Twenty- five Seven

Theme reveal #AtoZChallenge

March 18, 2020

Blogging in the times of Corona is definitely a challenge. With a lockdown enforced in my city of Mumbai, everyone is at home. Hubby Dear and Daughter No1 are working from home. Ms. Papaya is homeschooling. Anna Shetty and her family also come in during the day. While everyone is self-sufficient my arm is still not fully functional and with half the staff unable to come to work, my housework has increased.

The A to Z Challenge and me

I first participated in the A to Z Challenge in 2015.At that time I had no idea of what it entailed and literally wrote what I felt about every day in April.
In 2016 I realised that posting becomes easier with a theme. So I chose to write about the objects around my home.we have a pretty eclectic collection of things which I thought would be interesting to share.
The 2017 Challenge was dedicated to the Textile traditions of India. It was during this challenge that I met Shilpa who supported me greatly with her comments during this challenge.
In 2018, I cheered from the sidelines because by this time I realised that many people had really worked hard over the whole year to put up 26 posts in April. I frankly felt it defeated the spontaneity of writing every day. So peevishly, I didn’t take part. Despite not writing, this period saw the most comments and subscribers to my blog.
How does that work? Beats me.
April 2018 was a difficult time at home so I thought it prudent to give the entire challenge a skip.
Why I am writing this year and about what
You may well ask why I have taken up this challenge.
Ever since I became a grandmother, I am seeing life in a completely new way. Baby sitting the Little Ones has given me a different view. Ever since they learnt to talk, they have come up with insights that have amazed me at their perspicacity. I felt they had to be shared.
So do join me in the #AtoZChallenge this year as I share with you
The World Through the Eyes of a Child

The kids keep me entertained and on my toes. I find it difficult to do things for myself somedays but when you read their tales this April, you will find out why I am reluctant to give up grandmothering.
Looking forward to seeing you then in this space.
Do share your thoughts and comments and your own stories if you have any to share in the comments box.
So till April,
Ciao
p.s. You can already see this post is late. This is largely because I spent a whole load of time trying to find a suitable graphic.And the moment I found it, I was called away to do something…….
Love me love my dog #WordlessWednesday

March 17, 2020

Early this week before social distancing actually came to force , I found these doggies relaxing with their walkers on a street corner .

Within days the scenario has changed and no longer do we see such casual meetings. Dogs go about their business as quickly as possible . As for their walkers some building societies have prohibited outsiders from entering their buildings and owners have to go down with their dogs and hand them over to the walkers . I won’t be surprised if in a few days the owners will start walking their pets themselves.

The situation is getting scarier by the minute . With our State having the highest number of CoVid- 19 positive patients, our CM is contemplated shutting down or at least cutting down to number of trains and buses so that movements are restricted

Here’s hoping you are all safe and life returns to normal soon.

Sharing these words with Natasha on #WordlessWednesday.

Ciao
What is the most used word in the English language these days?

March 16, 2020

The most widely used word
Viral was a boy in my brother’s class in school.I’m not joking. There was a boy who was called Viral and he has grown up to be a man called Viral.
Little did I know that forty years on viral would be the most used word after THE which is officially the most used word in the English language.

Yes, for the past month or so VIRUS and its adjective VIRAL have gone viral. It has become so mainstream that even people like Sushma, my Malishwali told me that she has been told to stay home till the ‘waylus’ goes away.

While Sushma is staying at home, so are the Little Ones who have to replicate school at home. There is an online class room where parents have to log in each day and find out the schedule.

We have worksheets to do, activities that are charted our and even a simulated break time.
But is it Panic & Fear that has gone Viral?
WhatsApp and Insta are sharing information , misinformation, and jokes on the Virus.

Our watchman downstairs sheepishly approaches each person standing near the lift with a bottle of hand sanitizer before he touches anything so that our lift buttons remain uncontaminated.
We are washing our hands for 20 seconds every now and then. We are wiping down surfaces that haven’t been dusted for weeks.
The Baniya downstairs informs me that Wholewheat Maggi noodles have flown off the shelves because the students studying overseas have flown back home and can’t do without this staple.
The streets are eerily quiet. The last time I experienced this was during an Indo-Pak cricket match.
Weddings and parties have been cancelled.
Malls and theatres are shut.
Visitors to hospitals have been banned.
And we’ve all been advised to stay put.
Social distancing means more than just staying home. We’ve stopped shaking hands, hugging and kissing. We’ve also stopped going out when we don’t need to.
How long will it be before my city goes back to normal again?
Stay well and take care. Even though many jokes are circulating around this virus, it is no laughing matter.
Ciao