Is life perfect for everything you want or you get?
You are looking for a house – do you get one with all your pre-requisites (may be your likes/needs)- in the locality u want- in your budget -at a specified timeframe!
You are looking for a job – do you get one with the industry you want to get associated with-within the close proximity of your home- in the pay grade and job profile you expect - with an acceptable work culture!
You are looking for a car – do you get one with all that you fancy in a car – brand, colour, performance, mileage -in your budget!
You are looking for a holiday – do you get a deal- in the place and resort you want- in the season you fancy- in your anticipated budget!
You are looking for a baby – do you get one at the time you want- in all full and great health you would want to- can be with you as much as you expect!
Well, this list is eternal...I have not met anyone who has everything given as they would want to for them. If you get at least a 50% of what you look for in your life, you are lucky. Once when I complained about some of the not so perfect material one of my friends did point this out to me - ‘Lekshmi, life is not perfect’. If it was so, then people would perhaps not have had any belief in God or the driving forces! At least most of the believers get to think of God if there is a snag, well reality of God and credence are a total different topic though.
And then have been getting associated with real life stories of folks for whom you think (or they think) life is perfect; and who as if get a blow from behind falls into unexpected catastrophe in life. Some things which you cannot have a control on or have say- for example loss of lives!
Well, you got to accept the situation I guess and take the best option feasible I guess when it comes to the context and degree of perfection!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
2009-2010
After a break!
Year and more than a quarter have gone by and have not had a chance to take a pew and write anything! Life has taken its toll in terms of learning, responsibilities, love, care, emotions and what not!!!
An impeccable year 2009 has conceded presenting me wonderful things in life! Made my life change in one of the most loving and lovable ways. It took a bit of time to sink in and apprehend the truth – you are responsible for another life when you carry a baby in your womb; but then the story doesn’t change much when they are out at least for the initial period especially it was an unexplainable emotion to realise that your body is responsible for the food for your baby! Yup, breastfeeding was the most ever challenging things in my life and the hardest thing I have ever done. It took my body a bi-annual period to get used to the idea and start enjoying the course. If not for the love, support and confidence boosters I had from my better half I would have not been able to pass the testing times. But then you have no idea how easily you start falling in love and be ‘responsible’ for every single aspect of the new relation. People say that is the law of nature!
Though you tend to talk about your sleepless nights and smelly nappies, I don’t think most mothers genuinely grumble about the phase. Some say no time to complain, guess I was overwhelmed with joys of having M and didn’t feel like complaining. As most people put it, ‘it is all worth it’. And slowly your little one starts responding to you – oh man, I tell you that’s your world of joy! I never knew I would enjoy parenthood like the way I do now. That is the same case with better half – Brilliant DAD. Though your toddler consumes whole lot of your available time and your couple life changes a bit, you wouldn’t complain much. I think the couple bond changes to a stronger emotional double bond with a jumping monkey in the middle! Having been referred to as an over anxious parent when it comes to the baby stuff, I think first baby, you are new to it...and that is the way it should be. You have time (well and chance!) to improve. And there is no right or wrong that others can advocate in raising your baby – I strongly believe it is the way to do what you feel is the right thing to do, after all that is your baby!
Took a year off from work which was fantastic! Planned the delivery in India and had all the pampering from family! Oh yeah that is the place where you can catch support (or hire support) for anything related to your baby – you can sit and enjoy your after-delivery period. But then I think I was too sucked in to the world of my boy and didn’t want anybody to do my part of the pack. Back to UK – fun filled 6 months enjoying maternity leave as a full-time mum and home maker! Overall I rate 2009 as FANTASTIC – things can’t get any better than this (in fact don’t know to ask for anything healthier than this!).
The subsequent year – 2010 before I get a grip on things, it is coming to an end in a weeks’ time and I thought I should take a crumb of time to reflect how it was. The year passed by at the speed of light – didn’t even comprehend. Loads of happenings – all for good! M has been referred to as Thakkudu (cute? - don’t know!) even before birth which got shortened to Thak by his Dad when he gets too cheeky - which in turn got chucked down to ‘Tak’ by the gorgeous himself. Cheeky monkey says ‘Tak’ after getting into some naughty stuff and ensures that everybody is bursting out with laughter and he wins the game!
The best part of the year is Tak itself – the growing up stage! Both of us were fortunate to enjoy every speck of it; and that is the prevalent pleasure we have ever had. Term it - responsible, over-anxious, obsessed, addicted, drugged or whatever! Tak calls aMMaaa with a huge stress on that M in the typical Mal accent!
Touchwood we were showered upon with returns for good work, opportunities, family support, long lasting memories and so much. SRN’s new job is treating him well; my return to work was easy and smooth; could settle down fast and Tak settled well in nursery. Had the harmony and peace at home, excellent work life balance, good holidays, enough partying (oh yeah Tak has more social commitments than us now!), met new and good friends, family and friends’ support and so much!
Sample shots of great feelings this year:
• To see your boy running to you shouting out ‘AMMMAA’ at nursery in the evening when you go to pick up!
• To hug your other half tight when he is back after a couple of days (or more) from business trips and when you are stressed and of course waiting after a single parent job during the time!
• To see your little one kissing his grandparents over the phone!
• To get that appreciation at work when someone let you know when you have done a wonderful job!
• To get those things you have wanted for so long and when your other half surprises you with that for no reason!
• To hear that your boy has done well at nursery from a twilighter – he has done some colors, eaten well, played well, slept well and so on!
• The first of types with your baby – first walk, first word, first paint, first tooth, first hair cut and anything of the first of types!
• To get that entry to the metro when it is overcrowded and the driver says no more entry; but still someone shows that kindness to squeeze a little bit and get you in; so that you get to see your baby 15 minutes before!
• To catch up with old and long lost friends!
Well, life is not complete without challenges too. 2010 had been challenging at times as well.
• When my parents left and we couldn’t get support from other side as planned due to family weddings – all of sudden I was blank – what to do with Tak! But then to my surprise Tak has settled well at Kids Academy much quicker and easier than I had ever expected.
• SRNs job move to Scotland and the single parent job for me at times is demanding or exhausting especially when Tak gets a bug or flu. But then, we have survived the tides until now. The job move has put my job at risk (at the moment) as I will have to find a suitable position in Scotland which has not been very great this year.
• The snow, the bugs, flu and all sorts has been exigent from a parent perspective, but then that is all part of the package.
• Oh yeah! The dark circles around eyes – is not getting any better!!! I think I can smartly and carefully mask it with some estee lauder eye colours; but truth never dies!
Too much of bullet points – recently into too much of reports I guess! Well altogether 2010 had been great as well. I am actually looking forward to 2011 – to see what is in store for us! Sure to have more of Tak as he is growing fast; much more intelligent than we think! Apart from this the big tasks for 2010 in my hit list are move to Scotland, sorting out jobs, entering the property ladder!
Year and more than a quarter have gone by and have not had a chance to take a pew and write anything! Life has taken its toll in terms of learning, responsibilities, love, care, emotions and what not!!!
An impeccable year 2009 has conceded presenting me wonderful things in life! Made my life change in one of the most loving and lovable ways. It took a bit of time to sink in and apprehend the truth – you are responsible for another life when you carry a baby in your womb; but then the story doesn’t change much when they are out at least for the initial period especially it was an unexplainable emotion to realise that your body is responsible for the food for your baby! Yup, breastfeeding was the most ever challenging things in my life and the hardest thing I have ever done. It took my body a bi-annual period to get used to the idea and start enjoying the course. If not for the love, support and confidence boosters I had from my better half I would have not been able to pass the testing times. But then you have no idea how easily you start falling in love and be ‘responsible’ for every single aspect of the new relation. People say that is the law of nature!
Though you tend to talk about your sleepless nights and smelly nappies, I don’t think most mothers genuinely grumble about the phase. Some say no time to complain, guess I was overwhelmed with joys of having M and didn’t feel like complaining. As most people put it, ‘it is all worth it’. And slowly your little one starts responding to you – oh man, I tell you that’s your world of joy! I never knew I would enjoy parenthood like the way I do now. That is the same case with better half – Brilliant DAD. Though your toddler consumes whole lot of your available time and your couple life changes a bit, you wouldn’t complain much. I think the couple bond changes to a stronger emotional double bond with a jumping monkey in the middle! Having been referred to as an over anxious parent when it comes to the baby stuff, I think first baby, you are new to it...and that is the way it should be. You have time (well and chance!) to improve. And there is no right or wrong that others can advocate in raising your baby – I strongly believe it is the way to do what you feel is the right thing to do, after all that is your baby!
Took a year off from work which was fantastic! Planned the delivery in India and had all the pampering from family! Oh yeah that is the place where you can catch support (or hire support) for anything related to your baby – you can sit and enjoy your after-delivery period. But then I think I was too sucked in to the world of my boy and didn’t want anybody to do my part of the pack. Back to UK – fun filled 6 months enjoying maternity leave as a full-time mum and home maker! Overall I rate 2009 as FANTASTIC – things can’t get any better than this (in fact don’t know to ask for anything healthier than this!).
The subsequent year – 2010 before I get a grip on things, it is coming to an end in a weeks’ time and I thought I should take a crumb of time to reflect how it was. The year passed by at the speed of light – didn’t even comprehend. Loads of happenings – all for good! M has been referred to as Thakkudu (cute? - don’t know!) even before birth which got shortened to Thak by his Dad when he gets too cheeky - which in turn got chucked down to ‘Tak’ by the gorgeous himself. Cheeky monkey says ‘Tak’ after getting into some naughty stuff and ensures that everybody is bursting out with laughter and he wins the game!
The best part of the year is Tak itself – the growing up stage! Both of us were fortunate to enjoy every speck of it; and that is the prevalent pleasure we have ever had. Term it - responsible, over-anxious, obsessed, addicted, drugged or whatever! Tak calls aMMaaa with a huge stress on that M in the typical Mal accent!
Touchwood we were showered upon with returns for good work, opportunities, family support, long lasting memories and so much. SRN’s new job is treating him well; my return to work was easy and smooth; could settle down fast and Tak settled well in nursery. Had the harmony and peace at home, excellent work life balance, good holidays, enough partying (oh yeah Tak has more social commitments than us now!), met new and good friends, family and friends’ support and so much!
Sample shots of great feelings this year:
• To see your boy running to you shouting out ‘AMMMAA’ at nursery in the evening when you go to pick up!
• To hug your other half tight when he is back after a couple of days (or more) from business trips and when you are stressed and of course waiting after a single parent job during the time!
• To see your little one kissing his grandparents over the phone!
• To get that appreciation at work when someone let you know when you have done a wonderful job!
• To get those things you have wanted for so long and when your other half surprises you with that for no reason!
• To hear that your boy has done well at nursery from a twilighter – he has done some colors, eaten well, played well, slept well and so on!
• The first of types with your baby – first walk, first word, first paint, first tooth, first hair cut and anything of the first of types!
• To get that entry to the metro when it is overcrowded and the driver says no more entry; but still someone shows that kindness to squeeze a little bit and get you in; so that you get to see your baby 15 minutes before!
• To catch up with old and long lost friends!
Well, life is not complete without challenges too. 2010 had been challenging at times as well.
• When my parents left and we couldn’t get support from other side as planned due to family weddings – all of sudden I was blank – what to do with Tak! But then to my surprise Tak has settled well at Kids Academy much quicker and easier than I had ever expected.
• SRNs job move to Scotland and the single parent job for me at times is demanding or exhausting especially when Tak gets a bug or flu. But then, we have survived the tides until now. The job move has put my job at risk (at the moment) as I will have to find a suitable position in Scotland which has not been very great this year.
• The snow, the bugs, flu and all sorts has been exigent from a parent perspective, but then that is all part of the package.
• Oh yeah! The dark circles around eyes – is not getting any better!!! I think I can smartly and carefully mask it with some estee lauder eye colours; but truth never dies!
Too much of bullet points – recently into too much of reports I guess! Well altogether 2010 had been great as well. I am actually looking forward to 2011 – to see what is in store for us! Sure to have more of Tak as he is growing fast; much more intelligent than we think! Apart from this the big tasks for 2010 in my hit list are move to Scotland, sorting out jobs, entering the property ladder!
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Fortune Cookies!!!
Chinese meal was something taste buds demanded to mark the end of this bank holiday weekend. So we decided to try out the ‘My Asia’ Chinese restaurant in Northallerton! Guess this was the only one restaurant left to try out in the high street as this one always gave the impression of a not so great place. When we decided to try our luck last night we were quite surprised and impressed by the standard of the place. The ambience was great inside and so was the quality of the products! Infact the service was great too unlike some of the Chinese places where we are expected to finish off in a hurry.
Yeah, you get for what you pay; the place is expensive! But didn’t complain much as we both enjoyed whatever we ordered. As always I had my doubts on quantity while ordering but struggled to finish off the mains after starters; so desert was sacrificed! Then comes the bumper, fortune cookies! I was seeing it for the first time and was not particularly interested, just wanted to pay and get off. SreeRaj opened his cookie and it said, "You will make many changes before settling down satisfactorily!”. And we we got interested; SreeRaj knew there was a story behind fortune cookies and asked the customer service girl about it. She said, “ No story!”. Guess she has a bit of language problem. We left the story thingy there and now I wanted to open mine though didn’t want to have it as I was so full. There comes mine ,” You will be graced by the presence of a loved one soon!”. I was like, “Woah! This is good”. Now I wanted to try it out and it tasted good too – fat free, vanilla flavour plain flour simple cookie!
We were both happy with our fortune cookies!!! And then I badly wanted to know what the story behind this is. Here it goes (from a piece of google search)
“For many centuries the Chinese have marked special occasions and festival times such as harvest and New Year with the giving and receiving of Moon Cakes these were made from Lotus Nut Paste.
During the 13th and 14th centuries China was occupied by the Mongols. When plans were made in Peking for a popular uprising to oust the invaders, much thought was given how news of the date of the uprising could be circulated without alerting the Mongols.
The story goes that the Mongols had no taste for Lotus Nut Paste and so the Chinese hid the message containing the date in the middle of their Moon Cakes replacing the yolk with secret messages. Patriotic revolutionary, Chu Yuan Chang took on the disguise of a Taoist priest and entered occupied walled cities handing out Moon Cakes. These were the instructions to co-ordinate the uprising which successfully formed the basis of the Ming Dynasty.
Thus the tradition of giving cakes with messages was born and became a popular way of expressing wishes of goodwill or good fortune on an important occasion.
The origins of the Fortune Cookie as we know it today were laid down by the Chinese 49'ers who worked on the building of the great American railways through the Sierra Nevada into California.
Work was very hard and pleasures were few in isolated camps, those hard workers had only biscuits with happy messages inside, to exchange at the Moon festival instead of traditional cakes with happy messages, thus the FORTUNE COOKIE was born. This became something of a cottage industry and as the Chinese settled in San Francisco after the railway and the Gold boom the custom continued. Today it is almost impossible to have a Chinese meal in America and Canada without finishing with a Fortune Cookie.
More and more businesses and even governments are having promotional messages printed on the opposite side to the fortune. The HONG KONG police used them in anti - drugs campaigns and the US followed.
The first automated production of Fortune Cookies took place in America in 1964 before that they were made by hand. In recent years fully automated facilities have been set up in the UK to produce Fortune Cookies that are now gaining increasing popularity in Chinese restaurants and Take-Aways across the U.K. and Europe”
Interesting!!! A good selling point too – fortune wrapped in a piece of paper! Who wouldn’t like to see pleasing things like this though you believe in it or not!
Yeah, you get for what you pay; the place is expensive! But didn’t complain much as we both enjoyed whatever we ordered. As always I had my doubts on quantity while ordering but struggled to finish off the mains after starters; so desert was sacrificed! Then comes the bumper, fortune cookies! I was seeing it for the first time and was not particularly interested, just wanted to pay and get off. SreeRaj opened his cookie and it said, "You will make many changes before settling down satisfactorily!”. And we we got interested; SreeRaj knew there was a story behind fortune cookies and asked the customer service girl about it. She said, “ No story!”. Guess she has a bit of language problem. We left the story thingy there and now I wanted to open mine though didn’t want to have it as I was so full. There comes mine ,” You will be graced by the presence of a loved one soon!”. I was like, “Woah! This is good”. Now I wanted to try it out and it tasted good too – fat free, vanilla flavour plain flour simple cookie!
We were both happy with our fortune cookies!!! And then I badly wanted to know what the story behind this is. Here it goes (from a piece of google search)
“For many centuries the Chinese have marked special occasions and festival times such as harvest and New Year with the giving and receiving of Moon Cakes these were made from Lotus Nut Paste.
During the 13th and 14th centuries China was occupied by the Mongols. When plans were made in Peking for a popular uprising to oust the invaders, much thought was given how news of the date of the uprising could be circulated without alerting the Mongols.
The story goes that the Mongols had no taste for Lotus Nut Paste and so the Chinese hid the message containing the date in the middle of their Moon Cakes replacing the yolk with secret messages. Patriotic revolutionary, Chu Yuan Chang took on the disguise of a Taoist priest and entered occupied walled cities handing out Moon Cakes. These were the instructions to co-ordinate the uprising which successfully formed the basis of the Ming Dynasty.
Thus the tradition of giving cakes with messages was born and became a popular way of expressing wishes of goodwill or good fortune on an important occasion.
The origins of the Fortune Cookie as we know it today were laid down by the Chinese 49'ers who worked on the building of the great American railways through the Sierra Nevada into California.
Work was very hard and pleasures were few in isolated camps, those hard workers had only biscuits with happy messages inside, to exchange at the Moon festival instead of traditional cakes with happy messages, thus the FORTUNE COOKIE was born. This became something of a cottage industry and as the Chinese settled in San Francisco after the railway and the Gold boom the custom continued. Today it is almost impossible to have a Chinese meal in America and Canada without finishing with a Fortune Cookie.
More and more businesses and even governments are having promotional messages printed on the opposite side to the fortune. The HONG KONG police used them in anti - drugs campaigns and the US followed.
The first automated production of Fortune Cookies took place in America in 1964 before that they were made by hand. In recent years fully automated facilities have been set up in the UK to produce Fortune Cookies that are now gaining increasing popularity in Chinese restaurants and Take-Aways across the U.K. and Europe”
Interesting!!! A good selling point too – fortune wrapped in a piece of paper! Who wouldn’t like to see pleasing things like this though you believe in it or not!
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Travelling alone :(
Travelling is fun for me if I have the right company. I have always enjoyed travelling with family and friends whether it is a fully planned trip or an instant idea. Both has its own charm. Start of a drive in the morning and randomly pick a place which you want to visit or see with your better half – its simply wonderful! If you get your friends joining in for this it is even better. With not much expectation but with great pleasure you set off for it. And then you have the full planned itinerary ones which you have dreamt, planned and the much awaited ones. With high expectations you set off for it and needless to say most of the times the outcome is pleasurable.
No matter how good the travel or destination is (even if it is going back home) I don’t enjoy travelling alone. And I am not good at travelling alone. Let it be airports, train stations, buses, even walking distances I hate travelling alone. Even for my up and down train journeys I long for company. It is relatively a better journey as I know clearly where I am supposed to reach as it is a routine and the route has a ‘feel at home’ feeling by now. Otherwise travelling alone gives me a lot of stress most of the times. Having real poor direction sense things get messed up a good amount of time. And again I hate to manage the sign posts, directions and anything of that sort on my own. I know I am pampered! Then again if the journey involves any waits where I have to kill time on my own, my frustration goes up and high and it is at its worst if I cannot get connected to the world! Less luggage more comfort logo adds onto it. Even if it’s a trolley bag I feel I am in pain. The bottom line is travelling alone is a pain!
No matter how good the travel or destination is (even if it is going back home) I don’t enjoy travelling alone. And I am not good at travelling alone. Let it be airports, train stations, buses, even walking distances I hate travelling alone. Even for my up and down train journeys I long for company. It is relatively a better journey as I know clearly where I am supposed to reach as it is a routine and the route has a ‘feel at home’ feeling by now. Otherwise travelling alone gives me a lot of stress most of the times. Having real poor direction sense things get messed up a good amount of time. And again I hate to manage the sign posts, directions and anything of that sort on my own. I know I am pampered! Then again if the journey involves any waits where I have to kill time on my own, my frustration goes up and high and it is at its worst if I cannot get connected to the world! Less luggage more comfort logo adds onto it. Even if it’s a trolley bag I feel I am in pain. The bottom line is travelling alone is a pain!
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Four more weeks to go at work before a break!!! In fact a long break.
Guess I have been working continuously for four years and the longest break I had got in between would be of two months during the marriage. Straight to University from there! And then started work before the course finished. Now looking back at it, things were hectic though it kept me occupied all the while with not much time to complain. Anyway, I am really looking forward to the break now.
The past months had been absolutely busy with so many trips, Sruthi fifth annual event and with not one spare weekend to wind off. But then I guess it was enjoyable to a great extent. Met a lot of new people, got more time with friends, got lots of shopping done and so on.
The Fort William trip was AMAZING. Absolutely fell in love with the place!!! And it was a perfect holiday, didn’t want to come back. My initial feel about the holiday wasn’t great as I expected the 6+ hours drive would kill me. But to my surprise I enjoyed every bit of the drive (for a change!) and didn’t even doze off once. You don’t want to miss anything on the sides I guess, that picturesque it is. The lively Oban Marina and drive arounds nearby make it perfect destination to for all sorts of people I guess – panoramic as well activity oriented from walks to scuba diving!
Now with the start of May you feel more at ease as you are spoilt with two bank holidays. One is already down and you get more and more reluctant to get up on Tuesday mornings to start the working week. However, the weather has not changed much in North Yorkshire as I am still on my winter jacket (may be its just me). But occasionally you get sunny days too. The next long weekend is already blocked with a walk organised in the Dales with some friends (a BIG group in fact) followed by a BBQ. And I am sure I will need the next two days for rest after this! And then I will be left with just another 1 week before I leave. God, time does fly!
The to-do list for me just goes on and on and the deadlines are in four weeks time. All four weekends are already blocked as you tend not to miss anyone/anything during this time. Maximum catch ups with people!
The next scary thingy is on swine flu! I tend to suspect on myself all those symptoms I get to hear on various illnesses. Now that I have a cold that’s been running for a while I wanted to check if its swine flu. But I am sure it is not; but I wanted to check. My next air travel is in five weeks time to India, I just hope the viruses would be settled by then. Today in office, there is a notice put up in rest rooms, ‘If u feel sick, please be at home! Don’t pass on the germs!’ How true and I highly appreciate the idea.
Guess I have been working continuously for four years and the longest break I had got in between would be of two months during the marriage. Straight to University from there! And then started work before the course finished. Now looking back at it, things were hectic though it kept me occupied all the while with not much time to complain. Anyway, I am really looking forward to the break now.
The past months had been absolutely busy with so many trips, Sruthi fifth annual event and with not one spare weekend to wind off. But then I guess it was enjoyable to a great extent. Met a lot of new people, got more time with friends, got lots of shopping done and so on.
The Fort William trip was AMAZING. Absolutely fell in love with the place!!! And it was a perfect holiday, didn’t want to come back. My initial feel about the holiday wasn’t great as I expected the 6+ hours drive would kill me. But to my surprise I enjoyed every bit of the drive (for a change!) and didn’t even doze off once. You don’t want to miss anything on the sides I guess, that picturesque it is. The lively Oban Marina and drive arounds nearby make it perfect destination to for all sorts of people I guess – panoramic as well activity oriented from walks to scuba diving!
Now with the start of May you feel more at ease as you are spoilt with two bank holidays. One is already down and you get more and more reluctant to get up on Tuesday mornings to start the working week. However, the weather has not changed much in North Yorkshire as I am still on my winter jacket (may be its just me). But occasionally you get sunny days too. The next long weekend is already blocked with a walk organised in the Dales with some friends (a BIG group in fact) followed by a BBQ. And I am sure I will need the next two days for rest after this! And then I will be left with just another 1 week before I leave. God, time does fly!
The to-do list for me just goes on and on and the deadlines are in four weeks time. All four weekends are already blocked as you tend not to miss anyone/anything during this time. Maximum catch ups with people!
The next scary thingy is on swine flu! I tend to suspect on myself all those symptoms I get to hear on various illnesses. Now that I have a cold that’s been running for a while I wanted to check if its swine flu. But I am sure it is not; but I wanted to check. My next air travel is in five weeks time to India, I just hope the viruses would be settled by then. Today in office, there is a notice put up in rest rooms, ‘If u feel sick, please be at home! Don’t pass on the germs!’ How true and I highly appreciate the idea.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Vishu
Today is Vishu, the start of Malayalam year. The harvest festival it is and is more popular and celebrated widely in North Kerala. Though I am from South Kerala Vishu was always special for us. It is not that we did big do’s on any of the Vishu’s, but the making of Vishukani and Vishukaineetam was always special. Vishukaineetam used to be one of the catching times when you were younger as it is the time when your pockets get filled up. Though the great Malayali feast, sadhya was not always there but Amma always managed with a mini sadhya and a payasam.
All the previous years I managed to be at home with either of the Mums during Vishu. Cant really say I am not at home this time, but it is always different with just both of us. The main thing being you miss everybody back home and you tend to compromise on celebrations thinking, ‘oh its just two of us!’ Especially this time Vishu falls on the working day very next to the Easter long weekend. Having had a weekend with late nights and wandering around with friends you are too tired to open your eyes next morning on the working day. But this time, for a change we managed to make a small Vishukani with available resources last night before we hit the bed. The traditional flower used for celebrating Vishu is the state flower in Kerala, Kanikonna is no way available in North East England. That is one big tree which marks the season in Kerala with absolutely no leaves at this time and fully flowered in bright yellow. I miss that!!! However, I had thought daffodils do give the same feel of the colour or atleast yellow chrysanthms. But, being a holiday yesterday we couldn’t sort the flowers out until evening, reason being we forgot about it. So for the Vishukani we managed with some white lilies, some fruits and veggies, a gold chain, a mirror and the available resources at home.
Got up an hour earlier than usual so that we get ample time for Vishukani and to catch up with family on phone. I should say getting up early and just opening your eyes infront of Lord Krishna with a Vishukani in front of him and then a look at Vaalkannadi make you feel great. Yes, the feeling is the same wherever you are in the world. Made sure I was not late for the trains as there is a saying that your entire year will somehow have the same effect if you mess up with the starting date. Superstitions never die however confident or convinced you are on their possibilies, sometimes you just don’t want to take a chance when it comes to you.
All the previous years I managed to be at home with either of the Mums during Vishu. Cant really say I am not at home this time, but it is always different with just both of us. The main thing being you miss everybody back home and you tend to compromise on celebrations thinking, ‘oh its just two of us!’ Especially this time Vishu falls on the working day very next to the Easter long weekend. Having had a weekend with late nights and wandering around with friends you are too tired to open your eyes next morning on the working day. But this time, for a change we managed to make a small Vishukani with available resources last night before we hit the bed. The traditional flower used for celebrating Vishu is the state flower in Kerala, Kanikonna is no way available in North East England. That is one big tree which marks the season in Kerala with absolutely no leaves at this time and fully flowered in bright yellow. I miss that!!! However, I had thought daffodils do give the same feel of the colour or atleast yellow chrysanthms. But, being a holiday yesterday we couldn’t sort the flowers out until evening, reason being we forgot about it. So for the Vishukani we managed with some white lilies, some fruits and veggies, a gold chain, a mirror and the available resources at home.
Got up an hour earlier than usual so that we get ample time for Vishukani and to catch up with family on phone. I should say getting up early and just opening your eyes infront of Lord Krishna with a Vishukani in front of him and then a look at Vaalkannadi make you feel great. Yes, the feeling is the same wherever you are in the world. Made sure I was not late for the trains as there is a saying that your entire year will somehow have the same effect if you mess up with the starting date. Superstitions never die however confident or convinced you are on their possibilies, sometimes you just don’t want to take a chance when it comes to you.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
A typical afternoon lunch/bite
Having been too lazy or too tired to bring in my lunch these days I have been grabbing something for lunch from the shops. Leeds, supposed to be spoiling you by choice offers a lot; but sticking to the vegetarian side for the past few months it is difficult to grab something of interest. If you are not fond of cheese, cold pastas, chutneys in sandwiches and the likes vegetarian options aren’t much. Most of the days you just have to make yourself happy with a soup and bread or a jacket potato with beans; unless you are on a proper eat out to the restaurants with friends or colleagues.
Well, I do give in for the veggie patties from Subway which is the only one thing I can consume from there. Subway teaches you to be really prompt in a way – to answer for a number of questions within a second.
One of the lunch orders I placed with Subway and the result
Subway Guy (SG): What is that you are going for?? Looking at their meal deals and offers. Is that a bit rude? No, he doesn’t really know to please, looks like still in training; definitely not an English guy!
Me: Just a veggie patty please
SG: Which bread and size
Me: Italian herbs and cheese please
He has already taken out a 8 foot long and started placing stuff in itMe: Excuse me, please wait, just a normal 6 inch one please
SG: Oh ok! (Cutting it into half) Any cheese?
Me: No, thanks
SG: Want it heated? (already the patty had gone into the oven)
Me: Yes please, thank you
SG: What salads would you like? (already placed a load of lettuce into that)
Me: Sorry, can you please take those lettuces off
SG: Oh sorry, what else (tried taking out a good portion of the lettuce placed in)
Me: Can I have some cucumber and tomatoes please
SG: placed them in the sub on top of the patty (organised!)
Me: Can I have some extra olives and jalapenos please
SG: placed a good deal of olives and a GOOD deal of jalapenos as well. The extra is misunderstood for jalapenos too. I could have made it clearer as just extra olives. By then I lost my patience and left it, didn’t bother to take the extra jalapenos off
SG: What sauce do you like?
Me: Can I have just a lil bit of Chilli Mayo please
SG: Had poured the Chilli sauce all over the sub.Me: I was lost now!!! ‘I said Chilli Mayo’ ..can you please take this sauce off please
SG: Oh is it? You mean the western??
Me: This one please…pointing to the Chilli Mayo bottle….
SG: It was practically not possible for anyone to take the beautifully distributed chilli sauce off the sub. This poor soul tried digging out the sauce and the whole thing looked pathetic by now. ‘Can I replace the patty for you Madam?’
Me: YES PLEASE
SG: threw another veggie patty to the oven. ‘please wait for a minute’
Me: Thank you
SG: By the time the new patty came in this guy forgot the ‘lil bit’ for the Chilli Mayo sauce. He had poured a hell lot of chilli mayo within a fraction of a second into the sub to make me happy. ‘Here you go’
Me: Didn’t bother anymore. Just wanted to run off. THANK YOU!!!
SG: Any drink? (Already had a cup taken out for that)Me: No thanks. Paid and left the place.
Enough for the lunch deal. Just then noticed the ‘spicy lentil soup’ boards in Bagel Nash; should have gone for that though I would feel ‘I can make a better dal anyday!’ Allright, need a break - thought will go for a browse at the office cyber café as I had some stuff to do from my personal email account. Now, when I opened the sub, it was a real MESS. It was too big for me to take it in my mouth in the first place. And it was too damn spicy with all the chilli mayo and jalapenos!!! Taste buds have had quite a change in about two years time and spice levels had come really down. Spent another five minutes cleaning up the sub to take out the unwanted bits and pieces to wash it down my stomach. Some of my colleagues who were there gave those looks which said –‘Oh you are too fussy with food’!!! Can’t complain much on the looks and comments here now as I am fussy with food. But then wasn’t angry or unhappy at the end. I did enjoy the sub at last; clubbed with a browse and a ten minutes google chat with nephew who was telling me his holiday plans.
Well, I do give in for the veggie patties from Subway which is the only one thing I can consume from there. Subway teaches you to be really prompt in a way – to answer for a number of questions within a second.
One of the lunch orders I placed with Subway and the result
Subway Guy (SG): What is that you are going for?? Looking at their meal deals and offers. Is that a bit rude? No, he doesn’t really know to please, looks like still in training; definitely not an English guy!
Me: Just a veggie patty please
SG: Which bread and size
Me: Italian herbs and cheese please
He has already taken out a 8 foot long and started placing stuff in itMe: Excuse me, please wait, just a normal 6 inch one please
SG: Oh ok! (Cutting it into half) Any cheese?
Me: No, thanks
SG: Want it heated? (already the patty had gone into the oven)
Me: Yes please, thank you
SG: What salads would you like? (already placed a load of lettuce into that)
Me: Sorry, can you please take those lettuces off
SG: Oh sorry, what else (tried taking out a good portion of the lettuce placed in)
Me: Can I have some cucumber and tomatoes please
SG: placed them in the sub on top of the patty (organised!)
Me: Can I have some extra olives and jalapenos please
SG: placed a good deal of olives and a GOOD deal of jalapenos as well. The extra is misunderstood for jalapenos too. I could have made it clearer as just extra olives. By then I lost my patience and left it, didn’t bother to take the extra jalapenos off
SG: What sauce do you like?
Me: Can I have just a lil bit of Chilli Mayo please
SG: Had poured the Chilli sauce all over the sub.Me: I was lost now!!! ‘I said Chilli Mayo’ ..can you please take this sauce off please
SG: Oh is it? You mean the western??
Me: This one please…pointing to the Chilli Mayo bottle….
SG: It was practically not possible for anyone to take the beautifully distributed chilli sauce off the sub. This poor soul tried digging out the sauce and the whole thing looked pathetic by now. ‘Can I replace the patty for you Madam?’
Me: YES PLEASE
SG: threw another veggie patty to the oven. ‘please wait for a minute’
Me: Thank you
SG: By the time the new patty came in this guy forgot the ‘lil bit’ for the Chilli Mayo sauce. He had poured a hell lot of chilli mayo within a fraction of a second into the sub to make me happy. ‘Here you go’
Me: Didn’t bother anymore. Just wanted to run off. THANK YOU!!!
SG: Any drink? (Already had a cup taken out for that)Me: No thanks. Paid and left the place.
Enough for the lunch deal. Just then noticed the ‘spicy lentil soup’ boards in Bagel Nash; should have gone for that though I would feel ‘I can make a better dal anyday!’ Allright, need a break - thought will go for a browse at the office cyber café as I had some stuff to do from my personal email account. Now, when I opened the sub, it was a real MESS. It was too big for me to take it in my mouth in the first place. And it was too damn spicy with all the chilli mayo and jalapenos!!! Taste buds have had quite a change in about two years time and spice levels had come really down. Spent another five minutes cleaning up the sub to take out the unwanted bits and pieces to wash it down my stomach. Some of my colleagues who were there gave those looks which said –‘Oh you are too fussy with food’!!! Can’t complain much on the looks and comments here now as I am fussy with food. But then wasn’t angry or unhappy at the end. I did enjoy the sub at last; clubbed with a browse and a ten minutes google chat with nephew who was telling me his holiday plans.
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