Long and the short of it  

Posted by: Garima

Statement 1: ‘I have been lucky to live near work and travel less than 30 minutes to get to work.
Alternatively the above line can be written as:
Statement 2: ‘I have bullied Sumit for the past few years to have an apt. close to my work with little consideration for his work location.’
The latter though correct, sounds harsh. So I will stick to Statement 1: ‘I have been lucky to live near work and travel less than 30 minutes to get to work.
But, isn’t there always a but in such sentences.
I have now come to a time where though we live in a coveted area in Central London, work is FAR away. Door to door 2 hours away. And that is one way my friends. I promised myself, I won’t bitch about the travel, but when 80% of my thoughts are along those lines, it’s hard not to.
Yes, I know people have been doing this for years, it’s a way of life for many and yes, it’s normal.
Well I agree with all that, but I have to say, it’s not been my normal! And it’s taking a lot of getting used to this '4 hour' daily commute to work.
I love my work, the challenges, the people and above all the thrill of making a difference and achieving it. But the travel really sucks!
For reasons, the  Mon-Thursday travel doesn’t work for me. So I settle with commuting 4 hours a day.
On the pros, I have read 5 books in the past few weeks. In the long train ride seen a couple of my 'must watch' movies including 'Too big to fail!'.  And best of all, in my train, I have written long work proposals and drawn up enough presentations in the peace and quiet of being away from the net and phone. So yes, the travels have been productive.
But (Again the big word)
It sucks, I hate running in so that I don’t miss my fast train. I hate sipping on coffee by myself whilst hubby and V call me when they are munching the morning breakfast. I detest coming home just wishing the lights are on in my daughter’s bedroom so I can play with her.
It will take A LOT OF GETTING USED to. Luckily I have had a good and trust worthy support structure. Who
a. have been listening to my non stop rants,
b. giving me the neck massages I need after the long day and heavy laptop carrying
c. Taking care of the kiddo and her sleep schedules and above all for
d. The kiddo who comes to me as soon as I come home and says: 'Why dont you lie down on the couch and I will give you blankie. We can snuggle and read a book there'

This sort of pampering I could get used to.
Travel Woes... I am ready to face you. For today!

1 comments

A sneak peak on our snowy morning!  

Posted by: Garima

 A view outside our window.......................................s

 The little snow man..... Yes, V helped, and we left if mid-way since our fingers were frozen! Per V: 'We need to go back inside and thaw them'
A pe

1 comments

And it took snow  

Posted by: Garima

To make me come back to my "super ignored" blog to come back to life! It's earlY Feb, and I have no idea when was the last post I wrote, but tonight its snowing in London and as look out this window of mine, after a Long time I am inspired to write again! Yes, I miss Chicago, when it starts snowing in November more or less. You are snow covered and bitching about the weather 5 months of a year, but you still enjoy the snow covered roads, the snow on your face when you walk on the Magnificent mile, whatever! Bottom line, snow uplifts your mood like no tomorrow. but at the same time, I am enjoying this experience of living in London. I get asked a lot, which do you prefer, Chicago or London. My answer always is " I have phases" Truly, i miss my dearest of friends, buddies, mom chit chats, comforts and knowing the streets of Chicago, a city where my daughter spend the first three years of her life, a place which equates to home for both Sumit and me. At the same time, I am enjoying my new found friend ships, the new adventures of exploring the new restaurant, the new nook, the new kids class which make me and V skip a beat and laugh our hearts out. I love finding the new paths which make me discover a new ice cream place, a new hot samosa joint, a new place where i'll never go again. I like the newness and the familiarity of London. I think the experience of living in a new city makes you learn so many new things about yourself and your relationships. I am lucky to be here and learn. Being out of my comfort zone and yet being comfortable. Snow- in a lot of ways, just walking down the street with V this evening with our tongues out to catch the new snow flake makes me realize: you only live once, and sometimes just being out there makes you feel like 'you are home'

0 comments

When I like something, I really like it...  

Posted by: Garima in , , ,

Take the unbelievable salad for example... As forecasted, I had it a lot and within three 
weeks, my loyalty card paid off for a free salad! ;-) I am a sucker that way!
Next, there is a wrap place next to my office. In less than 7 minutes, I get a hot wrap, eat 
it and am back to meetings! Lovely lunch break. Loyalty card approved for a free wrap next time 
I go there.
Most recently, I was introduced to a place called 'Nusa'. And trust me, it’s the best soup 
place EVER!!! There is always a line winding outside the small place for their soups. And 
believe it or not, they have over four vegetarian soup options. I can only talk about one 
variety though, the one I keep having- Santa Fe Chilli sin Carne- add on the yogurt, salsa and 
chilli on top! Its the perfect lunch for a wintery afternoon. Sadly no loyalty card here... so 
I guess I just keep going back for the flavours!

And yes, I could carry home packed lunches. I do, 'sometimes' but luckily, the lunch options 
around here are worth exploring. And the fifteen minutes I do get for lunch in my busy day is 
worth getting out of the office and exploring!

This actually leads to another topic- having the tried and tasted food or truly trying out something new?
Yes, we all love exploring... but when you find something just perfect, do you tend to try something else on the menu... just because? Your take?

4 comments

Quick Food Fix: Tossed Sandwich  

Posted by: Garima in ,

Updated to change: 8 to 10 slices of bread and not loaves.. that would be ridiculous... Thanks Hubby and Gaya for pointing it out!!!!

Its been a while since I blogged about a Food Recipe..
Here is a quick food/ snack/ breakfast fix....

Especially useful, when there is a lot more bread in the house and you don’t want to waste it!! Happens a lot in our household. We always buy bread and not consume it as much. When sadly towards the end, it tends to become the food for the birds in the park. But in winters now, the idea of bird feeding is getting less exciting!
And yes, I know, we can stop buying the bread as well... but what happens on the day when all you want is Chai with toast dipped in!!! Tell me?

Back to the point, here is a very simple recipe... called 'Chaunki hui Bread' alternatively also known as 'Tossed hot sandwich!!' You'll see why I got creative with the name!!

Serves 4
Ingredients:
1. 8-10 slices of bread (any type will do: White/Wheat/Your Pick): Cut them in squares (Please dont worry if they are not square but rectangles, bottom line, bite sizes pieces)
2. 1 Onion: Chopped finely
3. 1 Cucumber: Chopped Finely
4. Ginger/ Green Chilli: Per taste
5. 2-3 Med. Sized tomatoes, deseeded and chopped finely
6. Bell Pepper: (Optional): Chopped Finely
7. Lemon Juice- Per taste
Spices:
Salt, Turmeric, Rai, Jeera, Red Chilli Powder

Now....
- In a wide saucepan, heat some olive oil on medium flame.
- When hot, add rai, on spluttering, add jeera.
- Add onions and sauté till translucent. Add ginger & Green Chillies
- Add tomatoes, and sauté more (less than 2 min.) Make sure the tomatoes don’t loose the firmness
- Add peppers if interested- Same, don’t loose the firmness
- Now add the spices. Sauté
- Add the pre-cut bread, and start tossing the vegetables and bread together.
Over years I have learned that tossing with salad tongs really help!
- Since you are using a wider pan, the bread should start getting crispier as well.
- Now add the chopped cucumbers, lemon juice and cover the pan. Reduce the gas to a bare minimum.
- Cover... wait for 5 min or so!

Serve in a  bowl and enjoy with Maggi Hot N Sweet ketchup! No other gives the right zing to the dish!

Now why did I call it a 'Tossed hot sandwich!!' it has all the ingredients of a sandwich, to make it, you have to toss it and its hot! ;-)
(Pics asusual, I forgot to take them)

1 comments

No more Night Night!  

Posted by: Garima in , ,

I love technology, the ease of communication, getting true global experience at your fingertips, be it professional life, personal life or just gossip life!
But technology is a sleep killer.
There was a time in our early married life, when hubby and I would pop into covers and get our favourite books out, read and doze away. If we did wake up in the middle of the night, it would be too painful to start the night lamp and read again. So a glass of water, and plop into bed again.
Sadly it’s different now!
Technology rules. At any time on our bedside, you would find two smart phones, iPad, laptop and lots of chargers and maybe one dust covered book! In the night if I do wake up, I check on V and then come back in covers and just start the i-Something. I might surf the net, play a game, read the news. And then after twenty minutes, I am wide eyed.
And then the glass of water/ walk around the house just does not work. I am awake. And then, the story continues, I am making my to-do lists, researching project work, reading some stuff. Basically anything that should wait is keeping me up in the nights.
I should switch from technology on my night stand to a good old book and glass of water! Of course, it implies I need to get an old school alarm clock

1 comments

Photography has ruined travel. Has it?  

Posted by: Garima in , , , , ,

The title from the CNN article was enough to make me stop and read it. And then read it again, think about it, process it. Hmm 'Photography has ruined travel' one line I smirked about was 'My memories are framed by the 2x2-inch blurry screen of my camera. Not once did I look up to see the fish with my own eyes. '
It has happened to me before. Most recently in Scotland, I was so busy taking the right picture of the pony and my daughter feeding it the cut apple, that I can’t remember her squeals of her laughter. True.
Has photography really ruined travel? I don’t think so. The first thing I pack on a trip is our camera's (Point N Shoot & SLR) with their chargers. I need a camera to capture the moments. I often sit on our couch on go over the pictures from back then and smile. They are hundreds, but I still enjoy them all the time. I need my pictures. For myself. For refreshing the memories made, relishing the chocolate cake, smelling the coffee, reliving the laughter, everything. Pictures make travel and experiences more memorable!
Having said that, Yes, I do hate the Iphone/ smart phone cameras. Don’t get me wrong, I use them all the time, but somehow they don’t qualify as 'pictures'. They are just a log of activity done.
Anyhow, the other thing the article also touched upon was 'googling about planning a trip'. Hmm,  Guilty as charged. It generally starts with a Wiki search, followed up by travel reviews, some blogs and so on. One hour gone.
But that’s when it stops. Sumit and I then go to the library, get a travel book, be it Frommers, Lonely Planet whatever. But get the book, read it, mark it and then based on our 'antiquated research' plan a trip.
This is then followed up by finding the 'deals online' for travel, accommodation and what have you. Plan, Find, Book. Enjoy!
On a trip itself, we have often being condemned by family, that we are cut off. Guilty again. Emails are checked very rarely, Facebook, not at all, phones only for incoming urgent calls. Rest, it’s the trip, us, laughter, relaxation and of course the camera. And yes, the smart phone left in the car for the hikes.
What about you? DO you agree with the author that photography spoils the travel itself? Do pictures aid your trip, or do you say ' I have to snap this and put it on Facebook'?
Next, How do you plan your trips? And if you are backpacker.... hmm, when is your next trip? Count us in!
One post in draft for the longest is @facebook: Is it like high school all over again? But being on FB and enjoying it a lot, I hate to bitch about it. So the draft post, stays in draft a bit longer! Your views?

3 comments
Older Posts
Visit blogadda.com to discover Indian blogs