Book Review: The Importance of Being Seven

On a lookout for a book to gift someone, after a very long day at the office, I decided to head to a bookstore. Upon entering, I was greeted with a big fat book sale! Just so you know I didn't find the particular book I wanted to gift, but an hour and a half of browsing later, I did walk out with three for myself. All books by my favourite author Alexander McCall Smith. One of the titles was 'The Importance of Being Seven'. Like the caption of the title says (A 44 Scotland Street Novel), it draws out for you days in the life of residents on a street in Scotland. If like me you've never visited Scotland but would very much like an insight into the place and its people, this one's a great handbook! Smith very vividly spins a tale about people who are in the pursuit of bettering their life, enjoying the little things, dreaming, planning their travels and of sometimes harbouring negative thoughts about others (even close ones). Bertie, the boy cutely illustrated on the book cover is an adorable character who yearns to turn seven. His life around his imposing mother seems a bit suffocating, and he looks forward to spending simple moments with his dad such as going fishing and camping with him, asking his dad about the marvels of the world. The book also details an incident when his mum Irene goes missing. Neighbours who not necessarily like Irene speculate about the reasons one of them being her eloping with another man. Inside, Bertie cherishes the time around his dad in the absence of his mum and some think even his dad Stuart is happier without Irene. But Smith reveals she was accidentally locked inside a shipping container headed to Romania! Indeed, humour is Smith's best friend when it comes to storytelling. The reader also gets in insight into Bertie's troubled school life. His days in the classroom are jerky owing to friends like Tofu who hurl mean jibes at him and his family. Then there's Matthew who so loves his pregnant wife Elspeth and the saga over him moving out of the modest India Street and purchasing a swanky new expensive home where the rumour is that the structure is supported by a Chinese closet which if moved will lead to the entire house crumbling down! You will even learn what Stendhal Syndrome is and how Antonia is a victim of it during her trip to Italy in the company of her two friends Angus and Domenica who decide to get married there. One of the things that charms about Smith's stories are his moral takes on simple things like just because we meet a friend before someone else, does that give us more right over that person? Something to chew on right? Think no further, pick up this book and tuck into the delightful stories.

INSIDE THE GO CHEESE FACTORY

Last weekend, I got a unique opportunity to visit Gowardhan Cheese Factory in Manchar district, a good two hour drive from Pune city. The owning home-grown company Parag Milk Foods brand portfolio includes Gowardhan and GO boasting of a range of dairy products that have been retailed across Mumbai and Pune over the last decade. I first started using their yoghurt when the local kirana store ran out of my usual preference of Amul , Danone and Britannia . One spoon of it and I instantly found it so fresh, light and 'unprocessed'. I have always loved cheese but now I even prefer it over chocolate. So when I was scheduled to visit the GO factory, it bore semblance to winning the golden ticket and entering glistening gates to its factory much like the popular Roald Dahl 's Charlie . Except that it was not all that dramatic!

An Immersive Stay at Andaz Amsterdam

I have stayed at some great hotels, but none were like the Andaz Amsterdam . None of them. No hotel has impressed me as much as this Hyatt brand of hotel has. It's so good, it warrants an entire blog post. And here is why - right from the word check-in, you're really made to feel like you've stepped into a little slice of Amsterdam . The hotel is located on one of the hottest streets in Amsterdam called Prinsengracht, a street along the city's most prestigious canal. A lot of the city's attractions are a short walk away. The hotel is designed by the famous Dutch designer Marcel Wanders . So no wonder hints of this vibrant old city of Amsterdam peek out from the interiors to induct you into Dutch culture. The lobby was stunning - with its prominently blue interiors, there was a touch of quirk everywhere. From the very high ceiling is suspended an enormous artsy lighting-cum-chandelier installation. Above each reception desk there are huge white bell-shap

Restaurant Review | Where Else Cafe & Bar

Where Else promises to be unique in Viman Nagar, a neighbourhood already brimming with so many eateries. Four young friends came together to put their love for food and travel experiences in a melting pot called ‘Where Else’. This new café and bar is the brainchild of sibling duo Ardesh and Daisy Rustomjee and best friend duo Amritha Shrikumar and Sweta Jobanputra. These Viman Nagar residents have been firsthand witnesses to the rise of new eateries in their locality. With ‘Where Else’ they aim to fill in the void of a place that offers all-day breakfast and good quality indulgent food. We drove to the outlet in its first week of opening to find out if ‘Where Else’ is the place to be.

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