The return of Random Rangamma

~ The Mango Mela at Lal Baugh is on till June 15, in case you didn’t know already. The OH and I visited last weekend, and had a fun time. We bought some Mallika and one other type of mango whose name we have completely forgotten. The mangoes are awesome, though!

~ While we are on the topic of fruits, the first litchis of the season were also bought and devoured last weekend. They were gorgeous! I am already looking forward to laying my hands on the second batch. 🙂

~ After deliberating for long, I finally bought a sketchbook, a set of pencils and brushes, paints and some tubs of Play-Doh. I am intimidated by the wonderful sketches, paintings and Play-Doh creations that I see on the internet, by amazingly talented people, but I have decided to make a start in these things, in my own amateur way.

~ The nephews returned last week from a long summer holiday in a Wayanad home stay, and they had loads of tales to tell – from seeing a peacock at a distance of 10 feet and spotting a single paw print of a tiger to a brave housewife attacking a wild dog with a knife, aimed correctly from her doorstep! I am all craving to visit Wayanad now, in the rains, and staying in a similar home stay. Sigh!

~ I called up my MIL last Monday to tell her I would be visiting some time in the evening. She told me that PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony would be on on television in the evening. I got the hint, and visited her after the ceremony was over. 🙂 She couldn’t stop gushing over Modi. I got a somewhat ‘Do not disturb’ signal from my Appa too, when I talked to him earlier. I think I have got married into the right kind of family, where both the ‘sambandis’ are equally politics-crazy! The MIL calls Appa specially to discuss with him news about the plane that went missing some time back, and Appa calls her to tell her if a politician’s grand speech is on on television. They are each other’s best friends in this respect. 🙂

~ I found a book that I had been searching for for seven years in a bookstore here, without even looking for it. I just entered the bookstore, and there it was! All for a grand sum of Rs. 86. And to think that no relative/friend in the US of A I had asked to search for the book had been able to find it for all these years. Serendipity? Or a case of a book finding you just when it has to find you? The book in question is The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, BTW.

~ I had never been able to make decent moarkozhambu all this time, even after trying several times. I love moarkozhambu, and it is exasperating to wait till someone prepares it for me. I finally learnt how to make it the right way, and made some proper ladies’ finger moarkozhambu today! Yippee!

~ I am presently reading Paris, My Sweet: A Year In The City Of Light (And Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas, a book I had wanted to read since long. Sadly, though, it has been a disappointing experience so far. It feels bad when a book you had desperately wanted to read doesn’t turn out to be all that great!

~ I still haven’t baked anything, in spite of craving to do so lately. 😦 I badly want to! Something eggless and simple it shall be. I want to eat some home-made cake!

~ I am in love with this place after reading about it on Hitchy’s blog. I want, want, want to go there now!

~ We visited the elephant camp in Guruvayoor when we were in Kerala a few years ago, and thoroughly loved the experience. Now, Shail tells us about another elephant rehabilitation centre near Trivandrum, which I am loving the sound of. Next time we go to Kerala, I am going here for sure! Actually, there is always more to do/feel/see/experience in Kerala, irrespective of how many times we visit!

~ I want to get out of the ‘food-memoir-reading’ phase, and read something different. I need something light, but not overly sappy-sweet. Something that is not harsh on the brain, but engaging nonetheless. Any suggestions?