The cook who outwits his employer!

Once upon a time in a far off land,there was a very smart cook.He was known for his unusual skill of

Cook Education Center (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

his fabulous cooking,an art he mastered from a very young age.He also learned to convince everyone that he was a gifted liar.This happens to be his way of getting out of trouble.He had been successful almost all the time.His parents,however were not thrilled to know this.He was warned by his mother who said,”now Alfie,you came out with flying colours,so far,one day you will get caught,I your mother am telling you to give up this practice”.

Alfie’s life was going along smoothly.He had a kind master,good friends and adorable parents.He knew he is so crafty that there was no chance of tripping up.This gave him the belief he needed to carry on his two most important traits cooking and his make-believe stories.

His employer was very proud of his cooking.He was always boasting about his cooking to his friends.One of his friends was tired of hearing this and challenged him,he said, “If your cook is as good as you tell us,why don’t you invite me,I will find out how good he is and also will enjoy the food?”Mr.Alec was happy that he got his chance to prove to the friend,how excellent Alfie,his cook is.

With this in mind,he went shopping,among his list of ingredients,he decided to buy a crane for the main course.He came home with his bag full of food items for the big day.

The day had arrived, Alfie was ecstatic that his master had told his friend about his wonderful art of cooking.He put the necessary ingredients to marinate the bird.It was time for him to roast the bird.He put the bird in the oven and started singing,”Oh, my master’s friend is coming and I will show my skill,he is coming in the evening ,he is coming to eat my food,oh yeah—–.” Suddenly he noticed someone was coming,he peaked and saw his friend the glutton.He mumbled to himself “I will have to get rid of him.”The smell of the food made the glutton so hungry,he pleaded with his friend to let him have a leg of the crane.Alfie at first told him to hurry home and not expect anything.The glutton however did not give  up.At that moment the cook did not think of the consequences of his generosity.Evening rolled around Alfie was getting ready to serve the food.

The employer arrived with his friend.Dinner was served.While carving the roast,the master was horrified to see only one leg.Alfie was summoned immediately.He was asked about the other leg.The crafty cook replied,”The cranes have only one leg,Sir!”This was too much for the master to believe,he instantly told him,they will go to the field where there are several cranes and check out his story.

Accordingly they made the trip where there were hundreds of cranes.The cranes were having a nap,therefore they were standing on one leg.Alfie pointed at once,”See,Sir I told you,cranes have only one leg.”The master in a fit of anger,went close to the cranes and yelled,”Shoo,shoo.” All the cranes put the other leg down and flew away. “Now tell me,do you still say,the cranes have only one leg.”Yes ,Sir,you forgot to say,Shoo!”The master realized how clever his cook was and decided to forgive him.

Cook Eke Mariën (left) and chemist Jan Groenewold (right) @ Woudschoten conference of chemistry education, 4 november 2006, Zeist, Netherlands (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My nostalgic memories of Rawalpindi

 

English: Rawalpindi Train Station (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Horse and Rider (Photo credit: Istvan)

 

Gardener Gardening (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

My Dad was transferred to this wonderful city named Rawalpindi.My Dad worked for the federal government.I was admitted in a convent school.My Dad thought,it was the best school in the city.Our house was a three-storeyed building in Lal Kurti Bazaar.Our school was close to my house I walked to school. One day instead of taking the usual route to my house,I decided to make a short cut.I noticed a huge swan with its babies,in one of the lanes.I don’t know why but I started to feel scared.I was walking slowly.The swan must have felt I was going to get her babies.Suddenly she bent her long neck and started chasing me.At this point not knowing what to do,I started running and crying.Somehow I escaped this frightening situation.I then made up my mind to walk along the road in the bazaar. One day as I was walking down the road towards my house,I had an eerie feeling  that the guy behind me on the bike was going to crash into me.Sure enough he did just that,I fell on the road with a few cuts and bruises.After this incidence I did not have any more trouble. My big sister hated the house we lived in,she told my Dad we must move and live in a better neighbourhood.We moved to Peshawar road.It was an area where all the army hot shots lived.The owner had several large bungalows,these were requisitioned by the government for the officers .In this area, Rawalpindi looked very different than it did in Lalkurti bazaar.There were beautiful houses where all the wealthy lived.My Dad was not one of them,he had a good job. My siblings and I had a lot of fun in the park,which was walking distance from our house. Rawalpindi the city was fairly large,it was very clean.We did not have the fear of kidnappers or evil people.I always remember,going at the back of the house up a dirt road,they used to have horse races.We would always go up the hill to watch the race.One day our part-time gardener told me he was also a jockey.Among all the questions I asked he told  me that he was going to take part in the race.He gave me the description of the horse,when next day rolled around,I was ecstatic I was going to watch the horse race,this time it would be a lot of fun,because our gardener would be one of the jockey’s participating.When the race started there were anxious moments for us siblings.We took it for granted that our gardener was going to win.Our white horse was ahead of all the others,suddenly I noticed the other horses were starting to overtake the white horse.When the race was over the white horse was almost last.Our gardener had some explaining to do.When he came next morning I was the first one to nab him with all my questions.I was angry with him because he let us down. Why he didn’t win, he told me that there were a lot of people who bet on the horse and his owner told him to slow down,to let the other horses go ahead.I said,”It means you purposely lost,.this is cheating”.He told me ,”don’t feel bad Bibi,this is what the owners do”. I also remember going to a restaurant.It had shiny floors,it felt slippery,I was about to slip and fall,my brother caught me and said”,You are such  an ignorant girl I can’t take you any where”.He ordered juice for us,this was my least favourite.I tried to finish it but couldn’t.The next time he took us,my brother ordered milkshake,I sipped it in record time. Things were going great we lived in a city we loved.As they say,”All good things come to an end”.My Dad suddenly became ill and passed away. My Mom did not want to stay In “Pindi any more.Within six months we packed all our things and bid goodbye to our most favourite city.

 

English: A view of Peshawar road Rawalpindi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

My life as a tennis racquet

tennis (Photo credit: Marc Di Luzio)

I  happen to be a Racquet,I am bruised and battered by my owner,yet I cannot complain.I have no voice.My owner is a famous player.He treats me as he sees fit.The other day he was playing in a grand slam tennis tournament.Things were not working out for him,he kept making the wrong shots,at this point I knew my days are numbered.I knew he is not going to admit,he is having a bad day.

We all are guilty of pinning our mistakes on others.This day all the blame,came my way.My owner was doing everything right,I was the one making all the mistakes.

After a lot of unpleasant words  with the umpire,all the anger was directed towards me.He took me and started battering me.It came to a point when I was no longer fit to be played with.I was thrown a few times on the ground and then all was quiet.I no longer looked like the handsome racquet  I was,but an ugly twisted piece of crap.I landed in the dump with others who had the similar fate.No one remembers what a dutiful servant I had been.

A Wilson brand tennis racquet with a Roger Federer theme and name on it. Racquet has a 4 1/2 inch grip. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jean-Talon Market in Montreal

The market was opened in 1933 by Mayor Camillien Houde.It started in a small building.

It could be accessed from  the North or the South end of the market.It used to be a playing field.

Citizens from neighbouring  parishes were its clientele in the beginning.It changed when it was growing

and everyone started to love the fresh fruits and the vegetables the vendors brought to sell.There were Italian

Canadians who were familiar with the open markets,who gave it it a particular European flavour.

Now the small market has grown into

Patisserie area,they looked delicious,I did not buy any.

Here are some delicious Samosas and chicken.I bought some for us.

In front of the juice box.It is fresh and tasty.I liked the mango juice.

This is the market in Jean Talon,the customers are deciding what to buy.

a very large place.Besides fruits and vegetables.there are lot of shops

where we can buy variety of food.

My favourite was the fresh vegetables and fruit.I liked the juice stand where the fresh juice was made in front

of us.I loved the mango juice the most.I have taken some pictures of some of the stalls that really look attractive.