Eye Test, Baking resource shopping and Bloggers’ Meet

And finally I am done and over with the long-awaited eye checkup. On saturday we went to the eye hospital after breakfast. I went through a rigorous test where I was made to sit in front of a computer and given a joystick in hand. It was a test to check my focusing abilities. The guy asked me to make a payment before he reveals the results. After running around 2 floors up and down, guess what the result was “You have no power related problems. There is a slight muscle imbalance. It’s in the starting stage. You will have to do some exercises continuously for a month. You have to come here daily, each sitting would cost 150 bucks and would last for 30 mins. If it is not possible for you, you can buy the software and practice at home. The CD would cost Rs.8500.” Abbas and I looked at each other’s face and told him we’ll come back and left from there… First option is totally impractical and both options are mighty expensive. SS suggested a pranayama exercise for the eyes and I guess I’m gonna stick to the free of cost remedy for the time being.

We had lunch at a restaurant. Then went to collect a parcel that was sent by one of the relatives. From there we went to this shop called ‘General Additives’ which supplies all baking resources. I go to this place once in 6 months and buy enough raw materials to last for half a year. I went at an apt time and caught hold of ginger chips and orange peels. So, I asked Abbas to buy some Rum for me to soak the fruits and I’m planning to bake my first X’mas fruit cake. Pretty excited!

Came home in the evening, made a simple dinner of Rice, Dal, Brinjal Fry and Chicken Masala Balls – Comfort food for us! Post dinner, sat to iron a mountain like heap of clothes again. Oh, I also soaked Rajma (RM, are you listening?)

Sunday morning breakfast was Rajma Curry and Chapathi. The Rajma was reluctant to get cooked inspite of 6-7 whistles in the pressure cooker. I was bugged and made the curry with hard-cooked Rajma using RD’s recipe. The gravy was lip smacking good. But the Rajma beans had failed me. I’m gonna make it again with a better variety of Rajma.

Then began the preparations for evening as we were gonna host a small get Bloggers’ get-together. I made Dahi Vada and prepared cutlets and kept them ready to be fried in the evening. In between all this lunch was cooked and had. Post lunch, I made the batter for brownie, poured it in cake tin, topped almonds all over and set the oven to pre-heat. And bang fell the oven’s outer glass cover down. Abbas got busy fixing it, we tried fevi bond, it did get stuck and I immediately put the cake tin in to bake. Halfway through baking, the glass gave way again. We finally stuck it with brown cello tape.

We had told Mantam that a few aunties are gonna come. I had also told that Chutku will come and that he has grown big now. They were super excited. Garima and SummerScript came and Mantam began showing them each of their toys one after the other. They were so pleased with all the Chips, Gems and fruit juices that the aunties had brought for them. We chatted for a while and then RS, her hubby and Chutku dropped in. Mannu cozily sat on Chutku’s dad’s lap for almost the whole time that he was sitting. Tammu came to the kitchen and asked me “Chutku to abhi bhi big nahi hua??” I put my precious cutlets in to hot oil and they broke and turned into crumbles. I was so disappointed and simply fried some papads to go with tea It didn’t strike me to tawa fry the cutlets which I did later and worked just fine. Chutku wanted to have the papads, he was running in and out of the kitchen. I gave him a plate of rusks and he held the whole plate in his hands and paraded towards his dad. I love watching this guy walking. He then got busy with Mantam’s cyle and car. RS asked him to say ‘Please give’ to me when he asked for Papad. And I got to hear his trademark ‘Peech’ – It was so so cute.

Garima was on her toes having left her husband back home. – Newly wed couple syndrome… Very much evident 😀 She wanted Mantam to do her checkup but Mannu was shy and giggling as if some guys was proposing to her. SS thoroughly enjoyed Mantam’s dance and when I gave her the brownie, she came back and said “I love you Seema.” Hehe… I said “What??” This girl reminded me of Suhasini (Mani Ratnam’s wife) for her beautiful eyes. Before leaving RS reminded me to introduce Bulu to them. Chutku wanted to stay back and whenever his mom or dad said “Let’s go”, he said “Beda” (meaning No). We had a fun evening all in all. SS had brought one container and had said that it was for me. I opened it only after they left and jumped in glee at the sight of ‘Kesari’ in it. I luuuuv Kesari and somehow I never prepared it… Abbas and the girls also liked it a lot.

After everyone left, I asked Mannu “Why were you sitting on uncle’s lap? Did you like uncle a lot?” And she said “Mmmm, yes but I liked aunties and Chutku also.” Whattay diplomatic answer!

So that was our weekend folks!