Finally we had our house warming and moved into our new home. The Sumangali pooja and the housewarming pooja made me really happy. It was hectic and not perfect but the aspects that were important for me - inviting my friends with saree, choker and bangles at their home, the pooja I did personally in tamil, the samosa, beetroot, kootu soru and Kurma by S and Gulab jamoons by N and the sukku coffee was what I wanted.
The housewarming next day by the gurukkal was as I liked it. We were very upset by the attitude of the priests in the TN temples and left a very bad taste in our mouth - in this day and age, the supremacy and the demand for money by each and every one of them was beyond disgusting. Thankfully, things are different here in the UK and the gentleman we had engaged was very down to earth and did the pooja conscientiously and with true piety. The young one participated fully as he explained everything in English for her. We had a lovely day.
The food was a big hit and was universally praised. We did the traditional Thalai Vazhai Ezhai sappadu and our friends who served breakfast and lunch were particularly mentioned by all attendees as having been very attentive and caring. Thank you T and S !
There was G's function the very next week and as always it was very well organised. It helped us relax and have a good time after a hectic time shifting into the new home ( it was the very next day of shifting!). For the week of shifting, every day we had food delivered by our 6 friends plus D and A for an extra 2 days as well! It helped us focus on shifting and not worry about food. This was a great help!
The next function was dear S's 18th at the temple. Weather was a tad cold, but we managed to attend the function and yagam. Dharisanam was good as well. K had to rush back as R was a tad scared in the new house and I came back with S and M.
It was here that I heard N was unwell, so gave them lunch on Saturday. The rasam turned our too spicy but hopefully it helped clear the cold!
K started his new contract soon after and things started being hectic again. R's school reports are getting more and more brilliant and her clashes with me are competing with those reports! ( She also passed her grade 5 and is now on to Grade 6 in singing and trinity acting and LAMDA public speaking) .We clash on every little thing and that is not saying it all! But soon after fighting like bitter enemies, we continue talking to each other as though the flash of nuclear threat did not happen at all. Baffles me as much as it does her dad. But that is R for you!
For the Spring holidays, she first started her dance practice for tamil new year and that took us to the other girls' homes - 3 out of 5. They came over one day. We then left for Lincolnshire where we stayed at the lovely , rustic and thoughtfully decorated Man*r House St*bles. We stayed at the Bo*t*y. Unlike before, with Coco pops in tow, we do not rush to tick locations off our list. We take it really easy and just go for walks after a lazy morning breakfast. We stayed in *M*artin. She loved the nook. We had breakfast before leaving at De*c* lounge. We reached around 4 pm and relaxed in the lovely cottage. The different flavoured teas, the columbian coffee, the salted butter, the plum loaf, crisps and chocolate hamper, the deep, deep tub to relax in, the lovely bath products, the flowers and the fire place were all wonderful. I made use of each of these items and revelled in their quality and aesthetics. The kitchen was so tastefully equipped - it was a pleasure to get the tea, coffee or toast done. K was frustrated with the Aga though.
I had lovely baths on 2 days and basked in the wood fire place once. I made umpteen cups of the wonderful peach and ginger tea in the delightful loose tea kettle and also made columbian coffee cups for K. R spent some time reading in the garden swing and hiding in her nook bed.
Next day, a very late lazy brunch and left for a walk in the wolds at Tetf**d. Had a fantastic walk, taught Coco to fetch the ball. We went to the Linco** Castle and Cathedral, took pics from outside and collected Thai food from Thai***nd no 1. Turned out to be really yummy. The young one wanted to see the copy of the Magna C**ta but with Coco it would be tricky, so we skipped it.
Another lazy breakfast and off to the riverside walk It was again a 3 to 4 hours of walking with Coco bringing joy and fun to the day. We dropped them off at the cottage and set off to have some italian at Loren*o's. Was not to my or K's taste, though it was rated excellent. Shopped at the coop and made R her favourite pasta and called it a night.
Next day, we checked out and after a brief stop at a pit stop where R had subway and we some chinese, we came home and were delighted with how we felt. The home felt very welcoming and awash with light, the way we had envisaged.
Felt truly calm and ready to hit work from the next day.
