Anitaelise

A Lovely Silence

I’ve found a lovely silence after so many years
it feels nice to return to the way things were…

A Prayer For Bilkis Bano

India celebrated 75 years of independence on August 15th 2022. And the eleven men convicted in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case walked free that day.

I write this post to make an appeal to all of you my readers, to pray for Bilkis Bano and her family. I ask all of you to keep them in your thoughts for a little while every day. Every moment you can give Bilkis Bano counts.

Solutions – My Friend Temper

Exploring Patriarchy Chapter 28 – Temper. My Friend. You keep me safe when the load gets too heavy and they won’t give me a break.

Speaking out calmly and assertively when there’s pushback is always a risk. Now, it was a risk she was willing to take. A risk she was angry enough to take.

Recipe – Baath Stove Cake

Baath is a Goan semolina and coconut cake. The cake batter is usually kept overnight before baking. My recipe works without the overnight soak, without an oven and with a very flexible interpretation of instructions. I hope you find it easy to follow.

I Won’t Be A Victim

I won’t be a victim – I ‘ll take the controls. Dig my own ditches or explore a new road.

My Clothes Have Shrunk

My clothes have shrunk
No – I do not lie!
It’s not all that cake and apple pie…

Solutions – Moving On From Anxiety

Exploring Patriarchy Chapter 27 – It’s cuddly dog and happy face and we have to look our best, hair always neat and in place. Skirt around what’s going down because talking like it’s okay can turn things around.

This chapter was inspired by a wonderful book on positivity – ‘I’m OK – You’re OK’ by Thomas A Harris, MD.

Holding On To Self

Exploring Patriarchy Chapter 26 – As I mentioned in Chapter 24, Microwave Madam had begun practising sovereignty. This meant unlearning ideas that make women think that running on empty is ok. And learning that support is a two-way street.