Zitronenkuchen

I had to pick up Maia from school yesterday at noon. She was not feeling so good. We went straight home and she slept for 4 hours!

Then she woke up.

"What can I do now? I think I want to bake a cake." "ok, unexpected. Let's have a look in the cupboards then."

Hey, what's this?

" Thanks, mum, you can go now."

Maia weighed and melted the butter, cracked the eggs and measured the water, all according to the recipe on the packaging.

Mmmmmm, the best part!

 ... and again

 

20 minutes later ...

 ... and look what happened!

 And now for the frosting.

 

Cooled down and ready to cut

Who wants dessert?

 The expert tasting. And?

Ian came home one night and said ...

... I have ordered a surprise for you. Ok, hmmm, what could that be? I can't tell you, can I! Then it won't be a surprise.
Ok, I suppose you have a point.


Two days later he comes home with ...

 ... a ladder! YES! I have wished for one for a long time.

A proud owner of a bamboo ladder :-)

Huh? What I need it for?

 Looks really nice in our bedroom actually.

Travel and Information Showcase 2014

Today was the day for the big travel and information showcase at the Eros Hotel in Delhi. Trish and I went to check it out, always fun to get new ideas about where to go and what to do ... as if we need it ... time is rushing by ... anyway :-)

We arrived at around 10.30 after navigating our way (the driver anyway ...) through the morning traffic. I was completely taken aback by the size - there were over 100 tables and lots more than travel agencies - organic food, charity organizations, carpet seller, delivery of organic milk, veg and fruit, hotels, spas, dentists, removal companies ... you name it.

Here a good friend of mine, Cheryl, originally from Ireland, but she has lived here so long she almost speaks English with an Indian accent ;-) She works for AGS global removal company.

All the trips we have booked so far we have booked through another good friend, Lara who has Monkfoot Travel (great name!!). Here together with her colleague Rathnab and Trish.

 ANZA - the expat group for Australians and New Zeelanders - here represented by the beautiful Thelma.

I also found STOP Trafficking, the NGO I work for, here. That was a very pleasant surprise. When I asked for a table from the organizers a while ago, I was told it was fully booked, but someone must have cancelled! :-) Great. They had had many people interested in their products. Let's see what the future brings ... ;-)

Now, this might very well be a place we will go to, the Kipling Camp in the middle of India, sort of.

Our lovely neighbour Tammy was there as well advertising her and Sonia's get-away with yoga and healthy food end of september, and Sonia's company Bare Foot Yogi

Trish and I also found, tucked away in the corner, the Red Moon bakery with VERY NICE cup cakes! I tried the red velvet one ... to die for :-)

 

PS. I had to share this picture, even though I know it is really bad. It is taken with my phone of his business card!!! Anyway, this is the yoga teacher who comes to World Spa 3 mornings per week. I went to try it yesterday for the first time. This is what he can do! For real! He did the splits on the floor as well ... WOW - Dr. Runvijay, All India gold medalist in yoga.

Travel Exhibition & World Spa Apéro

 After a very nice lie-in and a brunch (!) with scrambled eggs, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans we headed towards Sushant Lok 3 to pick up Maia ... Trevor and Troy. Brilliant! Off to the Travel Exhibition at the Epicentre in Gurgaon.

The Epicentre is in a very modern and exciting looking building.

 The entrance

There were stands from city tourist offices, flight companies, hotels, event organisers, etc.

 Yes, I want to go here ...

 ... and here ...

 ... yepp, and here.

Goes without saying ...

 Think they might have retreated.

The children had a great time, then were really bored, then had a great time ;-)

 

Up your nose hahahaha

On the way back home Trevor asked what was for lunch ... hmmmm, ok, food, yeah, suppose we do need to eat something ... Well, what do you want? Uncle pizza of course! In India Ian and I are Uncle and Auntie (have to be pronounced with the Indian accent and retroflex sound for full effect). Last time the boys were at our house Ian made pizza with something that looks sort of like a tortilla, tomato sauce then whatever the fridge has to offer. This went down so well that it got named even :-) - the (soon to be) famous 'Uncle Pizza'. Everyone was happy again, apart from maybe Ian who had to work next to the oven in an already hot kitchen ...

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The World Spa board of management had invited all new tenants to a get together for some information and a possiblity to meet the board and each other. I thought that was a brilliant idea, very thoughtful and a good way to create a nice friendly atmosphere here.

 No assembly without food and drink of course.

Meet the board - they all work on a voluntary basis with everything from organizing parties, catering, planning and keeping up all the green areas on the premises, rain water harvesting, sports and leisure activities as well as waste management and much more.

The World Spa is actually the first condominium in the area that aims to recycle all the waste, and convert all food waste into compost to be used on the green areas! They said tonight that we are almost there.

Our president Mr Ashwani Shingla

We do feel that we made the absolute right decision choosing this condominium for our Indian adventure. After tonight we feel even more at home and part of the community. Everyone was really accommodating and open to meeting and connecting to new people.

Gurgaon Connection's Welcome Back Bash - Casablanca

Last night Maia spent at her friend Trevor's house - her first sleep-over in India. Trevor is in Maia's class, they have become very good friends - common interest: computer games mainly ... They do seem to be very comfortable in each other's company. Yesterday Trevor told me that he is not really happy when Maia is not with him :-)

Maia's parents then? Did they sit at home in front of the telly missing their daughter worrying if she would eat, sleep, drink (or not!!) etc.? Noooooooope, not really. 
We took Maia to Sushant Lok 3 where Trevor lives with his family ...

 ... then Ian and I continued to Double Tree by Hilton to the Welcome Back Bash with Gurgaon Connection - an expat group here in town. This year's theme: Moroccan nights/Casablanca.

What is everyone looking at?

Aha, a belly dancer. Of course, it is, after all a Moroccan party.

 She was indeed very good. The speed of those hips ... ! Aouch.

Ian is completely mesmerized :-)

Drinks and loads of different snacks/appetiziers to start with. I actually thought there would be no other food - how silly of me ... By the time it was announced that dinner was served downstairs I was stuffed ...

We ended up next to the guest of honor, Mrs Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali, the Minister Counsellor & Deputy Head of Mission at the embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco - and her son. We had a very interesting chat.

 Moroccan food à l'Indienne

 Well, that's it for pictures from the evening. The rest of the night was dancing, dancing and more wine :-) All in all a successful party.