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By Jenny 2 years ago, at the end of April Leave a comment on this post
Jenny Thompson
Women and cricket always interests me. I was out for dinner in Goa the other day, as you do, in Benaulim, with my English friend Anthony and his friends, the lovely De Mello family, Goans through and through. They are Paul and Theresa and their two daughters Mary-Lou, 16, and Mary-Jo, 14.
As we sat outdoors at dinner – I had a seafood curry, a Goan speciality – the buzz of the first match between India and Pakistan made for a typical backdrop … We weren’t really watching the match, but the conversation headed that way. I asked Mary-Jo was she interested in cricket and she told me she wasn’t. Then a wicket fell. “Oh, Harbhajan is always run out,” she sighed, just a casual expert.
Then various people were identified: Bob Woolmer, Kapil Dev etc. Maybe they are quite famous – but I can’t imagine any of my friends naming Duncan Fletcher, nevermind telling me he’s Zimbabwean. Mary-Lou confirmed that all of her female classmates could name at least six of the Indian team. Given that the ECB’s pre-Ashes target was for the public to pick out three England players by 2010 … then I reckon six is pretty good myself, don’t you
Need I say that cricket was everywhere in Goa – on the beach, in the fields, in the grounds of a hospital? Thought not. So I’ll say a little bit about the place instead.
As if Goa isn’t amazing. Wide, white sandy beaches and lush seas … South Goa I’m talking now. The north, I hear, has been turned into an oversized Blackpool . Eugh. Now I like Blackpool in its place but its place is adding a bit of cheer in grey-soaked England. I’m certainly not going to go on a political rant – especially as I was myself a tourist and there is the element of trade helping the local economy – but it was quite sad, I thought, to see all the shells of hotels and apartments that will make even south Goa explode soon, and the beaches overcrowded. I hope not.
So … Anthony and I zoomed all over on his scooter, taking in the fish markets and the veg markets and of course the beach (all 20 kilometres of it) and it was as refreshing and exhilarating as you like. And in the evening we had dinner with the family who couldn’t have made me feel more at home – and I do – if they had tried, inviting us back to their place on the second evening for a proper Portuguese-Goan dinner; again lots of spicy seafood. Theresa even gave me a lesson on how to make the perfect chappati – mine always fail; the secret is extra-kneading – and how to cook prawns to perfection. Ain’t this just the life?
Jenny is my colleage at Cricinfo. While in India pretending to work, she took a brief trip to Goa with a stranger. We pretended to be concerned…
Tags: curry, goa, india, jenny-thompson |
On Chapatis, I’ve treid to learn how to make them, and I guesss I can if I want to, but I’m not that good. Mine always end up being not completely circular and a bit wierd. And I can’t knead at all.
I can make parathas do, those ready-to-use ones that you can just flip on hot tawa and and just cook them for five minutes and then they’re ready. These are excellent with tea and a fresh, crisp copy of the morning’s papers…ideal build up to the first morning of a test…
mmmm parathas, my favourite. I make my own naan, the secret is to use honey in the yoghurt instead of sugar.
Only now it’s no longer a secret. Doh!
the real secret to a good bread dough is unhappiness. Let me tell you, kneading the dough to *** after a huge arguement with your partner is the best. Take out all your frustrations on that dough. We could sell this as therapy to all those mad New Yorkers actualy.
Then, one broods in the living room watching cricket, one broods in the kitchen making bread. A wicket falls, you rush together. Kiss and make-up. Food on table. Everything perfect again. Life is good.
And I still confess to envy over Jenny’s job! I sat next to the Rhine scoring a 25-over friendly Bonn v Bonn today. Bonn won by 4 wickets and I got the first sunburn of the season plus a curry lunch. The river Rhine is not quite Goa but we do the best we can 
> Women and cricket always interests me. I
Me too. 
I remember the first time I tried to make a chapatti. It came out the shape of, well, India. The verdict on my cooking skills has been on the wall ever since.
All these India reports are making me feel homesick.
Oooh thanks for all these hints guys and gals! I shan’t tell anyone, Sean … wink, wink … Maybe we could get Will to launch a cookery blog now, too? Whaddyasay, Willo?
Oh ha, I like what you say about unhappiness, Wraye! I always found I was suddenly much better at squash after an argument …
As for parathas, well, they are immense - I’m a big fan of those and will be getting some to take back (soon, sob).
Sorry you’re homesick Pratik and I almost feel guilty for having such a good time here - but I am delighted to report how much fun it all is. And the shape of India - that’s at least patriotic, no?
Cookery smookery. Little known fact, apart from those who know me well, is that I’m a quite stupendous cook. And modest, too. I will own a restaurant in Italy and it’ll be a rip-roaring success. They like Roast Beef over there don’t they?
That said, I couldn’t make a chapatti if it fell out of a wood-burning oven and smacked me in the eye. So, no.
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Cricket and breads…
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Ps Jenny - well done for not starting a piece with OK
Now I am hungry and it’s just 11 am! But my vote goes to the chapatti! Lighter and more can be had with lesser degree of guilt!
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