Story of 4 burning candles

In a room there were four candles burning. The ambiance was so soft you could hear them talking.

The first one said, “I am PEACE, however nobody can keep me lit. I believe I will go out.”

It’s flame rapidly diminishes and goes out completely.

The second one says, “I am FAITH. Most of all I am no longer indispensable, so it does not make any sense that I stay lit any longer.”

When it finished talking a breeze softly blew on it putting it out.

Sadly, the third candle spoke in its turn. “I am LOVE. I have not gotten the strength to stay lit. People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.” And waiting no longer it goes out.

Suddenly a child entered the room and saw three candles not burning. “Why are you not burning you are supposed to stay lit till the end.”

Saying this the child began to cry. Then the fourth candle said, “Don’t be afraid, while I am still burning we can re-light the other candles, I am HOPE.”

With shining eyes, the child took the candle of Hope and lit the other candles.

The flame of Hope should never go out from our life and that each of us can maintain HOPE, FAITH, PEACE and LOVE.

Author Unknown

Samosa or Veggie pasties

Total Time

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

1 hr 30 mins

1 hr 

Ingredients 

• Bay Leaf – 1
• Cinnamon Stick – 1 inch piece
• Cardamom – 2
• Whole Cloves – 2
• Onion – 1 large, finely chopped
• Ginger – 2 tsp, minced
• Garlic – 2 tsp, minced
• Green Chilies – finely chopped
• Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
• Red Chili Powder – to taste
• Salt – to taste
• Coriander Powder – 2 tsp
• Cumin Powder – 1 tsp
• Ground (Minced) Meat – 250gm or +Vegetables of your interest (Carrot,Beans,cabbage,beetroot,peas)
• Frozen Green Peas – 1/2 cup
• Water – 1/2 cup or little more
• Cilantro – finely chopped for garnishing
• Potato-2
• Oil for frying
• Maida / White Flour

For Masala Mix,

1. Add Bay Leaf, Cinnamon Stick, Black Cardamom, Green Cardamom and Whole Cloves. Stir for 30 seconds in 2 tbs oil.
2. Add Onions and a little salt, mix well, cover and cook for about 15 minutes stirring frequently.
3. Add Ginger and Garlic, mix well and cook uncovered for another 5 minutes until Onions turn brown and oil starts to separate from the mixture.
4. Add Green Chilies and mix well, cover and cook for about 10 minutes. Be sure to stir a few times in between.
5. Remove cover and continue to cook until oil starts to separate from the mixture again.
6. Add Red Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder and Cumin Powder. Mix well and switch off stove.

So our masala mix is ready now :)

In Pressure cooker,

1. First chop the potatoes and cook for two whistle with minimum water, little salt and turmeric. After 2 whistles remove pressure cooker from heat and allow the pressure to go down before opening the lid.Drain the water and smash the potatoes.

2. Next add the chopped meat in the cooker and cook for two whistle. (Add little water to the cooker, as more water will be coming from the meat). After 2 whistles remove pressure cooker from heat and allow the pressure to go down before opening the lid.Drain the water mince the meat in mixi for 2 min.

Add the smashed potatoes and minced meat to masala mix to a pan and garnish with fresh Cilantro.   

Method:

To make Crust: 

Whisk together plain flour / maida and salt in bowl. Stir in oil until clumps form. Add 6 to 10 Tbs. cold water, 1 Tbs. at a time, until dough holds together. Shape into ball, cover with damp towel, and set aside for 20 mins. Roll out Crust dough to 11-inch circle on floured work surface. 

I used the dumpling mould dough to make the samosa (see pics in right- Fresh).

Heat Oil in a medium non-stick pan on medium heat

Deep fry the samosas on low to medium heat until light brown.

Serve with tomato sauce or any chutney you love.

Best Time to Travel to London,Dubai,New York,Sydney.

Green ££ means the cheapest times

Red ££ means most expensive 

Orange  ££ means average 

Courtesy #Trivago #Traveladvice

Missing Rib

November 3rd 2014 

Location :UK

This is my 250th blog post. I can’t quite remember why I started the blog. I know it wasn't that long ago, but quite a lot of things have happened since then and, as is the way with life, priorities have shifted, goals and ambitions changed. I think originally I saw the blog as fulfilling three main functions

(a) a chance to share ideas and put it all out there to see what happens,(b) a way of moving the notes and plans from my old files and folders online and into the Web, (c) an opportunity to engage with a wider audience. 

I guess the posts I enjoy writing are those that allow me to investigate a particular issue, think about something in more detail than usual or those that just let me have fun with something.  And I can understand if people prefer the practical, because that sort of reflection is quite a personal thing, no matter how objective you try to be…

Thanks for reading my blog and enjoy a short story

A girl in love asked her boyfriend.

Girl: Tell me... who do you love most in this world?

Boy: You, of course!

Girl: In your heart, what am I to you?  Boy: The boy thought for a moment and looked intently in her eyes and  said, "You are my rib. In the Bible, it was said  that God saw that Adam was lonely, during his sleep; God took one of Adam's rib and created  Eve.

Every man has been searching for his missing rib, only when you  find the woman of your life; you'll no longer feel  the lingering ache in your heart."

 

After their wedding, the couple had a sweet and happy life for a while. However, the youthful couple began to drift apart due to the busy schedule of life and the never-ending worries of daily problems.Their life became mundane.

All the challenges posed by the harsh realities of life began to gnaw away their dreams and love for each other.The couple began to have more quarrels and each quarrel became more heated.

 

One day, after the quarrel, the girl ran out of the house. At the opposite side of the road, she shouted, "You don't love me!"The boy hated her childishness and out of impulse, retorted, "Maybe, it was a mistake for us to be together! You were never my missing rib!"

 

 Suddenly, she turned quiet and stood there for a long while.... He regretted what he said but words spoken are like thrown away water, you can never take it back. With tears, she went home to pack her things and  was determined in breaking-up. Before she left the house, "If I'm really not your  missing rib, please  let me go..... She continued, "It is less painful  this way...let us go on our separate ways and search for our own  partners..."  

Five years went by.... He never remarried but he had  tried to find out about her life indirectly...... She had left the country and back....She had married a foreigner and divorced..... He felt anguished that she never waited for him. In the dark and lonely night, he lit his cigarette and felt the lingering ache in his heart. He couldn't bring himself to admit that he was missing her. 

One day, they finally met.... At the airport, a  place where there were many reunions and good-byes.... He was going away on a business trip. She was standing there alone, with just the security door separating them. She smiled at him gently. 

Boy: How are you? 

Girl: I'm fine. How about you... Have you found your missing rib?

Boy: No.

Girl: I'll be flying to New York in the next flight. 

Boy: I'll be back in 2 weeks’ time. Give me a call when you are back...

You know my number... Nothing has changed.  With a smile, she turned around and waved good-bye. "Good-bye."

One week later, he heard of her death. She had perished in New York. In the event that shocked the world.. Midnight..... Once again, he lit his cigarette..... And like before, he felt the lingering ache in his heart.... He finally knew, she was the missing rib that he had carelessly broken. 

Sometimes, people say things out of moments of fury..... Most often than not, the outcome could be disastrous and detrimental.... We vent our frustrations 99% at our loved ones.... And even though we know that we ought to "think twice and act wisely", it's often  easier said than done. Things happen each day, many of which are beyond our control. Let us treasure every moment and everyone in our lives. Tomorrow may never come; give and accept what you have today. 

Hope you will  find your right missing ribs and have a wonderful and peace  life!!!

How to Take Care of Your Skin According to Ayurveda

• Health and beauty are closely related to each other. A disease free, healthy and cheerful personality makes one look beautiful. You should not go behind artificial cosmetics to create false beauty, but rather you should try to use natural products.

• If your skin is not smooth and clean on all parts of the body, take one teaspoon of olive oil and an equal amount of honey. Massage the oil on the face, hands and neck thoroughly. Wash the body with ordinary water after 10 to 15 minutes.

• Take two teaspoons of papaya pulp and honey. Apply this pack on the face and wash it off after 15 minutes, this increases the glow on the face.

• Take a few neem leaves and add a pinch of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of rose water. Apply this on the face. After some time remove the pack by washing with the help of gram flour.

• Take the pulp of fruits kept in the fridge, add one tea spoon of curd (yoghurt), and honey. Apply it on the face and neck. Wash the face after 15 to 20 minutes with lukewarm water. This fruit facial mask makes the face smooth and soft.

• If you have dry skin, then apply sesame oil and multani mati on the face and body. Clean it off after it becomes dried. This makes the skin soft and oily. This is also effective in case of sunburns, and works like a tonic.

• Take one teaspoon of honey and add curd (yoghurt) and one teaspoon of almond oil, apply this mixture on the face, neck and hands and leave it for half an hour. Wash the body after some time. This is good for dry skin.

• Lemon is rich in vitamin C. This makes the skin shiny and beautiful. It should be taken with meals to increase the resistance power in the body, which is also helpful to enhance the beauty.

• Lemon is also a cleanser. Regular use of lemon to wash your skin cleans the skin thoroughly.

• Lemon cleanses the body to the full depth without disturbing the acidic balance. It is a natural astringent, which also tightens the skin.

• Apply curd (yoghurt) on the hands and legs to remove dryness and wash when it when it is dry.

• The elbows are generally dark and look ugly. Take one spoon of lemon juice and add two spoons of rose water. Apply this on the elbows and rinse after some time.

• Take orange pulp and apply it on the face. Wash it after sometime. This facial pack is very beneficial during summers.

• Apply orange juice on the face regularly. This gives a glowing skin.

• Take radish juice and add butter or cream and apply this pack on the face. This is very beneficial for dry skin and is a good skin tonic.

• Beetroot juice increases blood in the body. Apply its pulp on the face for some time and wash the face with lukewarm water. This gives glowing skin.

• Crush a ripe banana and apply it on the face. This tightens the skin and also removes the dark circles under your eyes.

• Crush papaya pulp and apply it on the face. This gives glowing skin.

• Use an umbrella when you have to go out in the Sun and drink lot of water. Water is the most natural moisturizer for the skin.

• Prickly heat, boils, rashes, etc. are common during the summers. Sometimes the boils develop pus as well, which become very painful. Pimples also erupt in this season. Sunburn is another common problem during the summer. Light skin people suffer the most from this. Sometimes infection occurs in the armpits or thighs due to excessive sweat. Take bath regularly to avoid such problems. Take bath with neem, rose and sandal water during summer to avoid skin infections.

• Avoid exposure to the Sun and wear loose cotton clothes.

• In case of sunburn, first sit near a fan and then near a cooler. After take bath with cold water.

• If the problem is severe then use ice in the bath water. Add camphor in coconut oil and apply this on the body. Mint and multani mati lep is also beneficial for the skin after sun burn.

• Curd (yoghurt) and gram flour pack is effective on sunburned skin and gives coolness.

• Grind horse bean (alfalfa seeds) and add curd (yoghurt). Apply it on sunburned skin.

• Wash the face four to five times with cold water throughout the day. This maintains the moisture in the skin. Drink at least 10-15 glasses of water everyday.

• Take enough of avala marmalade, gourd, cucumber, onion, lemon, torai, and sespedula. These are very effective during summers and help protect the skin.

• Add rose water in cucumber juice and wash the face. Drink mango panna to protect from sunstroke. Also take a lot of curd (yoghurt).

• Apply the lep of curd (yoghurt), turmeric powder and gram flour to avoid dryness of the skin.

• In order to get rid off pimples and acne, add curd (yoghurt) with radish juice. Apply this on the skin.

• Grind multani mati, a little bit of mehndi and dry avala. Apply the paste on the face and skin to increase the glow

How to choose best airline seat?

In Boeing 777 used for long haul flights by Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Qatar Airways, rows 44 and 45 (the back two rows) are the least desirable.

These seats have less leg room than other rows and limited reclining capabilities. They are also close to the toilets and galleys, making for a nosy and possibly smelly flight.

The Airbus fleet, which generally have no first or business class seats, are used by British Airways, easyJet, Monarch and Thomas Cook for short haul journeys. The first row seat, is most coveted for its extra legroom, optimum window view unobstructed by the wing, and being served food and beverages first.It's not all good though, with this seat, as well as 1F, is also known for being the coldest on the aircraft.

Use this section to find the best airline seat for your next flight with Jet Airways.ECONOMY CLASS - BOEING 737-800 Rows 12 & 13 are exit seats with lots of leg room.Boeing 777 : Economy 30C and 30H. Pros: Aisle seat with plenty of legroom (near exit door). Cons: Near bathroom, bulkhead row which may mean babies around you.

For more info of other airlines try this http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/Yseats-entry.htm

What to carry in a handbag?

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My Neighbor

Date: October 2014

Location: Leicester, UK.

Dedicating this story to my lovely neighbor in Sweetbriar Road Leicester UK. My neighbor is in his 90's a lovely grandpa, I lived next door to him in upstairs flat. So I have a chance to see my neighbor grandpa whenever he comes of his house and all the views from first fllor flat.. The flat I was living was part of a  big semidetached house and it was almost dead silence in the house and the street where I lived. 

Everybody in that street has a fixed schedule after living in that flat for an year I know who comes and goes.   Even though my neighbor grandpa is pretty old he lives alone, his daughter comes every day with cooked dinner and his son comes every morning with breakfast. Grandpa has only one outing a week that is on all Sundays, a regular taxi man comes and he goes somewhere, which was the usual scene for me when taxi man comes and gives a beep. After seeing his routine for nearly a year I did n’t get a chance to say hello to him. He got a calling bell but he can't hear it, so no point in trying that his kids got their own keys to visit grandpa.

Once when I was enjoying snowing day outside grandpa came out to bin his milk can, I felt that was the golden chance to speak to him, I went near him and said hello, I felt he was comfortable with me and asked me what I am doing in UK where I am from etc. That conversation went on for 2 hours or more than that... For the first time in my life time I felt like I can't find words to explain grandpa “what a Laptop is ...”. Grandpa was an old world war veteran, who watches black white TV (1970 model) in 2013. For him everything is B&W, he was not aware of inventions like PC /laptop. He reads books old war novels and kept himself busy. Some chance encounters with him made me close with him and I got to ask him where he is going alone on all Sundays with the taxi man? On the first day I didn't get answer I ignored him and I thought he must not have heard me.

After 2/ 3 months I saw him again, truth was he heard me and he was actually waiting to tell me his love story on a special occasion. For my surprise he give a ring in my calling bell. The bell at that time of Saturday was very odd so I went down and to check who was that and saw this grandpa in the door. I was living in first floor he said he can't climb stairs so we walked little bit to the nearby park. Grandpa said it was his wedding anniversary on that day and told about his wife, showed me an old black white photo and said she is nursing home for past 4 years due to dementia problems and he visits her every Sunday. She don't recognizes him as his husband but he is visits her every Sunday to have lunch together. He still do the same in October 2014. I moved my flat 1.5 years ago but met this grandpa very accidentally on weekend he was pretty excited to ask me how my job and new location is.   The thought of penning down this was in mind for a while, but when I saw him on Sunday I decided I should make an article for him now before it is too late.I do have picture of grandpa but due to privacy issues I can't share it.

If you do something out of duty it will deplete you. But if you do something out of love it will energize you.Marriage is a choice, even when it's not going perfect. He is your best friend, you have history together, a million laughs and inside jokes. You know him better than anyone ever will. He is your happy and sad all balled into one place, because he owns your heart. Love is worth all the good times and the bad, especially if he is still fighting for you and your heart. ♥

Marriage does not guarantee you will be together forever, it’s only a paper. It takes love, respect, trust, understanding, friendship and faith in your relationship to make it last ♥♥♥

Life Tip

Tip of the day

"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go out and sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures. Sweep streets like Handel and Beethoven composed music. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

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17 Camels and a will

A father left 17 Camels as an Asset for his Three Sons.

When the Father passed away, his sons opened up the will.

The Will of the Father stated that the Eldest son should get Half of 17 Camels,

The Middle Son should be given 1/3rd of 17 Camels,

Youngest Son should be given 1/9th of the 17 Camels,

As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the sons started to fight with each other.

So, they decided to go to a wise man.

The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one camel of his own & added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels.

Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will.

Half of 18 = 9.
So he gave 9 camels
to the eldest son.

1/3rd of 18 = 6.
So he gave 6 camels
to the middle son.

1/9th of 18 = 2.
So he gave 2 camels
to the youngest son.

Now add this up:
9 + 6 + 2 = 17 &
This leaves 1 camel,
which the wise man took back.

MORAL: The attitude of negotiation & problem solving is to find the 18th camel i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times.

However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!

If you liked this story, please share with all. You might spark a thought, inspire & possibly change a life forever!

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Autumn view from desk