Ginger Cookies Recipe

Soft Chewy Ginger Cookies

2 1/4C all-purpose flour
2tsp ground ginger
1tsp baking soda
3/4tsp ground cinnamon
1/2tsp ground cloves
pinch of salt
3/4C margarine, softened
1C white sugar
2Tb unsweetened applesauce
1Tb water
1/4C molasses

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

-In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the applesauce, then the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet .

-Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

New Blue Contact Lenses

So instead of glasses this year, when my prescription change, I went for contact lenses and seeing and changed my green eyes to blue. Obviously causes problems with gaining entry to places requiring a retinal scan, but its worth it for the new blue eyes.

Spring is in the air

It has been such a cold winter in England, but today I saw the snowdrops making an appearance, which heralds spring and new life and hope. Here is a poem about Spring by Christina Rossetti. In India Spring is heralded by the celebration Vasanta Pancami. Spring Quiet

Christina Rossetti (1847)

Gone were but the Winter, Come were but the Spring, I would go to a covert Where the birds sing. Where in the whitethom Singeth a thrush, And a robin sings In the holly-bush. Full of fresh scents Are the budding boughs Arching high over A cool green house: Full of sweet scents, And whispering air Which sayeth softly: “We spread no snare; “Here dwell in safety, Here dwell alone, With a clear stream And a mossy stone. “Here the sun shineth Most shadily; Here is heard an echo Of the far sea, Though far off it be.”

Entered some weird kind of warp singularity....

It doesnt hurt at all!

Historic Day Of Hope - Obama

November 4th 2008 Historic Day Of Hope

Obama wins the US elections, bringing hope and inspiration to millions and becoming president elect until he is inaugurated in January.

Bill Hicks Relentless

I uploaded all of Bill Hicks relentless to UTube and put it in a 6 part playlist, can be viewed here altogether.

Mouse over the video to see options to play all six parts

Bill Hicks Relentless


Bill Hicks Relentless

Video Channel

Viva The Olympics!

Project Honeypot

Joined project Honeypot, to try to catch the dreaded site scrapers,

FindAllSorts.com Project Honeypot

Diamonds Are Forever 007

Diamonds are forever,
They are all I need to please me,
They can stimulate and tease me,
They won't leave in the night,
I've no fear that they might desert me.
Diamonds are forever,
Hold one up and then caress it,
Touch it, stroke it and undress it,
I can see every part,
Nothing hides in the heart to hurt me.

I don't need love,
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me,
For when love's gone,
They'll luster on.

Diamonds are forever,
Sparkling round my little finger.
Unlike men, the diamonds linger;
Men are mere mortals who
Are not worth going to your grave for.

I don't need love,
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me,
For when love's gone,
They'll luster on.

Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.
Forever and ever.

Earthquake In St Ives, Cambridgshire.

I was woken at 1am last night, by my bed shaking quite strongly. I had no idea till this morning that it was an earthquake, I thought I was having a bad dream, but it was enough to make me look out the window to see if a lorry had shed its load or something outside.

Because my bed actually was shaking, as if someone was holding it and shaking it.

I switched all my lights on, did a google search for "bed shaking in sleep" had some hot milk and went back to bed thinking I had a sleep disorder, or had been visited by the night hag.

Then this morning on the news it turns out my bed really did shake and England felt an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the richter scale, largest for 20 years.

It is said to be an occurence that happens every 20 years or so.

My sister in law's chimney fell down and through the roof, in their old farmhouse they had spent ages doing up.

I am freaked because I have been watching loads of Krakatoa stuff lately. I will be keeping my eye on Snowdon.

And Now It Is Christmas Day - Woohoo

Sooo excited to see what Affiliate Window will have put under the tree, I am all ready to go at designated time, 3pm, to collect my Chrissy Prezzie from under their tree and I am soooo excited what will it be. I need a bike, they have a bike shop on the merchant list...could i get a bike...wooohoooo...i will be first under that tree!!!

Its My Birthday

Its my birthday, yes it is my birthday!

Disruptive Technology - Genome Research By Dr Venter

The Dimbleby lecture on BBc tonight was awesome. Dr J Craig Venter spoke of the apathy towards science and popular movement towards regression from fundamentalists in todays society.

He spoke of disruptive technology, ie, A disruptive technology or disruptive innovation is a technological innovation, product, or service that eventually overturns the existing dominant technology or statud quo product in the market.

We have relied on fossil fuels for so long, wouldnt it be fantastic for there to be an instance of disruptive technology and innovation to bring about new energy sources. Not alternative energy like windmills and water power, but Dr Craig Venter speaks of biological means. With the decoding of the genome, it is possible to create new species, design new species, and although that probably strikes fear into some hearts, in actuality that means we can create organsisms that produce energy. An actual renewable source of energy, just by altering the DNA structure of bacteria that can be mass produced, as far as I could understand.

Its fantastic, but it is actually underway, and it is actually a really great thing that might just protect the future of mankind and our planet as we know it!

If you get a chance to see the Dimbleby Lecture by Dr Craig Venter then its really clearly explained there and its really exciting, I do not think anyone could fail to be excited by what he is saying , what he is doing and what this means for the future!

Jagannath Temple Puri Admission Policy

Jagannath Temple Puri Admission Policy Is totally non Hindu....and I mean that the policy is non Hindu, to deny entry to people based on skin color and geographical location, is a non Hindu attitude of intolerance that is totally unbecoming such a leading Hindu Holy Place.

Many of those who are allowed to enter, are meat eaters, drinkers, even alot of the Pujari are inoxicated on drugs like Marijuana/Bhang that is legal in Puri. So when did all this hypocrisy begin and when will it end?

Water Fasting Brightens Eyes

I did a 3 day water fast last week, taking nothing but water, no food or anything else, just water for 3 days and its amazing what the water fast has done to my eyes.

For ages I have complained of tired sore eyes and I have blamed fact that I work so much on pc staring at a screen all day. I even got a prescription for some glasses with an anti glare in them.

I didnt do the fast for my eyes, I had no idea it would have any effect, but the effect on my eyes is amazing. They feel so fresh and cool and they look really white as well, i did a google check on water fasting and eyes afterwards and apparently it is a common beneficial effect of a water fast that it is really good for the eyes.

It is always nice when you have done something tough like a water fast to get a noticable benefit, I wasnt expecting this, but am really pleased as it means I can work longer and better due to less eye soreness and stuff, don't mind looking a bit better too, that never hurts.

The other amazing effect I had was one on PMS, i have always suffered real bad for the 4 days of my monthly, with terrible cramps and weakness, this water fast coincided with my period and again I had no prior knowledge that it would have an effect, but googling it now I see others have had same benefit, which was that I had absolutely NO period pain during the period whilst on the water fast. I just funcioned normally, which is usually impossible for me during period.

So I dont really know all the benefits of a short water fast like that, but these are just 2 effects that I was amazed at.

I have read of people who do water fasts for several weeks, I was pretty weak by day 3 so unless it is possible to really just sit and do nothing after that, I can't imagine I could do a water fast whilst continuing to work for longer than 3 days. When I broke the fast with some grain, it tasted heavenly like I have never tasted before.

A Candle For Maddie

This is a candle for little Madelaine Mccann who has been missing for over seven months now. I praaaayyyy she is found, I pray that noone has hurt her and I pray she comes home safe and sound. HK

---------------------------

Another 5 months have passed and it is now a year since Maddie went missing and I am hoping that this time next year I will be able to post here that Maddie was found safe and well. Anything is possible, I hope she is found, I hope she is ok and I hope she gets home soon to her mum and dad who miss her so much.




Anyone who can put this banner on their website somewhere it will be good, as if people remember Maddie, there is more chance she will be seen somewhere, so please use the following code to put the banner on any website

Damodarastakam

Click here to experience an Online Damodarastakam offering with mp3 and flash puja!!!

Here are the words to sing along to this beautiful prayer that is sung during Karthik month to baby Krishna who is bound by the ropes of his mothers love.

1
namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda–bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya
(1) To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,
knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro,
who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the
offence of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into
butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is
quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda,
but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed-to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
2
rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kantha-
sthita-graivam damodararm Bhakti-baddham
(2) (Seeing the whipping stick in His mother’s hand,) He is crying and
rubbing His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are
filled with fear, and the necklace of pearls around His neck, which is
marked with three lines like a conch shell, is shaking because of His quick
breathing due to crying. To this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is
bound not with ropes but with His mother’s pure love, I offer my humble
obeisances.
3
itidrk sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akkyapayantam
tadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavrtti vande
(3) By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of
Gokula in pools of ecstasy, and is revealing to those devotees who are
absorbed in knowledge of His supreme majesty and opulence that He is only
conquered by devotees whose pure love is imbues with intimacy and is free
from all conceptions of awe and reverence. With great love I again offer my
obeisances to Lord Damodara hundreds and hundreds of times.
4
varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va
na canyam vrne ‘ham varesad apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih
(4) 0 Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do
not pray to You for the boon of impersonal liberation, nor the highest
liberation of eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor any other boon (which may be
obtained by executing the nine processes of Bhakti). O Lord, I simply wish
that this form of Yours as Bala Gopala in Vrndavana may ever be manifest in
my heart, for what is the use to me of any other boon besides this?
5
idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair
vrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais’ ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih
(5) O Lord, Your lotus face, which is encircled by locks of soft black hair
tinged with red, is kissed again and again by mother Yasoda, and Your lips
are reddish like the bimba fruit. May this beautiful vision of Your lotus
face be ever manifest in my heart. Thousands and thousands of other
benedictions are of no use to me.
6
namo deva damodarananta visno
prasida prabho duhkha jalabdhi-magnam
krpa-drsti-vrsyati-dinam batanu-
grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah
(6) O Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Damodara! O Ananta!
O Vishnu! O master! O my Lord, be pleased upon me. By showering Your glance of mercy upon me, deliver this poor ignorant fool who is immersed in an ocean of worldly sorrows, and become visible to my eyes.
7
kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvat
tvaya mocitau Bhakti-bhajau krtau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha
na mokse graho me ’sti damodareha
(7) 0 Lord Damodara, just as the two sons of Kuvera-Manigriva and
Nalakuvara–were delivered from the curse of Narada and made into great
devotees by You in Your form as a baby tied with rope to a wooden grinding mortar, in the same way, please give to me Your own prema-Bhakti. I only long for this and have no desire for any kind of liberation.
8
namas te ’stu damne sphurad-dipti-dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya-priyayai
namo ‘nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam
(8) 0 Lord Damodara, I first of all offer my obeisances to the brilliantly
effulgent rope which binds Your belly. I then offer my obeisances to Your
belly, which is the abode of the entire universe. I humbly bow down to Your
most beloved Srimati Radharani, and I offer all obeisances to You, the
Supreme Lord, who displays unlimited pastimes.

Click here to experience an Online Damodarastakam offering with mp3 and flash puja!!!

Clare Ross - Crosshatch Design

Having left India and returned to UK
Clare Ross
continues to work for
Crosshatch Design
Chandrika Gauranga's adventures in India....to be continued....

Another Station: Life On The Line.: A Branch Line To The Seaside

Lots of people pass through the Gandhara Hotel in Puri, a welcome break on sometimes tiring journeys. Here is a blog of one such train traveller (having read some of the tales of train travel in India from Paul O Halloran, I have decided to FLY!! Its a good read ... Another Station: Life On The Line.: A Branch Line To The Seaside

photos

Puri Hotel Gandhara