMfKx/s640/blogger-image-2041683888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoB8vHLJ2FQqsHYQASUC4M6NgvzNirtntwGlbxJjdmO0Xde7DuJYnaZkpHgVP86_iPrlGGHxzZ7KDBhoQTi1_Ydt7BHjGrkXYgr7mp5Mk4t7CGdLmomZq3AWrvpjk4D5XC8mHalvBMfKx/s640/blogger-image-2041683888.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And so was feeling a bit brave and decided to wish you in song..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
But after hearing it, was thankful that I dont cook like I sing ...ha ha ha </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My kids thought I sounded like a chipmunk, and my cousin Penny felt it was more a chipmunk with a sore throat..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
What ever it sounds like ..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The intention was to wish you Merry Christmas..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
So ignore the voice and just go with the thought behind it ..PLEASE</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/ixZx43JzTvk" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://youtu.be/ixZx43JzTvk</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-3394090467395574072014-12-09T12:50:00.001+05:302014-12-09T20:16:08.193+05:30DAY 111 - DOUGH BALLS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSfuapFBH347xHBf3VnBlhha-id6vtmPngFpWNZ-BGQq898FBxNXgsl4eR4potlNkFivGZkAfzVuKEkvN8I8bL_CMl6eYjCV7VaeQenaI2V5ox_neus9_uypmYNUYt-Z8dYt0W9njo_GH/s640/blogger-image-1641587199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSfuapFBH347xHBf3VnBlhha-id6vtmPngFpWNZ-BGQq898FBxNXgsl4eR4potlNkFivGZkAfzVuKEkvN8I8bL_CMl6eYjCV7VaeQenaI2V5ox_neus9_uypmYNUYt-Z8dYt0W9njo_GH/s640/blogger-image-1641587199.jpg"></a></div><br>
I love DECEMBER and all that comes with it ..<br>
It's the month of Christmas and my birthday month..Yeeeeeah...<br>
<br>
I love birthdays..<br>
Mine and everyone else's..<br>
<br>
And every year on my birthday I just thank God for keeping me blessed and for giving me such amazing people in my life..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br>
Right from my parents to my puppy Taz...<br>
I'm happy for every single person who has walked into my life..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And stayed..</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Or walked out, because I'm just too much to handle ha ha ha<br>
<br>
I know that nothing in this life of ours happens by chance..<br>
It's all, is a long drawn plan..<br>
By God , who has just the naughtiest sense of humour and has such finesse with timing sometimes, that he can really test your patience..<br>
Well he does mine..<br>
<br>
So whether certain people or situations in life are fantastic or terrible..<br>
Or whether it makes no difference at all..<br>
Just remember that it all moves ions and neutrons from the deepest corners of your soul, even if you don't believe in jargon like this ..<br>
And yes, you will never be the same ..<br>
<br>
Am I the same girl I was a year ago ..<br>
Yes mostly..<br>
A little kg here and there..<br>
One more wrinkle as I smile..<br>
A strand of grey in my hair that I love..<br>
But this is just the outside..<br>
That may or may not be visible..<br>
<br>
But my insides..<br>
Are the same..<br>
I don't know..<br>
<br>
But I feel a peace inside my soul that I may have never felt before..<br>
I am able to forgive ,eventually, because I know I'm not perfect either..<br>
I try to forget,between buckets of tears and pillow cases..<br>
I try and keep life as real as possible..<br>
I try and keep my mouh shut, most times, unless I really have to just say what I want to say..<br>
I never give up easily..<br>
I'm still irritatingly impulsive..<br>
I sit quietly sometimes..<br>
I sing loudly in the shower..<br>
I fight for the people I want in my life, until I feel they do not anymore want me in theirs..<br>
I apologise..<br>
I explode..<br>
I dance..<br>
I throw tantrums, if I know it will work..<br>
I drink wine..<br>
I sleep ..<br>
I run..<br>
I love..<br>
<br>
I feel that in life...<br>
If we can be a little accepting of what life throws at us..<br>
It brings us , just a little closer to who we actually are..<br>
<br>
You don't just find gold..<br>
You have to dig deep for it ..<br>
And then it has to go through fire to bring out it's purity..<br>
<br>
I guess we are all like gold...<br>
How we deal with life ..<br>
When you are riding a high or a low..<br>
Really shows us who we are..<br>
<br>
Some are honest<br>
Some are brave<br>
Some are accepting<br>
Some are fighters<br>
Some are meek<br>
Some are rigid<br>
Some are malleable</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Some just laugh through it </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Some become somber <br>
Some throw in the towel too soon...<br>
<br>
What ever we do , there is no, one perfect way, to live life..<br>
We have to just make the most of what each day throws at us , without losing our true essence..<br>
The thing about our true essence, is that, its like 24 carat gold..<br>
When you put gold through fire, it comes out Gold and shiny, it does not change into some other metal..<br>
Unless it is some other metal, with a rinse of gold..<br>
<br>
And so today ,I'm sharing with you a recipe, that I use to make a whole lot of things with..<br>
It's a simple dough , but every time I make it , I do something different to it..<br>
(Why? ...because its fun)<br>
And that changes how it looks and feels, and with the right additions also how it tastes when you bite into it..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://youtu.be/wU58kUUZbl0">http://youtu.be/wU58kUUZbl0</a><br>
<br>
We need to be like this simple dough, that is a accepting to change and also absorb new things in life..<br>
<br>
So today that I'm a year older, I don't want to preach to you ..<br>
Because I know very little about life myself..<br>
I think I have just about tasted the tip of the iceberg of life..<br>
And have a long way to go ..<br>
<br>
But I know one thing..<br>
No matter what you may go through good or bad..<br>
Say thank you to the universe or if you believe in a God..<br>
Then thank him...<br>
<br>
Because I know that no matter what road you walk on or through,and no matter who you meet and talk to for a while or a life time..<br>
At turns and detours most unexpectedly, you will feel a beautiful corner in your soul just opening up..<br>
<br>
So if someone makes you smile..<br>
Please go ahead and pass that smile forward to some one else..<br>
If someone makes you cry..<br>
There is something that the universe is trying to teach you ..<br>
So learn that lesson ..<br>
Don't harden your heart..<br>
Hearts were meant for love..<br>
<br>
It's just that ..<br>
We all live in a crazy maze..<br>
Sometimes there is so much electricity that you can light a whole city with it ..<br>
And sometimes, the wires just fuse..<br>
The point is sometimes, it can be repaired and sometimes, it has burnt itself out..<br>
You always know YOUR reality deep inside you ..You have all the answers you are searching for..<br>
So look inside not out..<br>
(I'm feeling very intelligent right now, just wish I followed my own words all the time ha ha ha )<br>
<br>
Whichever way your life travels..<br>
Always remember..<br>
This is how it IS supposed to be , whether you like it or not..<br>
Share the happiness and swim through sadness to the other side..<br>
<br>
So go with it..<br>
And be like the dough that converts into crisp pizzas, bready calzone or then the softest dough balls..<br>
Without losing its essence..<br>
Which is not its taste<br>
But its ability to go with the flow...</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Like in the words of the Penguins of Madagascar, "Looks don't matter, it's what you do that counts"<br>
<br>
So while I bite into the softest morsel of bread loaded with this cream cheese dip..<br>
I'm thinking...<br>
<br>
Please add 2 tbsp more of Nutella and 1 table spoon more of the condensed milk..<br>
Don't laugh I'm serious...<br>
It will taste better..<br>
<br>
No you are not going to put on weight with one extra bite..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQsznBb0lld7kh7DPWkrVJ7SmrHHlPCu47b-cnPevwpd9ibAyMRWde2qQu2coGWni_mHLyx8XX-Yk2L0VDxzNUtk-L96McPlAmPTmWkck11hEfXz7WiGGnmMTXmhE1cALPIshhs0LPIX9/s640/blogger-image-434597541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQsznBb0lld7kh7DPWkrVJ7SmrHHlPCu47b-cnPevwpd9ibAyMRWde2qQu2coGWni_mHLyx8XX-Yk2L0VDxzNUtk-L96McPlAmPTmWkck11hEfXz7WiGGnmMTXmhE1cALPIshhs0LPIX9/s640/blogger-image-434597541.jpg"></a></div><br>
<br>
So I just want to say thank-you, to each and everyone who sent me Birthday wishes yesterday..<br>
A big Thaaaank you , with much love from me to you, only from "Maria's Kitchen "..<br>
<br>
So does getting a year older make me any wiser..<br>
Ha ha ha I don't think so..<br>
But yes it does tell me, time maybe running out ..<br>
So grab your moments of joy....<br>
And stay happy ...<br>
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwniu_nbcq-osytJUNeaJe4-m8tn8cglOpv-OnNv50HZYGNC695CtnHZrm381NqIxAyw_vSm9gOKMy5f9KvfplkocYNrHwUf0196gDHDVoipej-7IInCKXOVRliUN9ni7zDvqsQstNX5rG/s640/blogger-image--1566737669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwniu_nbcq-osytJUNeaJe4-m8tn8cglOpv-OnNv50HZYGNC695CtnHZrm381NqIxAyw_vSm9gOKMy5f9KvfplkocYNrHwUf0196gDHDVoipej-7IInCKXOVRliUN9ni7zDvqsQstNX5rG/s640/blogger-image--1566737669.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-3112295705929193762014-11-15T15:55:00.002+05:302014-11-15T19:23:58.124+05:30DAY 109 - CHOCOLATE PIZZA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And so everytime I look at my kids I just thank God for them, thank him for giving me a new lease of life.<br> For giving me a chance to relive my childhood again ofcourse with a lot more responsibilities..<br> I love kids..<br> Though not all though..<br> I'm not mother Theresa after all.<br><br> But what I love most about them , is that they will always tell you like it is, until you teach them otherwise.<br> If you want to know the truth about anything ask a child.<br> Only if you really want the truth.<br><br> And how many of us really are ready to hear the truth about ourselves.<br> Well I'm putting up my hand first...<br> Of course we all want to be liked , loved and appreciated.<br> But do we do the same.<br> Are we able to put our biases and judgemental beings aside and appreciate someone for exactly who she is..<br> No it's really difficult...<br><br> And so I think ...<br> (And I think a lot sometimes) ha ha ha<br> That if we can tap into our inner child , and ask her how she is feeling , she will tell you the truth..<br> She will tell you that , you may probably be doing it all right , but are actually all wrong.<br><br> Children to me are our greatest teachers.<br> They eat when they are hungry, sleep when they are tired , protest when their toys are being taken over , and throw huge tantrums when they want their way and can't have it ..<br> Not very different from us adults !<br> But we as adults have learnt how to mask what we feel, say what we don't mean , and our actions mostly do not match our words!<br> And we call that "Social etiquette " ..<br> How messed up are we ..ha ha ha<br><br> So if we can try and keep it simple, I think our lives would be less complicated.<br> Please do say no , when you don't want to be part of something!<br> Say yes , when you want to .<br> And don't let your ego get in the way of love.<br> Give the tightest hugs..<br> Say I love you , when you mean it..<br> Say I miss if , because you really do !<br> Smile a lot, it could make someone's day .<br> And sing in the bathroom ,if you do not have a voice like "Pink"..<br><br> But live ..<br> As fully and joyously as you did when you were little..<br> When the most you had to worry about, is whether , Santa is going to get you what you wrote to him about..<br><br> There seems to be a huge lacuna between what we want to do in life and what we do!<br> And that mostly because , no life does not follow our plans..<br> But plans are constantly running around in mixed up circles , by the life we lead.<br><br> Can we step back just for a little while..<br> Like today ...<br> And look at the moon, while you are travelling back home, and believe he is following you , because you are special, just like you used to , when you were little..<br> And believed in all things good and magical..<br> There is no magic , unless you believe...<br><br> And so today I would like to share with you a recipe , that I conjured up in my kitchen..<br> Pizza dough , chocolate and marshmallows..<br> Nothing fancy or gourmet about it ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://youtu.be/tzgK93ahi78">http://youtu.be/tzgK93ahi78</a><br><br> But the combination "Magical"..<br> Try it..<br> And write back to me only after you watch the moon following you home..<br> Speak to that little child who lives deep inside you ..<br> Ask her how she is doing..<br> Look after her..<br> Tell her that it will all be fine..<br> Tell her that she needs to always walk ahead with a smile and the world will smile back ..<br> Tell her that it's ok to love someone to bits..<br> And that her heart will also smash to smithereens..<br> But it's only like what Rumi said..<br> It's from here that the light enters through..<br> Tell her it's ok to laugh like a cackling witch and it's also ok to cry buckets..<br> It's ok to believe that not everyone is as bad or as good as the next ..<br> And it's ok to just walk alone..<br> To sit under a tree, and fall asleep without an intelligent book in her hand..<br> It's all right to not know all the right answers..<br><br> But it's not ok to<br> Not dream<br> To stop loving<br> To stop trusting<br> To give up ...<br><br> We have just this one life ..<br> And so many choices..<br><br> So let's live like little kids..<br> Open Pandora's box..<br> Make mistakes..<br> Fall..<br> Get bruised and run again...<br><br> Ok I need to stop ..<br> I need to just bite into the gooey, melting slice of goodness in my hand..<br> And share this with all of you ..<br><br>This is for you, for me , for us , for all the kids , and to the child in each and everyone of us..that sometimes just needs to chase butterflies..<br> With tons of hugs from "Maria's Kitchen "<br></div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-80673984363702419892014-11-12T21:57:00.000+05:302015-05-26T01:50:23.902+05:30DAY 108 - LACCHA PARATHA...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I<br>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I feel in life it's very easy for us to ignore the ordinary and run after all , what we deem special, that's just human nature.<br>
But it is only through the most simple things in life that greatness is achieved.<br>
<br>
Like we all started with crawling, before we could walk and run..<br>
We needed to learn the alphabet , before we could write or read..<br>
<br>
And the one thing I have learned is that we need to learn how to forgive before we can love..<br>
<br>
Love is quite a leveller in life.<br>
One minute you are soaring through the clouds and the other you may just be unable to get up from your bed ..<br>
What we need to be like..<br>
Is like , "whole wheat flour"..<br>
Yeah , common , to say the least , so easy to find in any shop and so easy to use ..<br>
But can change form and shape and be a friend to almost any kind of food..<br>
This does not mean it has no depth, it just means it is well adjusted, and sure of who it is..<br>
<br>
It's amazing how much you learn about life from food..<br>
I learnt that , you should not starve, eat everything you like in the right proportion , and indulge yourself when you feel like..<br>
<br>
And do not ignore the little stuff..<br>
Drink enough of water everyday.<br>
Eat at least 2 fruits, 2 raw vegetable and eat your Roti and rice..<br>
No the gluten from your roti and the sugar from your rice won't kill you ..<br>
<br>
And yes, our parents and grand-parents, never used the word "Diet" ...<br>
They ate everything and worked hard, and that's why , we need to heed their words of wisdom.<br>
<br>
Today I'm going to share something with you , that's so basic that every one should learn to make it, so incase you are in a situation , where you need to fend for yourself, you can at least make yourself some wholesome, hot "Roti"</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://youtu.be/uaeKPL3HNjY">http://youtu.be/uaeKPL3HNjY</a><br>
<br>
I never knew how to make rotis , till a few years ago, and everytime my mom said we need to learn , we laughed at her, my sister and me.<br>
<br>
But, Boss, at the end of the day, do you want to rely on help for something so basic..<br>
I think you should all go try this, it simple fun and a good activity to do with friends and family..<br>
Nothing bonds people like cooking together..<br>
And for those who pray, well praying together..<br>
<br>
Something so basic ..<br>
That completely satiates you ..<br>
Can I make a perfectly round roti...<br>
NO, NOT AT ALL...<br>
But that's not the end of the world..<br>
Can you make , "Pansette de Gerzat"????<br>
<br>
Ha ha ha I'm sure you are wondering what that is ...<br>
Well just want to tell you, whatever it is neither can I , I just googled it , ha ha ha<br>
<br>
But we can all try and live life , with our basics in place ..<br>
Pray ( or don't) , love ( or don't) , eat ( or starve)<br>
Frankly to each her own..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LhYL-T_evy3oTW7JUIe7CLWYZGBtn1oh97gUObtfawJHSaCJYF0p3k089RXetqIgy0RuBgmwfXvdo52Nj_CaC1pM2c9Q_8tD4LiFezLlW4jXX71j4aqeNazLtwzpEqQ3umbCY0lM9u4w/s640/blogger-image--1764150244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LhYL-T_evy3oTW7JUIe7CLWYZGBtn1oh97gUObtfawJHSaCJYF0p3k089RXetqIgy0RuBgmwfXvdo52Nj_CaC1pM2c9Q_8tD4LiFezLlW4jXX71j4aqeNazLtwzpEqQ3umbCY0lM9u4w/s640/blogger-image--1764150244.jpg"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
So as I take a bite of this beautiful crunchy "Laccha paratha," loaded with ghee also known as clarified butter..<br>
I'm filled with a warmth and happiness about the fact that only simple things actually do permeate your soul..<br>
With much love from "Maria's Kitchen"...<br>
<br></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-73911897364026810632014-10-21T23:30:00.000+05:302014-10-29T09:09:14.266+05:30DAY 107 - MINTY CHICKEN...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I was a kid, Diwali for me meant being in my grandmas home in Vasai, my mum is the fourth of eight sisters, so you can just imagine what a full house that was.<br>
Diwali meant that we would get sparklers from every uncle who came over to my grandmas post collecting their Diwali bonus and always had the biggest box of sweets I had seen.<br>
My grandma cooked a simple meal, of fish curry and dry mutton and there would be much merriment.<br>
We kids would then light our sparklers , fountains, and then get out our boxes of chakkris, and this weird black tablet little thing that when we lit would grow into a snake, so we got into putting these all over the entrance steps of our house , and then of course the final "Laddhi" of noisy crackers..<br>
That frightened the crap out of all of us..<br>
<br>
I never did like them , I still don't do .<br>
We kids then just hung out on our really long verandah , that had a swing , that creaked away into the night as we swung on it.<br>
It was just wonderful, and this memory of us lying on that big swing, swinging away, as we peeked at a black sky , studded with stars , and listen to the rustle of the wind through the palm leaves, is something that has just stayed with me.<br>
<br>
Then we would all move into the house and mattresses were laid from one end to the other and we would all sleep there in line, while my grandma moved to her room and would continue talking to all her children till late into the night, while my grandpa would say, "Dokri..bas aata, zhop aata "<br>
There was never any noise, no crackers bursting.<br>
Just the sound of Laughter amongst all my aunts, and stories of what happened during the struggle for independence ..<br>
<br>
Gosh , just reliving this, brings tears to my eyes.<br>
My grandma Rose Mary had the heartiest laugh, she smoked bidies, once in a while, my grandparents were farmers..<br>
And going to their place for holidays was my biggest joy.<br>
Running through fields, having a bath at the well, plucking fruit every afternoon (where we would eventually be bitten by red ants) and then the golas...<br>
To me this was Diwali..<br>
Our way of celebrating it ..<br>
There was nothing fancy ..<br>
But everything real and lots of love and laughter..<br>
<br>
I love this festival and as a kid growing up in a very Catholic community, I used to wait every year for Diwali sweets from my friends, it was just so special.<br>
My friends Laxmi, Renita and Kiran, was my first introduction to rangoli ,lighting of Diyas , Puja and vegetarian food.<br>
They were the ones who introduced me to the Dandiya and to Ganpati Visarjan.<br>
<br>
This is what I love about my India the most, that we are all so diverse and there is so much we can all learn from one another.<br>
<br>
But I actually started celebrating Diwali in full gusto with my friend Mini.<br>
She does the whole hog.<br>
It's just so nice.<br>
And then one year , she said what kind of Diwali is this no one gambles here, and she laid down these mattresses on her terrace , so I was introduced to "teen Patti" and other various card games that I don't quiet remember.<br>
So Mini would light Diyas all over the house, make her full Mathur "Khana" and then drape herself in a beautiful sari, (you know for me she is the sari icon of India ) and then she would saunter around, seeing that everyone is well fed, well drunk and gamble, till some would be dropping off to sleep (me ha ha ha )<br>
This year she is in the mountains , so it's a very quiet Diwali without her.<br>
<br>
With Jaya, we would do the full Puja and sing "Om Jai Jagdish" , with her kids ringing bells, and us all singing with much gusto, and then her mum would put Tikkas for all of us and then treat us to an amazing Vegetarian fare, and all the kids just had a blast.<br>
<br>
To me this is Diwali<br>
Family, friends,giving thanks and lighting up Diyas..<br>
<br>
What I dislike about Diwali,are the loud crackers , and my poor dog Taz sitting curled up petrified in a corner, and the horrible smog the next morning..<br>
<br>
Do I gamble..<br>
Nope I don't..<br>
I'm not a gambler , but a risk taker I am ..ha ha ha<br>
<br>
Today I took all my diyas and after lighting up my home,and I drove over to my new home, with Zene, Taz and my house help..<br>
Both the boys of the house are out working and camping..<br>
So Zene and me went and light Diyas all around our new home..<br>
It now feels like home, even though it's still filled with cement, paint and not yet complete..<br>
<br>
So before I say bye, I just want to share with all of you this lovely Chicken recipe that my vegetarian friend Jaya gave me..ha ha ha ..yup..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BvfJwKtwDXSNeZFhLGN043EJs8YAoTnjbBbpJLuiHkSaBDJUjyAL21D2iil0yBVP0XIMFe4hHRTq3sxFD_uKqhaHL2eG7h3FlROCq2g93nJZ0Q7kDk837_dGl2Z7iqfSQUKzLBgtMyu2/s640/blogger-image-267535419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BvfJwKtwDXSNeZFhLGN043EJs8YAoTnjbBbpJLuiHkSaBDJUjyAL21D2iil0yBVP0XIMFe4hHRTq3sxFD_uKqhaHL2eG7h3FlROCq2g93nJZ0Q7kDk837_dGl2Z7iqfSQUKzLBgtMyu2/s640/blogger-image-267535419.jpg"></a></div>
<br>
It's something that is so yummy and full of flavour, it's not spicy so great for kids too..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://youtu.be/rtTjBTyGsCQ">http://youtu.be/rtTjBTyGsCQ</a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br>
And if you want to spice it up , just slit a green chili and have it with every bite, it's totally yummy.<br>
<br>
<br>
So "Happy Diwali" my dear readers, thank you for all the warmth and the love ..<br>
Stay blessed and shine ..<br>
And have a sparkler of a Diwali..<br>
And try and celebrate by lighting up each other's lives with love , patience, understanding and hugs...<br>
Happppppppeeeeeeee Diwaaaaaaaaaliiiiiiii ,with much love from me to you , only from "Maria's Kitchen "<br>
<br></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-68506947649343977652014-10-15T15:07:00.000+05:302014-10-15T16:06:57.275+05:30DAY 106 - JALEBI...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And so I was just pondering about the fact that we meet so many people everyday..<br>
Some of us are just not comfortable meeting new people..<br>
Some we are vary of ..,<br>Most of them we envy..<br>
A few we respect ..<br>
A few we are jealous off...<br>
A few we feel more superior too..<br>
And a few ,then we count as equals ..<br>
Those are the ones we make friends with ..<br>
<br>
And then if someone tips our balance ..<br>
Then our equilibrium goes for a toss and all hell breaks loose. ..<br>
Ha ha ha<br>
Do you know under our calm, peaceful, frantic , energetic or OCD exteriors ..<br>
<br>
We are twisted<br>
That is a human speciality ..<br>
Each and everyone of us..<br>So don't berate yourself ..<br>
And don't think you are special either..<br>
We all come with our own set of confused notions to the table, with a somber face..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br>
That's what we learn in life..<br>Act cool..<br>
Act like you know what you are doing..<br>
Stay in control..<br>
<br>
But behind that smile, or that somber face ..<br>
We are all alike ..<br>
We just look like we have answers ..<br>
But I can tell you this for a fact .<br>
The more peaceful a person looks<br>
The more confused he is ..<br>
<br>
I may be completely wrong ..<br>
After all I'm not Freud ..<br>
<br>
But I have my own twisted theories of life ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br>
Like any of you ..<br>
I think I'm mostly right , when I may be wrong 99 times outa hundred ..<br>
And so today I'm gonna share something with you that I'm so happy with ..<br>
That it really does not matter how many twists and turns it has ..</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Let's just say it's curvy , like me .. AaaH ha ha ha ...</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://youtu.be/WTh9aD1R1SE">http://youtu.be/WTh9aD1R1SE</a><br>
<br>
So I'm hoping you do get the drift ..<br>
It's easy to be complicated ..<br>
But it's really complicated ,to just be easy ..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But this one piece of this Jalebi ..</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Will give you peace of mind , for a bit ..<br>
The crispness that holds that beautiful gold syrup..<br>
Is indulgence from a happy goddess ..<br>
So sit back and bite into a piece of twisted bliss, filled with many hugs , only from "Maria's Kitchen "<br>
<br></div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKBeOopOCZnbITg1R0AQQH8HCFwuLc0j-TJwY0QN1TIrxZosMnjjoGxg782DW069MLkmDaCUf0RxteS4ofEV0MD5F-CAci8npvtCyzE2os-S3H6QQpvGAHNb3RwbytoecGoxDHcxvAvv9/s640/blogger-image--167517305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKBeOopOCZnbITg1R0AQQH8HCFwuLc0j-TJwY0QN1TIrxZosMnjjoGxg782DW069MLkmDaCUf0RxteS4ofEV0MD5F-CAci8npvtCyzE2os-S3H6QQpvGAHNb3RwbytoecGoxDHcxvAvv9/s640/blogger-image--167517305.jpg"></a></div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqbhEk-yyaTYMZgPvkvb3_ZjCTPiOJjinX1VcPZlPE5_Vy9MNfHetrj1-Ztb93k1qvbah90I_GKKHxOM24QvOO2LBtJzu4quaKXW7vKRQxoOTJnhSvXaHd-3hSE5M828fuqhJA1V1sEQt/s640/blogger-image--1732826119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqbhEk-yyaTYMZgPvkvb3_ZjCTPiOJjinX1VcPZlPE5_Vy9MNfHetrj1-Ztb93k1qvbah90I_GKKHxOM24QvOO2LBtJzu4quaKXW7vKRQxoOTJnhSvXaHd-3hSE5M828fuqhJA1V1sEQt/s640/blogger-image--1732826119.jpg"></a></div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop8SurufGEDrOttSFeCqvhIDypQDxReH3cxynpDYTE_XvPAcnUztmii9wCr5dfmDOVAimVGHTdMZTcZxebHVzeyzNpiITuvo9Ouqh6SHPSxhOGRlptKy2DjM97KjjZJaFHD1I2AJHtSVC/s640/blogger-image-1048082460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop8SurufGEDrOttSFeCqvhIDypQDxReH3cxynpDYTE_XvPAcnUztmii9wCr5dfmDOVAimVGHTdMZTcZxebHVzeyzNpiITuvo9Ouqh6SHPSxhOGRlptKy2DjM97KjjZJaFHD1I2AJHtSVC/s640/blogger-image-1048082460.jpg"></a></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-54065242399417782862014-10-07T20:54:00.000+05:302014-10-07T21:10:32.965+05:30Day 106 - Baked Potato<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So how many of you have potato friends..<br />
Don't get me wrong I don't mean to offend anyone in any way ..<br />
<br />
But I'm sure all of us have that one friend if not more , that truly gets you ..<br />
That one friend you will go to when nothing seems right ..<br />
Though not all may be quite wrong..<br />
That one friend who will open the door to your not so happy face , and offer you green tea or chocolate or just make you laugh and not ask you any questions till you are willing to spill the beans..<br />
Do you have anyone like that in your life ..<br />
Well I hope you do ..<br />
<br />
Because that is your Potato friend..<br />
<br />
I do not know many in this world who do not like eating "Potatoes"..<br />
<br />
And so that's why you must go ahead, and try this out ...<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/80nlavRkRKM" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/80nlavRkRKM</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
This is a hassle back potato, which is basically a potato that is finely sliced till the bottom but is still attached at the base, The proper noun "Hasselback" refers to the fancy Hasselback hotel and restaurant in Stockholm where this dish was made , or then you can be all "Einsteiny" and call it a baked "Solanum Tuberosum, but I THINK IT WILL BE EASIER AND LESS DEMANDING A RELATIONSHIP for all of us involved, if we can all just call it a "Baked Potato"...<br />
The taste will still stay intact ha ha ha ..<br />
It won't get upset, don't worry..<br />
But that is not something I can vouch for about the chef..ha ha Ha<br />
<br />
C'mon lets face it..<br />
The reason you are reading this is because probably<br />
1. You love eating Potatoes ..<br />
2. You love cooking..<br />
3. You love me ..ha ha ha ...<br />
<br />
Well if No.3 is why you are reading this..<br />
Gosh gee....thank you so much , it's nice to be loved..<br />
<br />
But I'm also hoping that you love eating potatoes as much as me and love cooking already or will soon start enjoying it ..<br />
<br />
And so I really want you guys to reply back to me with a 1,2 or 3 !<br />
A girl always likes to know..<br />
<br />
So getting back to the simple Potato, the vegetable filled with high carbohydrate content , is not as bad for your health as you imagine,and because a small but significant part of it is not easily digestible by our enzymes, it also acts like fibre.<br />
So before all you health buffs out there "dis" this humble vegetable, hold your abs in a bit ....<br />
<br />
All you guys out there who look at a potato in disdain , I feel bad for you , it's like saying who needs a friend, I'm good on my own..<br />
Well , it's really nice to be self sufficient and to not depend on anyone..<br />
<br />
But is it not nice to be home..<br />
Well that's what potatoes are they give you that feeling of home ..<br />
<br />
Or then have you thought of this the other way around..<br />
You may be some one's potato ..<br />
And someone in your life looks at you like their comfort zone..<br />
A person who will never judge them , but will always welcome them with that warm smile and a tight hug..<br />
<br />
Life is too short to have complexes or problems..<br />
We need to walk through the forest not around it ..<br />
And sometimes walking with some one who has your back just makes you feel safer, even if the other person is as clueless as you ..<br />
Just to know that someone , at least one person in the world will always welcome you with a smile , is just the most comforting feeling in the world ..<br />
<br />
So here's presenting , just out of the oven,a simple but completely deliciously addictive baked potato..that looks like it wants you to devour it now...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwymlI-x9X6eaqIVatsZYxCd_ESWnu_f4eoMTI5bc5Zx68Ni1MpQSqWlgZdkW1x6il8J3Y51Dk4Wkqv70vaKzhCyO90vS5oY0O2QoGBsXvQ6Z9qQng14ZyihTxnNns7zlZ2Wkxe3Vae8il/s640/blogger-image-2116904963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwymlI-x9X6eaqIVatsZYxCd_ESWnu_f4eoMTI5bc5Zx68Ni1MpQSqWlgZdkW1x6il8J3Y51Dk4Wkqv70vaKzhCyO90vS5oY0O2QoGBsXvQ6Z9qQng14ZyihTxnNns7zlZ2Wkxe3Vae8il/s640/blogger-image-2116904963.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
And that's exactly what I'm going to do with a dollop of hung Yoghurt...<br />
Yup, it's a "Hug of Food"...with much love from "Maria's Kitchen "<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-57204633210139941372014-10-06T22:17:00.000+05:302014-10-07T20:55:38.813+05:30DAY 105 - PESTO ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblqOQYkSSiTRPfF53fecEKxl2_pGRJMvKRrNNM7esDN7G93e4RZADHLfDlx4KWHBH3ft12VKWlSRflUUhwqg0xoO3HWbpLyvAlF79-4MdSFiVa5aE4dcMH7DBctU4J9S_YZhMOJveh95H/s640/blogger-image-1174491771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblqOQYkSSiTRPfF53fecEKxl2_pGRJMvKRrNNM7esDN7G93e4RZADHLfDlx4KWHBH3ft12VKWlSRflUUhwqg0xoO3HWbpLyvAlF79-4MdSFiVa5aE4dcMH7DBctU4J9S_YZhMOJveh95H/s640/blogger-image-1174491771.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
There is more to life than just living ..<br />
There is loving have you ever tried it ..<br />
<br />
Please do , there is nothing better in this world , than just deciding to like people for all their good ..<br />
And also if we can ignore a few of their faults , it won't hurt nobody..<br />
<br />
I just feel if I know I'm not perfect..<br />
How can I expect anyone else to be ..<br />
Frankly what is perfection..<br />
It's just a perception..<br />
And perception changes with time..<br />
So it's nice if we could be a percentage nicer than we want to be ..<br />
<br />
Sometimes just sometimes, go out of your way to make someone smile..<br />
Do a good deed for a stranger..<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Actually ..<br />
Forget a stranger, let's first reach out to someone close to us, give them a fun day..<br />
<br />
I'm all for peace..<br />
But sometimes in life , with its ups and downs, I sometimes go to pieces..<br />
And then when that happens..<br />
I do two things..<br />
I either go deep into hibernation or go completely quite..<br />
I have learnt that maturity is nothing but a series of really big mistakes that you have committed, and in time understand that , if you touch fire, you will get burnt..<br />
And age has nothing to do with it ..<br />
Infact I was a cautious young girl..<br />
But I like the fact that I have thrown caution to the wind..<br />
And I run with the wind and sometimes put fires off and sometimes start them...ha ha ha ..<br />
<br />
Today I just want to share with you this beautiful "Pesto recipe"</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://youtu.be/oF7ZhkoO6Eo">http://youtu.be/oF7ZhkoO6Eo</a><br />
<br />
<br />
It is one of my favorite sauce's in the world..<br />
And you can use it with Pasta, breads, smear it on grilled fish, eat it with raw tomatoes and basically have fun.<br />
<br />
The only thing is you can't heat it..<br />
It loses its freshness and delicate flavour..<br />
And does not stay flavourful pesto anymore..<br />
This sauce is just a beautiful balance of flavours put together and when you bite into it , you can't help but go "ummmmmmm"...<br />
It's like a beautiful loving relationship..<br />
That you want to keep fresh..<br />
<br />
If you put it through fire, it may still look green, albeit a darker shade of green..<br />
But it won't taste the same..</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just remember this...<br />
<br />
<br />
So here it is my favourite"Pesto" ..delicately balanced with the freshness of tender basil leaves, the coarseness of pine-nuts and the smoothness of cheese..<br />
If this does not feel like the one you are in love with ..<br />
Then just have another bite..<br />
With much warmness from , "Maria's Kitchen"...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-70075373163401702482014-10-06T00:12:00.000+05:302014-10-06T06:34:59.734+05:30DAY 104 - RED VELVET BROWNIE CHEESE-CAKE ..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br>
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 21px;">And so finally after hanging up my working stilettos in 2003, after many years of a fun filled carrier on tv, I finally succumbed to starting work again.</span><br>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ofcourse this time around, it feels different, I have no agenda , no plans , no back up plans.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What is ..is..</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And what will be will be..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">All I want is to be exactly who I am and to be "happy"...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have no where to reach and nothing to prove.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I just want to share with all of you what I love and I'm happy if you want to walk with me to my corner, that always buzzing with chatter, laughter and songs half sung (mostly because I do forget the lyrics)</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And that is such a wonderful place to be, because there is so much , that's still left to learn in life..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm doing what makes me happy and working with a team of really bright young people from "#Fame" and I'm having a blast ...</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ-u5wfMaF-BQDDj0BI0qY7knEJatKfky_AeOc1-NOAaCoOc9pehS7noa9A5Wjk-jjwdP4LZYdZKe2l1Zcaj-bkAtxxj2M0gocGa1uTYcfFer2zU4hC_UVZ7evgfgjbZb2_eJ83xDWH42/s640/blogger-image--1809540484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ-u5wfMaF-BQDDj0BI0qY7knEJatKfky_AeOc1-NOAaCoOc9pehS7noa9A5Wjk-jjwdP4LZYdZKe2l1Zcaj-bkAtxxj2M0gocGa1uTYcfFer2zU4hC_UVZ7evgfgjbZb2_eJ83xDWH42/s640/blogger-image--1809540484.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My friend Jaya who just won the Best Film award for her documentary "Surfing Yogi's" directs each cooking snippet and we shoot out of my kitchen with my dog Taz running around in the midst of it all or him deciding to sit right in the middle of the chaos..</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So yup it's a full house of madness with the purpose of bringing to you something that you should go ahead and definitely try at least once ..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3ZCkrJ1KatDiXBOkMPHJ3URWn5Q5Ymx9SmYKpESjb2zJo42UEeLZJOMQIgY0HBzsjW0nXk5Guvc3fXe_KlyK3G4vSbswI-GhqG-QPURoO_Ki_y3wHt9RKVPW08MykN2U9CYUJ9zHlFHG/s640/blogger-image-183597713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3ZCkrJ1KatDiXBOkMPHJ3URWn5Q5Ymx9SmYKpESjb2zJo42UEeLZJOMQIgY0HBzsjW0nXk5Guvc3fXe_KlyK3G4vSbswI-GhqG-QPURoO_Ki_y3wHt9RKVPW08MykN2U9CYUJ9zHlFHG/s640/blogger-image-183597713.jpg"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As my friend Mini said, I finally found my "true-love" ....</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">FOOD..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ya I'm pretty romantic that way, and never cease to see the romance in life..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that love is something that happens to you while you are not really looking ..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And when it does hit you , it feels like all the songs ever written about love were written just for you ..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We all at some point of time in life have felt like this ..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And it is the most wonderful feeling on earth..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But in my earthly experience( because most of the time I belong to neverland ...)</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have seen that love changes form..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It comes into our life to create, heal, nurture, realise and fullfill our true potential as humans.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It never ever leaves you the same.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It turns you inside out and upside down..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Till it has had its way with you ..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Like you are caught in a tornado...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And yes if you can reach the very centre of it, you can feel the beauty and calm of it all..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And if you are just caught on the surface..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then yes you will feel just the whirl of it all, which is lovely , but will leave you restless..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So this recipe I'm sharing with you today is a lot like love that runs deep..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Far deeper than just the beautiful surface you see...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So I really do hope you enjoy watching it..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/5F-W8OWDKio"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">http://youtu.be/5F-W8OWDKio</span></a></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and making it ..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You know everytime I bake something..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I marvel at how ,just simple ingredients put together at the precise temperature and time, convert it into the most delectable yumminess...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Baking is a lot like life ...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Timing is everything...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But unlike having to measure everything when you have to bake, I feel you cannot live life in measured sequences...</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You have to just live..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You have to take chances..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Change recipes..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Try out new stuff..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And never ever give up on your dreams and people that you love (unless of course, they don't even know you exist or you are in love with a fictional person ha ha ha )</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So I'm hoping you are going to try this recipe, and have a bite of what I call a tiny portion of life..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The beetroot keeps the brownie moist and full of texture , and the chocolate just melts its way deep inside the recesses of the brownie, the cream cheese adding to the softness of each bite..</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This to me comes a close second to that beautiful gooey feeling called "love".. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.699219); font-size: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With much magic , only from "Maria's Kitchen"...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FbDTINLV3Le5IJOpEzhbU4zgTb4Y85TQxhU9N4iR7mupyoqrgoqQAWVPBsaJFoLlmf4kLIS7-R4DjKFv3avVLOdrqDIYDmAAHTuXTMv-twGbm3uN8MruYO0XmPTWmWpbslU8uGYyTCVi/s640/blogger-image--745133547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FbDTINLV3Le5IJOpEzhbU4zgTb4Y85TQxhU9N4iR7mupyoqrgoqQAWVPBsaJFoLlmf4kLIS7-R4DjKFv3avVLOdrqDIYDmAAHTuXTMv-twGbm3uN8MruYO0XmPTWmWpbslU8uGYyTCVi/s640/blogger-image--745133547.jpg"></span></a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-78344095184077958772014-04-15T18:10:00.001+05:302014-04-16T00:05:26.022+05:30DAY 103: NOT FISH..BUT FISHY..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I woke up really late this morning, really late...<br />
Because the kids and me were watching Harry Potter till really late in the night...<br />
We love Harry Potter..<br />
Well who doesn't..<br />
And while I was wondering what I should eat for breakfast ..<br />
I decided that today I need to go to the fish market ..<br />
So I wore my fish market shoes and put on my bargaining face ..<br />
And with a few plastics in tow , took off for the Versova fish market .<br />
I love that place<br />
And no the smell of the fish does not bother me at all.<br />
The buzz of that place is actually fun..<br />
Many familiar fish-folk and a lot of fish I still have not met.. ..<br />
I wanted Tuna, because I wanted to make a salt baked fish with lemon butter, it's one of the recipes that I have in my book , and I really love it..<br />
But I could not find any, the size I wanted..<br />
So I walked around, browsing , and in my head I was also trying to figure ingredients I would need , for something else if I did not get what I want..<br />
So yes I completely confused myself , because I had various spices running through my head and various fish ..<br />
And in the middle of all that ..<br />
I spotted lobsters , so that's what I bought , because my favorite fisher lady was selling it...<br />
And then bought prawns because I think I will make a prawn pickle and also bought Pomfret, because felt I should...<br />
Why do I always go over board with buying fish ..<br />
Gosh ..<br />
But I guess I don't understand when to stop ..<br />
Or then I just like a lot of everything ...<br />
Maybe I'm greedy ..<br />
Or maybe I just am a "much too much " kinda person ..<br />
<br />
You know , I'm sure there are there are more people like me ..<br />
Who go a little over with everything in life ..<br />
I guess sometimes, Ok , most times, I do fall in that category ..<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF1Y9o_MzT4xULX2h0rYksNq4PRWDCjNjfTn3R3nss6L6Tk2HckXsBAa4hd01Tbn9-rJcpUWzqluGuGXPk8_ENeA9acN_80_IjV3724ta4LDObGUNixO_QOdTVCEnzNi9xgi-DJRejOJU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF1Y9o_MzT4xULX2h0rYksNq4PRWDCjNjfTn3R3nss6L6Tk2HckXsBAa4hd01Tbn9-rJcpUWzqluGuGXPk8_ENeA9acN_80_IjV3724ta4LDObGUNixO_QOdTVCEnzNi9xgi-DJRejOJU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are allowed to love who you want, as much as you want, as long as you 'Love"...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's like I feel it's OK to love the crap out of the people you love, how can you do things in half measure..<br />
I dont understand that ..<br />
Anyway, we leave that for another blog...<br />
<br />
We now attend to the Lobsters..<br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">INGREDIENTS</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Lobsters -1 doz</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Butter -1 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Olive oil - 1 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Bechamel sauce - 4 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Fish stock -1/2 cup</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">White wine -1/2 cup</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Flat leaf parsley - 4 tbsp finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Garlic - 8 pearls</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Onion -1 finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Cheese -1 slice</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Dry Oregano -2 tsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">French Mustard - 1 tsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Lime -1/2 squeezed</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Egg yolk -2</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Cream -1/4 cup</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Method</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Clean the lobster and separate the tails from the head..</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Cut the tiny fins on the under side of the tail , and then cut through the centre of the shell from the underneath , and pull out the lobster flesh delicately.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Wash , de-vein , chop into tiny bite size pieces and keep to one side ..</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Wash the shells.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Leave them to dry.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Then in a non-stick pan , on a medium flame add the butter and the olive oil.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Then add the garlic and sauté for 30-40 seconds, add the onions and cook it till it gets translucent, about 3 minutes, then add the wine and the fish stock .</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">And let it simmer on a low flame , till it has become half.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Then add the bechamel sauce, oregano , parsley the and the cheese( I did not have cheddar cheese at home , so I just used a slice)</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Let this all nicely mix together and let the cheese melt, you should have a nice thick slightly bubbling mix, please do this on a low flame.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">In another bowl, mix the yolk, cream, mustard and the lime.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Then pour the hot flavoured bechamel mix over the yolk mix, continuously stirring.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Place the cleaned shells on a baking tray.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Then place the raw flesh of the lobster into the cleaned shells.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Spoon the flavoured sauce over the raw flesh and sprinkle it with bread crumbs.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">And place it in the top rack of a pre heated oven at 200 degrees, bake it for 15-18 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
Serve hot with a yummy tomato flavoured wheat pasta ..<br />
Why wheat, because it's healthier, than maida..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifOEwMVoQUkXWYYCrOHyMG6crczI_VNjUshvAtAslY4CIXohFQjOQJqAPKR66rpMBzUk9eSjijDm1Q2P1rxO02yP2hswgDWXpG4rqc4TbsSnLPDjaLejCr4Aksk5CxeEn5mzZNOAN10gK/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifOEwMVoQUkXWYYCrOHyMG6crczI_VNjUshvAtAslY4CIXohFQjOQJqAPKR66rpMBzUk9eSjijDm1Q2P1rxO02yP2hswgDWXpG4rqc4TbsSnLPDjaLejCr4Aksk5CxeEn5mzZNOAN10gK/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whole wheat pasta in a tomato and basil sauce.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So when I went to the market today , and saw so many fish .<br />
The line , "so many fish in the sea" just came to mind, and I was thinking , sometimes in life , we run after something , or pursue something with blinders on , or have such a narrow vision , that we do not even see, all the options available...<br />
And sometimes, because we have such a narrow vision in life ..<br />
We may miss out on the stuff that actually may be right for us ..<br />
But as normal human tendency we always pursue stuff that we can't get or have..<br />
Maybe we are not supposed to live life in pursuit ..<br />
Maybe what is good for us , will come to us organically ..<br />
Maybe all the trouble and strife in life is completely brought on by our own unreasonable greed in life .<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjvYk0L0ev_D42rbITCkvq9cySEda7Le8oVSthrfHKaDmKpAYag2r6dwMkoECYhdIrugzACbC10sX6IxgDtw7_pjnsT4s_xmev3nneCEnIfimJQm3sFHYOWnskvtOYzqZ75X-DLhfk1RV/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjvYk0L0ev_D42rbITCkvq9cySEda7Le8oVSthrfHKaDmKpAYag2r6dwMkoECYhdIrugzACbC10sX6IxgDtw7_pjnsT4s_xmev3nneCEnIfimJQm3sFHYOWnskvtOYzqZ75X-DLhfk1RV/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Like frankly in this world of 7 billion people (sorry if the count is wrong, i have yet to travel the world), how come in our entire life time we meet only 10000 to 200000 people in our life time, depending on where we live , the kind of job we have and the kind of life style we lead.<br />
And among , all those people , we meet, we may make maybe 10000 friends over time , but the maximum amount of really close relationships would boil down to 3 or 4.<br />
Which leaves the rest of the population to be close friends with one another.<br />
So yes most of us broadly are loners or little islands , that live completely alone inside us , with a few chosen few that we open up to .<br />
And how do those chosen few who come our way, completely by chance?<br />
Beats me ..<br />
<br />
I have realised that geographical distance, wealth, social status or colour of our skin has got nothing to do with human relationships.<br />
They really make no difference.<br />
That is why I guess we have soul mates.<br />
It's such a weird concept, but I do believe in it.<br />
I'm not saying that all of us find our soul mate , and our lives are like a fairy tale from then on.<br />
But I do think , many times , we mistake someone for a soul mate , and hence close all doors to everyone else...<br />
But I feel if you do meet a soul mate, both the lives of both the souls will be dramatically enriched in every sphere , and will give you freedom and you will never have to choose ..<br />
<br />
But if you are always in a state of confusion with your supposed soul mate , then this is not the one ..<br />
Its very much like when you are looking to buy fish, if it smells of fish, do not buy it ...<br />
The same applies to life, if it does not feel light and smells of heart-break , it is not right..<br />
<br />
I think the reason we make friends and are close to a few people , is because something in this universe does bind these particular souls together..<br />
So I feel that soul mates are probably souls that you meet in your life that bring out the best in you, or then pass through your life , because they make you discover something in your self , you never knew existed..<br />
And yes I do believe we all come across our soul mate ,once in our life at least ..<br />
And when you both do , it will be a very deep , beautiful and powerful soul stirring part of your life , that will frighten you to your deepest core and also give you unimaginable happiness.<br />
Where there is potential for a deep love, there there is also potential for the deepest pain ..<br />
This is something that we all need to acknowledge ..<br />
<br />
Well if you are one of the lucky few , who is able to spend a life time with your soul mate , then I guess, this life time is where it was supposed to happen ..<br />
And if not , then let me say , that , it will happen when it is supposed to ..<br />
So do not fret..<br />
Maybe there are many more people we need to meet, and many things we still have to learn , before , we have what we are looking for ..<br />
Like in the words of the Dalai Lama , " Remember that not getting what you want , is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSSbK99c_kjiCzzC9-wekCjWhIvc1OtsEeNgTO2l-sSX-1xfRTds56uAZ4n7gJ3hYWcMiN2AJA-i9BhJG87o8Lkg4E40pdNY3NYcKlvstPm_UFTrCReTFD0n7sukG6tsY_litwmRq9zLb/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSSbK99c_kjiCzzC9-wekCjWhIvc1OtsEeNgTO2l-sSX-1xfRTds56uAZ4n7gJ3hYWcMiN2AJA-i9BhJG87o8Lkg4E40pdNY3NYcKlvstPm_UFTrCReTFD0n7sukG6tsY_litwmRq9zLb/s1600/photo.JPG" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And that's exactly what I was thinking as I pulled out the lovely lobster from my oven..<br />
I wanted to buy Tuna, actually , and that's what I went to the market for..<br />
But since , I was not able to find what I was looking for, since , I'm a bit picky about the freshness and the price..<br />
I found these beautiful chubby tailed lobsters , looking at me beckoningly..(if that is a word)<br />
Frankly when I bought them , I had no idea , what I was going to make ..<br />
And did not want to make a curry again..<br />
But felt something or the other will fall into place..<br />
And so went for a lobster Thermidor kinda recipe...<br />
<br />
But yes, today with the full family home ,and kiddie friends ,it was a very bad idea to be making a recipe that had to be done in parts and put together..<br />
Because I was being constantly asked if lunch is ready ..<br />
And frankly no one should be baggering the chef with a knife in her hand ha ha ha ..<br />
But all's well that ends well..<br />
<br />
The Thermidor turned out beautifully, In fact I should have had more lobster,because it got swiped really fast, because I was told , it was really yummy..<br />
Or they were just very very hungry..<br />
One of the two, I'm hoping it was the former..<br />
(Just remember to taste the mustard, before you add it, because some mustard has salt in it, and some is a bit bitter , so use your mustard discreetly.)<br />
I was told that this is like food in a restaurant , that you pay for ha ha ha ..<br />
I love kids..<br />
And so there will be another round of this dish happening soon..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VeY3hvHKAuq_WDm2ba97czSfbavvMM2jZCaX5BCUiLQ3tZ9US254MbHCLss321qeWdy65vTT5AmbGNJEfsj0j9CuwYSgguX5zZ5_pkg-EEYPhviBxITljGe4gi0BikTpuvT8GyDj85tM/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VeY3hvHKAuq_WDm2ba97czSfbavvMM2jZCaX5BCUiLQ3tZ9US254MbHCLss321qeWdy65vTT5AmbGNJEfsj0j9CuwYSgguX5zZ5_pkg-EEYPhviBxITljGe4gi0BikTpuvT8GyDj85tM/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
So here's presenting, "Not Fish..but Fishy.." served with freshly made tomato and basil pasta, made with a lot of hard work, and a lot of conversation with myself, about plenty of fish in the sea and soul mates, served with lotsa love , only from "Maria's Kitchen" ..<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311024604595187329.post-62622853877332457462014-04-13T15:58:00.003+05:302014-04-14T12:04:09.273+05:30DAY 102 : EVERYBODY'S FREE TO EAT DOUGH-BALLS...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh yes most of the time, I end up doing exactly what my heart pleases.<br />
And 4.5% of the time! I let my brains take over! and sometimes, just sometimes!<br />
I act with caution.<br />
But most of the times, caution is thrown to the wind, and I just run the risk of completely going turntables all over the country side.<br />
But that is also fun , because then you get a look at life , from all different angles.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH7jhArZ4dr4dv8qLGXG2o6tM8d8ZkWMrCSzIdtpMnSizm7vb-t3ZCg4cgle3KbjfzHtx7n4mBfQAgiCkhIQOQu9fNiFzsMeecwf54benD7nWQluYcFgyYPryp4hEkWbsngqV3Oc3qEQd/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH7jhArZ4dr4dv8qLGXG2o6tM8d8ZkWMrCSzIdtpMnSizm7vb-t3ZCg4cgle3KbjfzHtx7n4mBfQAgiCkhIQOQu9fNiFzsMeecwf54benD7nWQluYcFgyYPryp4hEkWbsngqV3Oc3qEQd/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for this photo Amito and Eefa for teaching me how to do a headstand...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I was not like this in my growing years.<br />
I mostly did what I thought would be the right thing to do, because I never wanted to go wrong, or upset my parents.<br />
I still do not want to upset them ..<br />
<br />
But as I grew up , I realised that I was a rebel..<br />
And I softly turned my life upside down , and once it was all out of the box , and I had stretched myself from the shell that I was in.<br />
I suddenly wondered , why I sat in a shell for so long.<br />
I realised , it was because I was not really willing to accept myself, the way I was , but had accepted myself in the perception of others.<br />
<br />
The best part I think about finding yourself along the way.<br />
Is that you start seeing everything in a brand new perspective.<br />
I realised that there was not just a black and white, but a beautiful grey..<br />
<br />
Oh yes we should all have an opinion, but we need not be judgemental.<br />
We need to know what we want to do, but know that if someone else does the opposite, he need not be wrong.<br />
And I have realised, that the way someone treats me , is more often because how the person is feeling at that point of time in their life, and I happened to cross them at that point.<br />
<br />
Do I fret, yes I do..<br />
I fret deeply , if I get hurt.<br />
Or if I have lost a friend, or if I feel, something is amiss.<br />
<br />
But I have learned that "what is...IS"<br />
And "what will be, will be"<br />
Sometimes when everything is not alright.<br />
Everything is awry.<br />
Sometimes you fall apart, sometimes you fall together, but fall we must, because there must be something down , that we are supposed to find.<br />
Most of the time, I have realised , I have mostly found a piece I never knew was missing..<br />
It's quite lovely in retrospect actually..<br />
<br />
So now that I have digressed from the cooking that I have done..<br />
I think it's time I get back to the "piece de resistance"..<br />
These lovely dough balls..<br />
The first time I tasted them was on a cold London evening with my friend Sanjay, who insisted that if I tasted one, I would not be able to stop..<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoSheh1efMc8vaxpMF9OG3vj15yJkZ7Tk0HUE40ow-RFMnBFERTXYsvsXbhFt2I5uxKRd7poKOHNsDiRQTgPCp2Bu30E4_RGtYS_Ku2-i31Zccf32FF87WfNY7uz7vWIaNtDlVR4k8heo/s1600/-71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoSheh1efMc8vaxpMF9OG3vj15yJkZ7Tk0HUE40ow-RFMnBFERTXYsvsXbhFt2I5uxKRd7poKOHNsDiRQTgPCp2Bu30E4_RGtYS_Ku2-i31Zccf32FF87WfNY7uz7vWIaNtDlVR4k8heo/s1600/-71.jpg" height="377" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanjay..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well he was right, it was nicest piece of bread I had eaten..<br />
And with one of the sweetest persons i know...<br />
It's just the right size, and so you never can stop eating it easily.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">DOUGH BALLS</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">INGREDIENTS</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Fresh yeast - 20 gm</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Flour- 200 gm</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Sugar-1/2 tsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Luke warm water - 120 ml</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Oil - 3 tbsp</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Pinch of salt</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">METHOD</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">In a big glass bowl, blend the yeast, with sugar and a tbsp of the water.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">And leave it , till it bubbles and gets a bit frothy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Then add the rest of the water and blend it properly</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">On a clean table top , or another bowl, sieve the flour , add the salt .</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">And make a well in the center , add the oil, add the water and slowly mix it to form a dough.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Knead it really well about 6-10 minutes, till the dough is nice and soft and springy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Bring it all together in a shape of a ball, cover it with a damp muslin, and leave it to prove.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Till it is double in size.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Then add some flour on your work table , and knock the door , and flatten it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Then roll it into a cylinder and make small even sized balls, I got about 18 pieces.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Leave it to prove about 30 minutes, till it has doubled in size and then brush it with some milk, and bake it in a pre-heated oven , at 180 degrees for 10 minutes , or till it is a lovely brown .</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Then just serve it with some hot, with some homemade garlic butter, or then Nutella straight of the jar ..</span><br />
<br />
<br />
That's what the kids and me did ..<br />
We are kinda addicted to Nutella ..<br />
<br />
While making them dough balls today I thought of my friend Nikhil .Chinnappa..<br />
I met him at the MTV VJ Hunt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRY64zngNAl6R2mtmlr7IUJ8T2DrHJbskjCtEO3FQmF4TyVD7MiJsnv0VpiFXl7rhDfIEWVuWORKNN00LWR9S9Z_RrrMojQu-wIQkKzthPI1gCw-GFWdeRisjb6GsIsrBkdroxonTpw3n/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRY64zngNAl6R2mtmlr7IUJ8T2DrHJbskjCtEO3FQmF4TyVD7MiJsnv0VpiFXl7rhDfIEWVuWORKNN00LWR9S9Z_RrrMojQu-wIQkKzthPI1gCw-GFWdeRisjb6GsIsrBkdroxonTpw3n/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
He was just the most lovely guy ...<br />
He was smart , courteous, good -lookin, confident, quirky, had his head on his muscular shoulders and had a beautiful warm heart, and that bit is what made me want him as my friend .<br />
And that's what we became over that one week at the Vj hunt many many moons ago .<br />
He was just awesome at work and a wonderful person even when the cameras stopped rolling .<br />
<br />
And we are still friends, but do not meet that often..bloody hell..<br />
But some people always stay part of your life, whether you meet often or not and he is one of them.<br />
He is the guy who taught me how to host a live event, when I was with MTV..<br />
How to handle huge crowds..<br />
He is by far one of the most amazing guys I have met, he also introduced me to "Everybody's free to wear sunscreen" the song by Baz Luhrman..<br />
"Paris Brest " at Sunny's in Bangalore.<br />
Gun-powder from off M.G Rd in Bangalore.<br />
Allepey fish curry and appam in Chennai..<br />
And filter coffee..<br />
And was an amazing co-host ,friend and knight in shining armour all rolled into one.<br />
He always knew what he wanted , and was also clear how he is going to realise his dreams.<br />
Something that I'm still learning.<br />
He always pushed me to do better, and was a complimentary host to work with.<br />
He has a tattoo of a wizard on his arm, so I remember, looking at it and saying,"Merlin?" and he said, "Gandalf" ..<br />
I did not want to say "who?"..so I said , " well he looks like Merlin" ha ha ha ..<br />
He spoke a language I sometimes did not understand..<br />
Was filled with music I never heard, trance, progressive house and the likes..<br />
Were concepts I learned from him..<br />
And I have seen him work a crowd like no other...<br />
<br />
He is truly "FANTASTIC"...(Which is also his favorite word, at least it was then...)<br />
<br />
<br />
Well I do not see him often enough, nor his lovely prettier half Pearl..<br />
There's is a beautiful love story..<br />
And some days , I miss the madness , that we all lived together in..<br />
We have all come such a long way ..<br />
I have kids, he travels the world with his music ( I'm so jealous, about that)<br />
My kids know his name, because he is "Famous"<br />
<br />
Why am I telling you about Nikhil..???<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUHcSYfhh3ph5NQRm-OZVkqPllyC0-Vud1q0v3ucOfPK2AWtLf7FcEGxNURPH_WmWB9zCxTo9LBoWcQj4_N7o2VIUlBI-G3STBFUbbsHrFiobE409OaA4nN1sTayZyin40cmDNxKtgZzh/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUHcSYfhh3ph5NQRm-OZVkqPllyC0-Vud1q0v3ucOfPK2AWtLf7FcEGxNURPH_WmWB9zCxTo9LBoWcQj4_N7o2VIUlBI-G3STBFUbbsHrFiobE409OaA4nN1sTayZyin40cmDNxKtgZzh/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="523" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Warsi cooked for us a meal on the trek...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEq13I9Oxc44ul9boe7hveCNZhGSW0bVUbEx8xngr3_9i78Stz4_7cOmjufrpRF3tBMt07NyQkl5b12YJu1Mu5nbtk7RxZRYVhFbsPUKJYfM5jaHWhFkeUge0H4C07nJqt9KI_PIbt4KO/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEq13I9Oxc44ul9boe7hveCNZhGSW0bVUbEx8xngr3_9i78Stz4_7cOmjufrpRF3tBMt07NyQkl5b12YJu1Mu5nbtk7RxZRYVhFbsPUKJYfM5jaHWhFkeUge0H4C07nJqt9KI_PIbt4KO/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During a trek we did for a show called "Chill-Out"..Cyrus, Me & Nikhil..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEe8FwQVS244Yk0oPHnaPm-e7fZwxkbd1dML5Ihp5ssUWC5YtXlcasR9RmuL6VZWIQQOjIeGfq-Li8p6CLnEpOCF84fJfV2t0t7aeQbSMBpQv0b4d4Zp6P0JUZuT86Qo9sC9r5bNAGMrV/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEe8FwQVS244Yk0oPHnaPm-e7fZwxkbd1dML5Ihp5ssUWC5YtXlcasR9RmuL6VZWIQQOjIeGfq-Li8p6CLnEpOCF84fJfV2t0t7aeQbSMBpQv0b4d4Zp6P0JUZuT86Qo9sC9r5bNAGMrV/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="395" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath after 4 days on the trek..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdghP8n3DWCkvKd_fNhH0OiCr7M4apqRBtukQZJuRZ_I2f7jA0j9si-34kDFroFnw9BKOr81_L0Bs13YTgML1ljSaIis-FTKPH9jLD2fRVZKm4Xw7-gbG1nI365JEEXeh1EIKsNOYrm4U/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdghP8n3DWCkvKd_fNhH0OiCr7M4apqRBtukQZJuRZ_I2f7jA0j9si-34kDFroFnw9BKOr81_L0Bs13YTgML1ljSaIis-FTKPH9jLD2fRVZKm4Xw7-gbG1nI365JEEXeh1EIKsNOYrm4U/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" height="400" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I don't really know..<br />
But I am ..<br />
Because I guess, every time he walks through my mind, it explodes with memories of happy times, and I always break into a smile ..<br />
He is one of the smile bringers in my life..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRYV1kGTdWWbgo344xd8yJe1KReJX1_nZR9pmM76quMjTZ1cKL9w3qNBuJsGXN2T_4FkYQPY7P9q_cSdGEo-dGeFTJaS4R6oPjH1fFMeRf_uNkAGXv74W-1ZukSdGDkEKfOWNZaYQCB9d/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRYV1kGTdWWbgo344xd8yJe1KReJX1_nZR9pmM76quMjTZ1cKL9w3qNBuJsGXN2T_4FkYQPY7P9q_cSdGEo-dGeFTJaS4R6oPjH1fFMeRf_uNkAGXv74W-1ZukSdGDkEKfOWNZaYQCB9d/s1600/photo.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini & Nikhil ....smile bringers....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So in life I hope I'm a smile bringer.<br />
It's not that we need to live life in a way that we need to make an impression.<br />
But if we can live in a space that does not hurt someone ..<br />
It's a good way to live..<br />
<br />
Sometimes we touch peoples lives unknowingly..<br />
When we do , what we bring to them , does impact their life in tiny or big ways.<br />
<br />
So I try and keep this thought inside me.<br />
Maybe I'm not always successful with doing the right thing.<br />
But more often than not.<br />
I do not say stuff I do not mean.<br />
I realise that's the easiest thing to do .<br />
But at the end of the day how you treat someone is far more important than what you say to them.<br />
<br />
A lot of people say a lot of things to me.<br />
That I may or may not take seriously.<br />
But what if I do believe everything you say to me or insinuate..<br />
And if your actions did not match your words ..<br />
Then how would I feel ?<br />
<br />
So how you treat me, how you make me feel , how my insides truly feel , even if my smile does not betray me..is what actually matters..<br />
<br />
So today while I served the kids hot dough-balls, from the oven , with home-made garlic butter and a jar of Nutella..<br />
And the kids were chatting about, what they are going to do in the holidays..<br />
I was looking at these soft delicate dough balls, and thinking this is exactly how our hearts are , soft and like putty..<br />
And most of the time, when we open ourselves to the people we love, we let them handle our heart..<br />
So remember this while you handle someone else's ...<br />
<br />
And so I bite into a warm bite of this little piece of bread, dipped in delicious garlic butter, made with Amul and a few dunked into a jar of Nutella.<br />
<br />
I am thinking ..<br />
Life could not be better...<br />
Soft dough-balls on the table, with butter and Nutella ..<br />
And laughter all around..<br />
Some things and people are meant to be part of your life ..<br />
<br />
So keep on walking, but stop to smell what's in the oven..<br />
Because if you do not reach in time, it may burn..<br />
And keep the ones you love in your life , close to you, if you can ..<br />
And tell them you love them and more importantly show them..<br />
<br />
People will walk in and out..<br />
That's their prerogative ...<br />
They may walk in and out sometimes because of their own fears and sometimes, because of you ..<br />
So try and be the reason people walk into your life for..<br />
and not otherwise..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK69TxvoXADOj9zKDzm6N9X0S1BJ0OMHfWsiJqbhJDsnTKl-ilC-GoYxS3huMDv-QcjCTlYHIBxHT_1hZ3u8hF2aBj8KkCKORqye54aSkPpucyIHukPQHKJauZv3T7zTQ_B_dKiythY7R/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK69TxvoXADOj9zKDzm6N9X0S1BJ0OMHfWsiJqbhJDsnTKl-ilC-GoYxS3huMDv-QcjCTlYHIBxHT_1hZ3u8hF2aBj8KkCKORqye54aSkPpucyIHukPQHKJauZv3T7zTQ_B_dKiythY7R/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was not able to shoot the baked dough balls, as they got devoured, before I had a chance to take a photo..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So here's presenting, "Everybody's free to eat Dough-Balls"..<br />
Fresh , simple and just the perfect size to fall in love with..<br />
Just like me ha ha ha ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
maria gorettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867640131296313643noreply@blogger.com18