England

How we met Madonna!

Globezing

This whole story might seem very bizarre, but it’s true and I am trying to pen it as it happened because I think it’s so precious, so precious!
It had been a beautiful day in Grasmere the Lake District in the UK.  We had spent the day walking around the lake and driving through the countryside admiring the views. Our accommodation was at a place called the Dale Lodge
in Grasmere. An old estate house converted into a lodge with its old world charm and quaint rooms.  We had booked to stay here for seven days.  As we drove back to the lodge we noticed a vintage car parked in the carpark.  Curiosity drew us to it.  It was a well maintain green color MG.  We were wondering who would have driven in this car, as we walked into our room.
A Cosy Living Room at Dale Lodge, Grasmere. The living room at Dale Lodge was open to all guests, and in the evening you could have the staff bring you a drink from the bar and sit in the living room chatting with the other guests. Socialize with the guests of the house.  The same evening my husband and I were sitting in the living room and checking our emails when a senior couple came in and started chatting with us. Putting our laptops aside, we sat back relaxed and a conversation started.  After the normal formalities of when did you come here? how long are you staying? The conversation went to where are you from? so we told them originally from India but we live in the USA.  The senior lady was very friendly and asked me if there were really arranged marriages in India?  Now this is a question I have been asked many times?  The other question is, do you travel on elephants! LOL!  So anyway, I did tell her that ours was an arranged match and how it all happened.  She turned around and asked my husband, “Do you tell your wife she is beautiful?”   He replied, “yes of course”.  Then she said to him, you know, when I met my husband, he told me, ” Your mother is more beautiful than you!”  She said that with such a straight face that I was not sure I should laugh or not.  But she was so talkative that she continued by interrupting her husband who was trying to get in a word by saying, “yes you did!”  So I asked her how long they were married?  She then told us that their son had gifted them this trip for 5 days to Grasmere to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary!  How cool was that, I thought.
An hour into our conversation and we still did not know their names nor did they ask for ours. The conversation continued.  Her husband said that she likes to go on hikes.  But he was unable to go with her because of bad knees.  So I asked her how far did she go for a hike?  We did not even know how old they were, so curiosity had taken over and we wanted to hear more.   So she said,” Oh! I walk about 10-12 miles a day up and down hills, I love to walk”!  I was taken aback.  I asked her if she went alone and she said she did.  Then I asked her what would happen if something happened to her during her hike and she needed help?  She said, “I take my mobile phone with me, and sometimes I stop and talk to myself”!  I was aghast.  I was more worried than this dear lady, in case something happened to her.  But she was happy and fearless!  Soon after, her husband said with pride in his voice, “She is 89 years old and unstoppable!”  So she turned around and said to him, ” I don’t like you telling people my age, why should they know I am 89″. ( Both Hemant and I were laughing by now). She had a serious face when she told off her husband.
More than an hour had passed by and she sat next to me and said, ” Do you know, I have a granddaughter. She is really a nice young lady.  But one day she comes to me and says Grandma,” I have to tell you something.”  And she tells me that she is pregnant.  ” What was I supposed to say?” she said.   She said she kept a straight face and said, “that’s nice dear, but do young people not practice safety?” I burst out laughing again, as she was relating something that had happened a few years back.  She continued by saying, ” do you know what my granddaughter said to me?”  She said, ” Grandma it was in the height of passion, you will not know about it.”  THAT last bit really got her started. I was laughing and she kept telling her story.  “You know I was 19 when I got married, in July. My husband was to go to Asia on his posting in August, as he was in the Army.  And this granddaughter of mine says I do not know what passion was!”  I was rolling with laughter and the next line had me in stitches. ” You know I was like a new present wrapped in a box for my husband”.  ( OMG! I was absolutely crying with laughter). She still had a straight face. I guess she was enjoying my reaction to her story.  There were four other ladies in the Lodge living room playing cards. I guess they had stopped playing the cards to listen in to this conversation and burst out laughing as well.  What an evening it was.  Finally, without even knowing the names of these two dear people who had come there for their anniversary, they said they were a bit tired and wanted to retire. So we all left to go to our own rooms at 11 pm.  What an evening!
Dale Lodge accommodation includes breakfast.  So in the morning, when we came into the dining room, the two dear people were already seated having breakfast. They saw us walk in and waved to us to go and sit near their table. Hemant went up to her and shook her hand and said, “I am Hemant and this is my wife Ashwini”. She looks at us and says, “I am Beryl and this is David, but Beryl is such a boring name.  My granddaughter calls me Madonna. So please call me Madonna. Madonna is a glamorous name. I like it. I always wanted a Glamorous name!”
After breakfast, they got into their MG and drove off back to Scotland where they live!
This is how we met Madonna!

“Dram”ing

Globezing

For Hemant Parulkar and all his Whisky Connoisseur friends!
After a short stay in Truro, we headed north towards Scotland.  Land of Whisky, and a
pilgrimage for Hemant.  A drink that has been his all time favourite from the time I have known  him.  Arriving in Edinburgh by train, we headed to the rental car company office where we had booked a car, which would be our mode of transport for the next 3 weeks.  There was a long line of people and we had to wait for one and half hour to get to the counter.  Once we presented our booking we were asked to see how much luggage we had.  After seeing our bags , the staff tried to upsell us to a bigger car which we politely refused.  We had booked a Fiat 500.  Please do not laugh, it was ,we thought, the most practical car for Scotland.  The rental car company did not have a Fiat 500 and they told us that they would give us a SmartCar.  I was a bit taken aback.  How would we fit our bags in this car!  Not knowing that it was actually a 4 door SmartCar.  With apprehension, we accepted it and went to the bus to be driven to the car lot to get the car.  I waited by the luggage while Hemant went to get the car.  He drove back with this beauty.  We travelled approx 1600 kms in this vehicle.  Our first stop was in a small village called Nethy Bridge in the Majestic Cairngorm National Park.  The drive took us through a terrain that I had not experienced before.  Big mountains with purple heather like a carpet spread on the earth.  August seems to be the heather flowering season and can be seen from Lilac to purple.
DRAM
Whisky as everyone already knows is  the national drink of Scotland and is proudly displayed in cabinets all over the world.    “Dram” as I was explained is a measure of whisky poured to drink.  In other parts of the world its called a “peg”  or  “shot” or “tot” and I am not sure why?   Some in India called it a “Patiala Peg” !  What I found out was that a Dram is an immensely flexible unit of measure.  I am sure Hemant’s friends out there will be happy hearing this. And you know who you guys are! The size of the Dram can be described as
wee over healthy to
stiff.  Depending on the mood of the person pouring it might always end at the stiff end of the scale. As you can see, even when trying to define a “Dram” as thoroughly as possible, its flexibility in volume is hard to grasp.  Much to Hemant’s delight that even the Scottish don’t really measure the whisky when they drink it!  I even asked one of the staff as to the quantity of a Dram and they were confused as to what I was asking looking at me like I should know what a Dram is!
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The Famous Single Malt
Distillers in Scotland have perfected their distillation process.  The basic ingredients spring water, barley are transformed into this precious spirit that is poured in oak casks that come from America and are tucked away in warehouses to mature.  Whisky kind of goes into a long sleep in these cask’s …sometimes for decades.  What we found out on this trip is that because the markets are now so competitive, the distillers now give fancy names to their whisky and blend several different stored casks, that is differently matured whisky, and market it so cleverly that it is difficult to tell the actual age of the drink.  The whisky is blended by experts and they are familiar with their markets.  They do not mark these bottles with a year.  So only the Whisky that has a year noted on them are matured that long.  Single Malts seems to be the most prized than any other Whisky.
The first Distillery visit was Glenlivet.  One of Hemant’s favourite and was not far from Nethy bridge in Speyside.  Speyside whisky trail is the most famous for its single malt whisky.  The distillery tour and tasting is free at Glenlivet.  Most other distilleries have an entrance charge or tasting charge.  The process is fascinating, to see the Stills of liquid and to see the various stages of how the barley is converted into this golden liquid.  We had decided not to see each and every distillery from the inside but to visit every location close to us.  Like the vineyards of California, every distillery had its own gardens and charm.  Of course, Hemant tasted every possible Whisky he could get his hands on.  A true single malt connoisseur!  Every step of the way remembering his friends from school and college, and thinking of how to convince his friends to visit Scotland on a trip together.
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Cooperage is also in the same area.  Cooperage supplies all the oak cask’s to all the distilleries.  They import the cask’s and distribute them.   Did you know that a Cooper is a person who makes the oak casks?
Glenlivet or Gleann-Liobh-Aite in Gaelic means “Valley of the smooth flowing One”.  Hemant agrees!
A visit was made to each one of the following in the few days in Scotland, Glenfiddich, Dahwhinney, Aberlour, Glen Moray, Ben Nevis, Cardhu, Knockando, Tomatin, Talisker and Oban.  I may have missed a few names as I could not keep up with the number of distilleries around.  Varied price range as well, some prices making the mind boggle.
Where they say never drink whisky without water and water without Whisky!  I am not exaggerating  when I say there is a Whisky there for everyone. So many to choose from!

Spectacular Cornwall

Globezing

Blue water, high cliffs, hidden beaches, hundred-year-old pubs, cornish Pastie, scones with jam and clotted cream and Elderflower Presse, will definitely tell you that you are in Cornwall.  I can say that our stay in Truro, Cornwall was one of the best location on this trip. I guess I am biased.  I have a close friend who lives here.   I was getting a two in one deal! Besides, I was not aware that the Cornish coast is so spectacular.  The water is sparkling blue and the cliffs so high that you can see the ocean stretched before you for miles.  The cliffs have many coves in between them  and if you are a hiker, you can climb down to the most private beaches one can come across. July was a bit windy on the cliffs but not cold. A light jacket to keep the wind out was adequate.
Old World Charm
We must have eaten in the most exquisite places possible.  A 16th Century Pub called
Miners Arms
was first on our friend’s agenda for dinner.
Pandora Inn
in Falmouth a 13th Century Inn with a spectacular setting on the water for lunch. Cornish food of high standard and a very mystic ambiance was the order.   Drinking the local beer, and getting it by a pint or a half pint was another new ordering term for us.   Seating outside during summer is also nice. An extremely friendly popular location for the locals.  All old world charm in the 21st Century.  How can one resist?  The only thing one must remember is to book in advance as the places get booked up quickly in summer.
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Cliff Walks
Our visit was made really special because of our friend in Cornwall.   He had planned on taking us out to various cliff walks and drinks and dinner at some of the most favored places in and around Truro.   These cliff walks are so spectacular that I cannot even put it in words. One has to visit Cornwall and take this memory back.
We went on one of a cliff called Rosepletha Cliffs, and the views were breathtaking from the top.  Narrow paths to walk on, not for someone who has a fear of heights.  We saw people sitting on the edge relaxing.  We also made a new friend who was a colleague of our friend.  He accompanied us on a couple of walks.
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Minack Theater
We went together to
Minack Theater
which was built on a cliff by Rowena Cade.  Rowena’s mother had bought a house in Cornwall, Minack House.  Rowena who lived here in this house decided that the cliffs behind the house would be a good location to have drama enthusiasts perform.  So with the help of her gardener Bill Rawlings she moved the earth and boulders to create terraces.  She carried sand from the beach in bags up the cliff to make the terraces.  She has even carved names of the plays in the granite and its seen on some of the seats in the theater.  The Tempest was the first performance at the Minack theater.  Rowena was an amazing woman who created this fantastic theater in such a splendid location, all with her creative ideas and hard work.  She has left a legacy that one wonders, how this was accomplished and how lucky we are to have it.
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Marazion – St. Michaels Mound
The Cornish Dialect is not easy to understand. I found this in one of the shop windows.  And so now you will know why it is not easy to understand.  We spent one day at home due to rain and caught up with some writing and emails and communications with friends and family. Then the next day we went to St. Ives.  The day after and to Marazion another day and climbed up St. Michaels Mound.   After arriving in Marazion, you can walk to the mound during low tide and can come back by boat if the tide comes in.  We were lucky that we walked there and back and did not have to take a boat back.  It was busy, as it is a tourist destination.
Unforgettable Time
We drove to Falmouth and to Pendennis Point near the Pendennis Castle.  Pendennis point was my favorite during this visit.  Just a very tranquil area and one could sit there and be at peace.
I tried a local drink called Elderflower Presse.  A sparkling fizzy drink with a fruity flowery flavor…a bit on the sweet side…an unforgettable taste.  But I had to try it once and thought it was interesting to make a drink out of a flower.
On our last evening, we decided to go to a restaurant on the coast called
The Cove
.  It is nestled on Maenporth beach with fabulous views of Falmouth Bay.  The food exquisite, and sharing that with our close friend is  a memory that will be etched in our memory forever.  Our trip to Cornwall was short and we know we will return.