I’ve been away a long time. A long, long time. In that time, a lot has changed. I’m just here to check if anyone’s still around? Do drop by to say hi. I miss you.
Ashamed
The last time this blog saw any regular activity was in March. Ever since then there have been a few irregular posts, but to say that I have been utterly callous is probably an understatement. A lot has conspired in these last few months and this post is an attempt to catch you all up on it.
April and May were gruelling months. For those unaware, I completed my post-graduation this year and my final exams were scheduled for May. This meant studying for over 10 hours a day and surviving on Maggi and coffee. As such, I could not spare even the few moments required to make a post.
With June, came the spate of interviews. Hopefully a postgraduate, I saddled up with my paperwork, Swiss knife (you never know where you might need it) and quick wit and set out each day in the hope of finding someone who was willing to employ me. This herculean effort finally paid off and I landed a job. I figured now that my basic struggle is over and I have a definite schedule, I would be able to blog.
But alas, it was not to be. A month and a half into this new job, I finally got down to writing this post. To admit that I am ashamed for neglecting the blog thus. To promise that I shall do my best to ensure the blog runs smoothly from now on. For all the blogs that I have conveniently neglected over the last few months, please accept my sincerest apologies. I shall make sure to drop by more often now.
See you around!
Cheers
INDIA TO CHARGE BRITAIN FOR OVERSTAYING TILL 1947
In news that has been condemned by the Delhi Gymkhana, the Indian government has announced that it will be charging the British government arrears in rent and visa fees for overstaying till 1947. Calculations will be done on a per head per year basis, beginning in the early 17th century.
“We will be charging extra for Lord Mountbatten,” said a government spokesperson, “Since he stayed till 1948.”
This move was in reaction to an announcement that all Indians entering the UK will now have to pay a bond of 3000 pounds, leaving them little or no money for shopping. Instead, the British government will refund the money on departure, so that they can spend it back in India.
Moving swiftly, the Indian government has arrested prominent Britons Mark Tully and Katrina Kaif, prior to deportation for non-payment.
“In order to cause minimum inconvenience, I offered to share a cell…
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Four Seasons Merlot Review: Good taste at a great price
Fairly new to the concept of wine culture, India is a long way from ordering a glass of wine with their dinner. But enthusiasts have embarked on a wine-awareness campaign in conjunction with some fine Indian wineries. One such winery, Four Seasons, organises some remarkable Wine Tasting and Appreciation events across the country to spread awareness. Head over to their Facebook page and hit like to stay in touch.
While I have been to such events and even posted about them, it was a first when I received a bottle of Four Seasons Merlot for a review. Now I’m no expert in food and/or drinks, so this a mere enthusiast’s review and please accept my apologies in advance in case this review does not live up to your expectations.
To begin with, here’s what Four Seasons’ website has to say about this wine.
Type : Still Red Wine
Grapes :Merlot
Origin : Baramati, Maharashtra, India
Style: Dry
Wine Price: Rs. 570 (in Delhi)
Tasting notes:
Colour : Ruby red in colour with a hint of garnet
Aroma : Delicious aromas of ripe black fruits, especially plums.
Palate : Medium bodied with soft tannins and a pleasant lasting finish.
Serving suggestion: Enjoyed best at 16 – 18 degree C with medium spiced Indian dishes as well as roast lamb with all the trimmings.
When Four Seasons first contacted me for the review (via GingerClaps), I was sincerely hoping to not receive a Merlot. My reason was quite simple: having tasted Four Seasons’ wines before, Merlot is not one of my favourites. I won’t lie, I am biased; I am more of a fan of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Sauvignon Blanc, both of which I’ll rate a 9 on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being ‘Do Not Dare Put it in Your Mouth and’ 10 tending more towards ‘Bottled Heaven’). The Merlot then would rate close to a 7 on the same scale.
Priced at a very affordable Rs. 570 in Delhi, this screw-top bottled wine would not be my first pick for a dinner with friends. But when I received the bottle for review, I decided to make a day out of it. The Merlot gathered a similar response from my friends: not too bad, not too great, but given the price, fairly decent quality and definitely a good wine to cook with. In our case, it was the aftertaste that turned the experience sour, quite literally so. While the first impression was quite average, it would be only fair to mention here that once we let the wine breathe a little, it improved remarkably, and with the wine, the evening also improved.
To sum up then, while not Four Seasons’ best wine, the Merlot scores highly for its affordability. My suggestion would be to use it for cooking or to let it breathe before pairing it with the suggested mildly spicy dishes, or if you’re anything like some of my old friends from college, forget the taste and just enjoy a wine cheaper even than some regular vodka bottles. Cheers!
Links included in the post:
Four Seasons’ Official Website – http://www.fourseasonsvineyards.com/
Four Seasons’ Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/FourSeasonsWines
Pink
As we celebrate colour on Faces Places Paces, here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Holi! 🙂
Green
I’ve decided to some colour-themed posts for a while. So yesterday was Yellow, and today is Green. 🙂
Yellow
Where the day flows
Who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose, only time
– Only Time by Enya
A rather old photograph – 2, or perhaps, even 3 years – taken while riding a rickshaw somewhere in North Campus, Delhi University. I don’t remember much from the day, but I do remember that reaching college was a mammoth task for it rained cats and dogs and horses and elephants.
Photograph taken with an old Nokia cellphone.
I wish I could be that bird
I wish that I could be that bird
And fly away from here
I wish I had the wings to fly away from here
– Little Bird by Annie Lennox
Stars, up on heaven’s boulevard
In memoriam, N.
I can’t look at the stars
They make me wonder where you are
Stars, up on heaven’s boulevard
And if I know you at all, I know you’ve gone too far
– Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
PS: The photograph is actually a macro shot of a handful of glitter.
Faces Places Paces 