Self "Pondering"

Makar Sankranti - What & Why

2012-01-13T15:58:00.000+01:00

I came across this on a site and felt like saving it...what better place than blog. Some useful information on Makar Sankranti..

Enjoy..
Happy Makar Sankranti to all of you!
May the year ahead be full of happy sunshine and positive transitions!

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14th January every year.

Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As, it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.

Makar Sankranti 2012: 14 January.

Source : http://festivals.iloveindia.com/

Here comes - The Reluctant Detective

2012-01-10T10:43:00.000+01:00

Shopping... Lunches... Handbags... Shoes... And Murders - Sounds strange?
Nah its not.

The lovely mix of a shopoholic-housewife-detective with the generous seasoning of Suburban household.

Curious?

Get little more by watching this...

Want to know more?Go check out the Announcement

The Announcement

Yes yes ... The fun-filled book is the brain child of vibrant Kiran Manral.

Join the club on Facebook and grab your copy Today!

Life in pictures

2012-01-03T15:26:00.000+01:00

Just thought let me give you all little info about one more project i have taken up this year. (I am sounding tooo enthusiatic for this year..I hope I am able to maintain this all year through)

Ok so yes..after getting inspired by our very own Monika, i joined her in the spirit and took up the challenge of Project365.

Actually it should be renamed Project366 - this being a leap year.

So for next 366 days..I am going to capture the essence of my life in pictures and present to you.

And I am keeping that in a seperate blog for pics only.

Please visit and keep motivating me...

http://mylifebehindlens.wordpress.com/

Top 5 Want-to-do list

2012-01-02T17:32:00.000+01:00

A new Year...
Once again time to ponder
Once again the opportunity to plan the year ahead
Once again theI can decide what I want to do...

Some may also call these New Year resolutions...but somehow I chose to differ from that. The words "New Year Resolutions" freak me out - no idea why. So i just call it my To do list for the days to come

So Out of numerous things I want to do in the year to come...I am just listing Top 5...

Photo credits : http://robaroundbooks.com/2010/12/keep-calm-and-read-a-book/

YES - This is the topmost in the list. Last whole year I have done absolutely NO reading.

And If you notice carefully this one actually combines TWO of my topmost things to do.

1. Be CALM

2. READ

So Number 2 is More Art and Craft with my little girl. Last year everything got quite neglected for some reason. I do not want that to be repeated. So I want to do more thinsg with my daughter and get the hands dirty. Any ideas to keep this going are most welcome. Come one people, keep me motivated.

Photo credits :http://www.photographyblog.com/news/nikon_d5100_presentation

Ok So you have guessed it right. Yes, It is to go click click flutter flutter. I love photography ANd NO I am no where near boasting to be a good one. I am tooo amateur to be called even amateur photographer. (Does that make sense? WEll - you did get the meaning - right? )
OK So Click Click Flutter Flutter is the love of my life besides top 2 ;)

Photo credits : http://www.adrianbruce.com/poetry/writing-poetry.htm

Another one of the things I Love. Yes writing is something I have always enjoyed but somehow still dont write that regularly. To keep my love of writing poetry going, I have another blog - Just so all my attempts at poetry are at one place. Just in case you are interested its is - http://iwritehere.tumblr.com
I no nothing about poetry writing rules or anything like that. I just scribble anything that comes to my mind and rhymes a bit :) (Rather anythign that sounds poetry to me)
So in the coming year I want to continue on that side and scribble more and more.

Photo credits : http://www.diyreviews.net/2011/top-4-anger-management-tips-to-use-in-stressful-situations/

This should actually be the TOP MOST. BTW, a part of it has been included in the Number 1 To- Do. (Remember? Keep Calm) Ok So I need to learn to manage my anger. This will solve millions of other problms and spare my dear husband of being my punch bag to take it all. (Ok not in its real sense actually - No ACTUAL punching happening)

So thats my list for the year to come. I seek motivation and help from all of you kind souls. Help me remain sane and focussed.

Bless you all....

2011 - That was...

2011-12-30T16:05:00.002+01:00

Another year is almost over. Time to reflect back and recall the moments of joy and appreciate them and also moments of pain to learn and get stronger.

Family : No visiting family back home this year which is sad But actually could talk more to them this year - thanks to the technology and options available for making calls.

Home : Home has been in the worst ever condition this year. - Fail fail fail.
Plans to buy new house- fail.
Rearrange the current house - fail

Work : Got the new role - Good. But also had to deal with lots of troubles at work. There are still 2 more days left for this year so can't say anything. - Worrying

Travel : Very very less travel (If i exclude my daily commute to work which is average 4 hrs each day). Only 2 small out of country vacations that too for only 4-5 days each and one in NL only. - so OK OK.

Finances : No saving dont this whole year. - Major sadness. But I didn cut down a lot on my shopping expenses and also we could cut down on eating out expenses - Small Achievements

Kid : As before could not give much time to her - Shame on me :(
Kid got lots of scolding from me this whole year - Major sadness
Tried to do some craft activities with the kid - Smiles
Kid started school this year - Happiness and Pride

Hobbies : Bought new camera this year which brought along tons of happiness. Clicked some really nice shots and am very happy about it. Already got one more new Lens as gift. - Happiness
Also wrote quite some poetry this year. - Satisfaction

Health : Health has been ok this year. Just backache problems which gave me hard time for couple of months. - Not bad

Books : Did almost no reading this whole year - Feeling lost and sad. Though I did buy some nice books to read. Currently reading Steve Jobs biography. Hopefully more will be read in the coming new year. - Hope

Mood : The mood throghout this year has been low and bad and angry. (I pity my dear husband who had to bear the brunt of it all)

Overall : A simple, normal year. Nothing vey exciting happened and nothing really bad either.

So Am thankful for all the good times we had.

Highlights of the year : New DSLR, Holday with friends, a decade of being married, daughter starting school and NO serious health problems

Happy New Year to all of you!

May the new year brings along lots of reasons to smile and be happy. Have good health, have peace of mind and keep loving!!

See you next year.

Wishing you all Happy Days!

2011-12-23T12:10:00.002+01:00

Tired and Homesick

2011-12-20T13:54:00.001+01:00

For many days I have been writing something but not posting as it was all full of frustrattions and rants.
Then I thought - So what - this is my blog and my space. Why do i have to hold back but I feel like writing.
Writing helps release all the tensions. So I will write whatever i feel like and post it too.

So - Bear with me if you find it all very negative and full of frustrations.

(You can stop reading if you are in no mood to listen to any more of rants)

So Its been more than one year since I visited family. Last we went to India was in Oct-Nov 2010.
This is holiday season here. Everyone is taking off and going to visit families. The office is calmer and quieter (not work-wise though) And so many people have alreday asked me about my holiday plans and If i am visiting my family. I must say - I cannot - just CANNOT take that question any more. I am NOT going to India this year and i have speand awful amount of time to prepare myself to accept that. But may be I should not get upset about people asking me this. Afterall this is the only topic everyone is talking about these days.

So yes - I am upset about the fact that i have not seen my family for over a year now and wont see them for coming few months either.
Besides, what is making it worse is lots of other worries of life. I am loosing it all. I am loosing all pateince to deal with anything. I get angry at the drop of a a feather (Did you get the meaning?!!?!?!?)
And here comes the worst bit of it all - I take out so much of my anger on my kid :( I dont want to do that and I dont do that intentionally but that what happens. She ends up getting scolded for every small thing. I am guilty as hell for this behaviour of mine but i just cannot help it. Someone out there please please tell me how to deal with this. Any advise is welcome.

The I am fedup of managing this work-life balance. I cannot do this anymore. I just cannot. I feel physically and mentally exhausted. The reasons being millions.

I am not at all blaming the world for my worries but it does seem like the whole universe is conspiring to turn things against me.Nothing goes right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aakhon mein aasun
dil mein dard
kaise yeh pal hien
kaise yeh raat

sapnon kee woh dhundli tasveer
jane kis badal kee peeche chupi hai
jane kyun suraj gayab hua hai
jane kyun baarish rukti nahin hai
jane kyun dil kee awaaz nahin hai
jane kyun aakhen kuch kehti nahin hein
jane kyun iss rah pe chali ja rahi hun
jane kyun duji rah nazar na aaye
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woman - I bow | VAW Awareness Month October 2011

2011-10-05T00:33:00.001+02:00

High in pain

Low in feeling

The woman inside

Is calmly dealing

Each day is big

Each day is heavy

Those Tears are dry

And no longer cry

Head bounces in anger

Heart refuses to beat

Eyes do not flutter

Mind loaded with clutter

Scars are hidden

Emotions are dead

Yet Smiles grow

This "woman" i bow!

Stree Shakti | VAW Awareness Month October 2011

2011-09-30T15:39:00.000+02:00

For October, a group of bloggers and friends are planning a powerful initiative, taking the topic of Violence Against Women. They are aware of the fact that the subject on violence against woman is very wide and includes multiple aspects. To ensure that this awareness campaign is effective, they have limited the scope to the following aspects...

1. Domestic violence – Physical violence against the woman by husband/partner and other family members
2. Violence against girl child including deprivation
3. Sexual violence – including marital rape, date rape
4. Emotional/psychological abuse
5. Dowry related violence including Bride Burning
6. Female Infanticide
7. Acid attacks

So - COME. JOIN IN and SUPPORT the cause. It's for YOU, ME and every other female around the world.

This is a week of celebrations in India. Ofcourse Indians all over the world are celebrating too. This is the Celebration of the Goddess - the power of womenhood - stree shakti! The power that can nurture a heart and fight a demon. Such is the power of a woman. The fearlessness and patience a woman can show is beyond measure.

Lets get together, celebrate these 9 days and pay our tributes to all those women who - inspite of all odds and being victims of violence - stood up and fought for getting the smiles in their lives. Lets salute each on of them! Lets salute their courage!

Just a Reminder

2011-08-30T15:08:00.000+02:00

I just want to remind my self to Read Read Read....

It's been ages since i read properly....i mean a book.

I miss reading.

Yaadein - Memories

2011-08-08T16:41:00.000+02:00

मन्न क्यूँ बहका
आंसूं क्यूँ छलके
कुछ तो था
जो दिल को छु के निकला

वृक्ष झूमे
डालियाँ घबरायीं
पत्तों ने हवा का हाथ थामा
हवा ने भी साथ निभाया

इक झोंका जो यादें जगा के निकला
दिल को यूँ हिला के निकला
यादों की लम्बी सी लड़ी
बनती ही चली गयी

कुछ आसूं छलके
कुछ मुस्कुराहटें बिखरीं
थोरे गम्म याद आये
थोरी खुशियाँ नज़र आयीं

आज बेठी हूँ में
उन् पालों में गुम
वोह पल जो यादें हैं
वोह पल जो याद आते हैं

Mann kyun behka
Aanshun kyun chalka
Kuch to tha
Jo dil ko chu ke nikla

Vriksha jhume
Daaliyan ghabrayin
Patton ne hawa ka haath thama
Hawa ne bhi saath nibhaya

Ik jhonka Jo yaadein jaga ke nikla
Dil ko yun hila ke nikla
Yaadon kee lambi si ladi
banti hee chali gayi

kuch aasoon chalke
kuch muskurahatein bikhrin
thore gamm yaad aaye
thori khushiyan nazar aayin

aaj bethi hun mein
unn paalon mein gum
woh pal jo yaadein hein
woh pal jo yaad aate hien

If you are interested in more poetry here - here is the link

Anjaane se lagte ho

2011-08-04T15:37:00.001+02:00

Ae anjaane saathi mere

yun saath chalte chalte

ho gaye kayi saal humein

phir bhi kyun lagte ho

tum anjane se meet mere

woh din yeh lamhe

nikalte hee chale jayengay

hum yun hee iss tarah

saath chalte hee jayengay

Na jane kyun ummeed hai mujhe

zindagi kee kisi rah pe

yun hee guzarte hue kisi mod se

dekhengay hum ik baar phir se

mein janungi tumhe aur tum pehchanoge mujhe

Edited to Add: Just realised this is my 150th post. Saw this number just like that after i posted this. I would not have liked my some spl number post to be anything else than poetry. I am glad it turned out to be like this. If you are interested in more poetry here - here is the link

10 Days of ME - Day 6 - Foods

2011-07-06T11:50:00.000+02:00

My 10 Days of Me Challenge has gone way beyond 10 days. Ok - who said it has to be in 10 consecutive days (self convincing) So here i am back again with another day.
And this time it is ...umm..let me see..ok so its is

Five Foods....(bas maar daalo itni choti selection se) - Selecting only 5 - Are you kidding me? I can go on writing forever and yet the list wont end. There goes the foodie.

Ok here i begin the hard task of selecting 5.

Rajma Chawal (Red Kidney beans and Rice) - Now this is on my mind today. Want it now now now. Thanks to the tweet mentioning it.

Spaghetti pescatore (Sea Food Spaghetti) - there is no other dish easier to make than this and its just brilliant. I am totally in love with it. Purely italian, recipe from an italian and we are hooked on to this like anything. I can have it any time any quantity :)

Falafel - Love this one with all the salad and sauces there. Don't miss out on those full chillies. Awesome vegetarian lunch.

Samosa - This is one thing i have loved from ever since I remember. But I totally detest those fancy version of real samosa with all that dry fruit, paneer etc etc etc added. I love my samosa from a small corner shop with only masala potatoes there in. And ofcourse with that awesome green chutney.

I am thinking thinking thinking about what to put as fifth...there are sooo many options coming to my mind.....am thinking thinking

Chicken Tikka - Our very own desi chicken tikka. Love it anyway with some hot hot green chutney. BTW, I absolutely love biryanis too. (Secretely adding another one to fifth point)

OK so that was my list....and I am so hungry now. And All i have is a soup. Ok its Miso soup with chicken.

~~~~~~~~~

10 Days of ME - Day 1 - Secrets
10 Days of ME - Day 2 - Loves
10 Days of ME - Day 3 - Fears
10 Days of ME - Day 4 - Wants
10 Days of ME - Day 5 - Places

10 Days of ME - Day 5 - Places

2011-06-30T14:12:00.001+02:00

Another day...and I reach the day to think about Six places..
hmm...now thats one difficult one for me..
Let me begin and give it a try

Srinagar (Kashmir, India) - Thats one palce I would love to go back. I have grown up there. Spent first 10 years of my life there. I have more memories of that place than any other till date.

Strasbourg (France) - We went for a vacation there and totally fell in love. Such a lovely place. We want to go back soon.

Delft (Netherlands) - That was the first city I styed in when I came here for the first time. That city has a charm of its own. Embracing the dutch heritage in architecture and nurturing the modern life by being a very student city. It has the famous Techical University of Delft.

Bangalore (India) : 3 years back we went there for the first time visiting family. Absolutely loved the city. A great mix of typical indian culture and the western influence.

Venice (Italy) : I don't think i need to explain why i love that. You need to visit it once to feel it yourself.

Paris (France) : Again, its the charm of the place. Its the beauty. Its the feel you can get obnly by being there.

Delhi (India) : Ok Its last in this list but that does not mean its the last preferred place. Its tops the list anyday. What do i say about apni diili...(in real sense i have not stayed there for long so i still miss the real real apni dilli kee feeling) For the rest, it means my family to me.

WOW...i absolutely loved doing this one. And now nostalgia is kicking in big time.

:)

~~~~~~~~~

10 Days of ME - Day 1 - Secrets
10 Days of ME - Day 2 - Loves
10 Days of ME - Day 3 - Fears
10 Days of ME - Day 4 - Wants

10 Days of ME - Day 4 - Wants

2011-06-29T07:00:00.001+02:00

It's Day 4. It's about Seven wants.
I had done two similar posts on the lisnes opf my wishlist...Read here and here

So here is my list in no partcular order...7 wants...

I want to have a library of my own

I want to have an exhibition of paintings

I want to have a time machine in which I can travel back in time to live those happy moments once again and be back.

I want to own a jet plane so i can fly and visit my family whenever i wish to.

I want to have a chip fitted inside me to do the household work. So i would just need to swithoff my normal self and switch on that robotic mode to start working.

I want to have mind reading power which i believe will solve lot of problems. (Or may be not. But i choose to believe it will solve.)

I want to go on an year long holiday so I can travel around the world with my daughter.

~~~~~~~~~

10 Days of ME - Day 1 - Secrets
10 Days of ME - Day 2 - Loves
10 Days of ME - Day 3 - Fears

10 Days of ME - Day 3 - Fears

2011-06-28T12:24:00.003+02:00

Here I am on Day 3..Talking about fears. As i started writing this my mind wandered. What are fears? Is it some thing that scares us? is it some inner feeling that keeps us away from something? Is it something we dread? Is it something we would not want to happen coime what may?

I could not decide which one of these it is. Or so I thought. It is perhaps all of them. Fear - which each one has in some form of the other. Fear of loosing! Fear of gaining! Fear of leaving! Fear of meeting!

My mind struggled to let these out...
Here is my list... 8 fears...

My biggest fear is being alone. How muich ever i would say I want some alone time - the truth is I cannot be alone. I go crazy. Ic annot eat. i cannot do anything. Weel, thatd oes not mean i cannot stay alone at home for a while or anything like that. I mean alone forever, alone in life, alone and lonely!

I cannot bear the thought of loosing my loved ones. Its my biggest fear. I do not know how it is to cope with any such loss and i do not want to expereicne that ever.

I absolutely dread lizards. eww...even the thought is giving me shivers. So i leave this topic here as it is.

I am dead scared of snakes. I cannot even look at them.

Whenever I take a bus, train or any other public transport - I always fear that I am in the wrong one. I need to check outside and also inside to be sure I am in the right one. So much so that every single day I take a bus from station to my office and back. Its the only big red colored bus on that route. All other buses are from different companies/services hence diff colors. Yet when i take this, I always always - for a split second - doubt that I am in the wrong bus.I check on the screens inside bus or listen to driver for being sure.

At one point loosing my friends was something I thought I would not be able to take. Yet with passing time, friends came and went. Some close and deeply cherished ones stopped communicating. Having gone through that - I do not fear this anymore. People come and go, if they have the true connection with your heart, they willbe there - come what may. Others will blame it on distances, getting married, having kids, busy schedules, hectic lives etc etc etc.

I have this strange fear of loosing a day. I want to remain awake till as late as possible. i feel if i sleep the day will end. And it will end forever.

As a child I used to be aftraid of darkenss. Bt not anymore. Darkness triggers mind to think beyond what is obvious. Its triggers other senses too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10 Days of ME - Day 1 - Secrets
10 Days of ME - Day 2 - Loves

10 Days of ME - Day 2 - Loves

2011-06-27T14:42:00.001+02:00

So 10 day challenge and I already missed day 2 & 3. Not good at all. I would have declared it Big Failure but No, i wont do so as yet. I have decided to run bit fast, catch up on missing posts and keep going as far as I can.

So here is Day 2 - 9 loves of my life...

First and foremost - my little girl - my daughter - Prisha. If am given only a split second to think, i would say She is my only love in life.

My sister - she is my soul. If i had multiple personality disorder, she would be one personality i would have loved to be :)

I love colors - in all forms. I am not a black n white person at all.

I love listening to gazals and sufu music

I love a specific pair of heels i have. I wish they stay forever.

I love beaches. Only i need to be under the umbrella. cannot sit in sun for long. love the water as far as you can see the most.

I absolutely love to lie down and watch TV till late in the night. Don't need any company for that.

I love my camera. Taking pictures has become a routine. (Not that my daughter really appreciates that anymore)

I love samosas. Any number, any day, anytime :) (Oh How much i miss those choti dunkaan ke samose)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10 Days of ME - Day 1

10 Days of ME - Day 1

2011-06-24T10:28:00.000+02:00

Ok - So I think i can only keep this blog alive when there are some challenges. For the same reason - as soon as I came across this 10-Day Challenge started by Preeti - i had to take it up.

So here I begin..

10 Secrets...(And here i go....opening up my secret diary)

I am very very short tempered. I feel I am like that most of the times besides when I am sleeping.(Ok its a secret for blogworld only - not for my family)
I hate to be late for appointments unless the reasons for it are other people involved or something that can't be avoided. that deos not mean i am never late. I do get late too but i hate it. Weird?!?!?
I think i am the only one in the world who does not have any music on her iphone and laptop. (I discovered that recently during a conversation where I shocked the listeners beyond limits..they are still regaining from this shock. I was immediately redirectedto the sites where i can download music from)
And like Preeti - I hate oranges too. I cannot stand their smell. i hate it when people have oranges in closed places like buses and trains where I cannot open windows or go out. I almost get nausea.
I cannot drink hot coffee with sugar and I cannot drink cold coffee without sugar :) Now thats complicated - right?
I cannot stand rains. i hate walking in rain even if its just drizzling. I hate that wet-humid feeling. I hate that grayness.
I always want to be the last one to reply to an email. I mean in a chain of email going back and forth between me and someone else - i want to be the one sending the last reply. Till i get a reply i keep replying back ;) (But i keep waiting for the reply to my last one too - how complicated can one get!)
I do not know driving and swimming- ok i know very little of both actually (Go on - you can bash me..i know these are life skills :()
I cannot stand kids' crying. Yes - being a mom that can be a weird thing to say..how can you avoid that when you have a kid of your own. But yes..its the truth..I cannot stand it. I go crazy when I hear kids' crying. My brain goes in some war.
I cannot take shower in cold water even if its very hot weather. The water needs to be little bit warm.

Phewww.....done!
Believe me it was tough. Revealing your secrets is HARD!
Well..they are no longer any secrets.
Have fun..

And if you take up this challenge too, please drop a comment to let me know. I will love to know your secrets!

Another baby

2011-06-06T10:45:00.001+02:00

Ok Ok....stop before you think too far...
It's about another love child :)

The baby here is another blog for my love - photography.

(Seems like photos and camera is the only topic I have these days - Thanks for bearing with me - You know I feel honored - right?)

Yes - so back to the new baby topic.

As Already announced (or taken on myself) - I am participating in 30 Day Challenge - June 2011. Taking a picture everyday for the month of June as per the topic.

And to keep that seperate from this location (To save this one from turning into non-writing adda) I have a new baby - Life Behind Lens

Please pay a visit to my new baby and shower some blessings!

Thank you!!

PS: Do check out the flickr group for the awesome pictures people all over the world have taken. It's inspirational.

Love - Post 30

2011-06-01T15:57:00.001+02:00

Dear blogosphere inhabitants....as we mark the completion of May Month NaBloPoMo - i am jumping into another one.
Wait wait...read further first..

As few of you must have read my happiness filled post - you can imagine what my love is these days.

So to add to my joy and to brush and polish my skills (I am assuming I have some :) ) I am taking up another month long challenge. Yes you heard it right....another challenge of posting everyday for the month of June. But Yes - you guessed it right - its not writing - its photos.

So I have accepted to be part of this

So starting today - I wll post one picture everyday on the theme as per the list :)

Come on tell me - who all are ready for this?

Recapturing smiles : Post 29

2011-05-31T22:00:00.000+02:00

Earlier this month I complete 6 years of my stay here in Netherlands. Lot happened during this time.
Today i am listing 10 things from last 6 years that give me smiles.

First and foremost - I became a mom - 3.5 yrs back.
I experienced all kinds of weathers - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (And sometimes 2-3 of these on a single day :) )
I walked in knee deep snow and not just for fun for but for reaching work and then back home.
For the first time in life I did skiing
I learned to make things i would crave for and miss here.(food I mean)
I hosted parties for over 40 people and did every bit fo cooking myself including welcome drinks :)
I flew to another country to meet a friend (About a dacade back We used to fantasize about meeting each other at airport in some foreign land and would never ever imagine one day we will do so too - there is along story behind this)
I learnt a new language - Dutch - good enough to talk to an old lady for half an hour in a train
Met people from all over the world and learnt there is so much cultural similarity in each one.
Went to Venice - which was one of my dream places to go.

OK - there are many more coming to mind now, but I will leave it to 10 :)

My day - Post 28

2011-05-31T11:55:00.001+02:00

Do you have days when everything seems bad?
Life seems like a pain.
Everything seems to turn back towards you.
Suddenly it feels you have all the problems of the world in your life.
Nothing works.
You feel like crying but cannot.
You feel like screaming but your throat does not support you to do that.
You feel like hitting anyone who messes with you or may be even if does not mess with you.
You feel like banging your head against the wall.
Head is full of so many worries - if let loose they will cover the whole earth.
Heart races like a ferari.
Every word sounds crap.
Any advice sounds blabber.

Tell me do you have such days??

I do but I am Grateful today is NOT one such day. :)
And suddenly I feel lucky and happy!!

Side Note: Last weekend I watched that movie - Dilli Chalo. A dialogue in it by Vinay Pathak hit me hard. (PS: the words might be slightly different but this was the meaning)

"Agar dukhon ka mazak udaao aur unpe haso to woh bhaag jati hein"

(If you laugh at worries and make fun of them they run away)

My life in books - Post 27

2011-05-30T21:26:00.000+02:00

Now that all of you lovely girls have done this - Why should I leave the opportunity
Thanks Monika, Chandni, Iya for giving me the idea for this last bit of NaBloPoMo

Ok so complete the sentences by adding the title of the book you have read (Please don't relate to the content - It's only the titles)

Here is my life in books ...

In School I was: The Other side of the story

People Might be surprised I’m: Imperial Woman

I will never be: The Scapegoat

My Fantasy job is: Shalimar the Clown

At the end of a long day I need: (Of) Human Bondage

I Hate It When: (someone is) Extremely loud and incredibly close

Wish I Had: Sense and Sensibility :)

My Family Reunions Are: Made to Shine

At A Party You’d Find Me: (with) blue shoes and happiness

I’ve Never Been To: The Farewell Symphony

A Happy Day Includes: A Thousand splendid suns

Motto I Live By: Don't sweat the small stuff...

On My Bucket List: A Passage to India

In My Next Life, I Want To: (be on) The Good Earth

Bliss - Post 26

2011-05-29T23:46:00.000+02:00

I read this at Chandni's blog and got the inspiration.

I have two fav places to sit at home. One is exactly like her - on bed with books on side table and TV in front.

But my preffered one is.. Easy chair by the window with huge mug of coffee and a book in hand, gazals playing in background. Feeling the warmth of sunshine or hear heavy rainfall on window. I love this chair of mine. Just sitting there looking outside and lost in thoughts is what i like the most ;)

I have another fav place which i rarely get to use. Its the swing in our garden. I just love sitting there watching the sky - be it the blue one with white clouds or the night sky with stars. Thanks to mostly cold and rainy weather I rarely get to do this. Having weekend morning coffee sitting there is an absolute bliss which I have got to experience only couple of times till now.

So tell me- which is your fav place to sit??

Happiness - Post 25

2011-05-29T23:02:00.001+02:00

Yes. I am very happy. Finally i went and bought myself a gift :)

And my gift is Nikon D5100 :) ... Yes m talking about new camera. So, am i happy??? YES.. A lot (anti-jinx)

Pics of trial will follow soon!

No more - Post 24

2011-05-27T17:24:00.000+02:00

That pain inside
and that tension in head
It was all so clear
see those wrinkles on forehead

that broken heart
and that choking throat
its no longer hidden
as you try to swallow those tears

Heaviness loathing
and breathing not real
you just seem to drag
that life which seemed surreal

Is that your soul?
Oh It seems no more
That thing called feelings is dead
And there is no more dread

Not being able to bear that
I turn away lost in my thoughts
My movement sees me moving too
Oh Mirror Oh Mirror...please tell me its not true!

Thursday Challenge - Post 23

2011-05-26T15:16:00.000+02:00

I felt a strong urge to do this when i saw Thuirsday challenge ( Also to catch up on posts)

So the theme for this week is :

"WET" (Rain, Puddles, Water,...)

Life on the way - Post 22

2011-05-26T11:14:00.000+02:00

Today morning when i was on my way to work - as always i noticed quite a few things.
Shoes have been my love always. So i was just randomly noticing what people were wearing..i mean footwear. And i took some shots. So here i present to you some random shots i took this morning.

This one for the special standing out red socks :)

And this one specially to show that goldden bag that the old lady was carrying. :)

A life - Post 21

2011-05-25T23:52:00.001+02:00

Of this and that
Of here and there
We think we talk
We write and share

We hear and listen
We think we smile
We ponder and indulge
And do it for a while

Some lift this heart
Some give an ache
And moments we live
For no one's sake

Ever since i started blogging which is about 8 yrs now ( on different blogs) i came across so many different people and part of their lives. Irrespective of distances, gender, religion, age, likes, dislikes - people connected. With some its a quick connection... Something like that feeling one gets when meeting for the first time and yet seems like we know each other for long. That instant wavelength matching :) - as some say! I have felt the same with many. But somehow i feel i need to take a step back before going all over into someone's life ... And opening up mine. Then there comes a time when the comfort level grows. Bloggers become friends.

Isnt it amazing how we read something and feel its exactly what we think. How quickly and how many times we nod at what we read. How often we read about things close to our heart. How we read things that we shy away from talking about. How we feel for things.

I find blogging another world in itself. Another life parallel to physical being. With smiles, joys, tears, sadness, pats and bows, lows and highs .....with friends and aquaintances and perhaps enemies too.

A life I can control and look forward to all the time...!!! A life whose birth and death I can decide.

One such day - Post 20

2011-05-24T16:30:00.000+02:00

I don't think i have anything worth writing today besides telling how my last 30 hours have been.

Yesterday aftrenoon around 1 PM i was told about an urgent very high priority business issue.

I immediately got onto it...tried to find the root cause... And when i say I got onto it..take it in its complete sense. Continuously trying to find the reason - From 1 in the afternoon till 2 in the night. Still no luck :(
I was cross eyed by then and could hardly see anything clearly (imagine looking at numbers whole day - trying to pick up that one wrong number somwhere)
So called it a day (or night) at 2 ..but could not sleep till 3. Woke up at 6 and back to business again. With no luck...came to office. Together with another colleague the search began once again.
With luck or God's grace or hard work or whatever you call it - we found the cause and fixed the problem by 3 PM today.

What joy and what relief!! I finally started breathing again...

And shall i tell you the cause :)

It was one asterix (*) in front of one of the numbers - a star at a place where it can only go wrong :)

Khoda pahaad nikli chuhiya ( Anyone knows an english proverb for this)....Well the impact was HUGE.

I am dozing off as I am writing this... Zzzzzzz...............

Oh wait i better go home now.

Flashback - Post 19

2011-05-23T17:37:00.000+02:00

I was googling for soemthing on internet and somehow landed up searching for my first school. So many things/incidents flashed back in a split second. I was lost in the beautiful memories and smiling.

Here are few of those which came to my mind... And I am still smiling... :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I was in Class 1 (around last month of so in that class) , i lost my english book in school. I got the new one but could never forget that one(don't remember why) 3 years later when i was in Class 4 and was in library for something else - i found it there on one of the shelves - with same cover and my name there on :)
I somehow have the feeling the title of the book is in my mind too but somehow can't get it out.

When I was around 4 yrs and my little sister was just born - I used to take mental note of everything she would do. It felt like a responsibility that i should be telling her all that when she grows up. And i did remember quite a bit.

When I was around 5-6, I used to go buy dahi (yoghurt) from a special shop selling fresh yoghurt. I loved that walk alone and felt like I am doing a great job. But there was that secret (ok not secret at all actually after you read further) action i loved....i would eat some of the yoghurt while walking back home. (Oh how i loved that fresh set youghurt and i still do) Howsoever hard i tried to keep that a secret, i always always - without missing even once - spilled little bit on my t-shirt or frock and would be caught as soon as i would reach home inspite of my efforts to look my innocent best :)

I have been very fond of high heels and umbrellas right from my childhood. So as soon as one of my aunts would come home while on her way back from work - I would wait for her to take off her sandals and put her things aside. And next moment I would be out wearing those and holding that umbrella. I could play hours on with just those 2 things. Until one day i tripped over and hurt on of my finger very badly. I had to get stitches done. Please note - my love for high heels is still intact even though i was never allowed to wear my aunt's sandals ever again after that day.

When my sister was around 2-3 yrs and I obvisouly much older (than her), mom made dresses for both of us- exactly same style skirt-top but different colors. mine was lemon yellow and her was purple. It was exactly same style yet i liked her more. Her skirt has much more beautiful lace on the edges than mine. i felt my mom was partial because she was the baby doll of the house :) (But i dont think I ever complained about that openly - the wise elder sister I was and perhaps am :) )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So do you have any such memories from early childhood? Please share - would love to read.

Morning - Post 18

2011-05-23T07:49:00.003+02:00

I heard some sounds
Some music?
Was it twinkling
Or was it knocking

The sounds of rain drops
On the glass window
The notes were perfect
Rhythm so sweet

Rays of light
Trying to peep inside
Magic of the moment
Froze in time

Oh morning
Oh beautiful morning
Ring the bells
And move those curtains

Let life soak itself
In the symphony of that moment
Let soul wake up
To the beauty of life!

30 something... - Post 17

2011-05-21T23:34:00.000+02:00

Very very long time back I had read this somewhere and now have been thinking about it for many days.

It was written as "20 something..." but i realised a lot of it is applicable beyond that too. And perhaps its more befitting only now. As "30 something..."

Yes am talking about age... How it is to be 20 something and then 30 something.
20 something has been called "Quarter Life Crisis" by someone. I had these few lines saved.

I am quoting some here.For complete article read here

It's quarter life crisis...When...

"You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe,those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones.What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too,and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere,but that they are as confused as you."

Isn't it valid at whatever age we are!

Unknown reasons - Post 16

2011-05-20T16:20:00.000+02:00

That blue sky and that bright sun

temperatures soaring..

hearts beating

as she sits there

Gazing out of the window

That secret gaze..

No more becoming

the topic of laughter

It feels good

Today she is the point

a touch on that flying hair

and settling that shawl

Advise is flowing like waterfall

Talk sensible

And do not smile much

Sitting across from each other

a gaze is shared

eyes meet

she saw that smile vanishing

she sits there again

Near the window ...gazing outside

sky is dark

sun has set

Morning is far far away

She continues to be the laughing matter

what went wrong

Smiles only vanished

Talk never happened

Alone or Loneliness? - Post 15

2011-05-19T17:30:00.000+02:00

Feeling alone or is it loneliness...i don't know.

But I think I know some of the reasons.

The city where i live and the city where i work are miles apart. It takes me 1 hr 45 minutes one way with public transport. (Please note this is not a rant post for that reason)

Ok - So I have been travelling like this for almost 6 years now. Metro, Train, Bus....Thats my routine.
And over all these years I have met many people on my daily route.

People who lived in the neighbourhood but we had never seen each other before. We became friends. We just travelled same direction at same time in metro. After that our directions changed.

People who worked in the same city as me. We travelled together in train.

People who worked in the same building as mine but different company. We travelled together in train and bus.

People who were my colleagues. We never knew we were in the same company until we came across each other in some company meet. We worked in different departments and our office was on different floors.

People who were my colleagues and we worked in same departments and sat on same floor. We travelled together in train/bus. Two of them are my closest friends now.

People who took the train from the same station as I do but for different destinations. And did I tell you we are friends for life now. First few times after we started meeting outside trains and stations, we introduced ourselves as train friends.

Once again people who travelled same direction as me in bus - our office buildings being next to each other. And we became very good friends.

People who travelled with me in the same train and have kids same age as mine. Our kids are friends now - closer than we are :)

People whom I had met before in common friends' gatherings and then started travelling together too in the same direction in train.

Inspite of so many people I met and had enough company all through my journey - I am loosing out on it now.

2 of my nice neighbours/friends in metro have stopped taking the metro. One started driving to work and another changed job.

And slowly over a span of 3 years...my friends in the train also started leaving. SOme moved closer to work so they dont travel by train anymore. Some others changed jobs. SOme relocated to another country. And for one - their company moved to another city to another bigger building. All those who were colleagues and fellow travellers have changed jobs. (May be it's a sign i need a change too)

I always always sit in the same compartment in the train for last 5 yrs. Not the same seat though - which is not possible for obvious reasons.
So today - when i was sitting in my usual spot without anyone to talk to and I realised I have none of those left to accompany me on my almost 4 hr journey everyday. No more exchanging messages in the morning about who is taking which train. No more looking out of the window to wait for someone. No more sharing the urge to take a nap in the early morning train. No more fashion-police like comments on people sitting around (and that was with an Indian friend - we would talk in hindi and laugh between ourselves without the person sitting next to us having a single clue thats its about him :) :) THough we always dreaded tha day someone would reply back in hindi.) No more exchanging sms about person sitting next to us and giggling away to glory. No more sharing tips on how to handle that boss or in some cases kids.
Even though I have made some very good friends Its still not the same as meeting everyday.

Sitting in that metro or train or bus...I am surrounded by people but I still feel alone.

Wordless Wednesday - post 14

2011-05-18T14:39:00.001+02:00

Can anyone of you guess what this is??

Clothes? - Post 13

2011-05-17T17:19:00.000+02:00

I am sure everyone gets a kick as soon they hear about clothes (well - thats not limited to that only)

Ok so my point was - I do get all excited about the topic as soon as I hear it but only till the point its about buying :)

I hate anything to do with clothes other than buying. I hate washing, hanging theM to dry, wrapping up, ironing, sorting them and arranging them in cupboards. I just cannot do that.

This is one thing which irritates me the most. And this is one thing that I am most embarrased about when i have guests over. Thank God for that attic area where i can dump everything. Its like a laundry house...clothes everywhere. And When I have friends over esp those who are first time visitors and all enthu about wanting to have a walk through of the house, I make sure I do not make any hint to another floor. I just escort them back to groud floor after they have had the first floor round and praised my house maintenance skills. (All for their own beneifit - I do not want them to get a shock and also I do not want to refrain myself from little boost in between all the guilt I live with everyday)

Ok Am spilling all the beans today.....

My cupboards are dumping box. You cannot find anything there - Just cannot!

My attic is like maze. You really need a navigation system to walk there and search something (I so wish every piece of cloth had a chip in it so I could trace it with GPRS - so much for the technology we are used to)

I never can find my socks after they go for washing. I keep buying new ones (Oops....now thats serious - Imagine teh day i will find out all - i will need a cupboard just for socks ;) ok slight exaggeration but nearly true)

There are times when my cupboard has only clothes which i do not wear and all the ones whic i wear are piled up for ironing.

Many a times i suddenly find something in that pile which i had totally forgotten about. i get pleasantly suprised to find it ( Imagine how long it lies there that I totally forgotthat I have somethign like that)

So many times including one today I remember certain tops only when I look at old pictures. And the search begins!

I wish someone would come up with use-and-throw clothes. Wear them once or perhaps twice and throw away. (Oh even the thought is sooo sooo relieving)

I know I know most of you will be saying - How can anyone be that unorganized!!
Believe me i won't say NO to any help offered to change it.

Ok there is one aspect of clothes other than buying that I like. I like stitching. :)
Two is enough - Right?

PS: There is a silk stole I am searching in my house for 2 years now .... all efforts in vain. I know I have it. I have never used it. I know i have not given it to anyone. If anyone has a clue - please help!!

Hope - Post 12

2011-05-16T11:27:00.002+02:00

Doesn't it strengthen that feeling that there is still hope...

Hope that keeps us all going

Hope that there is light beyond what all we can see

Hope that life has a brighter side to it

Hope that there is life behind these dark couds

Hope that this darkness will end soon

Heaven - Post 11

2011-05-16T06:37:00.001+02:00

Up above
Or deep inside
Peace resides

Deep below
Or far away
This life smiles

Heaven smiles
Life rejoices
Ready for the next step
Soul flies

Another day - Post 10

2011-05-14T23:33:00.001+02:00

Another day I was looking forward to is gone

Anothey day I was waiting for is over

Another day I planned to cook a lot is done

Another day I thought I would relax is passed

Another day I thought I would sit back and watch TV is getting over

Another day I wanted to go out and watch a movie slipped by

Another day I planned to do window shopping is closed down

Another day of my life is drifting away...

As i sit here, ready to bid good bye to this day
The day that is already history
The day that will never come back
I slowly close my eyes
And drift away in another world
The world of dreams

Perhaps to relive this day...

To you.. unknown - Post 9

2011-05-13T19:18:00.001+02:00

I want to say i miss you

and i miss you for numerous reasons and all the time....besides only when I am sad and want to talk to someone....which as some say can be done with a cat too....talking - i mean.

I miss you for that care you show without saying a word

I miss you for getting worried about me even before I tell whats going on

I miss you for I want to share every tiny happiness with someone who I know will be double happy to hear that

I miss you for lending that listening ear no matter when and for what

I miss you for who you are if you are.

Reminiscences of past gaiety - Post 8

2011-05-11T15:10:00.000+02:00

Clearly and purely inspired by Monika's post today - I started writing this.

10 things I want back from my life

Walking to school

and evening play time with friends

Summer vacations

and visits to badi-mummy's (grandmom) home

Sunday evenings

and movie time with family

Outings with friends

and Coffee dates at Barista

Shopping with mom and sis

and gol-gappe n chat on the way back

Thinking about all this has taken me years back... I am missing so many things now.

And I also have this on my mind now...

A step at a time - Post 7

2011-05-10T23:42:00.001+02:00

This is our new mantra now - by our I mean me and another colleague.
We decided about it 2.5 weeks ago. And fianlly started following it too.

My office is on 7th floor and ofcourse we take elevators - always with few exceptions when there was some serious problem with them ( count that as 3-4 times in 6 yrs :) )
I have always wanted to do so but could never gather the strength enough to do so. I always had excuses ready - oh my bag is too heavy or i am wearing high heels, oh am too tired, oh my back is aching.... The list is never ending!

Finally, one day while i was going out to grab some lunch, my friend suggested we take the stairs to go down. I couldn't say no atleast for going down. So i smilingly accepted the idea, secretely wishing she does not come up with idea on the way back.

Going Down was easy-peasy .. Add girly gossip to that to make it fun. I unconsciously timed it. We took just 2 min. Hmmm... that was quick.

We went ahead. Did the shopping and walked back. I had little bit stuff only in a small bag. But she had done some extra shopping and was carrying a heavy bag. I was sure she would not be able to climb up the stairs. And to my delight ... She didnt (can u imagine me dancing?)

We took the elevator up. Had our lunch and some more gossip. In between she suggested going for one round up and down the stairs after lunch. I shrugged the idea like a useless idea and ignored it, moving on to more interesting topics.

But to my surprise she came right after I went back to my desk and signalled to join her as if we have been stairs-buddies forever. No she cant be serious. I just had lunch, my stomach is full and besides i have so much work to do. While i was lost in thinking she called me again. I still asked- "are you sure?"
"Yes yes.. Come now.."- came the oh-so-casual reply.

Using all my might and power i got up and joined her. Going down was OK .. 2 min maggi noodles task. But climbing up... OMG, why wasnt our office on 3rd floor or worst 4th floor. Why do they make high buildings. Till 3rd floor was smooth, another one upto 4th was some work. But one more was a drag. I almost had the urge to take a break and rest a while. 2 more floors seemed like HUGE. Then she suggested we stop on 6th floor and go to library there to pick some books. I rejoiced in the idea. Thank God one less floor. I quickly climbed 20 odd stairs to another floor. And then suddenly she changes her mind-"No, leave it, we will come for books later".

Hunh???

I silently climbed another floor and thanked God we didnt work on 10th floor.

I was slightly out of breath but it felt ok. 3 min dot.

Inspite of my lazy-bum stubborness it got done. In my heart, i felt happy.

It's been fun ever since!!

Sweet nothings of life - Post 6

2011-05-09T16:49:00.000+02:00

Heavenly Is One word I can say for this.

I am totally in love.

The softness

The warmth

Hot inside, cold outside

With a crispy skin in between

One touch and your heart melts with this.

Yes Its HOT-BLONDIE I am talking about. Before you start taking that literally let me clarify - It's a new dessert at Burger King. That cake with warm and melting white chocolate inside and ice-cream on top

It’s totally worth the sin.

I tried it once before and have been looking for second chance ever since.

And as a Mother’s day special treat I sweetly demanded this.

I devoured in it with multiplied happiness as none of my other two partners had any wish to have it. (They didn’t have a clue what they were saying NO to)

BTW, 2 weeks ago I had decided that the day I will lose 4 kg – I will go and have that. But I broke it in between J I went half way. It was mother’s day – I deserved some treat – right?

While we are all in mother’s day mode – Let me tell you this too.

My little girl painted a small pot with her hands, planted some seeds in it. Nurtured it and gifted it to me yesterday with tiny saplings there. The instructions were strict – Do not keep it in direct sun, do not touch the plants, do not put too much water.

Yesterday was full of happy actions and suprises.

I loved it sooo much!!

Chef's pride - Post 4

2011-05-07T18:58:00.000+02:00

What a saturday-i must say!! Ok very beautiful outside. Lovely sunny weather.. And I in all excitement put on my chef cap and apron to churn out some equally lovely mouth-watering dishes (atleast thats what the idea was)

I begin...ok before i miss out imp detail.. The plan was to BAKE some goodies!

Ok so the adventure began. Internet search..hopping on my fav food blogs.

Shortlisted.. Needed some savoury ones only.

Baked first one with super enthusiasm. Looked lovely. First bite... Duhhhh...shocker yet i maintained my smile and waited for hubby's reaction. No words from there. I go guessing mode. Did he like it? Reallyyy? How can he? Is it anywhere near liking. Nah! He is just pretending. I ignore and dont request an opinion.

I start dish no 2. Enthu is still intact. I got on to second "first trial" dish or rather snack which it actually was supposed to be. (notice 'was')
Ok so all mixed up well..added my super brain ideas to it and plop-it goes in oven. Very high hopes and confidence saw it rising breath-takingly :) So the recipe said 20min. I checked it twice in 20 min :) (so much cOnfidence that i thought it might bake in half the time-shouldn't super enthu do that... Lessen the baking time)
It seemed to work opposite(note 'work' - oh ya sure) I gave up afer 30 min. Took them out and checked again, still not done...WHAT????? I checked my patience level. Veryyyy low. And the dish goes in microwave for rest of the cooking. 2 min and seemed like they were done. With pride i invite hubby over to eat. In my heart i felt like a MasterChef having managed a super looking dish inspite of those not-to-be-told moments in between. I was in so much hurry to eat them all myself but good wife and chef that I am - i waited for him to take a bite first. Hmmmmmm.... Again no reaction, no words of praise. Perhaps o e is short of words when things are tooooooo good ;)( did you miss out those extra "o" in too?) ok so let me take the bite and indulge in the goodness of life-food. Bahhh.. What.. This can't be right! I ask for some ketchup. Nah not enough. I ask for some hotter sauce with lits of chilli. Hmm little better now. (oh did i tell u hubby had already walked away after one bite, he seemed to be on search mission.. Something edible) The so called yummy lookibg dish had too much salt and was still under-cooked!

I think i forgot to mention third dish was already in oven while i was doing the quich microwave part. Ok so i had very very high hopes from this one. It can't go wrong thrice. Right? Come on say it...ok i heard it. Thanks!!

Well this one was bit time taking one. An hour kinda. I kept an eye. In between i started cleaning up the chef's adda since morning. It looked as if i cooked for 50 people. I did remember to check in between. Afterall am a master chef.. Multi tasking is my trait ;)

Almost an hour later, it was done. I take out (doubled up pride) Again patience is not my virtue. I pick up the nicest of knives only to start slicing out my pride to crumbs. The crust had got super hard. It had stuck to bottom. Ok inside was ok-ish. Never mind.. Inside is what matters .. Dil accha to sab accha (ignore that)

Did you just ask about hubby's reaction on this? Haha.. Am i crazy? Am a chef.. A master chef, i know what to offer and what not ;) so i silently kept this dish covered on one side and got into making our tried and tested.. Dal and baingan ka bartha( lentils and aubergine something)

So we DID finally enjoy the food what if it was not as per the first plan ;) :)

Remembering Beginnings - Post 3

2011-05-06T15:48:00.001+02:00

Warning : My posts these days are full of introspection. Too much thinking, pondering and analysis mode going on. Please bear with me.

Also, I am not sure if you all can read that. I tried to translate but it didn't have the same effect as in hindi. So i let it be like that.

मनन क्यूँ बहका
आंसूं क्यूँ छलका
कुछ तो था
जो दिल को छु के निकला

पेद्द झूमे
डालियाँ घबरायीं
पत्तों ने हवा का हाथ थामा
हवा ने भी साथ निभाया

इक झोंका जो यादें जगा के निकला
दिल को यूँ हिला के निकला
यादों की लड़ी बनती चली गयी
कहीं आंसूं कहीं मुस्कान

बिखरती चली गयी

It all begins with a minor hint.The beginnings are what always stay somewhere hidden deep inside. We do forget the journey in between but we never forget the beginning. It gets registered in some seperate memory corner. A faint trigger and it all comes back. We feel as if it was yesterday. And How we wish we could go back and begin again. (Atleast i think so quite often)

A trigger of past and the chain reaction begins. All phases become fresh like episodes one after the other. A never ending show. Some make us proud, some make us want to do all over again perhaps differently. I have this strange and bad habit of thinking I could have done it better. I forget the part that - If I could have done it better I would have - right - then and there.

Decisions - an unfinished tale - Post 2

2011-05-05T17:06:00.000+02:00

Decisions were taken

Paths were chosen

Fog was thick

Yet i decided to stick

Movement was slow

Steps were small

It took a while

For that kid to grow

It rained all the time

And storms hit too

I still laughed and smiled

hanging there as wind chime

Events became past

Memories faded

Friends were lost

It all happened so fast

Many years later

Thoughts are revived

emotions let loose

So I could fill up that crater

Life only goes forward

No U-turns allowed

But take that moment

to sit and look backword

its a roller-coaster

highs of happiness

lows of sadness

hold on...

breathe calm...

remember the decision

remember the dream

.....

....

I just cannot get any more words to write after this.......i so want to add to it...feels like a block

This is an unfinished tale

Can someone help me take it further???

Please leave your words in comments and I will add them here tomorrow

MAY BE - Post 1

2011-05-04T16:51:00.000+02:00

I had this urge to go for NaBloPoMo this month but didn't see anyone participating so felt bit lonely and gave up the idea. And today i see Monika and a wonderful gang of girls in this and I just could not stay away. Ofcourse I want to :) :)

The theme for this month is "MAYBE"
and the prompt for today is "Talk about you feel about making decisions"

So here I start my first one with an impromptu poem...or just whats on my mind :)

Enjoy

I chose to pen down all this

because i wanted you to know

I am happy with your efforts

in helping me grow

for your never complaining nature

and for always being there

to tell me i deserve it

to show me you care

for that ever smiling face

and turning everything fun

so i can be happy

and make those sorrows run

I also want to tell you

I do get angry always

and say a lot that hurts

but do not mean that serious

as its just an anger spurt

I want to tell you lot more

i also want to listen

I want to be there always

and also want you to be there

MAYBE i will say it all

MAYBE i will hold you

And someday i will stand by you

And not let you ever fall

This MAYBE keeps life moving

and gives us that hope

someday we will do it all

without the need of proving

Let's take the oath

2011-04-22T12:32:00.000+02:00

Most of us already know about CSAAM April 2011 drive going on in blogosphere, twitter world and on Facebook . All the action and contribution- survivor stories, therapists views, legal aspects have been remarkable. (I also posted on this here.)

After going through heart-breaking stories everyday, i realised how much pain is there in every heart. On the face of it the whole world seems like smiling while we crib non-stop about our everyday problems. All this has made me realise how much every tiny gesture of true love and care mean. How difficult is to have that someone in life who can be there not only in smiles and joy but also in sorrows and pain. Someone who would understand and not judge. Someone who will support and not shrug. Someone who will understand the unspoken words.

CSAAM - the month long initiative by blogger friends has added a new dimension to the thinking. We live in the denial world unconsiously repeating in our minds - "This cannot happen to us". All different perspectives on this subject have been very awakening. Honeslty, how many of us bother to go and find out the legal aspects of anything.The whole intitiative has given hope to many and helped heal up. For some - to be thankful for having got the support and love of that "someone" and for others for getting over that what that another "someone" did to them.

Speak up, Talk, Discuss, get professional help, provide space and biggest of all "LISTEN" and listen with support. - All these have been the keywords this month. A gentle reminder to ourselves every now and then about this is what we need. We need to be aware and prepared ourselves to listen and provide the right advise and support. Be well-informed yourself first so you can give the right information to your kids. React sensibly to anything your kid talks to you about. It might start as a simple incident from kids' day but might mean a lot. Like us adults, kids also first try to develop a comfort zone before they can let out the actual inquisitiveness or fear. Again - LISTEN and react accordingly. Ignoring something small as just another incident from school/daycare might have dire consequences. Be Aware, pay attention!! Nothing is worth ignoring.

It's an ongoing and lifelong effort and goes on beyond this month - Let's pledge to make this world a safer place for oursleves, for our kids and for all future generations!!

Once again - as I already wrote here

It's time we take oath

That noone can loath

Every child will grow up safe

Lets give them this faith!!

Today Happiness to me is

2011-04-20T16:49:00.001+02:00

Long time back i read a list like this somewhere (sorry cannot recall where). I felt so charged up after that that i felt I should do it myself someday. And believe me writing down these 10 things which bring such happiness; was a great experience in itself. But note that this does not mean these are the only reaons to be happy in life. Life has much more in store only we need to stop and take the moment to pay attention. There can't be just 10 points to make up for all the happiness we witness everyday. If only we can make this a regular habit to ponder what happiness means to us, there will be smiles all around.

This is the reason the heading for this post says "Today Happiness to me is". I might have a totally different list tomorrow if i sit down again to write. (But that does not mean these reasons will not give me happiness anymore) This will stay and more will be added and the reasons to be happy will only be more and more.

Happiness is…

A shy reaction plus a hug from the little angel in my life as soon as I enter home

Happiness is…

bright shiny sun later in the evening with time to sit on the newly owned swing in the garden.

Happiness is…

Longing to eat spinach, when one day I reach home after work wondering what to cook for dinner– there is a lovely dinner ready to be eaten and the main dish is spinach exactly the way I love.

Happiness is…

Running late from home just to find out the train I wanted to catch is also delayed just enough for me to be in time for all further connections. ( Believe me it’s the best thing that can happen in the morning rush hour considering it takes me 1hr 45 min to travel to work)

Happiness is…

Getting a phone call from someone from home ( for me it will always be

India

) just when I am feeling depressed and low

Happiness is…

Waking up half an hour earlier than the alarm clock and feel all fresh and ready to start the new day(If i continue to sleep that half hours it feels like a bonus)

Happiness is…

Getting on the weighing scales after weeks dreading a huge weight gain esp after having done lot of binge eating and see the weight has actually fallen down

Happiness is…

Trying to fix a problem for whole week and not getting anywhere. And when its 5 minutes to leave on Friday evening – something you do suddenly works and solves not only that one issue but multiple issues (win win win)

Happiness is…

switching on the TV after days and see that your favourite movie is being played.

Happiness is…

Getting hold of the book you have been longing to read plus being able to take the time to read it the same day.

Fashion - No Fashion?

2011-04-19T15:14:00.000+02:00

A long time back, i had seen this tag on Monika's blog. I had told her i will be doing this. And finally after around 4 months i am picking it up. Better late than never.....

Here I go...

How many of these fashion items do you have? 99labels has compiled a list of must-have fashion items for men and women .

Copy this into your NOTES.
Bold those items that you have, italicize the ones you once possessed but don’t have anymore.
Tag your friends to see their fashion quotient. Tag me as well so I can see your responses !

For Women

Little Black Dress
Black Flats
Gold Hoop Earrings
Mac Waterproof Mascara
A Black Clutch
Sling Bag
Gucci /Hermes-Berkin/Chanel/Prada Bag
Light-Colored Cotton Saree
Summer Scarf
Bright Colored Umbrella
A Red/Purple/Blue Handbag – I have 2 red and a purple
Over-Sized T-Shirt
Pencil Skirt (not fitting in it does not count - right?)
Black Crepe/Georgette Saree
Louboutin Shoes/High Heels
Le Smoking Jacket/Suit By YSL
Trench-Coat
Crisp White Cotton Button-Down Blouse/Shirt
Solid Wash Jeans
Leather Jacket
Pair Of Black Pumps
Knee-Length Boots
Silver Earrings/Baal
Leather Gloves
Sexy Black/Red Stilettos- black ones
Turquoise Stone Bangles
Ipod
Platform Shoes
Sexy Swimsuit
Toe Ring
Tattoo
Black Tank-Top
Hot-Pants
Kajal
Banarsee/Kanjivaram Saree
Beach Sarong – I cant wear it now though
Oversized Sunglasses
White Salwar Kameez
An Evening Gown
Classic Leather Belt
Lingerie By Victoria’S Secret
Summer-Hat
Chanel/Hugo Boss/Dior/Ysl Perfume
Silk Stockings
Iphone
Kundan Choker
Pearl Necklace
Faux-Fur Outerwear
Halterneck Dress/Halter Top
Body-Piercing
Silver /Junk Anklet/Bracelet/Armlet
Clinique Set
Churidaar Kameez
Platinum Band/Ring
Bracelet Watch

Hmmm......37 out of 55 - not bad - right? :)

Ok men - don't feel left out ....

and there is a list for men too
For Men

56. White Cotton Shirt
57. Classic Black Suit
58. Aviator Sunglasses
59. Dark Silk Tie
60. Pair Of Dark Jeans
61. Dark Brown Corduroy Coat
62. Pin-Striped Trousers
63. Palm Or Flip-Flop Slippers
64. Casual Brown Shoes
65. Metal-Strap Heavy Watch
66. Leather Jacket
67. Cotton Polo Shirt/Tee
68. Formal Black Shoes & Belt
69. Dark Overcoat
70. Silver Cuff-Links
71. Flat-Front Twill Pants
72. Lacoste T-Shirt
73. Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt
74. Armani Products
75. Designer Brief/Boxers
76. Zippo Lighter
77. Cargo Shorts
-78. Woolen Muffler
79. Hooded Or Crewneck Sweatshirt
80. Mont Blanc/Cross Pen
81. Three Piece Suit
82. Blackberry Phone
83. Ruck-Sack
84. Suede Jacket
85. Italian Leather Shoes
86. Ivy Or A Flat Cap
87. Cool Messenger Bag
88. Silk/Linen Scraf
89. Sports Watch
90. Formal Striped Shirt
91. Pair Of Trainers/Sneakers
92. Form-Fitting Swim Trunks/Briefs
93. Converse Shoes
94. Silver Tie-Pin
95. Sports Jacket
96. Tracksuit
97. Hiking Boots
98. Smoking-Pipe/Cigarette Case
99. Sport Jersey

Come one..pick this up and have fun....

CSAAM - It's only the Beginning!!

2011-04-14T01:12:00.001+02:00

A touch here and a touch there...

Who knows its affecting where

Tiny brain tries to make sense

the adult brain makes it tense

Little soul senses trouble

Tries to run away from the fumble

Something haunts day and night

Noone knows that there is no light

Deep inside the darkness grows

Kills desires ...only pain flows

Mind tries to move on

Pain n guilt keeps tagging along

Life goes on...

And along grows the refusal to go on

World’s unaware and noone notices change

Making it all even more strange

Confidence vanishes

And dreams get crushed

Years pass by...

thoughts don’t give way

Hiding behind

Was all one could say

O a simple wish...
wish that someone would come one day

And understand it all the unsaid way

Take away that agony
Take away that pain
Give me my childhood
So I can grow up again

Come stand up

Come join in

We still have time

Together we can chime

Its time we take oath

That noone can loath

Every child will grow up safe

Lets give them this faith!!

CSA – something the majority of us have experienced as much by known and as by strangers. A topic much suppressed by family. Afterall who wants to face the shame and guilt that it will bring to the family. In this whole shame-avoiding scene The family forgets about the shame and guilt that gets embossed in the child’s life.

How much impact an ignorable incident can have on one’s life is immeasurable. The Fear experienced can manifest itself in anxiety, panic, depression and insomnia. This is accompanied by feelings of powerlessness, insecurity, worthlessness and loneliness. Children often remain silent about sexual abuse. They feel ashamed, feel guilty or fear the perpetrator and think it will be more difficult for themselves when the abuse comes out.

After going through so many posts this month – we do not need any further proof of how deep a so-called minor and “sshhh….ed” incident can have on an innocent mind. It is a mutual responsibility of us parents and grownups to stop and punish anyone who tries to invade the territory of innocence.

I have been reading a lot on internet and came across wonderful and simple information on “From Darkness to Light”

A matter of 7 steps - 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children

And it was so apty said - The 7 Steps is Only the Beginning!!

Another very important aspect in this hi-tech era is to protect our kids in digital world. CSA is not just physical abuse – it includes all the porn some perverts try to introduce to youngsters.
Here is another good source on …

5 Tips to Protect Your Children in the Digital Age

All this has been said and emphasizes many times this month. But the idea is to generate as much awareness as we can. We need to stand up and take the right steps well in time. The healing will happen in the whole process along with confidence getting stronger. Our kids need us! And we need our kids – safe and happy!!

Go Visit - Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month - April 2011

Time to wake up..CSAAM - April 2011

2011-03-28T11:02:00.003+02:00

It's time we all wake up to reality, step up and protect our children.

Thanks to Monika and Kiran for initiating it..

Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month–April 2011

Join in and do your bit of being aware and spreading the same.

If you would like to add to the discussion or know somebody else who would, the entries are welcome...Here is the list of options on how you can do your bit...

mail to csa.awareness.april@gmail.com OR
post as FB notes and link to Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month Page OR
post on your own blog with the badge and link to the main blog OR
link or post on Twitter tagged twitter.com/CSAAwareness

Friday Faces

2011-03-11T12:22:00.000+01:00

Now can anyone guess who that is?

This is my entry for this week's Friday Faces started by Monika

Friday Faces

2011-03-04T09:28:00.000+01:00

Notice the expression and big eyes..asked to pose just after taking shower :)

Participating in "Friday Faces" initiated by Monika. What an interesting idea...i think its easy to capture the faces but very difficult to undersatnd the gesture and expressions. Every small gesture is so open to interpretations yet can be very wrong to what the actual person feels.

Colors...

2010-12-16T11:09:00.001+01:00

Isn't it funny that i post after almost 2 months and post on the same topic as the last one :)
Yes you are right - It's Thursday challenge again and here i am once again..posting on the same topic

"FOOD" (Farmers Market, Vegetables, Meat, Cooking, Restaurant,...)

The above pictures were clicked in the Bloemencorso (FlowerParade) in August 2007 in Poelwijk, The Netherlands

Golden pleasures...

2010-10-21T13:43:00.000+02:00

Isn't food most important when it comes to any topic :)

Thursday challenge for this week. Go check out more...

Serene...

2010-10-14T11:33:00.002+02:00

Taken in Strasbourg in July 2009

Taken in Luxembourg in Jan 2007.

Go here for more Thursday Challenge clicks.

Hip Hip Hoerraaaa....

2010-09-23T16:46:00.001+02:00

It's another thursday and the topic was such a nice one...I looked at pics from the carnivals, the flower parades, the birthday parties ...and found these such happiness filled ones...and all moments from that day came alive. It was a beautiful day - 2nd birthday of my darling daughter :)

A beautiful 2nd birthday party and the fun revealed in huge hip hip hurray :)

Keywords

2010-09-16T16:56:00.002+02:00

It's another thursday, another theme so another picture. i didnt have any good one in this category and i could not click any new. So i am posting one which was taken by my mobile phone just for testing. Somehow the keywords there say a lot....whioch i didn't realise while clicking.

Life means ...Music ..Dance

2010-09-10T12:31:00.001+02:00

After seeing this at Monika's i also got inspired to take part in Thursday Challenge especially because the topic is so close to my heart too.
I went through the collection of pics and came across this one...

I am glad I could pass on the dancing spirit to my little daughter through genes :)

"para.say.ta.mole"

2010-08-04T11:48:00.000+02:00

Dear Paracetamol,

Who says small is weak! Who says small is not good!

Look at you dear paracetamol - you changed the perspective all together. You are the one who made it possible to say - Good things come in small packs.

How on earth did you gain so much popularity especially here in Netherlands? Complain about any physical problem and - plop - comes the reply - slick in few paracetamols. Isn't that great? I bet we would not have heard a name more times than "para.say.ta.mole". (for those who don't know how to pronounce it :) :) )

Age no bar, sex no bar, location no bar, and even the disease and problem no bar..."paracetamol" is like the magic word.

Someone has cramps - give paracetamol.

The child has some infection - give paracetamol.

You have stiff neck - take paracetamol.

You have a sprain in your foot - take paracetamol.

You have some allergy - take paracetamol.

You have a broken leg - ... think we can guess the answer :)

So come what may - DO NOT forget to swallow some paracetamols.

Now thats some market capturing you have done here dear Para.say.ta.mole. It's no less than a mantra followed and repeated deligently by the medical world here.

Para.say.ta.mole - we love you in all your forms..even that form created especially for kids :)

You give me courage to stand up and rule the world. Small is no longer weak.

Here is your power conveyed...

"Happiness in marriages are the paracetamol for treating every sick marriage"

Bravo..Kudos...Hail - Para-say-ta-mole!

Disclaimer: Views expressed here are totally my own and meant only for humour.

7-days to positivity - DAY 7

2010-07-30T12:11:00.000+02:00

Finally I am on the last day of this experiment. I could not post everyday but then the positive side is that I felt that positivity for more days than just those 7 days :) Even though i did not post everyday, I still spent time reflecting on days' activities and the uplifters there-in. Isn't that the whole idea. It's great!

I think I would continue writing down 5 uplifters and happy incidents every now and then.

So how has this final day been -

That half hour extra that I slept this morning was absolutely great. Though i reached work half hour later yet it didn't matter much.
I am glad that just before leaving home I put on that cardigan. It was windy and cold outside.
Late to rise and early to bed...wow ..that was one luxury :) Went to put my daughter to bed and i think i slept before she did.
I love that "kruidenboter-stokbrood" (Bread with butter and herbs - kind of garlic bread). Had one - freshly baked at home. What a pleasure!
Chatted with a friend after a very long time. She pinged and brought smiles. Thanks.

Isn't this life all about such small moments? These are the real ingredients which make life worth living.

Enjoy, have fun and smile!

7-days to positivity - DAY 6

2010-07-29T11:23:00.000+02:00

I am doing it on alternate day basis but i am still happy that I can find out 5 things to feel great and thankful about everytime i try it.

So this list is for things from yesterday.

That fruit lunch yesterday was sooo nice. Me and a friend went out, brought a selection of different fruit, made a fruit salad. I had it with that lemon juice and ahe had it with some powedered sugar and yoghurt.
It was a great feeling to wear that top again after like 6 more than months. It fits me again. YIPPEEEE.
I felt unwell yesterday but becasue of that my husband came to pick me up from work and i went backhome early. It was so great to take that nap on the couch while he cooked dinner :)
It was awesome when my daughter came back home from creche and saw me there. She got so super exccited and screamed out of joy. No need to say how elated and fortunate i felt.
I totally enjoyed watching that movie lying in bed with my little daughter lying next to me. Oh what pleasure it was!

:)
What a booster!!

Nail Art - II

2010-07-27T16:47:00.000+02:00

I am still continuing with my love for nail art and painted it again this weekend.
After the design last week, I tried a new one this week.

I so love this art. Want to get some nice thin brushes to design more detailed patters.

Here is the new one..

7-days to positivity - DAY 5

2010-07-27T16:32:00.000+02:00

I missed out one more day in between. Just was a bit busy day and then did not feel like logging on to my laptop by the end of the days. Preferred sleep over it :) Isn't that better? The idea is to feel good and keep up the positivity - whether i pen it down everyday or not.

Ok here goes my list including some uplifters from yesterday

Got to sleep in yesterday morning owing to headache... but yet extra sleep is always gooooooooood.
Watched a movie in a thatre after almost 4 years. That was the HIGHLIGHT. The charm of it would take a days to fade away :)
Spoke with a very dear friend after a long time. Heard some bad news yet it was so nice to talk to her after months.
Got on the scales and saw some movement in the dircetion i would want it to keep moving :). I almost jumped with pleasure.
Went to pick up my daughter from creche yesterday evening. Usually my hubby does that. I hardly go there ever because of my long travel to work. The pleasure and surprise on her face was beyond words. I will treasure that moment forever.

It feels great to write few things which make you feel great. If not today, they would surely help you later in life whenever you cpoem back and read them.

Enjoy!!

7-Days to positivity - Day 4

2010-07-25T00:23:00.000+02:00

A litte bit late posting for day 4 but so what.....what matters is that i feel happy about something and feel better :)

Here goes today's dosage.

Got up early to finish some household work so I can have a relaxed day later on. Yes it felt great.
Finished some long pending cleaning tasks...it's the most wonderful feeling of the day. I have been quite stressed about all the pending work ..there is still lots left yet as long as its moving ..i am more than glad.
Did finger painting with my little girl. Can't tell how great it felt. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Watched a movie, painted nails in new design :) Loving it. This is third design in 3 weeks. I plan to change every week. I absolutely love it.
Had dal-rice with mango pickle for dinner tonight. Its a bliss. Nothing compares to that.

7-days to positivity - DAY 3

2010-07-23T15:32:00.000+02:00

Today is one of theose days when you go through extremes of moods. At some point you feel happiest of
all and then in couple of hours you feel competely opposite.

Today is one such day. The day started with me feeling very low but then got so happy and then again bit low. Thats the cycle of life. The key is to keep holding on to that moment of happiness and admire it at the time when things don't go the way we think is right.

My positive moments of the day are :

That 10 min nap in the metro this morning. It gave me more relief than the whole night sleep :)
Listening to that absolutely awesome music which my darling friend gave to me as a gift.
I felt so so so lucky and fortunate to have a really great friend here.
I am so happy it's friday today. i am looking forward to so many things - being with my little girl, watching some movie, sleeping and just being home
I am so glad that i can sew and also have one sewing machine. I like sewing. And i loved it how I made short kurtis/tops out of long indian suits i had which i were not wearing anymore :) I converted one long shirt to top last night too.

I definetely feel better after going through this process of remembering all things which give true happiness.

What about your day?

7-days to positivity - DAY 2

2010-07-22T15:50:00.000+02:00

Oh its GREAT! Life is great. you are great. I am great. Day is great. Place is great. I am happy :) and smiing. Isn't that infectious. Are you smiling as yet?
Ok that was like a spoonful of positivity syrup. Doesn't it make us feel good. A spoon full gives such relief to our sore soul. We stop coughing. We are able to get that sleep we have been missing.

This dosage of positivity syrup helps us realise its all much smoother than we thought.
Here is my spoonful of positivity for the day. And I am feeling absolutely awesome :)

A very dear friend of mine asked me for my opinion about a very important decision of his life. I felt great and thankful for being so important in someone's life and that my views actually mattered so much.
I could actually motivate a friend and make her feel great about something she and her partner are going to buy soon. She was not at all excited about it and tought it was a wastage unless we focussed on the bright side of it and allthe benifits. They surely did surpass the negatives :) And she is all looking forward to it now.
I felt great that I could add to positivity in her life.
I was sooo happy when inspite of running so late in the morning and leaving home too late to catch the metro - i managed to run fast enough and catch it :)
I am happy that i can actually finish more than 2 jugs full of water in a day. I have been drinking too less..sometimes just one glass whole day.
I so enjoyed that fruit flavored water this morning. Isn't it awesome how many types of "water" we get these days:) Though the traditional plain simple cool water wins over hands-down.

Ok that was generous serving of the syrup for the day.

Smile and Think positive!

7-days to positivity

2010-07-21T17:20:00.001+02:00

Preeti mentioned this wonderful way of adding some positivity in life. We always focus on all negative things happening around. Mind always takes us to whatever is not right. First thoughts about anything out of normal routine bring all negatives possible. We look up and see clouds only and totally miss that ray of light and that sun shining somewhere behind. And when it shines brightly, we look up and see the scorching heat rays only and pay no attention to the life flourishing around with that heat and shine.

So to remind myself of all that we usually miss out and be thankful for tiny smiles, i am taking up this 7-day challenge. For 7 days now i am going to smile and feel good about everything that goes unnoticed but can actually be uplifting. Afterall what matters in the end is the happiness we felt and smiles we shared in this journey called life.

Here goes my list for today -

I am happy to get that email from my sis early morning as my open my inbox.
Enjoyed lovely sushi for lunch with 2 friends.
Was happy to have left that extra pair of sandals at work yesterday. I could wear them today after my feet got sore in high heels :)
I felt grateful for feeling full with having only half the quantity of food I usually eat. ( Someone trying to loose weight can understand that pleasure)
I am thankful for that extra time in the morning because of which i could alter my new pair of triusers and wear them today :) ( How cool is that)

WOW...am feeling all charged up

GO..think again and be happy :)

Nail Art

2010-07-20T16:47:00.000+02:00

Sometime ago during NaBloPoMo i came across a post from Neha about her nail art hobby. And it immediately brought back memories from my college and early work days. I was totally in love with this art and would design a new pattern every week. I loved it. It brought back such beautiful memories. I remembered how i have also won the best nail design contest at that time :)

So after reading hers, i felt the urge to do it again. And yes, i gave it a try during my vacation last week. I have started it with absolutely simple design. I changed it to new design this time - again a simple one. But am happy with it. I look at my nails so many times and feel happy about it. (Small things like this matter so much in life and make your day with smiles non-stop - that's my renewed realisation) How taking out few minutes can bring about so much satisfaction in life !!

So here is my attempt from this week. I don't have the picture of first attempt from last week... :|

I know this is a simple design but I like it and I like the fact that so many people noticed it and also appreciated it ( Atleast i am believing those beautiful words of praise were genuine)

I will come back with new design next week. Till then have fun !!

Vacation is over...

2010-07-16T15:41:00.001+02:00

A friend asked - "How is it going after the vacation?"

I had quick and short reply -

"Loads of work for extremely sleepy me.A breath-taking (meaning literally) messy house. Piles of washing and tons of ironing(all in to-be-done category till noone knows when)"

I have set priorities .... It starts with

Image Courtesy :http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/Heavy%20Sleep_19796

I did it !! :) (Day 30)

2010-06-30T14:04:00.001+02:00

Photos taken in Luxembourg in Jan 2007

:) :) :)
YOOHOOO....finished the June NaBloPoMo.
I am so happy with this accomplishment. It's not just about writing because so many times it was not a quality post(atleast i think so). i am amazed - How i would take time out to post every single day, How the thought of it remained in my mind all day, How I could keep up with the promise ! I am very glad and satisfied with this. (Not that i had many readers but still ok :) ) (Patting my back non-stop)

Let's celebrate my first ever month of posting regularly with this cake :)

And some flowers for the summer cheer...

This month made me better in so many thing

I regained my confidence that if I really commit I will be able to keep up to it.

I learned that if you really want to do something you will always find time for it no matter what.

I realised that spending that hr or half an hour every evening or so gives lot of time to think about things close to heart. You do not need a proper fixed time for that.

I felt that connection with the world which is actually physically miles and miles apart.

I liked the idea of sharing small-tiny achievements of life with the unknown world.

And Yes - my blog followership doubled :) it became 8 from 4 :) :)

Thanks a lot to everyone who took out the time to visit this blog, read and leave a comment too. :) I appreciate it a lot.

I will take 2 weeks break from now and come back with some nice posts after our vacation.

ciao ciao !!

Wishlist - Top 10 (Day 29)

2010-06-29T23:55:00.000+02:00

Today since morning I have been thinking what to write for today's post. Many ideas came and were rejected with a "nahh - this is not nice enough"

Then read that beautiful beautiful post by Monika about memories associated with rain. (It's such a lovely post - you gotto go and read it yourself) I thought let me also do the post on same topic but then sooo much came to mind that I could not decide what to write and what not...

Then i thought of doing pictures/photographs post but could not find some nice ones from the collection.

Then i thought of writing about my baby but then this is not baby blog - there is separate one for that and i should update that instead.

SO after spending like whole day i could not decide what to write...and now i am running out of time...

The idea stuck me..and i decided to compile my wishlist...i keep thinking about doing lot of things and then do some, forget some and ignore some.

So here is my short list with top 10 things and this is valid life long :) - these are not things which i want to do this month or this year.

10 things i want to do before i die- in no particular order

I want to learn playing violin
I want to do bungee jumping
I want to learn professional photography
I want to be able to speak, write and read atleast 5 foreign languages
I want to have a painting exhibition of my paintings
I want to fly in a private jet
I want to become 50 kilos :) :) :)
I want to go on a world cruise
I want to do rock climbing
I want to sing on stage ( in front of huge audience)

This was top 10 and obvisouly the list is not limited to 10... its endless...I picked up things which need physical efforts and learning from my side :) There is a separate wishlist for watches, a separate one for shoes, another one for bags .... :)

You can take it as a tag and do it...What are top 10 things you want to do before you die?

Know me more...Tag(Day 28)

2010-06-28T23:58:00.000+02:00

OK So saw the meme tag at Preeti's blog and immediatey agreed to picking it up. Got delayed by few hours but you would know the reason as you read below.

It was total fun :)

Hope you enjoy reading it too.

1. What curse word do you use the most?
~S#!+ (that's all i use)

2. Do you own an iPod?
~Yes and love it too

3. What person do you talk to on the phone the most?
~Sister and a friend (Spouses don't count in this, they are by default - right??

4. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?
~Ofcourse yes....always

5. Do you remember where you were on 11/9/01?
~Yes In Delhi and my husband - then fiance - was in air at that time flying to US.

6. What was the last movie you watched?
~Oh My God..i don't even remember...it's been quite a few days or may be weeks..umm...

7. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
~Oh yes...though only one or two people have said so

8. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?
~Never taken till now

9. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
~YES..like Preeti I am full of secrets...for childhood till now.

10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
~Smile and way of greeting :) (Now my husband knows the secret behind being the fortunate one to become my life-partner :) :) )

11. What are you looking forward to?
~Vacation in Venice (Italy) - YOHOOO...can't wait...it's just 3 days away

12. Do you own any band t-shirts?
~Nopes.. Won't matter even if i had.

13. What will you be doing in one hour?
~Sound sleeping - hopefully..unlike yesterday..not a single minute of sleep for reasons unknown to me.

14. Is anyone in love with you?
~Oh yes...many :)

15. Last time you cried?
~Yesterday

16. Are you on a desktop computer or a laptop?
~My Netbook - Eee PC SeaShell :) I loooooove it

17. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
~No way.. never. i have ear piercings - thats enough

18. Would you ever date anyone covered in tattoos?
~Anyone else having those does not bother me..it's their wish, their choice and i respect that. Tattoos would never be deciding factor for liking or not liking.

19. What were you doing before this?
~Talking to a very dear friend after 5-6 years :)

20. When is the last time you slept on the floor?
~ 6 months ago in delhi

21. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
~None. I can function well without getting any at all too. (Ok for few days - after that I would need 12 hrs at a stretch)

22. Do you eat breakfast daily?
~Yes. I can't do without it. Need it Need it Need it.

And that was it!! ENJOYED?

WE Robots - Guest Post by Saurabh (Day 27)

2010-06-27T21:37:00.004+02:00

After a direct order (ok i should say a-slighly-strong-request) I could convince dear friend Saurabh to write guest post for me.(As if I gave him any choice to say NO) Now thats also a style for getting guest post besides the one Preeti suggested :)

Saurabh is a friend who has always been very cheering and uplifting. NO matter how you are feeling - he will never fail to make you smile for the rest of the day. He is one of the friends with whom I never feel out of touch - He will contact - no matter what. And I feel very fortunate and thankful for that. Thanks Saurabh!!

And Ladies and Gentleman - Here I present a guest post from this all-time cheerful person Saurabh...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WE Robot!

No, it’s certainly not a Will Smith movie sequel, neither an acronym, at least not intended, but now when I think of it, it can be Web Enabled Robots, by which you already must have guessed what I am writing about today, it’s about the social, personal and professional life of the folks in IT industry like me. My typical day starts with uneasiness in my mind about 100 things to be completed today, that thought goes with me while I am brushing my teeth, taking a shower, having my breakfast, driving to the office and here you go, I have the detailed plan ready in the office parking which I have to execute for the rest of the day. The WAR begins… Team Meeting, Leads Meeting, Daily Sync-ups, Project Management tasks, getting some issues resolved (finally), evening client calls, status calls, analyze where we are today and clock hits 11 PM, time to leave. This goes on and on, like someone has programmed us to do this daily without fail. It’s not that we don’t have a social life, now you will ask when you actually get the time to socialize. Technology has very easily accommodated that within the stipulated time through social networking sites like Facebook. Yeah and that’s where we socialize, via liking a picture, comment on posts, share a thought, all Web Enabled. Most of us will agree that sitting in office and not meeting people is Social outcast than anything else and yes my friends, we live in a world where “Social outcast is a form of Social Networking”. I will continue this in my coming posts (guest or otherwise) :)

Missing it all ( Day 26)

2010-06-26T23:26:00.003+02:00

One full week of being with my kid who' s down with chicken pox. I don't remember when was the last time i stayed indoors for over a week - not stepping out even once ( ok the back garden of the house does not count as outdoors - right?)

I felt fine so far. But now i think its catching up. I have started to feel different being inside for days on.

There are many things I have started to miss...

I have started to miss that coffee i take every morning at train station after I have finished 1/3 of my commute ( My commute time to work is 1 hr 45 min one way :) )

I have started to miss reading books in the train ( And that is the only time i get to read something)

I have started to miss reading "metro" newspaper in metro ( only way i practice dutch and get to know whats happening in the country)

I have started to miss seeing those passengers either bidding byes or meeting their loved ones after vacations and those tourists taking pictures at the airport. ( I change my train at station at the airport)

I have started to miss exchanging smiles with those commuters i have been seeing for around 3 years now.

I have started to miss that 10 min walk from the bus station to the office and the window shopping I did during that walk while walking through the shopping mall. ( ok ok...i accept i am missing window shopping more :) )

I never realised I would miss so much when I have actually been complaining about all this long commute and wishing I could get some respite from all this.

Now I am looking forward to going back to work - ahmm...to so many thing - on coming monday.

Power of words (Day 25)

2010-06-25T22:15:00.002+02:00

Moments of pleasure

come and bring joy

smiles are shared

cheer is spread

some get captured in words

to last forever

Ages later

words get deciphered

moments are relived

by another soul

another life

smiles are shared

cheer is spread

words...

So is the power

Of the words from the past

extolling the glory

forever they last

(c) Do not copy. Please ask before using it.

Image courtesy : http://fysop.wordpress.com/

The rest of our life... (Day 24)

2010-06-24T23:28:00.001+02:00

Life is all about ups and downs-sometimes it makes u feel the happiest and the greatest in the world and next moment u feel like the most unfortunate one on earth.

It's all about balance And there is the need for a proper balance in everything in life..Just everything...

I always wondered why am i the one always picked up for all the bad happenings in life until I started paying more attention to the good-happy moments too.And i realised that at those rejoicing moments i actually get the maximum possible happiness...It might not last like that forever but the traces stay on. Learn to count those moments rather than the ones which cause pain and break u into pieces...

Faith is the strongest power. Keep the faith and u would win over every situation.

It is not about having lots of friends or a lover or a partner to be there by your side throughout that roller coaster ride that u are on...It's about holding tight to that seat and not letting yourself fall off. You need that inner strength- strength to keep holding on to your beliefs and faith and to the hope that u would soon come out of it safely and smiling.

It's on us to decide what kind of life we want to have - an average one where people will have to spend sometime to remember who we were or the one that would bring smiles on faces at our mere mention. And this all is possile with how much smiles we spread in our life. How much smiles we spread around depends on how much we believe in ourself and rejoice in every single moment.

There are reasons to smile all around us....a child's smile, a beautiful sun or a cloud with a silver line, some giggle, colorful flowers, raindrops, those busy streets with people laughing, shops full of things we love, that sale somewhere on our favorite store, that new favorite food restaurant just around the corner, a phone call from home, an email from friend, favorite player scoring a goal in soccer, weekend after every few days :), those flights to book for vacation, that countdown to visiting home.

Look around and you will have many reasons to smile and be happy !!

New and cheerful (Day 23)

2010-06-23T22:58:00.000+02:00

It's been quite sometime that I had that template for my blog. Now that i have been blogging for last one month i felt like changing it to bring some cheer and life to the blog.

I always end up using shades of pink ( no prize for guessing pink is my favorite)

What with kid being ill, no blogging for very long, too much self-pondering - this blog definately needed some change.

Hope you like it ( If and when you visit my blog)

And to add to this cheer, i showcase here some pictures from the beautiful tulip garden from Netherlands.

How much flowers can cheer someone is evident by the smile which gets pasted on our lips when we see them. All the colors make our life so much more lively. Ever since I have moved to Nethetlands, i have not missed a single year to go and visit this beautiful garden. I look forward to the month of march every year when this park (Keukenhof) opens for 3 months.

When i came to NL, the greenery and the rows and rows of colorful flowers were first things that I noticed and they still do not fail to cheer me up everytime i think about them - even in those dark, gray winters.

Wish life remains full of colors and joy !!

Tests of parenting (Day 22)

2010-06-22T21:46:00.000+02:00

Parenting is a life long process. As I had mentioned in a post about being mother, it is also something that we learn as we go through it.

We have to go through a lot in this process. It has its ups and downs. We have to give so many tests to be sure we are doing it all right. (Though there is no right or wrong in this process - we as parents have to decide what is right and wrong) One such test is the test of patience. We have to give this test repeatedly.

One such test is when your child is unwell. When your child is sick, child's mood is unpredictable, Your child would ask you to make diferent things but will not eat any, your child will cry non-stop through-out the night and not sleep and so many such things. You willbe tempted to loose your patience at every other action but something in you does not let you do so. There is no way you can be impatient seeing a child in pain. There is no way you will fall asleep when your child is crying and is restless. There is no way you will say no to anything your child even gives a hint that he/she would like to eat.

Thats how we as parents develop this most useful quality of patience. And its useful for the rest of our lives in whatever situation we are.

Children keep us in check. Their laughter prevents our hearts from hardening. Their dreams ensure we never lose our drive to make ours a better world. They are the greatest disciplinarians known to mankind.
-- Queen Rania of Jordan, Hello Magazine

Parenting teaches lots of lessons and each of them makes us grow as adults. lessons that go a long way and help us at every step.

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.
-- Joyce Maynard

Unwell (Day 21)

2010-06-21T23:18:00.001+02:00

Prisha is still quite unwell..chicken pox is so annoying both for the kid and the parents. Itching makes it worse.

Its really difficult to decide what to do. Million opinions makes it even more difficult.

I am so glad to see how much patience my little girl has. (Touchwood)

Just wishing good health comes her way soon. Its been quite some time that she has been ill with something or the other.

PS: I wrote this post yesterday and after clicking "publich post" i went away. And only now i saw that it was still hanging on that page because of an error and had not gone through :(

Today (Day 20)

2010-06-20T20:52:00.000+02:00

Today I have to do with this hastily written post. Though i feel like writing a lot. Perhaps I will write more some other day.

My little daughter is sick and down with chicken pox and we have not even taken a nap since day before. Whole night she has cried in pain. Its heart-breaking to see her like that.

A father's day of a different kind. She is not letting us go a single second and is continuously sticking on me and just wants to be in my lap. It's tough, very tough. Such a helpless situation to see your kids like that.

And going through all this made me realize what all my parents must have gone through for me.

So on this special day, I thank you my dad for being there always and most of all for being my dad.

For you (Day 19)

2010-06-19T23:10:00.005+02:00

He is always good and He is never bad

He does what he should and makes everyone glad

He never screams and never fights

He looks after us night after night

He is the guiding light

and shows the path which is right

He holds the hands

and always understands

Without him i would never be what i am today

he gave a strong foundation

which no one can take away

He is always there to listen and share

with his utmost warmth and care

He brings so much pleasure

and that i will always treasure

Today i admire and everything is clear

Those sentiments fill me each day of the year

And Today my dear dad i want you to know

your values and lessons will continue to grow.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

(c)Please do not copy. Ask before using it.

Career confusion (Day 18)

2010-06-18T23:58:00.000+02:00

What is the way to find out what one actually wants to do in life. Aren't there so many factors behind that liking. I am unable to understand how some people know exactly what tgey want to do inlife. May be i am lacking in some really important quality. Can it be called strong decision making so as to decide on one, give it your best and stick to it. Or is it open- mindedness OR straight forward nature OR extrovert OR anything of that sort. I dont know what it is.

I am working for a decade now and still i feel confused about what i actually want to do in my life. Of course such thoughts come and go in phases. But then if they keep coming back, i keep thinking about it. Sometimes my brain works overtime and i get loads of ideas about what i want to do and each one sounds more exciting than the other.

Sometimes the artist in me wakes up and i want to take up designing as profession. Then i want to become a photographer. Other times i feel like becoming a full time house wife. Again there are times when i want to design and stitch clothes. I also have a strong urge sometimes to do interior house arrangements. (is there anyone more confused than me?)

all this confusion brings me back to continue being a software professional. Perhaps the safest of all considering that's what am doing for a decade.

It's so unfair to live a proffesionally confusing mind :) (is there anything like that?)

perhaps its once again just a phaae and will be over soon.

Be careful (day 17)

2010-06-17T23:37:00.000+02:00

A sunny day
a windy day
a lovely day
which turns into
a dreadfulday!

I was in tram going for a expat women evening when i herad a bang and the tram stopped. The tram had hit boy who was playing next to the track and came in front of the tram atvthat very dreadful movement just to catch that ball. He got hit and landed few meters ahead on the sude of track. He was lying there conscious but unable to move. Within 5 minutes police was there and in less than 10 minutes ambulances were there. Questions had been asked and witnesses were narrating what they had seen.

It was such tense atmosphere.

How a split second's mistake almost costed that kid his life. It made me think- however small an action may seem , do not ignore it and do not underestimate how much a second can change.

Be careful ALWAYS. For your own good and for all those around you.

Mini world-Madurodam (Day 16)

2010-06-16T23:56:00.001+02:00

Madurodam - As they say it's the tiniest city in Netherlands..I would say it's the country in itself. Yes, the miniature city built on 1:25 scale. It's a quick trip through Netherlands. Typical dutch houses, canals, historical and other important buildings, airport, boats, harbor, sports, fun - all in one place.

I leave you with some pictures to get the glimpse of this miniature world.

Happy Birthday! (Day 15)

2010-06-15T22:01:00.002+02:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Today is my dad's birthday and i cannot explain how I am missing everyone.

It's not just about birthday - it's about missing every single special occassion. Its about not being able to be part of the celebrations in person, its about missing out on that fun of selecting a gift, its about having some delicious food together to mark the special day, its about waiting for the moment to wish and see that happiness, its about participating in all the fun and frolic, it's about sharing sweets, it's about laghing together over silly jokes, it's about asking mom for some special dish for the special day. It's about so many such things. All these together make that day a very special and memorable one.

I miss everything thats not part of being away from home in a foreign land. Home is where heart is and at the moment my heart is somewhere back in India.

come stai? Sono felice. (Day 14)

2010-06-14T22:18:00.000+02:00

Did you get that?
:)

How are you? I am very happy.
And it's in italian.

Yes, perhaps you guessed it right. I am learning italian. Learning to speak basic level of italian. And i am enjoying it so much. So many sounds are familiar to hindi. The accent is easy for a hindi speaker. So far the most difficult things have been to learn numbers and days of week. Week days sound similar to names of planets.

There are not too many rules and exceptions unlike dutch which is a language of exceptions. Dutch is full of rules and there are more exceptions than actual rules :)

Afteri learn basic italian, i want to learn french- he preparation for which has already begun. I have always wanted to know different languages and am happy i am finally doing it. Hope I am able to keep up.

Image courtesy : http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/sabino/library/subject_area_links.htm

I owe (Day 13)

2010-06-13T23:59:00.000+02:00

Few days back NaBloPoMo had this prompt - "Do i owe an apology to anyone" And i started thinking...
Do i owe an apology to anyone - Oh Yes - i do and to so many.

May be its time i should apologize atleast for my own self ( The selfish us never dies - right? )

I owe an apology to my parents for not listening to them when they would advise me about my career and further studies

I owe an apology to all my friends with whom i could not keep in touch even after all those childhood promises for being in touch all our lives

I owe an apology to my sister for making her drink my glass of milk (not just once but many many times) and threating her for telling that to mom.

I owe an apology to my parents again for pretending i am very sad about scoring less in exam in one of the subjects and then not eating to show my sadness when i actually ate after my sister secretly got me food in the room.

I owe an apology to my brother for shouting at him so many times when I actually knew it was my fault.

I owe an apology to my little daughter for getting angry at her and for not being there for her all the time. I Wish I could!!

I owe an apology to my husband for being so short-tempered ALL the time.

I owe an apology to myself for not keeping the promises i make to be more careful about health.

Change (Day 12)

2010-06-12T23:37:00.000+02:00

Most of my posts till now have been around THEN and NOW situation.

I get a strange feeling when I suddenly remember all the things from “THEN” and compare them to how they are “NOW” How things change with time ! How people change! How habits change! How tastes change ! How opinions change! How friendships change ! How relationships change ! When I say “change” I do not mean negative or positive of any of these. I am not implying that all these have changed to become bad or worse or negative in any sense. Change as one gets older is - as you all know - known as growth. People change as they grow. So may be we can say it as - they do not change but they grow. They become more sensible to things and other elements of life (atleast I choose to believe they become sensible – you have all the right to differ from my opinion) I would still take all this as a change.

Some changes are for better , others are for worse.

The reality is that changes are coming... They must come. You must share in bringing them.

~John Hersey~

Somewhere on this path of growth, we leave behind what we thought we were and walk towards becoming something else. Everything on the way – knowingly or unknowingly - influences how we grow or what we become. Million factors influence the change.

And what I believe is – every change is for a purpose. What that purpose is - is for you to discover. Important is to embrace a change rather then detesting it.

William Shakespeare said

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

Doing Learning Doing (Day 11)

2010-06-11T15:13:00.000+02:00

There are things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things, and because it takes a man’s life to know them the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave. – Ernest Hemingway

One beautiful day - I became a MOTHER. And the world changed. Atleast I thought I became mother. It was no later that I realized “becoming a mother is a life long process” You learn being a mother with every passing day.

No one tells you how unnerving it can get at times. How “out-of-control” being a mother can be at times. How being a mother means lot more than just that word. The word “Mother” engulfes within itself the depth of ocean and the vastness of universe. Noone just becomes a mother – you learn being a mother by being there and by going through all the over-flowing emotions (Yes only a mother can experience that level of emotions) The unconditional love – Had heard this word many times but I only got to experience this when I became a mother. You do things and you learn – that’s how mothers grow. It takes lifetime to learn being a mother.

Patience, Love, Care, Multitasking, cooking, singing, painting, writing, reading, story making – all – absolutely all “virtues” are developed in the process of becoming a mother. Of course you master at least few of them as you grow.

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

Isn't it such an apt question ? :)

The process of becoming mother lets you have so many new experiences. You learn to experience love and pain with equal intensity and also what it is like to experience these through another life. In the process you learn things that hurt, things that delight, things that cheer, things that confuse, things that are memorable, things that are warming and things that are cold, things that are huge and things that are small, things that are unconditional and things that just happen.

And each one of these becomes a precious treasure.

What a win-win situation !!

I am 52% happy :) (Day 10)

2010-06-10T22:35:00.003+02:00

I came across this and found it really interesting. OK just for fun. Though it was fun, yet all the points were quite thought provoking.

You Are 52% Happy

You're definitely a happy person, even though you have your down moments.

You tend to get the most out of life, though there's always some more happiness to be squeezed.

Go give it a try....
How Happy Are You?

Are we friends? (Day 9)

2010-06-09T17:17:00.001+02:00

We all raise this ques once in a while. We are always unsure of how to behave with colleagues –

Shall we be very friendly?
Shall we be nice but keep distance?
Shall we just be very professional and talk only about work (ok apart from weather here in NL – which apparently is the elevator talk topic and is considered perfect in any situation)?
Shall we be very open and friendly after all we spend more time with colleagues than with family?
Shall we be friendly but only while we are at work – outside that we are strangers?

Loads of such questions pop up in mind when you come across some different personalities one has to deal with at workplace. And if its in a foreign country that makes it even more confusing. In that case you have to be careful about topics of small talk. – you never know what can become culturally-unacceptable and what can become intrusion-of-privacy ! Even after being here for over 5 years, I am still unsure if people talk openly. They indeed are straight forward and open but in limited areas. I still have to be careful about what I am saying lest it becomes bossy or any kind of intrusion. I still have to think carefully whether I should discuss my heart-out (Ok sometimes its needed – right? Sometimes you need someone to listen to you without reaching to conclusions. Sometimes you should have the right to say whatever comes out and not filter and analyse) There is a thin line between interruption and suggestion. We need to observe the surroundings in detail to decide and act. People have different personalities and they can react differently – many times not what we expect. Again there is thin line between acceptance, Approval and appreciation. From the face of it – they all look the same but they make all the difference based on what the receiving side is expecting.

There are these questions – Is calling people by name being rude? Is refraining from criticizing others being nice and kind? Is going out of your way to praise people being very friendly?

There are lots of factors which can help us decide these – the culture, the relationship ( whether the colleague is your manager, or subordinate or just team member or just colleague from totally different department), your position ( general human behavior says people are more accepting when you are in slightly more powerful position - power - ahmm) , the situation, the topic, the timing of day ( that’s helps a lot in certain cases – you cannot start talking like 5 minutes before its time to go home…no one would ever accept the idea of getting late for home – the work-home balance is so good here – time of one is absolutely non negotiable at the cost of other )

Meeting outside work sometimes – best if you can manage to meet along with your partners – is very useful in building those healthy relationships at workplace. A quick lunch together or just 2 minutes chat at the coffee corner all help keep a neutral and healthy relation. Refrain from sharing strong opinions about other colleagues unless you are 100% sure about it.

Everyone at workplace is friendly (add open, nice, kind straight forward and closeness to it) with someone or the other. If your ideas are not clicking or there is this unexplained distant feeling in-between – try to ignore and keep your conversations limited to until totally unavoidable situation.

Usually workplace friendships die a slow death when you move to another company. It’s the memories which last forever. So whatever it is – try to collect nice ones and take along. It’s a long road with lot more. Take along those who matter!

“Work is work, we’re hired to do a job, and as long as that takes priority, friendships can emerge naturally, be very constructive and [be] quite enjoyable,” says Janie Fritz, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Duquesne University.

Que Sera Sera (Day 8)

2010-06-08T23:38:00.000+02:00

Que Sera Sera

When I was just a little girl

I asked my mother, what will I be

Will I be pretty, will I be rich

Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love

I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead

Will we have rainbows, day after day

Here's what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own

They ask their mother, what will I be

Will I be handsome, will I be rich

I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be.

If you have not heard this song - go and listen

How all our life we worry about what's going to happen next. We worry about just everything in and around us. We worry about our things, we worry about people, we worry about futurof everything. And the worry gives birth to never ending what-ifs.

Wikipedia says - "Worry is thoughts and images of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats"

My personal opinion is that little bit of worrying is necessary to move on in life and to get into ac tion to shape our future. But just worrying and not doing anything about it is what is total useless and mere wastage of lifetime. I believe that whatever happens , happens for good ! Sharing worries gets solutions and actions. Too much constant worrying can lead to permanent health disorders. We have this most awesome gift of life. Let's worry just enough to make this journey a smooth and satisfying experience and not waste this opportunity.

Let's all sing once -

Don't worry be happy

In every life we have some trouble

When you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy......

Listen here

Image Courtesy :http://www.redstaplerchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/Dont_Worry_Be_Happy.jpg

Being Mom (Day 7)

2010-06-07T23:36:00.000+02:00

This is from last month but I had to post it. Such a lovely day it was. Every mom gets a certain special joy this day esp if kids are around.

Yes, i am talking about Mother's Day!

This year's mother's day was made special by my dear husband.

Early morning when i went downstairs - a beautiful yummy cake on the table, breakfast ready, along with steaming mug of coffee. Prishs sitting nicely and in most disciplined way on he high chair holding a gift.

She sweetly said - "Fijne Moederdag!" (Happy Mother's Day!) Along came a gift wrapped in lovely pink paper - Voor Mamma, van Prisha (For mumma from Prisha) I opened it and :) A lovely medal with a beautiful poem on one side and Big Number 1 on other side. She could not control her joy and seeing that mine grew many folds too :)

We had the lovely breakfast, received some more gifts from her daddy. Daddy dear had got gifts for both of us.

It all felt so nice. I could not thank them enough and felt so proud to be a mom. The feeling of being a mother and the joy cannot be expressed. I missed my mom and wished i could share the moments with her.

I Love you Mom! I Love you my dear daughter!

Sunday (Day 6)

2010-06-06T18:51:00.000+02:00

Preeti - you said it and i did it :). Thanks for the idea !

Yes, it's Sunday, it's raining and dear husband said he wants to have pakoras.
After a long time..perhaps 7 months i made pakoras today - just potato and onion pakoras and` With a big mug of coffee - it was perfect sunday afternoon.

Beautiful day (Day 5)

2010-06-05T23:56:00.000+02:00

Sun shows up, brightly shines and every face shines even brighter. People smile, laugh, talk, play and enjoy. In Netherlands all this fun is dependent on sun so much that i could never imagine so while being in India.

Today was one such awesome day. Yes - bright sun, long drive, a friends' get-together, loads of delicious food and drinks including chilled jaljeera, a game of basketball, cricket round, kids playing happily, water guns in full swing, bicyle rides, some good news' shared - That's as perfect as it can get. It was truly a wonderful day. All possible because of beautifully shining sun.

Tiny 'MIRACULOUS' gestures (Day 4)

2010-06-04T01:16:00.001+02:00

How tiny gestures make our day.How small actions make kids so happy.

My 2.5 yrs old daughter comes running to me saying "mumma - aau..it hurts" After asking where, i just give her a kiss at the spot pointed by her and she feels perfectly fine. (In today's case it was on her cheek only :)) Many a times a kiss has worked wonders in some serious situations also. Like when she fell down once and had a bad bruise on her arm - i gave her couple of kisses there and she felt alright - running around again with same zeal and enthusiasm.

Similar way, when i reach back home after work i am welcomed with a shy smile and a tight hug. All my tiredness and day's frustrations vanish in a split second. What amazing wonders such small actions can make - i get amazed every single day!

It's so sad that such tiny gestures become such an obligation as we grow. Saying a hello and passing a smile also become big things as grown ups.

One thing which plesantly surprised me here in Netherlands was people greeting every passer-by. It feels so good when someone passes by you and just says a hello with a broad smile.You feel certain unsaid connection. Streets no longer feel alien.

But in last 5 years(that's how long i have been here) i have seen a drastic change in this aspect of social behavior. People no longer greet as openly as earlier esp in slightly bigger cities. And ofcourse the blame goes to foreigners.

Nevertheless, there are many other small acts of kindness that melt your heart. A bunch of flowers to thank your neighbour for some small help, a cake to share with the colleagues just because its sunny outside, inviting someone over for coffee just like that(when i say coffee it means coffee only - no cakes n cookies or other snacks involved - yes thats how it can be here), a congratulations card in a neighbours letterbox for new born baby or for passing an exam or for getting a driving license - there can be any or no reason. But any action like surely makes your day and gives you reaons to smile for days to come.

Go,show some nice tiny gesture and make someone's day !!

Image courtesy: http://www.raisingafamily.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/thank_you_note.png

Self "Pondering"

Makar Sankranti - What & Why

Here comes - The Reluctant Detective

Life in pictures

Top 5 Want-to-do list

2011 - That was...

Wishing you all Happy Days!

Tired and Homesick

Woman - I bow | VAW Awareness Month October 2011

Stree Shakti | VAW Awareness Month October 2011

Just a Reminder

Yaadein - Memories

Anjaane se lagte ho

10 Days of ME - Day 6 - Foods

10 Days of ME - Day 5 - Places

10 Days of ME - Day 4 - Wants

10 Days of ME - Day 3 - Fears

10 Days of ME - Day 2 - Loves

10 Days of ME - Day 1

Another baby

Love - Post 30

Recapturing smiles : Post 29

My day - Post 28

My life in books - Post 27

Bliss - Post 26

Happiness - Post 25

No more - Post 24

Thursday Challenge - Post 23

Life on the way - Post 22

A life - Post 21

One such day - Post 20

Flashback - Post 19

Morning - Post 18

30 something... - Post 17

Unknown reasons - Post 16

Alone or Loneliness? - Post 15

Wordless Wednesday - post 14

Clothes? - Post 13

Hope - Post 12

Heaven - Post 11

Another day - Post 10

To you.. unknown - Post 9

Reminiscences of past gaiety - Post 8

A step at a time - Post 7

Sweet nothings of life - Post 6

Top 20-something wishlist - Post 5

Chef's pride - Post 4

Remembering Beginnings - Post 3

Decisions - an unfinished tale - Post 2

MAY BE - Post 1

Let's take the oath

Today Happiness to me is

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Happiness is…

Fashion - No Fashion?

CSAAM - It's only the Beginning!!

Time to wake up..CSAAM - April 2011

Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month–April 2011

Join in and do your bit of being aware and spreading the same.

Friday Faces

Friday Faces

Colors...

Golden pleasures...

Serene...

Hip Hip Hoerraaaa....

Keywords

Life means ...Music ..Dance

"para.say.ta.mole"

7-days to positivity - DAY 7

7-days to positivity - DAY 6

Nail Art - II

7-days to positivity - DAY 5