Hidden Object Game Review- Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate

Lovely game, irritating madame. I've already played this a few times though. And I think I probably will play it some more :D

Definitely less creepy than Ravenhearst.

Review here: http://www.suite101.com/content/hidden-object-game-review--mystery-case-files-madame-fate-a310425

I couldn't take my own picture so I used a nice pic of a crystal ball taken by Jon Ross (from flickr). :D

Xmas Gifts!

Well, okay, these are gifts I'd love to get too. Not necessarily for Christmas. Anytime would do. :)

I've already got the Chocolatier series so I know it'll make a great gift. And then I was going through a lot of gifting ideas and saw these. They're unique and fun. So much better than the ordinary gifts you see around...

Take a look at it here: http://www.suite101.com/content/unusual-xmas-gifts-for-women-a309125

I really love the idea of the relaxing bath with the candles...Think I'm going to go run a bath for myself now- minus the bath salts, bubble bath, wine and candles. :(  On second thought, I'm going to just go read a book under a blanket. :P

The book of ultimate truths

And my next review...

I adored this book! It was hilarious, insane, weird and made me laugh out loud. I loved the characters. I think I actually like the dad more than the main character...

This was the first Robert Rankin book I've read but I'm definitely going to try to get more. If it was half as good as this book, I know I'll have a lot of fun.

So enough gushing, here's the review: http://www.suite101.com/content/fantasy-book-review-the-book-of-ultimate-truths-a306912

I've finally got my hands on the sequel so I'll be reviewing that soon too.

Review of Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst

I think I'm beginning to become a bit of a fame whore...Lol, well, maybe not. According to urban dictionary a fame whore is 'An individual who is willing to do anything, regardless of how humiliating or demeaning, to achieve notoriety. More often than not, this involves appearing on multiple reality television shows and/or having "private" sex videos "leaked" to the press.'

So that's definitely not me! But, I do want to get as many links to connect to my articles on suite101. So I'm willing to write about it...Hence, this post.

I've been playing a lot of games lately ever since we got a wireless connection at home. Since the connection is so brilliantly crap, I've made sure I've downloaded my games. So, when the net conks off, I've got nothing to worry about. I can play my hidden object games and role playing games to my heart's content. :)

So far, I've fallen in love with the Mystery Case File series and the Chocolatier series. I plan on doing reviews of all of them once I get my hands on them.

Anyway, take a look at my review of Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst. I've written about it here: http://www.suite101.com/content/hidden-object-game-review--mystery-case-files-ravenhearst-a305805

Note the picture. :) That was our house at Venkatgiri when Smriti and me just before we moved. :D I couldn't find a picture of Ravenhearst that was available for commercial use. :( However, I do like the picture I ended up using!

Culinary Glee

The aroma of freshly baked bread, the sizzling of frying onions, the look of delight as you serve up something wonderful- is it any surprise that I love cooking? I love waking up in the mornings and trying to decide what I’ll make today. I love baking, dicing, slicing, frying, grilling- there’s so much you can do.  And so many flavours to try out.

It’s truly amazing how a simple addition or reduction of a flavour can completely alter your dish. Add a little pepper for that extra bite or cut down on the garlic for a more subtle flavouring. Experiment with oranges and meat, chocolate and beetroot...Everything can go together with a little know-how.

That’s what it’s all about really. Cooking is really just creating magnificent masterpieces from seemingly ordinary ingredients. And anything can be magnificent. From that simple delicious omelette to the more complex but mouth-watering coq au vin. Anything can taste good, if you give it your best shot.

It’s delightful trying your hand at something for the first time and having it come out perfect. It’s so disappointing when it falls flat. It’s never a bother though. Just get back into the kitchen and try again. Get back into the kitchen and cook away your worries, your anxieties and just concentrate on making that perfect meal. Make it yours, make it special, make it a work of art.

The world is open to you. Italian, Indian, Chinese- what do you feel like today? You can make anything you want to. Just step into that kitchen and whip up your inspiration. Serve it up on a platter and watch your families faces light up with joy. Now that’s bliss.

Taste of Italy

My husband and I went to a small Italian cafe the other day. I'll admit we tend to go out drinking more than we have days out eating. but, we were hungry one afternoon and found a small place on Leith Walk in Edinburgh. Now, it really doesn't look all that welcoming. I like to go for places that are quaint and cosy. With a bright, garish signpost and a tad too loud music, it does fall more on to the cheesier side.

However, when you get in, the food blows you away. The desserts, the paninis, the pasta... they're all made to perfection. I had lasagna and it was beautiful. Bursting with cheese but still managing to bring the full flavour of the meat and sauce through...what more could a person ask for?

My husband opted for a simple panini and that looked pretty good as well. I almost wished I'd changed my order. The bread was crisp on the outside and deliciously soft inside. The right amount of cheese and tomatoes made it quite the satisfying meal. While my husband didn't touch the salad (not the salad type :P), I managed to sneak in a few bites. Crisp and fresh.

Surprisingly, the prices are very decent. The portions are great so it's really quite the value for money. The food is completely fresh and smells lovely when it gets to your table. They've also got an open plan kitchen so you can see what they're up to- always a nice thought. :)

Finally, I have to mention the waitresses. They are, without a doubt, the nicest people I've come across. Our waitress was a cheerful little one (I assume from Italy) who always had a smile on her face. Makes quite a difference when you don't have to deal with surly waiters.

I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone who fancies Italian food or just plain old good food! It filled us up, made us happy and got us prepared for our long day ahead. :)

Ahhh... bake me a piece

I think I’m eating too much. Gorging on fatty baked goods that can’t be good for me. I remember loving them as a kid and not gaining a kg... but then I remember running around and around with no other purpose but to tag the annoying one in pigtails. Probably helped work off those extra calories. Would it be so very weird if I called the neighbours and asked them to join in a game of tag? ‘You be it, kind sir. You look like you can’t catch an arthritic tortoise.’

That is one problem with this place though. There aren’t that many men bulging at the sides. So getting the neighbours might actually have me being tagged all the time. I’m not fat... oh no no, call me that and watch your back. But exercise? Can’t remember the last time I did that. I’ll probably take a step and drop, wheezing out as I do, ‘Kind sir, tag the hag there...’

I do have an excuse now for not running around in mindless circles. I’m ill, painfully swallowing and feeling a blockage there the size of the subway guy’s ass, before he went on his ‘diet.’ So, instead, I’m lying in bed watching the neighbours have fun without me. Walking in the sunshine...oh wait, the rain...on wait, the insane breeze...See, what I mean? How could that not be fun? Just waiting for the weather to make up its mind... more fun that getting a guy to remember what’s so special about today.

Ah, now there’s a fun game, if ever there was one.’ Is it your birthday? Is it our anniversary? Is it your dog’s birthday? Is it the day we successfully filed our taxes a year ago? Are we getting married today??’

Thinking up ways to ‘subtly’ drop hints does take it out of a person. ‘Oh look, honey, there goes an airplane with one of those trailing signs. Why don’t we read what it says?’

He looks up. ‘It’s...valentine’s...day...you...dim-witted...numbskull...’ A small flicker of understanding. I help it along with a nice lil whack on the head with a sack of chocolates. As the heart shaped pieces fall all around him, it dawns on him. ‘Mother’s day!’

Sadly, those fun days are far away. We’re still in the middle of August. Still in the middle of pointless weather changes. Still in the middle of times when it’s considered a tad insane to run up to a fully grown stranger on the street, punch him on the arm and yell ‘tag’ in his face. Still in the middle of times when a guy will be sure to freeze in terror when you ask him what day it is.

The world’s falling to pieces. Can you blame me if all I want to do forget my sorrows in a nice warm plate of steak and kidney pie? Pass me the mashed potatoes and join me, won’t you?

Far Away

How do people do this? How do they manage to stay away from the one they love and still smile? How do they get through each day and think everything's going to be okay? How can they look forward to each day knowing nothing's going to change? How can they sleep at night knowing that they're miserably alone?

They've got people around them, they've got friends, they've got family. They've got work, they've got pats on their backs. They've got a lovely house to stay in, they've got a roommate who's trying their very best to get them to smile. They've got books, they've got the TV, they've got ridiculous games on the internet.

But, none of that really matters. In the end, they're going to pick out the most depressing book they can find and read, weeping into the night. They're going to sing along to the saddest songs they can play. They're not going to go out with their friends cos they'd prefer sitting at home and imagining that life could be better. They're going to fluctuate wildly between hope and utter despair.

They're going to grab every nugget of happiness they can find. They're going to sob uncontrollably at any little upset. They're going to wish things were different. They're going to wish everything was the same. They're going to wish they could go back to the way things were. They're going to hope that things get getter.

They're going to wait.

What was the point?

What was the point of getting you to a vet if you were going to die two days later? What was the point of standing over you yelling at blue cross to come if you weren't going to make it? What was the point of having you safe and sound in an animal shelter if you were never going to walk again? What was the point of praying for you if nobody was going to listen? What was the point of calling everyday if no one believed you'd live? What was the point of going there and seeing you doing better if it was just temporary? What was the point of hearing people say you were going to get better if it was just lies? What was the point of feeling so attached to you if you weren't going to be around? What was the point of crying if I never even got to know you?

What's the point of anything?