Lets party

Summer is finally here and we are all either hosting or attending BBQs and pool parties. It is so refreshing to be able to sit out and enjoy the sun. Sounds of laughter and the aroma of food…. Ah!

But what about after party work? Your guests all left without offering to help? Or there is litter of plastic cutlery and crockery everywhere? There are bits of food all over your backyard? Well that is a hazard you have to face, but you can minimize that.

First, ask for help. Believe me most times people assume you don’t need help because you don’t ask. Simply ask them to carry food inside. You can then pack it in containers and give these away if there is surplus.

Second, place two three garbage bags in the area so people can put garbage in there. If it is handy, they will make it a point to use it.

Third, keep the bar away from food. That way a chance of drink getting spilled on food is minimum. Plus there will be less chaos if people are standing in small groups rather than everyone congregating in one corner.

Don’t keep too much gap between two courses. If there is too much gap, people tend to throw away their disposable plates and take new every time. Also make sure that disposable plates and cutlery is of good quality and does not get soggy.

Keep plenty of tissues around; in fact it is even better to have the kitchen towel handy. It will save you a lot of trouble.

Before you serve main dishes, remove the appetizers and if possible wash the platters. You will have less to clean at the end of the day. I usually run a quick cycle in my dishwasher after appetizers are consumed so my platters are clean. And before serving dessert, remove other food.

Please, please don’t serve food that requires too much handling. If people have to use forks and knives, it will create confusion because it is a BBQ and not a sit-down dinner.

So go ahead and host a fantastic party and have a blast

So be it!!!

Are you serious?

How often we hear this remark these days. Anybody tells us something about someone or something we say this. Anytime we hear something out of ordinary, we say this. But don’t you think the phrase has lost its real meaning. I mean am I serious?

Most people who know me will say ‘are you serious’? Poornima?  serious? She is so bubbly, enthusiastic, outgoing, fun loving. How can she be  serious? But do you think a person is considered serious only if they remain silent most of the time, refrain from making noise and appear to be calm. Or are seen talking about books, politics or some intellectual topic. By this criterion, most men will be serious as discussing politics is their favourite past time. I will be counted as serious too as I love discussing politics. But strangely when I discuss politics, men in my circle look askance at me. As if I have invaded their private club.

When I first requested my editor to give me politics as my field, he looked at me with a patronizing smile and said’ are you serious’? When I wanted to change my job, the first question I was asked was, how come you did political journalism.

But I think I am loosing my tangent here. Being serious has changed its reference I think. In my eyes, I am a very serious person. But people perceive me as non-serious. If a person is upbeat, positive and optimistic, does that mean they are not serious? Or if they sing on the karaoke and crack jokes at the drop of a hat, they are not serious?

I have asked this question to myself for a very long time. Do I have to stop being enthusiastic, social and cheerful in order to be taken seriously? Or considered as serious?

I am not championing to be taken as a serious person but I am really baffled about the issue of seriousness. Is it a trait or a habit? Is it a façade or nature? What do we mean by serious? A person who remains silent, appears to be calm and stable but makes no contribution intellectually is serious or a person who brings great value to the group but apparently not ‘serious’ is really serious?

Give a thought to how serious you are and send me your feedback. Till then be serious

So be it!!!