In My Hands Today…

Posted on by
1

The Oriental Casebook of Sherlock Holmes – Ted Riccardi

196634

Sherlock Holmes is dead—or so most of the world thinks. His fatal plunge over the Reichenbach Falls as he struggled with his archenemy, Moriarty, has been widely reported.

But Holmes has escaped and is alive.

In his immediate circle, only Holmes’s brother, the lethargic genius Mycroft, knows of his survival. Even Dr Watson thinks that the great detective is dead. Among his enemies, Sebastian Moran, Moriarty’s chief henchman, knows of Holmes’s probable escape and waits for their inevitable meeting.

From 1891 to 1894, Holmes wanders through Asia. He is alone, without Watson, without Scotland Yard, armed only with his physical strength and endurance and his revered cold logic and rationality.

The adventures recounted in The Oriental Casebook of Sherlock Holmes range from Lhasa to Katmandu, from the East Indies to the deserts of Rajasthan.

Recipes: Chickpea Salad

Posted on by
Reply

Another salad which was a huge hit at home. Again, a super easy salad which can be put together in less than 10 minutes.

I used black chickpeas in this recipe, but you can use the normal chickpeas. I used the dried chickpeas which I cooked after soaking, but you can use the canned version if that is easier.

Chickpea Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas (I used black chickpeas in this recipe)
  • 2 medium sized onions, finely chopped
  • 2 medium sized tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 medium sized potato, boiled, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 medium sized red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  • Soak the dried chickpeas in water for 6-8 hours (or overnight), drain and cook in a pressure cooker till the chickpeas are soft and mash when pressed.
  • Drain the chickpeas and let it cool.
  • In a large serving dish, mix together the chickpeas, all the chopped vegetables and coriander leaves and mix well.
  • Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper just before serving, mix well and serve.
  • This is a yummy dish when you eat it cold and is wonderful in warm summer days.

In My Hands Today…

Posted on by
Reply

A Spear of Summer Grass – Deanna Raybourn

16074560

Paris, 1923: The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even amongst Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather’s savannah manor house until gossip subsides.

Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society.

Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming-yet fleeting and often cheap.

Amidst the wonders-and dangers-of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for-and what she can no longer live without.

2019 Week 20 Update

Posted on by
Reply

This week went by in a fog! For some reason I was unwilling to do anything or be productive. I just went through the motions the whole week and poof, it’s a new week today.

We start the new week with a public holiday because Sunday was celebrated in Southeast Asia as Vesak Day which is also known as Buddha’s birthday or Buddha Jayanti in India.

After a long time we went out as a family over the weekend and I like how interactions with BB & GG are at almost adult levels. I don’t have to filter what comes out of my mouth to be more kid-friendly and can speak to them as if I am speaking with another adult. That’s fun actually.

I have lots of plans for this week, but today will be a bit slow because everyone will be at home. I know I work best when I am alone at home and can focus on my work.

Happy Monday folks!

2019 Secondary 4 Week 20 Update

Posted on by
Reply

Both BB & GG got the results of their mid-year exams this week and the results have not been as expected. Their schools made the papers more difficult and marking was also stricter, the result being all of us disappointed with their results.

Long story short, their holidays will spent prepping for their prelims which will take place sometime in August.

I’ve had many conversations with both of them, especially BB and I am still unsure if what I said to BB has made an iota of difference to his thinking. I have also been doing a lot of thinking and I now believe that the right attitude is the key to doing well in examinations. If you study with the right attitude, then even a short study session will be more productive than a couple of hours of indifferent work.

I will probably need to do some more research on this and if it’s something that is worth sharing, I will do a separate blog post on the topic.