Animal Encounter - 7

Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium sized rodents. I visited the Arboretum garden in Nottingham, UK, just before leaving UK for good. And I hastly managed to get a video of squirrel in the garden where nature and wildlife is preserved. Since I had a wierd thought in mind that I will not be able to spot squirrels in Mumbais dense concrete forest. However, my notion about squirrels was wrong. During pregnancy I was on bedrest and was able to study squirrels behaviour from Goregaons flat in Mumbai. There was a squirrel residing on the Coconut tree in the courtyard of Ganesh Nagar, Goregaon, Mumbai. This squirrel collected coconut flower tentacles to build its nest. Due to my delicate condition, I was not able to film this animal encounter.

Matlock Boat Race

On our way back to Nottingham from Peak District, we visited Matlock to view the annual Boat race event hosted there in Christmas Vacation. The event comprised a surprise element and not just Boat Race in the local river stream. All boats were decorated with some theme and the rowers were wearing a costume to match the boats theme. To add up to the excitement the spectators throw small plastic bags filled up with flour on the boat and the rowers. The rowers have to dodge these plastic bags and try to finish the race. Some participants try to catch these plastic bags and throw them back on the spectators. The whole idea is to create some source of entertainment for the local village people in winter time.
Video of Matlock Boat Race

On the Way - 3

Any new visitor or tourist to Europe is facinated by the high speed train and luxurious interior the train has to offer them. I joined Axon, UK in Nov 2006 and started commuting on weekends, for while by EastMidlands train from Nottingham to London. Eventually the luxury became necessity and I lost charm for that high speed train travel.

When we entered the train from Nottingham to York both of us were all excited. We took some snaps in train comparment like various Indian Tourist do. That is quiet natural for someone to do. And had nice time viewing the country side from the train.

Animal Encounter - 1

Long Horn Cattle Fight, Sherwood Forest Park near Nottingham, UK was one of the first animal encounter videos, I ever captured. We had visited Sherwood Forest National Park on one fine summer weekend while staying at Nottingham, UK. It is a half an hour drive from Nottingham City center. The National park has reserved area where British Long Horn cattle graze and breeded. They are one of the endangered speices.

Rose Garden

My father has just baught his new Professional Digital SLR. During our visit to the Arboretum Rose gardern he was all ready to experiment his photography after a long time. As usual he took snaps of the flowers in the garden and forgot us like he always did from my childhood. Well, I forgot to mention that his a professional photograher. :)

Arboretum

Arboretum is a garden in the Nottingham City center. After staying in Nottingham City center, we practically didnot visit this garden ever together. However, I got a chance to visit it during my parents stay with me. It is at walkable distance from the city center and place worth visiting during the summer time. There are multiple entrance or exits to the garden.






The entrance near Waverly Street, has a small pond. This is followed with some landscape design of flowers. You can spot some wild life creatures like squirels, swans, birds and bees humming on the flowers.

We heard live music and claps in the garden, as we walked up hill. There were was band of musicians performing on the stage in the garden with some good amount of spectators cheering them up.





Further down the lane there is a section dedicated for flowers -the Rose garden.

Greens Windmill

The Greens Windmill is an old Windmill in Nottingham. Its located in Sneinton area. One can go to WindMill by bus or taxi from the city center. We went there walking and would not recommend that option to any of the visitors.

The windmill still operates and grinds wheat grains. The flour is sold in the shop at the windmill to visitors and the localites. One can climb the stairs of the windmill and go up to the second floor, to see how the windmill operates. The stairs of the windmill are too steep so would not recommend it for disabled or old people. The aftermath of climbing the two storeys of the windmill is amazing view of Nottingham City from the windows of the Green windmill.

Theater Royal

In front of the Corner House, stands the grand elegant building of the Theater Royal. The Theater host British Dramas and other musical performances in Nottingham. We never had chance of visiting any of the performances conducted at this place. It is right next to the tram stop and is always bustling with activity.

Nottingham Choupatty

I call the open fountain in from of the Arcade building of the Nottingam Old Market Square as a Nottingham Choupatty for me. In summer, many localites bring their children to this place. You can see many small kids and teenageers running around the sprouting fountains and the free flowing water. The fountain due to its modern design serves purpose of the Water fountain and provides psuedo sea-shore to the people.

Nottingham Old Market Square

Old Market Square lies in the center of the Nottingham City center. For Londoners, it is mini version of the Covent Garden. Its is full bustling with acitivity on summer holiday as well as in the Christmas eve. It is huge open space in Middle of the City center. When we moved to Nottingham in 2006, the Old market square ground was under construction and hidden behind the construction barriers. Late in Summer 2007 the barriers were opened and the huge open area with lovely fountain was exposed to millions of visitors of the Old Market Square. One Summer weekend one can see many people having fun in the market square. Many local market and fairs are held in the Old Market square and its fun place to be. The Christmas fair and the Ice ring skatting both are hosted in the Nottingham Old Market Square. Me and Abhi have spent most of our weekends and evenings in this place. Unfortunately, I lost the last picture which we took together at this place.But it will remain as a memorable place in my married life.

How to prepare Karanji in UK

Well precisely, the question is 'How to prepare Karanji in UK with limited resources and skillsets?'. I wanted to prepare some faral for Diwali on my own and thought of preparing Karanji. Being outside India and had limited resources, the best option was to lower expectations and manage with what was available.

The Ingredients for covering:

• Wheat Flour



• Luke warm water



• Milk

The Ingredients for the stuffing

• 1.5 cup Desicated Coconut - Since fresh grated coconut was not available



• 4 to 5 tbs Gud - Jagrey



• 2 to 3 tbs Honey



• Luke warm milk



• pinch of safforn

Oil to fry.

Preparation:

Step 1 : Knead the wheat flour in to dough with help of some Luke warm water and milk. The dough should be slightly thick compare to that of made for chapatis. This will help the Karanji to hold together when frying it in oil. Cover the kneaded dough with piece of cloth and keep it aside.

Step 2: Shred about 5 tbs of Jagrey and mix it with the descicated coconut in the mixing bowl. Add small quantity of milk and try to mix the jagrey with the cocount. If it doesnot mix properly then place the mixing bowl in microwave for 5 seconds. When the mixture gets warm its easy to blend it together. Add some honey and pinch of saffron to it.

Step 3: Next step is to prepare the Karanji. Make small balls of the dough. Prepare small sized chapati out of it. It should be more thicker then the chapati to hold the stuffing inside it. Slowly add the stuffing to it. Fold the chapati into half and press the corners of the chapati to prevent the stuffing to falls off.

Step 4: While filling the Karanji with stuffing, heat oil in kadhai. Add the Stuffed Karanjis in the pre-heated oil. When the Karanji is Golden Brown remove it and place it on kitchen towel.

The Karanjis are ready to eat.

Lentils Rangoli

Staying in Nottingham and commuting to London on weekdays for Hi-Tech Consulting job, I had less time to buy Rangoli and other stuff from Leicester. But this was not enough to dampen by hopes of celebrating Diwali with big pomp. I checked the kitchen rack and picked Mung Dal and Matki. The red lentils - Masoor dal was missing. I immediately baught it from Tesco. Hurray!!! the ingredients for the perfect Diwali Rangoli were ready. I pulled the IKEA side table from one corner of the room and drew a flower on it. I started pouring different colored dals or lentils in the flower petals and the center. I used the painting brush to equalise level of the lentils and to format them in the desired shape. My rangolis center design was complete and was wondering to add something more to it. We had baught tea coaster from Crate and Barrel in Richmond, VA and never used them ever. After a year or so, it was the right time to use them for the first time. I placed the candels in the tea coasters and poured lentils in the tea coaster around the candel. So was my diwali rangoli complete. I left London next day for week to attend my consulting Job at TFL site.

Diwali decoration

We had recently baught a IKEA standing lampshed which almost resembeled a Kandil.
I had baught some glass balls which are attached on the Xmas Tree and a beaded rope from Poundland. I thought of preparing a Toran out of it. I joined the glass balls on the green and red beads rope with strings. And our so called Anglo-Indian Toran was all ready for Diwali.
I literally created something intresting out of nothing. After seeing me doing all this, Abhi to got excited and joined me in the preparations. Next on the list was Rangoli.

Diwali in Nottingham

We moved to UK in October 2006 and were put up in SACO service appartments for month. With most of our home stuff being shipped from US to UK, we celebrated our frist diwali after marraige without to much to do. We moved in the so called permanent rented home in Novemeber 2006. I decided to celebrate our first diwali after marraige in Nottingham in 2007. Its better late then never. :)
One week before diwali, I tried to convince Abhi that we should celebrate diwali. But he was as usual reluctant to follow any Indian Cultural stuff. But I never gave up hope as usual and went down and baught some chirstmas decoration stuff from Poundland and red lentils packet from Tesco. When I reached home back he was still wondering what I am all up to. I started preparing for the diwali decoration.