Twenty- five Seven

What inspires me to blog ?

November 28, 2012

What inspires me to blog?
To type words every day?

I often wonder why I blog because I don’t even know how many readers out there read my words. But it is a wonderful feeling to know that your ideas can be put down within minutes or so, typing away on a touch key board, ready to be published when you click on a button and then hope that someone, some where reads your words.

Every Friday evening our English teacher gave us an assignment to write a “Composition” as she called it – an essay or short story or 500 words or more on a topic which she would chalk out on the blackboard just before the bell rang to signal the end of day. I would spend that evening thinking about the topic, the Saturday writing out the first few words and then the whole of Sunday polishing the piece till I thought it was the perfect gem. And on Monday morning before we lined up for Assembly (morning prayers that were compulsory for the whole school) I would keep my book in the rising pile of “Composition Books” for her to correct.

Unlike most of the kids in class, I loved this exercise – a weekly challenge to channel your thoughts, play with words and write on diverse subjects that tested your skill in language and observation, that honed your instincts on what worked and what didn’t. And it is this life long love of words that inspires me to blog.

Sitting alone at my desktop, I like to lose myself in thoughts and ideas, express my feelings, talk about recipes and folklore, share my photos of my travels and just reach out to the world at large – hoping somewhere, someday, I will touch someone’s life.
The joys of a lazy holiday

November 28, 2012

Punjab is as far away from Mumbai as is Kanyakumari but living in a secular country means having a holiday for every festival celebrated by every Indian. Thus today being a Central Government holiday on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s birthday, I had a chance to spend some leisure time with Anna Shetty.

These last few days have been fraught with worry as Hubby dear is recovering from a TIA. Unsure of the effects of the attack, we literally had our hearts in our mouths for most of the time and took one day at a time. Anna Shetty had the most gruelling schedule of all – putting in an 8 hour day and more at her regular hospital job, then rushing home to check on recuperating father, neurotic mother, over anxious grandparents and rushing back home to start the cycle all over again the next day. It was quite strenuous for her not to mention the rest of us who had to re-adjust to a new schedule of medication, diet, physiotherapy and of course phone calls from well wishers and the occasional visitor.

Today’s holiday, therefore, was more than welcome, more so when we had nothing to do – no temples to visit, no relatives to meet and no rituals to follow.

We spent the better part of the morning shopping at Breach Candy where it was fun to look at all the materials and mix and match to make a set of clothes. Then we walked across to the Breach Candy Club for a lazy lunch of Steak & Chips followed by two sinful desserts – a chocolate fondant and a blueberry pie.

Hmmm! Thank God for a secular India where everyone’s festival calls for a holiday!
Strange are the ways of God

November 27, 2012

Each moment is truly different and each day brings on new experiences. Take 1 o’clock on Tuesday. Each of the Tuesdays in this month of November have been different – each one unplanned yet strangely , one that fitted perfectly in my very ordinary , normal day.

Tuesday 6th November 1 p.m

Royal Bombay Yacht Club (Photo credit: dashiell)

I am entertaining a business client at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club.This old institution, one of the oldest clubs in India is the perfect spot to entertain a true Brit. Steeped in history of Regattas of yore, walking down corridors that have seen everything and more, the RBYC is one of the last places in Bombay where you can have a taste of Anglo-Indian cuisine. So here we are recapping our business discussions over a glass of chilled beer and some fried fish in the company of the silver trophies and old waiters who serve us in old, style grandeur.

Tuesday 13th November 1 p.m

Anna Shetty and her family have joined us for a family lunch.
As is the custom, this is a very special celebration and my parents have come down too for this occasion. We’ve had a grand time combining the new and the old – evolving a custom of our own – essentially one that signifies celebration in the company of family. So once again with chilled beer, kababs and dips, sharing space with traditional goodies we bless the young couple with good wishes and gifts.

Tuesday 20th November 1 p.m.

TIA is the newest acronym in my lexicon after Hubby Dear called out to me late in the evening after Laxmi Poojan. We immediately rushed him hospital where he was given emergency care. Today we are at the waiting room of the Neurophysician Dr. Gursahani waiting for our appointment scheduled for half an hour later. While Hubby dear is waiting with Anna Shetty and her mother-in-law, I am busy scurrying around in the other part of the hospital collecting all the reports that needed to be collected before showing them to the doctor.

Tuesday 27th November 1 p.m

I have just made plans of having coffee with a friend at the Crosswords below when I get a call from my neighbour. She is running short of a lady for the pooja so I jump out of my jeans and into a sari. Whip out a string of pearls and I’m out running. I go down and help with embroidering some stitches on a sheet that will be used during the ceremony. Each stitch is made with a silent prayer to invoke His Blessings on the bridal couple. I then participate in a Ganesh Pooja , part of a wedding ceremony alien to me. But when I hear the familiar words in the mystic language of our ancestors, I feel a calm descend upon me and feel His Grace palpable yet once more.

What inspires me to blog ?

The joys of a lazy holiday

Strange are the ways of God