Sunday, May 18, 2008

What do you need to set up a home?

What a busy week!!! Roop Rai, Mandira thanks for noticing I was away! It’s so nice to know that when I was missing my blog in Dilli and Mumbai, the blog was being missed too : )

We had bought this One BHK (Bedroom, Hall and Kitchen) condominium, in Mumbai, three-four years ago. It was just an investment then. Husband had some fondness for the place, I had serious doubts, I had expressed my doubts but seeing how keen he was, I let it be. Recently when the last tenant vacated it, we thought we’d take a look at the place.

Seepage everywhere. I had to make serious effort to resist the urge to say, ‘I told you so’ to Husband. It was kind of depressing to see those walls. We thought we'd keep the place with us for a while and take care of the seepage before putting it on rent again. Then I got this most exciting idea - the kids were with us for just a few more years; why not keep the place as a weekend home for all of US for that much time? Husband did not agree at first but eventually gave in. So that was what kept me from my blog. I had no way to even check my mail.

We have set up a delightful little 1 BHK condo in Mumbai:) ...It’s a dream come true! Now we can spend (to start with) our weekends in Mumbai! Or go shopping and not worry about having to drive back to Pune that same evening. We can take the dogs (they hate traveling though...) with us, but what about the cat? Any change in routine stresses him, he always slept on my pillow, now he is following me around. He is worried I will disappear again. So this is for anyone planning to get dog/cat/fish/birds as pets/companion animals, THINK AGAIN. They are a HUGE responsibility. Traveling with dogs meant we could not get out for a cup of tea at the Food Plazas, the dogs would start howling like babies wondering where we were going...so it was tough.

These past few days were spent setting up this place. What do you need to make a house a home? (Yeah, yeah after, love, peace and harmony, and all)

CURTAINS - first and foremost.

Smallest available Microwave (cooks two cups of rice comfortably)

4 dinner plates, 2 knives, one small chopping board, 4 table spoons, 4 table forks, and 4 tea spoons, 2 serving spoons,4 glasses, two tea cups, 2 microwave-safe ‘cook and serve’ bowls

An electric kettle, some tea bags, sugar and dairy whitener. Some dusters, a mop etc
A small Refrigerator, 180 litres, Whirlpool. (made a mistake shopping in such a hurry, the fridge is not frost free:( I thought all newer refrigerators were frost free!)
An Air Conditioner, Onida, 1 tonne
A bed 5’X6’
A dining table set for four (collapsible)
A small sofa cum bed (old, had at home, took it there), an exercising mat, a bed side table, a stool, some bed linen....some pretty, colourful, cushions.
An old Music System.
Some water bottles. Some juice. Some cookies. Some towels, a change of clothes.

VIOLA! We have a perfect home ready.

30 comments:

The Soul of Alec Smart said...

Hi Indian Home Maker,

Delurking for the first time here, but have been a regular reader for sometime now. Great to have you back here :) Congratulations on your new getaway!

Anonymous said...

Sounds so cute! Tiny microwave and all... Like a love nest or something. :) Shopping nest, huh?

So do you like Mumbai a lil now? I notice folks from Pune aren't usually too keen on it. Do fill us in on your shopping jaunts.

And seepage and Mumbai homes - don't even get me started on that. (I am a true-blue Mumbaikar but still!)

Indian Home Maker said...

the soul of alec smart Welcome:)And Thanks. I am soooo excited:)

सुजाता said...

dear Homemaker , i really liked ur blog and ur writings .
Keep writing on women related issues .
Pls visit CHOKHER BALI community blog for women by women {in Hindi }

http://sandoftheeye.blogspot.com/2008/04/blog-post_21.html

sujata

Sachin Sawant said...

Ur prolong absence made me wonder whether u have taken the task of finding the substitute for Vaseline Intensive care, to seriously ;-)

Hey, nice to see u back !!! :)

No TV ??? Nor a PC ??? In ur new condo.....

dipali said...

Yayyyy! One more thing- a laptop, so your readers don't fret!
Your holiday pad sounds just wonderful:)

Unmana said...

You live in PUNE?!

Swati said...

Cool :) I was wondering about you as well :) Do we get to see some pics of your new home :)

The Soul of Alec Smart said...

Hey! Thanks for visiting. Just saw your comment and replied. Do check!

Indian Home Maker said...

devaki: I love Mumbai! We were in Mumbai for many years...and moving back to Mumbai is right on top of my 'Eight things I want to do before I die' list.
(http://lifeofanindianhomemaker.blogspot.com/2008/04/late-eight.html)
Can't choose between Mumbai-Pune,love both, but I think it will eventually be back to Mumbai.

Indian Home Maker said...

Sujata Thanks for visiting. I will definitely visit ChokerBali :)

Indian Home Maker said...

Sachin LOL :)Laptop (seen on the header)went with me but internet connection was missing. I considered buying a Data Card or Tata Indicom Plug2surf...
And we still have no TV there, couldn't make up our minds:( And so we did not even know about the Earthquake in China and Jaipur blasts, until somebody called. Yes both are needed urgently!

Indian Home Maker said...

Dipali I missed my blog friends too! Will have to do something about being connected while there...asked a friend about Tata Indicom's plug2surf, might try that. Any suggestions? Dipali, I never realized how much fun such a place could be. It was like starting a home for the first time.

Indian Home Maker said...

Swati I took some pictures, thinking of the blog, but they didn't come out too nice. Might go there tomorrow, for two days, will take better pics this time.

Anonymous said...

i like 1 bhks... easy to maintain, pracitcal and cosy...
u've gt a nice list there.. :D

Indian Home Maker said...

Mandira I totally agree, love this condo, it's cute, cosy, easy to maintain and I am going to make sure it isn't cluttered, we'll just keep what's needed. I realised it is nearly all we need:)

Imp's Mom said...

great to c u back... figured u were away holidaying, with your husband in town :)

congrats on the condo!

Anonymous said...

Wow....weekend place in Mumbai haan :) You make it sound so exotic! Wish you all the best for all the shopping you get to do.Yay!!!

Thought Room said...

Hi
Missed you, congrats on the new retreat.

Dr. Ally Critter said...

Can you forgive me for not following up the tag?

Anonymous said...

Ooops! I missed that!

Think I need to read my blog pals more carefully before commenting. :-)

Dr. Ally Critter said...

Plants, plants IHM, you need loads of green also...

Indian Home Maker said...

alankrita :)Hey, tags aren't compulsory!!And green plants will require regular care, we will only be there occasionally. Maybe Money plants in water... requiring nothing but light.

Indian Home Maker said...

devaki LOL ...actually there are so many old posts and so much to read....! Love the blogosphere:)

Dr. Ally Critter said...

Cacti also....

Indian Home Maker said...

Alankrita cactii is the only thing I am superstitious about!

Dr. Ally Critter said...

Succulents then :D--> if only to prove there are plants beyond money plants... but MPs are awfully hardy. Strangely enough they never seemed to flourish with me in India... here they grow and grow...

Anonymous said...

we want new post!we want new post!we want new post!we want new post!we want new post!we want new post!we want new post!we want new post!
we want new post!we want new post!

Indian Home Maker said...

Mandira Two more post following almost immediately, do read them. I hope you comment on the second one...

Priyanka said...

WOW, Nice to read that you have a place in Mumbai, usually I just hear about people trying to run away from Mumbai. Being a Mumbaiyite, I absolutely LOVE the city. Have Fun !