rain rain rain ..

 

So folks, how was the day today?  Got your entire last minute plans for shopping cancelled?Some trips around the country cancelled? The heavy rainfall sure did dampen the spirits of some of you, didn’t it?

 

Today I planned to go to Port-Louis for some shopping. But what do I see when I woke up this morning? It was raining heavily with strong winds. As if a cyclone was passing over the island.

 

The meteorological station of Vacoas announced that heavy rain will persist till tomorrow. The firefighters of Mauritius were busy helping people who were in difficulty due to the retention of water in their houses. They had like 70 rescue calls to attend, especially in regions like Bois-Rouge, Cité La Cure and at Beau-Plan.

 

The hawkers in port-louis and quatre-bornes, poor souls, had to evacuate their usual places due to the heavy rain. Needless to say that this is the period where they count on most to do some good business.

 

But hey folks, we should not forget that “Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.”  What say? To agree or not to agree?

 

Brought to you by Mystique Gypsy

Merry Christmas to all of you!

I know, I know- Am a bit late to wish all of you Merry Xmas. We are going to have a Christmas party in the evening and its been a pretty hectic day. Nevertheless, it is great to have all your near ones together and have fun.

Quatre-bornes is hectic today!

Quatre-bornes is going crazy with all the crowd of people doing their late shopping.  Are you rushing there to buy the last minute christmast gifts? Have you missed buying gifts for anyone and now frantically looking for the perfect gift in the last minute? First and foremost, don’t get panic-stricken. You can check on some stores which are still open even for this public holiday on the main road of quatre-bornes, near Orchard Centre.

Some last minute  Xmas gift ideas ..

Gourmet baskets, , handbags, photo frames, gift certificates can be a good last minute Christmas gifts options as they are easily available. If there is really isn’t way out there, then what about making a gift basket yourself. Usually cookies and chocolates are in store in most of the homes, so you can decorate a gift basket full of cookies and chocolates and give them to your friends. If you are still confused about what to give, then Christmas flowers bouquet can be an option. Collect the seasonal flowers like hyacinth, tulip, narcissus, poinsettia and present them with a big smile and wish your near ones a very Merry Christmas. After all, it’s the thoughts that matters.

Some inspirational messages I collected for you folks…

Christmas is the time to spread the message of love, harmony and peace.  Here are some of the best inspirational words from known and unknown men that reminds us that Christmas is not only about fun and gifts, but of love and generosity.

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.
Peg Bracken

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
Calvin Coolidge

Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.
Eric Sevareid

The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has no Christmas in his heart.
Helen Keller

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
Burton Hillis

Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It’s lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It’s higher thought and a greater plan. It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.
Peterson, The Art of Living

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
Bob Hope

Am baking that Xmas cake today…

I am making that christmas cake  for this evening party. I am giving you the Christmas cake recipe and if you follow it exactly, it must be a yummy cake for this special day.

Ingredients

250g plain flour, Grated zest of 1 lemon, Grated zest of 1 orange, 1 teaspoon mixed spice, 100g almonds roughly chopped, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 4 eggs, beaten, 250g brown sugar, 250 butter, 200ml brandy, 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 100g red cherries, quartered, 100g finely diced candied peel,
250g sultanas, 250g raisins, 250g currants, Pinch of salt

PreparationsAll the fruits, almonds, mixed spices, vanilla and lemon are mixed.After the brandy is mixed with it, it has to be covered with plastic wrap and kept for at least 5 hours so that the fruits can absorb the brandy. Best is to leave it overnight. preheat the oven to warm 160°C. Line the base and sides of the tin with buttered baking paper, which should be 2.5cm taller than the side of the tin. Wrap a strip of brown paper around the tin and tie with a string. The sugar and butter are beaten well until light and creamy. Eggs are added one by one, beating well after each addition. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt.The butter mixture is added to the soaked fruits and is stirred until thoroughly combined. put the mixture into cake tin and bake for about 30 mins. Then reduce the heat to 150°C and cook for another 3 hours. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. It is wrapped in a plasitc wrap and should be stored in a cool place overnight before icing. Do the icing as you please.

I gotta goooo now else I will have my cake burnt out to charcoal. But hey, Merry Xmas again!

Brought to you by Mystique Gypsy.