My memories
How long has it been, that after all this time
I have not been able to forget you
for your memories are still very alive
I have wasted so much time thinking of you
even though you are not worth it.
Somehow how have managed
to stick with me, living in my mind around my mind
S many feelings between us have changed so much so many times
since you became the aim of all my anger
the justification of all my issues
but deep down I still have a wonderful love
a love that has been so good to me
other than allowing me to feel
something other than
a pain that penetrated till the end of my very being
this is all that I have got from you
and I don't see you anymore
only maybe when I think about the past
back in those days, when we had so many glorious moments
so many difficult feelings and unsaid words and then
you just disappearred?
I would love it if you took these words with you
since I know that is what you want deep inside
I wish you the best
I really do
Saturday 26 January 2008
What To Eat?
Serves:
4-6
Preparation Time:
20 minutes plus time to marinade.
Cooking Time:
30 minutes on low heat
Ingredients:
2 tbsp-olive oil
1kg large prawns or 500g shelled shrimps
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Pinch of ajinomoto / msg (can be omitted)
2 teaspoons Hot Curry Paste
¾ cup gram flour
¼ cup refined flour
2 eggs
6 cloves garlic
1 whole bunch spring onions finely chopped
Instructions:
1. Shell and de-vein prawns. Wash and marinate with salt, vinegar and garlic paste.
2. Heat oil. Add finely chopped garlic and tomato paste. Add ½ cup water, salt, Ferns' Hot Curry Paste and ajinomoto. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Make a paste with 2 tablespoons corn flour and a little water and stir into the sauce to thicken. Make a batter with corn flour, refined flour and 2 eggs and salt to taste.
4. Dip the prawns in batter and deep fry in hot oil. Add the prawns to the hot garlic sauce.
Garnish with finely chopped spring onion greens and decorate with spring onion flowers.
Serving ideas: Serve with Fresh Naan bread or Rice and a nicely cut cucumber salad
Whenever I want to eat something I always find it difficult to decide as to what to eat.I am not a great believer in best cuisines and fail to see how you can pick just one cuisine and call it the best. To me its a question of taste and if it looks and tastes good I am all for it because everybody's tastes are different.
I am really lucky that I come from a diplomatic background and have travelled the world extensively and eaten foods from 20 countries and most of whatI've eated has always been delicious. Indian cuisine always comes out at the top of my favourites. The curried meats, especially lamb and chicken are always exquisitely spiced with whole spices and always so tender.I do have one simple if I am going to try out a new cuisines I will always ask a friend for a recommendation and follow that through. When comes down to vegetarian dishes I usually go for spinach and cauliflower and potato combination, which is also excellent for accompanying the ever so elegant Raan of Lamb which if prepared properly in a yoghurt marinade is usually succulent and crumbles in the mouth.I have actually been intrepid enough to make it at home and its been worth the effort. I have also given you one of my most tasty and moist curries that can be thrown together without effort.So if are reading then the this is thr recipe to make.
Friday 25 January 2008
I Wish I Had Said What I Really Wanted To Say
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Thursday 17 January 2008
Free Museums/Theatres
All of London's main museums and galleries are free to visit, apart from the occasional temporary exhibition. There are too many to list but it is enough to say you can visit all of the best known without charge - The National Gallery, the Tate, the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of London and the Victoria and Albert Museum. If your tastes are a bit less mainstream you should be able to find something to suit you and still not pay: the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, the Ragged School Museum, the Clowns Museum and the Dental History Museum are all free too. You could visit one free museum in London every day for weeks.
If you are interested in music you could consider one of the free organ music recitals held at lunchtimes in many of London's churches - Westminster Abbey, St. Giles-in-the-Fields and the church of St. James in Piccadilly are all good places to try and are easy to reach. For more diversity there are lunchtime concerts of all kinds of music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican.
Lots of pubs have live rock, folk and country bands playing and often don't charge for entry; if you were going to the pub anyway, doesn't this count as free? Some of the London parks stage free music events during the summer and there are longer free festivals too.
Another expensive London pastime is theatre-going and, admittedly, it is more difficult to do this on a budget; however, students may be able to get free entry to drama school productions, or may even be lucky enough to bag one of the limited number of freebies for previews that are put aside for drama students.
If you are prepared to get your hand in your pocket and shell out a whole Ten Pence you may be able to get tickets for performances at the Royal Court Theatre but it will be a standing place with restricted viewing. Other fringe theatres have "Pay what you can nights" so, again, not free but close.
If you are interested in music you could consider one of the free organ music recitals held at lunchtimes in many of London's churches - Westminster Abbey, St. Giles-in-the-Fields and the church of St. James in Piccadilly are all good places to try and are easy to reach. For more diversity there are lunchtime concerts of all kinds of music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican.
Lots of pubs have live rock, folk and country bands playing and often don't charge for entry; if you were going to the pub anyway, doesn't this count as free? Some of the London parks stage free music events during the summer and there are longer free festivals too.
Another expensive London pastime is theatre-going and, admittedly, it is more difficult to do this on a budget; however, students may be able to get free entry to drama school productions, or may even be lucky enough to bag one of the limited number of freebies for previews that are put aside for drama students.
If you are prepared to get your hand in your pocket and shell out a whole Ten Pence you may be able to get tickets for performances at the Royal Court Theatre but it will be a standing place with restricted viewing. Other fringe theatres have "Pay what you can nights" so, again, not free but close.
Wednesday 16 January 2008
Sunday 13 January 2008
London's Night Life
London is full of variety when it comes to nightlife, most clubs are open till three in the morning. For those of us who enjoy long hardcore sessions of dance and fun, they could be open for even longer but that is not always the case.
Just walk into Leicester Square and you will be overcome by the variety of clubs available, catering for every taste in music, and you will not be disappointed either. These are not just your average clubs either, the door men are all smartly dressed, polite and there has obviously been a lot of money has been invested into the club. Appearance is important-dressing smart or posh will get you noticed very quickly. All have the latest music systems and lighting effects to make it worth your while to spend a lot of money on drinks and dancing. I know because I have checked out all of them.
A good tip is to walk around a bit, just have a look at what clubs around and it is more then likely you will be approached by a club representative, they will try to persuade you to come to their club (as they are on commission they usually try and butter you up with compliments and the likes) but the useful thing about these 'reps' is that they can more often then not get you a discount on entrance, the most annoying thing about London clubs is that they can demand an entrance fee which can sometimes go up to fifteen pounds, like I said before these are no ordinary clubs.
Clubs are not unique to Leicester Square, the London nightlife spreads throughout the city in every direction, Leicester Square has the most commercial music, leave this area and you find clubs that are more specific to certain tastes. Farringdon has many clubs that are unbeatable when it comes to the latest House and Garage music. Vauxhall is famous for its growing gay scene, whereas, Soho has always had a strong concentration of clubs ranging from the gay scene to the latest hip-hop and R&B music.
London is truly a hotspot for the most innovative DJs and Music, there are many places in the world that can boast a great night out, but London offers so much more- it offers some of the best nights out you will ever find. You can actually feel the buzz and excitement of this growing area of social activity in London, and it is one that I am sure you will not be disappointed with.
Just walk into Leicester Square and you will be overcome by the variety of clubs available, catering for every taste in music, and you will not be disappointed either. These are not just your average clubs either, the door men are all smartly dressed, polite and there has obviously been a lot of money has been invested into the club. Appearance is important-dressing smart or posh will get you noticed very quickly. All have the latest music systems and lighting effects to make it worth your while to spend a lot of money on drinks and dancing. I know because I have checked out all of them.
A good tip is to walk around a bit, just have a look at what clubs around and it is more then likely you will be approached by a club representative, they will try to persuade you to come to their club (as they are on commission they usually try and butter you up with compliments and the likes) but the useful thing about these 'reps' is that they can more often then not get you a discount on entrance, the most annoying thing about London clubs is that they can demand an entrance fee which can sometimes go up to fifteen pounds, like I said before these are no ordinary clubs.
Clubs are not unique to Leicester Square, the London nightlife spreads throughout the city in every direction, Leicester Square has the most commercial music, leave this area and you find clubs that are more specific to certain tastes. Farringdon has many clubs that are unbeatable when it comes to the latest House and Garage music. Vauxhall is famous for its growing gay scene, whereas, Soho has always had a strong concentration of clubs ranging from the gay scene to the latest hip-hop and R&B music.
London is truly a hotspot for the most innovative DJs and Music, there are many places in the world that can boast a great night out, but London offers so much more- it offers some of the best nights out you will ever find. You can actually feel the buzz and excitement of this growing area of social activity in London, and it is one that I am sure you will not be disappointed with.
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Italian Food in London
In my opinion there are two main things that go into making a excellent Italian restaurant - food and atmosphere. I go to Italy quite a lot and Italians believe in La Dolce Vita, the good life. This means good food, good wine and good people. Italian restaurants reflect a way of life and are not afraid of celebrating this way of life and having eaten in few I find they show a great respect for their traditional style of cooking. The perfect Italian restaurant usually buzzes with life, stepping into one should be like stepping into another country where you leave your cares at the door and sit down to a good meal with the people you love
A large part of the atmosphere is down to the staff. Controversial as this may be, I believe that a really good Italian restaurant is staffed with Italians and that is a compliment because they probably get at least one meal whilst on duty. It should feel like you have visited a good friend's house and they are taking pleasure in feeding you the best food you have ever tasted. Italians are so enthusiastic about food that they feel genuine joy in others sharing in the food they have prepared and share a love for. The staff should show an enthusiasm for the food that they are offering and be able to recommend dishes with genuine knowledge arising from having eaten there.
The food of course plays a huge part in making an Italian restaurant great. Fresh produce should be used as far as possible with specialist ingredients imported or genuine Italian products sourced from domestic suppliers. No compromise can be made here, it really is that important.
A proper Italian restaurant pays attention to detail, they handmake their pasta rather than buying it. They buy liquers that are traditional to the area of Italy whose style they cook in because if they use alternatives or substitutes it may radically alter the taste of the dish. The vegetables provided with meat dishes are cooked the Italian way with flavoursome seasoning rather than simply boiled. These may seem like small things but they make the world of difference and set a restaurant apart from the competition because the simple touches will turn a boring vegetable into a divine dish.
Anyone who has been to Italy and experienced real Italian cuisine will understand the difference between an average Italian restaurant and an authentic one and an excellent one. These elements that I have mentioned are just examples of a package that makes a restaurant a supreme one.
Tuesday 8 January 2008
Early Morning London
I've always loved Portobello Market where the movie Notting Hill is based. There's an unusual honesty in the smiles of the vendors and I found a pair of Prada heels for 40 that I would have bought if I had the money. It's an antiques market, mainly, full of knick-knacks, pottery and vintage prints, second-hand boots and books with yellowed pages. There are Beatles records and pearly hair clips, stuffed moose heads all over the place.
Down the road, I decided to pop into a toy shop. It was a small shop with tiny old collectibles, all safe behind display cases. There was a sign behind the desk that said, "No shoplifting. Persecutors will be prosecuted. (Stomped on!)." Tiny Smurf figures stood beside Tom and Jerry glasses and old Pez dispensers. I even found some circular Simpson's playing cards.
After two hours of walking, it was after noon and my stomach was growling at me. I turned back through the market and walked past Sushi restaurants and pubs, past a small shop fun by a group of Afghan men where colorful throws were hung along the back walls and sparkly sandals were piled high in baskets in one corner. Finally I came to the pub, Paradise by Way of Kensal Green where I was meeting a friend for lunch. It's a Gothic sort of building I walked through the doors and into a large dining area decorated with vintage cracked mirrors next to big red leather arm chairs and sofas. We sat in a little side room on a red leather sofa, next to a fire place and a wall that had bookshelves full of fake old dictionaries that looked real.
Over food and wine, my friend told me how the pub got its name. That is, by this poem by G.K. Chesterton who died in 1936?
"My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage,
Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age,
But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth,
And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death;
For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,
Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green."
After lunch, we stepped back outside and continued our walk along Portobello Rd towards Westbourne Grove and gravitated towards Paddington..
Down the road, I decided to pop into a toy shop. It was a small shop with tiny old collectibles, all safe behind display cases. There was a sign behind the desk that said, "No shoplifting. Persecutors will be prosecuted. (Stomped on!)." Tiny Smurf figures stood beside Tom and Jerry glasses and old Pez dispensers. I even found some circular Simpson's playing cards.
After two hours of walking, it was after noon and my stomach was growling at me. I turned back through the market and walked past Sushi restaurants and pubs, past a small shop fun by a group of Afghan men where colorful throws were hung along the back walls and sparkly sandals were piled high in baskets in one corner. Finally I came to the pub, Paradise by Way of Kensal Green where I was meeting a friend for lunch. It's a Gothic sort of building I walked through the doors and into a large dining area decorated with vintage cracked mirrors next to big red leather arm chairs and sofas. We sat in a little side room on a red leather sofa, next to a fire place and a wall that had bookshelves full of fake old dictionaries that looked real.
Over food and wine, my friend told me how the pub got its name. That is, by this poem by G.K. Chesterton who died in 1936?
"My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage,
Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age,
But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth,
And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death;
For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,
Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green."
After lunch, we stepped back outside and continued our walk along Portobello Rd towards Westbourne Grove and gravitated towards Paddington..
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