Life has a funny way of coming to the rescue. I was wondering what photo to put up this week when Facebook sent me this one from my past . 
Last year at this time I was at Schiphol airport waiting to catch my connecting flight to Newark .
Time has marched on since then and Ms Papaya has come home to be with me !
I was actually stunned seeing the man behind the clock face as I never imagined such a thing happening in Europe !
Participating in Esha and Natasha’s #WordlessWednesday.
Ciao
Black is black, I want my baby back
It’s grey, it’s grey, since she went away, oh ohWhat can I do, ’cause I, I’m feelin’ blue
If I had my way, she’d be here today
But she’d go in time, and leave me to cry again, oh no
What can I do, ’cause I, I’m feelin’ blueI can’t choose, it’s too much to lose when our love’s too strong
Maybe if she would come back to me, then I can’t go wrongBad is bad, that I feel so sad
It’s time, it’s time, that I felt peace of mind, oh oh
What can I do, ’cause I, I’m feelin’ blueI can’t choose, it’s too much to lose when our love’s too strong
Maybe if she would come back to me, then I can’t go wrongBlack is black, I want my baby back
It’s grey, it’s grey, since she went away, oh oh
What can I do, ’cause I, I’m feelin’ blue’Cause I, I’m feelin’ blue, ’cause I, I’m feelin’ blue
Songwriters: Anthony Hayes / Michelle Grainger / Steve WadeyBlack Is Black lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Back in the ’60s and ’70s I remember this song being belted out in all the homes in our colony. Those were the days of vinyl records and tape recorders and of course radio shows like Radio Ceylon. (Incidentally, this is the oldest radio station in Asia!)
So ingrained was this song in my head that even now, when I hear the word ‘black’, this song comes to mind.
Black is black but unlike this song, it is beautiful. It is indeed gorgeous as in black hair, deep black eyes and black tea and coffee.
Undiluted by milk , cream or sugar, all you get is pure taste.
Whether it is sun dried or roasted, flavoured with added flavours like jasmine or vanilla, tea or coffee taken au naturel has an unimaginable taste that rolls over the tongue with each sip.
But a better alternative to black tea is green tea that is made from unoxidized leaves and therefore, less processed than regular tea. Hence it has the most antioxidants and polyphenols.
I was first introduced to this exotic beverage over 10 years ago when Hubby Dear came back from China with tonnes of green tea. He also came back with a lovely ceramic mug that is perfect to brew a cup of green tea. I didn’t realise it at that time, but it was the great start to the day. And possibly also the reason it kept the pounds at bay.
Pretty as this cup is, it was not the answer to having green tea. Having three cups of tea in the day meant that I had to heat the kettle and top up the cup each time.
It was eespecially irksome when you travelling. Gradually, I stopped the green tea and my weight began to climb. Ever so slowly. But it went up.
So I was thrilled to find the InstaCuppa Vacuum Insulated Travel tea Mug.
Thanks InstaCuppa for this super InstaCuppa Vacuum Insulated Thermos Travel Mug 470 ML with Steel Infuser Unit . Now I won’t have to miss a single day of green tea even when I travel! I can also stop the pounds from creeping up and perhaps even reverse the trend!
So if you, like me, have given up drinking green tea only because of the inconvenience of topping the tea cup, you can have your own individual tea mug for a day’s supply of hot, green tea!
This article as a part of SuperBloggerChallenge2019 conducted byHealthwealthbridge.com, Allaboutthewoman.com and should not be repurposed, republished or used otherwise. The content herein is owned by the blogger. SuperBloggerChallenge 2019 is not responsible for any kind of infringement caused
Ciao
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. It is one of those days when red roses are pricey and chocolate sales are high. It is the day of love.
But how many of us know that it was originally a feast day of St. Valentine, one of the early Christian saints before it morphed into today’s Valentine’s Day?
This tradition is attributed to St.Valentine, a monk who secretly arranged the weddings of soldiers who were forbidden to marry. In yet another story, St. Valentine, who after restoring the vision of his judge’s blind daughter, was sentenced to death. He signed his farewell letter to her as “Your Valentine”. Thus began the custom of declaring a secret love without fear of scorn or outright rejection.
Since then, this feast has transcended borders and cultures to become a universally accepted day of love. You can ask anyone to be your Valentine. It is also a day when you can show your love to a larger cause.
Like learning for instance.
The sun may have set on Valentine’s Day but surely the sun has not set on love?
Damyanti who blogs at Daily (w)rite has urged several of her blogger friends to show some love to a cause dear to her heart.
Learning is also dear to my heart. I love learning and every day brings with it a new learning. I also love teaching my little Wow Dinga, Ms. Papaya and Little Po who also love teaching me in turn!
This lifelong process of learning and teaching is extremely rewarding and enriching to both the teacher and the taught.
We, who are lucky enough to go to school don’t realise how blessed we really are. I remember my schools and teachers with great affection. And even though some of them struck terror in my heart with their tantrums and foul tempers, I wouldn’t exchange them for all the tea in China.
But there are some who aren’t so fortunate. Those marginalised, underprivileged children for whom learning is a far off dream.
[bctt tweet=”Learning and helping the underprivileged learn is the only way to progress. Progress beyond poverty and beyond prejudice. Breaking down the barriers of poverty and prejudice is the way to spread love among humanity.” username=”]
It is, therefore, important that if we can’t teach, we should help those who can.
Like the teachers at the Project Why Okhla Centre
Sophiya and Pushpa, two teachers at Project Why who helped set up a school in a dump-yard, boldly facing the wrath of local goons and politicians.
Mithu, who lost his leg to Polio and teaches computers to children in his community.
Naresh, the passionate teacher who didn’t give up on the students others had turned their backs on.
If these teachers do not receive funds they will have to work without salaries in the coming months. Or possibly abandon this dream. Let us help keep their dream alive and support a fundraiser for these teachers.
Let us also show St. Valentine how HUGE his feast has become!
“Note: This article is written as part of SuperBloggerChallenge conducted by HealthWealthBridge.com and Allaboutthewoman.com and should not be repurposed, republished or used otherwise. The content herein is owned by the blogger. SuperBloggerChallenge is not responsible for any kind of infringement caused.”
Twenty- five Seven 