The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)

Mr. Kadam (Om Puri), fondly called Papa, believes that "if the brakes break, it's for a reason." So as the almost broken down van 🚐  carrying the Kadam family smashes to a halt in the village of Saint Antonin, in rural France, Mr. Kadam is convinced this is home. Here is where the family would open the Indian restaurant they'd always dreamed of. However this idea is not welcomed by  the locals, especially Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), the owner of a Michelin Star restaurant in the village. Madame Mallory is aspiring to achieve her second Michelin star and her restaurant boasts of feeding a delicious fare to the elite of French society, including the French President himself. And like any chef who takes immense pride in their culinary creations, soon war breaks out between the Indian murg mussallam 🐔  and the French pigeon 🐦 and truffles. However Hasan Haji (Manish Dayal), Papa's beloved son and cook who has immense potential, is able to win over the enemy with the perfect omelette. But Hasan must take a hundred foot walk that will change his life and future prospects - all for the best.
Watch the tale as it unfolds to tell you a story of brave beginnings, the power of negotiations and of standing by your convictions.
This is to my lovely friends who now live in France 🇫🇷 👊 😘.

On love and relationships!

While penning down my synopsis for 'Baby baby baby' I didn't feel like I had said all there was to say on my thoughts on relationships.
I adore the following verse from the Bible on LOVE ~ 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthian 13:4-5

Can you really compete with that?
I may get a little candid here with my thoughts and believe me, it's not something I'm comfortable doing. As I see it, we seek the best deals in most things - like when buying a car, a home, furniture, clothes and even groceries for that matter. So why stop when it comes to something as huge as a relationship? Sow the seeds of your time and nurture with love and patience and reap the bounty of a fulfilled relationship. Dishonesty is the weed that could choke a beautiful bond and so as difficult as it may be being honest is paramount for every relationship to work.
Growing up I haven't been lucky to witness strong marriages and it's a heavy burden to carry for a young, impressionable mind. That would explain why, for the longest time, I carried a clouded opinion on the institution of marriage and what it stood for. To find someone to trust and for that someone to understand where I came from was extremely difficult. From my standpoint I had much to prove to myself and it was important to be open to learning, considering I was stepping in with a disadvantage. There is no reason to turn bitter but only better ( Oh the cliches .. 😐 please work with me here). But like I said, it takes a long time to settle in, like a good, mature and full-bodied wine ... I know, I know me glass of red again! 😃
                   ....... More to come 

Her Fearful Symmetry ~ Audrey Niffenegger

It was pure coincidence that I read two books on twins and both, extremely interesting.

Now about Julia and Valentina who are identical twins from Illinois. Intriguing is the fact that they are mirror images of each other, and in the literal sense too- in their appearance, anatomy and personalities as well. The twins are surprised by a letter that arrives in the post one day all the way from London. This letter is from an aunt they had no knowledge of, informing them of an inheritance bequeathed to the girls. Aunt Elspeth is the estranged twin sister of their mother Edwina. To their delight they learn that they are now owners of a flat with all its effects. There is but one condition, just that they must live there for a year before they decide to sell it, if at all. The news of their windfall and the possibility of striking it out on their own has the twins excited and they are soon on their way to London. The flat is gorgeous and it  faces the historic London Highgate Cemetery. Their neighbors - Martin who lives in the flat above theirs is a writer who hasn't left his flat in two years and suffers from an OCD; Robert who Iives in the flat on the lower level works as a tour guide in the cemetery and was their aunts' lover.
It gets interesting when Elspeth's spirit that is trapped in the flat gets friendly with her niece, Valentina. But there are motives deep and dark.
 A tale of self-discovery, of breaking free and about love in all its forms both dark and pure. The suspense and unpredictability will keep you on edge and will not let you put the book down, not till it's done atleast.
This is the second book by Audrey Niffenegger, after ''The Time Travellers Wife', another personal favorite.

Smile Women - This day is yours! 💝

I was wondering what words of wisdom I would impart this Women's Day! Inspiration strikes anytime ..
I haven't been doing too well lately - the flu bug paid me a visit and the past week has been nothing short of hell! But the work must go on and with all my grumbling, hubby decided to help out with the cooking. Now that is not always a good idea, but beggars can't be choosers. So hubby dearest decided to go native and make fish curry .... It was an interesting cooking experience and this is what my immaculate kitchen looked like after the ordeal ... 👇

Turmeric is not pretty on the floors 😕

I'm sure you can hear me groan as I write this! And this is only part of the mess, mind you. Art lovers forgive me, but the walls had something that resembled contemporary art on it (an art style I could never understand). But I only thought of taking pictures much later so I have none to prove my point. So that's that!

My messed and stressed up blender, now clean and doing some yoga 😉

I was ready to scream blue murder .. but if the end result was really good, must I complain?😇

Deliciousness in my curry pot 👌

And now on my plate ... 😃. Do forgive my weak presentation

So, happy cleaning 😒 and Happy Women's Day 💆 🍹 (in advance)

A Good Year (2006)

When your memories are of a 12 year old you and are of spending vacations by the pool playing chess, stealing a smoke and sipping vintage with your uncle on a balmy day in Provence, France ... what would you have to say? I would say that is darn marvellous. So when the years fly by and Max has lost touch with his uncle, the news of Uncle Henry's (Albert Finney) death and the knowledge that he is now the sole heir to the estate and vineyard, could come as quite a shock.
Max (Russell Crowe) has built a successful life in London and Provence is a distant memory. So when he makes a trip back to take assessments and sign papers with the intent to sell, Max finds himself jogging down memory lane reminiscing about a time gone by. The whisper of a voice he once loved, the faint ruffle of the curtain by the window, the radio blaring in some corner of the house, the inviting hammock nestled in the green depths of a luscious garden ... There is a hesitancy as the memories visit and a voice calling to reason.
As Max zips by on the narrow and unknown roads in a little rental and accidentally runs Fanny (Marion Cotillard) off the road, here begins a new chapter in his life.
Will Max sell his inheritance, the old vineyard and along with it the memories? A movie about the good things in life and about making personal choices that could change the course of your life and of the generations to come.

What's with me and vineyards of late. That's two movies in a row.
Guess I love my red after all! Cheers! 

Black Heart Blue ~ Louisa Reid

Black Heart Blue is a tale about Hephzibah and Rebecca. The twin daughters of the vicar of the village church couldn't have been more different; while Hephzi had the looks and big plans for her life, Rebecca, the smarter but quieter one of the two, has Treacher Collins syndrome and doesn't hold out much hope for herself.

Hidden behind the smiles and happy facade but lurking inside the vicarage, a place called home, are deep, dark secrets that can never leave the confines of the four walls. The girls are there for each other but the surrounding darkness threatens to imprison and smother them if they are not quick to escape it's evil clutches.
This book is about fears, about facing and conquering them. Though haunting and sad in numerous ways the story sends out ripples of hope and happiness lapping on the shores of a bright future just waiting to be embraced. It's important to remember there is a beautiful life beyond the shackles that bind you and that you have been chosen to live a glorious life.
This is one book that will stay with me for a long time to come.

My prayer for you ... my dear readers!

A Walk In The Clouds (1995)

Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves), a chocolate salesman, has returned home a changed man. He fought in World War II and survived the perils of war.

These experiences has now changed his perspective towards life and has given him different priorities. But unfortunately the time spent away from his wife has changed things drastically on the home front.
Paul soon heads out in search of work and while on a train journey to Sacramento his life changes forever. It's on this train that he meets Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), a university student who is returning home from school. But this is one visit she is not looking forward to! Victoria is a Catholic from a wealthy but Orthodox family and being unwed she isn't sure how she is going to break the news of her pregnancy. Ever the gentleman, Paul offers to pose as her husband and thus taking on numerous other challenges. While Victoria comes from a large family that is able to trace their roots back many generations an orphaned Paul doesn't stand much chance of winning Alberto's, Victoria's father's, approval. The family wealth comes from their vineyard that's generations old and being harvest time, Paul offers to help. He soon finds all that he has spent a lifetime searching for ...
Take a walk in the clouds, join in the grape stomping, 🍷 and discover love 💖.
This isn't the greatest of films but it's a visual treat.