Workaholic blues

From months of hectic work, down to zero work! Half a day gone, checking mails like a mail-hooked-female every other minute, but still no new brief. It’s nothing short of a miracle.

With long hours in front of the computer, stressful deadlines, blood shot eye and aching head or back from all the strain, there were times when all briefs began to sound like the death knell...

God, I sure was longing for this break, but when it came, I find myself bored silly! There's so much I could have done in the meantime, but the addiction to work has incapacitated me from doing anything else. Like reading a book or writing a blog, or at least sorting my files or getting my computer fixed. But my gluteus maximus (that is, my butt) appears to be glued to my chair, and my eyes transfixed on my desktop; everything else, just blurred and hazy.

I was so caught up in this empty trance, waiting for the morsel of work, my bread and butter, to be thrown at me. Mouth drooling, ears flapping, tail wagging and all, like an eager puppy. But nothing!

I check my mail again, still nothing. Am I so obsessed and blinded with work that I can’t think of anything else? Not even when there’s no work? Guess that’s who they call workaholic, and I sure need a shot or two to cheer me up...

What's in a name?

When my 1st child was born, we named her Roanna - derived from a latin word meaning 'sweet and gracious'. My dad said, "why such a complicated name? By the time she learns to say her on name, she will be in college!" That's my dad :)

Well, from what I have seen, heard and learnt over the years, however simple or complicated your name may be, people will always find ways of making it sound complicated or different! My name for instance, considered to be simple by my dad, with only 4 letters, is quite a common name in India, yet pronounced in a zillion different ways by a zillion different people. So what's the point?

I believe we have every right to name our children what we think is good for them. We just need to use our rational thinking and not come up with names that may sound embarrassing or lead to 'name calling' when they grow up.

People in Kerala have a history of getting carried away with names, though of late it's definitely better. Names are either rhyming words for the whole pack of children (Biju, Ciju, Riju, Shiju, Tiju, Niju...and so on) or different combinations of their parents' names (which means a Jethro + Susanne can actually name their son Jesus!) or alphabetical order (Anand, Biju, Chandran, Dinakar...)and there's a fetish for names starting with 'A', and that too with double a, so they're always first in class (Aaron, Aakash)! Some choose situations to come up with names. There's even a Shield and his brother Trophy, can you beat that!

I wonder if it's a good idea to let kids choose a name when they're big enough to understand and choose what's best for them! What do you think? Also share some of the names you think can't get any weirder.... ;P

LOST IT!

This month has been a bit weird for me, in the sense that things just seem to be getting lost without a trace. And my memory seems to be lost in the mayhem as well!

First it was my Voter’s ID Card. I had applied for a colour-laminated Voter’s ID Card a couple of months back. It arrived last weekend, but the Booth Level Officer (BLO) wanted me to return the old Voter’s ID card. I searched high and low, in my regular documents folder, and all the possible safe places, and literally ransacked the whole house, but no trace of it! Very unlike me, to lose things and not find it!

I went in flashback mode. I remember very clearly taking the Voter’s ID Card out of its safe place about a month back as an ID & address proof to collect a speed-post from the Post Office since it was returned from my old address. Then, for some reason, I didn’t find time to put it back in its place. Instead, it stayed in my handbag.

Then about a month back, when I went to Hyderabad with family on vacation, I remember before leaving home my hubby had told me specifically to leave the Voter’s ID Card behind and take only our Aadhaar cards as ID proof for the travel. From then, it’s a blank. I don’t remember where I might have relocated the Voter’s ID Card. But it seems to have just disappeared! I spent hours and days looking for it, but no luck. And I’ve given up on the search. Today I sent the BLO a letter informing that I’ve misplaced the old Voter’s ID card.

Then came the curious case of the missing Axe oil. My sis had got me a couple of bottles of Axe oil from the Middle East. Of course there were other goodies she’d got us – clothes, chocolates, cheese, nuts, gifts for the kids, OH, and so on. With a hand full of bags, I went home and stashed the different bags in wardrobes, kitchen & crockery shelves, and such places. Don’t remember where I might have kept the axe oil. But can’t find it anywhere. What I did find out was, that it’s lost!

Then yesterday, I discovered that an amount supposed to have received in payment was not recorded. Fact is, I don’t even remember receiving the amount. Lost or spent - no idea, but it seems to have been lost from memory!

Three incidents in one month was enough to drive me crazy, wondering why my memory failed me, and worried if it’s just a hint of what is to come. Some lost items, and one desperate mind trying to find it in the deep recesses of memory...with no luck!

The Cityzen

When I went to Chennai - I never thought I would be able to get over the soaring temperatures, the "floody" monsoons, the snarling traffic or the culture, language or food for that matter. I never did, but I miss the place dearly. 

When I got to Mumbai, the 1 hour suburban train travels, the pushy people, the 1 room-kitchen concept apartments and the crammed-up luxury was something I wanted to run away from. But within a month's time, it became home, and every other city was just not good enough. 

When I landed in Cochin, the beauty of the place was too good to be true, but the pace of the people was too slow to realize they were moving, the traffic jams through unplanned narrow roads were too much to take (I missed the suburban trains that were always on the dot), the choice of work was dull, the life after 9 pm was dead....and I could go on, but well, I've found my place and am loving each moment of it in my own "comfort zone". 

So I guess, it's not really the place, but your perspective and appreciation of what lies within that makes each place likable and feel like home. And thus, this cityzen is learning to enjoy every place for what it really is!

Sense of Rain

I see the blinding bolt
of lightening
Bringing with it cascading lashes
of rain;

I hear the whistling blow
of winds
As also the drumming roll
of thunder;

I smell the pleasantness
of moist earth
Just as I enjoy the breath
of fresh air;

I taste sweet joy bursting from the bitter fury
of skies
Even as I drink from my cup
of tea;

I feel the overflowing magic
of mirth
Though shrouded by the gloominess
of dark clouds;

The sense of rain
overwhelms me
Yet the sight, sound, smell, taste & feeling
fills me with wonder & hope.

Cruise Diaries

"There is nothing more enticing, enchanting, and exciting than sailing the seas.". 

Smitten by the seas, after my recent cruise trip from Cochin to Singapore on the magnificent MSC Orchestra, I took the liberty to tweak Joseph Conrad's quote to best describe my cruise experience.

It was a voyage that took us across the seas to 4 countries – Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore (The cruise liner set sail at Dubai, UAE and was headed to Freemantle, Australia). We, as in my hubby, sis & BIL, and I were so looking forward to the trip, with the last 2 weeks hitting the “super excited” mode, being our maiden cruise. 

With our bags packed, we set out on the 26th of February 2015 to Willingdon Island to complete the emigration formalities and board our ship at the Pier Cochin Port Trust Quay (A7-A8-A9) Samudrika Cruise Terminal. We checked-in, got our cruise cards which was like our passport in and out of the ship and at all ports, and made ourselves comfortable in our cabins. We were on deck 11 (11053), and my sis & BIL were on deck 9 (9055). Initially, getting to our cabins felt like walking through a maze, but soon we got a hang of the ship’s layout and then it wasn't too bad. The cabins were cozy enough - bigger than the boutique hotel rooms actually, and the bath too! We had a quick wash and went to the 20-hour buffet dining area which was called La Piazzetta Cafeteria, for a quick bite but instead ended up with a lavish buffet lunch… Burp (excuse me)!

We then explored around a bit. By about 7.30 pm, we went up to the pool deck (on deck 13) for the Indian Theme Night. Most of them were dressed in ethnic Indian wear, and with popular Bollywood numbers playing, we too threw our hands up in the air and joined  the entertainment team  and a few sporty fellow passengers on the dance floor. It was great fun. There were 3000+ people on board - a majority of them Europeans, some from Australia, and the others Indians.

Being a first-time cruise experience, we were completely awed by the sheer size & amenities on board the cruise. The cabins were cozy enough. Housekeeping service was excellent. The 20-hour buffet restaurant was perhaps the highlight with unlimited food available on the house, though it was largely Mediterranean cuisine with just a small ethnic food counter. The staff members on board were quite amiable.

The daily schedule of entertainment programs & activities were delivered to our cabins. It also had information regarding the next port, time change if any, shore excursions available, special promos & offers, and a list of all the amenities/services available on board. Some of the entertainment programs we got to attend at the Covent Garden Theatre on board (deck 6/7) included: The thousand voices of Claudio De Negri – a hilarious show by internationally renowned ventriloquist, Musica in Maschera in La Voce dell’anima which was a 4-parts musical concert, a Comedy Hypnosis Show by Claudio, and The Women I love by Mimma Barra who sang popular love songs of world-renowned female artists.  Probably because it was catering more to the tastes of European senior citizens, who formed the major chunk of passengers on board, we did wish there were more entertainment options.

The first port of call for us was Colombo, with scheduled arrival at 10 am on 27th of February. We headed up the top deck for a glimpse of the ship approaching the island nation and docking at the terminal. It was fascinating to see the local pilot boat approaching our massive ship and the pilot hopping aboard to guide the ship to the port. We had opted for Colombo Highlights (CMB01), one of the shore excursions offered by MSC, so we had to assemble at The Savannah Bar for a quick briefing and sorting into groups based on the excursion & language. After disembarking from the ship, we arrived to a traditional Sri Lankan welcome dance. There were buses (numbered) waiting to take us on our excursion. The bus took us through the British-built colonial buildings, Pettah Bazaar, Conference Hall shaped like a Lotus (which we were told was gifted by the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka), Independence Square, Old Parliament Building, University of Colombo and Royal College (largest school in Asia with 7500 students). We stopped by the Gangaramaya Buddhist temple and the Colombo National Museum to walk around and experience the place, and after a quick stop at Cinnamon Hotel for refreshments, headed back to the ship. The ship departed from the port at about 6 pm. There was a time change of +30 minutes on the night between 27th & 28th February.

The next 2 days were at sea. We enjoyed the endless view of the deep seas, came across small uninhabited islands, toured around the ship keeping ourselves entertained, relaxed in the Jacuzzi, played TT, and of course indulged in some fine food, with late nights at R32 (the discotheque on deck 14) where we danced like there was no tomorrow.

We reached Phuket, Thailand on the 2nd of March at about 8 am. Being a small port, the ship tender docked and lowered its boats to take those who opted for shore excursions to the port. After a brief Thai welcome, we boarded our bus to go on the excursion to James Bond Island & Fascinating Phang Nga Bay (HKT03). En route, we saw rubber plantations and visited the “Monkey temple” called Suwan Kuha Temple, a cave temple with numerous Buddha statues standing, reclining & seated. There were monkeys outside the cave, none inside.We could spot a few bats in the dark cave. Then we proceeded to Phang Nga Bay Resort, where we had a quick Thai lunch with local beer (Singha), and then boarded a motorboat for an unforgettable cruise through the surrealist landscape of limestone stacks. We visited Koh Panyi, a water village with more than 200 houses built on stilts, with local shops, restaurants, mosque, school and houses with attached wooden walkways. We then headed to the Kao Ping Gun Island, popularly known as James Bond Island (because it was here that the filming of the last scenes of ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ took place). It was a beautiful sight indeed, picture perfect and worth more than a thousand words. On our return back, our boat developed a snag and we got a bit worried about getting back to the ship on time. Fortunately, another one of the boats carrying MSC passengers stopped by and towed us back to the shore. Again on our bus ride back to Phuket port, we got a bit delayed because of some road accident, and just about managed to get back to the ship by 8 pm. The local guide who had a heavy Thai accent beyond our understanding had sort of ruined the trip for us, but the scenic sights of the place made up for it. The ship set sail at about 8.30 pm. There was a time change of +1 hour on the night between 2nd & 3rd of March.

The next port of call was Langkawi, Malaysia with scheduled arrival at 8 am on 3rd March.  We had opted for the Shore Excursion (LGK02) Sea Eagle Feeding & Mangrove Cruise. On arriving at the port, we were taken on a coach to the Kilim Geoforest Park. Our guide was fabulous, who seemed to be well-read and gave us wonderful insights of the place, a total contrast to the Thai guide. We boarded a boat on a cruise to the fabled Bat Cave to see vampire bats clinging upside down from the ceiling of stalagmite & stalactite festooned cave. Then set out on a sensory trip to explore the ecosystem of the winding Kilim river through mangrove forests, isolated islands & limestone rock formations. We had the opportunity to see wild eagles dive down for food tossed from the boat, visited a fish farm to see different varieties of fish, and then had a splash of a ride to the sea opening which was indeed exhilarating. On our way back, we managed to get a quick stopover at the famed Langkawi Eagle Park with the large Eagle statue (which wasn't really part of our itinerary, but because of the delay in our lunch getting ready, this was squeezed in for us). We then had a sumptuous dim-sum buffet lunch, then went to the D’Zone to shop duty-free, before getting back to the pier to board our ship. The ship departed from the port at about 6 pm. 

We were to arrive at Singapore, our final destination, on the 4th of March at about 6 pm. We arrived ahead of time and enjoyed the view of the beautiful skyline of Singapore from the top deck. After our disembarkation procedures, we got off at the port and were taken by Tourland (the local travel agent) to our hotel. We had extended our stay in Singapore for two days in addition to our tour package, so we could go around the place. We did a bit of city sightseeing, spent a day at Universal Studios, and also went to popular shopping centres such as Orchard Road and hangout places such as Clarke Quay, to enjoy the best of the city. The evening at Octapas, a tapas bar at Clarke Quay, is something we’ll never forget, with live music and the entire place (which had Singaporeans, Scots, Hollanders and us Indians) coming alive and on our feet rocking to their music. The culinary experience of the famed Fish Head Curry at Muthu’s Curry (MC) and Chilly Pepper Crab at No Signboard restaurant is also something we would relish for a long time to come.

On the whole, the MSC cruise trip was worth a lifetime of memories. A must go!

Will my maid make it tomorrow?

A million dollar question! And my life seems to be riding on it...

My maid has been off this whole week as she has been unwell, and we've been surviving on bread, chappatti, noodles and eat-outs. What's worse, is the cleaning to do around at home. I so dread this unfavourable position that I'm in, and every extra chore that I need to do at home because of my maid's absence, I'm swearing under my breath. Nothing can perhaps put me off more than my maid's indefinite leave!

At one end, I feel sad for  my maid and her helpless situation. On the other end, I'm thinking of myself and my home, the dust that's been gathering, the dishes in the sink that take away my precious hours, the cleaning up that's been unkind to my back, the dreadful thought of what to pack for my kids for lunch...and such else, that I'm fuming all the way from my gut. All said and done, I guess I have no option, but pray she gets well soon.

"Will you come back tomorrow, my sweet maid? I'm nearly on my knees!"

The road trip to Goa

Cochin - Mangalore - Goa
10  – 14 Sept 2014

Bag, baggage, kids and all. Along with a friend and family. With foot on the pedal, we braced ourselves for the road trip from Cochin to Goa via Mangalore (a distance of a little over 770 kms). An arduously long drive - what with bad roads and heavy traffic, the excitement that’s Goa kept us going. And thanks to GPS navigation we didn’t have to stop by to ask for directions.

Enroute, somewhere between Kannur and Thalassery, we took a small deviation to Muzhappilangad Beach (parallel to National Highway 66), supposedly Asia’s largest drive-in beach (4  kms). The drive through the beach waves was an experience in itself, and the little seagulls taking flight from the beach sand was indeed a sight to cherish. The ride along the coast offered us some picturesque views of backwaters & beaches lined with coconut palms, a feast for the eyes.

Then a quick stopover at Mahe (UT of Pondicherry) to quench the thirst with some breezers, we continued the journey to Mangalore. We halted the night at Mangalore Club, which sits cosily on the coast of the Nethravati river. After some fine dining, we hit the bed and next morning, were up and about to capture the beautiful views from our room. By 10 am, we were all ready for the onward journey to Goa.

There was just no stopping us...not even the hunger pangs, because we wanted to get to Goa as fast as possible. But we had a rude shock of a seemingly endless stretch of bad roads, an apology for a National Highway - in Bhatkal, Karnataka. We wanted to stop by the coastal city of Karwar, Karnataka for their famed fresh fish fry, but the bad road experience forced us to skip Karwar in favour of getting to Goa at least by sundown.

A brief halt at Maravanthe Beach in Karnataka made for a refreshing break. The beach right off NH66 was just too beautiful to miss! A few photo-ops later, we resumed the journey and stopped over for a late lunch in a Dhaba somewhere in the outskirts of Goa. The roads from there were pretty good, and the greenery on both sides of the winding roads is something that will stay fresh in our memories for a long time to come.

We checked-in at the Club Mahindra’s Emerald Palms at Varca, Goa by around 7 pm. Had a quick shower and went to explore the neighbourhood. Being offseason, we discovered that most of the eateries closed early, and we dined at the only other place that was open, which was close to our resort. The resort in itself is a beautiful property spread over 4 acres, which kept us busy till it was time to hit the bed.

Early next morning, after a quick breakfast, we headed out to our first destination in Goa – Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa – A UNESCO World Heritage Site. A fine example of baroque architecture, its construction dates back to the year 1594. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is held in a silver casket on top of the mausoleum and is kept for public viewing every 10 years to commemorate his death anniversary. The Se Cathedral, which is within the vicinity of the Bom Jesus Basilica, is believed to be one of the largest churches in Asia and the oldest in Goa, and it houses a large bell referred to as the Golden Bell.

After the great start with the Churches, we made our way to Fort Aguada and Lighthouse, which stands mighty on the Sinquerim Beach on the mouth of the Mandovi river. Built by the Dutch in 1613 to guard against the Marathas, it was once the grandstand of 79 cannons, and has the capacity of storing 2,376,000 gallons of water, one of the biggest freshwater storages of the time in whole of Asia. Crews of passing ships would stop by to replenish their fresh water stores, and that’s how it got its name Aguada, meaning Water. A four-storey Portuguese lighthouse stands over the Fort, the oldest of its kind in Asia, erected in 1864.

And what’s Goa without its beaches! Calangute Beach in North Goa, popular with tourists & locals. The Sun & Sand restaurant by the beach was the ideal perch to enjoy the breathtaking views that the sun, sand and endless seas offered, along with the delicious fare of seafood and steamed rice, and of course some chilled beer to wash it down. Then we walked down the beach and let the waves kiss our feet, as the kids made sand castles. At sunset, we chewed onto some roasted corn, and then made our way back to the resort. After a shower, set out again for a courtesy visit and dinner at my husband’s cousin’s place, who have their factory (manufacturing of grabs for the shipping industry) and office in Goa.

The next morning, we headed to Palolem Beach in South Goa. Apparently, this was the beach that featured as the Goan residence of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in the film The Bourne Supremacy. Primarily inhabited by the local fishermen, the beach was a bit of a disappointment because the waters were muddy and polluted (it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful beaches!), mostly deserted (being offseason) except for a few foreign tourists who stayed in the shacks lining the beach!

We took a quick dip, and then made our way to the Varca Beach, from Club Mahindra’s luxurious resort sprawled across 14 acres, which is connected to the beach with a foot-over-water bridge. The fine white sand was pure pleasure under the feet. And the panoramic sights around made for an unforgettable experience. The swimming pools at the resort let us chill out under the blazing sun.

Evening, we headed out to Margao city to explore a bit of the town. After a bit of shopping for local delicacies like Bebinca (a traditional Goan multi-layered dessert/pudding) and of course the Cashew Feni, we went to Martins, the famed restaurant, for a fabulous dinner. Their unique bacon and eggs dessert was the icing on the cake, the kids loved it!

Phew...like all journeys, this too must end. Early next morning, we checked out of the hotel and hit the road, non-stop, except for a short stop at Thalassery, Kerala for lunch (yeah, their Biryani & Fish meals are awesome) and made it back to Cochin in less than 14 hours! Now all that remains, are the wonderful memories of the short but sweet vacation and the hundreds of photos that help capture these memories for longer...

Switching numbers

My mobile connection was part of the company CUG network, so when I changed jobs, to avoid the hassle of changing my mobile number, I tried to retain the number by requesting the company to transfer the connection to my personal account. Three years hence, nothing happened. It was neither "yes", nor "no", so I just continued using the same no.

The reason I hesitated / waited patiently for so long, was the frightening thought of going through the trouble of informing friends, colleagues, acquaintances, banks, credit card services, and other online & offline service providers about the number change. I had got my cards printed as well, and I didn't want to let the pretty cards go wasted. But frequent disruptions in services, at the most crucial times, owing to non-payment of charges by the company, finally got me running helter skelter for a new connection!

I wanted an easy to remember number. And that simple wish I was told could cost me dear. Just like they auction fancy numbers for car registration plates, mobile numbers too I discovered were on sale - the fancier the number, the higher the price tag. The sweet talker that my husband is, he managed to coax one of the service providers to provide some fancy number options where they could waive off the premium...and finally, my "fancy" wish was fulfilled, without burning a hole in my pocket.

Then came the task of informing the key people on my contact list + all sorts of service providers about the change in my no., and then manually confirming with the curious lot that they could delete/replace the old number with the new number...phew!

The number update with my credit card service provider has been a bit complicated. Since transactions involve the OTP which is sent to the registered mobile no., to change to a new no. involves sending request letter, KYC details with ID/Address proof to their head office. Not sure when my new no. will be updated in their database!

All said and done, it's been an unpleasant & time consuming experience for me thus far, and I just hope I won't have to go through this again, anytime soon!

Cut off!

Not like Surpanakha, Ravana’s sister, who had her nose cut off, but “literally” cut off / isolated from the rest of the world with no mobile, telephone or Internet! What was quite the way of life back in my childhood days (can’t imagine how we could have lived without these technology gadgets and gizmos, and that too happily!), now my whole life seems to depend on it. Cable’s been cut and will take a while to fix, I’m told. And my future already starts to look bleak!

I hit the panic mode ever since I lost connection, and I’ve been blabbering my head off trying to find some solace in the chaos and keep my sanity. I can’t reach office to tell them I’m cut off – no mail, sms, whatsapp, fb, twitter, skype, call...(not even blog!); virtually nothing to connect me, and the world already seems to have tripled in size looking just as alien to me!

My office, based in another city up north, won’t be able to reach me for those “urgent, want it yesterday jobs”, and I won’t be able to tell them “rukavat ke liye kaid hai” like those Doordarshan days. For the jobs I have in hand, I won’t be able to search online whether for information, facts or figures, nor will I be able to refer to images to visualise / give shape to the “big” idea.

And suddenly, I remembered those days when mobile phones were rare – when incoming calls were charged @ Rs.8/- per minute; double for outgoing. When we didn’t have the luxury of “Googling” for information, and when we did, it was at snail’s pace over a dial-up connection, and with hardly anything that was worth our while. But I used to work back then too. In fact, work much better. Where ideas were not limited to the images that were available on stock photo sites! Then why do I now have this desperate feeling like the world is coming to an end. Life must go on, even without mobile or internet, doesn’t it?!

Imagine if technology and all its conveniences were to crumble and crash like this one fine day, it sounds now to me more dreadful than being shipwrecked and marooned on a cavernous island, all alone without food and water! 

And while I dreadfully tread upon that thought, I leave you guys to imagine and share what you think of a day cut off from the rest of the world, when the rest of the world continues to stay connected...

Fairy tale like yesteryears...

Long long ago, what may  now sound almost like a Fairy tale, was a time when ignorance was bliss. When we were blissfully unaware of the dangers that lurked outside the safe environs of our homes. And it cost us nothing. A precious childhood safeguarded not only by our family, but also by our genuinely friendly and well-wishing neighbours and community at large.

I remember vividly those days, when my sis and I, just in Class III and II respectively, could walk up to School about a kilometer away, without having to worry about rash drivers mowing down pedestrians, or eve teasers, or kidnappers or perverts. Not that there weren't any back then, but at least they were not there in the back of our minds, for us to look over our shoulders after every few steps, and our parents to unduly worry about us.

Back then, our parents were next only to God, whom we revered, respected and loved unconditionally. We didn't dare to raise our voice in their presence, and their wish was our command. The unwritten rules, we followed in letter and spirit. The values were deeply ingrained in us, without them having to reiterate it to us. There were no lavish gifts or pocket monies, not even a birthday present or dress some times. But still, we were very happy. The littlest of things and gestures brought us great cheer.

And school, it was like our second home. Where teachers not just taught the world, but meant the world to us. They groomed and moulded us, chided yet guided us. And friends, well they were just as naive and innocent as we were. No expectations, no comparisons, no unhealthy competitions, no bragging, no strutting...but they were always there, cheering and encouraging us no matter what. The group-study sessions, the pajama party stay-overs, the endless board games (snakes & ladder, scrabble, ludo, Chinese checkers, chess, cards, caroms, monopoly...), with plenty of time for outdoor play as well (gilli-danda, marbles, skipping rope, hide & seek, dog & the bone, knock knock who's there...to the more serious shuttle badminton & basketball), the climbing up of trees & walls (boy or girl didn't matter)...the times without computers, internet, google, mobile phones, ipads and all those gadgets & apps that at times seem like a boon, almost indispensable, but thinking of the better times without it, makes me wonder, if boon or bane!

Neighbours were just like extended family, very much part of our lives, our milestones, our special occasions and festivals. Christian, Hindu, Muslim....didn't matter. While we shared cakes, wine and cookies for Christmas, we got laddus, jalebis, murukku...for Diwali, and sweet (&) meat snacks for Eid. They watched out for us, and played an important role in our upbringing. There was always that element of love, trust and care, we could blindly trust.

Oh, and how can I forget those push carts with bells ringing "ice cream, kulfi", "cotton candy", "soan papdi", "burfi"...We could lick it up to the end, without fear of germs or falling prey to dysentery. And when "summer vacations" didn't really mean a trip to the US, Europe, Singapore-Malaysia or even Thailand. They were a time to visit our hometown (in Kerala) - a grand get-together of grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and all relatives (known & unknown) from different parts of the world / country. When our uncles would cut out cricket bats from coconut palm and make handmade rubber balls. and the match would begin sometime in the evening until sundown. We would pick cocoa, cashew and coffee seeds from the plantations and watch our grandmom sort the fruit from the seeds, roast the nuts, even as we steal our share. And it would seem like we were born to eat. After morning tea, came breakfast, then a 11 o'clock snack, then lunch, then evening tea & snacks, then dinner....burp! And all homemade stuff, mind you!! Our grandfather was a real sport, he would go about organising games - from caroms, to chess, to cards and what not!

I could go on and on, of that 'golden era' where joy was not measured in the size of house or brand of car you owned, neither did Guccis or Armanis matter, nor the foreign vacations or school fees you could afford (yeah, now that's also a point of comparison - the higher the fees, the better they think their status). It was your family, the get-togethers, connecting with people face to face (and not just on facebook) and little things like your mom baking a special cake for your birthday and singing the birthday song for you as soon as you woke up, your sister sharing an extra piece of chocolate with you, your dad taking you on a scooter ride...and such else that  mattered.

As I write this, it gives me great pleasure to revisit those times made of golden memories that money can't buy. At the same time, feel sorry for my children and to the generations following for being stripped off the innocent pleasures of childhood! God save the world...

Random mood, random verse

I walked by the stream
With whispering winds blowing through my hair;
I gazed and gazed, at mountains afar
Till the evening mist descended, then clouded the clouds.

I talked to the trees
In a language of silence, touching the heart yet taking firm root;
I waded knee deep
Till the worries floated away, bringing back nothing but mirth.

I laughed like a child
When a burst of unruly rays pierced through the dark shroud;
And where it touched, shimmering like gold
Spreading light, and with it this verse of hope.

Wise or otherwise?

Her mouth wide open. Should she part with it? "It is mine", he said. She decided to let go...It had been gnawing at her every once a while, for dog years now. So well, she thought, might as well.

It was late one evening, a fine weekend at that, when she could have been relaxing at home, with her feet up some wine and some munchies, watching some random movie on TV. But it was an appointment she had to keep. She braced herself for the worst, and walked up to the man who would soon be done with it, showing no mercy or remorse whatsoever.

He was rather nice. Kept them in good humour. Them? Of course, her hubby accompanied her. It was when his wife would lose half her wisdom! The doc gave her a choice between left & right. Oh, both sides have to go eventually, but a few weeks apart, and she could choose which pair first. She chose the left,  bcoz the pain was more severe there.

The doc explained the procedure, displayed his tools (yeah, the hammer, pliers and the works :D), and went on to give her the anaesthesia so she won't feel a thing. And then it started getting heavy, her gums, her lips...slowly working its way to numbness. The AC was chilling her spine by then and she was shuddering quite visibly, almost going stiff when her hubby switched the AC off.

The doc began extracting, starting with the lower one. He pulled and tugged, and crack..."did the tooth break?" she worried. But the jubilant smile on the doc's face said otherwise. It was like a treasure he had dug. He then went on with getting the top one out. Pull, pull, tug, tug...and it was out as well. Another treasure!

She had mixed feelings. Should she have bid a final tearful adieu? Or should she have simply rejoiced, that half her tooth problems were now gone? Or should she have celebrated her "wise" or "otherwise" decision of doing away with half her wisdom, err...you know what?! She simply grinned, feeling the vacuum where once lay a pair of wisdom teeth, that just wouldn't fit in!

A Confession!

It was an arranged marriage. An ad in the Classifieds column, and 187 kms away someone caught the 182 cms bug, came with family to "see the girl" and the girl's father would later joke that the "boy" was perhaps blind to say "yes". Boy (192 cms) was Roman Catholic; Girl on the other hand was a Marthomite. It's not very common for Catholics marrying Marthomites, you need to get converted and stuff (I know, it's complicated...and you thought Christianity was 'one' world-over!). But considering the girl was ta....ll, her folks were happy just to find a boy taller and nodded away happily. The "girl" was struck off the records as Marthomite and baptized as a Catholic (RCSC) after one month's classes at a Convent near home. She didn't really care whether she was Marthomite or Catholic, she had faith in God Almighty, and that's what mattered. Religious affiliations, diocese, congregations etc were just for convenience, she believed.

Marriage and two kids later, the "girl" and "boy" were quite happy with their lives, together. They were like two sides of a coin, poles apart, but the common space they shared was filled with love, respect and understanding. The "boy" went to a Catholic Church at walking distance from their apartment, the kids went to Mar Thoma Church with their maternal grandparents, and the "girl" was left in no man's land, feeling "out-of-place" in both Churches. Unfamiliar service in Catholic Church and Lo.....ng Service in Marthoma Church, she would say (lame excuses I'm sure). The boy and girl used to frequent an Anglo Church earlier (a service they both enjoyed), but after change of residence, "boy" grew comfortable with nearby Church, and "girl" didn't find place!

The elder kid was getting ready to receive the first Holy Communion, before which, there is a "Confession" mandatory for the kid and her parents. The "girl" or should I say ""mother", didn't have a clue what was coming her way. But she had to "confess", especially since the "boy" i.e., the "father" had a valid excuse - to get his mom discharged from hospital and bring her home. So she picked the older of the priests. Waited in line, patiently for her turn. Then "confessed", or mumbled rather (with her face turning pink with embarrassment). The priest must have been amused. The "girl" sure was, because she was not used to such rambling (confessing, if you please). The priest gave her a solution and a piece of advice too - to come for regular confessions!

The "girl" was akin to the kids, who were making their confessions for the first time. The other "mothers" and "fathers" had lengthy confessions to make, some sobbing inconsolably, some sniffing, some almost whispering and just one or two rambling like the "girl"! It was over, finally. And there was a big sigh of relief. She had "confessed", and it didn't feel as bad, she thought! Will she dare make another "confession"? Only time will tell.

The 2nd child syndrome

Being the 2nd child is always a plus. The 1st child has to invariably take the brunt of all fist fights, punches, pinches, verbal yelling or meaningless arguments. I was the 2nd of 2 girls, so I know what it means or feels like. And I can see the same sort of events replaying before my eyes with my 2 daughters.

My sister and I were just a year apart, and our growing up years had all the sibling rivalry common among siblings (esp. sisters). We were the best of friends obviously, but when it came to fighting with each other, we left no skin un-pinched (I pinched) or un-punched (my sis punched). The scars that remained fetched us our rewards (the goods from our parents, what else!), but I always managed to escape putting on the "sorry" face and the sheepish grin :) My sis on the other hand would not budge and would also put on a challenge, showing no remorse whatsoever, rather expressionless.

Ditto, with my daughters.

My elder daughter is all of 10, but I'm amazed at how she can get angry, stubborn, lazy, disobedient and rebellious. She's more innocent than my li'l one, but her temperamental nature and mood swings (especially when I ask her to keep her room tidy, study, practise keyboard, take responsibility...) get to me. With horns on my head, steam from my ears, and fire coming out my mouth, I go on my lecture-giving spree, which must most probably be going right through her ears, because after that momentary guilt, she's back to being herself!

My younger daughter, just 4 years, but behaves like the elder sis, bossing around and getting her way around home. She's the little baby at home, wanting all the attention and making sure she gets it. She's the typical "naatak company" / "drama queen" or what have you. But totally adorable. She accepts her mistakes, feels guilty and is quick to say "sorry, I won't repeat it again" with that "sorry" face I'm master of. How can you not forgive her! And she's still little, you think.

So there...1st daughter, like it or not, looks like you're the one destined to be at the receiving end, just like my sis was, back then! Don't you worry...this phase too will pass. And then you two will be the best of friends :) And you will grow up to be one responsible sister, no doubt!

Sick of Fever!

The two months of kids' summer vacation flew by, with hectic work schedules amidst managing 2 riotous kids at home, MIL's accident (where she lost her right thumb toe), hospital duties, Sister and BIL's brief one-week holiday with us,  parents-in-law at home, extra duties, first daughter's first holy communion, hospital visits for MIL's dressing, @ Mumbai for a week for presentation and client meetings, back home and last minute rush to buy stuff for kids' school, FIL down with viral fever, nursing duties, school orientation program at little one's school, kids development workshop and get-together at apartment, MIL down with viral fever, nursing duties, school reopening, first daughter comes back home with fever, next day hubby comes back home with fever, maid also complains of fever, cough, backache but manages to do the essential cleaning up and cooking...

FIL is better now but bound to the bedroom, MIL is not very mobile yet having lost one of her toes and the fever has kept her tied to the bedroom as well, 1st daughter's fever is around 99-100 degrees, hubby's fever is hovering around 102-103 deg. I'm just praying that my li'l one doesn't catch the fever and that I have the strength and patience left to manage a home full of patients! I'm quite sick of the 'fever' fever, already :(


Praying for their speedy recovery...

Note: Lost & Found

The alarm rings at 4 am. She jumps off the bed, brushes her teeth, then downloads the remnants of sizzlers had the previous night at Red Box at the bog, has a quick shower, slips into a comfortable pair of jeans & top and is ready with bag, baggage and all. Reaches the airport 5 minutes to 5 am, well in time. After check-in, proceeds to Security Check. Empties laptop, phone & handbag on the tray for the screening, and after security check picks up laptop & handbag from tray, and rolls the suitcase to the lounge.

After a sip of piping hot Latte, turns around to find that passengers headed to COK are already in line to board the bus to the flight parked at the International bay. Gulps down the coffee and scoots to join. After a long & boring bus ride, she boards the plane, exchanging friendly smiles with the crew, and finding her seat - the middle seat! It's just 5.40 am. Flight takes off only at 6.25 am. Plenty of time to kill, she thinks.

She puts her hand in the handbag looking for her phone to send an SMS to her hubby. And ....no phone! She desperately looks for it again, in her handbag, in her suitcase, around her...but no, no phone! It must be at the Security Check counter!! Panic sets in...she thinks of all the valuable info stored in her phone...hoping fervently it hasn't got in the hands of the wrong people. She tells the cabin crew that she's left her phone behind, gives all the details of the model - Samsung Note, white colour, the colour of the case, and writes down her mobile no. on the boarding pass in a shaky hand. The guy agrees to help, comes back in a couple of minutes (what seemed like eternity) to say they've informed the security and also tried to call my number but no answer.

Her co-passenger comes in to occupy his seat. She hurriedly explains the situation and borrows the phone to make a call to her phone. It rings and rings...and finally someone answers.
He: Hello
She: Hello, this is my phone...who is this?
He: This is BOM Airport Security
She: Can you have my phone delivered to me. I'm on "this flight" which is scheduled to take-off in about 15 minutes
He: Please handover phone to cabin crew
Cabin crew & Security guy have a conversation
Cabin crew: We'll try to get your phone for you ma'am
She: (Heart jumping with joy) That will be great!
Cabin crew returns in a short while. Sorry ma'am, looks like it will take some time and since all passengers have boarded the flight, we will have to take-off
She: (Heart sinking) But...but my phone...
Cabin crew: What you can do is, report it at COK airport at the Lost & Found desk
She: (Ready to sob) Can someone pick it up from BOM airport for me
Cabin crew: (clueless) You may report at COK airport and they'll guide you ma'am
She: (Wants to swear, but the feeling of loss was way to overpowering) OK, whatever!


Co-passengers try to console her that she'll get her phone back soon enough. One thing she's relieved about is her phone is "found" and not in the wrong hands as feared. But the hassle of getting it back, still worries her. She tries to pick-up normal conversation with an Aunty-ji sitting on her right (which she normally would never do, if not for the phone incident) just to keep her mind off replaying the security check scene over and over again in her mind.  What perplexes her is how the phone was not on the tray where she had left it, right above the laptop. Was it a deliberate move, by someone? She would never know, but she is almost relieved of her worst fears.

She munches on the awful South Indian breakfast served on the flight, disinterestedly, has some black tea, and tries to take a nap, but the scene keeps replaying itself, she stays awake and waits for touchdown. The flight of stairs and short bus ride after, she gets to the airport, files a complaint with the Flight staff, sees her husband waiting and rambles her sad story. She speaks to the BOM airport terminal manager, and he assures her that the phone is with him and she could send anyone to pick it up, with her authorization letter quoting the Lost and Found number and id proof.

Her boss picks it up from the airport and after tamper-proof packing sends it across by air cargo. It arrives in one shape. Hallelujah! That's when she realizes how inextricably her life is linked with her phone. And to think of it gone, was like losing a lifeline!

Anyway, all is well that ends well. The Note is back in her hands and she's back in business :)

The calm before the storm?

After many many days, I'm finding some time to breathe...that is now. A small respite from work, work and all work, that has made me a tad bit dull! I sure have my queue of jobs, but all awaiting "the brief", so I decided to call it a break. The calm before the storm, no doubt. But might as well enjoy the calm while it lasts, rather than cry about the impending storm! PHEW!!!

Well, April-May is perhaps the toughest time for working mothers in India. What with kids at home, doing nothing worthwhile, simply lazying about, watching TV, fighting with each other, messing up the place....and everything to drive you nuts! All attempts to get my elder daughter to focus on something more constructive has failed thus far! Albeit, half a day till tomorrow, she's occupied by a small camp for kids at Church. After that, only God knows how I'll keep my sanity, through the day.

Sadly, my little one all of 4, is down with a strange viral fever with little bumpy rashes on her arms and legs, since the last couple of days, and to make matters worse, she's got 2 blisters in her mouth. Not chicken pox, the doc said...just a viral bout - mild fever with the above symptoms. Must be the heat. The fever's gone (in 2 days), but she's not eating anything because of those blisters. More or less on a liquid diet of juices, milk & soup. Sometimes, she gets so cranky and throws up a tantrum from the time she gets up, that I feel helpless, and soon that helplessness turns to impatience. I hope she gets well soon.

One thing that is keeping my spirits up is, my sister is landing on the 24th...reason enough to celebrate, bcoz that's when we indulge in a vacation to nearby places. And to top it, it's my mom's birthday on the 24th. Last year too, my sis was here around that time, and the dinner celebrations were rollicking fun with the family. We're looking forward to more fun this time :)

Well, as I was writing this, I had to take a couple of breaks. To attend to work, what else! So much for "breathing" time!!! And yes, work beckons...so ciao and don't forget to share your holiday experience ( kids' holiday experience if you are a parent or your own)....

And pray, I don't get caught up in the storm!

Home-work

Almost 2 years now, working from home. And for all those who went "wow, you are so lucky!", I have something to confess. It has not been easy. Especially for someone who for over 13 years, had been working 10-12 hours at most times, 6 days a week, sometimes on Sundays too, without missing a day at work unless something really important or serious came in the way, it was hard to imagine that I'd opt for 'work from home'. My sis asked me if I was sure I wanted to do that. At that point of time, I saw better work (as it was more to do with my line of work), better opportunity (considering it was from 'Mumbai' the most happening city for 'advertising'), and above all, the idea of being home when my kids got back from school....Lo and behold, I grabbed the opportunity that came knocking at my door, at a time when I really needed it!

The first day was dreadful, the first week was worse, the first month was maddening.  I had a full time maid then, to take care of the household chores, cooking and taking care of the kids. My little one was in playschool and she would get back home by 12.30 pm. And look who she found at home, her mom who was fiddling away at the computer! She would come straight to my room, jump onto my lap, and tap away on the keyboard, and when I would try desperately to get her off, she would smile, cry, bawl (in that order) but refuse to get off. She wouldn't go to the maid (why would she, when her mom was at home). My maid was having a good time with plenty of time to kill, gossiping with the neighbours and all. Not that I envied her (not the gossiping kind, not me!), but she wasn't making it easy for me. I was stuck with looking after the little one, giving her food to eat, making sure she was engaged, coaxing her for an afternoon nap.......all in the middle of having to finish off jobs within the deadline, which was almost always "yesterday". I had more work coming in with every passing day, and more home duties piling on top of my head. And it only seemed to get worse.

And with the elder one landing home by around 3.30 pm, it was madness at its heights. The kids would be at each others throats, screaming, running and what have you. And then the hubby calling to say "that" person would come to fix "this", keep "this" or "that" ready and what not. Then there would be doorbells to answer...phew! What's worse, just when I would be ready to call it a day, there would be a rush of jobs, with the dreadful fine print  "take your time, send it first thing tomorrow morning". There went my night and my sweet dreams!

While I was used to the late nights and weekend work, I wasn't really ready for managing the home-bit as well. My kids couldn't see I was "working from home", they wanted me to devote my time to them when they were back. I wasn't able to make quality time for them, for I was sitting glued to my desk from dawn to dusk, namesake "at home" mom, who was almost always "at work". It was getting tough for me, and perhaps tougher for the family. What's worse, I had this pent up anger (or frustration) and no vent to let it out. And I could feel my head bloating up into a balloon ready to burst at the slightest prick.

When we moved into our new apartment, I made sure I had "office" space marked out. I got rid of the full time maid who turned into full time "jobless" because of me working from home, and instead hired a part-time maid to cook food and cleanup. I dressed up for work and tried to maintain a time schedule.The kids now understand "mama's home office" a no-hang-around zone, so no entering or fiddling with things during "office hours". Though occasionally (read "everyday"), they do kick up a racket, more so when I'm on an important call with a client or at a briefing session that can so tick me off, they're better behaved now (at least better than when I started out!), letting me finish my work. Just that the 9-5 work is not possible in my kind of work.

Sometimes, work even creeps into the weekends and during vacations, when it gets really annoying, but I oblige because there isn't an option, is there?! The duties are definitely more than the work at office arrangement, where you just had to take care of office work. Now work, home, family, maid, guests.....are all part of my work-at-home arrangement. And at the end of the day, what really gets to me is when the "friendly" neighbours comment "oh, you're so lucky you can work from home, and be there for the kids" or "we thought you're the only one free around here" or "you sit at home all day and you don't even have to cook!", so on and so forth.

Lucky like hell. I would have been better off going to office every day (I know the difference, because I've been there, done that!). At least when I got back home I had some peace and some quality time with family. Now the line between work and home has become so thin that I'm beginning to feel like some super-mom juggling between both roles! Oh no, it's not easy. Especially when you have no one to brainstorm with, talk to or go out with, slogging my buts-off  morning-noon-night with the whatsit glued to the chair, cut off from the rest of the world, and everybody else taking me for granted!

Now, my world has indeed become smaller, I'm afraid if my thinking would become narrower too! I'm thinking of getting a board fixed to the door: BEWARE OF LIVE BOMB...READY TO TICK-OFF ANY MOMENT! (DON'T ANGRY ME!!). The 'once upon a time' cool, patient, composed and ever-smiling gal is no more.

I'm tempted to learn and practise some yoga. Maybe that would help. I don't want my family to bear the brunt. And of course, I hate to see myself losing my cool, and losing my identity. If only I could draw the line between home and work. Make some quality time for myself and my family. Take those well-deserved breaks more frequently...

So take a break guys. Thanks for the patient hearing (reading). I already feel much better now. Just one of those lows, I guess. And I'm glad I'm out of it :)

12-12-12

The day has arrived, and now the clock has started ticking. Couples rushing to tie the knot, babies getting ready to be born, birthday boys & girls happy that they were born this day...And with the time 12:12:12 arriving in just a few minutes (IST), you can imagine the chaos!

It's all over the place. In the papers, the radio stations, the TV channels, on cyberspace...everybody is making a beeline to make the most of it. So what's the fuss all about?

Will we be around to see another 'sequential' date? Unless destined to live to well over a 125 years, it's a 'no' for me, because 01-01-01 would take another 89 years to come! So what? I'm perfectly okay, even if the date is not sequential. To me, it could be just another day. Albeit, there's something about the number 12 that doesn't fail to fascinate even someone like me with the least of interests in numerology, lucky numbers or auspicious dates.

1. According to Chinese numerology, the number 12 brings harmony to the yin and the yang. '1' is a yang number ruled by the sun, representing independence and individualism. '2' is a yin number ruled by the moon, representing symmetry and balance. 
2. The number 12 has found its way into Religion (12 Apostles), Astrology (12 signs of the Zodiac), and Mythology (12 Greek Gods & Goddesses).
3. There are 12 constellations in the ecliptic.
4. The 12 animals of the Chinese horoscope: the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Cat, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Cock, the Dog and the Pig.
5. The number of function keys on most PC keyboards (F1 through F12)
6. There are 12 basic hues in the color wheel; 3 primary colors (red, yellow, blue), 3 secondary colors (orange, green & purple) and 6 tertiary colors (names for these vary, but are intermediates between the primaries and secondaries).
7. There are 12 ounces in a troy pound (used for precious metals)
8. Mathematicians love 12 for its inherent divisibility. It is a composite number and one of the few smaller numbers that can be evenly divided into multiple subsets: halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and twelfths.
9. There are 12 inches in a foot and 12 in a dozen (Did you know 12 dozens are known as a gross? And why ever do we have 13 in a baker's dozen?)
10. There are 12 pairs of ribs in most humans.
11. There are 12 face cards in a deck.
12. 12 often represents the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. December is the 12th month of the year; every 12 hours day turns to night or night to day.

Now as I countdown to 12:12:12...hope to hear from you on what you know about the number 12, and if you really think 12-12-12 is worth all the attention!