Talk of the Town

In essence, a house is nothing more than a place of shelter and refuge in which a person lives. Hence, in the past, homes were simple and often small structures, yet were open to family and guests alike, housing them happily and comfortably for as long as they required.

As time passed, however, houses ‘evolved’. Boundaries expanded, fences rose, rooms multiplied, floors were tiled and carpeted, walls were painted, gardens bloomed, pools sparkled, air conditioners were installed, and in general, everything ‘improved’.

Some of these improvements, such as appliances, led to more ease and a better “quality of life”. While improvements such as electric fencing led to increased security. Other improvements like painting, etc. fulfilled the purpose of making the home appear presentable e.g. painting the wall.

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Farming for the Future

There was once a farmer who planted a seed. With great care, he pressed the seed into the ground, marked the area and watered the small mound of soil. Day after day, he diligently watered the seed, watching as it gradually sunk its roots into the soil and pushed its tender stem out of the ground, emerging into the light.

As time passed, the plant grew stronger and firmer, and the aging farmer grew weaker and frailer. Yet, not for a single day did he neglect to water and tend to the tree. Without fail, he would examine the leaves and branches for signs of fungus, disease and pests. He would tie the thin trunk to a wooden stake embedded into the ground to ensure that the trunk grew straight and not crooked. He would prune the plant to promote growth and would hasten to shelter it when the weather became inclement.

Seeing this unceasing effort, someone asked the aging farmer, “Why are you undergoing all this trouble?” The farmer replied, “This tree is my investment. One day, it will give shade and shelter to people and feed them as well. Even if I am not alive at the time, I will surely reap the rewards!”

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Lemon and Date Chicken

A light and bright chicken dish

Marinate 1 chicken cut into pieces in:

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp ginger garlic

1 tsp dhana jeero

1 tsp green chillies

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Sleep and Wakefulness

Sleep and wakefulness are factors that contribute greatly to our state of health. As long as a person is awake, he is involved in some form of exertion which creates heat and burns energy. In turn, this energy needs to be replenished. To some extent, the body can replenish this energy through digesting food. However, the most natural and simple way for the body to retain and restore energy is through sleeping which is vitally necessary for the body.

This can be understood through the example of a person who eats and drinks, but does not sleep at all. Despite eating and drinking, he will eventually become totally exhausted and overcome by fatigue. Hence, it is clear that there is no replacement for sleep.

Conversely, if a person sleeps too much, his body will become weak and lazy and his muscles will become stiff. This is commonly seen in people who are bedridden. Their bodies become stiff and lose their elasticity, and if their posture is not changed, bed sores, etc., begin to set in.

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Hazelnut and Raspberry Meringue Cake

A delicious summer cake.

Lightly toast 140g of skinned hazelnuts. Grind them to a powder taking care not to let them become oily.

Whisk 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually add in 250g of castor sugar.

Mix in ½ tsp of vanilla essence and ½ tsp of vinegar.

Gently fold in the ground hazelnuts.

Line 2 sandwich pans with baking paper.

Empty the batter into the pans and smooth.

Bake on 180 degrees celcius for 30-40 minutes.

Whip 300ml of fresh cream with 3 Tbsp icing sugar.

Lightly crush 2-3 cups of fresh raspberries with sugar as needed.

Sandwich the cool cake with half of the cream and berries. Top with the other half. Refrigerate until serving.

The cake should be eaten on the day that it's assembled.