Just Another Day

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by Arundhati Basu

Cooking is such a labour of love. I prepped up the marinade for murgh malai kebabs, basically creamy (malai) melt-in-your-mouth chicken (murgh) kebabs, in the morning because Adi gets back home from Worcester tonight. After a long drive there is nothing that will make him happier than a hot home-cooked meal. He has been toiling away with Indo-Chinese and Thai restaurant meals which by the way he is thoroughly loving, but we have evolved from this couple who lived to eat out to the duo who like to rustle up most meals in the kitchen. You know what’s going into your body and all that. With illnesses in the family, the importance of eating well strikes home harder.

A dull day has progressed into a duller evening so I am watching the trees in the park nod gently while sniffling away. Yes, my immunity to flu is at an all-time low. From priding myself on not contracting a cold easily, this is the second time in two weeks that I have to deal with nostrils that have been chafed thoroughly. Going for a run has been tossed out of the window for the day. Instead it is time for more Diana Gabaldon and her Dragonfly in Amber novel with enough tea to drown my cold in. The woman is a genius. How on earth she conceived of Outlander without stepping anywhere near the Highlands is something that makes me wonder. Also it makes me want to kiss her fingertips. You simply cannot put her books down. Other than writing, I have been pottering around the apartment straightening things up, munching on salad and taking photos to calm the nerves. Fiddling with ornaments at home, it seems, is not a bad thing to keep you from going stir-crazy through creating some autumnal hygge.

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Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

47 thoughts on “Just Another Day”

  1. Oh no! You caught a cold! Lex usually catches at least two colds in the winter time despite getting a flu shot (not that it prevents one but we’ve been told it decreases the severity). My family swears by a dab of Mentholatum on the nostril to relieve chafing and irritation. Hope you feel better soon! BTW, Where did you get a crate from Domaine De La Romane Conti? That is a bucket list trip for us! – Neek

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    1. Mentholatum. The very sound of it is healing to the ears. I dab tea tree oil to breathe easy but I shall look out for your tried-and-tested family therapy in the stores. Flu shots sound suddenly like a great idea right now. I have never had one so did not know of them! Poor Lex…two colds in one season is enough to make the strongest of us feel miserable.
      I have whined to Adi already so that feels better *halo around the head
      Domaine De La Romane Conti…that is from our innumerable road trips in the Cotswolds in the UK. Since it was an hour-and-a-half away we used to pop down often and go crazy at this particular store called ‘Three French Hens’ in Burford. I think you guys would find the Cotwolds delightful on the way to Burgundy. xx

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      1. Tea tree oil sound soothing also! Yes, Lex does get that many colds and I do keep a stock of chicken soup and herbal teas in our pantry for his seasonal ailments. Unfortunately, he tends to do more than whine when he’s sick, he makes me his servant. Sigh! Pitchforks and horns…. 😉
        The Cotswolds sound so lovely! It would be nice to take a trip there someday. The “Three French Hens” sound like a group of cabaret singers in Paris. Just the name alone would make me want to stop by and explore its goodies. Thank you for the suggestion. Hope you have a restful weekend.

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      2. Soup and fever usually go so well together. Maybe I should make some today. Pitchforks indeed! Adi has got back home and I have been on my feet all morning trying to sort out things lying around and …
        The Cotswolds will be perfect and if anything the cute sheep there will add to the charm of your travels around the area 🙂 xx

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  5. Aww, that sucks that you have a cold. That’s the main annoyance of the colder seasons. I’ve always found cooking more troublesome than baking. I think I just prefer sweets ?

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    1. Oh hun I do too. But now I love both and I cannot choose between them — though the joy of watching a cake rising in the oven and the aromas of butter and vanilla are too heady for words.
      I am sick of the cold!

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  11. Has Adi been in Worcester MA? I know it quite well and I did a wonderful 5k there last year with a hill at the end that appeared to be vertical! Feel better soon. It’s those pesky foreign bugs. We British girls are conditioned to be immune to all the meanies in England but I suffered here in France to start with and in the US I had to adjust. Fear not! Your immunity will catch on and you will be fighting fit with no snotty noses nor runny eyes and grated throats in no time and in the mean time,, I prescribe lemon, honey and a good tot of whatever dark spirit takes your fancy ? xx

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    1. Tee hee hee. I do not mind some mulled wine. Maybe I should get about that hot toddy. Thank ye. I am feeling better already though I am guilty of popping a med which my mother would roll her eyes at. She is one for natural remedies but I could not be bothered with seeing this out with just tea and chicken broth. I needed the extra mile. Plus I think I shall venture out for a run and drive away the demons!
      Adi goes to Worcester, MA. Oh yeah. You have been up and about the US clearly 🙂 A hike there sounds wonderful. Which one is this? I would love to attempt it. I found the town of Worcester a bit strange. There were more churches and depressing eateries than people. xx

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  12. Hope you feel better soon. I feed colds with hot water, lemon and honey – both soothing and comforting. Love the decor, you’ve certainly created some autumnal hygge in your home.

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    1. Thank you Sheree 🙂 I am okay now and I have decided to beat the demons of cold with some runs in the evening. It shall not bog me down again! I shall give in to your remedy too. My mother used to make me a broth — when I was young — with cinnamon, honey, cloves, palm candy, lemon and black pepper. It was delicious and effective. But I am just so lazy! 🙂

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  13. I haven’t read her work, but it is astounding to think that she’d never before visited the place that is the backdrop of her stories. What a world we now live in. People can do so much. Your home accessories are lovely. I’ve got a couple of pine cones in my place as well. Rustic charm will never die for me. Your pretty tea kettle and the milk container holding the flowers are competing for my affections.

    I also liked reading how you went from a going out to eat couple to a stay home and cook couple. I’m imagining your home smells of spices, yumminess and love. More power to you… and more tea.

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    1. Hehe thank you Lyz. More tea always helps. No no I drive away the smell of spices soon with candles and room fresheners because I do not want our home to smell overwhelmingly of the typical Indian smells 😛
      You will love Gabaldon. She is a master of the art except that she did use the word ‘homely’ to describe a comfortable home and that got to me because it essentially means ugly 😀 However ignoring that gaffe, her imagination is par excellence. She was apparently experimenting with writing a novel and that is how the Outlander series happened. I found that fascinating.
      I love the pine cones too. One of them is from a churchyard in a tiny village in Cornwall and I refuse to part with it 🙂

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  14. I actually caught a cold, too ☹️☹️ But great photos, tho! I was actually confused for a sec if that was a clock or a weighing scale. Hahaha. Love the vintage vibes!

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    1. Hey hey, I did that too. Get confused about whether it was a weighing scale or a clock when we bought it. Adi insisted it was a clock and it turned out once in a while the husband can be right too. I hope you feel better Amielle…I just made chicken soup a while ago and I feel better already! Hugs.

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  15. Photos – so great! And it’s always satisfying to spend a few minutes reading about what you’ve been doing and about your thoughts – I feel like I’m there! And I’ve been meaning to mention that your new blog look really compliments the content – crisp visuals in the menu, etc. Looks very up to date! 🙂

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  17. You guys sound like my husband and I… there was a time when we ate out all the time but over a decade ago we realized we really weren’t doing ourselves a service… we are eating much better now but still have some ways to go! Hope you are feeling better! xx

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    1. Thank you Annika. I am a whole lot better 🙂 We went to NYC and lived it up, so you can imagine. But yeah, we are like-minded couples. Every once in a while a couple needs a shake-up and I am glad we have both got ours. Here’s to these wonderful times of home-created goodness. xx

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