The Black Shrike / The Dark Crusader by Alistair MacLean

Am back to reading some of my old favourites. While I have not remembered anything of the plot and characters of this book from past readings, one phrase from here has stuck in my mind. The hero a spy tells, ‘You and me and the lights of London’, to the lady who is his partner in this story as a reassurance that when and not if they got home they would have a night out in London. Not sure why that line has always remained with me, could it be because some of my family lived there and that I subsequently went there myself?

This is a spy thriller where a bunch of world famous scientists (who were developing a new kind of rocket) and their wives have disappeared. Note that in the newer spy thrillers like those by Colin Forbes the scientists are of both genders. It says something about the times when these were written to indicate more of a male dominated society. So Benton from Her Majesty’s Secret Service is sent out with a female partner as scientist and wife team in response to an advertisement just like the earlier disappearances. They are of course kidnapped and seem to be doing well despite the adversities. They seem to be falling from frying pan into the fire as the plot progresses. They reach an island which is inhabited by famous archaeologist and his team but Benton thinks there is something fishy about the whole dig and sets to find out what they have got themselves into.

The discovery of what is happening on the other half of the island suddenly puts a completely different light to the crux of the plot. While the lady is a supportive of all the forays of investigation by Benton he soon realises that she is not a tough spy and that he had fallen in love with her. This is one story where everyone does not live happily ever after. Of course the hero wins and the baddies get their comeuppance. The epilogue is where the final twist is. This was something I am sure the reader did not anticipate while reading the book. It is this twist, that makes reading Alistair MacLean always a pleasure to read.

Here’s to 2012

It has been such a long time since I updated my blog. It has been a crazy year end to 2011. After a lovely spell of dizziness for nearly 6 weeks I felt better and was looking forward to our first xmas Down Under! My husband had a couple of weeks leave and so we were going to have some short day outings and sightseeing. The plan for xmas day was to go to Kiama where there is a lovely blow hole and volcanic coastline. We planned to take a picnic of some snack and Christmas cake and of course water… but if there was a shop open we could get some cold drinks.

With this in mind I defrosted the muthia and woke up early to get them refreshed with tempering and heated. Cut out huge chuck of the Christmas cake that was made of loads of dry fruits and nuts plus booze and a little flour to hold it all together. All who eat it are fans for ever of this cake. My nephew came just after 9 am and we put the folding camp chairs and food and drink in the back of the car and started off. It was a lovely hot and sunny day. It felt strange after so many years of winter Christmases. The drive was good and we also stopped at a scenic viewing point along the way.

Kiama also has an odd small sandy beach but the attraction is the blow hole, the rocky coast and a lovely lighthouse. There is a huge garden around the lighthouse and lots of trees. We managed to find parking right near the lighthouse itself. That was lucky as afterwards people were parking all over the grass and any nook and cranny they found. Had a nice wander round the headland and found a lovely cordoned off rocky pool by the side where waves brought in the fresh water into the pool. While I did not go in for a swim we did manage to walk about on the ledge up to the rocks and get feet wet. The water was lovely and cool. Finally got a nice spot under some trees and put out the chairs. We could see both sides of the headland from where we sat. Lovely breeze and relaxing time.

Around 2 pm we started back and got home about 4 30ish. The plan was to relax, have a drink and decide where to go for dinner. But all the best laid plans of men and mice…… I thought there was so much fine volcanic sand clinging to my legs especially since I had applied a fair amount of sunscreen that they needed a wash. As I stepped into the bath to put my legs under the tap I slipped. The next thing I know is my head has smashed into the tile shelf at the tap end of my bath. OUCH! Well then blood poured off my forehead and my right shin was twice the size. Other scratches and bruises failed to attract my attention. So with an icepack pressed to my head off we went to spend the xmas evening at the local emergency room. Had a speedy allocation to a trolley, as after all I had had a head injury which had fortunately stopped bleeding.

To cut a long story short I had over 5 hours of fun with a head scan and 16 stitches and only a small handful of hair chopped back. My husband was a rock throughout…. Expect when he fainted right at the end of the stitching! I think he found that more gruesome than a bloody icepack. We laughed about having a christmas special – 2 for the price of 1! So there we were 10 30 at night with no food or drink. Well I had made the guys go get some chocolate or drink from the machine.

This meant Boxing day was a wash out. Spent mostly at home relaxing. The rest of the hols went fast with a couple of days of drives to Windsor, Penrith, Blue Mountains and Kurrajong. We also needed to go look at houses as we had to move in the new year. As the last kick 2011 still had a surprise my mother fell off her chair and broke her hip and had to have surgery on the 31^st. Well all in all 2011 was a mixed bag. Health went from bad to better to head injury. Life went from UK to OZ, from London to Melbourne to Sydney. So here’s to 2012 – may it bring peace and health to all and that definitely will make us happy.

Oh Mr Porter!

Oh Mr Porter is a Will Hay film from 1937. I have seen this film quite a few times and enjoyed it every time. I also invariable find new things to laugh about as it is easy to miss jokes while you are busy laughing over one. I do have this movie on DVD but since all my films are still packed in boxes I found it online. I was in need of a laugh after been dizzy over the last few weeks.

There are other interesting trivia about this film too. This film is also included in a blog as one of the 100 favourite films. This gives some information about the movie as well. As per usual I am not trying to give a synopsis of the film but just my perception of it.

Mr Porter is the brother in law of a senior railway official and so has been given a job in the railway. He is so hapless that he has been moved to all sorts of jobs and yet again he has messed up. However, his sister insists that he be promoted and not fired. So a job of station master (a promotion indeed!) is found at a small place called Buggleskelly in Ireland. He is blessed with 2 equally wretched helpers who have little interest in running this station where no train stops and the station looks derelict. Mr Porter maybe hapless but he certainly is keep and dedicated railway worker as he does all he can to get the station on the railway map again.

To this end he starts an excursion train which is hired by the Buggleskelly Wednesday football team. However the train leaves the station but does not make it even past the next signal junction. The hunt for the train is the second half of the story. It is funny how despite all things always seem to work out for Mr Porter! He certainly puts Buggleskelly on the map…. and not just the railway one. The speech is fast and the accents do sometimes make it hard to catch (especially when you are laughing) the wordplay which is excellent. The visual comedy is also aplenty and with almost every action taken by Mr Porter. The fast train ride through stations reminds me every time of the other train fun from one of the St. Trinians movies. The three way phone conversation between Mr Porter, the man at the signal junction and the boss of the railways is hilarious. The windmill scene where Mr Porter and his associates are trying to escape had me in stitches. Oh I can go on for a lot longer than the time of the film to identify every thing that makes me giggle non-stop. But it will be better if you find the jokes for yourself.

So here is the link to see Oh Mr Porter – enjoy!

South by Java Head by Alistair MacLean

I do not think I ever bought this book when I was younger. I do not have any recollection about reading this book. It is a lengthy novel when compared to the others written by Alistair MacLean. It is set during the time before the Japanese invasion on Australia when Singapore fell to the Japanese forces. There is a rag tag group of people – a few nurses, some injured soldiers, a retired officer, a Muslim cleric, an elderly lady and a young child are all seeking a boat to flee the city. Apparently it is vital that the retired officer finds a boat to Australia as he has important papers showing the plans of invasion into Australia. This knowledge would be immensely useful to the forces protecting Australia.

The slave boat they choose is manned by people less than honourable and the passengers are left to die when the boat is on fire. In the hurricane weather they fortunately get seen by a ship transporting oil. The subsequent rescue and the attack by the Japanese fighters are detailed even though this part of the story moves fast. The ship takes a hit on one of the oil tanks and sinks with the survivors taking to a life boat and the crew of the slave boat on another as no one trusts them. The boat drifts along the current with hardly any wind and the run to reach Java is agonising.

The details of the weather, the ship and boat and the hardships that the people face with illness, lack of food and water are vivid and often too much to take it. The child becomes the focus of hope and keeping his safe becomes important. Strange, how that it is always easier to focus on that small child rather than wider picture of saving all. It is something to do with the mind not being able to process enormous issues as well as a single issue.

There is an ambush on the way and even the boat is lost. The help from locals eventually also comes with a price for them. I am not sure if I can believe all the adversity they overcome. The superhero persona of a couple of the main characters, even though I do strongly believe that extreme stress bring out the best on people and that adrenalin take over to achieve superhuman feats. The injury of individuals gets the heroism started but it truly blossoms when the brave nurse, the young child and the injured ship’s captain are taken hostage.

The level of violence in this book is indeed much more that other books I have read so far. Combined with the length of the book I actually took a long time to read this novel. The end when it came was satisfactory but abrupt. The heroism in the couple of chapters is awesome and you want a slow letting down from that adrenalin high of reading this ending. But any lover of Alistair MacLean novels should not omit reading this as the art of the writer is displayed in the keep eye of detail of the situation and the times.

Khichadi – complete food in one pot and Potato Sabji

Khichadi is a very Indian recipe that has slightly different approaches in different states. Generally, a combination of rice, lentils and spices plus optional vegetables are basic to khichadi recipe as suggested by khichadi.com.

Most families have their own variation of the ingredients. As a child I remember a fairly bland recipe with just half rice, half lentil (moong dal), some salt and turmeric all cooked in water in the ratio of 4 cups of water to one cup of lentil + rice. Once cooked it was served hot with some ghee in it. Mostly I remember eating it with yoghurt and a potato and tomato vegetable with lots of gravy (a very soupy affair). Most often this was the diet when I was ill and so it has not become a favourite dish of mine. However, I have made some changes and find it a little more likeable now. My family like to eat this just by itself or with potato and tomato sabji (curry).

For 2 people –

Take half a cup (an average size mug) of rice and half a cup of moog dal ( having the husk on the dal improves the fibre content of the dish).

To this one cup of mixture add 4 cups of water. This will make the mixture a good mash when cooked. If you wish to have some bite to the grain then add just 3 and half cups of water.

Finely chop 2 small chillies, 2 cloves of garlic, and a half inch piece of ginger and add to the pot. These ingredients can be changed to suit your taste.

Add salt to taste and half a teaspoon of turmeric powder. Stir the pot, cover and bring the water to boil. Once it begins to boil turn the gas down to the lowest flame and leave to cook until al water disappears. There is no need to stir the pot while the khichadi is cooking.

Serve it hot with a spoon full of ghee or butter.

For the potato sabji –

Finely chop 1 medium size onion, 2 – 3 cloves of garlic and half inch of ginger piece.

In a pan heat 1 table spoon of oil (olive or vegetable or peanut oil) add half teaspoon of mustard seeds, 2 small dried red chillies, 2 cloves, small cinnamon stick piece and a bay leaf. When the mustard seeds start popping add the chopped onion and garlic.

While the onion is gently sautéing finely chop 2 large tomatoes or use half a tin of chopped tomatoes. Once the onions start to brown add the tomatoes. Now add salt to taste, half a teaspoon of red chilli powder, quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 tea spoon of cumin powder and 3 teaspoons of coriander powder. Stir the spices in and cook until the oil comes back to the surface. This indicates that spices have been cooked.

To this now you can add 2 – 3 medium sized potatoes that have been cubed small. Add water to cover the potatoes. Cover the pan and bring to boil. The turn the gas to medium heat and cook till potatoes soften. The lid can be left off to evaporate excess water if you do not wish to have a lot of gravy. If you wish to thicken the gravy just mash up some potato pieces. Add fresh coriander leaves before serving.

The indobase website gives a similar recipe but with a mixture of moong and masoor dal and added potatoes.

Here are some youtube recipes of making different types of khichadis –

Moong dal khichadi

Punjabi khichadi

Mix vegetable khichadi

Masaledar khichadi