A couple of days of mild glumness have passed, thanks to getting overly excited about potential work opportunities, and then disappointment when one didn’t come through and the other is taking far too long to resolve one way or the other. That said, I am equally unhappy whether I have too much work or too […]
In Hamra
Yesterday the Gentleman Friend had to go into the office, in Hamra (West Beirut) and I decided to join him. I dropped him off near his office as he was running late for a meeting, and myself went to Amal Bohsal, an old sweet maker, to try their breakfast knefeh. This is basically a warm […]
Eid
Eid was its usual understated to the point of non-existence self. I spoke to my father who was in a cheerful mood, but couldn’t face speaking to my grandmother which I shall no doubt regret. I did send her a message. My schoolfriends’ whatsapp group, which is normally an annoyance full of stupid forwarded memes […]
The lazaretto
The morning started late. We decided to go down to Karantina which lies just across the big road from us. If one Googles it the main thing that comes up is a massacre of Palestinians that was one of the sparks of the civil war. Once, appropriately, it was a lazaretto, where travellers were kept […]
Bollard antibollard
On the way out to dinner, without noticing, I walked into one of the bollards that are strewn liberally down the narrowest Beirut pavements. I must have strode out particularly vigorously as it is really quite painful. Fortunately it was low enough to get me on the thigh rather than in the groin. Our dinner […]
Grazing
We walked down to the downtown area, to Beirut Souqs, for the Souq al-Tayeb, the biweekly farmer’s market. Along the way, amidst the reconstructed yellow buildings and across what was once the Green Line, we walked through the global chains that signify a blighted luxury; your Burberries, Ralph Laurens etc. In a shadow of a […]
I was dreaming and then I woke up
Our first day in Beirut. I pottered around, unpacking and assessing as the GF slept. The flat is triangular, with a balcony at the point. The bathroom is the weakest part of it, as the shower is also tucked into a narrow triangle and is quite uncomfortable (not to mention mouldy) whereas I can easily […]
Farewell nihari
I was struck by a pang today, realising that in the months ahead I would have no chance for good nihari. There will be meaty food in Lebanon but without mirch masala. There will be mirch masala in Nepal (I assume) but no meat and certainly no nihari. New Zealand and Australia – fug, as […]
Unusual sociability
An Amazon package (two pairs of silk toe socks suitable as liners) arrived later than expected and I went off to Queensway to find myself a Cantonese roast duck from Gold Mine. There was a very long queue but a Chinese briskness to getting people in and out, so it wasn’t more than a 20 […]
Bad daal
I tried making daal last night from a freshly bought bag. it was ordinary masoor daal, which shouldn’t take more than 1/2 an hour to cook, less if it’s presoaked, and follow my usual measurement of 1/4 to 1/3 daal to 2 1/2 cups water. This daal was soaked for 2 hours, needed at least […]