US trip August 2015

It has been a year since the US trip but wanted to record some thoughts for memories' sake.

The main purpose of the trip was to meet my brother's family in Atlanta and get to know each other better as families. Which we did.

I and the little one went for three weeks and K joined us after the 1st week.

Chitlu enjoyed the huge trampoline in the back yard and loved trailing her niece who was 14 years old and a musical prodigy of sorts!

She loved running through the huge ambling house ( as houses in the US tend to be!)

She was very comfortable with my patient and loving sister in law.

Though she was initially wary of my very tall and reasonably built nephew..she soon got comfortable with him as well.

Of course her mama ( her uncle,  my brother) was gentle, playful and fondly indulgent with her and allowed her to call him 'dino' since she thought he must have born with the dinosaurs as he said he was 48 years old!

Unbelievably K had 4  of his college mates/ ex colleagues living around the same locality and we were asked to dinner at each of their places over the course of our stay there. Chinnu
with her British accent and huge brown eyes was a hit everywhere we went!

We were taken to the Atlanta aquarium which was huge and wonderful and the 4d shows were her favourite!

In the zoo she loved petting the animals and calling her Raja mama to view each and every one of the creepy crawlies that he was patently averse to!

We also went tubing in the Chatahoochee river! It was as funny as it could get! The sun was shining bright so we thought the tubing would be a breeze in the cool water. What we did not realize was that the tube left us burning all over with just our bums immersed in ice cold water! (Imagine a flat lying tyre - that was the tube!) It was  a long winding float down the river and by mistake K , the little one and my niece got off the tubes on a small strip before the actual landing which was further down.

I could not the bear the thought of going farther away in that silly tube, so when I could not navigate to this stupid (wrong!) stretch , from the middle of the river, I simply  jumped into the river (off the tube) and pushed the tube away. Only later realised the depth of the river (!) and started swimming desperately to the shore!

In the meanwhile, K is simultaneously shouting encouragements to me to swim safely and asking the other tubers to please recover the tube that I had so inconsiderately pushed away! ''20 dollars, 20 dollars'' he kept saying! (Grrrr!)

Finally when we all tied ourselves together and floated down to the actual strip.. we found that some bright spark from the tubing company had carefully fished out the tube I had sent floating without once wondering whatever happened to the poor soul who was supposed to be on that tube!

My nephew who was 17 found the entire episode hilarious and would not stop teasing me and K! :)

Never again shall I ever go tubing!
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The highlight was our trip to Florida with our cousin, her hubby and her two lovely boys. The three families stayed in a holiday townhouse and we all got on very well. Pattu slept on a Mickey Mouse bunk bed and was very thrilled!

We celebrated her birthday along with one the boys and had great fun decorating the house with balloons and bubbles and donning party hats and cutting cakes!

She had breakfast with the princesses at Disney and of course was deriliously happy. She was dressed as Elsa complete with tiara and everyone at the resort addressed her as a princess ! The employees at Disney Florida were a delight especially after the sour faced ones at the Paris Disneyland.

We went to Epcot and to the other resorts. Her favourite ride amongst everything was splash world and her favourite show was Beauty and the Beast where she was made part of the show along with the other kids!

My favourite bit was the disney fireworks in the evening. It was truly magical and memorable. We saw the same in Paris too but we were shivering in the August weather and the crowded alleys did not help the enjoyment. Here, I laydown right in front of the castle lawn and thoroughly enjoyed the magical show!

The trip to NASA (Kennedy Space centre, Florida) was quiet enjoyable as well. The 4 d film on space was quite an experience.

Once back to Atlanta we went on a day's trek to Amicalola falls and enjoyed the view from the top of the valley below.

The trip to the botanical gardens in Atlanta  was great as well.

One special personality to remember from the trip was 'Star Bucks', the cute chocolate Pomeranian in one of K's friend's house that Pattu petted so much that he growled only for the second time in his entire life!

We still tease her about that!

Perspective

This summer of 2016 is turning into one of the best ever! The weekends have been full of sun and breeze and with good friends for company we have been exploring Bosworth park, Ryton pools park etc. Boating in the lakes of Bosworth park, walking around the huge lake, picnicking ..repeating the same at Ryton pools with the additional perk of riding our bikes through the dense woods has been nothing short of fantastic!

Our young one rode the bike with us, the entire distance we did and also did the hikes and was still active in the evening too! Touchwood for the fitness!

The three kids - our R, her best  friend S, and our new kiddie neighbour N had a blast on the play areas, the muddy pool and boating. The ice creams in different colours helped their bonding too;)

No longer my little one, the young one also went Strawberry and Rasberry picking at Matlins farm followed by a trip to the war memorial park wither friend T. Her school friend T and her then came home and played till 11 pm!

She is definitely having a more roaring social life than either of us!

We also went to two houses for varalakshmi viratham and the other ladies there talk about having seen her the years before in these functions but do not remember me at all!

Now, to the real point of this post. While driving to and back from these places we get some nice songs on or the chart toppers from SAAVN. Sometimes we go nostalgic and this way we were listening to ' Taareef karoon kya uski jisne tumhe banaya! ( How do I praise the one who made you!) which is a romantic track of yester years.

Of late there has been a similar tamil song that goes ' Evan unnai peththan? (Who (the male equivalent) the hell gave birth to you!) which is also supposedly romantic.

K usually is very chilled out about this ( like he anyways is about everything else in life!) so I was quite surprised when he quipped for the 'Tareef karoon' song - how beautiful and elegant this song is when compared to the crass version of the latest song!

My suspicions were immediately aroused. I said ' That is new for you.. you never really bothered about these things before!'

K sheepishly replied ' Well, I now have a daughter and they could be , you know, if you take the literal meaning, in a way singing about me!

Aha! So that is the matter!

So  looks like God knew exactly what he was doing when he made K the adoring dad of a daughter huh?

:)

Paphos!

Back from beautiful Paphos and unlike the US trip..would rather write before I forget!

Stayed at the Aliathon fishing village which was also opposite the Louis Pedra beach. Personally for me..walking along this beach and going to sit on the stones jutting in to the waves to view the sun set in to the sea in warm pink and orange tones was the highlight of the trip!

As the little one commented ' Look mama!Sea and sun meeting and greeting in pink!'

For the little one the Jolly Rogers Pirate cruise where they played games, did some pirate face painting , magic show ( especially where the pigeon popped out of the hat! ) and the funny acrobatics was the highlight!

This despite her joining us in parasailing over the Louis Pedra beach ( where the rest of the crowd clapped for her for her fearlessness as we landed on the boat! ) and swimming in the sea ( across 9 metres deep water)  in the blue lagoon on a cruise there!  Though I must admit that due to the saltiness of the sea water she did say she disliked the sea swim.

The holiday village itself was loads of fun where we swam everyday in the big pool and in the paddling pool. The little one and her dad had enormous fun doing what they called Tumbly wumbly's'  ( where the kid gets flipped over under water by her daddy!) and diving off  and swimming lengths racing to see who reaches the other end first!

She also had a great time at the First Choice kids club chocolate party from where she emerged smeared in chocolate all over! Of course, what is not to like in that!

What I particularly liked was that when we went parasailing ..not only was she game enough to try it but also asked sensible questions about having to land in a moving boat and what she needs to do to land safely.

She however refused to go to kids club saying firmly that her idea is to spend more time with us and not making new friends. We were gently admonished for having suggested otherwise. :(

K had a wonderful time with the blue lagoon cruise and spent 3 hours swimming in the emerald sea.  I swam too but after an hour came on the boat to enjoy the lovely breeze and the live music not to mention the barbecue lunch and cold coffee!

I also have to say how friendly and relaxed all the locals were and it was a pleasure to interact with any of them. They were really lovely to kuttima and that for me is the deal maker!

On the negative side the resort massages were over priced and the excursions should never be booked through TUI as they did not deliver all that was promised and we seemed to have paid atleat 50percent more than those who booked onsite!

Never mind..we spent a lot of quality time together and the extra money is for a lesson well learnt for next time ! :)

The Dubai Trip!

Jotting titbits for memories sake!

a. The weather, cleaniness and the company ( V and C's adorable boys and their niece were wonderful company for the little one!) made this one of the best trips ever!

b. Loved the miracle garden. The wonderful weather was an added bonus.

c. Burj Khalifa was wonderful but missed clear views due to the clouds. However whatever we could see through the clouds was still fantastic!

d. The Dune bashing was ok. But the dunes themselves were mesmerizing..

e. The dolphinarium was surprisingly not the same as the ones we saw in Florida or Italy or Spain!  This is because the dolphins played some games amongst themselves without the instructor being involved at all.. I personally found it really good!

f. The wild wadi water park was good fun. I particularly enjoyed the aritifical beach with the warm waves. I floated on my back and lay peacefully looking at the clear sky. It was, for me, a beautiful experience.

g.The dubai water front was lovely. We went on a family exclusive boat ride and I had great fun!

h. The little ones enjoyed the Dubai underwater aquarium and zoo. But after the London sea life centre, the Spain aquarium and  the Atlanta aquariam, the little one was not impressed!

i. The fountain show was wonderful in the night with the music and did I mention the wonderful weather ? :)

j.I forget the name of the beach we went to - but it was clean, the water was lovely and we all had a blast!

Staying in a 2 bedroom apartment with V's family was great fun as one kid or the other did or said something naughty or charming. Even the little one's fights or tears were fond memories for me. To quote just one example, the littlest was 3 years old and fancied himself to be a lion roaring at everybody in his tiny voice. One day he got off his breakfast and announced ' The lion is now going to go for a wee!'. It was so spontaneous that it took a while for the rest of us to stop laughing! The 'lion' was mighty offended! :)

My precious daddy

1. 39 year old daddy is going out into the garden to fetch something..6 year old daughter pipes up ' Mummy Daddy is going out without his coat on! He may catch a cold! '. Dear pattuma.. your precious daddy  is much stronger than you think .. and I do not need to hold the coat and get his hands into his sleeves like I do for you!

2. Daddy is fixing the trampoline for his darling daughter now that summer is finally here. The little one comes rushing in. ' Mummy please may I have a band aid?'. ' Why Kannamma? ' . ' Daddy has got a scratch in his hand and it is bleeding. He has not even seen it. I do not want it to hurt! '. Need I say more?

3. Dad is away travelling. I pick her up from school and am driving home. 'So, what did you do at school sweetheart?'. ' I was thinking about daddy and missing him!'

4. This happened when the little one was barely 5 years old. We were at a softplay area and having not able to spot the little one amongst all the other children, dad gets up from our restaurant area and goes to check if his little one is safe. Shoes are not allowed in the soft play area so he removes them at the entrance to the area. While he is searching on one side, the little one comes out through the other side, spots her dad's shoes and brings them over to me saying ' Mummy, these are MY daddy's shoes. Somebody took it there and I have brought it back! '. 

In the meanwhile Daddy comes having not found his daughter and as a bonus, having lost his shoe! ' I did not know even people in this country stole shoes! I am very surprised'. I had to then explain to him that the 'thief' was none other than his own precious darling!

Letters to my Princess -4

Dear Pattumma..

You made me burst with pride again last week..

Basically you started to learn to ride your bike with the stabilisers off just last week. In a matter of half an hour you had cracked it and albeit unsteadily - you were whizzing past a lot of amused joggers (and their dogs!)  :)

So.. this went on for a while and appa was worried you would be too tired.! Now-as parents of an precious, much awaited for, much loved and only child - we do plead guilty to being over protective of you and being 'helicopter' parents that may do you more harm than good..

However, that day we all wanted to end the day with an icecream and appa suggested that he would carry the bike while you and I made our way to the icecream van that was quiet a distance away..

Just hoping to tease you I said.. 'No daddy ..do not carry her bike.. if she wants her icecream, she would have to cycle for it!'.. And pat came your reply ' Do not worry Daddy.. I want to earn this icecream! ' and you rode like the wind to the van :) Only some 'Rocky' style back ground music was missing!

We know how much these things tire you - so we know what an effort this is.

And this is not just an one off! Your uncle cannot praise you enough for your positive and sunny attitude to every day of your life, your teachers keep talking about  your great attitude and how you think hard work is something to be proud about..and I cannot but notice how even my temper tantrums fail before your persistent beaming sunshine attitude!

You are small, of low weight and height even for a year younger to you and you are always the youngest in any class due to the date of your birth..but you happily refuse to acknowledge any of the above and just focus on punching well above your weight..

Sweet heart.. no Diva 'Earns' her icecream or any other reward  as stylishly as you do my darling..

Love you to the moon and back..

Amma

PS

You did also learn Division and earn your stars for the same this same week but this was way more fun!

PPS

You also turned a corner in your handwriting..lovely, neatly spaced sentences making their way now..well done chitlu!

Born Barrister!

Since the time we have come back from our holiday in the US, the little one's swimming has undergone drastic changes. She now swims lengths very confidently in the adult's pool without once touching the floor. Also, she is able to swim underwater for quiet a while.

On her dad's birthday, as has become the family tradition on any of our birthdays, we went for a family swim. She thoroughly enjoyed the session and was chasing me along the length of the pool.. I ran while she swam and caught up with me with ease :)

However, I am always terrified that she might get overconfident and do something impulsive and put herself in danger in the pool. So when we were walking back from the outdoor pool and she ran in to the indoor pool and put her foot in, I said ' How many times have I told you not to get into the pool without amma or appa? Please have the patience to wait!'

Her reply ' Amma, if you waited for 10 minutes, you would have seen that I was only dipping my feet and did not get into the pool. You need to be more patient amma!'

Gulp!

And she turned 6 just a few days back.

Double Gulp!

I rest my case.

PS

This monday is her assessment at the preparatory school. A big step for her and us. I am tensed and scared for her and us. ( The pounds involved!) Dad and daughter however, are cool as usual.

Letters to my daughter -3

Pattu thangam

You are going to be 6 years old in a month and how many moments of pride you have given us already! The youngest in class and yet a couple of years ahead in Reading and comprehension. Tiniest in class but 2nd price in skipping. Special award for 'original' poetry writing and the poem being read out in the school assembly! Swimming in the big swimming pool with those tiny little hands and legs! Playing notes on the piano that amma cannot manage to!

But none of the above beat the below

- You never ever choose between me and appa.. no matter how many times we ask you, you always say you love both of us equally :)
- You love to hug and kiss me and appa. Any time of the day.
- You cannot stay sad or cross for more than 5 minutes. The twinkle in your eyes and the sunshiny smile is always around the corner - no matter what!
- I call you a 'Born Barrister'. You can very logically argue and turn any negotiation to your favour. I know you want to be a GP during the weekday and a 'face paint lady' (!) in the weekends.. but I see you having a natural flair to be a barrister!
-You love holding hands, sitting on my lap and generally cuddling. I love the times we cuddle together and read a book or watch the telly
- I once told you 'never to scream'. That evening you had your 'Stage coach' performance of Charlie and the chocolate factory. You had to scream along with some of the others on stage. I loved the way you were the only one looking straight into the audience at me, with your big , chocolatey eyes and refusing to scream :). I love you sweetheart for listening to me so diligently :)
-I keep telling you ' be kind to others' and you said ' Amma don't just say be kind, tell me what to say to be kind! What is kind to me is not kind to you :)'
-I love that no matter how much you love your chocolates you never eat them without offering amma and appa a share
- No matter how much you love eating something, you are able to say - I have had a bit, I do not want any more. (The only thing that you can never have enough is playing tag!)

Of course you also have trouble waiting till somebody completes their sentence before voicing your opinion, you still spill your food, you are the fussiest eater I know, your handwriting is horrendous and you still get your way with appa by shamelessly using tears... but with all the good and the bad and everything in between there is nobody else and nothing else that has made me this happy, content and absolutely at peace.

Love you to infinity and back thangame!

Hugs always
Amma

Letters to my daughter - 2

My dear little fairy princess..

I am back again with my heart bursting full with a need to spill at least some of these overwhelming emotions..

Of late I have been raising the bar for you on everything - what you should read, write, say, do.

You, in all your innocence are trying your level best to fulfill my expectations without really understanding why the sudden pressure. Just the other day, I was so upset because you had been naughty at school.  I was being so harsh with you and we both raised our voices. But it was you who calmed down first, looked up at me and asked so sweetly ' If I play the piano beautifully today - will that make you smile amma? '.

May be it is normal for a little kid to ask this of her mum but I was so touched (and a little bit ashamed that you were being the grown up  and I, the child..)

Just because I have lost precious children before and after you.. it is unfair of me to expect you to make up for all those losses and  have the best of the lot of the them. I am elated, grateful, blessed and permanently changed for the better because you fought with the powers to be, to come to your dad and me. I am glad you chose us. I am glad you fought to be with us. There is nothing more that I should possibly ask of you other than letting you grow in to the wonderful , spirited sweet heart that you so obviously are.

I remember, some time back..in fact, till the time you were a toddler, as soon as you got up in the morning you used to search for my face, spot it and immediately your face will just bloom from sleepy confusion into a lovely smile that infused your face (and my heart) with joy! That used to be the best part of my day.

Now, as we cuddle in bed at night, read a book together, talk about our day and giggle about how we fought with each other at tea time..I marvel at your growth and spirit and  logical mind and generosity and feel so proud and blessed.

That has now become the best part of my day.

We tell you daily that you are the bestest, you are our favourite and we love you the most in this world..but Kannamma.. what we are actually trying to tell you is this

'Thank you for being you!'

Love you to the moon and back
Amma

India Trip 2014

This year's trip to India was more awesome than the previous ones.. Special credit goes to Kumarakom lake resort where we stayed for 4 fun filled days.. The property was most beautiful, what with traditional Kerala houses turned into Villas facing the serene Vembanad lake..

We stayed in a heritage villa facing the lake.. the villa was right by a lovely stream of water where cranes and birds came in for a reprieve from the April heat.. the villa had a private pool and boy did the little one have fun there..

We jumped into the pool as soon as we checked in and the little one swam for atleast 3 hours every day for the four days we stayed there..

Over and above that the infinity pool that merged into the lake was our daily destination as soon as we woke up in the morning..

The sunrise cruise across the backwaters of Kerala early in the morning..passing through mango, banana and coconut trees fully laden with fruits and green leaves was a memory that will sustain me through the vagaries of at least another year!

The best part as a family was when it rained and we played about in the privacy of our pool..The best part for me was skinny dipping in the room pool late in the night looking at the stars twinkling away..

Apart from the above, we stayed at the Residency in Coimbatore - the lesser said about it the better..

Had a wonderful time at 'handsome' grandpa's house.. the beautifully placed, cooling mountain wind facing 'oonjal' was a big hit with the three of us..

The little one had a good time playing with her cousins at her 'Doctor Grandpa's' house and making loads of new friends at her 'Pattima's' house...

We also visited the Ranganthaswamy temple at Srirangapatna..where K had proposed and I had said 'Yes' 11 years back..So we had a fun time explaining to the little one how mummy and daddy decided to become Husband and Wife and she was very cross we had gone ahead without having consulted her!

Marriott at Bangalore upgraded us to a 'Junior Suite' and as usual we had great fun there as well as the ' executive lounge' with a view of night time Bangalore from the balcony!

Meeting R and S(my ex boss and ex-colleague) at the 'Tiffin box' was a wonderful experience, more so for the great fun we had! Missed H though! He was busy trekking in Nepal right admist the avalanches just then..

Of course all fun has to end and coming back home we have just discovered a small wet patch  in the roof and we are in full panic mode now!

God save us.

Mr This and Ms That..

From the time the little one has started going to school, life here in the A household has gotten much more interesting..

Whenever she is caught doing something wrong, the little imp lets her imagination run riot in developing stories that tell us why it went wrong..

She loves to carry my handbag..while we are ready to go out somewhere we suddenly here a thump and the handbag is down the stairs with the little one standing right on top of the stairs.

Her Dad and I sit her down and ask ' why did you throw the handbag down the stairs you naughty girl!'

Her reply : ' But Ms Handbag said she wanted to jump down the stairs to show her friends how far she could jump! '

This is said with her hands making cute little gestures and her big innocent puppy eyes looking up at you as earnestly as they can!

Her Dad and I struggle hard to contain our laughter and remain focused on our endeavor to discipline this errant little Pinocchio!

Another morning - her scrambled eggs are spilled, albeit a little, around her plate.

'Why did you spill your food - you are a big girl aren't ya? I thought you could eat neatly all by yourself' - This is silly old boring me.

'But amma - Mr Egg said that he wanted to dance around my plate and mmm..mmm.. I just wanted to help him!'

Nowadays I have come to enjoy these little nuggets made up by the imp that I am not sure I want to stop them coming!

God help us trying to be strict parents of this one!

Ray of Sunshine

One of my good friends has written a book and has sweetly mentioned me in his 'Acknowledgments'.

It is not your 'name-in-the-print-dream-come-true' moment exactly but given the kind of year it has been and given how much I like and respect this guy - I think I will take it and celebrate it!

Thanks HS!

p.s.  The book by the way is called 'Start me up'. A good, honest book by a good, honest guy.

Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost

Just saw a heart-rending documentary about Ayrton Senna. Three time  Formula one world champion. Record holder for one of the most pole positions. Brazil's pride.

Last driver fatality in Formula one.

Though his initial entry into the game is drive purely by passion, slowly he seems to have developed keener instincts for the politics of the game and more importantly the art of playing the press.

The ping pong actions of rivalry between  Senna and Prost are not entirely Prost's fault as the documentary will have us believe.

Senna's 'strategy' of forcing opponents  to run too close to the pitwall is what seems to have kick started the rivalry in the first place. Not just that he further ups the game in the 1989 San Marino grandprix by breaking their agreement not to get into each other's way to the first corner.

Prost , with the alleged help of Jean-Marie Balestre  the then FIA president (who was later alleged to be an ex-Nazi)  and a French man like Prost gets Senna unfairly disqualified after his fantastic win at Suzuka, the Japanese Grand Prix.

They go a few more rounds with each other with Prost going as far as putting a clause in his contract with Williams to NOT sign up Senna as his team mate knowing fully well Senna's efforts at that time to sign up with Williams.

Despite this and more, post Senna's untimely and tragic demise at just 34 years old at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Prost was one of six pall bearers and was a trustee of the Ayrton Senna institute.


I have always been amazed by the ability of men to generously forgive.

And the general inability of us women to do so.

Anyways, a meteoric life though it might be, I think Ayrton had packed more fun, fight, passion and love in his short life than most of us in a longer life time.

A wonderful watch. Recommended.

Letters to my daughter - 1

Dear Princess

For reasons that we both know..I would like to record forever the kind of mom I intend(ed) to be..so you will know..no matter what..

1. I love you. Irrespective of whether you play the piano well or swim well or read well or eat without spilling.. I love you just as you are and just as you will be. To know you is to love you and to be your mum is to love you unconditionally.

 I have a part to play in who you are and I will never turn away from that truth. If we are good, we are good together and if we are bad, we are so together.

2. We fight. A lot. You are just 4 years old but you have strong opinions and  clear communication. I encourage you to contradict me when you feel I am in the wrong. This is because I want you to develop a strong character, an individual thought process.

But remember.. we always fight with a view to Understand and be Understood. We never fight to win. Different opinions can co-exist happily. You might believe in something exactly opposite to me but that is not going to stop me from loving you or you me.

We shall never be that insecure in our beliefs.

3. Already you speak about things I do not understand ('One direction!' - At 4 years! I only know they are a band!) but I promise I will not judge you just because you seek things I do not understand. I will try my best to understand them with you and on my own. My values are going to be different to yours..but that does not mean you are bad or I am..it just means that we are different because we belong to different generations.

We shall always celebrate that difference and grow/evolve more because of it.

4.I love(d) every minute of being your mom. Yes, I have made sacrifices but those were conscious choices by me. Those sacrifices were made towards my happiness which at that moment was from yours. So, in all  you owe me - Absolutely Nothing.

I have always striven (with your dad's help) to maintain a balance between my space, my time and my duties to you. Never in my life do I want to hold you accountable for something I have missed out in my life. You have done nothing but enhance my life. Made me a better person. Relaxed me. Taught me to open my heart and love more.

If you want to give me something at all..it is this. Be true to your heart. Be sensible and safe in your life. Demand the best from life. Deserve nothing less.

Most importantly..love your child as unconditionally as or even better than I love you. And tell her to do the same to her/his child.

5. We do get angry with each other. Then we take a break from each other. (Mostly you declare that you are taking a break from me even while continuing to happily sit on my lap and play..) But we always get back. Because I am your mum and you are my daughter and we love each other and that is the final truth. We make it a point to say that we love each other before we take a break.

These breaks are, for now only for a grand total of 5 minutes.

But I know that when you are a teenager you might want longer breaks from me and I from you. We shall give each other that space. But at the end of it we will be eagerly waiting for each other - always. The break is for our anger not for our love. This is a promise and a commitment I learnt from your dad. And  now I pass it on to you.


6. I am always going to be jealous of the love between you and your dad. While I plan and pray and strive and practically stand upside down to let you know that I love you.. he does it so effortlessly. He seems to have communicated all of the above and more..without writing or saying a single word.

But remember - all said and done.. he is a 'boy' and we are the team committed to 'Girl power! ' So all the secrets are just between us!  :)

Love you sunshine!

Shall write more as and when my heart is again so full of love that I can't take it anymore without writing down atleast some of it :)

Amma.

Countries and People

Just counted 12 + countries that I have been to..want to jot down thoughts as they come before I forget my experience in each of those..

Do note that these are my very personal opinions and are to be taken with loads of salt..

I have not visited all the places in each of these countries - not even all the important, ' must visit' places..so this is more like 'notes to myself' than a guidance to others!

So here I go in descending order of  having visited them..

Turkey (Only Istanbul)

 Unbelievably child friendly. Everybody seems to love children. We received loads of chocolates from complete strangers just because our little imp was with us!  Not very familiar with English. But still easy to navigate the country. Topakapi palace in Istanbul is easily the best feature. The weather ( in June) was awesome! Do not forget to dine with a view of the Bosphorus Strait  at the Topakapi Palace. An awesome experience. The Chora church is a treasure for history buffs and the yearabatan cistern for Dan Brown fans! Hagia sophia and the blue mosque absolute delights to explore :)

Spain

Either the language or the way people spoke it..came across as very rude. The castillians as opposed to the Spaniards seemed cooler. More down to earth. Valencia has a wonderful sand beach. Do not miss the Sagrada Familia church and Park Guell by Antoni Gaudi. An evolving project that has gone on for a century (Sagrada Familia)..very impressive - in concept and in reality.

The Alhambra palace - I hear is built as the Moors' imitation of the Paradise. I did not get a chance to see it. I did see the Royal Palace which was just another beautiful European place of grandeur. But the Alhambra, I believe is something else altogether.


Holland

Love the Dutch. They switch between english and Dutch effortlessly and without sulking like the French. They seem secure in their language and their love for it! Stayed at Den Haag. Less crowded than Amsterdam. The canals,the tulips, the people, Van Goh's museum, Anne Frank and the annexe where that brave little girl hid.. what is not to admire and love about Holland?

Belgium

The Grand Place may be?. Give the Atomium and  the Mannequin de Pis a miss. Nothing much to be impressed about either. But  - do not miss the gourmet food. Choclates, Biscuits, Waffles and Cream. Go to Belgium just for the Waffles :)

France -Paris

The most child un-friendly european city I have ever been to. Children are merely tolerated.

 Do learn as much French as you can. Parisians sulk at having to listen to you speak English -forget about talking to you in English. ( And I do speak un peu de French and it was only by mistake did I slip into English) But if you even attempt to speak French..they melt (while correcting you of course..)

But the place. Paris. What is it about the Champs de Elysees that charms you and makes you fall in love.?. The Tuileries, Notre Dame, La Sacre Coeur..the Louvre.. Paris has got the X factor.. you cannot put your finger on it.. but I am yet to meet somebody who has not loved Paris.

Switzerland

Switzerland has three sectors - the Italian, German and French sectors. I have never been to Germany and I know only one German ( a colleague - and she was a sweet heart) but the population in the German sector were unpleasant to say the least. If you make your money off tourists, the least you can do is be polite to them. Especially when they are trying their best to be good to you.

It was a pleasure to visit the other two sectors. We stayed at Engelberg. I cannot for the life of me imagine what Heaven can possibly have that betters this. What can the man/woman up there possibly add?  The greenery, the cows with the gentle bells, the clouds elegantly crossing your balcony, the lovely people..I think Engleberg and I think peace, happiness, love, relaxation, beauty. Enough said.

Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich - it is beauty that never bores.

Italy

Love, love, love the mad Italians. They did not care that you did not speak Italian. They did not care that they did not know English. They could not understand, for the life of them, why that should stop us from having a conversation! Every Italian we met had something  random to say about Silvio Ber*coni and in the same breath 'la bella bambino!' - our little imp!

Rome was the ultimate historical paradise. Give Naples a big miss except for the lovely island of Capri. Venice - the Gondoliers and their songs.. St Mark Square and the Pigenos - a 'Namaste' from every Venetian you meet - an awesome memory.

 Florence - Read about the Stendhal Syndrome - it is no exaggeration..I was stunned by the sheer beauty of the city.

Walk the city of Rome - in the night. The experience is like none other.

Sistine Chapel's ceilings by Michaelangelo and the Piata in Vatican are artworks that even an art idiot like me could stare at for hours for and be mesmerised..so do not miss them at any cost!

Singapore

Visited twice for work. The rainy and sunny afternoons were an unexpected pleasure (when indoors!) Stayed at the Swissotel. The staff were lovely beyond words!

Do not miss the 'Night Safari' - especially if you have kids (or animal-loving husbands like me!). Never made it to Sentosa Island so nothing more to add here.

Orchard road is good for shopping ( or was when I visited 6 years ago!)

Maldives

A collection of islands that take your breath away even as you travel from the airport to one of those islands to your hotel! But nothing much to do except to parasail, snorkel, swim and relax by the beach!

Went for an off-site conference at work so it was an all paid for holiday with work colleagues!

Enough said :)

Did not see enough people to know how they were. Was busy relaxing :)

Mauritius

Unlike Maldives, there is a little bit more to do than just deep sea diving and snorkeling ..you could visit the seven coloured earth at Chamarel or visit the Pamplemousse botanical garden or watch the sunset/sunraise at Ile aux cerfs..

A perfect destination to unwind and relax.

Though the island is populated by many Indian origin farmers, they fiercely identify themselves as mauritians and most know no other language other than French/Creole.

Nepal
It was a good 10 years ago and all I can remember is the river rafting in the Bhote Koshi river ..it was the first time and there was no looking back after that.. fell in love with River Rafting forever..

Once again - a work sponsored trip - so the entire team stayed at a 5 star hotel and it was simply awesome!

Was not otherwise very impressed. People of course were pleasant and kind.

The United States of America
A family trip to visit my brother. My first trip abroad when I was just 16. Was impressed with everything. The statue of liberty, LosAngeles, Washington, the Florida beaches, Washington, the friendly Americans saying 'hi' wherever you went.. the entire 'foreign' experience including the Pittsburg temple! :)

Seems so naive now.

Have no idea what the 'older' me will now feel!

Other than the above.. have been living in the UK for a while now.. Edinburgh and London are simply awesome..K used to work from Southbank, London and visiting him was always a pleasure for more than one reason!

 The British stiff upper lip - is no exaggeration. They rarely show their emotions, they are unfailingly polite even when they are extremely angry with you, they value their own as well as your privacy but unfortunately they have an astonishingly vague historical knowledge of their own country's involvement in other countries. (of course they know the British had colonies and they 'modernised' those colonies..but that is that!)

Given that my kid is now British..I hope to teach her a lot more than what her school history books teach her about the history between her country and the country of her parents' origin.

Anyways.. in India, have lived and worked in Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Given that I lived in South Gujarat - only saw the peaceful and vegetarian side of them! Vapi and Baroda will always be my favourite destinations. Delhi - less said the better. Mumbai - not for me but I can see why mumbaikars love their city. Bangalore - No other city has had it's potential squandered so badly! Chennai - again not for me but I can see why Chennaiites love their city.

Coimbatore - There is no other place/people that I love /respect more and there is no other place where I do not fit  anymore..at all.. THE irony of my life..

Lastly there is an awesome place in Kumbakonam called 'Mantra Veppathur'..had a lovely time in the last visit to India.. a fantastic place to relax and unwind..

P.S Special  mention - Marriott Courtyard Chennai - stayed here in the last visit to India ..the best service we ever experienced. An absolutely brilliant team of service personnel.

Things to remember before undergoing major surgery

a. Shower with Hibiscrub the day before and the day of the surgery. Keeps the germs away. Just like that.

b. Stop eating 24 hours before you go under anesthesia. Puking on the surgery table is something you do not want to do.

c. Talk out all your fears with a good friend of yours. You will feel unbelievably free and light hearted post that! (Thanks a ton CK!)

d. Once you cross that bridge of fear..you will cross every day till the day of your surgery with hope, optimism and a determination to make every minute count!

e. Make sure your loved ones are the last faces you see before you go under and the first faces you see on waking up..believe me you..it doubles your rate of recovery

f. Go on a trip. Yes. Before your surgery, go on a lovely trip with those you care about. Your body relaxes and your mind has sunny memories to fall back upon while recovering in the hospital bed.

g. Get back to work as soon as you can. Especially if your co-workers are British. They believe in Dignity in adversity and will simply love you for it.

h. Marry a good man. A telugu man preferably. I did. Nothing in life seems to faze them. Everything is to be taken lightly. (Light-ka theesko!) Anything can be handled. One step at a time. No fuss. But always there. Right by you ( Not behind, not ahead but by you..holding your hand) Every. Single. Time.

17.05.2013 - Janikka maruththa Janani

4 months for you
A life time for us.
 

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Had first read her book 'Infidel' and was very impressed. Then read her autobiography 'Nomad' and was less so.  The production of the movie 'Submission' and the subsequent murder of  the director Theo Van Goh made me want to know her better.

What is amazing about her is her travel from a barely-literate, ultra orthodox muslim woman to a political and religious satirist of international fame. So much so that she was rated oneof Time magazine's 100 most influential people of the world in 2005.

Having grown with very orthodox religious views in Mogadishu/Saudi Arabia and Nigeria - her life takes a turn when she escapes her arranged marriage and illegally immigrates to the Netherlands. There she absorbs and internalizes the Dutch values of freedom of thought, respect for women and religious tolerance in the most simple terms and re-evaluates her stand towards religion in general and Islam in particular.

What is amazing is her decision to take up Political science as a major, graduate from Leiden university and then become a member of the Dutch parliament ..All individual, daring achievements from a woman who's live was completely controlled by others for the first 22 years of her life!

While her fight against FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is admirable and her bravery in questioning most of the restrictive practices that enslaves women in her native culture is admirable - what is not acceptable for me - is her tendency to see everything that is western as right and everything that is native to her as wrong.

Christianity and Islam and (Hinduism for that matter) they all have their hits and misses. Most importantly they only make sense if read in the context of their times and geo-political realities of that time. If taken out of context they all are nothing but rants. So to idolize one religion and demonize another is just not acceptable.

She seems to have a failure similar to Arundhati Roy - a tendency to get hyper, to get carried away, to stereotype that which has hurt you , your society - and try to fight the symptom than examine and eradicate the cause. ( Read 'The algebra of infinite justice' - by Arundhati Roy and you will know what I mean)

Why is her culture, her society 'repressive' - does she think the west had nothing to do with it? Also does she realise that just a century back, the same Christianity that has evolved so much, did treat it's women as property and England did not give voting rights to women until 1918? There was a time when women could be whipped in England legally by their husbands if he judged it right to do so..So yes - her society much like the one that I was born in to is taking some more time to evolve - and with good reason. It is the western attitude of keeping the occupied natives' intelligentsia corrupt and weak that played a large part in keeping these societies primitive.

And I would not blame the western world either. They did what they had to - To survive and to win. So the way to fight this historical baggage is to treat the cause and educate and support. Not moralize and condemn.

I don't see how you can  truly appreciate a foreign culture, if you have not even made the attempt to understand and examine your own!

If a moslem woman chooses to wear a burqua, to condemn and ridicule  it is as vile as forcing a woman to wear it.

'Choice' is what defines freedom not what you or I think is 'Right'. The way forward is to produce avenues for children, the future- to recognize , demand and create those choices. Not demonizing a whole culture that defines who they are.

Catharine the Great - By Robert K Massie

Have been into historical fiction for a while now. Started with the Tudors with a view to understanding the country that is my home now. Read and understood the metamorphosis of England to Great Britain and was hooked. So started reading the histories of other countries as well.

By chance - came to admire two historical figures quiet a lot! Isabella of Castille and Catharine the Great of Russia. Isabella of Castille  had one great failing though. Her pedantic and ruthless commitment to Catholicism as the only true faith. This one weakness not only be-smirched her rule by robbing it off the excellent moorish medical and astronomical knowledge it also played it's part in ruining the life of her grand daughter - Mary I of England. Just a little broad mindedness that accommodated other faiths would have stood them both in good stead and written history differently.

But Catharine the Great of Russia - is a truly phenomenal woman in every way. Brought to Russia from Germany at a mere 15 year old,, her practical outlook  catapults her from a mere consort of the heir to the Empress of  one of the greatest powers of Europe in the 1700's.

Her response for every adversity in her life is measured and practical. According to her memoirs she is influenced by Voltaire's thoughts about God  only much later in life. As I interpret it Voltaire says to her  - There is no God but nature. To worship God is to live your best in the ecosystem that you were born in - adjusting, growing, accommodating, overcoming and surviving- . That is all that is there to it.

But she seems to have the instinct to survive well before that.

She is hated by her mom - she learns to accept that but focus instead on her own intellectual and physical well being. She is made the Grand Duchess of Russia - an orthodox Christian country against her own Lutheran faith - she chooses to accept it and convert and learn the language of Russia - recognizing her need to survive and grow in this new country. She is married to Peter - an overgrown, insecure tantrum throwing child who fights his future - she chooses to try and guide him to prepare to be an emperor than fight her fate and his.

When the time comes, her husband plans to discard her and ill treats her - she lets her popularity place her in the throne of Russia in a coup d'etat that against her wishes ends up killing her husband. And once an empress - she sets out to do the best for her country. Be it inviting the best artists of her age and building an eclectic art collection for Russia, establishing an architectural landscape and a knowledge base of books that places Russia firmly in the higher echelons of the intelligentsia, or publishing the 'Nakaz' a political and constitutional commentary that was way ahead of her time - this woman never stopped trying to better herself and hence her country.

What impresses me most is the she balances passion and practicality. She never allows her passion to undermine her authority/mortality as an empress.

When the whole world saw torture as an acceptable form of questioning, she  sees the absurdity of it and bans it; When serfdom/slavery  was an accepted way of life she challenges it - but is also wise enough to sense that the time is not right and back out graciously. But it is these seeds of thought that allow her great grandson Alexander II to abolish serfdom completely through his Emancipation Reform of 1861.

Robert K Massie chronicles her history out of memoirs and other historical documents interspersed with his own comments. But the books was extremely interesting and captivating - more than highly fictionalized history of the ilk of Philippa Greggory or Jean plaidy.

A wonderful read.

Kadal and Raavanan

As with a lot of people, I was an ardent Maniratnam fan. But after 'Ravannan' and 'Kadal' - unlike others - am even more so. As a director he seems to be evolving by leaps and bounds in the past few years and especially so, with the last 2 movies. ( Even I who loved Raavanan could not stand 'Raavan' - the hindi version though..the lead actor was THAT bad..). The layered themes seem to explore the grey areas in human emotions - that mid path between good and bad - that 'normal' path that most  of us fall into while judging everybody including ourselves errantly to be one or the other.

Raavan - hero does the perceived ultimate sin in an evolved culture ' piranmanai nokkal'..but I always had a bee in my bonnet vis-a-vis such rules. To admire, even love thy neighbour's wife in itself cannot be wrong. But to act on it, to not recognise it as trespassing on two other lives is. All the more so if it is non-consensual. I never could admire the 'ultimate goodness' or the perfect good. What is the big deal about somebody who has never tested the boundaries of the rules he has grown with, A man who has not confronted the worst of himself is a maN as good as having never truly lived..

I have in me more admiration and love for a person who has tested the edges, understood his weaknesses and learnt to master them. A man who loves without boundaries but then has the maturity to channel his love where it can cause the most good. A man who has grown through the emotional evolution process - making mistakes, learning from them, having a realistic expectation of himself and hence of others.

Retrospectively, though I did not realise it then, the reason I married my K was not because of the man he was but the husband and partner  I saw that he could be. The one thing that struck me was that - no matter who - he was willing to listen and give an honest chance - even for his worst detractors there was no judgement just  a cool acceptance.

Today, together we have grown so much. Learning from each others diametrically opposite views, surprising each other with thoughts which we did not expect to hear from the other, finding books and movies and people and thoughts that we had never encountered before and interpreting it together and in the process learning much more than we would have on our own.

On the other hand, there were so many individuals who evoked my admiration when I was young with some evolved views, but now I realise that while I have grown and moved on to more layers, they seem stuck exactly where they were. Amazing, how an open mind can sit physically in a single place but grow exponentially whereas even a partially closed mind may travel the world but be stuck in it's prejudices, stereotypes and hence a life-rut.

Anyways, Kadal - the one take way for me was this. If only the relatively minor infraction was forgiven or atleast given a proportionate punishment, a potential God's man would not have become the devil's  instrument that he had. 'Sam' in his self-righteousness saw only the devil in 'Bergmans' and it took the young 'Thomas' to bring out the human, natural , evolved good in both.

A man is never to be judged by what he is but by what he could be. If this were true, the world would be a much better place.

Mani - I agree.

Why I can't wait to get out of bed every morning..

'Amma..I want to drive the car'
'But you do not have a license Raksha - Only amma has the license'
'But I have raisins Amma! '

Her dad - 'Do make sure you tell that to the traffic cop darling!'
-----------------------------------------
'Amma you have 'nosy' cheeks!'

'Amma..you are a pretty girl.. I like your dress.. you look Fabulous!' (Made my day I tell you!)

-------------------------------------------
I am nudging her to go fast as I am getting late for work..

'Don't push me Amma! Hold my hand nicely! There you are!'
-----------------------------------------------------------
I am angry with her over something..

'I dont want to be Raksha's mummy..I want to be Scarlett's mommy'
'No amma, you really want to be Raksha's mummy, you dont want Scarlett..she is not a good girl like me!'
--------------------------------------------------------------
I have taught her ' Poruthar bhoomi Aalwar' and 'Patience is a virtue' to teach her to be patient.

First Raksha-ism..'Poruthar bhoo bhoo.Ghoomi aazhwar!' (This after repeating it is not Ghoomi but Bhoomi!)

Second Raksha-ism..'Raksha get ready..quick quick quick..'
Raksha - 'Wait Amma.. Poruthar bhoomi aazhwar!'
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What more reason do I need to get out of bed! :)

The Lives of Others - Das Leben der Anderen

Back after a long hiatus.. actually it is this movie that moved me to write..I do not want to forget it's layered, explorative, richness..the questions it raised in my mind and the answers it provided to queries I did not know existed there. Its take on 'the burden of free will' in an oppressed environment..and it's dominoe effect on lives.

The movie is by writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The film involves the monitoring of the cultural scene of East Berlin by agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his chief Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, a prominent actress named Christa-Maria Sieland.

That is the context. Now for it's resonance.What moved me the most is the movie's ability to communicate deeply with what is being unsaid. By choosing not to act or react in a given circumstance, each of the characters reveal the emotions, that define them and their lives.

For Captain Gerd Wiesler - his black and white world slowly moves to the grey and for a very brief period dabbles in a riot of colours. He grapples with this new burst of light in his otherwise colourless soul but slowly and surely moves to nourish it. Alas, his sincere attempt at a symphony between beauty and his conscience ends in a tragic requiem.

Does he love Christa-Maria or is he, as he frequently positions himself before her - simply her adoring audience? How does he reconcile his perception of beauty and dignity in her- with her penultimate 'betrayal'..the ultimate one being her death?

Sad but true for so many is the fate of Christa-Maria.. a thing of beauty, grace and love - that is lusted after and destroyed by the unscrupulous - worshipped and protected by the others - albeit with the subject itself almost never in a position to appreciate or take courage from it. Be it democracy, dignity, commitment or valour - the above seems applicable in reality.

Dreyman's final tribute to his secret spy - ' Sonata for a Good Man' - honours Wiesler's attempt to find his conscience knowing fully well that the consequences will be dire. But, what we are left wondering is this - where a rat like Hempf assimilates and metamorphises in a unified Germany, where a reluctant convert like Dreyman can rise again like a pheonix,where a mere audience like Wiesler is ultimately so personally honoured - why isn't there a place for Maria - the one all the above three once coveted though each for a different reason?

Was her crime beauty,love,ambition or just her conscience that wasnt as elective as it was for the others?

Finding an answer to the above, will I think , for me - crack the puzzle of life.

My rating : 8/10

Pyar hua iqrar hua

Every couple have a song(s) that mean something special to them. This is one of our two! Truly timeless..I always feel lyrics are as important as the score.. could never enjoy a song with bad lyrics however good the score might be..Cant really spot the difference between Latha Mangeshkar then and now! The male lead is Manna dey, score is by Shanker Jaikishan and lyrics by Shailendra. Posted by Yours Truly ;)

Stanley and Iris by Martin Ritt

A movie I never wanted to end but go on and on.. Starring Robert De Niro and Jane Fonda. A simple story about a working class woman and a man who doesnt know the letters. The movie brings home with sensitivity the kind of a silent world that an illiterate man resides in - something very close to how a person who cannot speak will go through. Robert De Niro's struggle with himself and his illiteracy is poignantly presented. Jane Fonda is the gentle and encouraging teacher, who refuses to judge him but sees the best in him that he himself doesnt see.

The lesser said about the movie the better enjoyed it is.

A lovely evening watch.

My Rating: 8/10

The Titanic

I recently chanced upon the tales of the Titanic passengers on this site. There are several interesting thoughts that came to my mind

a) Even in acts of God, there is some amount of control given to human hands. For example, some men even after the first jab of the iceberg made a bold decision to get on to the lifeboats whereas some others thought it was safer on the Titanic since it was supposed to be 'unsinkable'. Thus the first lifeboat only had 28 people on it - half its capacity. Now, at this point , getting on to the cold black waters vis-a-vis the still relative comfort of the Titanic is a calculated risk. Those who took it survived and those who didnt perished. And it is a change from the status quo. An action. In most high-pressure situations, it is easier to lay still and let fate unfold. That is what some seem to have done, only to pay a heavy price later.

b)If you go through the biographies of all those who escaped and those who perished - you will find a mix there. Noble ones ( Like the woman who let her friend go since she had 'Children waiting back home') when there was only one last place left, or the gentlement who helped all the woman and children on board - they perished. But those who dressed as women to escape and those who even later in life cheated and swindled public money went on to live a 90+ years. But even this is not black and white. Good ones like 'Molly Brown' also survived to live a good life. So there really is no reason or logic! I know.I know. It is foolish to seek for logic in God's handiwork but couldnt help looking for one!

c) There are survivors who beat the odds in any situation. There is a business man who - not waiting for the life boats - vacuums out his suitcase, wraps a fur coat around it, ties it with a belt and buoys himself in the water - till one of the Carpathia boats / other life boats could afford to help him! A man who truly took his fate into his own hands.

d) A man who's mother was born on board a ship in almost the exact same place 82 years ago, drowned there. One of the ladies had an egyptican prophecist tell her that she will face a sinking ship, an earthquake and a motor accident and she will die in the last calamity. She did. One 62 year old woman declared to 'Molly Brown' that she could feel an ill omen foreboding her even before she boarded the Titanic. She was proven right!

Truth is, at most times, stranger than fiction.

St Paul's Cathedral, London

Visited StPaul's Cathedral on Saturday. It was an amazing experience. The beauty of the Cathedral with its expanded style, the stained glass paintings, the etched images, the gate of tijou, the American Chapel, The light of the world image.. it was overwhelmingly beautiful. The minute you enter the cathedral, there is a settling feeling of peace. The tall and wide structure - as intended by Christopher Wren,the architect- opens your heart wide open and lets it free. If you ever visit the place do not forget to opt for the audio guide. It is non-intrusive and very well directed. At appropriate places, the audio stops to play some music that so soothes and refreshes you. When we went there was a marriage in the Cathedral plus a crowd of atleast 500 people. But there was such a silence except for the wedding march that nobody would have guessed such a crowd was inside. I plan to visit again for the place is really something. It also takes a good half a day - if you really want to appreciate every inch of the place. You could sit in front of the American Chapel and the Light of the world image for a good half an hour just absorbing their beauty and richness of detail.

Very well maintained, well organised by the admin and finely appreciated by the visitors.

Click below for a virtual tour for you to get a sense of what I am saying..

http://www.sphericalimages.com/stpauls/virtual_tour.htm

Can't deny the sense of regret at the thought of our ancient Indian architectural marvels, that - if only appreciated and looked after as much as this one, would inspire as much awe and respect- if not more.

Moham Ennum - Sindhu Bhairavi

One of my most favourite pieces of music..Ilayaraja and Jesudas - an eclectic combo. The lyrics, the score and the action have set a level that cannot be crossed. A rare score that allows a man to feel, to give voice to his struggle between conflicting commitments, without being effete.Dont know if you can as finely appreciate it if you cant understand the lyrics or the context. But I wouldnt be surprised if you did!

Thelma and Louise by Ridley Scott

A poignant movie about the unrelenting friendship between a housewife and a waitress. Starting out on an innocent weekend trip the pair's life takes a dangerous turn. One evil man's interruption in their lives dooms them forever. But in those 24 - 48 hours between the time they start on the trip to the heart-breaking finale, these two women live a life that they hadnt in their entire lifetime before those hours.

As different as chalk and cheese, they bicker, they are prejudiced against each other, they tear each other into pieces but are fiercely committed to their friendship without ever having the need to say so. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis do a brilliant job - surprising that they lost out on the Academy awards. The movie has won one for the Screenplay though. The movie wonderfully captures their metamorphosis like an amoeba in directions they themselves havent fathomed before..
Brad Pitt - the cowboy petty thief- didnt realise he was used in movies as a 'dish' even back then ;)

No woman will come back from this movie without missing their closest friends..past and present..and identifying themselves as Thelma and Louise seperately and together.. No man will be able to resist saying ' pfffff.. women! what were they thinking..'

My rating 8/10

Coming Home..

Coming back from a stranger's arms
To mum's own

Rushing from school
To find mom and sis and bros and dad and hot bhajjis!

Returning from an exhilirating inter-collegiate programme
To the hostel
To familiar room-mates
To banter through the night

Looking forward for the weekend
To catch up with by now scattered friends
And old books that remind you of the carefree days
In a far way city that is home to your job

And now..
Just closing the day
With somebody who knows-not to judge you in anyway
And where 'Being You' makes you endearing and a delight to be with..

'Coming home' is truly a pleasure..
Knowing this will further evolve..
And hoping that
I will be 'Home' too someday to somebody..
Is one of the few reasons..
Tomorrow looks promising and worth planning for..

Good Fellas by Martin Scorsese

My first ever Martin Scrosese movie was The Taxi Driver. Bad choice for somebody who had no clue. The movie disturbed me to no end.Since then I have consciously kept away from his movies. Until now.

If you can cross the first three scenes in this movie without barfing.. then congratulations..you have passed the litmus test to handle the rest. I think what is most disturbing is the gore and blood is so matter of fact. No loud background scores, no close-up shots, no nothing. Three guys on a road, a banging noise from the boot, loads of profanities and before you realise it, the guys get down, check the boot, realise that the half-dead man is throbbing, one of them pulls out a knife and whack, whack,whack.

Now for the not-so-faint hearted.. the story.The movie is through the eyes of Henry (Ray Liotta) who has 'as far as he can remember, always wanted to be a gangster'. He takes us through his growth from a teen flunkie of the gang to one of its 3 very powerful members. This 3-some also includes his one-time idol Jimmy (Robert De Niro). Paul - the head guy keeps warning them to keep of the drugs business but they just dont. In the end it destroys their friendship, themselves and their families. The movie draws you in and leaves you with regret as though you have been part of the gang and all that they have been through. I have seen Ray Liotta perform better though his scope in this movie is quite huge despite the other talented cast. De Niro is understated and just right for his part. I personally found the head guy Paul funny though he is meant to intimidate. He has what Sidney Lumet calls 'Search light' eyes that take aeons to pass from one person to the other! Karen (Lorraine Braco) Henry's wife - seems the smartest of the lot - except for her loose possessiveness for her husband. You keep an eye out for her in the movie and you realise she is more rational and shrewd than the whole gang put together!

My Rating : 7/10

abhi na jao chodkar

Magic is such as this one created by Sahir Ludhianvi, Jaidev, Mohmd Rafi and Asha Bonsle. The fond mischief in the lyrics and the score is what is so endearing.. note the mischief -' jo roj yun hi jaaogi..tho kis tarah nibhaogi?'

Marriage Compass!

I keep telling my K that the only reason I married him is 'coz he can make me laugh - no matter what the circumstance..and he re-affirmed it yet again!

Yesterday he innocently asked me if he could have an Egg dish the next day..In view of the fact that it was a Friday and we had mutually decided long back that no egg dishes would ever be cooked on tuesdays and fridays.. i went on a tirade of how it was just like him to be insensitive and not take such things seriously and so on and so forth.. he let me run my steam and said 'ok.. that means no egg dish tomorrow' - and went back to what he was doing..

The best part is that today - on Friday - I forget it is a Friday and ask him if he would like an egg dish - he turned fully towards me and repeated every word, re-enacted every intonation and every head thrust and stopped exactly where I did yesterday!.. and I burst out laughing uproariously.. Was I indeed so melo-dramatic, so hysterical and petty for such a small misdemeanour? Why, I never thought of myself to be such a drama queen! Next time, for sure I shall stop and think before I work myself into a temper!

You know that the Marriage Compass is pointing right - if as a couple you laugh more than once a day and more so if you are laughing at one of yourself or both!

Ram from Mars

All you modern girls
Raise your voices
In indignant haste
At my unjustified silence
Against Ram's silly rambles..
Sita! You silly girl..
I hear you squeal..
Fight for your rights woman!

My dear fellow women..
Years from now
When you are married
For the first few years
You will question and question and question your spouse
And receive no answers or worse
Receive answers that are tangential to a tangent
And post stepping past the threshold of that initial hope for wisdom
From year 5 if not sooner
You would just give up and listen
'Coz as he puts question after question to you..
Your mind will - like a lazy dog in the afternoon
Get up, look sulkily and go back to sleep on screen-saver mode..
Murmuring only to you..
'Whats the point?
He will never understand
Let me go home to mum!
And let this Martian be..'

isko hi jeena kehtein hein tho yuhi jee lenge...

Play the song. Close your eyes. Listen to the lyrics. Go over them line by line.
S D Burman's background track will allow you to listen to those rich lyrics. He even manages to somehow enhance their meaning through the haunting score. Hemant kumar goes straight for the emotional jugular and S D Burman facilitates it mesmerisingly.. I for one never developed a liking for Guru Dutt's self-pity oriented themes.. but his rendition of these themes.. oh,the honest rendition .. with the rough edges left deliberately unpolished.. just phenomenal! Just think of a moment when you were at your weakest, drained, tired, misunderstood - and his songs will pay homage to your emotions - in the most graceful manner possible.
Click here for the song..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dkKt8cGZPz4

Heat by Michael Mann

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight.. an impressive cast. I rented the movie with great expectations. Turned out to be an out and out guy flick.. Lots of 'GO,GO,GO! ' and shoot outs and macho dialogues and what not.. full masala! Al Pacino's flamboyance in this movie reminds of the Tamil hero Vijaykanth! Hubby says am free to call Al -'Al Kanth' just for this one!
Now, dont get me wrong.. am not against flamboyant characterisation..if I think flamboyance suits a guy.. it is John Travolta.. I totally fell for that guy's ability to pull it off in 'Get Shorty'. With Al.. somehow it doesn't fly..

My Rating : 5/10

Also saw Frankie and Johnny by Garry Marshall ( Al again and Michelle Pfeiffer) and The Dirty Dozen by Robert Aldrich ( Lee Marvin and a whole others am not familiar with..)I have nothing much to say about either!

Thanksgiving!

Here's to somebody who..

Let go of you completely
But still when you are down..
Knows to write to you..
Exactly what will help you deal with it..

Lives with you day in and day out..
And still has it in him to be ok with all that you are..
And finds it possible to check in on your comforter
In the middle of the night - despite a raging fight

Worries, hurts and celebrates
As much as you do and tries to take some of your part
As only a mum can..

Adjusts, accepts and guides
Shares lessons from her own life
And helps you relate to someone important through
Milestones in her own struggle to relate and understand..

Comes over to your house to chill
And still cooks for you 'coz she is fond of you..

Though a happy-go-lucky person
Shows a rare but much appreciated, unexpected sensitivity
To what you may feel

Shares his vulnerabilities
Pulls back when hurt
But gets back with no grudges held

Is generous enough to take the time off
To write something nice
About an 'out of sight' person

Just pops out of nowhere
To connect again
Like there was no break inbetween
Always delighted to hear from you
And not shy to show it..

Uses you as a sounding board
And listens to you with respect
Is willing to go a step further
To understand and empathise what is not being said..

Digs you out of bales of others
And tells you day in and day out
What makes you special and
Gives you an opportunity to prove it..

Sits across the table cutting all heirarchies
And values your opinion
Communicating the reason why you are valued
So you make no mistake of false humility..

Calls you from a land very far away
At the hint of a crisis
And spends hours to guide and empathise
When there are absolutely no stakes left
But 6 years of seniority in a similar life and a growing fondness..

Knows when you are disturbed
And takes you to a Ghazal lunch
And cracks jokes that ensure you smile..

Stands by you like a rock
And more importantly
The person that is dear to you..
Despite the pressure that it brings..

Even while taking those tentative steps as an acquaintance
But crossed and boldy morphed into a friend
When the need suddenly arose

Always treated you with class like you were the most graceful of them all
Even when you werent sure exactly what that meant..

There..
I have attempted to count my infinite blessings!
Like somebody said
For the sake of the those above
Next time when there's a problem
I shall not tell you guys how big my problems are..
But
I shall tell my problems how great you guys are!
This is for each one of you who have made my life more beautiful..
By just being who you are..

The Sixth Sense

Chat
Mail
Skype
Orkut
Linkedin
Facebook..
How can you possibly miss anybody?
You ask.
Knowing that when she says that particular comment he'll smirk -
Turning around to catch that predictable reaction..
Catching her eyes across the room to wink about girly secrets ..
Secretly listening in as a group to a mundane telephone that is suddenly hilarious ...
Hearing their guttural laughter and joining in..
Teasing about her not-so-secret crushes..
Till its me who blushes and not she..

Oh.. it is very much possible to miss a lot of people
Despite a complete access to their electronic avtars..
Now, You get off G- talk
And come home to me.

Dog Day Afternoon by Sidney Lumet

Again a real life adaptation, this movie is simply brilliant. The plot is fairly simple. An amateurish bank robbery that 'Sonny' almost pulls off..or so he thinks... Al Pacino is brilliant as the young and inexperienced 'Sonny' who wants desperately to satisfy everybody around him but fails at it every time. On a 'Dog Day Afternoon' he tries to rob a bank so that his boyfriend can afford to have a sex-change operation. The relationship between his boyfriend and him is potrayed as naturally as possible.. in Sidney's own words ' as conflicts in any relationship are.. only these are normal people in a bizarre situation'. There is no exaggeration or stereotyping of the relationship.
There are several brilliant scenes that stand out for their most un-melodramatic rendition of humane emotions.
a) The top scene has to be 'Sonny's' dictation of the will.. ' To Leon.. the only man I ever loved' and 'To Angie.. the only woman I ever loved'
b) 'Sonny's' spontaneous screaming of the anti-establishment chant 'Attica' that is soon picked up by the gathered crowd
c) 'Sonny's' mom trying to convince him to surrender or run.. without listening to a single word he says. A single scene that tells us the exact relationship between him and the authority figures in his life
d) His telecons with his wife and Leo.. the rage, the love, the generosity.. Al outshines himself several times over!
There is not a single studio-shot in th entire movie and the effect is phenomenal.. you feel part of the crowd watching the action..only you have closer access to Sonny's real and self-exaggerated predicaments. Like in 'Donnie Brasco' where you cannot but grow fond of 'Lefty' despite who he is.. here you can't help feeling sorry for Sonny and what becomes of him despite the fact that he took an option that shouldnt have been one for him in the first place..

My Rating : 8/10

Google Google

Being soooooooo used to 'Googling' whatever I want.. it is strangely comical that my mind desperately wants to Google when..
a) I misplace my reading glasses/letter from home/internet banking password somewhere in the house and need to find it in a hurry..
b) I cant remember the name of the guy from office who is supposed to be processing my PF papers..
c) My little Nephew's birthday is coming up and I cant remember the exact date!
d) When am lost on my way back home and dont know which turn to take ..
Google guys! Pls get a palmtop version that can access our memory( like the 'Harry Potter' silver veins that can be poured into a flask!).. and help us search for sense when we need it badly!

Serpico by Sidney Lumet

A much acclaimed movie by the director who had directed the 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon amongst many others. Based on a real life incident, the movie stars Al Pacino as the idealistic Franc Serpico alias Paco. The movie faithfully records his angst, frustration and final disillusionment with the corruption within the American Police Department. What leaves me cold is Serpico's naivete and refusal to see the big picture. Forget a Police Department, wherever you go, if there is widespread corruption, it would be prudent to assume that it could not have possibly grown to such proportions without the support or indifference of the higher-ups. Point 2, if you want to change a system from within, to expect to do that without encountering any enemity is too far-fetched. Thirdly, when you are in the system and want to go to outsiders especially the media to wash dirty linen within - no senior is going to take too kindly to that. This is true anywhere - be it Politics, the Corporate world, the Movie industry or anywhere. And lastly, after being warned openly about the possiblity of mortal danger, to register shock at being shot in the face - is simply lack of reality orientation!

Franc's idealism though initially appealing, the naivete and dogged angst after 5 years in the system is frustrating, not just to his girlfriend but as an audience to me as well. If he was anyway planning to give up on the system and move to Switzerland he could have done that without getting shot in the face!
Anyways, Al Pacino as usual turns in a brilliant performance - so it wasnt after all a complete waste of time. And may be, me being a cynic couldnt relate much to the character. Somebody else might find Franco highly endearing..So not completely a bummer..

My Rating : 4/10

Sophie's Choice: By Alan J Pakula

Saw this enchanting movie yesterday. A movie that won an Oscar for Merylstreep and was nominated for cinematography, Screenplay, Music and Costume design. But thats not what matters. It is the way the movie draws you slowly but surely into the worlds of Sophie, Nathan and Stingo - seperately and as best friends. The plot has startling revelations every half an hour. Some new piece of insight into each of their lives something that makes you understand and relate to them better. Each of these characters fight with their own demons at the same time trying to help and understand each other. Sophie lies about her father, uses his name in auschwitz,chooses between her children, cheats in her marriage, refuses to be drawn into the Resistance,tries to seduce a Nazi officer and continuously humours her suspicious boyfriend - but in the context of her life.. she comes across as a touchingly vulnerable woman fighting for survival of not just herself but those she loves. A very normal human being undervery very abnormal circumstances.
The pink flat in Brooklyn where the three friends meet and love and fight and seperate signifies a cheer that they desperately try to draw and reflect but fail more than occassionally. Nathan the brilliant always- been- free jew in love with the Auschwitz-returned Catholic Sophie is caught in the vortex of the ironies of their lives to the point of self-destruction. Can't believe Nathan is the same Kevin Kline who was famous for his ' What was the middle thing?' one-liner in the ' Fish called Wanda'. An absolutely riveting performance.

Stingo , in who's voice we hear the story, is the least disturbed - if emotional disturbances can be quantified or qualified! A trifle over-whelmed by Nathan and devoted to Sophie, he represents the normal, the average human being that sincerely wants to help but almost always fails to fully empathise.

Meryl Streep in her in-your-face closeup conversations makes a fidget of the eye , and a tilt of the head speak volumes. In fact I think she is one actress who in many movies has used fidgeting as a tool to express myriad emotions. A sudden turn of the head, hands at the neck, and a jerky step this side and that..and you see the conflict in her mind in the context she wants you to. ' The Bridges of Madison County' is just one another example. And of course, her Polish-accented broken English is another weakness that strengthens her appeal.

The heart-wrenching lines below in the context of Sophie and Nathan's lives at the end of the movie..leaves you deeply saddened and thankful for the simpler complexities of our lives.

Ample Make This Bed
Ample make this bed.
Make this bed with awe;
In it wait till judgment break, Excellent and fair.
Be its mattress straight, Be its pillow round;
Let no sunrise' yellow noise Interrupt this ground.
-- Emily Dickinson

My Rating : 9/10

Scope

5 years old
Lacy dresses
A swing at home
DD Cartoon on Sundays


10 years old
Friends in school every day
English class - Anitha Ma'am
P T Period
Tinkle, Tintin, Amarchitra katha and Asterix at home

15 years old
Lipstick and Nailpolish
English and Language Class
Saturday Colour dress!
Oh to belong to my group of friends!
Nancy drew, Famous five, Charles in Charge
Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Aananda vikatan
Trips to the library,
Arvind swamy, Table tennis, Winning Prizes

18 years old
Freedom! Hostel!
Eat, sleep, read books any time you want..
Irwing Wallace, Wilbursmith,
Oh buying second hand books
Anything for good food..


21 years old
Oh.. so this is Co-ed
And this is Hindi!
My preference
Of job
Of friends
Of life
Steinbeck and Sashi Tharoor
Nasrudin Shah and Waheeda Rehman
Bengali and Kannadiga Friends


25 Years old
Promotion
Bonus
Money
Hubby remembers this day
I can cook well!
Ah.. time to relax
Call from family!
Trips to resorts..
Ponniyin Selvan, Shantaram,
Amarchitra katha!
Calvin and Hobbes!


The scope for ultimate happiness evolutes, repeats and expands as the years roll on...

The Psychology of TV Shows

a) The massive success of Soap operas .. Apparently before the advent of home entertainment, most housewives (and in the office , the gents too) spent a good part of their time gossipping or just switching tidbits of juicy info about the neighbours, colleagues etc.. This as we would all agree, though might not be called entertainment.. does enhance the flavour of the day for us! When houses disappeared and became flats and neighbours became strangers, this massive gap is to have been fulfilled by the Soap operas. It gives us the pleasure of peeping into somebody else's household affairs and comment on it! Hence the huge open female audience and closet male audience for the soap operas!

b) Kaun Banega Crorepati - The ability to sit at home and shout out amongst family and friends that you know the answer and could have been the winner of such a big jackpot -with no stakes involved - seems to what make the audience tick!

c) Now, there is a very popular show in Tamil called 'Neeya Naana'.. the biggest strength here is that the moderator doggedly pursues a positivity throughout the show.. even while he handles two every emotional opposing groups of people - he ensures that possessiveness communicated is moderated by him to reflect love, anger to passion, doggedness to commitment etc . He also ensures that the final conclusion is decidedly from a positive perspective. To give the feeling to the audience at the end of heated discussions that all is still well with the world and this is the best place and culture to be in and send them to bed with that thought , I think, is the true competence and beauty of this show!

Of days gone by..

It is the end of the JFM quarter..
The funds for the next quarter would have come..
The Marketing plan and the new launches media plan needs to be ready..
Promotional plan needs to be briefed to sales..
Back end of offer fulfillment need to be in place..
Brand plan needs to be given a go ahead by AP..
The Olympic plan needs to be fine tuned..
JFM quarter eval deck needs to be sent..

Hope my successor remembers all of the above..

Oh Crap..
Another Chapathi burnt!

Breach

Do not compel me to speak
No questions pls
I value my space
Do not judge me
Nor comment
Just let me be
I do not owe an explanation

What?
Yes. Love me without the above.
Try.

Identity!

I have heard some intellectuals discuss on and on about what defines Indianness.. and how to classify the various religious, regional, linguistic, patrilineal, matrilineal permutations that pervade this peninsula! But the world over, I think there are very simple formulae that easiy define the typical Indian ( .. and mind you I represent the best such Indian of them all! )

a) Somebody you dont know is working on his laptop and you peer most un-self-consciously into his work.. and even give suggestions/comments!

b) Two people are snogging/smooching in a public place and yours is the only set of eyes that is trying hard to avoid the same but ends up gaping at the spectacle with mouth slightly ajar!

c) Somebody says 'hi' to you and you move with a 'license to kill' with questions like 'so, where do you work?, how many children?, where do you live?, nice tie - where did you buy it?' etc etc..

d) Be it a museum or a fort.. you dont recruit a guide of your own.. but slightly inch closer to wherever a recruited guide is giving his lecture to a group..and listen in surreptitiously!

e) Take packed food wherever you go and gather around in a group in a park, open the home-cooked spicy food and dig in with relief, but guitily refuse to look at the eyes of the foreigners who are curiously looking at you as if to say..' whats wrong with our food man!'

f) Plan weekly trips to particular temples, not just to worship but more importantly for the free Indian food that these temples give out that spares you the weekend cooking!

g) Land up in any place with luggage and make a big show of lugging all the luggage 'All by yourself'! .. with no porters or coolies to help!


But jokes apart.. I have been abroad about 10 years back too and the difference between then and now is mind blowing! There is a new confidence in being an Indian, no desperate need to 'fit in'.., no desire to please. The attitude is bold and the style distinct.

I guess there is no better time as this to be an Indian! Even vis-a-vis the foreigners.. the stereotyping has changed a lot from just ' the patels owning motels'..to 'Information Technology Geeks' (though I am not sure if that is an improvement ;)..


The most obvious signs of these cultural stereotypes can be observed in the most subtle environments.. especially when you go shopping.. My Marks and Spencer acquaintance says.. 'Earlier with Indians, we always focussed on the discounted and the bulk purchase ware.. but now-a-days things have changed.. it is they who pick up the most expensive and exclusive desinger wears.. and they know exactly what they want and that is some Indian customisation to such wares..so we are equally if not more prepared for any Indian customer vs an European'

But what has also changed is the wonderful ' Wow.. are you too from Bangalore? How long have you been here..' enquiries with a spark in the eye! Nowadays every 3rd face you see on the street in any country is Indian! So..Familiarity seems to have bred contempt! Not even a 'hi' or a 'hello' if you meet a fellow Indian.. everybody just looks through you!

And even worse is the distaste of the second or third generation Indian to mix with the 'fresh off the boat' ones.. its almost like they dont want to be mistaken for new ones while they are actually citizens of the land! Yeah.. that trend is sad to acknowledge..

Anyways.. with no statistics to support my claims.. most of the above are personal observations.. so.. feel free to protest, disagree and disprove! May be my views are subject to change after all!

Celebration..!

Silent Snowflakes..
A clear beam of sunshine..
The common music that you and I grew up with in our seperate worlds..
Familiar food boiling at the kitchen..
Eyes locked on a particular verse..
A soft smile that transforms into a giggle..

Here's to life .. like this..

Forever and beyond!

Manathil Urudhi Vendum... (A resolute mind I seek..)

To be objective, even when I or my country or my loved ones are involved..
To be able to generously love..even while hurting myself.. for they did so once..
To be able to forgive..and smile and move on..
To be able to give another culture, as much leeway for its evolutionary mistakes as I do for mine..
To be able to acknowledege that yes.. the other is being a better person.. and I can learn from them.. howmuchever I want to believe otherwise..
To think of the way forward.. though Guru Dutt-sque self-pity is so romantically enticing..
To be kind to myself.. knowing fully well I have screwed up.. badly...
To stand up for what is wrong.. but with as much wisdom as courage..
To take calculated risks and not give into the surge of emotion that smacks of 'heroism'..
To be able to start over.. from the context that as long as life beats.. nothing is ever completely over..
To be able to give my body the respect, the care and the difficult discipline of exercise it deserves..
To seek to understand especially when it is so, that it is deliciously sweet to dislike and condemn..
To seek to encourage when it seems so self-righteous to say..' dont bother'...
To remain silent and empathetic when i can easilys say ' I told you so..'
To let go and love from a distance of nowhere and nothing inbetween..

Manadhil urudhi vendum..

To want a little more..

Oh! Lets want a little more..

A little more of love and peace..

A little more of wanting to give..

A little more tolerance for the 'Special' (Not 'abormal' but always 'special' if u please..)

Lets want more colour in people and around..

Lets want more thoughts and more smiles..

Lets want more of the earth and the moon..

Lets want to live a little more of life every day..

They say if one person wants something with all his heart

The entire universe conspires to give it to him..

Lets want and want and want so much..

That all the Universe and the powers that be ...

Are compelled to give it to to us!

Heres to Life and more!

Watching me while I decide!

Saw Dil, Dosti etc..The protagonist is as rational as they come.. he merely perceives himself as an audience in the play of life.. an audience who also watches himself! Evaluating... smiling.. lauding.. chiding.. though not too seriously..I guess these are the people that ' Succeed' in terms of wealth, position, power etc.. The completely rational ones with no emotional vulnerabilities.. or atleast very minimal vulnerabilities.. as for me, I have always been emotional about every decision i have made.. no regrets.. but yes.. having a healthy mix of the rational and emotional does seem 'appealing.. so, let me see.. be it the 'Commerce group' decision in 10th std despite the whole world advising otherwise, giving up XLRI, choosing a life partner, choosing and later relinquishing the best friend.. hmmm... everything has been heavy on the emotional side!

So I have now decided to watch myself decide atleast once in a while.. that ways I know if i am taking a emotional or rational call.. this should be interesting.. whats more intriguing than getting to know yourself better! All the best to me!

So.. this is London...

The first thing I noticed is that this city is one with moods of its own.. much like me.. suddenly it is warm and bright and lo and behold there is a gust of wind that will well nigh blow you off.. of course the next thing I noticed is the Teens.. man.. i never thought a day will come when the most feared section of society would be its Teen kids! I land off the flight on to the road and I see a bunch of Teen kids creating a ruckus on the road.. one with a bright silver viking hat to boot! Being the ever curious Indian I peek a little and got shouted at ' Hey Lady.. Dont you stare!'.. What a welcome to the city! And here I am , in the city for just 2 weeks now and all I read in the newspapers is Teen crimes..hmmm.. wonder what 'Freakonomics' has to say about this!! Am sure a study of the statistics would reveal something very interesting about the generation that went by - that resulted in these teens! And given that guns are banned, it is knives that rule the roost.. In a 'Metro' column a teenage kid shares her angst..' Dont stereotype us.. we turn to such stuff because you guys dont offer us anything better to do!' initially i was flabber gasted but when I forced myself to lookat it from her point of view.. hmmm.. may be at her age it is but natural that she cant think beyond this.. atleast she is recognising the problem..anyways.. yet to see the Tube or Madame Tussads.. given that we are going to be here for a while now.. hubby dearest is in no hurry to explore ..no harm done.. i am enjoying the onset of spring.. with the chirping of the birds and green leaves peeping out of hitherto twiggy trees...