HUNG CURD AND DOGS HANGING ON! #BLOGCHATTERA2ZCHALLENGE

 

Back in India, G, my better half, and I had decided that we would go on a diet, shave off a few kilos, and make more space for the alluring delicacies that awaited us in Johannesburg. Much to our credit, we did just that, eating protein rich and fat free food, that made us feel, and hopefully look, lighter as well. Hung curd went into salads and sandwiches, replacing mayonnaise, a step that made us feel that we were on the right track.

G is more dedicated than I am, in every sense of the word. Come morning, he is up at dawn, walking for all he is worth. He swings his arms and strides along, covering much ground in a single stride. I never walk alongside him because I would have to trot along to keep pace, or be left behind, which kind of negates the whole exercise of going for a walk together.

Two days before we were to leave for Johannesburg, G was out on his normal evening walk, swinging his arms for all he was worth and making good speed. He turned into a lane and there was a lady walking ahead of him. In front of a house, he noticed a white dog rummaging through a garbage heap. The lady went by the dog that took no notice of her.

As G crossed the garbage heap, the dog turned around, probably having had his fill of garbage, and pounced on him, grabbing his track pants with his sharp teeth, and hanging on to it for dear life. Luckily, G has quick reflexes, and he swung around, with a sharp yell, startling the creature which let go and cowered away. The lady who was still ahead got the shock of her life, but G motioned that she should keep walking on. Thus, they both walked on, while the dog decided that the sport was over and went back to the garbage.

Once he was out of sight, G examined his track pants. Fortunately, the dog’s teeth had not grazed his skin. His favourite Adidas track pants had been bitten through, but no other harm done, thank God. Later, it came out that the dog belonged to G’s cousin and had got free from his kennel, and had come out for a garbage treat. Unfortunate that people keep dogs as pets, and stow them away in kennels outside the house, where they moulder and turn ferocious. The plus point was that the dog had had all his shots.

However, that would have made no difference had the dog bitten him. This brings to mind another incident where my youngest sister, B, went to her best friend’s house one day prior to her trip back home to Dubai. As they were chatting, her friend’s dog came and sat by her. The next moment, it latched on to her, sinking its teeth onto her hand. Poor B had to go to the hospital and take an anti-rabies shot immediately, with a gel being applied on the fresh wound, which made it even more painful. Back in Dubai, she had to take all the required shots as well.

To cut a long story short, our journey from the sweltering summer heat of Thrissur to the balmy pre-winter season of Johannesburg opened our eyes to the fact that hung curd and preconceived diets would have to be postponed for two months. For everywhere we went there was eye-catching food – raw, pre-cooked, cooked, over cooked – anyway you liked it.

Of course, we do make a half-hearted attempt with our diets once in a blue moon. We look for low fat yoghurt and skimmed milk, eat green salads and soup, but one word from P, and our diets go rushing out of the window, only to reappear the next time we are feeling a trifle guilty.

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Every restaurant serves French fries as though they are God’s gift to mankind (which they are!) Add on all the garnishes – mashed potato, creamed spinach, rice and the like. Plus, the portions served are extra plus, as well!

This afternoon, P decided to take half a day off work, and the next thing I knew was that we were on our way to pick Zo and Sam up from school and make our way to Ocean Basket, a seafood restaurant. Oysters, squid, hake and salmon were all on the menu, and the catch was soon on our plates as well. At the end of the meal, we ordered our desserts – ice cream for G and chocolate lava cake with cream for P and the kids. I had the baked yoghurt cheesecake with a decadent topping. After all, how many calories could be there in a yoghurt cheesecake? Something akin to hung curd dessert?

This trip to Ocean Basket reminded me of the funny quote by Dolly Parton. 

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 I am participating in the #BlogchatterA2ZChallenge2025.

 https://deepties.blogspot.com/2025/04/hung-curd-and-dogs-hanging-on.html