Sunday, January 3, 2010

Brownies, Books and a Golden Halo

Marian Keyes really said it when she wrote that the day after New Year's Eve looks like the day after the end of the world. Everyone's glazed or hungover - some wondering what they did the night before and how they got where they are, while others blink disbelievingly at the new day of a whole new year.

So you now know which book I'm reading along with Three Cups of Tea. Further Under the Duvet got purchased before Under the Duvet but there's no real link missing coz they're both Marian Keyes' non-fiction which is really an exciting read if you've read her other books. The author's life, her family background, husband, friends, trips aboard, hobbies (which include shopping) are all written with her really unique perspective. She can make even teary things sound funny. Which is a great book to read along with a heavy book aka Three Cups of Tea which is all about changing the world one school at a time. It's about Greg Mortenson's journey into really poverty stricken areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is fascinating but a long read and one that makes one feel pretty useless when in a country like India which has similar needs.

So Marian Keyes does give me a more positive outlook. Both books are worth reading and will definitely provoke some deep introspection.

My other loves, brownies of a double chocolate kind with crunchy walnuts, have been snarfed down. I'm currently watching my weight too so each brownie is rationed and split with hubby dearest. So we both end up watching our waistlines. The first one was had standing up with a big mug of tea as soon as my parents left after a Saturday lunch we'd had together. I miss the brownies and cakes and what nots that my bakery at the old house used to churn out. Hence, whenever my folks come over or I go over there for a time-out from my "hectic" lifestyle, I always put brownies or chocolate cake on my list. Since both occurrences (folks coming over, my going over there) are not as frequent, my waistline doesnt really notice the indulgence. Good thing coz that means I can break my diet once every few weeks. Or months.

It really relaxes me to have my folks over. I also love the fact that I can cook them anything I want (which I know they'll like) and just be myself and catch up on the gossip back home. My return gifts to them, for the brownies and cake and really spicy banana chips, were books - one for each of them. For my mom an Isabel Dalhousie book, another Marian Keyes for my sister (who's a big fan of her writing), and a Blandings Castle vintage book (my favourite too) for my dad. Plus, I get to borrow them to read so that's a dizzy five books (counting the ones I'm reading already) to look forward to.

Who says it's bummer after the holidays? Not me, certainly!