Rains

‘It comes from the east.’ I was glad to hear from Sandy that there was something I could observe to tell me when the monsoon had arrived as I’d been wondering how I was going to tell the difference between pre-monsoon and monsoon rain storms. On 1 June the prediction was that the monsoon would arrive in two weeks. Mid afternoon on 19 June the rain storm battered my bedroom window, forcing a rearrangement of the bedside ‘table’ and pile of novels. Until now it’s been the kitchen windows, with the occasional major event finding me sweeping water out of the drain while the rain coming down the drain from the roof adds to my challenge on the kitchen floor. Schools close for six weeks of rainy season holiday on 1 July, and this last week or so for many students is first term exams. This difference in the school year, with the long holiday not being the break between year levels is again one of the many differences for me to learn about.



So far a sunshade, but I expect I'll be caught in the rain soon.

 

Cooking

I’m the very happy owner of a miracle oven that was developed by the Peace Corps. It’s available at various spots in Kathmandu and I bought mine at a farmers’ market that happens every Saturday in the garden of a restaurant of the type frequented by expats. As you might expect, I think 1905 restaurant is a nice place to visit. The miracle oven looks like a ring cake tin (2 in fact that you put inside each other) and you sit it on another heavy ring that sits over the gas jet, lid over it all. Most odd contraption but it means I can bake some bread rolls. Bread is definitely the food item I miss so I’ve enjoyed experimenting. It’s also produced excellent chocolate & banana cake, passable scones and delicious baked veg. About two weeks ago I recalled the concept of savoury muffins – another success. At the volunteers conference the miracle oven cook-off produced sensational cakes and I was a proud member of the gold medal team. No credit to me I have to admit, as we had a very experienced miracle oven cake making team leader.

The miracle oven has added to my cooking options of the standard 2 burner gas stove and a rice cooker that I love – why did I never buy one before now!

Another element in the cooking experience is adapting to load shedding and the fact that something cold in the fridge has definitely not been continuously cold for the past 24 hours – how long am I prepared to stretch ‘it’ll still be OK to eat’ along with ..... ‘How much will I buy because how long will it be until I use it all’. It’s definitely a different version of a well stocked fridge.

There really is a great variety of foods available here in Bhairawa. No problem at all to have a good supply of fruit and vegetables and it’s interesting to see the new varieties arriving and disappearing in the market. Lychees have just been and gone. Plenty of new varieties to try and the occasional surprise – seems I bought 3 types of cucumber, not zucchinis. As long as you don’t feel obsessed about anything in particular there is no trouble at all. My corner shop provides the basics: milk, flour, potatoes, onions, rice, lentils and so on. Then there are 2 stores in town that offer imported items, my main purchase there is muesli / porridge and it’s where I buy yeast. Coffee - I need to buy in Kathmandu.

NB: book clubbers: the year’s program is posted there next to the stove – just above the gas cylinder.