Until I was about four and just before I was packed off to boarding school I enjoyed a lot of time with my parents.  My parents loved to take us for a ramble in the meadows and the forests all set amid moss-laden conifers around Dowhill Road. My Dad would carry PK my brother, and lead me by the hand, the best he could. I did have a lot of exploring to do!

We waved at Mrs. Doyle who tended roses in her very English garden. A short distance from her cottage we passed by the Shiva temple.  I was awe struck by the cave like entrance.  I never saw any devotees around, but there were always fresh flowers at the “mouth” of the entrance.

A well-known Bollywood actress’s home with a well-tended garden was another spot to pause. She was never home.

One of my mother’s relatives owned a general store right by the road. She sold hard candy. Dad would often purchase some for us. The lady at the store gave us extra.  One of her sons was named Duncan; a curious name for a Nepali boy.

We returned home with our candy and wild flowers or some strange stick or stone for my “collection”.  Granny would make sure the addition to my collection was well scrubbed and washed. She would then hustle us to the kitchen for hot pooris, tea and sweets.  She would sometimes cut the pooris into squares, triangles and diamond shapes just for me.

Twenty-four years later, my Dad, Dan and I took the same ramble, the day after we announced our engagement.  This time my dad did not hold my hand as he did when I was a little girl.  Instead, he offered me a cigarette; (the entire family smoked at one time!!), a gesture really, to say you're not my little girl anymore; we'll probably never go for walks up these hills anymore, but... that’s all OK.

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“POORIS AFTER A RAMBLE" (Recipe)

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Wheat Flour :
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour:
Salt to taste
2 Tbsp + Oil or ghee
Oil or Ghee for Deep Frying.
Warm water to knead the dough

Directions:
1. Mix Flour, oil & salt, by hand or in food processor.
2. Add water a little at a time until a soft dough forms.
3. Cover dough with saran wrap for approx 2 hours at room temperature
4. Pinch and make a ball about 1" diameter
5. Roll it out to a 5" diameter
6. Heat oil for Deep Frying; to about 350º F.
7. Deep fry pooris in hot oil for a minute.
8. Turn side & fry till puffed & golden in color.