Ci Defaid 🏴 🇮🇳
@cidefaid.bsky.social
Retired software architect/developer. Interests: family, food (& wine), travel, music, physics, nature.
One of the sweetest fosters I had the privilege to work with was Jesse. She loved chasing balls, diving in the lake, catching frisbees and was always willing to cuddle, despite the fact that she was a very useful working dog.
November 12, 2025 at 5:29 AM
One of the sweetest fosters I had the privilege to work with was Jesse. She loved chasing balls, diving in the lake, catching frisbees and was always willing to cuddle, despite the fact that she was a very useful working dog.
It's getting a bit cooler in the mornings now, so porridge seems to be appropriate for breakfast, especially after my morning swim. I make it with steal cut oats, almond meal, salt and water, stirring in a teaspoon of Shiro Miso after it is cooked. Very satisfying.
November 11, 2025 at 4:31 AM
It's getting a bit cooler in the mornings now, so porridge seems to be appropriate for breakfast, especially after my morning swim. I make it with steal cut oats, almond meal, salt and water, stirring in a teaspoon of Shiro Miso after it is cooked. Very satisfying.
After much research on wardrobes, I chose to get one custom made by a carpenter who has done work for us for years. Yesterday we visited his workshop to inspect the progress and he insisted on taking us to meet his family. They all live together in a tiny chawl nearby.
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 AM
After much research on wardrobes, I chose to get one custom made by a carpenter who has done work for us for years. Yesterday we visited his workshop to inspect the progress and he insisted on taking us to meet his family. They all live together in a tiny chawl nearby.
I bought a kitchen appliance from the UK, so as it would come with a UK 13A plug, I assumed I would have to change it. In fact, the appliance had a 2-pin Euro plug that was inside this really weird adapter. I've never seen the like before! Strange and wonderful in it's baroque complexity.
November 8, 2025 at 6:33 AM
I bought a kitchen appliance from the UK, so as it would come with a UK 13A plug, I assumed I would have to change it. In fact, the appliance had a 2-pin Euro plug that was inside this really weird adapter. I've never seen the like before! Strange and wonderful in it's baroque complexity.
No time to cook, so ate out at a new(-sh) restaurant; Baa Mee. Presentation was very good and the food was really tasty, apart from the tiramisu, which was good, but just a bit lacking in the espresso kick it should have. I got a free beer because it was happy hour!
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 AM
No time to cook, so ate out at a new(-sh) restaurant; Baa Mee. Presentation was very good and the food was really tasty, apart from the tiramisu, which was good, but just a bit lacking in the espresso kick it should have. I got a free beer because it was happy hour!
Just a random photo of people attending a wedding at the hotel where we were having lunch with our daughter and grand-daughters. The food (Chinese / Japanese fusion) was excellent and the view across the lake was beautiful.
November 6, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Just a random photo of people attending a wedding at the hotel where we were having lunch with our daughter and grand-daughters. The food (Chinese / Japanese fusion) was excellent and the view across the lake was beautiful.
Just to use it up, I added some red bell pepper to my usual potato poha recipe for breakfast this morning. Tasted quite nice, so I may do it more often.
November 5, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Just to use it up, I added some red bell pepper to my usual potato poha recipe for breakfast this morning. Tasted quite nice, so I may do it more often.
Just a couple of old photos of my old gal, Senneca, taken during a photo shoot. The photos (the photographer's, not mine) were used in the Border Collie Rescue's calendar, for the following year. She was the most wonderful companion. RIP Senneca.
November 4, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Just a couple of old photos of my old gal, Senneca, taken during a photo shoot. The photos (the photographer's, not mine) were used in the Border Collie Rescue's calendar, for the following year. She was the most wonderful companion. RIP Senneca.
For no particular reason, I have a desire to eat "Ajvar" and started to search for a local supplier. No such animal. This may mean that I will have to make some myself. Won't be able to get the correct peppers, of course, but red bell peppers are good enough to satisfy the cravings.
November 3, 2025 at 5:54 AM
For no particular reason, I have a desire to eat "Ajvar" and started to search for a local supplier. No such animal. This may mean that I will have to make some myself. Won't be able to get the correct peppers, of course, but red bell peppers are good enough to satisfy the cravings.
Umm, excuse me, it's not supposed to be raining now; Diwali is done and over for the year. The rain gods have got their calendar properly mixed up. Please correct this immediately.
October 31, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Umm, excuse me, it's not supposed to be raining now; Diwali is done and over for the year. The rain gods have got their calendar properly mixed up. Please correct this immediately.
Last night I set batter for oats uttapam. so this morning I was happy to see it was all bubbly and ready to use for breakfast. The recipe just substitutes oats for the normal rice, everything else is the same. Very easy to make, though I did have some issues with sticking to the pan after flipping.
October 30, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Last night I set batter for oats uttapam. so this morning I was happy to see it was all bubbly and ready to use for breakfast. The recipe just substitutes oats for the normal rice, everything else is the same. Very easy to make, though I did have some issues with sticking to the pan after flipping.
Just felt like treating myself to breakfast at The Club today (eggs Florentine), but that's just an occasional thing. Back home I toasted some oats read for later this week. Lightly toasted oats made into porridge and with a little miso stirred in at the end is a very satisfying breakfast.
October 29, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Just felt like treating myself to breakfast at The Club today (eggs Florentine), but that's just an occasional thing. Back home I toasted some oats read for later this week. Lightly toasted oats made into porridge and with a little miso stirred in at the end is a very satisfying breakfast.
The Diwali hamper that contained the unusual wine (see previous post) also contained some coffee. I've never heard of coffee from Nagaland before, but I'm game. The Full City Roast has strong notes of dark chocolate and the brewed coffee is very drinkable.
October 27, 2025 at 5:17 AM
The Diwali hamper that contained the unusual wine (see previous post) also contained some coffee. I've never heard of coffee from Nagaland before, but I'm game. The Full City Roast has strong notes of dark chocolate and the brewed coffee is very drinkable.
This whole Halloween thing has spread itself everywhere -- even to India...
October 26, 2025 at 4:06 AM
This whole Halloween thing has spread itself everywhere -- even to India...
Received a Diwali hamper via SIL that contained some strange stuff. Part herbal fruit (Peach) wine, part mead (wild honey sourced from hidden hives in forests and rock honey from hives hanging off mountain cliffs), slightly fizzy and sweet. Tsüipu Heritage Beverages come from Nagaland in India.
October 25, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Received a Diwali hamper via SIL that contained some strange stuff. Part herbal fruit (Peach) wine, part mead (wild honey sourced from hidden hives in forests and rock honey from hives hanging off mountain cliffs), slightly fizzy and sweet. Tsüipu Heritage Beverages come from Nagaland in India.
Currently wearing my "IKEA Assembler" hat, assembling a bed. This one is more complicated than usual as it has storage under the mattress.
October 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Currently wearing my "IKEA Assembler" hat, assembling a bed. This one is more complicated than usual as it has storage under the mattress.
My wife was clearing up various odds and ends when she came across this old name tag. Beau was a big shaggy bear of a border collie who would smother you with affection. He was with us for a few months back in 2010 before he got adopted. He left us with good memories.
October 23, 2025 at 4:26 AM
My wife was clearing up various odds and ends when she came across this old name tag. Beau was a big shaggy bear of a border collie who would smother you with affection. He was with us for a few months back in 2010 before he got adopted. He left us with good memories.
Predictably, I overate at last evening's Diwali dinner, so I'm keeping a low profile today
October 22, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Predictably, I overate at last evening's Diwali dinner, so I'm keeping a low profile today
Rangoli at the entrance of our building this morning. Everyone is in good Diwali mood today. This evening we will be going to our daughter's place for dinner; a big gathering with her husband's family as well.
October 21, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Rangoli at the entrance of our building this morning. Everyone is in good Diwali mood today. This evening we will be going to our daughter's place for dinner; a big gathering with her husband's family as well.
There's signs of the season (Diwali) everywhere.
October 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
There's signs of the season (Diwali) everywhere.
Sometimes you just have to break out a bottle of grand reserve Cab...
October 18, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Sometimes you just have to break out a bottle of grand reserve Cab...
Had uttapam for breakfast at The Club that were too salty, then an Uber drive home where the driver couldn't even follow the map and had to U-turn to get back on track. Only plus was the building dog, Chickoo, gave me a warm greeting when I arrived.
October 17, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Had uttapam for breakfast at The Club that were too salty, then an Uber drive home where the driver couldn't even follow the map and had to U-turn to get back on track. Only plus was the building dog, Chickoo, gave me a warm greeting when I arrived.
Now playing: Carmina Burana -- in the hope that playing it will purge my mind of all woes and miseries...
October 16, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Now playing: Carmina Burana -- in the hope that playing it will purge my mind of all woes and miseries...
October 16, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Just a simple pulao (this time tomato pulao) in the making (alt text enumerates the spices).
October 15, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Just a simple pulao (this time tomato pulao) in the making (alt text enumerates the spices).