TANTE MARIE AND ME.....

All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go....

Have been humming this for some time now ..

Actually the truth is I'm not ready at all, physically yes, mentally not at all...

This is the first time in my life that I'm actually embarking on a journey , completely on my own..

There is no crew, no make-up or hairdresser. no director, producer, co-anchor, no friends and no family...’Oh my God !!!

Sometimes I feel like how will I ever do this and then again ...I'm sooooo excited...

Gosh! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world and completely blessed that I'm actually getting a chance to go and learn something that I have fallen in love with over time….

Well the bare naked truth is that,. I actually have loved food all my life, sometimes I feel that in my past life I must have been born in a country that had no food , because frankly I'm eternally hungry and my near and dear ones will vouch for that.

I could never really do without eating, so you see dieting or fasting has never been part of my life.

Food is my "happy person", and cooking and feeding friends and family is my ."happy time , and watching people enjoying my food is fully "Nirvana" to me ...

Among all the things that bring a smile to my face, food figures pretty high on my list ....

I think my passion for cooking is my “pot of gold” that my grandmothers Rose-Mary and Agnes left me with lots of blessings that I have just discovered…

My Mum who is fantastic in the kitchen and in all spheres in life, used to keep telling me that I need to learn to cook and I always told her that I would never really cook.

Frankly learning slowly but surely , “Never say never”,

Because like my friend Sandy says, “God has a wicked sense of humour “.

So going with an open heart and am actually feeling like Alice in Wonderland, going to just follow the Rabbit …and enjoy this adventure…

I just feel like its divine providence that I'm actually able to go to Tante Marie , which is Gordon Ramsay's institute in Surrey , Woking..

I'm going for the Cordon Bleu certificate course that happens once in a year ...

And I'm just happy that I'm going to be part of this fantastic learning experience...

Have butterflies in my stomach ...and every time I think about this ...my heart beats at triple the speed, in nervousness, anxiety, excitement and complete thrilling freakin happiness..

This for me is going to be my “TOOMUCKINGFUCH” moment of the year…

I just know that …

Know these two and a half months on my own is gonna be tough, but I think its just what ‘LIFE” has ordered for me..

It’s a new day and a new season , a brand new path and I’m just gonna follow the Yellow Brick Road…

Will work really hard, because , that's what I really enjoy doing,

Hope to travel a bit and hoping I have friends coming to visit..

I could never really do this..

If Arshad did not support my love for food and is always so encouraging ...

So thank you Warsi.... for being YOU

You are the "King of the jungle"...

My parents... for coming over to help me out ,with looking after my kids and my home...Thank you for always standing by me and for always believing in me...

My friends who really pushed me every time I was in two mind's,

Mini: Will miss that look on your face when I know you don't approve , but still indulge me...

And will miss sharing a room with you, you are my "scary- monster" slayer

Jaya: Will miss those Green eyes flashing which say , I know what you up to ha ha ha...

Thanks for always being there in a loving non-judgemental way...

Sandy :Everytime I have a cup of coffee , I will think of you , and all the laughter you bring to my life...

Really gonna miss "US" 4 together ...and really wish you guys could come visit...

Anusha:Please try and not have too many "mutton " dinners that I may miss, and hope to learn some awesome Hyderabadi fare from you when I'm back..

Roshan and Shaheen:Thank you guys for always being part of my life and infusing it with fun and love ...

And my babies, "Zeke and Zene"... Found my passion because of you, every smile, every "I love this food', every , 'You are the best Mama in the world"....

Actually made me discover that 'Food' is what I love ...its my meditation, my path, my happiness....

And so to all of you reading this...

Keep me in your prayers and stay in touch via Twitter....

Will keep in touch with you via ‘Food and fun times” ...

Wrote this and wanted to share it with all of you ..

You know I have to go...
A little birdie told me so ...
My bags are packed with folded clothes ..
My heart feels scared,and my toe nails painted blue instead of red....

Oh my god!!!
There are voices in my head..
Of Gordon Ramsay inviting me to ...
Make bread..
So to Tante Marie I must go..
Baking ,cooking and all that jazz..
Will have the. Most fun I've had..
Will walk in the cold ...
All by my self..
Will live in a room that I pay rent ...
Hope my friends do come over for a while...
Will laugh ,giggle n drink some wine ..
Will really miss home I know..
But as I have never done this before..
This will be a tick on my "to do"list ...
And if I feel stressed... Think I will go shopping and buy a FCUK dress..
And if it becomes just too much ..
Then I will soak in a tub of fizzy "lush"
Don't want to be back..
Without my Cordon Bleu certificate tucked in my back pack..
Hope to catch a lot of theatre and on holidays just disappear..
Read a book in a park..
Or lay down just for a lark ...
And watch the puffy clouds go by....
Smile at strangers and maybe say Hiii !!!

Pick up hot coffee at Starbucks
Warm my hands and inhale the cold ...
Will sit at at St.James watching the ducks...
And when the night closes in ..
Hope to be really tired with all my pursuits ..
Have a shower and jump into my snuggliest night suit..
Then thank God as I lay down on my warm bed..
And pull the covers over my head ..
I'm not a kid to believe that spooky monsters stay under my bed ..
But it's just that after the candles are blown..
Well I really don't like to Sleep Alone ...
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