The Internet Personified: You're the one for me, you're my ecstasy

Wheeee, long weekend! I'm trying to work up more excitement than I actually feel, because a long weekend means all your friends who haven't left town are suddenly free and that means a LOT of temptation to blow off work and just potter around all day. However, HOWEVER, having accepted most of my invitations in advance, I'm hoping to infuse these next three days with some sort of semblance of sanity, and being very stern while inside my head, a small part of me is whispering, "Holiday? Holiday!" It IS Saturday already, and even though I am old and came home at 11 (!) after a night out with friends, I am still feeling a bit beaten and distinctly unmotivated. Oh well.

This week in TV: I watched, nay, DEVOURED all of Netflix's Stranger Things, which began spooky but then just became thrilling with none of the terror. I loved the 80s costumes, sets, and even the font they used for the credits. Plus the music! So amazing. It's only 8 episodes, so there's something for you to do this weekend. I can't tell you more about the plot without giving stuff away, so just take my (and everyone's) word for it.
My friend recommend Devious Maids, as a sort of "Desperate Housewives with Latina maids", and that's exactly the description, and if you are someone who thinks, "OMG I'D WATCH THE SHIT OUT OF THAT!" then you are exactly like me, and let's discuss! I'm tearing my way through Season 1. (There are four, I think. Aren't we lucky?)
The Olympics on Hotstar, which is a great free service even if you don't sign up for membership. While you're watching a sporting evening, there are various tabs you can click for "stats" or "highlights" and so on, plus you can play videos right from the schedule page so you're not dependent only on what's on the Home screen. I know, I know, I hate all sporting activities, but this is the 'LYMPICS!

Throwback book(s) of the week: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew and Five Little Peppers Midway by Margaret Sidney. V. poor fam befriends poor little rich boy, eventually they move in with him and his crotchety old dad who learns to love again through the friendship he enjoys with the baby of the family--Phronsie. It's the kind of book I re-read obsessively as a kid because of the large family, but still disdained a bit, because they were all so damn goody-goody, but now as an adult, am enjoying again.

This week in food & drink: Yeti in GK II, from where we have been ordering momos for a while, but have never visited. My friend suggested we do dinner there, and it was quite a pleasant surprise. Very nice decor, quiet enough to have a normal conversation, and an interesting looking bar called Bunmanchi on the third floor which has live performances and things. Definitely on my visit-again list.

When I was in Malcha Marg market, also last weekend, my friend and I stopped off at Amour Bistro for a quick drink before we had to go to our various appointments. So pretty, great wine selections and tables set by large bay windows, so you can drink and gaze out on to the world, European-style.

This week in stuff I wrote: On Aunty Feminist, why living alone before you get married is a good idea. ** On my relationship column, the ever-evolving nature of friendship in your 30s. ** Throwback links especially for a friend who asked for them: What Happened After, my spec-fic series on Enid Blyton **

Song of the week: 4000Hz by Jaded. Okay, okay, it's a party anthem, but it's very cheerful! You've got me high like a bird, swimming in the sky.

Links of the week: iPotty ** How caste and food snobbery go together in India ** Dipa <3 <3 <3 ** From four years ago, but relevant now. On the way the Indian media treats Indian athletes ** Related: Olympic fails ** The weak women on Bollywood posters ** I had a LOT of these super trendy in the 90s bags ** Ursula K LeGuin writes blog posts from the point of view of her cat Pard ** Margaret Atwood muses on the female body. ** "Why didn't you do your homework?" is a great question for a LOT of young reporters out there **

Write me back if you love this, or hate this, or would rather I did more of something or the other. Forward to your friends for similar reasons!

Have a great week.

xx
m