happiness and food

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April did bring spring this side. On the streets of Bangalore and how I felt during the month. I got a chance to be lazy, miss workout sessions, kick myself, blog little more, click pictures and keep going.

Four months of the year are now done and with summers in Bangalore, I am waiting for rains. I love watching the rains. You must have seen my Instagram posts and I was excited when the pre-monsoon showers surprised me.

As I write this and think of April, I am grateful for the month and all that it brought. In no order, here are those things that made me happy.

♥ Ragi malt. I was hungry one evening at work and wanted to pick a healthy option. This jaggery sweetened drink was refreshing and filling. I ended up buying a pack of Ragi but I need to figure out how to make this at home. Have you tried it?

♥ I tried to blog a bit more and read more. With work going heavier in the last few years I have not been able to blog like before. However, this month I made a commitment to myself. A serious one. I wrote more, shared a few travel posts and kept up with writing. I want to keep going on the journey.

♥ After I take the ride back from work with RG, I walk 20 minutes to reach home. During that span, I cross many places where I would love to stop and snack. But I don’t do that. Health is important but then some times, cheating is okay. So one day on my walk back, I stopped to have a plate of Pani Puri. It was delicious. Giving in to cravings is fun.

♥ I love the chance to eat food that’s different from my usual cuisine at home. VT and I were invited to a party where I loved the aapam and chicken stew that I had. God bless the guy who made it. I slept happy and content that night.

♥ Thinking of that party, VT and I got our first picture of the year together. As usual, VT was reluctant but the picture turned out good. Okay, I don’t track such things. But then you know how things were at the start of the year. So the day was a good one and a picture is sure a good memory to keep safe.

♥ I only worked out ten times in April. I was lazy and though I am feeling bad, it’s okay. May will be the month to pick things up. Zumba and Yoga had equal slots on my calendar and I felt good.

♥ I baked a cake after MIL asked for a recipe and the cake turned out great. That’s what I think. VT said it was just okay. Whatever. The brightest side? It was healthy. I did not use oil or butter. So I am happy and I will bake another this month too.

♥ AK invited the team to his son’s Upanayana (thread) ceremony. The lunch and the day was a good one. When I can be a part of someone’s happiness, it gives me joy. It tells me that we all need each other and no one is alone.

♥ On Ram Navmi this month, I had a lovely surprise. A lady who lives closeby, came over to give me some food that’s prepared as a part of the pooja. I loved the gesture and the fact that she thought of me. I don’t know her nor I am friends with her. We meet over usual morning greetings when I leave for work and she comes out to draw a kolam infront of her house. I felt like that was the blessing from Lord Ram.

♥ I love Pongal. Even after VU shared a recipe with me, I have been too lazy to make it on my own. This month, twice I had a chance to eat pongal and what a delight it was.

♥ Catching up with friends from far was another highlight this month. AA and SS came over to Bangalore and we met. With AA, we had some free food at Burma Burma, lunch and our usual gur wali chai. SS came over with her little girl, A and what a perfect Friday it was. We laughed and spoke like there was no tomorrow. Good friends are like that. The time between them doesn’t matter. And yes, SS got me an amazing planner and AA got me home made gujhiya and anarsa. You guys should come over more often.

♥ I watched Gully Boy this month. What a great movie! So if you haven’t watched it, please do. A sensible one and made well.

♥ VT and I are enjoying the last season of Game of Thrones. Monday nights are reserved for that. Who are you rooting for?

♥ I am grateful to some people I don’t know who helped me restore my article on Wikipedia. After I published a biography of a notable Indian woman, a bloke from another country deleted it. I was annoyed and very much at that. Much grateful to Women In Red for all the help.

♥ Month end needs a special mention. After 41 years of teaching, it was Papa’s last working day on the 30th. Though the official date is in June, he did not have to go college after the 30th. So my brother C, VT and I decided to go home and be with parents. No big celebration and just our time. This trip was different than usual. VT accompanied me after 6 long years so my parents were happy. We chatted, ate together and spent three good days at home.

♥ Also, we flew to Lucknow and then drove to Azamgarh. Mini road trip to say. It was fun meeting so many of my folks and chatting my heart out. We had 24 hours in Lucknow. Can you believe I ended up visiting Bada Imambara, having the famous food at Tunday Kebabi, bought a kurta for myself, and met many of my folks including a cousin who I met after twenty years. On my way back, I met PS and that was lovely too. All in all, this trip will be remembered. We got lucky all along and things went better than planned. Always grateful to the universe.

We are planning our next road trip and if all goes well, we will be off to the mountains in August. Keeping fingers crossed and hoping that plans will take shape. May should be an easy month but let’s see. I am looking forward to some rains, more workouts, healthy meals, and more blogging.

What is that one thing about April that stands out for you?

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Linking up with Vidya’s Gratitude Circle for April 2019.