Twenty- five Seven

How to make a good wine better with a Decanter #atozchallenge

April 5, 2016

Image for D

In my opinion, wine tastes better when served in a decanter . Especially when the decanter is hand cut lead crystal.

In the early days of my marriage, when I had plenty of time on my hands and far less money, I used to make wine at home. This activity kept my little girls busy the whole month of April and was provided a great opening for conversation as I poured out my ruby red, home made wine from a crystal decanter to our dinner guests.

Image of decanters

Hand-cut crystal wine decanters

These two crystal decanters are all that’s left at home now. The tall blue one is Bohemian Lead crystal and was a wedding gift to my in-laws while the clear one beside it was brought back as hand baggage along with a complete bar set from a trip to Denmark.

I love these delicate hand-cut decanters and though they’re not in use, enjoy washing them. It is fascinating seeing them glimmer in the sun as they dry.

I am no wine snob, yet I feel sad that wine is no longer served from decanters. It was such an elegant and gracious way of serving wine, far more stylish than pouring from bottle or a tetrapack !

Hand-cut crystal decanters were once a fashionable and stylish way to serve wine or whisky. However, with today’s oenophiles, wine has to be served from the original bottle so that the guests know its provenance – year of bottling and all.

Similarly, since whisky drinkers have now graduated to Single Malters who claim to know the difference between a Laphroaig and a Yamazaki from the mere aroma, it makes better sense to pour from the original bottle.

I’m participating with over 1000 bloggers in the 7th A to Z Challenge and will be blogging the whole of April about the ‘ Things around My House’, from A to Z. Today I talk about D for Decanter.

Do visit the A to Z Challenge posts on Facebook.
The ONE thing you didn’t know about a COMB #atozchallenge

April 4, 2016

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Combs are found on most dressing tables and I always imagined that a comb was just a comb, whether it was made of silver, plastic, wood or bone.

One day, last December, I brought home four gorgeous hand crafted combs made of Sheesham wood at a special craft fair to promote and support dying skills in rural India. I could actually feel a halo settling smugly above my head as I bought these combs ( doing my bit for society and all that) .

The difference between the comb of a man and that of a woman

I came home and proudly showed off my purchases to all those at home , announcing that henceforth, I would only use these beautiful works of art to comb my thinning locks. To my surprise, my father-in-law piped up that these combs were for men! I was shocked.

How on earth did he know that?

Simple, he said. Women’s combs were double toothed with finer teeth on one side to help remove nits and tangles. I looked at them carefully and he was right. My beautiful combs were not for me. They were meant for a MAN.

But my curiousity is piqued. Are there really different combs for men and women? I’ll have to wait for the next handicraft fair to buy a carved wooden comb specially for women so that I have a handmade wooden comb to do my hair.

I’m participating with over 1000 bloggers in the 7th A to Z Challenge and will be blogging the whole of April about the ‘ Things around My House’, from A to Z

Do visit the A to Z Challenge posts on Facebook.
A100 year old Jacobean Bed #atozchallenge @AprilAtoZ

April 2, 2016
Lolling in bed, wondering what to write about, it suddenly hit me that I was lying on it. Yes! My 100 year old bed. It’s an object with plenty of potential to share. We all have beds but what’s so special about mine?
- It’s over a 100 years old. At least I think it is because it’s been in our home for over 40 years and my mother-in-law who bought it off a Parsi family from Nagpur, claims that it had been with them for over 60 years before that.
- It is hand made in the Jacobean style popular in the days of the Raj, from seasoned Burma teak wood with exquisite carving and finely twisted legs.
- These beds are made by the same carpenter who made the furniture for the British Governor General’s home!
- These beds were actually four posters that were used to hang diaphanous mosquito nets to keep the mosquitos away.
- Even though I refer to it as “bed” it is actually a part of a twin set and when used as a double bed, is larger than a regular King. This makes it ideal for the entire family to sleep in, especially on stormy nights that have little children come scurrying to your bed.
- It is strong and sturdy and is great for children to jump on and often doubles up as a trampoline.
- My children love these magic beds as do my grandchildren and all those who sleep on it. It assures you a restful sleep that leaves you awake and ready to seize the day.
What have you beds seen these past 100 years?

Lazy afternoon siestas?

Cuddles with children?

Pillow fights?

Tossing and turning with worry?

Stormy sex?

Tears of disappointment?

A sick person living out his last days?

What more will you see and for how many more years?

And who will you belong to once I’m gone?

Join me and more than 1000 bloggers in the 7th A to Z Challenge , the brainchild of Arlee Bird . Participants blog every day in April, except Sunday, on topics that match the 26 letters of the alphabet.

Do visit the A to Z Challenge posts on Facebook.