This weekend we have mainly been going to the Ballet!
The Novoi Bolshoi Ballet of Uzbekistan have been in town and treated us to a performance of Don Quixote on Saturday and a Medley of Classics today, and it was such a treat. Ellie sat so happily transfixed the first day that I just had to take her back today especially as the finale of the programme was scenes from her beloved The Nutcracker.
Just before Christmas she had asked me whether we could go to see The Nutcracker this year, and I had to promise her that the next time we are in England for Christmas I would take her again, so you can imagine she was delighted to go earlier than anticipated and I was amazed at how much of the story she remembered.
Back at home afterwards she was on a bit of a high, twirling and prancing all over the place in her fairy costume and she's gone to bed one very tired but happy little girl determined to dream about it.
I'm not sure what the Indian audiences made of it, or indeed how often this type of event even happens here. There were certainly a large number who were very serious about it, a few more who fidgeted and talked(!), there was lots of applause in the wrong places, the odd mobile phone going off, rustling of crisp packets, people popping in and out... and so I deduce that educating new audiences in India is pretty much the same as the UK! Hard work! Interval drinks were bottles of water, pepsi or orange at 10 Rupees a throw...less than 10p...do you read that Symphony Hall??!! On the other hand ticket prices for this type of thing are very high...top price 3000 Rupees(£40) bottom price 500 Rupees (£8)....the stuff of dreams for your average man on the street of Chennai.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Saturday, 10 January 2009
You Know You Live In India...
When your four year old comes out with the following
While eating smiley potato faces, "Look Mummy, This one is wearing a Bindi"
While eating smiley potato faces, "Look Mummy, This one is wearing a Bindi"
Friday, 9 January 2009
A Maid Update
I really hope that I'm not going to tempt fate with this post...
But things could really not get any better than they've been the last few weeks.
Maid # 4 Mary, started 3 weeks ago turns out that she and Maid # 2 Pushpa worked together a couple of years ago and are friends and they really do 'work together'. They are both a pleasure to have have around and are wonderful with the children. One is Hindi and the other Catholic and despite all the warnings we have had that 'mixed religion' staff don't work well together we have no complaints at all especially as it also means that we will not often be without help as they have different holidays. They constantly educate me about customs, traditions and cooking and are interested in our lives back home.
It also turns out that Mary is a bit of a cook and has been so eager to please that she keeps on rustling up the most lovely food. When my family were here she was whipping up pancakes for breakfast, Biryani, Curries, Dahl and much to my nephews delight...Chicken Korma which was hoovered up in no time at all. Her idea of low salt/low fat is a little different to mine but we are trying to counteract that with a lot of salad! This morning she made us Dosai for breakfast...a thick type of pancake made with rice flour, stuffed with spiced (not too much) potato served with a coconut chutney, they were very tasty and went down very well with the boys in the family, a bit heavy for me and Ellie took one bite and asked for a bowl of Coco Pops.
Mary did get a little confused over the clothes washing instructions and it was only when she asked me to get more washing powder armed with an empty box of Calgon tablets that I realised why our clothes hadn't had their normal scent for a while!
But things could really not get any better than they've been the last few weeks.
Maid # 4 Mary, started 3 weeks ago turns out that she and Maid # 2 Pushpa worked together a couple of years ago and are friends and they really do 'work together'. They are both a pleasure to have have around and are wonderful with the children. One is Hindi and the other Catholic and despite all the warnings we have had that 'mixed religion' staff don't work well together we have no complaints at all especially as it also means that we will not often be without help as they have different holidays. They constantly educate me about customs, traditions and cooking and are interested in our lives back home.
It also turns out that Mary is a bit of a cook and has been so eager to please that she keeps on rustling up the most lovely food. When my family were here she was whipping up pancakes for breakfast, Biryani, Curries, Dahl and much to my nephews delight...Chicken Korma which was hoovered up in no time at all. Her idea of low salt/low fat is a little different to mine but we are trying to counteract that with a lot of salad! This morning she made us Dosai for breakfast...a thick type of pancake made with rice flour, stuffed with spiced (not too much) potato served with a coconut chutney, they were very tasty and went down very well with the boys in the family, a bit heavy for me and Ellie took one bite and asked for a bowl of Coco Pops.
Mary did get a little confused over the clothes washing instructions and it was only when she asked me to get more washing powder armed with an empty box of Calgon tablets that I realised why our clothes hadn't had their normal scent for a while!
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Chicken Shop
I'm a supermarket ready to cook kind of girl. Dinner tonight? Chicken!...let's pop into Sainsbury's and pick up a pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Not quite so easy in India, our local notsosupermarket shop has a few chilled chickens in their fridge but they don't look too great and I'm never sure whether to trust them when they say that they are fresh that day, because I'm always sure that I've seen the one on the right before, the last time I was in, maybe a couple of days ago and they're way too expensive.
Pushpa has been collecting fresh chicken for me on her way here but a couple of days ago I had forgotten to ask her, so I asked Kumar to take me to a 'Chicken Shop'. I want 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts I told him, he didn't quite understand so then we had to go through the demonstration process (!). He pulls the car over and I turn and see the 'chicken shop'
Gulp.
Kumar and I approach the shop, the smell of chicken poop is overwhelming and no wonder because all those chickens are sitting in cages awaiting their fate. I was asked if I wanted to choose which birds I wanted but I took one look at the blood spattered apron of 'the slayer' the flies buzzing around, one last whiff and came over a little nauseous. No thanks, I'll wait in the car.
After about 15 minutes Kumar returns and tells me it's 3Kg of chicken and that'll be 340Rupees (about £5) 4 chicken breasts weigh 3kg errr? Too shocked to argue about the weight I give him the money, he hands me the bag...which is, ahem, still warm.
Back at home, I give the bag to Pushpa for her to deal with...turns out that my 4 chicken breasts got translated into four chicken's breasts.
All told, it was a good result, we had extremely fresh chicken and once cooked for a salad for us and made into chicken balls for the kids, with four extra breasts deposited safely in the freezer it was all very delicious, I just don't think the experience of the 'chicken shop' is one I want to repeat very often.
All our other meat is delivered frozen, what if, one day I have to go to a Mutton or Beef Shop?
Not quite so easy in India, our local notsosupermarket shop has a few chilled chickens in their fridge but they don't look too great and I'm never sure whether to trust them when they say that they are fresh that day, because I'm always sure that I've seen the one on the right before, the last time I was in, maybe a couple of days ago and they're way too expensive.
Pushpa has been collecting fresh chicken for me on her way here but a couple of days ago I had forgotten to ask her, so I asked Kumar to take me to a 'Chicken Shop'. I want 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts I told him, he didn't quite understand so then we had to go through the demonstration process (!). He pulls the car over and I turn and see the 'chicken shop'
Gulp.
Kumar and I approach the shop, the smell of chicken poop is overwhelming and no wonder because all those chickens are sitting in cages awaiting their fate. I was asked if I wanted to choose which birds I wanted but I took one look at the blood spattered apron of 'the slayer' the flies buzzing around, one last whiff and came over a little nauseous. No thanks, I'll wait in the car.
After about 15 minutes Kumar returns and tells me it's 3Kg of chicken and that'll be 340Rupees (about £5) 4 chicken breasts weigh 3kg errr? Too shocked to argue about the weight I give him the money, he hands me the bag...which is, ahem, still warm.
Back at home, I give the bag to Pushpa for her to deal with...turns out that my 4 chicken breasts got translated into four chicken's breasts.
All told, it was a good result, we had extremely fresh chicken and once cooked for a salad for us and made into chicken balls for the kids, with four extra breasts deposited safely in the freezer it was all very delicious, I just don't think the experience of the 'chicken shop' is one I want to repeat very often.
All our other meat is delivered frozen, what if, one day I have to go to a Mutton or Beef Shop?
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
T'was the Night Before Christmas...
...and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a Security Guard
At 1am, technically Christmas Day I know, while we were mopping up after the Nori Virus struck the boys all 3 guards were sleeping soundly and yes, one of them is in one of the children's car seats! Ian walked around...he took photographs, he opened the front gates, he went outside, he came back in and not one of them moved a muscle!
Someone asked recently..'Why Do We Have Guards?' Good question when you see this lot!
At 1am, technically Christmas Day I know, while we were mopping up after the Nori Virus struck the boys all 3 guards were sleeping soundly and yes, one of them is in one of the children's car seats! Ian walked around...he took photographs, he opened the front gates, he went outside, he came back in and not one of them moved a muscle!
Someone asked recently..'Why Do We Have Guards?' Good question when you see this lot!
A 'Tropical' Christmas For All
We really enjoyed having my sister Sally, Dave, Thomas & William to stay. Here are some photographs of our time together.
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Tuesday, 6 January 2009
DH, DD, DS? An Explanation
So....some of you are now catching up with us out here! You took your time but lovely to have you reading. And because some people are soooo far behind you missed the explantation of my abbreviations and it is all probably far too boring and time consuming for you to go right back to the beginning where it was explained! Am I right?! Thought so, judging by all the queries.
I wasn't 100% comfortable using the children's names to start with but as time goes by and a New Year brings new beginnings so from here on in I will use them...
DH - is Ian
DD - is Ellie
DS - is Luke
I hope this clears up any confusion and keeps everybody happy.
I wasn't 100% comfortable using the children's names to start with but as time goes by and a New Year brings new beginnings so from here on in I will use them...
DH - is Ian
DD - is Ellie
DS - is Luke
I hope this clears up any confusion and keeps everybody happy.
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