Wednesday 6 July 2011

Bally! The story of "The Bally Shoe"



The name Bally does not need an introduction at least in Switzerland or Europe or may be also in the rest of the world. The Bally shoe company was started by Carl Franz Bally in the year 1851. We had a very compassionate and a "very passisonate about shoes" guide to tell us "the story of Bally". How it all started in the basement of the house and slowely become one of the best shoe makers of the world.

                                      


The office! still kept like how it used to be.


Carl Franz Bally

                                    

The handwriting was far better than printing.


The entrance to the office.


The writing desk.


Our Guide !!! She has such passion for shoes and knew a lot about it, was worth a visit.




The workshop bits.


Olden days flip-flops


This was a huge piece of amythyst stone, formed in the form of a shoe given to the Bally people from Brazil as a gift.


I have never seen such a big amytheyst


Our guide said in those days also a "little shoe" worn as a pendant was considered to be very lucky, now we know where does people got all the ideas from.


The shoe for the Pope, now if you think about it, Pope always wears red shoes.




Royal shoes.


Shoes from Japan



These were some of the "old styled shoes" but after looking at them I realised the Fashion of the shoe repeats itself and our guide said so many shoemakers come here for inspiration.


House shoes

The embrodry on the leather was done in those days by housewives and then it was made into a shoe.





A Nike from "Roger Federer"


All old classics.


Again the same, beautiful shoes and Ja one old saying from England "No brown after eight" and people used to follow it very seriously.


The shoe from "The Queen of England"



The heels.


and again, with such intricate work.





This little wodden thingy was used to wear the boots.




Winter boots.


Shoes from China.


And of course "India"


and Africa



 "The shoemakers" One very interesting thing I found out about them is. The shoemaker while making the shoe would chew on a small piece of leather. This worked like a drug for him and then he was totally in his element.




Again chinese shoes. The girls in china in those days were considered beautiful with small feet. So they were given small shoes and there feet were tied so that they stay small. 


These shoes were used in the hot regions. The women would wear them to get to the pool/water and leave them close to the pool and get in.


These are small little shoes made from procelian. A very interesting story here. If a man would love a girl he would write a letter to her and send her in this little shoe. Sometimes if the girls were lucky they would get lots of these shoes. I loved the idea. I think Vilreory should start making them !!!





The whole group.


The end.

Auf wieder sehen.
Lieben gruss

Ity

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Grilled Aubergine or Aubergine Caviar

Aubergine, Bringal, Eggplant or Baingan in Hindi. In India it is considered at "The king of Vegetables" and I happen to agree. In my family we all love Aubergine whether its Aloo-Baingan, Bhairwa-Baingan, Baingan ka Bhurta, the Italian Parmigiana, the Greek Moussaka or my simple Aubergine Caviar!!! so we call it at home.

This recipe is inspired by the Indian Baingan Ka Bhurta. It tastes so good and can't get simple than this.

Here is what you will need:

1. three medium sized aubergines
2. garlic cloves 3-4
3. 1 green chili or to taste
4. salt to taste
5. handful of fresh coriander/basil
6. olive oil

Sunday 8 May 2011

Mother's Day


Maa, mother, mummy, madre, mom, ma, माँ ...and so on. God has made this person with such thought. I don't think we could survive without her. Her love, care, support, friendship, understanding and above all the unconditional love she gives you is overwhelming. Thank you God for making a "Mother". I read somewhere God made mothers because he could'nt be in person in every single home and I think that is so true.

I thank God for giving me the Mother he gave me. I am so proud to be her daugher. For all her support, love, care, understanding and always being there for me.

I remember when I was in school, I must be around 10-12 years old. They always asked what you want to be when you grow up, some kids said doctor, engineer, teacher, one even said The prime minister. I stood quietly there(being the shy kid that I was) thinking not about carrer or anthing else, I just thought when I grow up nothing should go wrong and I should be able to be a MOTHER and  thank God I did. For me that was the most important thing. The most primary and other things I knew will fall in place. Being a Mother fulfilled me as a Woman. I feel so complete. I am not saying I am the best Mother in the world. I go with my instincts and try to do my best.  I do argue with my girls, sometimes fight, shout or what I am saying is show them Hard Love which is sometimes needed.

But again I think God has given any Woman this power to do this job rightly. It differes from person to person but the thing is everyone does it in their own way and they have their own instincts and it works for them.

Today I got some little goodies from my girls.

This Gogelhop from Sprungli is becoming kind of a regular on Mother's day. The best little chocolate cake ever.


From my little one I got this card, loved it :)

                                      
                            
                                   and she made a collage on me, I laughed my head off !!! So cute it is !!!

        

I am putting these little things on my Blog because over the time we tend to forget how much blessed we are. Over the years the girls have done so many little things for me mostly which I remember but some have faded a bit. But now I want to keep my blessings closer. One rainy day I can look at them and feel happy again. I hope you all had a good day as well. Keep smiling. 

 नमस्ते इति