Year: 2009

  • UN Day 2009 in India From Grass to Gold

    The UN was celebrating the International Year of Natural Fibres and we went along to the reception. Their brochure was entitled from Grass to Gold which I thought was a winning title. Last night the gardens were set up with looms and basket weavers to show us the special relationship that India and its people…

  • A haven off the MG Road

    Yes, it sounds like a contradiction in terms for those of you who know the MG road, busy 24/7 with metro works, deviations and sheer load of traffic but there it was at Metro pillar 165 coming from Delhi turn right and follow the road till the end into the Anandagaram Sanskriti Kendra. A secret…

  • Following on from friends and what they say

    My friend Richa was telling me about her sons disappointment at not getting his first choice and she said to him : Life comes with lemons, so make lemonade !

  • A new visitor, not quite Bollywood, but blessed on the legs front

    Yesterday morning we had a new visitor in the house. We have no idea how and where she/ he may have come from but this is her/ his picture. Only grateful that Tara did not get to her before we did !

  • Exchanges with Friends that stay through the day.

    I was trying to explain to a friend what it is like living here. “It is a differently wired me that wakes up every morning here”….I said “Let’s talk about the wiring and the need for new circuitry”. she said Another friend called in a French handyman for a repair job. He admired her tiles.…

  • Happy Diwali to Indians all over the planet

    This is our first Diwali in India and with apologies to my esteemed Indian readers I want to give you a potted version and would happily hear your comments and corrections.This is a festival which is determined by the Indian lunar calendar and heralds the New Year so it is a moving feast, probably the…

  • Shahpur Jat

    We visited an area of Delhi called Shahpur Jat, an old neighbourhood which is becoming quite fashionable now. It is a little like Portobello Road in London or Laiki Geitonia in Cyprus.We walked through small streets, quite narrow, with rows of indistinguishable buildings housing little factories and artisan’s workshops. Up the stairs, in crammed little…

  • Bollywood comes to the Ginksies

    Yes we are well and truly arrivee as they say First Bollywood star to grace us with her gorgeous presence at home for dinner. Ant loved it.

  • My Big Fat Greek Salad

    I went along to my cooking group today and celebrated a vegetarian diwali lunch so I took along a big fat greek salad replete with tomatoes, cucumbers and olives, onion rings and crunchy lettuce, green peppers and generous bits of greek feta cheese sprinkled with oregano.It was much admired from the lovely wooden salad bowl…

  • The art of Nandalal Bose

    1882- 1966)Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi which is housing a wonderful exhibition on Nandalal Bose. He is considered to be the father of Indian Modern Art. It also shows his close association with Mahatma Ghandi and his support for Ghandi’s non violent struggle.Nandalal Bose was…