tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103444992013503812024-03-05T00:23:13.354+04:00ReflectionsCandid Confessions & Concrete ConnectionsReflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-60958597537153193722014-04-17T16:13:00.000+04:002014-04-17T16:13:41.517+04:00Hello<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Thank you for
all the caring/enquiring/helpful/threatening/wonderful mails and comments that
you all wrote to me. I know I’m a terrible, horrible person to have not
responded immediately but I existed in this vacuum where even reality didn’t
penetrate for some time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Anita </b>from <b><a href="http://itsaneetasblog.blogspot.ae/">Mirroring my thoughts</a> </b>asked me to guest-post on her blog a few months back. I
laughed it off but she was so </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">insistent</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> that I had to take her request seriously. I protested I’d never written one before but that didn’t deter her.
I told her I needed time and she gave me all the time I needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s one
thing to post casually on one’s own blog but when writing for another person everything
comes under the microscope and all the doubts in the world plague you[me, in
this case]. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">I really hope
I haven’t disappointed her. Here’s the <a href="http://itsaneetasblog.blogspot.ae/2014/04/the-gelf-malayalee.html#comment-form">link</a> to the post if you’d like to read
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">p.s: I’ve already
warned her that my blog-friends are all miffed with me and may have boycotted me
by now but she seems quite sure nothing of the sort has happened. <span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-37059646287127802882014-01-13T18:23:00.000+04:002014-01-13T21:51:41.572+04:00Up and Running<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5uAp54HqQvvN8lcocI4SNBjydX3yRbyFPOR3hB2ysyELoW9eIEfEsfe9fo6EcptbyDlV284J29yUx8BmQj7kFtKD6V4lhOqlzZDb-uXIV1m5GTgzye89vs538oqMlUi4Rluqjb4qDw/s1600/aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5uAp54HqQvvN8lcocI4SNBjydX3yRbyFPOR3hB2ysyELoW9eIEfEsfe9fo6EcptbyDlV284J29yUx8BmQj7kFtKD6V4lhOqlzZDb-uXIV1m5GTgzye89vs538oqMlUi4Rluqjb4qDw/s400/aa.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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After being away for more than a month I’ve forgotten how to
blog. Seriously I have. I wasted a whole morning trying to put together one paragraph.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Going to take refuge under bullet points till I get my rhythm back..<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">My Christmas and New Year's Day was GOOD. We had 2
families visiting us at the same time. My friends were like wtf until they
found out it was my sister and sister-in-law’s family;-D. It was organised
chaos and lots of fun for 2 weeks straight. Itinerary for each day and menu was planned before-hand to
make it easier. We never managed to get out of the house before 11am how much
ever we tried. And never came back home before 11pm. And never slept before
1.30am. Having a sister-in-law who took charge of the meals HELPED. Eating 1 or
2 meals outside everyday ALSO helped. And having a sister who didn’t mind washing a mountain of dishes helped. A LOT.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Naina celebrated her 10th birthday a few days back.
She managed to keep her birthday celebrations going on for a record 3 days[don’t
ask].</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">She had too many expectations
which we realise does not bode well for the future. She also refused to help
around the house claiming it was her birthday tomorrow/today/yesterday. And here’s
some gyaan about the occasion ‘Everybody's so nice to you on your birthday but
the very next day you are treated like dirt’ says the birthday girl bitterly;-P.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We are hoping to relocate back to Bangalore this
year. The problem is that nobody believes us. While it is true that we've been
trying to go back for the past 5 years and not succeeding very well, this
year we are very serious. We are looking at schools & admission details
very minutely. If any of you have any recommendations to make, please feel
free. And if any of you and your have influence/own/work/deal
with schools please do tell us. We need every help we can get.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I’m hoping to post more often on the picture blog
this year. I have a DSLR but don’t use it all that much. I know:-(. My phone
camera is my latest fancy.</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Click, click,
click & post a 100 pictures on my picture blog is my this year's resolution. Do
take a look when you have the time. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The Dubai Shopping Festival is going on. Crazy
sales all around town. You’ll think shops are giving things away for free the
way the people are trampling over each other to get at the stuff;-/. Better-half
got me a pair of adidas running shoes amongst other gear. They are a dream to wear…so light and fit around my feet instead of the other way around. Never again will I look at branded stuff with prejudice. Simply awesome. With this I've <i>run</i> out of excuses to not exercise;-(</span></li>
</ul>
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What's news at your end??? Once again wishing all of you a wonderful year ahead:-)).</div>
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Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-18176195051982073732013-12-09T18:37:00.001+04:002013-12-09T20:08:51.237+04:00It's a long story<div class="MsoNormal">
I picked up 2 Stitch kits from Bangalore when I went
for vacation last August. When Nikita saw it she also expressed interest. So
everyday after lunch we both sat together and worked on it for an hour or so.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3NkmxBCBtv733nX917_KTG7UMKYIjtBGnGyfy17J8CHBSUtEPLuj4VWEH4QuqDNjw5h-nDuHTZaIaclOWf23iyl9sTpQ3viwhd_D65muWva_xF1lhFGxq5bvBPM9EO0EmdlfwATPJA/s1600/01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3NkmxBCBtv733nX917_KTG7UMKYIjtBGnGyfy17J8CHBSUtEPLuj4VWEH4QuqDNjw5h-nDuHTZaIaclOWf23iyl9sTpQ3viwhd_D65muWva_xF1lhFGxq5bvBPM9EO0EmdlfwATPJA/s320/01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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If it was just me I would have listened to music while
stitching. But since my offspring’s taste in music didn’t match mine I had to
give way to audiobooks. Audiobooks are recordings of books being read aloud. Nikita is a big fan of audiobooks. Other than when she is studying, having her
meals or sleeping, audiobooks is ALWAYS on. She listens to audiobooks when
she is art/crafting, she listens to audio-books when she is cleaning her room…the
list goes on. I don't put up too much of a fuss because she gets to catch up with the old classics in Literature something she'd never get to do otherwise.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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We were half-way thru
a book by Eleanor Porter when Nikita lost her needle. It fell through the
narrow gap on the side of the sofa & could not be retrieved. Then we
decided I would work on my piece in the morning and she would use the same
needle to work on hers after lunch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUAoUhIW74-3A_NsWJJVWqWn08TQgSBlUfHtOyF87nFYIp4Rs89c_5GUxSBMFSe9vt-IE_wrIvtJM465dwxNMsfIJ-M4kPDslLxnywKX5q5elrSmqZEDyAZ_a9K_Rngr6nmGJ4hTraQ/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUAoUhIW74-3A_NsWJJVWqWn08TQgSBlUfHtOyF87nFYIp4Rs89c_5GUxSBMFSe9vt-IE_wrIvtJM465dwxNMsfIJ-M4kPDslLxnywKX5q5elrSmqZEDyAZ_a9K_Rngr6nmGJ4hTraQ/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a week or so she lost my needle the same way she lost
hers. Since no other needle could be used[the needle eye is large
as the thread is thick] we lost 2-3 weeks until I hunted around and
found almost the same kind of needles from the super-market. Back we went to our old
routine & finished the book[22 chapters] we were listening to.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then Nikita lost her needle again. <i>The same way.</i> She got a
nice shelling from me this time;-/. And I forbade her to touch my needle until
I finished my piece.But it was no fun doing it alone. And I had to finish it soon. By now Audiobooks kind of grew on me and I
started listening to ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas which I last
read during my school days and had forgotten much of. Somehow listening to a
story being read does not give me the kind of satisfaction I get when I hold a
book, turn pages and follow the plot with my eyes. But all the same I continued
listening and am hooked to the story now. </div>
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The above is Nikita's unfinished work. She is planning to frame hers as soon as it's finished and hang it in her room. I'm planning to frame mine and gift it to my sister when she comes to spend her Christmas with me:-)).</div>
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I completed my picture today[yaayyy] but I still have around 40-45 chapters[there were 119 altogether] of the book to go. I want to complete the story but cant see myself listening to audiobooks just like that. Any suggestions???</div>
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Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-79846305524987661392013-11-19T13:58:00.001+04:002013-11-22T16:23:05.507+04:00Make hay while the sun shines...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My dear blog-friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How are you??? Doing better than me I hope. I know you are wondering[atleast I like to think that] why I'm not posting all that much nowadays. Thats because there is
nothing much to say really. Yes, really. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">How much can
I go on about cooking, the kids exams and the weather. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm particularly miffed with the weather;-/</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They said
it’s going to rain whole of this week and I’m still waiting…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">..so far we
have 1 huge cloud looking like it’s about to burst.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">[and why do I make a noise about seeing a cloud?? Because in the middle east we rarely see big clouds....the sky is always very clear with tiny clouds scattered here and there. So when we see a ominously dark, cloudy one, we get excited:-P]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">...gloomy
weather <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…thunderstorm
forecasts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…after 4
days of waiting now, the weather forecasters are warning us to carry umbrellas cause it’s going to
rain in 1 hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s been 3 hours and there's still no sign of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It rained in
Abu Dhabi, it rained in Sharjah, it’s raining on & off in Fujairah but Dubai
sees none of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s been 2
YEARS since it REALLY rained out here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Can u blame
me for getting hyper????<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know what
u r thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“N get a
grip will u, there are worse things to worry about” is what u r thinking, right???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Well ofcourse
there are worse things happening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Did u know I
sprained my leg 2 weeks back and was hobbling around for more than a week???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have I
complained about it to u till today???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nobody
thought much of it and kindly let me do all the work until they saw my feet
swelling to double its size.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even then I
didn’t get much sympathy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead the
better-half was tight-lipped about the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew he
was bursting to tell me off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">It happened
when I was in church and praying [now look, I hate to show off but facts are
facts]. When I finished there was nobody around and I panicked. So I quickly rose to my feet while my feet were still numb. In
that split second between numbness and pins-and–needles I tried to walk. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">So
alright now I know that it was a stupid thing to do. I was supposed to wait for
a minute[or two] till blood circulation resumed and then try to walk. Mistakes happen right?? Can’t we just be grateful I </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> break my leg. A cousin of
ours fractured her foot trying to clean the ceiling fan. A friend’s son broke
both his ankles falling from the 1</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">st</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;"> floor. Actually he didn’t fall,
he jumped to avoid a friend who was chasing him. And here, all I was doing was minding my own business. See, what I’m
trying to say is that problems come when we least expect it. Why can’t we just
be thankful it </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> worse and make the best out of it.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">...I had a ball
making everybody fetch and carry for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">...I made loud
owww and ouch sounds just for the heck of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">...I propped up
my feet and watched movies back-to-back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">..My children
were very concerned & I lapped up all the attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">...My friends and
neighbours sympathised & suggested various remedies. Which reminds me….I
tried all kinds of medicines like moov & massage but a simple home-remedy a
friend suggested worked out best: 2 tsps pf turmeric pwdr, 1 tsp salt, 2 drops
of oil mixed with enough water to make a thick paste….apply this to the affected area
& bind it with cotton or cloth. Believe it or not it made an immediate
difference[like in 4-5hrs][well after 2-3 days of pain 4-5hrs does feel like immediate] and the
pain reduced drastically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just looked out of the window now and guess what....the ever-faithful sun
is back in its favourite place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rain in 1
hour, my <i>foot</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The weather
forecasters better find themselves another job before I get at them;-/.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyways gotta
go now….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I might as
well go dry some clothes while the sun shines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U guys takes care and t</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">hanks for listening:-)),</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">Lotso luv</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">N</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-31492546927079511052013-11-12T17:32:00.000+04:002013-11-12T17:41:54.691+04:00Life in the fat lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Patient Name: N</div>
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Diagnosis: Overweight</div>
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Prescription: Need to lose weight ASAP</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now N has already confronted her problem...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxQhIvfkghS6-LK4HkVBUCVS-gy78kI3AkqaL2tYp1MJtYe7Or4yI9bTVGnFlXNqA_TDhBDW2Hv1WHu83YtraUPFhojTrF3ImoAsanyHag3zENYbJFIx52DxDiOKR9oKpNSJ4GmFkrA/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxQhIvfkghS6-LK4HkVBUCVS-gy78kI3AkqaL2tYp1MJtYe7Or4yI9bTVGnFlXNqA_TDhBDW2Hv1WHu83YtraUPFhojTrF3ImoAsanyHag3zENYbJFIx52DxDiOKR9oKpNSJ4GmFkrA/s1600/b.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...and 'gasp' found the solution too...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-Z6H5CzGOpKfVhJcBWbiE4-vLYVfn-9Snu4bkCFwHSALM5Ul0MVK1MawRVzZQyvxlttajqmtf3mxjWvJVLairXphgehxsU4DPz5OIS2LFadXFMaYy1d_hTGWtuACFNVfT3petSrxVQ/s1600/ex.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-Z6H5CzGOpKfVhJcBWbiE4-vLYVfn-9Snu4bkCFwHSALM5Ul0MVK1MawRVzZQyvxlttajqmtf3mxjWvJVLairXphgehxsU4DPz5OIS2LFadXFMaYy1d_hTGWtuACFNVfT3petSrxVQ/s320/ex.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But nothing is as easy as it sounds...if that were the case N would have shed all the excess weight 10 years back. N is not motivated enough to address the problem seriously.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Medical experts say that the first step towards losing weight is accepting the fact that one is overweight.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZIPv_Vyf8i6Y7BvdxH20dqep0RQzig-R5TK6B7p5IkJ6gCgOBxdUM8ntnG7KUimyJD2Kk9HKVbNkVo2nOgW994KFkHmCXTJ54gnxWPZcjmmDtpMrgAWXhpkAxQT-xgmlnGvUriWRBw/s1600/fat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZIPv_Vyf8i6Y7BvdxH20dqep0RQzig-R5TK6B7p5IkJ6gCgOBxdUM8ntnG7KUimyJD2Kk9HKVbNkVo2nOgW994KFkHmCXTJ54gnxWPZcjmmDtpMrgAWXhpkAxQT-xgmlnGvUriWRBw/s320/fat.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZf79l-Oznbn-7Ja7Rwj2vpBwXY4ROD2brKT_KlZDfzJSW85bb9q0ZNFHoAx-l4x5Czgf2Z8Cg62fmotnxLWce_dVPU9-GAlwZNyxuXAt5X-bt2vc-QEsd02jqHsymME1nLJe_GUBtw/s1600/debbie_iancu-7103_(19).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZf79l-Oznbn-7Ja7Rwj2vpBwXY4ROD2brKT_KlZDfzJSW85bb9q0ZNFHoAx-l4x5Czgf2Z8Cg62fmotnxLWce_dVPU9-GAlwZNyxuXAt5X-bt2vc-QEsd02jqHsymME1nLJe_GUBtw/s1600/debbie_iancu-7103_(19).gif" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then we must try to understand what causes obesity...</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWts1xl6d1jF5SJ8kfu6Z9_tgUl4Uv4O65QIPYEnTTkc-zjhiD-rqwuHZ3Bc3kyL2JFA6YpwonzDEhFFeZzgEoPdm7VMby0YGeLIs51mdUqmiXLVt6hPrLe9-w9yU4tvjwmsWRGWRqA/s1600/calories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWts1xl6d1jF5SJ8kfu6Z9_tgUl4Uv4O65QIPYEnTTkc-zjhiD-rqwuHZ3Bc3kyL2JFA6YpwonzDEhFFeZzgEoPdm7VMby0YGeLIs51mdUqmiXLVt6hPrLe9-w9yU4tvjwmsWRGWRqA/s320/calories.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Also understand and accept that all what we have been doing till now has been just for the sake of it....<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbu7yvsb7aSpGKfAqEl4ieginpWBNQ2HsSmnkQ0Bnv765mjxVTNmfuGdQiI35UeOI5taPyoX5GeTXvida6Xw1u2pkf5BFu4OxNu8cpn-K6rkS0J_ejqIpzYwDV6hZ6mj9NzHX1SNuhw/s1600/exercising-seriously.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbu7yvsb7aSpGKfAqEl4ieginpWBNQ2HsSmnkQ0Bnv765mjxVTNmfuGdQiI35UeOI5taPyoX5GeTXvida6Xw1u2pkf5BFu4OxNu8cpn-K6rkS0J_ejqIpzYwDV6hZ6mj9NzHX1SNuhw/s320/exercising-seriously.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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or are just quick-fix methods.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBb5oV7Kh2sojQfDmEpQ2j25FcwOFWjn3FLXU2QeTuckSkhW0IQDkbIGdcfMivXKBkyudxt8yxAt_VUQJj_FfSnh_XB_Dh5ut6T8mgWj47HGEZdcymN_Kif6nBDAwHx8cHs4e_B1RHA/s1600/Rottenecards_91225289_m7zy7wdr4f.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBb5oV7Kh2sojQfDmEpQ2j25FcwOFWjn3FLXU2QeTuckSkhW0IQDkbIGdcfMivXKBkyudxt8yxAt_VUQJj_FfSnh_XB_Dh5ut6T8mgWj47HGEZdcymN_Kif6nBDAwHx8cHs4e_B1RHA/s320/Rottenecards_91225289_m7zy7wdr4f.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The experts also say losing weight need not be stressful.<br />
They shared a few of their weight-loss tips...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgToHq9XNW80PKynIpkWm6Gbc3AMP2o862znuJ5FdnRGex1jlLdG_ylB-IL22kIzmjQq1RDuec-mpPJoI08bVeBthilIo8A1jn5m6C4QVJC_FSiu-Zm42AAp5kqi5G0c2eqL12XIEgA/s1600/t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgToHq9XNW80PKynIpkWm6Gbc3AMP2o862znuJ5FdnRGex1jlLdG_ylB-IL22kIzmjQq1RDuec-mpPJoI08bVeBthilIo8A1jn5m6C4QVJC_FSiu-Zm42AAp5kqi5G0c2eqL12XIEgA/s1600/t.jpg" /></a></div>
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If that doesn't work...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gTWM7Wc_ajVRciSBAP5vwbNclxEm-5Ci8JboRmCAnVIMDA0KnOYmcx_IsjleyPNYXmJpDRs_Aej16JdhMUs5RgUkw_3UGaZJcqglsX7OXKT1wVaZyNdxCBS2f89ijTRSdSZNZzRK8w/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gTWM7Wc_ajVRciSBAP5vwbNclxEm-5Ci8JboRmCAnVIMDA0KnOYmcx_IsjleyPNYXmJpDRs_Aej16JdhMUs5RgUkw_3UGaZJcqglsX7OXKT1wVaZyNdxCBS2f89ijTRSdSZNZzRK8w/s1600/7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Or use their specially-manufactured cutlery to eat meals...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDjDiiLxZEJEeSd5eY9GEdwWtJPNdVuY4pMnnnXLlzln_ycXAldFJkX-SxE6eFYrkPCQuktoXXUHPxfVwZqWgZU0VL13n1LMS_1OOqXlYwWXfmEKSJ1ebXJr3XVavCx90X_ZhEp7onQ/s1600/half.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDjDiiLxZEJEeSd5eY9GEdwWtJPNdVuY4pMnnnXLlzln_ycXAldFJkX-SxE6eFYrkPCQuktoXXUHPxfVwZqWgZU0VL13n1LMS_1OOqXlYwWXfmEKSJ1ebXJr3XVavCx90X_ZhEp7onQ/s1600/half.JPG" /></a></div>
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But if our heart is not in it, there are always ways to get around these things....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fp-ocE4dkcn_A_f8RwBhb2eBra06P7ap0oejKQ6D2kbH6jDG557Gqs6-s_0SF8Kji2of5LlD5HlvxPGbsDnLhy36RWoX8AiKTUWSrfRE3fz352fxQzrYdjbfOLrTgwnNxCFPzwzQag/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fp-ocE4dkcn_A_f8RwBhb2eBra06P7ap0oejKQ6D2kbH6jDG557Gqs6-s_0SF8Kji2of5LlD5HlvxPGbsDnLhy36RWoX8AiKTUWSrfRE3fz352fxQzrYdjbfOLrTgwnNxCFPzwzQag/s1600/5.jpg" /></a></div>
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And N will win 1st prize for excuses.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZejDcikRWJlYwa5P_gG7pfOYl6H6cbQDIZDwATGWsasE8TZ9y_YrcAiV9soErZm_APe94bwz4-XGfObku3A2_Zt54tbVZGw78cwUl8rtcZBsPk2idAxBfpBlVp9dkImI8Gna_OQPyg/s1600/dietandbr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZejDcikRWJlYwa5P_gG7pfOYl6H6cbQDIZDwATGWsasE8TZ9y_YrcAiV9soErZm_APe94bwz4-XGfObku3A2_Zt54tbVZGw78cwUl8rtcZBsPk2idAxBfpBlVp9dkImI8Gna_OQPyg/s1600/dietandbr.jpg" /></a></div>
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N needs your valuable advice.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As well-wishers what clever tips do you have to offer her????</div>
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-23550437911106346782013-11-06T18:35:00.002+04:002013-11-12T17:32:49.851+04:00Four, Two ka One<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4 things I’m
grateful for…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My family/food/clothing/roof
over my head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">My friends</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ‘no pets
allowed in the apartment’ rule<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The 10
minute <span style="background-color: black;">run</span> walk to/from the school bus stop</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>
[the only exercise I get some days]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4 questions
I often ask myself..…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the
purpose of my life??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is there any
way I can avoid cooking today???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now where
did I keep my phone???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why do I
feel guilty for wanting more out of life???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4 I wasted
a lot of time over the years pondering over…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m actually
married!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve got TWO
kids!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How do I get
the dishes to wash themselves??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What goes on
in the better-half’s mind???<br /><i>
[But now when he replies ‘Nothing’, I believe him]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4 things I
want to do...</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lose weight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Climb a
mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Visit New
Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Win a Piano<br /><i>
[since I don’t play, it doesn’t make sense to buy one]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4 I
wish I knew earlier..</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Marriage is
not the destination, it’s just a shaky start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My kids will
grow up to be teenagers.<br /><i>
[somehow I thought they all grew directly into adults]</i><br />
I’ll see my parents only once a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freedom is a
state of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4 reasons for
this post...</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
Halloween<br /><i>
[honest it was when I started this post]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My sleep is
precious to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have to get
it out of my system<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I needed to
post, period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What are the
4 questions you often ask yourself???</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">p.s: <a href="http://konnotation.blogspot.ae/2009/04/one-two-ka-four.html">One, Two Ka Four</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-75107780782392503562013-10-21T12:42:00.001+04:002013-10-21T23:24:43.465+04:00The games we play....<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB2i6MdksN4U4YxX6bV80J9ve145-T5jD0MhKWE0Si2NAADFlI9nGe6B3tBb0r3sgIAGoSObFPRrcLo-n2yyItdmRK_D_A9xBJu2Dyw2YhNCqeckSqgAsPgvIhZUFiiwZVyVss-FAFw/s1600/manneq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB2i6MdksN4U4YxX6bV80J9ve145-T5jD0MhKWE0Si2NAADFlI9nGe6B3tBb0r3sgIAGoSObFPRrcLo-n2yyItdmRK_D_A9xBJu2Dyw2YhNCqeckSqgAsPgvIhZUFiiwZVyVss-FAFw/s400/manneq.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One Thursday evening….<br />
<br />
<i>[It's start of weekend for residents in the Middle East incase you are wondering...]</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let’s go to the mall” suggestion was met with cries of “It’s
boring, we don’t want to go”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But why???” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We are always going to malls, it’s soo boring.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Huh since when….they had the maximum fun out there; there were toy stores to be explored, bookshops to be visited, gaming zones to run amok in, freebies to be collected while the parents were usually found hurrying behind trying to keep up.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would have been happy to hear this any other time but that day I wanted to go out.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat them down and stressed how lucky they were to have
parents who didn’t need to be coerced into taking them out.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They looked at me unimpressed.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told them about my childhood where I was taken out just
twice a year.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That got some response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“You are joking……only twice a year???” Nikita flabbergasted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“Yes, on Christmas day and Easter……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
……to visit relatives.” I added for a punch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Both looked horrified.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Nikita pretended not to be affected and was like “Your time
was different Mama so don’t compare then and now”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“How different” I challenged not willing to let it go so
easily. “I was also a kid like you and would have loved to go to a mall[never
mind there were no malls then] but my strict, authoritarian father decided we’ll
visit relatives and so we went visiting.” I said woefully, mentally apologizing
to my father for the way I was portraying him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Two shocked faces stared pityingly at me and my deprived
childhood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Kids nowadays are funny I tell u….I so clearly remember
jumping up and down for joy when my parents planned trips to visit relatives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“I always obeyed my parents and did everything they told me
to” I said grandly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Nikita didn’t want to hear anymore….I think I over-acted a
bit and the lost the bit of ground I had gained till then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“We don’t feel like going to the mall, we want to stay home.
Didn’t u say we’ll rest this weekend, so we want to rest” the siblings on the
same page for once.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Rats.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
For a change the better-half & I wanted to go out and
these two were playing party-poopers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“I know exactly why you want to stay home” I said sternly.
“You want to play on the tab right….right”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Two guilty faces confirmed my doubts. Well I didn’t blame
them. If my father had downloaded 2 new games on the tablet for me that evening
I too probably wouldn’t have wanted to go out anywhere. Too bad their mother was not so understanding.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“Alright we’ll stay home but both of you will not touch the
tablet….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
….or any other gadget in the house for the rest of the day.”
I said closing all loopholes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Two dismayed faces stared back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Naina opened her mouth to protest but Nikita stopped her and
said “Alright we won’t touch the gadgets, but we can read books right”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
How could I refuse to let them read books without coming
across as petty? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So they settled down comfortably to read.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I think Nikita realised that we wanted to go out more than
them and was in her “two can play at this game” mode.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The better-half and I sat facing eachother, wondering what
to do. I wanted to go out and by hook or by crook we were going to. What the
heck…..I had already scrubbed and cleaned and closed the kitchen for the day
thinking we were eating outside. No way was I going back in there to make
dinner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“In all other houses children are asking but their parents
are too busy to take them out. Here we are telling we’ll take u out but you
want to stay home to play some silly game.” I said in irritation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
[Silence]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
You two are so lucky…..even before you say it you have
parents who get you what u want. Go on, just look around you, you have
everything, instead of counting your blessings and staying happy…..”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“But we do thank God for everything and we are happy…..we
just want to stay home and not go anywhere out today.” Nikita says
reasonably.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Deuce.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Silence reigned in the house for a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The better-half started drumming on the dining table to hide
his impatience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I was hopping mad now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Desperate times called for desperate measures.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“Alright, we won’t go out if that’s what you want. You are
right, it’s not good to go out all the time. I’ll make something ‘nice’ to eat
and we can all laze around at home” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I discussed the dinner menu with the better-half.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“What do you think I should make for dinner???? I’ve got
Rice, Rasam & stir-fry in the fridge or should I make Kanji*???”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The better-half’s fingers faltered for a few seconds and
then resumed drumming when he realized my game plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The children who were merrily swinging on the recliner till
then froze in shock. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“I think Kanji is better because it’s healthy and also it
will take me just ½ an hour to make it.” <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The better-half drummed a tune on the table approvingly.<br />
<br />
The recliner creaked to a halt.<br />
<br />
Sensing victory I pressed home my advantage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“It's too late to make a side dish but we can have it with some yummy pickle.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Books lay forgotten as two white faces watched us like hawks.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ofcourse if we were going out, we could have had Burgers or
Pizza or Chinese” I smashed the point home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The ball in their court now, we waited nervously.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“We don’t want to stay home, we want to go out….we love going to
the mall” wailed Naina.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Game. Set. Match.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>*rice gruel</i></div>
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-75462027240950793392013-10-07T19:12:00.001+04:002013-10-31T17:10:07.766+04:00A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I got a few mails in the past month asking me for the details of my hotel stay in Rajasthan. I replied to them ofcourse and then I thought I'll also put it up on the blog for your information. Just think of it this way, I'm helping you in advance to plan your trip to Rajasthan whenever you decide to go there. Instead of wasting hours/days/weeks researching on the net where to stay you can straightaway zero in on your location especially when it comes from a ermm...reliable source like me;-).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Like I said earlier we did a lot of searching on the net to locate a good hotel without going overboard or scrimping. We finally zeroed in on three of them Trident, Chunda Palace and one more whose name I forget now. We also had Taj Lake Palace on our wishlist but the prices were so steep that it remained just that..a wish;-). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now Trident which is managed by The Oberoi Group had this <a href="http://www.tridenthotels.com/discover-india-consumer-offer-new.asp">'Discover India with Trident' </a>offer which we found very tempting not to mention suited our needs. We could stay at any of their hotels at all the places[if there was one ie] we visited in Rajasthan. The offer was flexible and we could plan our own itinerary. The staff were very informative and helped us make up our minds with all the little comforts they threw into the offer at no extra cost:-).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUra05h3FumBKWYFYc6m3fyqzcWVumibhlci860PBRsVvJoufImcenp15SN8v7bE7UK0L5B1r9CKDUGHWZ7e5MHTusIUhzDiYUxdozxX9fx51M3amUUWq56gS4olWpasle2knotKhAg/s1600/front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUra05h3FumBKWYFYc6m3fyqzcWVumibhlci860PBRsVvJoufImcenp15SN8v7bE7UK0L5B1r9CKDUGHWZ7e5MHTusIUhzDiYUxdozxX9fx51M3amUUWq56gS4olWpasle2knotKhAg/s400/front.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front View, Trident, Udaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We stayed at the <a href="http://www.tridenthotels.com/udaipur/">Trident, Udaipur</a> first. Until one reaches the destination there is always this doubt whether we have made the right decision. There was a feel-good feeling as soon as we entered the grounds of the hotel; the architecture & the well-kept lawns won us over in the beginning itself. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYGApwlTqMYfVDFfBwk2w-grevPWit6HUSP7gunntJUGGweWqIVCHiE8xv01C0JWFvFZscD3higr0LJqdXlTdEgIw7gtDnHfdyeJz1fB9kd3tQ2LDhRYsQ2-TR6V7otgkGxNgP-u5nA/s1600/rajasthan+trip+038+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYGApwlTqMYfVDFfBwk2w-grevPWit6HUSP7gunntJUGGweWqIVCHiE8xv01C0JWFvFZscD3higr0LJqdXlTdEgIw7gtDnHfdyeJz1fB9kd3tQ2LDhRYsQ2-TR6V7otgkGxNgP-u5nA/s400/rajasthan+trip+038+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby, TridentUdaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The reception and lobby[pic above] were designed keeping the Rajasthani aesthetics in mind and gave us the 'feel' of the place we were visiting for the first time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTageB4E6iFvZLvXjUh5CEnxSj6R1T_pgjzlohm5NwJyucsau-GjXswRZs7tTwziXwf4dCmjbK1nWf7uvZdyLrApGeJxaExvS8xPSaGQPeITHjlrG-L3kvslRZiCbW80Znd09zMF7H-A/s1600/corridor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTageB4E6iFvZLvXjUh5CEnxSj6R1T_pgjzlohm5NwJyucsau-GjXswRZs7tTwziXwf4dCmjbK1nWf7uvZdyLrApGeJxaExvS8xPSaGQPeITHjlrG-L3kvslRZiCbW80Znd09zMF7H-A/s400/corridor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Corridor, Trident Udaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The door you see in the picture above led to the restaurant where we had most of our meals. The breakfast buffet which was included in the offer was excellent......seriously it was a grand spread with Indian, continental, European, so many choices. The food was warm, tasty and with just right amount of spice. The servers attentive and quick to get us dishes which were not served[like eggs without yolks, waffles, etc] on the table. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I scanned through the menu card later I realised ordering A la carte was not a great idea as most of the dishes were high-priced individually, so if there were more than 3-4 people in the group it was better to opt for the lunch and dinner buffet. In our case it worked out fine because kids below 10 years of age went free:-).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They also had a very good complimentary tea with snacks every evening but we weren't able to advantage of that everyday since we were out sight-seeing most of the day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyn72-4b02dbGmrmL_1RriFttZYhf4laJcfUXhZdhRXIzYol8LGpCWKzbOppbpgetFZjugE729vYU8bWMK1B0KO2_0docG6hVWWEI4VK7XMO8OiiFf2z4hcetxV2uRxsBHlz0uE1rpg/s1600/pool+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyn72-4b02dbGmrmL_1RriFttZYhf4laJcfUXhZdhRXIzYol8LGpCWKzbOppbpgetFZjugE729vYU8bWMK1B0KO2_0docG6hVWWEI4VK7XMO8OiiFf2z4hcetxV2uRxsBHlz0uE1rpg/s400/pool+view.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mesmerizing view, TU</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The children really enjoyed their stay here; there was lots of space to run around and play and ofcourse the swimming pool. There were Peacocks and deer to be sighted, not to mention the tame squirrels darting about to keep them entertained. There is also a Childrens Club where they could paint pictures, play chef and try their hand at pottery. The staff were all very friendly & patient with them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb_M55gLeMt6boxbZ1uICHKGrjugQkbRbluzNerke4PWmBpqHR-GnhO66W-BcaWQ3N90v-3s4EH6NTS45S9RS7MFvgzjjWMMeTcHg2HKUwviVQh4P41Ybm0_KXG6VpDBMftO-dBLlMQ/s1600/trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb_M55gLeMt6boxbZ1uICHKGrjugQkbRbluzNerke4PWmBpqHR-GnhO66W-BcaWQ3N90v-3s4EH6NTS45S9RS7MFvgzjjWMMeTcHg2HKUwviVQh4P41Ybm0_KXG6VpDBMftO-dBLlMQ/s400/trees.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The extensive grounds, Trident, Udaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">On the downside, the hotel rooms were a bit small but since we were hardly in there except to sleep it was okay and room service was always on hand to keep it tidy. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CNKp13j6x8-l8VFYMAuOLtM7gVnEQhvB6CqrRz3-PerYNF7GkSYT4vhvACDELEpQQsYf2r2t43yRqEroKGGNEhhdMzJ0ATNHRjv-Ma-vD2zw6cJNFcIB1_Y1flXFsgeQ0gPNu_MMrw/s1600/bara+mahal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CNKp13j6x8-l8VFYMAuOLtM7gVnEQhvB6CqrRz3-PerYNF7GkSYT4vhvACDELEpQQsYf2r2t43yRqEroKGGNEhhdMzJ0ATNHRjv-Ma-vD2zw6cJNFcIB1_Y1flXFsgeQ0gPNu_MMrw/s400/bara+mahal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barah Mahal, inside TU grounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is a real palace[a teeny one;-)] called the Bara Mahal right inside the Trident grounds. Not a huge place but nevertheless exciting to explore. Seems like it was built by Maharana Fateh Singh in the 1800's for his hunting pursuits. But now it is just a sanctuary for birds, deer, monkeys and reptiles. We climbed up to the open terrace and were able to get beautiful shots of the place and the surrounding areas.<br />
<br />
There was also a curio shop right outside the hotel gates which was very convenient for our last minute shopping. When it was time to go to Jaipur we did feel a little sad to leave and contented ourselves by taking pictures, lots of them:-).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK02dlzmb9gfNPUl9xbmjpTigqm0wh-1AlR8F3V3KEYDsA2a4lKDq5T8SyfxUnJy-MU1ri53N63v31Saub7w2LzJIZtaYnz3LGfyTcsTQJRIlKG91UogmQ1q1NisYcJ5LxYorVMOLn-A/s1600/view_jaipur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK02dlzmb9gfNPUl9xbmjpTigqm0wh-1AlR8F3V3KEYDsA2a4lKDq5T8SyfxUnJy-MU1ri53N63v31Saub7w2LzJIZtaYnz3LGfyTcsTQJRIlKG91UogmQ1q1NisYcJ5LxYorVMOLn-A/s400/view_jaipur.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trident, Jaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Facing the beautiful Mansagar lake, <a href="http://www.tridenthotels.com/jaipur/hotel.asp">Trident Jaipur</a> had a enchanting front view. The mountains you see in the picture above are the Aravalli mountains; a beautiful sight to wake upto if you are staying in a room facing the lake.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C7K8BRU74EeGk10dPcxi-UJbrxfb0WYnqGxcxAZEpIpsM6LZNyj_I559Zo9-qLISuImsNGEOxyr8on4U04YsaUwyhP7vQ1d8M0ukNbnW8sV0jlFBKLszB4FcUtVYqZgSlLo8C7elEw/s1600/t_jaipur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C7K8BRU74EeGk10dPcxi-UJbrxfb0WYnqGxcxAZEpIpsM6LZNyj_I559Zo9-qLISuImsNGEOxyr8on4U04YsaUwyhP7vQ1d8M0ukNbnW8sV0jlFBKLszB4FcUtVYqZgSlLo8C7elEw/s400/t_jaipur.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trident, Jaipur </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have to tell you honestly here that after Trident Udaipur, Trident Jaipur was a bit of a letdown. They didn't have a lot of space, the quaint charm & holiday atmosphere which we enjoyed at the Trident, Udaipur was missing. This one was more a business hotel....the kind, people travelling on work would choose to unwind in at the end of a hectic day.<br />
<br />
But the staff here made up for it with their service. They were very attentive to our needs...ALWAYS. Any wish of ours was their command, literally. They very often went out of their way to make us especially the kids, happy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kLoABP4he6Lv58COg5j62CF3QbxwpCcNgWA7RF6-i8mWA6e7UZjP58aF_C-WoX49equyB3eetR8M8QMUc65PrKpxvm-35liOWDiwm3kYg46DtOrjaLWDMDMdUJ_ccQnvwU0iuLwPtg/s1600/puppets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kLoABP4he6Lv58COg5j62CF3QbxwpCcNgWA7RF6-i8mWA6e7UZjP58aF_C-WoX49equyB3eetR8M8QMUc65PrKpxvm-35liOWDiwm3kYg46DtOrjaLWDMDMdUJ_ccQnvwU0iuLwPtg/s400/puppets.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puppet Show[sorry abt pic qlty]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They also had some kind of entertainment happening most nights. We managed to catch a charming puppet show and a kind of handicraft display. There was this old man & his assistant selling trinkets....while the assistant helped us choose the accessories we wanted, the old man was making the very things in front of our eyes. It was fascinating and Nikita didn't budge from his side all evening. I too watched him make colourful bangles out of resin collected from a particular tree. He told me the name of the trees too but I've forgotten now. It took him 30-40 minutes to make 4 separate bangles & I for one couldn't blame him for the exorbitant amount he charged for them;-P.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMaxAzl7T85jgE_lJEEN8iVjLzfH3xPd9aea17nhYE2Rgok6iTljbTO4_lo0cvXmr4raJmEJp_1QXRiDCECJKzNhBvWtauDHrgU1QVOUBJ9ACDFLzJFdyV_bRRVdpziemc6gqiLZ4HA/s1600/lawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMaxAzl7T85jgE_lJEEN8iVjLzfH3xPd9aea17nhYE2Rgok6iTljbTO4_lo0cvXmr4raJmEJp_1QXRiDCECJKzNhBvWtauDHrgU1QVOUBJ9ACDFLzJFdyV_bRRVdpziemc6gqiLZ4HA/s400/lawn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trident, Jaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And I have to mention this particular incident which makes us shake our heads even now whenever we think about it. On the last day we were at the bar[at Trident, Jaipur] and the men decided to live it up a bit as it was the end of the holiday and all. I was there solely for the mocktails/chicken tikkas & other tasty titbits;-P. We must have been there for almost 2 hours and quite enjoyed sparring with eachother about the highs and lows of our trip/ culture and traditions of Rajasthan/ the state of the economy and other subjects. At the end when we asked for the bill we were told by the waiter who served us that it was on the house. With various expressions ranging from 'Oh' to 'eh' we stared at him. He explained with a smile that the General Manager of the hotel was there at the bar for a while and he had personally told him to. I groaned thinking about the conversation which he must have heard[which we did more to irritate eachother than out of any belief;-/] while the better-half chided the waiter for not telling us earlier. His logic was that we could have ordered the more expensive bottles if we had known;-P.<br />
<br />
And while I'm at it let me tell one more incident and this I tell you was really embarrassing. One particular employee was particularly attentive and served us well and so I decided to tip him on the last day. He refused the money saying it was against the hotel's rules to accept tips. I cringe at the memory really...how could I have been so thoughtless especially when I had already seen the notice which stated that the hotel didn't encourage the practice of tipping individually;-(.<br />
<br />
Like I said, the staff at this hotel won us over with their earnestness and their priority that we enjoy our stay with them. When I look back now I realise that our whole trip went off so well mainly because we picked a really good hotel to stay. So very often our entire trip[which we plan so carefully] can be spoilt by an indifferent hotel or inattentive service staff. Thankfully we chose well.<br />
<br />
<i><u>Note to doubtful souls:</u> Nobody sponsored/paid or forced me to put up this review. I just thought it will be helpful for anybody who was looking for a 'very good' hotel to stay with family in Udaipur or Jaipur:-). </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
p.s: This was supposed to be a straight-forward review with a few pictures. But I should have known I couldn't keep it short;-P.<br />
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-52973123086378792902013-09-30T13:06:00.001+04:002013-10-08T09:23:06.484+04:00Mark my words<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9twcu5IjqiYaNJP9f4cAt4r5dsM9YT9Rd873VxHdwYdps_qFxgWh4lfEe_akI5Gdn_Ppesbu77XdJyCiB07v2FFkRJcVoc48qdOzLDEIE65txgB08DPWaBgNHafT1gDikVkwk2UG2GA/s1600/01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9twcu5IjqiYaNJP9f4cAt4r5dsM9YT9Rd873VxHdwYdps_qFxgWh4lfEe_akI5Gdn_Ppesbu77XdJyCiB07v2FFkRJcVoc48qdOzLDEIE65txgB08DPWaBgNHafT1gDikVkwk2UG2GA/s400/01.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N&N posing in front of a funny mirror</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The term exams got over last week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>[happy dance]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now all of you can thank me one by one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>[N waits expectantly
for outpouring of gratitude]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>……<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>[All she gets in return is a yawning silence]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You didn’t notice???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>[N put hands on hips
and taps foot on ground impatiently]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dammit, I take so much effort and u guys don’t even notice
anything;-/.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I said the kids' Exams are OVER.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>[N takes a deep breath
& practices the little yoga Nikita taught her when she was in 3rd std</i><i>]</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Didn’t u realise I didn’t bug you with any post on how fast
the exams were approaching and how horrible they were going to be and how I was
going crazy searching for text-books and notebooks which had mysteriously disappeared
over the holidays and how the better-half was not helping and how my BP was
going up and how the kids were least bothered and how….”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh just forget it, I have a good mind not to tell you anything;-S”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>[N imagines a crowd of bloggers pleading with her to forgive them]</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alright, alright I’ll tell you only if u answer my question truthfully??? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you ofcourse know very well that I can’t hide anything
from you for long;-/.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So like I was telling u, the exams went off <s>very well</s>….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.....actually very badly:-(. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both Nikita and Naina came back home with expressions more morose than
the other’s each day of the exams. I kept quiet as a mouse as they showed me all the questions
they blundered on. Well it was not really their fault was it.
Their exams were held immediately after school reopened after the holidays. And
we as parents should have planned our holiday after taking their exams into
consideration. No point talking about it after the episode:-(.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways, while the better-half and I were still dilly-dallying about what
is the best mode of action to take from now on, Nikita has decided for herself that it did not make
sense to keep waiting for her parents to wake up from their apathy, instead she
herself must be vigilant about these things. And the sweet kid that she is, she even worded it very carefully so as to not hurt our feelings in any way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Atta girl <br />
<i>[N pats herself in appreciation ]</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I must find a way <b>to get her</b> to invoke the same feelings of motivation in Naina;-P<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seems like Naina took so much time over her Hindi paper that
the boy next to her who had finished almost an hour before her asked very
concerned “Naina, tera saboon slow hai kya???”*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
;-D<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of the questions in the GK Paper Naina attempted:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Q1. Who is Mukesh Ambani? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">A.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Mukesh Ambani is a very famous Fashion Designer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Q2. Who is MS Subbulakshmi?<br />
A. MS Subbulakshmi is a very famous person. <b>He</b> has won many awards and is very very
famous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Q3. Who wrote Malgudi Days? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">A.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">RK Kipling</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We just scraped through GK with minimum marks and are very
grateful we passed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the other hand Nikita got 20/20 in GK….full marks only in GK
but I’m still grinning like a fool;-D.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She too faced problems but of another kind. She is not the
topper in her class but atleast she tries. So the kids who
are sitting close to her during the exams are peeking into her paper to get the
answers they don’t know. Seems like one kid was so unprepared that she copied
90% of Nikita’s answers. Nikita hates it but is not able to express her
displeasure vocally. So she compensates by writing in a lousy handwriting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was one question which asked the name of the palace
built by the Portuguese in Cochin?? And Nikita wrote the correct answer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After
the exam the girl who copied everything from Nikita was like <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What a funny name for a palace???” <br />
And Nikita was like “What so funny about it???” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
The girl was hopping mad when
she found out it was Mattencherry palace and not “Mutton Curry palace”;-D.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
Last heard the girl is totally
confused as to how Nikita got full marks while she got only 11/20 inspite of
copying everything from Nikita’s paper;-).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
And I haven’t forgotten the question I was going to ask even if you are going to pretend u have… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Reflections Survey Sheet</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marks: 100</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Attempt any one:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Q1. What kind of posts N writes is most irritating??? (10 marks)<br />
a. the paranoid post before the exams<br />
b. the neurotic post during the exams <br />
c. the anxious post after the exams<br />
d. All of the above and all the rest of her posts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OR</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Q2. Given the hectic and busy life N leads, how often do u expect her to update her space??? (10 marks)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a. once a week<br />
b. Bi-monthly<br />
c. once in a month<br />
d. whenever she feels like</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kindly post your answers in comment section with detailed explanation. (90 marks)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
************************************************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>*Lifebuoy ad</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-91424993075041508022013-09-23T16:28:00.002+04:002013-10-08T09:23:14.126+04:00The Mystery of the Ringing Doorbell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ting-tong<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The doorbell pealed suddenly in the middle of the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I waited expectantly for the kids, the better-half, somebody, anybody to open the door. I had just sunk into a couch after clearing lunch and was
feeling lethargic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously everybody around was feeling the same;-/.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I reluctantly got up to answer the doorbell
wondering who it was. I knew it was not the kid’s friends because those kids
never rang the doorbell, they just knocked
on the door[by now we are familiar with the different types of knocking and can accurately predict which kid it is even before we open the door;-P] <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who the heck comes visiting right after lunch anyway??? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked through the peep hole.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Couldn’t see anybody.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Opened the door and looked left, then right, then left again
and right and everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was nobody out there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids also emerged to inspect the visitor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All 3 of us looked at eachother in confusion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Realisation dawned a split second later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somebody rang the doorbell and ran away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids were indignant. “The cheek……”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to laugh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whoever it was made a clean getaway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went back inside, kids animatedly discussing who it could
have been.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 days later around the same time….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ting-tong<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arriving at the same
conclusion all 3 of us hurried to the door to catch the offender.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But by the time we got up from where we were lounging around
and rushed to the front door the offender had escaped once again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids were hopping mad. What guts…they fumed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time I walked down the corridor to check the lift. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was stationary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Opened the door to the staircase and listened. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Absolutely quiet in there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So it was somebody from our floor itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some kid was right then standing behind his/her door and snickering
away silently I supposed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But who???</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids were heatedly arguing amongst themselves as to who
it could be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My apartment was at the end of the corridor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The apartment opposite ours was occupied by an Arab couple
with a toddler.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So they were ruled out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the other end were 4 doors placed close together. All the
4 apartments had kids.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mama, I heard the door to the garbage chute bang shut just
before our doorbell rang. Which means whoever is ringing the bell is going down
this passage to throw garbage and then ringing our doorbell and running away“.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmmmmmm…..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 days later round about the same time again…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ting-Tong Ting-Tong Ting-Tong<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids and I dropped everything we were doing and ran like
maniacs to the front door. In those few seconds we heard the kid rushing noisily
down the corridor and slammed his/her door just as we opened ours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I banged the wall in half amusement and frustration. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kid was getting bolder. A simple ting-tong was now a
Ting-Tong multiplied into 3. I was soo hoping to catch the kid red-handed
and have some fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids were boiling in fury. They had already come to a
few conclusions by now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mama…we are sure it’s JoJaJo” burst out Nikita angrily.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of the kids on the floor were their friends and they
played together all the time. JoJaJo
were 3 kids with names starting with J[wht else] and the only kids they had
some issues with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Stop Nikita, we cannot accuse anybody without proof” I
warned.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now we were alert all the time especially after lunch. If we
heard anybody open the door to the garbage chute[luckily for us, it opened with
a noise] all of us looked up in expectation and waited.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But nothing happened for the next 2 days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then at 11pm one day, just as I was winding up for the day….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TING-TONG-TING-TONG-TING-TONG<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart nearly jumped out in shock. In the silence of the
night the ring was so loud that for a moment I just stood there and did nothing.
The better-half and kids who had already gone to sleep an hour earlier, got up with
a start.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rushed to the door but again I was too late. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But enough was enough. Being disturbed in the middle of the
night was not funny.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We decided to knock on JoJaJo’s house and asked if any of the kids
went to drop the garbage a few minutes back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
JoJaJo’s mother was like “No they didn’t, they slept almost
an hour ago”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knocked on the next door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They took almost 5 minutes to open the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire family was already in bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the next house too they denied any knowledge of the
incident.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hesitated to knock on the last door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Irani family who stayed there had 2 girls above the age
of 10 and the woman of the house was a formidable lady who was well-known for
her terror tactics. All the kids on the floor detested her because she was
always complaining about the noise they were making. Even we kept out of her
way;-P.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I knocked every other door I reluctantly knocked on hers
too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She came out and said everybody was asleep and what’s more,
nobody from her house will do something like this. Behind her I saw one of her
kids peeping from one of the rooms. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I came back all upset and puzzled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt really terrible going like that and knocking on doors
in the middle of the night but this was getting a little out of hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I related the whole episode to the better-half and kids .
The better-half then said he heard a slap and a child crying just a few minutes
earlier. We have a window near the bedroom which is left open sometimes and if
the neighbours left their window opened too we could clearly hear what was
going on there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids & I looked at eachother in shock because the
Irani family stayed there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We couldn’t believe it. Her daughters were almost 14 &
11 yrs old. Even though those kids didn’t come out to play with mine there was
no animosity between them as such. So then why…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went to sleep after that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The whole incident was discussed and examined with a
microscope the next day but no conclusions were reached.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways the problem was solved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or so we thought.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The very next day at around 9pm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TING-TONG-TING-TONG-TING-TONG<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To say we were stunned was an understatement. I was at the
far end of the house fixing the kids beds for the night. Too far away. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nainaaaaaa, open the door quick” all of us yelled at the
same time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Naina was at the water dispenser filling her glass and closest to
the door. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So many thoughts went through my mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was not the Irani kids after all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What will I do when I catch the kid red-handed???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was no doubt here we’ll catch the budding delinquent
because Naina was already opening the door and we could still hear noisy
footsteps rushing off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as we opened our door, the door opposite ours slammed
shut and we heard the key being turned in the lock.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were totally taken aback.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How could it be????<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Arab who lived opposite our apartment was a new tenant
and as far as we knew, lived there with his wife and 10 months old child. Their names
were not even there in our list of suspects.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The better-half knocked on their door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Arab came out carrying his baby. The baby is one of the prettiest, cutest and most endearing toddler. My kids loved her and go running to [baby]talk to her whenever they saw her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emerging out of my thoughts, I see the better-half
explaining the problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within 2 minutes we had our suspect in our hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suspects actually.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Arab had his relatives staying with him for the
holidays. Looking back now, we remember seeing them once or twice. Their 3 kids[3
cheerful & naughty looking kids of different age;-D ] would come out everyday to throw
garbage down the chute. While going back into the house they found it very amusing
to ring our doorbell and run away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Arab was so apologetic that we felt bad and ended up
reassuring him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nikita then put everything together and presented her deductions….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Those kids took turns to ring our door-bell everyday which
explains the varying tones in which it was rung” she explained authoritatively.
“And Mama, what we thought was footsteps running down the corridor was actually the
sound of 3 children rushing through their door one by one” concluded Nikita,
wrapping up the case neatly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only one doubt remains…. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
If these kids were the culprits,
then why did the Irani lady wake her supposedly sleeping child at 12 in the
night & make her cry;-o???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you have any such solved/unsolved mysteries to share:-)????<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-59082607948189453132013-09-09T17:53:00.001+04:002013-10-08T09:23:35.255+04:00Trip Along<div class="MsoNormal">
Way back in March itself we had decided to stay back in
Dubai this year for the summer holidays[July-Aug]. Reasons were many, and all of them valid too. But 1 month into the holidays we were all climbing the walls for
different reasons.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And worse, our whole building wore a deserted
look.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even the few [kids I mean] I met were like “We are going to
<i>our </i>country next tuesday” and I found myself desperately wanting to reply “Even
we are going to <b>our</b> country next
Monday, so there”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simply everybody we knew and didn't were travelling out
for the summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had absolutely no plans to go. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all decisions were made to be followed, right.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we changed our minds and left to India in a hurry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friends asked concerned “Any emergency???”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And we were like noo, noooo….and left the sentence hanging
because we had no clear answers for our change of mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids and I took off [the better-half was swamped with
work which was part of the reason why we decided against going in the first
place] to my mom’s place in Bangalore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not satisfied with the distance we covered we sat around planning another
trip, with family this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Goa was my brother-in-law’s first and only choice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But friends who just came back from Goa warned us “It’s
drizzling continuously. We stayed cooped up inside the resort all the 4 days we
were there.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Delhi????” I ventured. I always wanted to see the Taj
Mahal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Delhi is flooded. The newspapers are full of it. Infact
it’s raining everywhere, given the season it’s not surprising is it??” BIL looks
at us reprovingly as to why we pick the rainiest of seasons to come home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Smarting under the veiled attack of ‘not reading
newspapers’ I mutter huffily “I’m quite sure it’s not raining in Rajasthan”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The next thing I knew we were booking tickets to Rajasthan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We settled for a 5 days trip divided
between Udaipur and Jaipur. Mt. Abu was reluctantly ruled out because we knew
the kids wouldn’t be too happy with all the travelling. We were also fortunate
to find a lovely hotel at such a late stage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The trip was good. The journey spaced out and comfortable. The hotels
first-rate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But even then, almost everybody had issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The kids were not happy about all the sight-seeing we were doing everyday. All the travelling from one palace/fort to
another in the heat took some out of them. We were sympathetic and cut out a few forts and temples from our list to keep them happy. But they were not very impressed. Today if you ask
the kids about their trip they'll tell you in a loud and dramatic voice “You know, we were attacked by monkeys in Rajasthan.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Both sets of grand-parents got a shock when they heard this.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing like that happened….they are talking about
1 or 2 monkeys who came a bit too close hoping they’ll get a bit of the ice-creams the kids were eating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Nooo wayyy…there were atleast 5 monkeys."<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">[I can hear their voices in my head stoutly defending their story]</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">And that is all they remember about Rajasthan;-/</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming back to the subject, the BIL also had complaints. He was not enthusiastic about the trip to Rajasthan
in the first place. He still thought Goa was the ideal destination. The airfare
itself irritated him. Well it stumped all of us. You knw our airfare to
Rajasthan[from B’lore] was more than our airfare to Dubai[from Rajasthan];-o. I'm sure he was thinking we could have done Thailand on the same budget;-).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The better-half[he took a break & joined us in Rajasthan] came away disconcerted and disillusioned at all the going-ons. He didn’t have any specific incident to
tell but I knew. You see, he has always lived outside India and went home only
for the holidays. Which meant he didn’t really meet ‘people’….u know like aam
aadmi* of India. Being jostled in lines and spoken to rudely and watching
officials behave arrogantly towards the tourists all unsettled him. His
question of the day[actually he pondered over it everyday] was “why were people in authority acting
like they owned the place they worked for. And inspite of paying the amount
they demanded as entrance fee[& what not] why were we being treated
like second-class citizens and palmed off second quality goods in our own country??” We all went through the same
experiences as him but the difference was that we took it in our stride...well it is not something new, is it????</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the last night of the trip my sister & I stood
contemplating all these issues outside our hotel rooms[while the others slept]. I lowered my voice and whispered “But I enjoyed
everything…..it was fantastic, even the noise, the grime, the chaos, the
delays, everything” and looked at my sister almost guiltily.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p>She leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered “Me too”.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We couldn't stop giggling for like 5 minutes;-D.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seriously I loved it……….I loved the visits to the heritage sites and found the history of each, fascinating. I rued that the guides rushed us
through everything but then I know if I went there without one I would have wandered around the same place whole day leaving time for nothing else. The greenery was
amazing; I thought Rajasthan was a desert but it was green and so fertile
everywhere I looked. And the Aravalli mountains all around was...how do I put it...it was all sooo romantic. Later somebody told us that the monsoons made it seem like that and that Jaisalmer and beyond were more desert-like. The weather was a bit hot and it sometimes rained too but
that never came in the way of our plans for the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The locals were very approachable and had the
tourist routine down pat. And the traders were so good at selling their wares that
we felt guilty if we didn't buy something from them. We picked up razais**, saris,
paintings, carved pieces, carved pencils[the kids of course],
magnets[heee] and even a pagdi[Rajasthani headwear];-D.<br />
<br />
And oh how could I forget the puppets….the
kids were soo thrilled with a pair I got for them at a puppet show
the hotel organised for us. The next day I found the same puppets for half the
price in the market;-(.<br />
<br />
We also tried the local food, the main attraction being the Rajasthani Thali…..delicious. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BDlTjNiH4p5vWS0NuiLp0tRPExnwXqPa6oZKSQZ6ZHRRWu1V7HeWGM-aIsKRtprPQzb9uYGNn_LeSb6wplFDiv5G_zDkHsitShV7OmGorTlVnCBUGvqR3J23A0jhonV_rbckBG2jFA/s1600/thali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BDlTjNiH4p5vWS0NuiLp0tRPExnwXqPa6oZKSQZ6ZHRRWu1V7HeWGM-aIsKRtprPQzb9uYGNn_LeSb6wplFDiv5G_zDkHsitShV7OmGorTlVnCBUGvqR3J23A0jhonV_rbckBG2jFA/s400/thali.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rajasthani Thali</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I took lots of pictures and here are a few....</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kvwxs64v0x1yXADLr9uSlIUsa_OX5jLn0peMf8IEXbZrd4wRxG5pGsrmWLquDcixNywllcd4IndnaHMnKjrwXCcw1VMNibeiNJS2QEvW53Txv8x1kNdQ0Guf3XY0J2kwe7jYNKFYzQ/s1600/city+palace_udaipur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kvwxs64v0x1yXADLr9uSlIUsa_OX5jLn0peMf8IEXbZrd4wRxG5pGsrmWLquDcixNywllcd4IndnaHMnKjrwXCcw1VMNibeiNJS2QEvW53Txv8x1kNdQ0Guf3XY0J2kwe7jYNKFYzQ/s400/city+palace_udaipur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Palace, Udaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Udaipur is known both as the 'City of Lakes' and 'The White City' because of the marble work the place is famous for. It is also known as 'Venice of the East'.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2RqoQ6t_6KIlQsI8wtK1CAus5FPhqAO6lbwQ6Xzzt21bl3vdBR7lFQIL1AgK5arHBlQ5VoGQ5XBbHFUZNcsMD3GoXK3IfnPAANqy8ag2y-CT3VaOWAYBfWbNkSkcw5AuQkb4aK1OOw/s1600/Jal+mahal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2RqoQ6t_6KIlQsI8wtK1CAus5FPhqAO6lbwQ6Xzzt21bl3vdBR7lFQIL1AgK5arHBlQ5VoGQ5XBbHFUZNcsMD3GoXK3IfnPAANqy8ag2y-CT3VaOWAYBfWbNkSkcw5AuQkb4aK1OOw/s400/Jal+mahal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most of the palaces have been converted to luxury hotels and the Lake palace[above] covers an entire island in the Pichola lake. We didn't go there but I heard it's an experience of a lifetime.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_GHxJkULOXJkqTd6M4r72IjbLoV30DIu2qc2DpDlhFDCWfmuiCq8OeRT6fWFuGKbSB9-0Cfd4A7I7GYRChYZ_xE9ti15ozatZikkdgggLe2c_HaxSintkGYrdFF34lxaN6-MfmQZfw/s1600/udaipur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_GHxJkULOXJkqTd6M4r72IjbLoV30DIu2qc2DpDlhFDCWfmuiCq8OeRT6fWFuGKbSB9-0Cfd4A7I7GYRChYZ_xE9ti15ozatZikkdgggLe2c_HaxSintkGYrdFF34lxaN6-MfmQZfw/s400/udaipur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White City, Udaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdim652pulI7At27iTDrQQlhaNe_4oX26BRoQKRLF2V6WehPiPOAXtbxqbA_i-p6kCFYTfwbm8nbbhIUtKqincMEKYPPKWTSO5t9LKnUV8k7_FmcMGtDmeI8CeOYoLZioVd9v_Vqo_Xg/s1600/artist+at+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdim652pulI7At27iTDrQQlhaNe_4oX26BRoQKRLF2V6WehPiPOAXtbxqbA_i-p6kCFYTfwbm8nbbhIUtKqincMEKYPPKWTSO5t9LKnUV8k7_FmcMGtDmeI8CeOYoLZioVd9v_Vqo_Xg/s400/artist+at+work.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The train journey from Udaipur to Jaipur took around 6 hours and we got to see a lot of villages and cities on route.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk6y1FOXMVFyIoNo04FiGtDnzco6VYxRCIK2UQHtpac3tFavMlwFOLOjUpPRoovTOxcaxIjuncTSiFATOcvhHD7RH_MDpt815Z5R2i8ZfoUSaBKkXyK16KKn0J4Zr5xhrm9h_a-lDig/s1600/jaipur+palace+entrance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk6y1FOXMVFyIoNo04FiGtDnzco6VYxRCIK2UQHtpac3tFavMlwFOLOjUpPRoovTOxcaxIjuncTSiFATOcvhHD7RH_MDpt815Z5R2i8ZfoUSaBKkXyK16KKn0J4Zr5xhrm9h_a-lDig/s400/jaipur+palace+entrance.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Palace Entrance, Jaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jaipur is known as the pink city but the colour is not exactly pink, more terracotta. Most of the old city wears this colour...seems like the law states that they have to be painted this colour and no other.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf48pc7zNCFJSb8VunPNKe3T2i0ZkKEW2f-nNSdS9WMGTefMMsrVT1CwghnwEpi8-hWsy4xDr1P2TGgatwIMCl-vRugLMuw32xZkMaRR763e_YuVxgq4fg7Qa6e0-rLAo7R4pUqeT64g/s1600/jaipur+palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf48pc7zNCFJSb8VunPNKe3T2i0ZkKEW2f-nNSdS9WMGTefMMsrVT1CwghnwEpi8-hWsy4xDr1P2TGgatwIMCl-vRugLMuw32xZkMaRR763e_YuVxgq4fg7Qa6e0-rLAo7R4pUqeT64g/s400/jaipur+palace.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaipur City Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The palace is very imposing, interesting and spread over acres. The present Maharaja who is a teenager[seriously, he is] lives in the yellow portion of the palace[see above pic].<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4SKmLXXaRdc7FUZRuyXzcts4g96LNEAkw1JBZQLfU46VjUcGFJIpoYyV8Jlrio4f_SbtHsDtXeufmSPdFIv2E-WCsPdyNuzNPMLZbInQteCPAMuddL_UVN5saEElpozqKfvQLIOxVA/s1600/pot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4SKmLXXaRdc7FUZRuyXzcts4g96LNEAkw1JBZQLfU46VjUcGFJIpoYyV8Jlrio4f_SbtHsDtXeufmSPdFIv2E-WCsPdyNuzNPMLZbInQteCPAMuddL_UVN5saEElpozqKfvQLIOxVA/s320/pot.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Largest Silver urn in the world<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Seems like more than 100 years ago the then Maharaja of Jaipur had to attend a meeting in London. To avoid the punishment of crossing the ocean he carried with him 3 huge silver urns of water from the Ganges for his exclusive use. Each urn can hold 9000 litres of water. I remember reading this a few years back in 'A Princess remembers' by Gayathri Devi. At one point our guide was mixing up a lot of info which made me wonder if these guys were making up stuff as they went along;-).</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8Vjp5f_vywNmBLnDf1_hP-b8R26o9HPu9EK03v17XojNH0nmmqvPPwJeG-NSL7qN7JKVsb-nuVsrKX_VZTrQQ_ugEpheobn3POHP7X1okqsk-r-DZD6LGmFkLd_T1Tz2Lq0_RZka6w/s1600/jantar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8Vjp5f_vywNmBLnDf1_hP-b8R26o9HPu9EK03v17XojNH0nmmqvPPwJeG-NSL7qN7JKVsb-nuVsrKX_VZTrQQ_ugEpheobn3POHP7X1okqsk-r-DZD6LGmFkLd_T1Tz2Lq0_RZka6w/s400/jantar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Jantar Mantar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
According to Wikipedia "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">The </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">Jantar Mantar</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Sawai Jai Singh who was a Mughal Commander and served Emperor </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangzeb" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Aurangzeb">Aurangzeb</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> and later Mughals. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">He had constructed a total of five such facilities at different locations, including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of these. It has been inscribed on the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_List" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="World Heritage List">World Heritage List</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> as "<i>an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period".</i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-YJyHZn2C49ujA2W3WneZjJrWw17z2xGTTcKwK7bY2KRl9po6gAbs2za6Ul_w6y0NY-tI-5QpfeZJ8Oc96iGJse5DMSX9N54YUg8zGPR4GnTPkGafOp4kGJBIkIP8IptChf1zm0hNg/s1600/mantar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-YJyHZn2C49ujA2W3WneZjJrWw17z2xGTTcKwK7bY2KRl9po6gAbs2za6Ul_w6y0NY-tI-5QpfeZJ8Oc96iGJse5DMSX9N54YUg8zGPR4GnTPkGafOp4kGJBIkIP8IptChf1zm0hNg/s320/mantar.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samrat Yantra, Jantar Mantar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Can u see those 2 people in the corner of the picture??? Now just imagine how tall the structure is:-o???<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F8FK3IWsCZ8lUj4HC6VE3fdlpVfoiwbKx5YGrRGjMOb0B4MwKZkt9ntppvILzCkyL1Rt19rsxN7SwMga7HctJ_dKDbOnpGQNTRLJLRTSicn1stWtXLSbmcsB4pQuO7hwGnK1wZWYeA/s1600/view_amer+fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F8FK3IWsCZ8lUj4HC6VE3fdlpVfoiwbKx5YGrRGjMOb0B4MwKZkt9ntppvILzCkyL1Rt19rsxN7SwMga7HctJ_dKDbOnpGQNTRLJLRTSicn1stWtXLSbmcsB4pQuO7hwGnK1wZWYeA/s400/view_amer+fort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amer Fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amer Fort is a major tourist attraction located high on a hill. The view is breath-taking from there; Nikita & I took a lot of pictures. Any angle I missed she covered;-). But when I look at them now, none of the pictures I feel really captured the essence of those moments spent there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7rEXiLRMOWJmOB8OhGdLFCR2rvaV-fFf1uIzYvEwQBUPOwwATMJpN54q9qryeKvvNXue6ZODSnq_-qqHLwcdWvKohf_dhK7WTSYn5qVEMby3vmTl_DTWuQ4UJps76SyYplo8yIOA7A/s1600/inside+the+fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7rEXiLRMOWJmOB8OhGdLFCR2rvaV-fFf1uIzYvEwQBUPOwwATMJpN54q9qryeKvvNXue6ZODSnq_-qqHLwcdWvKohf_dhK7WTSYn5qVEMby3vmTl_DTWuQ4UJps76SyYplo8yIOA7A/s400/inside+the+fort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palace Grounds, Amer Fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Visit the place in the morning for the elephant rides. Mostly foreigners were queuing up;-D. I think the authorities charged around Rs.900 per person for the ride.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQew0n7mZEgg0t422t83Gqjtit_17vN85hj_CCe3fj7TSE-PKSX0JFA5mxAv9LXt7nIYOjL5I23x4qH5Yo4kh0yaD7TAFkZTShyphenhyphenIlYYsA_HA_kJaH2kQNvOu-xf3W5jo8PEaEnZhVLqw/s1600/jodha_scene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQew0n7mZEgg0t422t83Gqjtit_17vN85hj_CCe3fj7TSE-PKSX0JFA5mxAv9LXt7nIYOjL5I23x4qH5Yo4kh0yaD7TAFkZTShyphenhyphenIlYYsA_HA_kJaH2kQNvOu-xf3W5jo8PEaEnZhVLqw/s320/jodha_scene.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen area, Amer Fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Does it look familiar to any of you??? Seems like the kitchen scene[where Jodha cooks for Akbar] of the Hindi movie 'Jodha-Akbar' was shot here:-).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheToGKjH4cYM8Qi5luZ41S7l81zLQWBrgeQKEYUlPAqyncKNLiBoo3pxnVnWC5C8e2EBAgokxCDpUCu-i5BMaRCcdOlA4tj2rK4ASCioHHsw-srFCCBapihX3iXr3LKuUe3YSkbXkw8w/s1600/Jaigarh+fort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheToGKjH4cYM8Qi5luZ41S7l81zLQWBrgeQKEYUlPAqyncKNLiBoo3pxnVnWC5C8e2EBAgokxCDpUCu-i5BMaRCcdOlA4tj2rK4ASCioHHsw-srFCCBapihX3iXr3LKuUe3YSkbXkw8w/s400/Jaigarh+fort.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaigarh Fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By now the information on the different palaces and forts were getting muddled up in my head. All I remember about this fort is that this is where the monkeys attacked us;-P. Yep right at this point.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF0oVe_LweZEXAYW94WuNf3zyjyWDLl6xkGk4xUP0UaBcfMlpeFgd5eFFIheyQQXRVC1-lxR0ZpFQK6iZdCnBYMaqfouaw9sIWcMHceS4iNGF1K7vbHm_c-er92N87KpFLFiMlm3BYg/s1600/camal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF0oVe_LweZEXAYW94WuNf3zyjyWDLl6xkGk4xUP0UaBcfMlpeFgd5eFFIheyQQXRVC1-lxR0ZpFQK6iZdCnBYMaqfouaw9sIWcMHceS4iNGF1K7vbHm_c-er92N87KpFLFiMlm3BYg/s400/camal.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camel rides being offered</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And finally what's a trip to Rajasthan worth without a camel ride:).<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all, a wonderful trip especially since it happened so
unexpectedly & also maybe because I went with no expectations.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>*common man</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>**quilt</i></div>
<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-71415215666618621322013-09-01T11:50:00.000+04:002013-10-08T09:24:09.229+04:00"If the path be beautiful....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>.....let us not ask where it leads" </i>~ Anatole France</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz7vDd1ah4E1CpTwuTy0EcCULu3yY6jQI5pvQYYexpvn76HYkKt3iADDYMh6TH4jC0mqsdmpIITAfq8QTng6XdFyC_G3dOWW3pIRy351DR03JN_A6S-9g1mQ_39-ZvH71uE_Vwky5ZQ/s1600/road_r.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz7vDd1ah4E1CpTwuTy0EcCULu3yY6jQI5pvQYYexpvn76HYkKt3iADDYMh6TH4jC0mqsdmpIITAfq8QTng6XdFyC_G3dOWW3pIRy351DR03JN_A6S-9g1mQ_39-ZvH71uE_Vwky5ZQ/s400/road_r.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
'Path'etic return to the blog world, you think:-P???</div>
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-84967220947343405272013-06-03T19:33:00.001+04:002013-10-08T09:24:17.005+04:00Reflection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivh7IJf3m7Dy7h8d9l2RGW7eLPqmcw8pSY0dYtezEBA8B60rZKn4Dz5u7lEILRHTVv4ETgTvyBPnjgMRs4o-qpToS0WCgAbq0GwZIxNLOIpXHJoMHBjwtfrIkctgMcCMlLEnGgdfMQA/s1600/tumblr_mfthnbNvvI1qchxcpo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivh7IJf3m7Dy7h8d9l2RGW7eLPqmcw8pSY0dYtezEBA8B60rZKn4Dz5u7lEILRHTVv4ETgTvyBPnjgMRs4o-qpToS0WCgAbq0GwZIxNLOIpXHJoMHBjwtfrIkctgMcCMlLEnGgdfMQA/s320/tumblr_mfthnbNvvI1qchxcpo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-13281439568956194692013-05-28T12:41:00.001+04:002013-05-28T17:34:38.599+04:00I've been...<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMlR5tANYfwZY0ER3sTpnwkiBfVRAMiT84D1kMiN9OoDviio6EAPFXf1UFcDo-4igjmM_cfxOA4NJZGf-oFtsTOo9bEUBf4JAQx0-iTuLf0cf4zb5nICeaskldXW4l6BWqd_O73lhsw/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMlR5tANYfwZY0ER3sTpnwkiBfVRAMiT84D1kMiN9OoDviio6EAPFXf1UFcDo-4igjmM_cfxOA4NJZGf-oFtsTOo9bEUBf4JAQx0-iTuLf0cf4zb5nICeaskldXW4l6BWqd_O73lhsw/s200/11.jpg" width="200" /></a>I've been down in the dumps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Struggling with fears.<br />
Couldn’t get a grip
on it at first.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I've learned to like it here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Summer is here and how.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sunlight is blinding.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You'll find me lurking in the shadows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the darkness is soothing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything’s an effort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What’s the point??? is the question.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For every step forward,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two taken back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not worry, my fellow blogger and let me be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I assure you I’m content in my misery.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no one, who knows me as well as I do.<br />
I’m hoping to be back among you in a month or two.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-83118049849632555732013-05-09T09:35:00.005+04:002013-05-28T12:42:08.469+04:00On a Power Trip<div class="MsoNormal">
Schools have started and once again we got geared up to go
through what we went through every year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem can be summed up in one word, Naina.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can go back to April 2007 and start from when she first
started school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I want to hold on to the few readers I have left.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let’s just say that the first few months of a new school
year has always been traumatic for Naina. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She takes a lot of time adjusting to
the new teachers and surroundings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The past couple of years have been relatively easier because
she’s made a few friends at school and goes to school to be with them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even then she always has some issue, the last 2 yrs the boys in her class were the bane
of her existence. They were rude, they were rough, they were mean, they were pulling
her hair, they were jumping out of the window[that bit was fun she admits;-P]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year it’s about wanting to be a monitor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the start of every year the class teacher chooses a few
students to be monitors. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is the class monitor who’s in charge of keeping the
class quiet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The discipline monitor who checks if the class comes in the
correct uniform, cut their nails, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The AC monitor[don’t ask] is in charge of keeping the
temperature in the class moderate. The position is prized because she has the
power[read remote] to make everybody's life miserable;-P<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the board monitor who’s in charge of updating/clearing
the board before and after every period.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyday for the 1<sup>st</sup> 2-3 weeks after the new school
term started, Naina came back from school unhappy/ outraged/livid/ despondent/
upset that she never got chosen for any of these positions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I totally get why the
teachers don’t select her because outwardly Naina looks very quiet, shy and diffident;
they probably think she will not be upto it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we at home face the brunt of her unhappiness; some days we
are subjected to a barrage of emotional outpouring after she comes back from
school……about how the teachers are misguided by wrong information, about how the class monitors are
nincompoops who have no clue how to go about their jobs and how if she was
given the responsibility she would turn the world around. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To add to her woes, her sister is chosen as duty monitor for
the school this year. Now here she is in a peculiar dilemma. On one hand she is
proud her sister is patrolling the corridors of the school and on the other wary. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah well Nikita was totally vocal about how she was going
to pull Naina up if she stepped a milliinch out of line. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seems like 2 days back Nikita instructed Naina & her
friends to lock their fingers behind their backs while they walked back to
class after recess.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How are we supposed to that Mama????” demands Naina
indignantly. “We’ve got our lunchboxes and water bottles in our hands”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now picture Nikita grinning at me in the background. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With sister also in important position Naina was getting very
agitated and dejected in turns. Me telling her n number of times that her turn will come soon was like calling my building watchman in an emergency. Well, his
phone is always switched off;-P.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways Naina came back home from school last week in high
spirits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ve been made board monitor” yells Naina as soon as she
got off the school bus and came running to <s>hug me </s>dump her heavy
school bag on me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s great news” I exclaim, mentally thanking the teacher
who must have sensed my desperation somehow. “So what does a board monitor
exactly do???” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“A board monitor writes down the day’s time-table on the
board everyday. Then she is in charge of clearing the board and writing down
the subject name before and after every period. Then she must…….and she
also…..isn’t this the best news ever….I’m sooo happy……”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The news was then shared with the father, the grandparents
and cousins in India and all her friends in the neighbourhood. All of us were
very happy for her and there was much celebrating .<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At night while packing her school bag for the next day she
asked to take the markers & duster to school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why do u need to take them from home??? It’s the school’s
responsibility to provide them.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The school gives but I need to take them.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why???”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why do u need to take them Naina???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because????<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The school markers are being used by somebody else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Huh??? So go take it from her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cant.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why not???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because she won’t give it to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tell your teacher then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because she’s the ‘real’ board monitor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everybody from every corner of the house was intently
listening to the conversation now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Very cautiously I ask “But you told us you are the Board
monitor???”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nainaaaaaa” I yell exasperatedly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am, I am…I’m the assistant board monitor.” Naina glowers
at me daring me to react.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I vaguely heard sounds of muffled snickering in the
background.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“REalllly I AM, I went up to
Maam and asked if I could help Snehal with the board monitoring and she
said yes.” Naina defends herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did she really say yes Naina??? I ask wearily.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes she did” says Naina huffily. “Maam was very busy correcting our answer sheets
and I went and asked her then. She didn’t say anything the 1<sup>st</sup> two
times and then when I asked her again she said okay. “<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knew this technique so well. This is exactly the same method
she uses with me to get her way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mama pleeeease, pleeeease let me take the markers with me." she pleads.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways it ended well. Despite my fears the class teacher didn’t
go back on her words and according to Naina she’s a major hit with both her
teachers and classmates with her neat handwriting(???) and attention-grabbing doodles
on the sidelines of the whiteboard.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I've been busy too, I’m out and about doing my own
version of monitoring. Now that the temperatures have gone up I’m back at my
favourite pastime and that is pressing the<i> down</i> arrow button on the AC control panels
to a moderate temperature, in the corridors of my building. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s very disappointing to see how people are so unconcerned
about conserving energy. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority does a really
good job of taking care of its residents. We don’t have power cuts or water
shortage like other places, not even once a year. DEWA is also always
handing out pamphlets and information about conserving energy. You know, they
even have cash prizes for residents who consume the lowest electricity, lauding
their efforts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in spite of all these efforts, the general public[a large
percentage] are very indifferent to the depleting resources and continue to use
water and electricity lavishly without a care. It's not about the fact that you can afford to pay. Why don’t they understand that conserving
energy not only saves money but also protects the environment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few things I do to conserve energy....<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
# Use energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights & turn
off lights in all rooms that are not in use[but that doesn’t mean I’m fanatical
like the better-half who switches off lights and appliances even if he is away
for a nanosecond;-/]. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
# Keep the AC thermostat on ‘Auto’ instead of ‘ON’. Use
pedestal fans to circulate air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
# Did u know there is something called <a href="http://energyoptionsexplained.com/electric-phantom-loads-explained/">phantom load concept</a>???
It’s about unplugging devices when they are not being used. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
# Use the washing machine in the early hours of the day. And
make sure they are fully loaded. I don’t use a dryer and prefer to dry my
clothes in the sun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
# Try to cook more than one item if I’m using the oven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
# Use as much natural daylight as possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What else can you think of????<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTxsBcBze05g3DzozKDX2D-Efz50ut2e6Fd-2NppovrPSFXgG97Od_VO7VOkTw29atVKHTy4CssaNIz3ZrNilbY53_0Zmk34M7cniFQC4vknok3uVple9ioLiV4-bAev37FlEoTe1RA/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTxsBcBze05g3DzozKDX2D-Efz50ut2e6Fd-2NppovrPSFXgG97Od_VO7VOkTw29atVKHTy4CssaNIz3ZrNilbY53_0Zmk34M7cniFQC4vknok3uVple9ioLiV4-bAev37FlEoTe1RA/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Nikita made this poster for a science activity in school last year. I wanted to take a picture of Nikita holding the poster[ before it went to school and never came back but guess who came running to pose when I called:-).</div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-91331178964087069652013-04-29T09:40:00.000+04:002013-05-09T15:16:32.594+04:00I'm feeling....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V_TEeYbNgedRl-xIS8sTcs3EjTyaSdpZaKdiCgzNI7Wtty8bg5Uknj5xhKgK8D0j25g4OGrXzaLVlWOSJpV3SA28n7FiYDCIFmEA3_Kq7KxNYVHLAptU2xfA3rFW0NlJHVBnlv10IQ/s1600/asd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V_TEeYbNgedRl-xIS8sTcs3EjTyaSdpZaKdiCgzNI7Wtty8bg5Uknj5xhKgK8D0j25g4OGrXzaLVlWOSJpV3SA28n7FiYDCIFmEA3_Kq7KxNYVHLAptU2xfA3rFW0NlJHVBnlv10IQ/s1600/asd.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and<br />don't forget</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnmMqqWWyjp8gcwRJiSo56cyPn23GKqV-TgdllFikfv8uLbe0olGMYhhJkcV8zG4ZZ-aGzSG-AzamPZMTfgxWl3Dd1U723AuQNAbxubS25Xj8mI9-G-i21Nuysfl0ORubjEkS9_h-ZA/s1600/ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">ps: <img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnmMqqWWyjp8gcwRJiSo56cyPn23GKqV-TgdllFikfv8uLbe0olGMYhhJkcV8zG4ZZ-aGzSG-AzamPZMTfgxWl3Dd1U723AuQNAbxubS25Xj8mI9-G-i21Nuysfl0ORubjEkS9_h-ZA/s320/ss.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-78203071885133032422013-04-10T12:52:00.001+04:002013-04-18T10:51:23.481+04:00It's all under control<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_ltCMSYDeplECQTRRHm0rZ_Tb4ssz9xQdzNU-eMGattIwaDu-WxGNViVbzacuX6UPXPY8E5T5az9rbKp6f0W61toCVIc0qbo-s-7oYUr7_Wwlao5Ytd2xI8B2lQc6bdVDRAysmiNrg/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_ltCMSYDeplECQTRRHm0rZ_Tb4ssz9xQdzNU-eMGattIwaDu-WxGNViVbzacuX6UPXPY8E5T5az9rbKp6f0W61toCVIc0qbo-s-7oYUr7_Wwlao5Ytd2xI8B2lQc6bdVDRAysmiNrg/s400/book.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Won a gift voucher for books courtesy <a href="http://www.gulfnews.com/">Gulf News</a> and picked
up 2 books from the <a href="http://jashanmalbooks.com/">Jashanmmal bookstore</a>. The first one<a href="http://tomang.com/"> Tom Ang’s </a>'Digital
Photographer’s Handbook' is a must read if you are a budding photographer. I’m
so glad I picked it up because it’s written in very simple language and has
photographs to illustrate every point made. What a life he must be leading
I'm thinking….you know he’s practically visited every country in the world. And
takes pictures for a living.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Just the kind of life I’m going to lead in my next life. And in that life my husband will be my wife and my kids will be my parents. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And I’m gonna give them hell….ohhhh yeaahhhh. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sorry got sidetracked, the other book is<a href="http://www.rachelallen.co.uk/"> Rachel Allen’s</a> 'Cake' which you’ll love if you are a cake maniac like I am. Did you know Rachel Allen was here
in Dubai for the <a href="http://www.eaifl.com/">Emirates Airline Festival of Literature </a>last month?? I so
badly wanted to go watch her in action and get my book autographed at the same
time but didn't because I feared she’d ask me how many cakes I baked from
the book. I could see myself shrinking in shame because I hadn't made a single
one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Well technically speaking it’s not my fault I didn't make
anything from the book because every recipe in there contained eggs and here we were
observing Lent.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yep, no meat, fish or eggs for 50 DAYS. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I knowww….whatever were we thinking??? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Those 50 days felt like 50 weeks to me. I freaked trying to
dream up different vegetarian dishes every day. I won’t mention the deep sighs
& pathetic looks I got each time I served a meal. Not to mention the
temptation….a neighbour came over with a huge bowl of fish biriyani one day and
my heart broke into two as I sent her away. We also went for one of those horse
shows and stoically ate vegetable samosas and pita bread with hummus while the
others gorged on chicken pot pies, bacon wrapped shrimps and…and…I can't bear to say more. There are more
such sad stories but I’ll leave it to your imagination. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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To cut the story short, we survived the 50 days of Lent & it went better than expected. Looking back now we are happy we made it through and quite satisfied about the whole thing.
Self-control is not easy. We may have cribbed a bit but didn't knowingly do anything to break it. Again and again it comes back to me that almost anything is possible if we put our minds to it. Lao Tzu the Chinese philosopher says “<i>He who controls others may
be powerful but he who mastered himself is mightier still</i>”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I wouldn't have found the quote <i><b>so</b></i> meaningful if I hadn't been observing the Lent;-P.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rachel Allen’s book in the meantime is sitting on the book
shelf and staring accusingly at me;-(.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypfAJ2Y4j_XjsPFdrjgSXO4oA87z9UhNNTcfPwj888PWHAGqyUYhZ8tlsoccENlVa7QJqTcvS9XqPYq1hDoEvsJqcfbCToEueid98AmMkvxaTaXOiqjpHvViYG_RpkLIJnw3M2tU55A/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypfAJ2Y4j_XjsPFdrjgSXO4oA87z9UhNNTcfPwj888PWHAGqyUYhZ8tlsoccENlVa7QJqTcvS9XqPYq1hDoEvsJqcfbCToEueid98AmMkvxaTaXOiqjpHvViYG_RpkLIJnw3M2tU55A/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In other news, I was roped into playing teacher for a week
during the holidays again; the Vacation Bible School at church, <a href="http://konnotation.blogspot.ae/2012/04/new-lesson-everyday.html">remember</a>. I
gave in without a murmur this year and managed to have a good time too. I had
around 15 kids in my class and succeeded in keep them occupied for a few hours everyday.
At the end of 7 days I gave them a bookmark each which I painstakingly made for
them and threatened them with dire consequences if they lost it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I've also acquired a new position…meet the Manager of the father-in-law’s facebook account. FIL had no clue how to go about on FB and asked for help. The doootiful DIL that I am found it difficult to say no. I’m now posting
pictures and updating statuses on a weekly basis and quite enjoying it. FIL is very pleased with all the
attention his page is getting and I feel like a master puppeteer controlling
the strings of something which is not mine. Never mind my own FB account is
lying unattended & gathering dust somewhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So that’s all in the news from the RBC* today. You have a good
day too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Wait….just remembered some more…..you know I usually
cut across a park to go to the local grocery and one time when I was coming
back from the grocery[back through the park] I saw a worker planting tiny
shoots into the ground. He made the mistake of looking up to see who was passing by
and out shot my hand expectantly. And alternatively showed him one finger [the
index finger you dirty minds] signaling
‘just one piece of the plant please’. He gave me one, then two, then
three and four and went to pick the fifth out and I mimed “enough enough,
thank you, thank you, beaming happily at him. All those
elaborate gestures because he didn't know English and I didn't understand
Tagalog. We both went our way feeling very pleased with ourselves:-).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRrTH37gK29duygtRDnZuPhzKgnyKzrWnx12UraGXwG_SuM8pF5lkc_fJH43JF76JEt-kU9pcWwpQ0co7R91Ck3WS3IlzK-MzP-flI_YB77MbQZmGM5DRiKCs8OUY_1QpmEcxKoFCrQ/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRrTH37gK29duygtRDnZuPhzKgnyKzrWnx12UraGXwG_SuM8pF5lkc_fJH43JF76JEt-kU9pcWwpQ0co7R91Ck3WS3IlzK-MzP-flI_YB77MbQZmGM5DRiKCs8OUY_1QpmEcxKoFCrQ/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nice flowers????</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Reflections Broadcasting Corporation</span></i></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-37528734907961238112013-03-30T17:03:00.000+04:002013-04-18T10:51:45.232+04:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfPGcOZtV-g_6AKr3zNG1DkbLhjw5QXMLn2733aTrq_QQJ-D1NLGTKfK5j1lbNTW8p6uJ4rOecGBaA0fQZpOw-P7xmvTIpuvRThMWRLGY4d00KP0GfbS7xydz6tJUJPzrZjwM5xNC8g/s1600/EASTER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfPGcOZtV-g_6AKr3zNG1DkbLhjw5QXMLn2733aTrq_QQJ-D1NLGTKfK5j1lbNTW8p6uJ4rOecGBaA0fQZpOw-P7xmvTIpuvRThMWRLGY4d00KP0GfbS7xydz6tJUJPzrZjwM5xNC8g/s320/EASTER.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Wishing all of you an 'eggs'tra special Easter filled with <br />Love, Hope and Happiness. </i></span></h4>
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Sorry to be MIA, these hols have been really busy. Thank goodness school starts next week, will write a newsy post then. </div>
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Naina made the above picture to wish us. She makes these cute pictures to mark every special occasion. I've posted a few of them below to show you:-).</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HCB0A-817XHOJXPq6rDV1WY90VDwuTTbwFj6QhEM3rwM6TDbZFlm9-TjSV4uPGDQO2MJNxgIk2wL0DdpmuQJ_yVtOdi7A3QmLsOLQtib1VpYTXeblLaf8oGry_K9aqdHaPaRvxqqFA/s1600/Good+Friday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HCB0A-817XHOJXPq6rDV1WY90VDwuTTbwFj6QhEM3rwM6TDbZFlm9-TjSV4uPGDQO2MJNxgIk2wL0DdpmuQJ_yVtOdi7A3QmLsOLQtib1VpYTXeblLaf8oGry_K9aqdHaPaRvxqqFA/s320/Good+Friday.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Friday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79LSfj3qWRu42ZqfTay8bMQE5SSeOOB2d371OkkSNdjR_EOX3BviCqJrS_49oY-_GlWZ-XO6YckLqr06SYr1JqlPDgMHEdQIJnczuEzu8GSbLW4A5RZXxPMB03BFPxxhBcBw4HNtIzQ/s1600/mothers+day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79LSfj3qWRu42ZqfTay8bMQE5SSeOOB2d371OkkSNdjR_EOX3BviCqJrS_49oY-_GlWZ-XO6YckLqr06SYr1JqlPDgMHEdQIJnczuEzu8GSbLW4A5RZXxPMB03BFPxxhBcBw4HNtIzQ/s320/mothers+day.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCvhStJrjvZzI8LdTIex1f8jX4oq_iOz5WkF3l1PubM-uPEh7GlLvnwdweVdtBt8C-rE73h36vZEQL8yfx05tFOaGyZl6hUskADTCpUrTs_IZTn99VYK8cUFaseDvEXFWHAgwE38m1A/s1600/VALENTINES+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCvhStJrjvZzI8LdTIex1f8jX4oq_iOz5WkF3l1PubM-uPEh7GlLvnwdweVdtBt8C-rE73h36vZEQL8yfx05tFOaGyZl6hUskADTCpUrTs_IZTn99VYK8cUFaseDvEXFWHAgwE38m1A/s320/VALENTINES+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAWntpiqYPBY2cul3YAF8X5ZjL8UtTrdywdfqKLAr1fnP7JaoKLWvLJZE_2mE2GOfkCB_0Ox0tWTRyOsTzWHSx2L1eYP87TzeFt_MjKNyPVSK4pTI-W2ww0ITBbKXFPkmz9Px66p9Sg/s1600/My+Family.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAWntpiqYPBY2cul3YAF8X5ZjL8UtTrdywdfqKLAr1fnP7JaoKLWvLJZE_2mE2GOfkCB_0Ox0tWTRyOsTzWHSx2L1eYP87TzeFt_MjKNyPVSK4pTI-W2ww0ITBbKXFPkmz9Px66p9Sg/s320/My+Family.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNnxDlDFsrsQhh1FmDqPhvdUAtob_vDystPdgXpfhmEMTQZbuaRdmhL1tM3gOhiYXbYrkrua1HP2bFg-yy81VzRKittCYtqNB4-HsyoKyEhe4F19lukM1HWu0yLTBIYm5HgqmN5YHCA/s1600/Christmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNnxDlDFsrsQhh1FmDqPhvdUAtob_vDystPdgXpfhmEMTQZbuaRdmhL1tM3gOhiYXbYrkrua1HP2bFg-yy81VzRKittCYtqNB4-HsyoKyEhe4F19lukM1HWu0yLTBIYm5HgqmN5YHCA/s320/Christmas.png" width="320" /></a></div>
She makes them in Paint btw. I never knew Paint was this good before this;-P<br />
<br />
Best wishes again and take care,<br />
Nancy<br />
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-30362441829851579492013-03-10T16:50:00.003+04:002013-03-12T17:28:03.819+04:00Kid StuffLast day of exams today.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Phewww.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At least I can stop feeling guilty about not doing anything
about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seriously.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I know I come across like an anxious, hassled mom very worried about her kids' exams. But the opposite is true. And the guilt kills me. The blog ofcourse ends up getting the brunt of it.</div>
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The sad fact is that I leave them to their devices most of the time. I only bug them for Hindi, they do everything else by themselves. If they say they got 75% I give them a 'look' and mildly say they could have done better. But inwardly I'm totally satisfied because they did it all on their own. Now the guilt.....there's no escaping it. Round and round my mind will go...if they got 75% without me teaching them anything then imagine if I decided to help them.....</div>
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Take for example these exams.</div>
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FINAL EXAMS.</div>
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There is nothing in the atmosphere to suggest that Final Exams are going on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They still go out to to play everyday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They still read books.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They are arguing & trying to score over eachother more than ever.</div>
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Nikita is still found working with clay everyday, added to
which she has started quilling now.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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You think this is bad???<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wait there’s more….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o7fux1rW7TUeN_uYM3C-I5k09Gaoiw9vqFl3Qryd-KdyMBjADkVMMNwZafGZ5dydKj1WfQPCJkzD99Sp9fbvg2DUthCfLVKUwihvH2emgH8lchSLElqAA26JzjXlkZtA8fAueierLA/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o7fux1rW7TUeN_uYM3C-I5k09Gaoiw9vqFl3Qryd-KdyMBjADkVMMNwZafGZ5dydKj1WfQPCJkzD99Sp9fbvg2DUthCfLVKUwihvH2emgH8lchSLElqAA26JzjXlkZtA8fAueierLA/s400/a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the very first day of exam Nikita came back with details for
a "Children’s Rights“ poster contest which had to be submitted the next day
and she simply 'had to’ take part in it. So instead of studying for her
computer exam the next day she spent the day working on this poster. Clueless
mother that I am, un/willingly helped her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then a day before her Science exam she spent all her time making
a clay model for Howard Jones.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Who????</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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[Flashback]<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Jones_(musician)">Howard Jones</a> is coming to our school to record for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqNY1j7nmwc">‘Voices around the Worldl’</a> was a line heard countless times around the house in the
past month. And for that project Nikita and her school friends were putting in
lots of extra time at school practicing their song. We were initially
reluctant as it fell smack in the middle of the exams but ultimately gave in to
Nikita’s desperate pleas. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>My mistake here was to google the man and event to see what the big
deal was. And like an idiot pointed out that Howard Jones
birthday fell so close to their meeting him. That’s it, Nikita immediately
wanted to make something for him and instead of studying for her Science FINAL
exam the next day she spent all afternoon shaping clay.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHaGvDJqohASFLCiqJcFCuVqNkHJee6Br_m900d55RUM4Ik5C8xFd7GyhHaDMZb1RetB1FW060zO0ROfFeDQ7Th8g5slcqRgD2DEbxOAoPwPDbFZqnPLnaZgFa1urAs0Mzriw3Qjhgw/s1600/c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHaGvDJqohASFLCiqJcFCuVqNkHJee6Br_m900d55RUM4Ik5C8xFd7GyhHaDMZb1RetB1FW060zO0ROfFeDQ7Th8g5slcqRgD2DEbxOAoPwPDbFZqnPLnaZgFa1urAs0Mzriw3Qjhgw/s400/c.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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[Ignore this part for it doesn't gel with the tone of the
rest of the post]</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Very pleased with her efforts Nikita was in the highest of
spirits. Just before leaving for school I told her gently not to get so
excited. I hated doing that to her but I didn't want her getting disappointed
if things didn’t go the way she visualized it. Anyways to cut the story short,
everything went off well…. Mr. Howard Jones was very touched to receive his present….he shook hands with her[seems like he didn’t shake hands with anybody
else*<i>shock</i>*] and took a picture alone with her [it seems he didn't take a picture
alone with anybody else*<i>shock shock shock;-P</i>*] and don’t ask what else. She was
over the moon. I sent a silent thanks across to Mr. Howard Jones for
transforming my child’s day. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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[back to ranting]<o:p></o:p></div>
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Can you blame me for going crazy????<o:p></o:p></div>
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All around me I can see parents busy quizzing their kids and
helping them with their revisions for the exams. I too have the same intentions
but somehow never get it right.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The one and only time I sat down to help them I ended up giving them lines. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo9w-15s0vMLWuU6p_S4GxLjC0FTiLBLcjnrEz7ViDYkT_szOBPdDEne65xYErljCRQFCAo8fysPZKTrsULhcDfsAlP_jKHLW8BeUBFlZxdAbPXPobSCGFamcmog1XH1ba3SXVnhHWQ/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo9w-15s0vMLWuU6p_S4GxLjC0FTiLBLcjnrEz7ViDYkT_szOBPdDEne65xYErljCRQFCAo8fysPZKTrsULhcDfsAlP_jKHLW8BeUBFlZxdAbPXPobSCGFamcmog1XH1ba3SXVnhHWQ/s400/b.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Naina was not the only one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nikita had to write ‘I must not
make Naina wail’ a 100 times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was either this or sic them out of the
house. Nowadays even that is not an option….there’s a whole
army of kids lying in wait outside my door just for these two to finish
exams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of which, you know none of the kids in the neighborhood like me.<br />
<br />
They think my kids have a sad life.<br />
<br />
And worse, they all blame me for corrupting their mothers. Seems like,
all their mothers <i>now</i> make them study first and clean up their rooms before
they let them out to play. Now what did I doooo????<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-41709781881905611732013-03-05T14:44:00.001+04:002013-08-31T16:17:05.052+04:00Good...good...all good at my end<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've been lying low…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…because of exams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FINAL EXAMS.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But that doesn't mean I don’t have news to share.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lots of news actually.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that’s funny isn't it, because I sit at home the whole
day and look forward to the return of the better-half from work because I’m
eager to know whats going on outside my well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What well????<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know…frog….. in the well……yup, that 'well'. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So as soon as he comes back from work, I ask brightly “How was work??”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get a world-weary look for my efforts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘That bad’ I sympathize.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Good.’ comes a mumbled response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I try another track.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You are late???’ I gently insert into the silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Traffic???’ I probe further.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘TRAFFIC’ I’m now determined to get a response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give up and march back to the….to the comfort zone I was in before he came.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His head and world weary tiredness miraculously clears[I’m assuming it cleared because he hastily follows me into the kitchen] <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now the shoe is on the other foot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm attacking a pan with a scrub and detergent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“My day was good….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
....good…..</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
......goooood....</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.....and no traffic” The better-half offers expansively hoping not to sound like he is trying to get into my good books.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The silence is thick.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘How was your day???’ He asks tentatively.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I look sharply at him trying to gauge his sincerity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looks adequately penitent and is very interested in my
answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decide to forgive him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I then launch into the details of the interesting day I had.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now this is precisely what I don’t understand….how is it
possible that I who stay at home, have so much to say but the better-half who goes out
into the world, meets so many people, has nothing much to
relate at the end of the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good, good, goood my aaaa…….erm my kidneys.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways had started this post with all the stuff I wanted to
share but got side-tracked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The originally intended post coming soon as it's ready.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">I soooo like to act like all of you are waiting with bated breath for my posts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">Do spare a thought for me when you pray, I need all the help I can get for the Hindi exam.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">The kids....oh they are good.....gooood....so good that it doesn't at all seem like they are in the midst of their FINAL exams.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'll stop here before I lose it completely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-38432408144602971582013-02-20T16:56:00.000+04:002013-03-10T16:51:22.441+04:00Click<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a photography contest in the
newspaper encouraging us to shoot a picture reflecting our life in the UAE to win daily and bumper prizes. They specifically mentioned
that it didn’t matter what camera we used as they were more interested
in the subject than the quality of the pictures.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I carefully selected a picture from my album and
sent it to them. And visited the
site every day hoping my picture would be in the daily winners list. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But no such luck for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I went through the pictures of other participants I
noticed there were many who posted multiple entries when the site specifically
mentioned only one picture per person. I shot off a mail to the concerned to ask if it was allowed. I got a nice reply back saying that it was ok in the
preliminaries but if one’s picture got selected for the main prize then all these details mattered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I was very sure my pictures would never make it to the
final selection I confidently sent one more picture and watched the site
anxiously to see if this picture would win. Maybe not the main prize but I felt
my picture was good enough to be in the daily winners list. You ofcourse know
which picture that was…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzzkc8V7o8xfonVxGyAvB5h1ted7PKc5IkXf9NCPxwg-zPEvldhGX9_y3QJo-RgODacUY1WUgYn4KLTkhiVqUg1B1BfV-aHzJPEdzQqUmEye9SvWprb4htZc4gP6j1tq-BDwFhzOx5A/s1600/a+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzzkc8V7o8xfonVxGyAvB5h1ted7PKc5IkXf9NCPxwg-zPEvldhGX9_y3QJo-RgODacUY1WUgYn4KLTkhiVqUg1B1BfV-aHzJPEdzQqUmEye9SvWprb4htZc4gP6j1tq-BDwFhzOx5A/s400/a+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the daily winners were announced at the site this
picture too did not get selected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that was that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Very dejected I scrolled through the earlier daily winners
to check out all their pictures.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I see a very familiar picture, the first click I
sent, nominated as a daily winner almost 3 days earlier. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was heppy, happy, haaapyhaaapy and showed it off to
everybody who made the mistake of asking why I was looking so pleased with
myself;-D<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know how I missed seeing it earlier…..all that
disappointment for nothing;-P.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My prize was a 5 hour photography workshop at the
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/iiapdubai">International Institute of Art and Photography</a> in Knowledge Village. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I registered for the workshop and chose to
attend their ‘Basics of Photography’ session. The workshop was very helpful
because until that day not much thought had gone into the pictures I took. I
used to just ‘focus and click’ anything what caught my fancy. With the
knowledge I gained from the workshop I now ‘compose’ the pictures in my mind
before pressing the button. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well I try anyway;-).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now all this happened in December but for some reason I was
reluctant to post the picture here even though I made a lot of noise about it
in every post;-P. Honestly, everytime I decided to write about it I ended up
writing something else and convinced myself that, that was more relevant and needed
to be posted immediately. And everytime you asked about the prize-winning
picture I was feeling sillier than ever because heart of hearts I felt it’s
just a normal picture which was lucky to get selected. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then somebody I know very cunningly insinuated that if I
don’t post it, all of you will surely be thinking that I was talking in the air
and there was no such prize-winning photograph after all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What nonsense*<i>N shaking her fist at the suspicious</i>*.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ofcourse there is one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please go here to check it out and while you are there, do check out the other winners too, some pictures are so beautiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.shoot-at-sight.com/shootatsight/Daily.aspx">http://www.shoot-at-sight.com/shootatsight/Daily.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then click on link 14[sorry there is no direct link to get
there] to get to my picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if you don’t want to go there, then here’s the picture….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwALebaAmgKsy0GsECMjkLFV60oviIvpmwVY9c9Y8gPJfzPG92Wil3O_MfNN2iWMmgXkgWvhTIvJxpuTA9kZK6FVVsNQOZt481z0t0V-MtIPHz0NmlmbAO5WW0Y_4jmLWqqGqCoTF5A/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwALebaAmgKsy0GsECMjkLFV60oviIvpmwVY9c9Y8gPJfzPG92Wil3O_MfNN2iWMmgXkgWvhTIvJxpuTA9kZK6FVVsNQOZt481z0t0V-MtIPHz0NmlmbAO5WW0Y_4jmLWqqGqCoTF5A/s400/b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few of us had taken our kids to the Ras Al Khor Bird
Sanctuary last November to see the flamingos’ which the reserve was famous for but
found it closed to the public because it was a Friday. Since the weather was
pleasant we stayed there for sometime. The adults[especially me] spent time craning
our heads over the wired mesh to look at
the flamingos’ while the kids collected shells [I think the authorities must
have brought sand from the sea-side and laid it there…how else could seashells be
found right in the heart of the city]. The little boy in the picture is Neil
who was running about here and there hoping to get better shells than his
cousins who were at that time hunting for them on the other side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My new DSLR has instilled in me new enthusiasm & I’m
raring to go. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hopefully in a decade or two I’ll master the complex buttons on the
gadget and post some nice pictures like <a href="http://crackedchronicles.wordpress.com/category/spring/page/2/">Sakshi</a> and <a href="http://www.nd60.wordpress.com/">Hitchwriter</a> do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
p.s: If you are wondering about the flamingos’ I mentioned earlier, I've put up some pictures <a href="http://color-contrast.blogspot.com/2013/02/birds-of-feather.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-30933671273243721762013-02-14T09:51:00.001+04:002013-02-14T09:58:58.448+04:00Celebrating Love<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXyoB85rgi0w6FwKWhYt4NwGXCCgwvskBOkNiCzjJLtYlLnnkqI5uTDHjlwWjXsLkvVHvrlbObu2tydXpCynQoAUWSmGu3yxduS7cHc7pkR4teoTpyPGHU3KAsy2sXYIbyH7nHMn17w/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXyoB85rgi0w6FwKWhYt4NwGXCCgwvskBOkNiCzjJLtYlLnnkqI5uTDHjlwWjXsLkvVHvrlbObu2tydXpCynQoAUWSmGu3yxduS7cHc7pkR4teoTpyPGHU3KAsy2sXYIbyH7nHMn17w/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Naina gave me this card early this morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hugged & kissed and stared gooey-eyed at eachother.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nikita watched the lovey-dovey interaction between us with a
mixed expressions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#mad at herself for not making something for me</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#wondering how to spoil the tender moment we were sharing<br />
#how to take credit for the whole thing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I knew exactly how Nikita’s mind worked I gave her a
warning glance. Correctly interpreting it she contented herself by critically examining
the card and interrogating why Mama’s colouring was 15 shades darker than Naina’s.
And poked fun at the mis-spelt Valentine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Better-half also got a card from Naina.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QbKMCFIz-Q7MZLGgDVJQK6Hk-czBZ0VjBlCuDwgaJ0bxZdPO6F0rRZHxECwdmjZBPVJYVzdBbMG2AWtw5u6PXW63FqP6pdp6iQLgEEQEPgpPfJqVDW-wagTpnbkxR18YJFFJfUK4bw/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QbKMCFIz-Q7MZLGgDVJQK6Hk-czBZ0VjBlCuDwgaJ0bxZdPO6F0rRZHxECwdmjZBPVJYVzdBbMG2AWtw5u6PXW63FqP6pdp6iQLgEEQEPgpPfJqVDW-wagTpnbkxR18YJFFJfUK4bw/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It shows him…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#curly-haired which is not true.<br />
# teaching her how to do maths which is not a common sight<br />
# bare-chested and full of details <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have tactfully covered him up to save him any embarrassment.
Seriously he’s sooo lucky to have me in his life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Nikita got this…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLu6U_zQ9GNyxVYQgX38l1XXvVwGuI7QA8LVjIwMgvEn9ZqxXf9G-oxMkj2knWZB91PJlF2l5DbQMaHMqRUKrmSAmV7kP6ttDCD2k8HIj8T86MnZWF-9fkqHWN6IElQAWqfLhAepf-A/s1600/c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLu6U_zQ9GNyxVYQgX38l1XXvVwGuI7QA8LVjIwMgvEn9ZqxXf9G-oxMkj2knWZB91PJlF2l5DbQMaHMqRUKrmSAmV7kP6ttDCD2k8HIj8T86MnZWF-9fkqHWN6IElQAWqfLhAepf-A/s320/c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>#She was touched beyond words.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>#And how did I come to the conclusion???</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>#She didn't say a single word for a WHOLE minute.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know and agree we don’t really need special days to tell
our loved ones how much we love them. But then again I think any excuse to
celebrate love is a perfectly valid one:-)).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>!!!!</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-35053609764832776872013-02-11T14:07:00.001+04:002013-02-14T09:51:17.406+04:00Food for the Soul<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Last Friday, we were invited to a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Show Jumping
competition at the Emirates Equestrian Center, Bab Al Shams.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So after church we
rushed back home to get dressed to leave for the event. We had less than an hour to meet our friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the others got ready I quickly made lunch. I made stir-fry
and fried fish and then on the spot decided to make some curry too to eat with rice. We rushed
through lunch and made it 10 minutes late to the appointed spot where we met
our friends who were patiently waiting for us. We profusely apologized for the delay and
guiltily patted our stomachs to show why we were late.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our friends had a late breakfast and </span><span style="line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">hadn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> bothered with lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We looked at them with respect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We </span><span style="line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> ever think of missing a meal. The mere thought of it brings
on horrible headaches, temper tantrums and funny feelings in the stomach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took us an hour to reach our destination; our friends’ children
were making hungry noises towards the end of our journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mentally patted myself for feeding the family before leaving.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first thing which caught our eyes when we reached our VIP enclosure
was the grand spread. Two huge tables alongside the wall were laden with food.
Delicious, scrumptious, mouth-watering, lip-smacking FOOOOD.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I slumped down into my VIP chair in shock.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I refused to be consoled for the next 10 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was such a mean trick. A low blow I tell you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You don’t believe me????<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s a picture of the salads…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOPSY6C6AJVMGpyEgqoVLXR7ukn0SnW3gKCjhA37tz21J6uqBuLCNBwwb6mUGGP1YL8QGI8DzhgtOfw07i3nh4muiVqxXdIduSM60rXUflcB8RGn891ifl89wauadchnw9Pj5WzpD8Q/s1600/Salads_001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOPSY6C6AJVMGpyEgqoVLXR7ukn0SnW3gKCjhA37tz21J6uqBuLCNBwwb6mUGGP1YL8QGI8DzhgtOfw07i3nh4muiVqxXdIduSM60rXUflcB8RGn891ifl89wauadchnw9Pj5WzpD8Q/s320/Salads_001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Still wondering what the fuss is all about????</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Okay here’s another of the desserts…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO1nESJPivqA6uvfQyt1oOvHvd5qu4UYfPSt-BCq3ZA2HRr7PwTbQ7lLrdGpn4lditjlkMHWnDTs0fC_9lwTei0NOp02NK0GP8PN5K6QH5axWMXaFRcUBOxMD-YG7Y4zD9tU-n6ZLtQ/s1600/first+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO1nESJPivqA6uvfQyt1oOvHvd5qu4UYfPSt-BCq3ZA2HRr7PwTbQ7lLrdGpn4lditjlkMHWnDTs0fC_9lwTei0NOp02NK0GP8PN5K6QH5axWMXaFRcUBOxMD-YG7Y4zD9tU-n6ZLtQ/s320/first+050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tears stung my eyes especially when I saw the desserts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I </span><span style="line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> bear the painful sight of everybody cheerfully serving
themselves and so took myself off from there to take pictures of the pretty
looking horses with my new DSLR.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The camera was a good one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It completely sensed my mood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Almost all of the </span><span style="line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">pictures</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> turned out blurred, just like my vision.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a lousy weekend, I thought despondently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You guys are a suspicious lot, I am forced to add here;-S....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes it is possible to take bad pictures with a DSLR.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s simple really, all you have to do is not read the manual which comes along with the camera.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And never and I mean NEVER listen to the sensible advice your
better-half tries to give you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tadaaaa…you got your picture in your hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s a perfect example…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcfIDULOZTp2D2bHfruPhi0Q6XpXesWyIDZ0p3hLJJQIogRvUfsB2aU6pU-QzjfLQj4BFYXON_xfHgtHihHHCQCk8apsDdIaziJtJe1V6QpzRCpzmQzUgl67HOH8WDx_elhLGk01OSg/s1600/first+143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcfIDULOZTp2D2bHfruPhi0Q6XpXesWyIDZ0p3hLJJQIogRvUfsB2aU6pU-QzjfLQj4BFYXON_xfHgtHihHHCQCk8apsDdIaziJtJe1V6QpzRCpzmQzUgl67HOH8WDx_elhLGk01OSg/s320/first+143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And posted below is a picture of the VIP enclosure. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who are those people sitting on the sidelines???</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ones who didn't have VIP passes ofcourse.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you see them eating???
They had to buy their grub from the restaurant which is not there in the
picture. Imagine that???<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqDHdc1B3e-06sjVlCyaQZe0NeRAsiFLwZMzp6CZ1RZjwTTyYo7293Za0LTKZvcQHRr3XNWSdYWWGk2tN3Ru_46Rioc56EuhUG2Z90WKJ0Xywpi-AbpuMZkaxojM-VnrmCGmJBQxEww/s1600/first+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqDHdc1B3e-06sjVlCyaQZe0NeRAsiFLwZMzp6CZ1RZjwTTyYo7293Za0LTKZvcQHRr3XNWSdYWWGk2tN3Ru_46Rioc56EuhUG2Z90WKJ0Xywpi-AbpuMZkaxojM-VnrmCGmJBQxEww/s320/first+107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feeling more upbeat now I went
back to my VIP pavilion. I was ready to sample atleast some of the sumptuous desserts if not all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stared at the desserts table in shock.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was empty. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was tea-time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dainty finger sandwiches and elegant nibbles were rapidly filling up the
same spots where the golden pies and tarts and delicious mango mousse once peacefully
co-existed side by side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could feel myself reeling a little. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I vaguely wondered anybody would mind if I bawled my heart
out. After all, crying once in a while was good for the soul.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I should have just sat at home and read a recipe-book or something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">What a terrible, horrible, lousy, LOUSY day, I thought desolately.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A waiter passing by looked at me enquiringly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abandoning all sense of shame I shakily pointed to the empty space where
the dish I coveted at first glance was resting just a few hours earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He looked blankly at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I schooled my voice to utter one word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rasmalai????<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He turned and went away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Within half a minute he was back with the huge bowl of Rasmalai. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop nit-picking all of you…..it may look small in the picture but it
looked HUGE to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many Madam?? The thoughtful server asked me kindly.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6Qrmi2MMwotuv8z9_eaR85M0-5LKIvGFv_WFqlWjQ5w_XnJUvh6OHpW8PIOk_JitLfW0Q1swdX19c8DSxoWfdHlr1okT5OLP0T6ALWgW6uI8ofzNKNjdmL2sMnC-HZu6xLMyf3_cDg/s1600/first+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6Qrmi2MMwotuv8z9_eaR85M0-5LKIvGFv_WFqlWjQ5w_XnJUvh6OHpW8PIOk_JitLfW0Q1swdX19c8DSxoWfdHlr1okT5OLP0T6ALWgW6uI8ofzNKNjdmL2sMnC-HZu6xLMyf3_cDg/s320/first+055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The knight who saved my day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“One please” I said politely, aware of my surroundings again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have some more, he urged.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just one, I smiled thanking him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I was eating rasmalai after many, many years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savoured every mouthful and went back home happy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It turned out to be a GOOD weekend after all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-9453679912298349402013-01-29T20:35:00.003+04:002013-02-23T16:28:24.638+04:00Rule of SymbolismI’m a great believer in symbolism.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I see 2 flowers coyly brushing against each other in a movie I nod understandingly because I know the flowers represent the
reel-life couple who are supposedly ‘doing it’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I’m driving and I see a multi-coloured ball rolling innocuously
across the road, I’ll stand on my brakes & screech to a halt to avoid
hitting the child, who I know will be dashing after the ball nano-seconds later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same way I firmly believe that whatever happens on Jan 1<sup>st</sup>
sets a precedent for the rest of the year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do you mean you don’t see the connection between the 3 instances I mentioned above???<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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May I remind you are reading the blog of an ordinary, overworked, underpaid[what pay???], harassed
homemaker and not one of Einstein’s theories?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Jan 1<sup>st</sup> did not at all go the way I
envisioned it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got up in the morning at………</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Nope, not going to tell you the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Let's just leave it at...we had a LATE breakfast</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The kids who were instructed to do some ‘symbolic’ studying vanished right after breakfast to <strike>play </strike>hang out with their friends.<br />
<br />
Better-half also disappeared with a friend half-way thru.<br />
<br />
Leaving me all alone contemplate where it all started to go wrong. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Lunch when it finally happened was at 4pm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now take a wild guess how I felt when I found myself still in the kitchen
at 6pm on New Years Day clearing away lunch while the family and
friends were in the living room, heatedly discussing a highly
improbable takeover of Kingfisher Airlines by Etihad Airways. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was soooo tired and raging inwardly.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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And knew there was no hope for me for the next 365 days.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2013 was going to be screwed, I just knew it.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I know you are wondering what you could possibly comment without
hurting my feelings, without letting me know how big a non-issue you find the
whole issue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And me, I just hate myself when I put my favourite people in such sticky situations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So <i>just for you</i> I’ll try to recall if there was anything
positive about the whole day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…..<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…..</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How about this….</div>
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<br /></div>
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On Jan 1<sup>st</sup> I ate some sinfully rich
& scrumptious birthday cake. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had sizzlers for dinner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes I've already realized I’ll be eating my way thru 2013:-S<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My birthday was good though.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I don’t want to bore you with all the details. So will just give you the jist of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Better-half fixed an <a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:English_Breakfast#What_is_in_an_English_breakfast.3F">English breakfast</a> for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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A LATE English breakfast[CAPS helpfully added so that you don’t miss the symbolism].<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The ONLY day in the whole year he makes a meal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I played patriotic songs on the laptop while I waited to be
served.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would rather have watched the Republic Day parade but we don't have Doordarshan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was GOOD. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The breakfast I mean. </div>
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<br /></div>
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A meal fit for a Queen & her entourage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We didn't behave like Royalty though.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We stuffed ourselves so much it was not funny.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Half an hour later when I loudly deliberated over the lunch menu; the family clamped their hands over their ears & made gagging sounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mentally rubbed my hands in glee.<br />
<br />
Because it meant I was free for the rest of the day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then in the evening in a surprise move they took me out and I got a DSLR for a birthday gift.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A Nikon D5200.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now that was a wonderful surprise;-D.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I thought they were going to get me this <s>gorgeous</s> stooopid
bag I was staring at earlier in the month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In short a SUPER birthday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which brings me back to my rock-steady belief in symbolism.<br />
<br />
After much delibration, I've decided to take the whole month into consideration[one day is too
less to judge a whole year right] and have come to the conclusion that it is
going to be a year of highs and lows.<br />
<br />
It seems like the first half of every month I’ll be in the
depths of despair and the next 15 days will see me as high as a kite. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Will keep you in the loop ofcourse, <s>whether you like it
or not, </s>goes without saying.</div>
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<br /></div>
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************************************************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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p.s: If my post didn’t make you laugh then read <a href="http://www.destinationinfinity.org/2013/01/24/tutorial-how-to-get-a-post-card-from-dubai/">this one</a>…it's DI's tutorial on how to get a free postcard from Dubai. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
p.p.s: And if you want to laugh some more then read <a href="http://konnotation.blogspot.com/2010/02/taste-of-things-to-come.html">this</a> New Year post I wrote 2 years back. I'm determined that you laugh atleast once before you leave here.</div>
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<br /></div>
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p.p.p.s: I’ll post the<span style="background-color: black;"> much-hyped</span> photograph in
my next post. I wanted to post it today but somehow found myself typing this out.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Rule of Symbolism: </span></i><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">It's considered deep and profound for some, dumb & pretentious for others.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10344499201350381.post-86295668915309281302013-01-28T08:44:00.002+04:002013-01-28T09:53:16.862+04:00I'm upset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf33bQGFIOjgv4DdR73eMVZ3sbfDNVASdIaNFfwXnIDy1-F9-M9JV8ZGw_twMhOpwJqzI7Ls1Q6wUB3haHIUJZ55ai9FOWBQkHBVl261HgldjbUKaFtptHp8npUZKrGFCdcfLzL_J2sA/s1600/a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf33bQGFIOjgv4DdR73eMVZ3sbfDNVASdIaNFfwXnIDy1-F9-M9JV8ZGw_twMhOpwJqzI7Ls1Q6wUB3haHIUJZ55ai9FOWBQkHBVl261HgldjbUKaFtptHp8npUZKrGFCdcfLzL_J2sA/s320/a.gif" width="286" /></a></div>
<br />
What do you mean you didn't know????<br />
<br />
If you had just asked I would have told you;-/.<br />
<br />
If I don't get atleast 500 likes & 200 happybudday wishing comments, I'm not putting up my prize-winning photograph <a href="http://konnotation.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-simple-question.html">like I said I would</a>.<br />
<br />
Apologies are also accepted.<br />
<br />Reflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306120391459083770noreply@blogger.com37