Sofas

Day off

I don't know what to do. The day looms in blocks of time - what till lunch? What till I meet S in the evening? I should ideally be picking up one of the many books waiting to be read and settle down with it - it's what I've done every time I've been free. But today that doesn't feel attractive. I should go out but it's raining. I should write but I don't know if my words are good enough. I should take photos... but I can't think what of. I can surf the net, but the connection is frustratingly slow.
A big fat comfortable chair that invites you to sink in comfortably and read - that's what I think I need. It'll have to wait a while

Contributor write-up via Niru

The side effect of being a freeelancer is that you need to send contributor write-ups and photos (oh gosh I still have to send one) and both of them are maddening. As I was grumbling about this to Niru on gmail chat, she was struck by inspiration and has written one for me.
Below.

Writer, photographer and super adrak ki chai maker. When she's not exercising her talents in the above mentioned domains, she can be found with a dupatta on her eyes or a tissue to her nose. Whatta gurl!

and the car stopped...

... well into the middle of a two lane road, causing much traffic jam behind. I slid into the passenger side with three packets of oil (not apples, as I had originally thought and bought, and come home with only to be asked where the oil was) and attempted to start the car. The battery was dead. People honked behind, and I shouted 'shut up' at everybody who made snide comments at me. Mood enhancing as you can see. Finally the car was pushed by three men from the supermarket, one of whom started it for me, allowing me to return home.
I finally finished that infintely boring book, White Mughals. About which I want to rant. I can understand that writers can and many times do lose sight of the plot (yes, Mr Daylrymple), but what the heck were the editors doing? Proofreading? Shouldn't they have been able to tell the writer that this book is not going to hold any reader's attention? And that it would be a better book if it were 300 pages shorter? Or is William Dalyrmple's name enough to sell anything? The only consolation I have on this book is that somebody gifted it to us.
I have decided to take the night off tonight. No work, i.e. Romance and horlicks. Accompanied by mosquito killing.

Since KP is sick of cheese...

... an update about the 'big' day, yesterday. Which didn't seem all that big despite being very nice. Anyway, have finally watched Spider-man, and the sister and I plan to live it up for a bit, starting now, while the two maids are around to watch over the kids.
Talking of maids, we are facing a bit of an inundation, we have two for the kids, and a new one and her kid have arrived today supposedly to do the upstairs and dusting. All this besides the one we have for the downstairs and the dishes. I think we now have almost an equal amount of maids to people. And though we have cribbed much about not having people to do things, right now that seems preferable.
Oh well, I don't seem to have updated about the big day yesterday, but the mood has passed.

cheesy

This was part of dinner at A's birthday on the 3rd.

From the green on your left: Tintern chive and onion (nice, slightly bland; a bit like Lay's sour cream and onion chips), cranberry (my second favourite), cheddar (the Welsh cheddar we bought separately, not featured, is much better), cheese with mustard seeds (excellent; down to a mere sliver now), and Brie (blah).

In the background, extremely yummy spring onion crackers from Marks and Spencer.

Everybody was so stuffed by the end of A's dinner that no one even touched the cheese plate. It has therefore been left to us three (with extremely enthusiastic input from me) to consume this spread. We haven't yet finished a single one - but the mustard will be the first to go.

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It's bright and sunny today, people are mowing their lawns, breaking out their skirts and T-shirts, even sunbathing in their yards. We are also celebrating the weather by having a barbecue this evening - defrosting at the moment: chicken, fish and prawns. We are going to have a very protein-rich dinner. Photo up later.

gems in editing

1. The treatment takes just one sitting and ensures no crows legs or frowns.

2. Okay, you might be a jocund dame who is blessed with wonderful jaws but think twice: is there much space for grinning and giggling at events like serious meetings and negotiations?

3. While you may be upset over a failed romance, crying all day at your desk or showing off pictures of your new cat (?!)...

4. We know just the fashion label that will take your imagination to unparallel heights

5. So just any saloon for makeup will not do but a specialised saloon with a trained makeup artist who knows how to get the best features of the girl in the forefront must be trusted.