Human nature is as such that it takes one small smile from a loved one, one act of kindness, one happy memory re-lived or one breath-taking view ahead to lift one’s spirit or even unconditionally forgive the world the cruelty it sometimes displays. The picture alongside was that moment for me. Awesome.

High up in the Dingli Cliffs in the pretty island of Malta which lies basking in the warm sun with the blue waters of the Mediterranean lapping at its shores. Now here is one perfect holiday destination with super hotels and resorts, fabulous restaurants, nice people and we Indians haven’t really discovered it. There are people who don’t even know where exactly it is situated. Well, let me tell you. South of the Italian island of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya in Africa. Go visit.

India On A High, that’s our story of the quarter. The alcobev industry is going great guns. We are spoilt for choice aren’t we, with the kind of internatonal wines and spirits now available. Unfortunately the government plays spoil sport with the taxes it levies, the policies it adopts. As consumers, we should raise a voice in the right spirit, to help the industry help us. Meaning, why should a bottle of bubbly cost us four or five times the amount it does abroad?

We’ve swung to the other end of the spectrum with Busybee’s Round and About. You just have to see what they drank in those days of prohibition. Yuck! (Page 176)

Everything is so food-centric in our country. Even fasting. Shravan is a month when most Hindus and Jains fast. As much for the body as for the soul. It’s when the devout visit temples and eat food made with only permitted ingredients. Mind you, it’s all very scientific. Challenging for restaurants to create special menus abiding by the rules. Soam right opposite the Babulnath Temple where people go most religiously every Monday dishes out mouth-watering faraal food. My friend, the owner, Pinky Dixit, has kindly shared with us a whole lot of these recipes.

Like India’s popular annual UpperCrust Show, a mecca for foodies, Britain has its Taste of London. I was there this summer and quite enjoyed it. Pretty in it’s setting at the Regent’s Park. Get acquainted with it through our pages and go for it next year.

Closer home I had the pleasure of going into the forest kitchen of Jaisinh Mariwala. At 75, he becomes the oldest person to have cooked for me. An extempore cook, it was not easy for him to write down the recipes. They are in the last pages, do try them out, they are unusual. I can vouch for that.

With champagne on my mind and all things bubbly I come to my new favourite Bollywoodian, Ayesha Takia. What a sweet, happy, fun, young girl she is. I can’t decide who is luckier, she or her fiancé Abu Farhan Azmi, who is such a gem. Lets say they both are, in equal measure, and wish them laughter and joy together forevermore.