Sunday, March 13, 2005

an extraordinary day....

I have not been a contientious blogger, ignoring my blog for well over a week now. I've had plenty to blog about but not nearly enough time, energy or coherence of thought to effectively post. I have books to blog about but thats for another day and another time. Today has (or rather yesterday, now that its nearly 1am) been an extraordinary day in so many ways that even at this unearthly hour I am compelled to quickly type in a bit.

First and foremost today (12th) was the birthday of some exceedingly special people -my mum and my brother (as my dad says, he's been my mum's birthday gift for the past 23 years) for their birthday. I've had long and brilliant conversations with both and missed them oh-so much today. So YAY my birthday people - I'm loving you every minute and missing you even more......

The day has turned out brilliantly - somewhat by design but mainly by good luck, the meeting of chance and timing I think. As you know we've had some friends with us for the last few weeks. It's made mealtimes and evenings more interesting having 4 people around a dinner table discuss everything from food habits to politics and back. V was away on work for more than half the week and returned only on Friday evening. So the weekend lay ahead of us ripe and ready to be enjoyed.

We started the day with breakfast at the little cafe where we've become regulars on Saturdays. Lovely sun poured through the windows warming us while we ate omlettes and sipped lattes. Then, deciding that the reviews of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie 'Black' piqued our curiosity enough, found out where it was playing and booked some tickets. Went to the Cineworld in Ilford to watch 'Black' and can now say without reservation that it is one of the BEST hindi movies I have ever seen. Even V (who is very disicerning!) loved it. 'Black' tells the story of an alcoholic teacher introducing a deaf & blind anglo-indian girl to the world of words, their meanings and communication with the world. Subsequently, she gets the opportunity to reciprocate the teaching when he loses his words to Alzheimers. Amitabh Bacchan is the teacher, Debraj Sahai and Rani Mukherji is the deaf & blind woman, Michelle McNally.

I cannot tell you enough and more strongly what a wondeful movie this is. From the storyline to the cinematography, from the lessons to the realities, this movie has stepped a whole level higher than any other hindi movie before it. Tinged with sadness, it shows a world filled with the dreams of a challenged young child and her odessey finding her place in it. This movie deserves an Oscar. Amitabh truly rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!If you haven't seen it GO NOW!

Back home and all dressed up the four of us took loads of pictures with our relatively new digital camera. We're still learning to navigate it - both the tripod and timer are now familiar.

Our extraordinary day became so largely due to the sparkling meal that followed at Ubon by Nobu. Very fancy locale, riverside Canary Wharf, this intimate restaurant offers fantastic views of the Thames. The decor is quite simple and nothing to write home about but the view made up for it amply. The meal was highlighted by very simple ingredients - each one very carefully prepared and beautifully presented. We had a selection of yellow tail, white fish, black cod, tuna, salmon - seared, skewered, sushi-ed - each one cajoled into wonderful wonderful bites. I have not had a meal this elegant and tasty in very long. Ubon is not inexpensive by any means and is mainly geared for the non-vegetarian seafood lover. For me it was a real treat; the Chocolate Bento box with Green Tea Ice cream and Banana Taitain with Chestnut Ice Cream were superlative to most desserts I have ever tasted. If I were a rich girl I would go often!

We are home now - the tail end of an extraordinary day. Wine and music await me, so I'll sign off. This day will remain in my memory for a long while to come - the combination of great movie, wine, food and company make me feel extraordinary!

Ubon by Nobu: 34 Westferry Circus, London E14 8RR. Tel: 020 7719 7800

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