A year back - Tulsi

A year back I had got a tulsi plant. Today that plant is not there. Had a severe insect infestation. Then again I got a tulsi plant. That also died recently.
Incidentally, the second tulsi plant was healthy and I have many small tiny plants in pots.

Hopefully they will last.

A very auspicious day - 18th August 2016

Today, 18th August 2016 is a very auspicious Hindu day.

In the northern part of India, today is the day that is celebrated as Raksha Bandhan and the full moon day for the month of Hindu month of Shravana, thus caled Shrava Purnima.

This Shravana Purnima is also supposed to the birth day of the Goddess Gayatri.

This is also the day of Upakarma when the brahmans will be changing their sacred thread annually. This day is also considered to be the birthday of the God Hayagriva, a form of Vishnu, who has the head of a horse.

Today, is also celebrated as Sanskrit Day. 

Doctor Experience - 08 August

Yesterday evening 08 August , had a frustrating experience at a hospital. I had doctors' appointments for Dad. He reached the hospital around 6:30PM and saw one of the doctors that he was supposed to meet.
The second doctor was to come at 9PM.
I reached the hospital around 7PM, this being a short stroll away from my work place.
I saw Dad sitting in the reception. At 9PM, i asked the front desk when the doctor would come, they said - he is on his way.
Then at 9:20PM - same reply and the same at 9:40PM.

A hospital reception is not the best place to spend ones' time. Surrounded by patients in a dim room and a TV on mute, running News.

The doctor came at 9:45PM and I was done and back home by 10:20PM. It the doctor had come earlier, I would been home much earlier.

This morning Dad is back in the hospital, getting a checkup done.

Weird Connections and Stuffed Karelas

This is weird. Especially when you try to link things, when they are not co-related.

This is what happened. I was watching the Hanumana serial on television. The serial has Gagan Malik, an actor playing the role of Rama. When I saw it today, i remembered something. Four years ago, this actor has played Rama. This time for a serial on Ramayana on Zee TV in 2012. London Olympics were also on at that time.

Those days I was engrossed in phone calls with Guwahati. Listening to the person on the other hand, I thought I was happy, not knowing what was being told was not entirely true.

Today, thinking back, I was wondering of those days.

~~~~~~~~~~

Weekend was nice. I got some plants. Hope they survive. If they do, then pictures will get posted. Of flowers blooming in my balcony. It was a aparajita plant. So hoping to see some nice blue flowers. And also an aloe vera plant, to be kept as an indoor plant.

I tried the stuffed karela recipe. Scraped the karelas and saved the scrapings. Cut the bitter gourds into two and then scooped the seeds out with a knife. In a wok,heated oil and  added diced onions, the scrapings, scooped out seeds, a little cumin powder and dried raw mango. Stuffed this back in the gourds, and then closed the ends with dry besan. On a flat tawa, these karelas were fried.

Had a tasty dish and also the karelas were out of the fridge.

Need to figure out a way to clean out the veggies from the fridge. Once they are out, the fridge can be fully cleaned up and then fresh stock of produce can be ordered.

Wengers Connaught Place - After many years 30 July 2016

Today I went to Wengers after many years. The succulent Shami Kababs and the crispy chicken patties are to die for.

Also a Metro ride to Rajiv Chowk after years.

Sad, remembering the old days.

This shop has been around since 1926 and till today, the old residents of Delhi can swear by their products. Over the years, their prices have shot up. A kabab cost me 70 rupees and so did the chicken patty but they cannot just be compared with any other place.

Years back, someone had told me that Flurys in Kolkata, but having eaten in both place, Wengers is way above.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/12/21/wengers-new-delhis-oldest-bakery/

Lunch with a friend - 29 July 2016

This was totally unplanned for. My friend, Ajay, kept telling me to come to his house, and I kept procrastinating.

Today morning, he called and said he had taken a day off. 

I was going out, so I told him I will call him when I was back home.

After finishing my work outside, I called him around noon. Lunch was not planned. He was at home alone, and wanted to order food in. His wife was adamant - Nothing from outside. So nice bengali lunch at home - shukto, torkari, dal, and two kinds of fishes - pabda and prawns.

My Dad and uncle at home had something while I went out and enjoyed my day out.

Happy Birthday 25th July 2016

Its a year since I started this Blog. It was the evening of 25th July 2015, when I started. A week after I had returned to Bangalore from Delhi.

Never realized that a year went by.

A whole lot has happened in this past year - have to take that as part of life and move on.

Happy Birthday