LT COL NOEL ELLIS 15/I/2025 Having been born in Punjab, chole-bhature was part of our staple diet. One was not aware of the cuisine which existed below the Tropic of Cancer. Even if there was a choice, one would stick to what the pallet was accustomed to. Let me share an anecdote of Kapurthala. We had a few members from the Armed Forces part of our church congregation. Major Punnoswami was a very active member. He was an Army Doctor. His wife and two bonny boys soon gelled with us. Mam didn’t understand a word of Punjabi and same was the case with the Major. However, English was the common medium of communication and Dad used to be the translator. One day, the family insisted that we all after the church service visit their home to enjoy ‘dosha’ not ‘dosa’ mind you. We all were super excited about it. Mrs Punnoswami called the bunch of us to the table and served us a dosha each. I must be in class seventh or eighth. I looked at my brother and he...
LT COL NOEL ELLIS 10/I/2025 Winter plants are in full bloom. If watering and manuring is controlled and monitored strictly, results would be beyond expectation. With a few years of gardening experience, our tryst to grow flowers from seeds has not made much of headway. We have decided to keep trying and to also buy seasonal flowers from local nurseries. The other day I was ‘pinching’ the petunia plants. Pinching is the best way to get flowers in clusters. Once we leave the flowers on the plant to seed, they mature fast. However, the pinching process gives rise to multiple shoots, thus multiple flowers. Spent flowers should be removed the soonest. It hurts to snip, but is essential, which one learns with experience. As my habit goes, instead of throwing off the pinched stems, I bury them in the adjacent pot. In due course, it turns to manure and there is no waste generated from the garden. The other day I was adding compost to the chrysant...