I love food, probably why I keep on piling the pounds! I'm a fussy foodie, but, a foodie nonetheless.

I'm fortunate that both my parents are fantastic cooks and love experimenting with new styles of cooking and new dishes (shame most of them are things I don't eat) but it's like eating lush food at a restaurant every other day. My sister is probably the most random experimental chef I've come across, she can cook a variety great south asian dishes but will never repeat her success as she never notes the ingredients she throws into the masala, its always random and whatever is available on the day, some days she'll throw some pickle into the mix and another time it will be a chutney, basically she'll throw whatever comes to hand and then forget about it, such a shame really, because I actually like the spontaneous dishes she makes.

I don't particularly eat much (the tummy will beg to differ), am awful with menus - in fact I tend to let friends who know me well enough to pick out dishes for me and have a longer list of things I don't like as opposed to what I do like. During my days away from the family home I would tend to make do with whatever fast food/processed food that I could find, i'd make the effort once a week to cook but nothing was planned in those days and food was the last thing we'd all think off, probably why always stayed in my comfort zone of eating tried and tested dishes only. Can you believe I was about 19 when I first ate a slice of Pizza! I thought it looked like cardboard so refused to try it, but it was the standard student food but I still didn't eat it cold for breakfast as many of my friends did. I only started to eat pasta when a friend made it for me a few years ago, again I just thought it looked pretty bland and the whole cold pasta thing put me off, sandwiches with readymade fillings were a no go as I was fussy on sauces and fillings - I still am but am a little more open to salad sandwiches now.

There was a time that i'd visit friends and family in other cities just for a good night out partying but these days it's all about the dinner parties. Good food and good company usually means a great time for me.

Argh. have not been to the gym since, well I can't even remember it's been that long. I've been a bit of a lazy moo this year and let the whole regular gym routine go, i still go in dribs and drabs but bar the yoga class nothing else has stuck. The body seems to be suffering the consequences though, legs and back have been in agony this year with one injury after another, the worst of the pain came with the tumble down the stairs. I'm surprised the stairs were still in tact after feeling the full thud of my body weight. Stupidly, I braved it out and came into work thinking that if I keep going about with things it will somehow help me recover, erm not the best idea I've had. I'm surprised I didn't cause myself further damage, I even braved the gym with the injuries. Limping san wasn't a pretty sight and taking 3 minutes to stand up and straighten my back was just painful. Yoga classes were hilarious with my postures and sound effects just filling the room with laughter, but it has to do be done. Need to get back into an active routine again, if only to shift the extra pounds I've gained.

Fat chance the weight will shift before the kid brothers birthday party.

'Heroes' follows two filmmaking students Sammy (Sohail Khan) and Ali (Vatsal Sheth) on a road trip to get some research for their documentary on why not to join the army.

First thirty minutes seem lame, but you realise that comedy, attitude and lifestyle was a good reflection of the youth today and their attitudes towards life. It’s not overly patriotic and fortunately unlike many other war movies this one doesn’t focus on hating the neighbouring country.

The story is split into 3 parts with the two protagonists visiting three families whose loved ones have passed away in the 1999 Kargill War. The story focuses on the families’ bereavement and their thoughts on the Army, and this is done pretty emotionally bar the Sunny Deol fight scene which just seemed out of place and unnecessary.

There are some touching scenes in the movie that stay with you, the ones that come to mind is the one scene where Ali and Sammy deliver Kuljeet (Priety) her dead husbands final letter and the one where they travel in an army vehicle filled with coffins of young men who have died at war.

The cinematography is impressive; there are a few unnecessary song sequences and some really touching dialogues. Preity Zinta steals the show, her portrayal of a war widow was impressive and her expressions were quite emotional. Salman doesn’t look too bad as a singh, even his Punjabi was impressive. Rest were adequate.

Not sure this one is everyone’s cup of tea but worth a watch.

The first few days of Diwali were celebrated with much joy in London!

London by night is always a treat, everything is so beautifully lit up that you don't even mind walking around aimlessly just admiring the night sights. London during the day is another story - especially when travelling on the tube, people are so miserable compared to what I'm used too but hey ho I need to get around and the tubes are somewhat convenient so I can just about grin and handle the miserable London travellers. Don't think I could travel like that everyday, and being pushed into a corner where I can barely breathe so more people can squeeze into the carriage - that's just not a no go.

A few drinks (okay maybe one too many), good food, great company, great venues, a good boogie and even managed to catch a movie! I've tried to squeeze as much fun as I possibly could into 3.5 days. Went around and surprised some of the family with Diwali gifts which is something I rarely get to do until after the event, it all felt like Christmas for me, as this was the standard Christmas drill, packing gifts and going to deliver them personally etc. I also managed to get myself locked in a friends ensuite - a small little shower room with no windows!! I get claustrophobic at times, so this wasn't the best situation to be in. There I was in a steamed up shower room and the door refuses to open, the lock won't turn and the funny thing is I don't actually recall even locking the damn door! my friend is two floors below me so screaming out for help will prove pointless. It took a while to be freed. Argh total nightmare!

Decided that i'd treat myself to something I've always liked but never bothered to buy ... a luxurious leather jacket. Bit expensive but seeing as I've not shopped for new clothes in months so I thought I could warrant this extravagant spend.

Managed to make it home in time (just about!) for the family Puja and a lush Diwali meal cooked by both my parents, later stuffed my face with sweets and savouries given by family friends and then played with playing cards till the wee hours of this morning. It's officially the new year today and Bhai Dhuj tomorrow so am still very much in the festive mood.

I've had a great time so far and I intend to make it last for as long as possible.

Saal Mubarak to all those celebrating.

Even with the freezing temperatures (hitting around 1°C or so) it feels so warm with our house all done up in colourful decorations (rangoli and candles).

It's that time of year again, short days and long dark nights and the time for celebrations. Diwali is just around the corner and the preperations are already in hand with me doing the standard top to bottom house clean, mum and dad cooking special savouries and sweets and my brother, well doing the standard brother thing, sit back and watch sports!

But it still feels like it's going to hectic over the next few days cramming all the last minute preperation in before all the social events start. I need to shop for the family, buy presents for the extended family, buy and post the greeting cards and I've still got to buy candles to light up the house and plan my outfits for the Puja, Diwali Parties and the Fireworks Night .

Diwali day is traditionally a family affair, mainly an evening event as the festival of light all kicks of in the evening with the family puja and family & friends visiting and so on. This year, a friend of mine is hosting a Diwali Party at her house which will be a pretty grand event followed by a large fireworks display arranged by a few family friends. Seems that most of this years events are organised by people within my age bracket, which is a pretty good change, we're always complaining that we don't arrange events ourselves for celebrations like Diwali or Holi and so on, the standard celebrations are usually just meets and greets with family or a Diwali dinner and dance night that is taking place or something, but this year looks to be a positive change towards something more fun and social amongst friends, family and even colleagues, all coming together to light up the dark nights.

Movie night yet again, jeez two nights in a row, this must be some kind of record for me.

Taken is the story of Liam Neeson, who plays the protective father to his estranged daughter, who gets kidnapped whilst on a holiday in Paris. Daddy dearest then gets on a jet to hunt the kidnappers down. But, it's not that simple. The kidnappers aren't after ransom money or revenge here, they are into female trafficking. The chase is totally mad; forget logic because non of that matters here, he pretty much tears up the city and anyone who comes in his way. Exhilarating is the word that comes to mind, a must see.

The supporting cast were all just that - support and go away, no irrelevant plots going on in the background. The movie was short and straight to the point, a good story with excellent screenplay and plenty of action. Liam Neeson excels in his role, he isn't anything special, pretty average looking which is probably what makes me like him more.

At one point I could feel the goose pimples on my skin as I waited in anticipation about what would happen next, hold on that might have been due to the air con in the cinema actually. But, once the movie gets into gear it's a non stop action packed thriller that really does get the adrenalin pumping, something that last weeks Kidnap just failed to do.

Definitely recommend this movie.

It will be 31 years of marriage for my parents next week, and in these 31 years there's not been one Karva Chauth that my mum has missed. Then on the other hand there's me who doesn't really believe in this tradition. For my parents the cultural significance of this fast doesn't seem to hold as much relevance as it did in their younger years, the fast has become a tradition they share together, in some ways I find it pretty romantic the way they spend the day..

Last night my mother asked me if I'll wake up early in the morning to keep her company, I just looked at her thinking why would I sacrifice my sleep to watch you stuff your face or apply smelly mehndi which I cannot stand, so I handed her my mobile phone and told her to call my sister and cousins and so on and they can all keep one another company as I'm off to sleep. It's not like she's alone anyway, my dad wakes up at 4am to help her prepare her sargi to eat, in fact he'll make sure he is present throughout the day ready to take her to the temple, then to drive her around hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon and then for her to open her fast.

Just hope the moon doesn't torment my mum for too long.