Ksarat...thanks a whole bunch.

Looks like I should be able to save a tidy bit....hope your financial forecast comes true.

Nahee-yaar, neither of us can stand those teleserials. Even on those exhausted evenings when we are too tired to change the channel (or break the TV), and stare dumbly at the endless drama, we call it our DNA...Daily Nonsense Allowance!

We'd love to have people dropping in for dinner...if Gujju stuff is okay with you...my wife happens to be Gujarati. We can also manage the idli-dosa variety, aloo/methi/gobi paratha et al...!

So if you'd like to be paid in kind for the advice (haha)do let me know! We are going to be living among Western expatriates and naturally will want to see some familiar faces too!

No Diwali for me. I got the offer more than a month ago, can't keep them waiting any longer. I am travelling on Friday, the day after tomorrow! Now seriously, is there any particular variety of mithai you want? Just ask ASAP! I remember asking complete strangers to bring things like pav bhaji masala, while in the UK!