It is the truth. On Dec 22, we rejoiced because this year’s school winter vacation was twenty days long instead of ten. We thought, let’s go somewhere, rather than just stay at home. As a government employee, my husband must use Air India for all his official trips, but for those we plan on our own, we can choose whichever mode of transport we want. Oh, personally I prefer to use a bus because we can even board one at the last minute (as most of our travel plans turn out to be) and it is fun to watch the country side speed by– but train is usually the optimum, particularly if we can take it at night and reach our destination early the next morning. Plus, we get to sleep quite comfortably.

So anyway – with a good twenty days stretching ahead of us, and Vidur, being the planner that he is, organizing his school work very nicely, we were actually dreaming of taking off for a few days. So we shortlisted places, heaving a huge sigh of relief over not having to reach the booking counter at 7 am in the morning only to find that a million others had the same thought as us and resigning ourselves to standing in the queue, thanks to being able to book online from the cozy comfort of our own pc. (phew!).

No sooner did we zero in on the happy pricing of Go Air, when the first phone call came. Heralding guests. Now, I love having guests and was quite okay with deferring our own travel plans. These people were visiting from the UK and spending the weekend in Bangalore, so naturally we insisted they come over and spend time with us. We had a wonderful time.

With one week less and only a little over ten days to sneak in a trip somewhere, we were back to planning. The phone rang….and yes, you guessed it, more guests visiting from out of town.

I’ve realized that:

• I am a good cook, and a loving one
• I enjoy being at home, and in the kitchen
• There’s so much joy in feeding people with home-cooked meals
• Trying new recipes is super fun.
• I am quite the expert at one-dish meals
• My chocolate cake is perfect. I’ve made four in this past week.
• I am a creative cook when it comes to kids.
• Kids love me. And my heart simply overflows with love to feel it
• I get to use all the crockery I’ve collected and don’t care if something breaks
• I always have gifts to give visitors who come home

So, seeing as I was happily at home this past week, let me show you some indoors photos.

Welcome to my home!

Let’s start with a warm mug – yes, mug – of sweet corn vegetable soup. Not a bowl. I love this mug. Clear glass. Okay, beer mug. Never carried beer though!

Next, some dessert, wouldn’t you say? I didn’t make it – but fell in love with it when we visited our local supermarket where they have all sorts of special things for Christmas. A chocolate Christmas Tree. Tasted very good. It is hollow, in case you wondered.

And if you don’t like chocolate (gasp!!), there’s a healthier option. Bananas and pomegranates – staple fruits in our house, along with apples and pears.

As we exit my kitchen, you’ll see a glimpse of this shelf. With my assortment of mugs and serving bowls. I like assortments and mix and match.

And please say hello to Peggy. She is just a few months younger than I am. I love her. Why Peggy? Well, why not?

Let’s take a short trip to the terrace and check out how the sky looks today! I so love looking at the rooftops from there and the kites that come and perch on the pipes. Glorious as usual!

Now, I want to show you one of the regular street-toy sellers who hang around Vidur’s school. Love to watch them do their business as the children spill out of the gate and bug the heck out of their parents to buy them something: He sells colorful wind vanes that rotate when kids run, holding them in their hands.

They also sell plastic trumpets. Yes, one can blow one’s own trumpet, you see.

I was curious to see the seller’s face. So I went around, and was delighted to find he sold masks too! In the background, you’ll probably recognize the impatient guy in the helmet and the scooter next to him!  His mother is busy taking photos.

And then we head back home!

We finally get the message. We are very likely to enjoy these holidays at home. My son is one hundred per cent happy about that. And no – No airline tickets for this particular destination – because it is home sweet home!

No place quite like it!

And now, over to Unknown Mami’s to travel the world. I love her for this link up!

How did your week go? Are you eagerly looking forward to 2013 like I am?

Happy 2013 to you!

Love, Vidya