….returns!!!
Seems like a gazillion years since I updated on my weekend escapades (you can call it that…seeing as how I escape doing half the stuff I’m supposed to do).
Life in the MomofRS household seems to flow in a languid pace. With the BF away, much of the vigour and vitality seems to be missing. We get through one day to the next. The only exciting thing happening currently is the full-throttle hunt for a bride for the BIL.
The BIL, sadly never had a girlfriend. This is something over which everyone at home grumbles about. For some unknown reasons, an appropriate match just isn’t taking place π¦ .Β We haven’t yet found anyone to the satisfaction of everyone (excluding me of course. I have no expectations from the BIL’s wife and apart from the parents and BIL, I don’t think anyone should have a say in this matter). For now, I’m just going along with the ride.
I’m not enjoying it, though.
This arranged-marriage business is so tricky. Either things get fixed in one go or they take ages to to come to a conclusion. The BIL, alas, falls in the latter category. It seems as though the more proposals we see, the more we get muddled. MIL is going white, lamenting her son’s lack of skill in ‘pataoing‘ a girl π .
We were supposed to meet a prospective girl and her family this weekend, but things didn’t work out and we had to drop the plan. It’s just sad because I had planned to meet up with G and PΒ (and if possible, Unmana too) over the weekend and now our meet has been postponed to the next weekend!
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“The President Is Coming”.
Oh yeah, I saw the Prez. He was on his way to inaugurate the ISKCON temple near my place (well, not really near my house, but you get it). The Prez’s entourage was to pass by on the road in front of my house. The policemen were everywhere keeping people off the road. In the 6+ years of my residence here, its the first time I’ve ever heard true silence. Not a single vehicle was allowed to move. People already on the road were asked to move to the by-lanes and stay put. Even pedestrians were told to keep off the road π¦ . The security was rather severe I must say, but it was rather sad to see hundreds of people standing under a really HOT sun (I’ve forgotten what winter looks like in Pune ), waiting for the Prez to come by. Motorists didn’t even have a chance to turn back, as there was a huge traffic jam in the junctions leading to the road in front of my house. Old men, women with little kids, babies even, weren’t allowed to cross the road.
The vehicles finally passed by, I got to see the President and even though I thought it would be a momentous occasion, I didn’t really feel that way after all π .
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Shobby’s school bag was coming undone. The straps were practically torn to shreds and the side pocket for the bottle was….best not to describe it.
I struggled for a few weeks….debating whether to dump it and get a new one. With only 2 months of school to go, my middle-class-cost-conscious mind just wouldn’t allow me the liberty to splurge on a new bag.
So this weekend, I finally got down to it. Grabbed a big needle, a large scissor and oodles of heavy-duty thread. After much snipping, cutting and sewing, Shobby’s bag is as good as new. For added measure, I even soaked them bags in soap water and gave them a good brushing.
*Sigh*
It was tough work. But somewhere deep inside, I have this distinct satisfaction of doing some good for my kids, making an effort on their behalf, not to mention, saving a few bucks in the bargain π .
At least my kids have learned that mending things gets them going and each time you needn’t just dump the old and get the new.
The stuff one has to take care of, I tell you π
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I went shopping. Doesn’t seem like a big deal but it was. Because I was out shopping ( and I mean, bona-fide shopping, with big lists and all) after months!! In fact, I don’t even remember the last time I went about it. So out-of-touch was I that I missed out on buying half the stuff that was listed (brown rice, whole-wheat bread, etc). But I did end up buying stuff I hadn’t planned on (cheesy-potato wafers, books, a bag of candies)Β so basically, some shopper instinct is still alive π .
Also, I really need to start buying stuff that is NOT grocery. Pronto π !!
I’ll start with clothes for the twins…maybe sometime this week π
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This weekend, I cooked a variety of stuff . The cook usually makes the regular food but on days when she doesn’t turn up, I take control. And how!! Β A lot!
In two days’ time I came up with –
– Mutton Curry and bagara rice (1.5 kgs of mutton and 2 kgs of rice.Β I really can cook large quantities, me thinks π )
– Veg Hakka Noodles, plain noodles and cheese-tomato soup.
– Cauliflower manchurian
– Veg Pulao
Not really considered as cooking, but I did churn butter and make ghee. This time, we managed to get nearly a kilo of ghee (after 4 weeks of saving up theΒ malai). Looks like our doodhwala is giving us pretty good milk π .
It also means that the kids aren’t drinking as much milk as they should π¦
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I’m reading the book, “The Japanese Wife” by Kunal Basu.
The story is riveting, no doubt, but am I the only one who wasn’t touched by it? Apparently, Aparna Sen was impressed enough to make a full-fledged movie out of it!
In the book, the Japanese woman, Miyage proposes to Snehamoya when she finds out that he is about to get betrothed to another. For 20 long years they lead a married life, albeit separately. Never once does she visit him or vice versa.
Why then does Miyage visit his village when he confesses to her (in a letter) about his slight indiscretion? Was insecurity the only thing that drives Miyage’s character? Why was she so distant and aloofΒ throughout? How does she come to know about his death and her status as a widow?
Maybe I just didn’t get the story. Or maybe, I didn’t read it in the best frame of mind. Whatever the case, if anyone has read it before and understands the subtext, please take the trouble and explain it to me too. I really need to know how that end came about π !!
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I finally saw “Harishchandrachi Factory”.
A long time ago I had confessed to making an effort towards learning Marathi (and what better teacher than movies, I ask you!). I saw a few movies and then got hooked. Something like the way the BF got hooked to South Indian cinema π
Anyhow, since this movie was India’s entry for Oscars a couple of years ago, I decided to give it a go.
Frankly, it is a rather sweet tale. Dada Phalke’s character loosely resembles Roberto Benigni’s Guido in Life Is Beautiful (if you haven’t seen LIB yet, make a dash for it. I don’t remember the last time I sobbed so hard. No, not even for Titanic. Or TZP ). Dada Phalke is a happy-go-lucky small-time magician with not a single shard of negativity to mar his persona. He dreams of bringing the first moving Indian film to India . The film is about his endeavors as he goes about fulfilling his dream. In this he is ably supported by his wife and two kids (which later become three π ). He finally makes the film and gets recognized for it. But it isnt the film he makes that matters. It is the sheer enjoyment and dedication for the craft that matters. We feel the glee as he shows off his first moving picture, that of a growing pea plant. We laugh at his attempts to convince women to act in his movie. We also get to laugh at the valiant efforts of the motley crew which comprises of the cast.
Overall, the movie is full of positive vibes with the only negative turn being a blindness scare. Watch it if you get the time. The language is rather simple, but subtitles help π
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Thats all for now folks…….I’m just glad to be updating this space after a really long time π
If you’re around, do drop by and say hello π
Have a GREAT week ahead π
Marriage proposals going on here as well.. So I can totally relate.. π I have done a post on the same today.. π
Wowza!! All the best there…you know its a tough activity π
Let me know when you finally get the match π
hopping over to read your tale π
Sure.. π
hello! nice to get the updates.
shop , shop and have fun.
it wil make your ‘missing BF’ feeling a bit less.Just saying……
He he….shopping is THE antidote for many an ailment π
Errr..and just to add fuel to the fire can I say RD was the first guy I saw and I was the first girl he did!
Arranged marriages are definitely a matter of luck mostly…one time mein click or keep searching π¦ I hope things work out for your BIL
Wah! I am impressed with the needle thread and bag work…*Applaudes*
LOL on shopping
loved your post π I should make a trip to Pune to meet up with you π
You lucky you!!! Found your partner in one go!!
How does that even happen??
π¦ π¦ π¦
About coming to Pune….sweetie, hop on to the next train and come here…I’ll personally come to pick you at the station π
and hey, don’t forget to get little R along π okie?
Arrange marriage and all the nautuanki associated with it…I did a post long back as I too faced hard times π¦
So much you did on weekend cooking in bulk,sewing the bag…aap to mahaan ho π
nahin yaar π π
Things were pending since ages. I just finally mustered the courage to finish it all over the weekend
π
what is south Indian cinema?
Any movie in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or Malayalam π