Spoilt Rotten

A couple of days back....I overheard....one colleague saying to another......in passing......."You're spoilt rotten!"

I thought to myself..........how wonderful it must be.....to be spoilt........and that too, spoilt rotten! I wish someone would spoil me.....just once! Being the eldest of my siblings......I have always been told...."You're Big....he's Small" referring to my brother/s. Even when I was small, I was suppose to be Big. I guess I was literally a Little Woman. I don't think my Parents spoilt any one of us....but methinks my youngest brother was mollycoddled a wee bit as a baby!

I left home......to go to to College.....and make my mark in this world....and now years later as I walked back to my work desk......I couldn't help being a wee bit....tinged with sadness.... that I know no one.....who wanted to spoil me......leave alone spoil me rotten..... even if it is..... just once!

My little adventure

I was minding my own business...........when on a dark and stormy night, Her Imperial Majesty Lauren the Purple of Praze-an-Beeble made me board my camel in search of My Very Own Peculiar Aristocratic Title. The journey took me to Greater Internetshire where Lady Fortune the Absurd presented my very own eccentric British aristocratic title!

The effort at the end of it all was pretty rewarding.........as I am mighty pleased with my Title! Yes! Ceaseless I am!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Imperial Majesty Mary the Ceaseless of Old Tonbridge Wafers

The Title Bestowing Ceremony was followed by High Tea which came with a Fortune Cookie. I snapped mine open to read the ancient wisdom of the Fortune Cookie.....Oh! How true this is!

My Fortune Cookie told me: You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.

"Karwa Chauth"

Today is "Karwa Chauth"...a day when Hindu married ladies from the North part of the country, fast from dawn till she sees the moon at night. I wouldn't have known..........unless I hadn't spoken to this colleague of mine whose hands were decorated with "mehndi"..........henna for all ye non urdu/hindi speakers!

My country is so vast.....and even though the majority are Hindus...the customs & the rituals & even the Gods & Goddesses that are worshiped are so different from one region to the other....from one state to the other. Hindus believe in one God....they believe One in many and many in One......if you know what I mean!

First the meaning of "Karwa Chauth"........chauth means the fourth day after the new moon and nine days later we will have "Diwali". Now this would be another post! So let me come back to where I digressed! Karwa is a clay pot with a spout which symbolizes peace & prosperity.

The ritual begins before sunrise and ends only after seeing the moon. No food or water is taken during this time. The ladies pray for their husbands longevity, well being and prosperity. At night after the sighting of the moon, that too through a sieve.... amidst prayers & offering of water and then seeing their husbands face, the fast is broken. Thanks to the many Bollywood movies that I have seen, I do know the elaborate arrangements which they make to make sure that it's their husband's face they see and not anyone else right after they have seen the moon......even if they have to close their eyes and walk back to the house where he would be .....waiting to be worshiped!

Post Technology............if the husband is far away...fast would be broken after seeing his photograph....or after a phone call and hearing his voice! Some unmarried girls even have started keeping this fast for their boyfriends or fiancés!

For all their effort.......prayers and all....the wives are showered with lavish gifts!

"The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind"

I happened to bump into an ex-colleague.........this afternoon. She had moved on....got a new job outside the company. We caught up on where we are now and how work & life was.....in general. It was the common complaint in our box......the non-recognition of our work....the non-existent yearly increment.... If things were to change, she said that I needed to be mentally positive and to actually believe that it was going to happen. I asked her what this was all about? Which school of thought? The Art of Living? The Art of Positive Thinking?

My ex-colleague said that she was reading, "The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind" by Dr.Murphy and she truly believes in it. She asked me to try it out. We were meeting after more than a year only now when we are staying in the same locality......there has to be a reason she believes.....maybe the reason is that she needed to pass on this power of the subconscious mind to me. I promised her I would.....I have nothing to lose. I found this free ebook on the net and I plan to read it.

Dr Murphy's principle: "if you believe in something without reservation and picture it in your mind, you remove the subconscious obstacles that prevent you from achieving that end result, and your belief becomes a reality."

Man from Mars

I am just getting to know this person from Mars. Technically speaking I have known him for a while as I was introduced 5-6 years back. Different cities....but having worked for the same company......there was the inevitable office meet.

Both of us left the Company.......went our separate ways.....and then out of the blue.....he saw me......and got in touch with me. We have been writing ever since. I am just discovering his choice of books, music....views on religion and on the world as such. He's got such a wry sense of humour and I happen to love it!

There are some people whose writings makes you laugh.........he is one of them! I love to read what he has to say.... on anything and everything!

He writes - "fear me not earthlings coz i come in peace....to take urs away!"

Hmmmm.....my peace is beginning to disappear.......and I am not complaining!

Fatayer for Breakfast

Thursdays........the NEXT Brand Team...........have continued their old ritual of having Breakfast in the office. Most of the other Brands stopped when we moved into the new Office Area.

Today, I decided to join NEXT and they were very welcoming! Yes, I am not in NEXT. The menu was Arabic and we all ordered "Fatayer" which is an Arabic Pie.

Below are some of the most popular "Fatayers". Different people make it with additional other ingredients which makes it different from one restaurant to the other.

# Lahme Fatayer - This is a mince meat pie. Some make it with tomato, onions and exotic spices.

# Zaatar Fatayer - This pie is topped with zaatar spice from where it takes it's name with a dash of olive oil. (Zaatar is a mixture of spices popular in the Middle East. Traditionally it is a combination of dried thyme, toasted white sesame seeds and salt.)

# Sabanikh Fatayer - This is a spinach pie. Some would make it with lemon juice & spices while others would make it with tomato, onions, mint & olive oil.

# Jiben Fatayer - Cheese pie. This could be plain cheese pie or with a pinch of zaatar and topped with sesame seeds. Feta cheese is mostly used.

My favourite always has been the Cheese Fatayer. However, I tried a different Fatayer today which was strongly recommended by some of the NEXT Team. This was the Baida Jiben Tomatum Fatayer which was Eggs, Cheese & Tomato Fatayer! It was delicious and really filling! Needless to say, I skipped my lunch!

Baida Jiben Tomatum Fatayer

Enjoy the moment!

"Now, was the future, moments ago...the next moment will be the past in the blink of an eye...Drats!!"

The above, is what I got to read this evening when I opened my Personal Mail Box in the Cyber-World. A friend had written...... ending a "normal" email discussing the books read and their genres........with such philosophical words. My friend's thoughts tinges on Pessimism..........need to veer towards being an Optimistic!

My reply to the end - "Do not fret that NOW will soon be the PAST. Enjoy the moment!"

What's in a pea?

I just read an article on my favourite vegetable “Peas” and wanted to share the facts about this legume.......you’d be a pea-brain to miss out!

1. If it is an energy boost that we are looking then peas is the solution. They combat fatigue by providing nutrients that matabolise carbohydrates, proteins & lipids which produce energy.

2. Peas help in building strong bones by providing with vitamin K1, vitamin B6 & folic acid.

3. If you have to choose between canned or frozen, go for the frozen as they are lower in sodium and therefore healthier.

4. Being a rich source of soluble fibre, peas reduce the body’s blood cholesterol level. The folic acid also promotes cardiovascular health. It’s the heart’s best friend.

5. Despite it’s name the sweet pea plant (Flowers are simply gorgeous) are poisonous!

6. Peas are believed to have originated in the Middle East....5000 years ago!

7. Through the years, this legume has undergone quite a few of name change. Originally pisum in Latin, it became pise in Anglo Saxon and then pease in English. Thinking pease was the plural form, people started referring as pea and then the name stuck.

8. Think you know how to eat peas? Traditional etiquette says that the ‘correct’ way to eat peas is to spear a few on the pongs of your fork then scoop up more on the fork.

9. Want to shed some weight? Think peas! They contain twice as much protein as most vegetables but are less fatty than other protein rich foods. One cup of peas only contains 0.58g of fat, 116 calories & no cholesterol.

10. As a rich source of vitamin C, peas strengthen the body’s immune system & help ward off all types of cancer.

I love peas.......I am the undisputed “Matar Wali”! (Peas in hindi is “Matar” & “wali” a person). Below is a list of some of my favourite Indian dishes containing what else.........Peas & more peas! There are many different ways to cook these Indian dishes but the below is what yours truly with no inclination towards elaborate cooking and with no training still manages to rustle up to satisfy my taste buds! Its easy-peasy!

Matar Pulao (Rice with Peas) – Very easy to make with Basmati Rice and peas. All it takes is a bit of oil & some spices to bring out the aroma in the rice pot. Add the peas, sauté it with some onions, add the rice, water , put the lid and voila! Another variation in case the rice is cooked already. Just toss the cooked rice into the sautéed peas & onions!

Aloo Matar ( Potatoes & Peas) – In a wok heat some oil & stir in chopped onions, ginger garlic paste & bay leaves. When onions turn brown, mix the potatoes & peas. After a while stir in tomato puree, garam masala (Indian spices), salt to taste & chilli powder if you like it hot! Cook till done.

Matar Gobi ( Peas with cauliflower) - Heat oil & sauté onions till brown. Add ginger garlic paste, green chilli, red chilli & sauté for a while. Add chopped tomato & coriander leaves. Cool this and puree all adding some yoghurt. Put it back on the wok, add water, peas & the cauliflower and cook till done. Garnish with chopped coriander and enjoy!

Matar Mushroom – In a wok take some oil, throw in a bit of cumin seeds, add chopped onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chilli paste and sauté. Then stir in the peas. When half cooked add the chopped or sliced mushrooms, salt to taste, black pepper & a bit to lemon juice for that zing. Cover the pot for few minutes & cook till water evaporates.

Matar Paratha ( Indian Bread stuffed with peas) – Knead the dough with salt & chiili powder. Roll it to whatever shape you want it to be...usually it would be round...and place some cooked peas (Toss ginger & green chillies in a wok with little oil and add in the peas) in the middle. Bring the outer edges together as to close the filling and then roll it again flat so that the stuffing is now in between. On a pre-heated tawa (flat pan), smear a bit of butter, put the paratha and shallow fry over low heat. Turn the other side, put more butter and cook till golden brown. It’s simply divine! Eat it with yogurt (curd) or with pickle!

My favourite......OK.... one of my favourite snack that I love is....? Make a wild guess!

My friendly "Bakala" Guy

For my daily needs.....aha.....I'm lying.....my weekly needs.....like eggs and bread ( remember Me Single?.....takes me a week to finish it!)......occasionally, I go to one "Bakala" (small grocery shop in Arabic) which is run by 2 Egyptians. I like going there even though there are other "Bakalas" nearer my house (run by sour Indians!) Reason being, they are friendly....always helpful and I get to practice my Arabic!

As I enter the "Bakala", I say "Salaam walekum" and I am greeted back "Walekam salaam". He asks me how I am, "Keif haalak?" I reply "Zein" good. I in turn asks him how he is doing and I say it the Egyptian way, "Zeiyak?". Yes, from one country to another apart from the accent there is a slight difference in the spoken Arabic.

I pick up the eggs, milk, bread, juice.....he helps me with the tin of beans high up on the shelf. I like the personal service that I get. Prices in the "Bakalas" are a little higher than the Supermarket but then I am not doing any major shopping here. The total amounts to Kd 5.150 but he says I can give him Kd 5.000 only! I return home... happy with my discount!

Internet....a boon or a bane of our Lives?!

Internet is encroaching on our lives so much that ..........it's pretty scary when you actually think about it.

Growing up, our lives were filled with real friends, reading books, playing games with real friends in real time and loads of other activities...like stamp or coin collecting, etc.

Today, how many kids do we find indulging in such activities? For the majority, the only books they ever opened or will open are their school books........but talk about any PC, Laptop, TCP/IP network protocols, chats, downloads.......and they would be quite knowledgeable and up to date. Yes, they have loads of friends...quite a few of them would have more than 100!...but it would be all on the internet world. Open Facebook and you will know what I am talking. Barely do I see them writing anything of their own........its the various applications which they have got which is doing all the communication & they are quite proficient in the various computer games!

I too am spending quite a bit of my time on the internet world........reading, writing, making contacts/friends, searching......So, is Internet a boon or a bane of our lives? I guess an excess of anything is always bad. I am glad that at least my formative years were spared of this technology! Seriously, I mean it!