santhoshi

Southern Highway To Galle!

2012-01-27T12:13:00.003+05:30

After waiting for so many years to make it for the Literary festival, last friday was offered some day tickets for the day and spontaneously took off to Galle.

Where do I begin.

HighWay
Impressive and a quick, lovely drive. I just love the fact that we can be in Galle in one hour or less. It was scenic but very worried about the environmental disturbance by it. You change a whole plateau to get this new highway going and there is definite disturbance to the terrain, and it will take some time for the environment to adjust.

Not impressed : three dead snakes on the way with their guts out. I am dead scared of the snakes, but seeing them in that state is enough to get you upset for the rest of the trip.

I did not drive, watching the other crazy drivers on the highway.
a. Slow uncle in an old car at a speed of 60 or less
b. The mercs and bmws on a 140 doing swerves
c. Sudden changing of tracks by van drivers cause they think we are on the Dupication road.

Galle :
Happy : I just felt happy entering into galle fort and I think was jumping in joy so much so that people mistook I was looking for a carnival.
Not Happy: The auto drivers making fun of my hat
Jobless auto driver : hahhahha Machan wearing a curtain on the head.
Jobless auto driver 2 : aapo this is what they call fashion
Me : It is fashion, and not a curtain (not to them but to myself! poor me)

Cooking Mama!

2011-11-09T10:47:00.004+05:30

Cooking is the latest craze at all ages. The kids and I watch Master Chef without fail, and absolutely love it. S is always on the cooking mama game cooking non stop. My little courtship with baking had to be temporarily stopped due to weight loss mission no 10( end of the year approaching) .

The past week I have been getting calls from my mum, in excited tones about how she has tried out a new recipe. If this was a one off thing, i would have just shrugged it off. This has become an every day ritual so much that I had to politely decline. Mum is not a person who can be discouraged, she sends it in a little box and insists that I try it.

Day one : a birds nest Kind of thing filled with veges and cottage cheese, I saw S (the eight year old) have a look of pure shock in his face and kept looking at me. With mum supervising that we eat it up, we were trapped.

Day two : She had filled up an ice cream cone with some wierd concotion and sent it, S screams in delight "Aachi has made a vampire torch for halloween".

Day three : Dad calls " yr mums serving up some crap all the time, I cant eat the food at home"

I thought I would gently tell mum that she should stop this new recipe trying.

Mum : I know it is natural that you feel jealous that your mum is a cooking start. I might even star in the Indian cooking competition.

I had no idea what to say to that statement and thought silence is the best remedy. A woman scorned about her cooking is not an easy one to deal with.
She had found bits of masterpieces that she had cooked thrown behind the plants in the garden, and screamed that she will not send me food anymore. I think we are on safe zone temporarily.

This October!

2011-10-28T12:19:00.003+05:30

Deepavali was festive as always with new clothes, too many sweets and cracker bursting by kids.

Only hitch was when I slipped and fell on some water and hurt my knee, so that was bye bye zumba and yoga for about ten days now. DH was kind enough to be worried that the tiles did not break after me falling on them.

Another couple of months and the year will end. It rushes so fast there is no time to breath. The list of resolution just another list which has gathered and will bite the dust!

Book Fair 2011

2011-09-22T11:47:00.002+05:30

I went yet again to the book fair with D. We thought we ll beat the crowd and be clever about it and go at an odd time at three thirty on a Tuesday afternoon.
Guess what half of Colombo and the outskirts was in there. First, we were shoved in at a rate. You don't have to walk, the crowds just like push u like a wave or something.
It was worth the pain of it all, there was loads of fiction books and D and I had a good time picking up many. The bookshops have really gone to town and picked up loads of Indian editions of books cheaply and did not even have time to take off the prices.
We came out around five pm and there was even more people trying to get in. I saw a mass of thousands trying to walk in... (at the same time, I exaggerate not). I think the crowds increase every year.
It was worth all that since there is quite a bit of discount and more than that to see D's Happy face and bags full of books to read and art stuff to paint.
Warning to anybody trying to go in the weekend, it will be painful.

The New Coffee Shop!

2011-09-21T10:51:00.002+05:30

Pascucci - Wijerama Mw
After reading about it and seeing it so often from outside, went there last weekend. I think going there twice in a row was a bit too much.
The first day I loved the ice coffee Amereti with little cookies in and the works.
Second day, I said just get me some ice coffee, something simple and it came with a whole bunch of ice cream dumped inside it. Maybe I should have told no ice cream.
The interior is done up nice and it was crowded. The price is fancy, there was a tiny cupcake priced at 350/- bucks.

Pedicure Alert!

2011-09-13T10:32:00.003+05:30

After reading Dee and Angels posts on waxing a couple of weeks back, I looked at my feet and was horrified to see the state of them. My feet were in a state of neglect, the colour had chipped off and there was one ugly pair of feet staring right back at me.
Recently I have been scared to venture for pedicures to salons afer hearing not once but many times about women picking up toe wounds and yucky stuff (lets not go into the details).

Being too lazy to do the pedicure myself, I thought why not treat myself at a good salon where fingers crossed nothing untoward to would happen to me.

There I was seated in a nice cushy seat and reading the hello magazine. I heard the customer next to me instruct her girl not to scrub her toe cause she has a wound.

ARGHh with a horrified look i turned and saw the womans feet it had a big wound right near below her toe nail.

Salon Girl : What happened madam ? (scrubbing around the wound at a rate)
customer : I got this wound from getting a pedicure here last time. Two months back. its not going off. (this was said very non-chalantly)

I almost had an asthma attack, grabbed my feet right out of the pedicure bench and gave an excuse of a meeting. Paid some money and scurried off to wash my legs with hot water.
Yes yes My feet are fine. I am just so very upset and horrified that the woman was not bothered by this toe wound thing which probably is there to stay for a bit, also the salon girl acting as if it was a normal thing.
Get a pedicure and a wound free!

Salons, probably do not have a proper way of cleaning or sterilizing their equipments.
Its back to home pedicure again. anyone know any place really clean for pedicures???

Three months Later!

2011-09-05T14:01:00.003+05:30

Its been three months since I last blogged. I have no excuse to say except that I have been very lazy with blogging.
Two months of school vacation, Two family weddings in Chennai, Two trips to the beach, one month of yogaing, Reading six book, Loads of parties later - I had nothing to blog about.
Ok I think I will stop now.

Random!

2011-05-27T10:55:00.008+05:30

I have been so good at keeping my new year resolutions. That the blog has been completely neglected.
I dont know if its the fact that life is so very uninteresting and I am running out of things to say.
I should dust out the blog and write something about may

bought a dress from Avirate have no idea where I am going to wear it now.

Had a meeting - Usually people know me as Mr&Mrs. Daughter or Mr Dhs wife or Someone elses cousin, friend. For the first time in my life someone I met at the meeting said you are D's mum, I know her very well. I like that identity.

The credit card bills which have been stashed away or torn up are in fact not paid by unknown guardian angel - cause the angel has no cash. You do end up getting scary looking letters from the bank and then realise you have created a huge debt which has to be paid( not including avirate dress which was paid by cash)

Have been regular at Zumba class and workout next to this lady who is very fascinating. She wears so much make up and I know her sweat pores are dying to get out of all that foundation that she has laid on so thick. My class is spent staring at her face and the lipstick which is bright red and bleeds. Fascinating....

Sportive and all!

2011-04-04T15:28:00.008+05:30

So you know how they say you should be sportive to take the loss and all. Whoever said that did not have Indian family and friends ( Not you lost soul)

Seeing FB messages which were ever so rude like Swim back losers, Broken nose boozers and private messages like you are part of an island that was pooped by india and argh.

So yes the solution for this is to hold your head up high and ignore. How much can u ignore what is in front of your face, not much I say. I should just deactivate facebook for a week of something.

I still feel something not right about Kula N Dhoni since they are both in CSK team. I know i am being childish but i cant help it.

Sale!

2011-04-01T16:04:00.007+05:30

D mentions to me casually that there is a cotton collection sale on for three days. I jumped up and down in joy and wanted to know until when. D rolls her eyes and says " Its on for another two days mom". argh i have missed the first day. So I had to put half day leave and rush to the sale yesterday morning. I walked into Cotton Collection and there was some great Lovely Clothes. I was wondering why there was not much crowd. I was checking for the ever bright Sale sign which was missing. The prices looked normal too, thankfully heard the boom " Hey you are suppose to be at work!" From a good friend N. "I came for the sale men, better a half day than missing this" I said. "The sale is at the park street ware house" She says and gives me a nice pink leaflet. I looked at the leaftlet, looked at the clothes in my hand. Quickly dropped the stuff on the counter and ran out to get into a three wheeler. Reach park street and walk in the heat which was really bad. They had hired a huge ware house at the end of park street mews. It was full of clothes and more people grabbing this and that. I ran around picked up about twenty pieces and then turned around there was even another more hundred people in there. Then realised its going to be a disaster if all these people also wear the same clothes, put it all down. After wise decisions I walked out with jusst two t shirts for me and two for the kids. I think i am turning into a new leaf. Ran out again to catch a threewheeler with a faluda ice cream in my hand. Threewheeler guy : " Two hundred miss" Me : " Ioo aiye i am buying clothes at the sale, dont ask so much" Threewheeler guy : " I cant even come to the sale, my status is even worse" Just had to give him the money and get off at work.

Miserable Mondays Terrible Tuesdays!

2011-03-22T13:34:00.010+05:30

So Yes I am in a chirpy mood which was further cheered up by work things going smooth Not.
I went to the temple last week and noticed an old lady staring at me. I smiled at her and looked at her. She just stared at me with a sad look. I really wanted to go have a chat with her and help her out. She turned and walked off while I was contemplating this.

Same story today. So I smiled a big smile (like the one in the happy face) and was getting ready to take the wallet and give her some money. Old Lady approaches me.

Old lady : Are u a Hindu?
Me : Uhm Uhm yes ( oh god what kind of question is this)
Old lady : Don't u know in our religion you must tie your hair when you come to temple.
me : "()*$(*$*"(")*( ( Damn old cow, i was so annoyed)

She walks off muttering something. By this time my whole religious and charitable mood was gone, so i followed her and asked her what she was muttering.

old lady : If u don't tie up your hair and pray, you will never get married.

I was positively fuming this woman is a miserable old git who goes cursing people. Damn woman.
Me : I don't think the religion tells us to tie our hair to pray.

Common sense says that you shouldn't come to temple and interfere with your wise comments.

Old Lady ( looked shocked ) : You wont get married
Me : Thanks so much , I am already married with two kids.

Old lady open mouthed.

Moral of the story : Dont feel sorry for strange old women in temples. Mind your business.!

Wednesday is going to be wonderful since I am on leave for a few days ! YESS!

High Tea!

2011-03-08T09:59:00.003+05:30

After a godawful week, ladybugs suggestion of High Tea was the best thing I had heard. I was excited to meet her and another friend who was down on vacation. So off we went to Galle face hotel High Tea.

For me the word high tea somehow conjures up the image of the mad hatters tea party in Alice in wonderland. I walked into the veranda and for a minute I was confused with what was happening. There was rows and rows of food.

Pastries, savouries, sandwiches and what not. There was a whole load of vegetarian food too. I didn't have the tea but had ice coffee and we stuffed ourselves and laughed so much maybe a bit loudly.

The veranda and the ambiance is really great. Walked out into the rains. argh it was pouring!

Blogging and Baking!

2011-02-26T10:22:00.002+05:30

So I have not been blogging. I should have a better excuse for why I have been silent. I discovered a new hobby while I was away. Baking. Oh god! Its as easy as doing Maths with the seven year old! Ok i take that back its easier than doing Maths with the seven year old.
So that's what I have been doing baking and baking away. All egg less stuff since I cant take egg home.
Its been Cookies, Cakes, cup cakes, Flapjacks and what not. Not a great hobby for the health cause I have been tasting these stuff.
I had an agenda it was to bake away and make a cousin shut her mouth. She was showing off far too much and had to put a stop to that. So i am back with recipes and all.
Have a Great weekend all!

Purple Hibiscus

2011-01-31T12:44:00.005+05:30

This is the book that had me captured for the past few days. The authors name is quite long Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her writing has so much depth and captivating is the word. The beauty of Nigeria, the culture of people, the suppression of people in the name of religion. I could go on and on. Beautiful book.

This author had been at the literary festival in Galle. Lucky the ones who got to meet her. I did not get to go this year either. Maybe next year!!

You!

2011-01-03T19:13:00.003+05:30

Its that time of the year! Where resolutions are made yet again to break. I called up the aerobics instructor and wished a happy new year and when is she re-opening. She goes who is this and when i say its me. She screams "YOU!". Oh well she did not have to break my ear drums.

I got a message from a friend how great the new year first working day was, so much positivity. I had a crappy day and its only the third day of the year. Oh well it cant get any worse can it. Then again oh yes it just did! I forgot to send samples that was requested urgently today. I had an irate client who asked me a million questions on things I was clueless. How easy it is to keep lying and pretend that you really do know about things you dont. phew

The only nice thing of the day was meeting two friends for a short time and seeing a new born baby. Babies are so adorable and the cutest and gives you hope.

Hope all of you have had a better day?

2011-01-03T18:39:00.006+05:30

The gold leaf Buddha.

You get small squares of gold leaf which you can press on to the buddha statue directly for good luck and fortune. I heard a tour guide say that you have to stick in in the head heart and eyes. So quickly did that and made a prayer. You get to offer flowers and light incense and candles as an offering too.

Four Faced Brahma!

2011-01-02T20:09:00.008+05:30

We light lamps they light candles!

So many flower garland as offerings to the Lord.

I saw Brahma the four faced creator of the world according to hindu myth as a Buddha with four faces. This shrine in Erawan Bangkok has a big following and many miracles happening. Bangkok with its rich culture stays as a great holiday has all this and more to see..

Animal Watching!

2011-01-02T13:26:00.021+05:30

They looked bored and could not be bothered by the many vehicles which drove in. Safari world!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T11:15:00.006+05:30

Happy New Year to all the lovely bloggers!

Dear Blog
I have neglected you this year more than others. I dont know if I am running out of things to say because i am boring or lazy, it must be a combination of both. Hopefully I will get my act right and do something constructive next year!

Foot in the mouth moment(one of many)
Aunt : What do u think of Swamiji M
Me : I think she is not genuine
Aunt : I was having tea and an intellectual discussion with her just yesterday !

When It Rains!

2010-12-07T15:20:00.002+05:30

It pours doesnt it? Its been raining in colombo, india, singapore and australia. The schools were closed in parts of south india yesterday. Then heard that the snowing in Europe and Canada is just as bad.

Dad was worried about the prevailing weather conditions and the world. He feels 2012 is coming up soon. So to cheer him up I sent him the news about the sea snakes rushing into town in Batticalo. Now i am getting calls by the hour about how worried he is about the whole situation.

The nights are no better with the wind howling like a banshee then one of the gate doors opening out wide and hitting on the wall and waking me and the whole neighbourhood up. I have been up from three am. I need some sleep or an extra shot of expresso.

December '10

2010-12-03T11:39:00.003+05:30

What with all the christmassy posts doing the round, I dont want to be left out.

Some mean kid at school had told the seven year old that santa is not real. That came as a big shock and S was pretty upset. I did some damage control and told him that mean boy wont get a present from Santa. What to do that was the most creative i could get.

Met up with a close friend from school who is down on vacation and two other from school. It was a great lunch and a good change from the other backstabbing so called friends (another long post later on that)
My plans for december.
Meet up with the school friends again for the season
Do all the dinners for the year with all other sets of friends.
Try out new recipes and cook up a storm for the year
Continue my new found interest of the Zumba class, Its a real dance party I love it.
Do some charity work for the season.
Catch up with movies and shopping!

Exams!

2010-11-26T09:30:00.004+05:30

I thought I had left school and university and done with these godawful things. Recently, I have discovered you dont really get out of if when your kids have exams. Teaching the 7 year old has been a traumatising effect.

A small example :

1. Riddle one : I am all around you. Breathe me in and out. what am I?

S : Ghost

The answer is of course air for the ones of you who have forgotten your year 3 work.

2. Can you eat cut fruit from the road. Expain your answer

S: yes

S: my mum eats mangoes from the road

The answer should be of course no. The food kept out is not clean.

The eleven year old Einstein was shocked that I could help with her work.
D: wow mom you actually can explain the work I am impressed
Me : I went to university
What does she take me to be some sort of idiot who only shops.
Thank God all this is over.

Delightful Experience!

2010-10-27T14:53:00.006+05:30

This is one of the many names of the Strawberry place near the lake. The other name being No Vacancy. The chocolate coated strawberry and the Strawberry and cream was so delicious Yumm. I had quite a bit. Oh how I wish I could have some more now. So here goes some amateur pics of the trip.

The Long weekend!

2010-10-26T13:54:00.002+05:30

Was in Nuwaraeliya with kids and their cousins. I started off very nervously since the responsibility of other peoples kids can be taxing to the nerves. Strangely a couple of the kids were knocked out on the way up and the others followed up closely behind. When i say knocked out they were sleeping, got up for breakfast at Ambepussa and slept again. I have not seen so much sleeping.

Its only later that I found out my cousin had given piriton to her kids so that they wont trouble and since a pair were out the others were snoozing as well. Went to Ramboda Hanuman temple. The temple was crowded since it was poya and ended up safely in the cool climes of Nuwara eliya. I cant say clean since it was so dusty and a bit polluted.

We did boating around the lake, horse riding and the visit to hakgala gardens where there were so many BLOOMING Flowers. It was well maintained and Crowded. After a long walk in and around the garden (must have walked for a good two hours) we were done for the day. Went into Humbug for the strawberry and cream and waited for half an hour and no order was taken. Decided to fore go the craving I had and went to the Grand Indian restaurant for lunch instead. It was such a bad meal. Seriously Nuwaraeliya needs some good restaurants, its miserable if you are vegetarian.

Nine days of Prayers! Navarathiri- Day seven!

2010-10-13T15:23:00.008+05:30

So its Navarathiri again, which basically means nine days of prayers.

Three days for courage and bravery - Prayers to Durga ( goddess of courage)
Three days for wealth and money $$$, - Prayers to Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth)
Three days for education and excelling in music, arts and crafts- prayers to saraswathy ( goddess of education and music)

The fun and tedious bit of it is all your family invites all the women ranging from two to ninety year olds to come visit their shrine room. Some of the ladies go all out and do this beautiful set up with dolls and decoration. The others like me and my cousins who are caught up in the work world just do prayers in the evening.

Fun bit of it is you get gifts at every house you visit. So i have a whole collection of glass bangles and knick knacks. Each gift is given with betel leaves coconut and fruits. Also you get to eat all this yummy food. Which means in return I have to do the same.

I got some cute tiny kitchen weighing scales to give as return gifts, except i got distracted and bought some other unnecessary stuff. Never mind!

I like it in the... !

2010-10-08T11:13:00.003+05:30

This is the status update of many on face book for the past two days. Until a good friend explained it, I was lost it in imagination.
Personally It would be traumatic for breast cancer patients and survivors to read this sort of update. The article below seems to be in the same wavelength.

Click this for more on it
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39546719/ns/health-cancer/?GT1=43001

The Big Day!

2010-09-10T15:20:00.004+05:30

It went really well. Much better than I imagined actually. The decor food everything was good. The best part of the whole deal was spending time with my cousins who had come down after so many years.
Weddings can be tiring and terrific at the same time.

The Big Indian Wedding!

2010-08-19T12:46:00.002+05:30

Consists of 2000 or more invitees.
break down as follows :
250 direct relatives
100 indirect relatives ( aunts in laws sisters pet parrot)
100 relatives by marriage ( cousin got married and her in laws brothers cousin)
1200 community members ( u belong to a community you invite them although u probably dont know 30% of them )
Brides and grooms friends 50
Balance of 300 to 500 hundred of people u dont really know.
With all this I cant wait I so love weddings! :) (yes we are in a positive mood !)

Countdown!

2010-08-09T22:17:00.002+05:30

As the countdown for the wedding nears I am totally stressed and wasted. Parents have been under the impression that wedding invites take a wing of their own and fly out to the many number of people they are expecting. Bad moods have been rampant and B is totally worried.

B : i am really worried that there will be a total fainting
Me : U are going to faint u mean lol
B: You i am worried that u are going to just collapse two days before the wedding.

oh that wiped the smile off my face immediately. So did the next best thing went to the beach over the weekend, did nothing and totally relaxed. It was lovely except the mobile rang nonstop.

Mum : where is my flight ticket
me : its online check your email
Mum : can u take me a printout
(this was from Chennai and i am in some beach down south)

aunt: So r u done with inviting
me : i am down south
aunt: U are vacationing when there is so much work back here.. u are irresponsible blah blah blah

dad : u know your speech can i see it
me : no dad u cant
dad : my friends are coming so i want to see the speech, can u like talk
me : i am born to talk dad don't worry it will be the best speech
(except no speech is ready yet i thought i ll just speak whatever pops up at that moment.. :) )

switched off the mobile by then. It was lovely i wish i had a rewind button and could be back in the weekend. But its all fast forward from now. ..

Sitting Still and Doing Nothing!

2010-07-26T14:26:00.003+05:30

I so loved Karate Kid . I was having a terrible day and it was a great way of ending that day watching the movie. Love the bit when He tells the kid " Sitting Still and doing nothing are two different things" when they are at the kung fu training place. How true those words are. I think heard this somewhere else like in yoga or something.

Anyways I decided to incorporate that into the aerobics class. So there we were seated on the gym ball. I decided I should sit still and stop doing nothing. I think i must have been trying the still bit for quite a bit and dazed not dozed off. The calm serenity just knocked me for a five. I had this aura of calmness it was like i had overdozed on a little too much of piriton. It was a feeling of peace or whatever.

Suddenly a yelling in the ear " Dreaming are we as always " Oh dear turn to find the instructor right next to me with a smirk. The rest of the class is lying on the floor with the gym ball held high in the air with their legs and some wicked ones were actually giggling and I am just seated on the blooming thing. Quickly get off it and try to lift the thing with my legs and ouch it was ever so painful. My moment of calm serenity was gone... with the fairies...

Weekend Woes!

2010-07-26T14:13:00.003+05:30

The mobile rings really early in the morning and some lady asking if I am looking for a maid. I say no hang up and now the calls are coming in at a rate if I want a maid. This on a Sunday is not a good way to wake up. So quickly go downstairs and I get about 25 calls in Tamil and sinhala asking if I want a maid that they saw an ad. I put the mobile on silent and watch unknown numbers blink nonstop.
Mum turns up to have breakfast since she was alone this weekend with dad travelling. She shrieks your mobile is ringing why arent you picking up. So explain about this odd happening that i have been getting prank calls but its wierd.

Mum (looking Sheepish) : I put it up cause I want a maid
Me : ((*£"(&$^$) Wait Why did u put mine up if u want a maid
Mum : I thought u could make a note of all the numbers and names and we can call them up later.
Me : (yelling at this point) Do i look jobless to you mum seriously.
Mum gets pissed and drives off with a huff.

Recovery from the flu was quick then onwards.
Later I get a wierdo wrong number then the guy actually sends text with crappy messages like u sound sweet . I have decided to put a stop to it, I ll get him to talk to mum.

Santhoshis World

2010-07-20T11:16:00.003+05:30

Thanks Lost Soul for tagging. It just gave me a moment to think really. So here it is...

Family
Friends
Books
Movies
Filter coffee and Myself in the morning
Shoes
Bags
Clothes
Accessories - watch and the big hoop earring ( jeez i am sounding a bit vain here)
My Mobile
Blogs and the lovely bloggers
Listening to music
office desk ( ya i am a pretty sad workaholic most times)
Aerobics
My Car
The Beaches down south
Chocolates and Cakes
Fresh Flowers
Italian Food
Candlelight dinner
pillow fights with the kids
Festivals
travelling
Karaoke

Now I tag all who read this :)

Chennai Days -1

2010-07-19T12:01:00.003+05:30

I was back in Chennai for five days since I decided to take over the wedding planning for B myself. The wedding planner was left in the loop after she quoted some horrific amount. Seriously a business to start up for later days is wedding planning. They really charge hell of a lot.
For the first time this was a trip where I did not want to come back. There was loads of shopping for some 75 relatives and moi. (Yes the traditional south Indian wedding means all the relatives get new dresses, who said weddings come cheap)
I watched two movies Ravanan and Toy Story 3 in 3D at PVR the new cinema in Chennai. The cinema is just wow, we really need one of those here. With the nachos before i forget that.
Ate too much of good food, and down goes the diet with that. Brought sarees for the loads of function. Frankly only the wedding saree is nice.
Mum turned into a mumzilla and troubled me endlessly. First she insisted to pick a Saree for me and i looked like a lit chandelier gone wrong. Mum insisted it was modern and blah blah but looking at the mirror i looked like a dork. Thankfully common sense prevailed and the situation was quickly aborted with me saying no to the lovely salesman who was trying to palm it off. I did manage to buy a nice Saree which will suit me later on in the trip.
She was also behaving weird like randomly she would make her own plans in the middle of really busy work and waste like four hours.
In all of this we forgot to buy clothes for B the groom. Start of mayhem and madness..

Mummy thought its an Earthworm!

2010-07-02T14:47:00.002+05:30

Another poya day I was on the couch pretending to read and look busy. D screams for a bucket to play. I yell back to get one from the back yard.
Moments later, D is back with a scared look in her face.

D: mum i think there is a snake in the backyard
Me : hemm must be an earth worm D
D: its not an earthworm its a SNAKE
me : I am sure its a poochi (insect)

By now D is really annoyed with me and gives me a look which says it all. Anyway i jump off the couch and rush to the back yard to humour her a bit.

ARGHHHH a poisonous snake was having a good snooze in the backyard. God first the rats now the snake what not. So called help from the neighbours maid and disposed him off.

My New Best Friend

2010-07-02T14:38:00.001+05:30

Hershey Bar!

Moving forward!

2010-06-02T14:07:00.002+05:30

I have been a back bencher pretty much all my life. In my last year in school, university even movies, always in the back row. The fascination with the back row dates to my bored days in school and somehow thinking it’s cool to be there in the back row. Of course I ended up doing jack in these days. I eternally drew flowers and heart or played crosses and noughts with my other back benchers.

When I started working out in the aerobics class a good ten years back I was in the front row and stick thin. Good habits die hard and the last few years I somehow managed to end up in the back row. I was never stick or thin again.

Last week when it was pouring and there were not many people at aerobics with a sudden move I was pushed into the front row. So there I was right in front of the mirror and looking at my companions whoever over sixty (double my age) and way more fit than me, I was out of place again. Felt a bit proud that I have been moved forward by the instructor, I thought it was due to my wonderful posture and dedication to the moves she was going on about.
How wrong I was to be elated.

Instructor: You are going to be in the front row from now on! (She Yells)
So come and join us in the front

There my moment in the limelight I was in the front row right in front of the mirror and looking towards my side all the fit and fine sixty year olds and the aerobics teacher.

Me: Uhm uhm (smile like an idiot)
Instructor: u keep peeping out of the class all the time in the back
row, so no more of that.

Giggles not from me but the rest of the aunties and class

Little mouse!

2010-05-19T12:15:00.005+05:30

An usual Tuesday evening and I was trying hard to teach S to learn his spellings. Suddenly S jumps up and screams pointing at the shrine room.
I look up, great that the reflexes are still in working order although I am pretty much exhausted these days. There is a tiny mouse by the shrine room and he runs in.

By then both the kids are on top of their chairs not sitting but standing on them. So rush up with the maid who is even more scared than me. The Mouse is inside the shrine room, seriously he picked the wrong time to go in for a prayer.

S starts screaming " mummy don't hit him he is Ganesha's ( the lord Ganesha) friend" and now there is some major crying involved.

The Hindu god Ganesha has a mouse who is with him. You can see it in the picture.

The strange thing is I was at the entrance and I could see the little mouse under the statue of Ganesha. He was looking at me. Well I was looking right back at him. Lets face it we were both very scared. So here I was with a smart idea i knocked at the door. He quickly ran out and ran into the TV room. There was a load of screaming again from the kids, me and the maid. I am sure the mouse was even more terrified.

I locked up the room to come up with an idea. Seriously the rat and my TV, and computer all in the same room is not a good idea. Who else to call but mum, and explaining briefly.

Mum: Well does it have a face like your mother in laws

Me : Mum what kind of a question is that (well i had to sound offended although secretly mum seemed to be spot on)

Mum : its Ganesha's rat we have to let him be its good luck

So i hang up to listen to more raving about Ganesha's friend and we cant kill him or hit him from the kids. But of course they were terrified to sleep now.

I called DH and as useful as he is going to be, he was at a meeting and just said OH NOO.
I called my neighbour, and a friend, but nobody could come up with a solution except sympathetic murmurs.

Time to get into action I decided to get a ARS rat glue trap. After much discussion about keeping a cheese and a piece of coconut. Mum called back to give her insight into this dilemma and told us that the mouse has not come from Europe and probably wont have a liking to cheese.

anyways the rat was caught in the glue trap and disposed by mum, who was called in for the special operation. He was alive when he was rushing off into the streets of our neighbourhood.

Travel Friend!

2010-04-26T15:36:00.003+05:30

I always wanted to get into a train and meet this travel passenger who will become a great friend. Such a dreamer. So there I was in Chennai flight yet again. As i was the last passenger and the ground staff were least friendly I heard a voice. Hemm is that the voice in my head? No actually someones calling my name.

To cut a long boring story short mums friend this aunty was off with a buddy and they had one first class seat between them. So they wanted to switch seats with me. There I was in the first class with this bear of a man next to me. The snooty air hostess was being herself. I felt the bear sorry the Man next to me struggle a bit. U know how the snooty air hostess was not going to help him. I helped him to put the Seat belt. He smiled this big relief and off he was on his story.

This was a fisherman from dickwella going to save his boat which was taken away by the Indians. He was on first class cause he could not get a seat. After ten minutes I was filling out his Indian immigration forms and listening to how the boat was taken away by the Indians the full version. This guy who cant speak English on his way to Vizag to save his boat. If he was scared of getting lost in Tamil nadu. Dear lord Andra is a maze. As a gesture of thanking he wanted me to visit his family that this and the other and wanted my number. Seriously I must be some organised person travelling I did not have my card as usual.

Later alarm bells were ringing, nope not in the flight but in my head. This guy says his boat went into Indian waters by mistake but what if he was a great big smuggler. Now the imagination was doing a overdrive just out of drinking some crappy apple juice servevd on flight. So here I was with the smuggler who looked friendly enough but remember how sometimes mum is right dont give your number to strangers

I was uhm and ahming a bit and ran off when we landed. I dont know is it my nature to be suspicious or should we be safe than sorry...

Days that have been...

2010-04-23T13:44:00.005+05:30

So my blogging days seems to have huge intervals between posts. I sometimes feel like there is nothing left to write and then there is so much where u dont know where to begin and end.

Recently, I have been having this feeling of wanting to ask god to make three of me. I seem unable to cope with work, house, kids, my parents and what not. If there were three of me I might be able to finish things up. Specially that earthquake eruption in my wardrobe six months back. Then the lose weight programme which seemed to have got lost in my Indian trips and new year kokis.

To add to the lovely things happening work cropped up with loads of issues which make me feel like i am sinking in the dark blue sea. The fact that I cannot swim does not help at all.

My parents well somethings never change. My dad hears me discussing about " Second Chance" the florist in colombo.
He calls me later to tell me that I should get First Chance. I was like uh? He was like i dont want second chance can u talk to first chance. Uhm dad there is no first chance florist. He goes i dont like this second chance name change it. Its moments like this that keep my sanity in check.

Hope all of u are well.

P.S Second chance flowers is a florist in Colombo. there is no First chance florist Yet.

Bride Found!

2010-04-12T14:22:00.004+05:30

Such an anticlimax after all the drama of the past year. So there I was with mum and she waves a photo to me. I look at it without the contacts and say yes nice. I mean after seing so very many photos it was time they all looked the same. Later with the contacts on I looked to find a pleasant smiling girl. So again it was off to see her. This time we took DH along.

There was a very friendly grandma who was chatting with me nonstop. B comes out and says yes I am ok with her. Dad jumps and tells me to ask if the girl likes B. So i ask her and she smiles. There is a loud " I like him I like him". No it was not the bride but her grandma. B looked bit scared. Grandma rushes to him and shakes hand and wishes him well.

Its all fixed and I am so excited and busy with the plans and so on. Shall keep updated about wedding tamasha which has started. Mum calls me and says that her uncle is sending an email list of ten addresses. I say yes and tell D to print it out and leave. Come back to find 100 pages with 1000 addresses of people not known. Now obviously the ink is all done up and i am so very mad.

Questioned!

2010-03-30T14:03:00.009+05:30

It was another hurried trip to chennai on work. After passing immigration I was slowly walking towards the escalator. When I heard a voice saying excuse me. I turned around to find a disheveled looking guy walk up to me. I turned and kept walking he kept shouting excuse me excuse me.

so i turned around and did the next best thing. I shouted " go away"

By then the guy was close he said " stop or i will call security"

Hemm wait a minute arent the lines all wrong here. Shouldnt it be me saying these lines.

Guy " Why did u not stop when I told u to stop"

Me : " Who are u? Go away"

Guy : " I AM FROM THE CID" ( a few passengers turned and looked at me)

Me : " What CID I thought u are a baggage carrier asking me to carry stuff"

Cid was looking quite angry at this he turned red ( u know how brown skinned people turn kind of wierd brown )

Me : Show me your id

CID : Show me your passport and tickets or u are going to be in trouble.

Really i could relate to shah rukh khan i wanted to get up and scream " I am Santhoshi and I am not a terrorist"

I was so angry but with trembling hands gave my passport, I nicely asked him to show me his id and he did not. He looked at me as if I was mad. Although I was putting a brave face I wanted to burst out crying and I was very embarassed and scared.

He gave back the travel docs and was like " u have some nerve not to stop when we ask u to anyways can i have your visiting card"

Me : i dont carry a visiting card

Him : Whats your mobile number

Me : I Dont carry a mobile

( you know how like in the movies the mobile starts ringing.I really wish the ground would open up and swallow me. U know it must be one of those emergency calls where the nanny wants to know whether to give the kids milo or milk?)

I was thinking Why me?

He burst out laughing and said go we'll keep in touch. (what kind of nonsense is that)

I ran up the escalator quickly and looked down to check where this guy was and there he was looking straight up at me.

Rushed into coffeebean at the upper level and ordered a sandwich and the guy in the counter said No bread. asked for a croissant there was no croissant. This was more like how my life usually is.

Baggage carriers : Everyday travellers who carry stuff to and from india. They trouble any single passenger asking if they would like to carry stuff for about ten dollars.

Before / After - Kids

2010-03-12T10:06:00.004+05:30

Before

1.why do people talk about babies and kids, when I have them (haha probably wont have them) i shall never mention them in a conversation

2. Saturdays are for shopping to buy stuff u dont require. Having coffee and going just to shops cause u can do it.

3. Weekends are for partying non stop. You can be spontaneous about it too

4. You are proud of the fact that you can climb any high wall to jump over if necessary

5. Movies have a rating really?

6. If I have kids i ll let them be free souls they can do whatever they want

7. Rules are to broken is the motto

8. Your parents dont visit you that much

9. the cousins talk about childbirth will make u want to run out and never talk to her again

10. u will roll your eyes when u hear the cousin ask baby tips from others

After
1. You have conversations with strangers, colleagues and your boss about them. They even creep into your blog posts

2. Saturdays are still for shopping but you have a company who would want that toy gun which you wont buy. S wants accessories which she does not really need. Then you think u are really clever and go to the supermarket and they want all the junk which you should not buy. By mid Saturday you are one of those moms who says the word No, no no too many times

3. You go out partying and you are worried to see the teeny boppers who are about seven years older than your eldest ( ya u start talking by the years). then you wonder how the parents let the kids out dressed like that ( u forget you were like them and how u sneaked out). No spontaneous partying there u have to sort out a baby sitter first.

4. You ask the landlord can i Make that wall higher than it is already

5. For the zillionth time you explain your cousin that yes I check movie ratings if i am taking the kids i look at it about five times to make sure.

6. You try hard to teach them religion, beliefs, right and wrong and sympathise your parents

7. we have some rules we will try and follow is the new motto

8. You parents visit you most weekends to see their precious grandkids

9. the joy of child birth is something u will try hard to explain to your younger cousin who questions

10 you will have random calls in a week asking you about baby stuff and kids stuff

Little D came back home excited that the royalists tried to jump into the school compound. How the girls ran out to the fourth floor and was told to go inside. Its the royal thomian match mummy she explained excitedly. My ten year old is growing up. I want to hold her tight in my arms and never let her go.

The six year old wants to enter the movie world he asks if he can meet some of our tamil heroes. I have told him he can ask me three questions a day. I am scared that he will become a moody teenager who wont ask me a single questions a week.

kids they just come turn your life upside down twirl u in their little fingers and make u dance to their tunes. while you are dancing they slip away as they grow..

Coco Verandah - Ward Place

2010-03-10T14:58:00.004+05:30

Coco Verandah in ward place. The coffee is pretty good. Good service.

The interior is classy. Not sure about how the food is.

Driving the heat!

2010-02-23T12:31:00.005+05:30

I have to get back home looking at galle face was the decision made last week. Oh how lovely to be able to see the Sea although it was looking very hot. Pass the roundabout and am happily stuck in traffic in front of Indian High Commission when there is loud tooting of horns.

looking at the mirror i see its some top important person going for something very important (like a UN meeting/ or a drink at breeze bar?) Now the tooting is getting louder and they are with their arms waving at me to move over. Hello there, I am stuck in a traffic block, cannot move an inch unless my Toyota puts out its wings and i fly out from there.

Seriously if this was eight months back i would panic since they are very polite and sometimes have the habit of getting off the vehicle and knocking on the windows to move. The knocking is not slight knock its more like boom boom i ll break the windows. My heart usually goes thud thud. But now i just looked back and stare menacingly ( i think) at them.

look to the side an auto driver is gesturing something with his finger. I was quite curious what he is saying i mean there could be only two things one he is trying to help me or two he is saying something obscene. Put the shutters down this with the tooting and brandishing of big guns behind. Auto drivers profound statement we should not have voted miss did u vote? .. wow what a moment for him to pick to have a mini discussion with me about the country. I shake my head this way that way and pretend i dont understand sinhala. I know English he screams.

now the tooting has doubled I am sure they are going to come and scream in filth or shoot me. Please shoot me i think saves my ear going deaf and everyone turning to look at me as if i am having a circus going on. Seriously where am i suppose to move the car onto? the merc in front of me or the auto beside me? or why not try indian action movie skill and try to ram onto the iron rods separating the sides of the road.

A kind jeep gives way and i kind of move the car with a little dignity. Did u know that Colombo has some kind hearted souls who actually give way. So about five vehicles moved forward stared at me and talk amongthemselves, i stared back! seriously i was still thinking shoot me! its the heat getting to my head.. ...

God Questions?

2010-02-18T13:11:00.005+05:30

Six year Old S : Mummy does god drink chilled or unchilled

Me : why dont u ask daddy sweety

S : u are always telling me to ask daddy and he is always changing channels in the tv mummy. U have to tell me does god drink chilled or unchilled

Me : he mostly drink unchilled because its good for you. ( i should have stopped at that.. but no i didnt) he does not drink coke, sprite, fanta

S : did you have a drink with god mummy

giggles and giggles and bursting into full laughter from the ten year old who was reading a book.

I have told S he can ask me three questions for a day only since i am running out of clever things to tell him.

Sk n kajol!

2010-02-17T15:54:00.006+05:30

Monday
------
the mobile beeps with "MUM"

Mum : Do you know that Sharuk Khan and kajol got married

Me : uhm what?

Mum : yes i just saw it on TV.

me: mum its their new movie, they have acted together after many years.

Mum : are u sure? (now she sounds a bit unsure)

Mum is the next Hindi gossip columnist.
Drop by at my parents to see mum glued to the zee channel like she could understand hindi. Now we have S singing hindi songs and speaking broken hindi all the time. He is her companion in this tv watching business.

Today
-----
five missed calls from mum while i am at a meeting. surely must be something earth shattering like snoopy the dog has refused to eat her lunch. (cant blame snoopy)

Mum : i have invited someone over for tea mr. S

Me : ok who is he?

mum :i dont know

me : who is he? mum

Mum ; I dont knoww ( when someone gives such an answer how can u not but wonder if u are really hearing things at times?)

after trying hard not to lose my temper, find out mr.s is some distant relative from india who is here on business. he has got mums number from another auntys uncles cousins sister and he wants to drop by. Now this sort of calls are usually ignored. with the bride hunt being stalled due to circumstances beyond our means like horoscope and astrological calculations gone wrong. This Mr.S has a sisters daughter who is suppose to be so great with a big G.
so this sudden tea party with a stranger.

Discovering THE Ice Coffee!

2010-02-17T15:45:00.003+05:30

So there it is my discovery which is not in posh cinnamon grand coffee stop (the coffee tastes too fat, i am serious), not at over priced coffee bean ( telling you something wrong with the milk), barista (have u noticed how its empty most of the time) or the ones aunties make (which has too much milk, vanilla, icecream and less alcohol)

The best one in the whole of colombo would be at green cabin. It tastes heavenly and its addictive. So little D and I seem to have consumed vast amounts of said ice coffee at green cabin.

any other suggestions on my discovery?

Tuesday Morning

2010-02-10T14:37:00.002+05:30

Parked near the odel roundabout with heavy traffic in the morning. My moment of thinking about important things in life is loudly interrupted by mom who points at the Huge Ad tv. There is an ad on analene milk powder. She pointed out that might happen to my bones and it will all break into pieces if i don’t buy an analene and drink it. I was uhminng

Next ad starts she is reading it to me since i am illiterate. It goes like “ is your house safe? Is it protected” thankfully the light changed and we moved off. Mum was annoyed that she could not get my house protected and saved since she did not finish reading the rest of it.

Get to work and she calls me after her visit to the astrologer. I have good news u are going to build a new house and B is getting married before December. But did he not say the same thing last year mum. Well apparently the astrologer had said that your I look distrustful whenever I come for a reading and that I should believe in him.

Another Credit Card!

2010-02-08T12:23:00.003+05:30

I have been so nice to the bank agents who call up about new promotions on credit cards and said nicely but firmly that no i don't want another credit card. With some types i have gone to the extent of explaining that personal finance and me are like a crumbling cup cake.

The last month and a half i have not run into shops and bought stuff randomly. I even cancelled one of the credit cards in a bid to turn over a new leaf.

Last Saturday was at the dentist with D when i realised i had no money in my wallet. So quickly popped to the ATM at the nearest bank. After taking cash i don't know why i walked up to the agent and told her that i want to apply for a credit card. Behaviour out of the ordinary is what i would categorise this. So i applied for a credit card ignoring all the promotional stuff. Have been feeling guilty all weekend about this new acquisition which i can cancel but i know i wont.

Maybe i will cut it up when it arrives. (maybe after i use it just once)

The confusion and my Vote!

2010-01-21T10:41:00.005+05:30

In the last week alone every day i have changed my mind about my vote. Today DH was kind enough to point out that i should have decided my vote in December and ended the conversation with his views on the elections.

Friends, family, cousins, colleagues, tailor, maids, drivers all have so many different views on it.

My moms friend and my mom were having a conversation that went like.

Friend : You do realise we are the minorities.

Mom : U are not Tamil know, so u are not minority

Friend : at times of this all minorities should get together and vote as one

Mom : u are not Tamil know
did u notice how the conversational thread had no link. Yes this is how all the over fifties converse. Aunty is a burgher for all those who are confused.

I am going to vote surely since every vote makes a difference. R says lets go waste it. Why waste it, i have another five days to get confused more about it. Another coffee at barista and still not sure...

Eclipse and Us!

2010-01-15T15:55:00.004+05:30

From yesterday..
The topic of the day has been the eclipse. Everyone has been watching and reporting about it. I got special instructions from my dad. Do not eat during the eclipse and you must have a bath before consuming meals after. Then special instructions to tell the kids not to look at the sky. I did not bother passing on the message to the kids cause the minute i say dont look up. thats exactly what they will do the little one will spend hours gazing up and we dont want that now.

Olden day belief was your food turned poisonous if u eat during the eclipse cause a huge snake was gobbling up the sun (yes please laugh since i believed this when i was a kid and would starve and shut myself inside a room during an eclipse)

Hindu temples are strictly closed in the eclipse time, the floors are washed after it and then they do pooja. Some of us actually dont cook or eat or drink water at this eclipse time. the kitchen is cleaned and then cooking starts.

Was worried about the astrological thing since the eclipse plays havoc with the stars so its bad again. Wow always its bad and worse only why is that? oh that's how the astrologers mint money.

Friends called up to ask did u see it, its so great. I well just looked at the guys on the road looking up with special glasses and was not brave to look into the sky.

Long lost relatives

2010-01-15T15:47:00.004+05:30

Mum had been away for sometime to India. Was bored and thought i would call her for a chat. Had the usual how are u blah blah. Mum was sounding highly excited which is not a good sign for me.
Decided to ignore it and asked the doomed question of where she is.

Immediately she goes on about some relatives that i don't know and she is like u know them right and gives the phone to this relative.

After a strained conversation which was not going anywhere mum comes back on line.

I was like " mum dont do that, dont give the phone to strangers" (this was all in sinhala, since i have this wierd thought that I could be on speaker)

Mum : yes yes yes u can talk to his wife

she gives the phone to the lady of the house.

Did i mention that she does this all the time?

Three Idiots- Hindi Movie at Majestic

2010-01-07T23:20:00.003+05:30

A really good light hearted movie. I laughed so much and there were moments that make u think. There were moments which made me tear. A must watch and a good one for the year. It was taken very realistically of some colleges and students in India. Could easily identify myself as one of those college students who had a few gods pictures and praying inside the hostel room in the mornings. Its with English subtitles so well worth the watch. Its three hours long but you wont feel it go by. The last show is at eight pm.

I was doubtful about going for it but after reading its the highest grossing bollywood movie of the year and everyone going on and on about it. Had to go check it out myself.

The story is slightly related to chetan Baghats "Five point Someone". Have not read this one but read one of his other books and must mention he is one of the best promoted new authors in India. His publishers have done a great job of having his books promoted in most bookshops, well displayed and also sold for very cheap affordable prices.

Katharagama 2010!

2010-01-04T12:27:00.002+05:30

There I was on the annual pilgrimage to Katharagama. I was looking for signs of some sort to show me something about how my year is. Waiting at the entrance, we could not get in, there was huge crowds, was temporarily distracted by the kavadi dancers. They seemed so full of spirit dancing their cares away. A lady in front got posessed and started dancing. Kids were highly excited and wanted to join in the dance. Stopped them. The crowds were large in numbers due to the first weekend, no its always crowded. Two dogs started fighting and there was temporary panic. Held the kids tight. There was a two year old girl lost and crying for her parents. People from the temple led her away. So easy to lose yourself and belonging there. Went in with the crowds was pushed pulled was there for a few minutes. Still my mind was not at peace. It was just too short. I have so many things to ask for (although i know its not right that we should not ask god for things).

Next morning we went for the four thirty pooja. The gates were closed we were waiting with a small que. The weather was just right pleasantly cold. Yes katharagama was pleasant weather this weekend. It was not dry and hot as i always felt. We got into the temple just in time to wait for the five am pooja for the lord. I turned to look out, the crowds were there again. We had just made it on time. I looked at the beautiful face of Lord Muruga. I was going to start listing the things i wanted then i stopped. The clanging of the bells started. Suddenly i could not stay in there. The bells beating and the sound of the conch shell was making me dizzy. I was sweating maybe i should move out. But no i could not, the guy does the announcing was telling "dont move" repeatedly. For a moment i could understand how the women get possessed and lose their mind temporarily. It is so very easy. I stayed was feeling slighly ill, too much of heat and sound. looked again to the face of the lord. I felt he was looking at me. I just stayed with my prayers and a fear of fainting. Of course i did not faint and cause drama. I did not ask all the things i wanted. I realised that this year we will get the things we deserve. Isnt that always the case with life.

The last arathi and they gave us blessings turning around one of the priests smiled he gestured come forward and pray. That was the sign that I have been looking for...

Holy Cow - Book by Sarah Macdonald

2010-01-01T12:37:00.006+05:30

A hilarious and thought provoking book by an Australian traveller. I laughed out loud many times but learnt so much about different religions.

It makes you want to travel through India through the dust and heat to visit these places and feel the power of the almighty in different forms.

Ending the Year!

2009-12-28T16:15:00.003+05:30

What a better way to end this year than to get the flu. I shall not keep complaining about how bad the year 2009 was since complaining is not going to get me anywhere. Santas gift for christmas was a bout of very bad flu to the whole family.

Hope all of you are doing good!

Six year olds take on life!

2009-12-14T11:04:00.002+05:30

Over the weekend i took the kids to watch the movie Up. The movie was ok but this is the kind of thing the spoilt bunch of today need to watch. the first bit was cute where they had this cloud thing that had a Disney touch. the rest of the movie was so so.

S goes : Mummy who will i stay with if daddy and D die?

D (10year old) : i aint dying i am immortal ( god she is my kid all right)

S : no mummy what happens if they die.

Now strangely S does not broach about my death.

Me : sweety u will have your own family so u will be ok.

S : but mummy i dont want to be alone.

D : why is he talking about my death he is nuts.

I tried explaining he would have his own family and his sister was going to live until 100 and that maybe i will die too later. The explanation went all wrong.

Next day his buddy senaka is in love with ching hoo. Senaka the six year old has confided to S that he is definitely marrying ching and s can be the best man.

Next series of questions

S : mummy how can senaka and ching hoo marry. He is sri lankan and she is chinese. The mummys and daddys will fight and sisters and brothers.

Me : it does not matter u can marry anyone, senaka can marry ching if he wants.
S keeps on repeating the same thing about how the families are going to fight. This is due to overdose of watching Tamil movies i think .

Ching hoo seems to be the catch here since Alex is also in love with her. Year 2 these days seem to be really drama filled.

Treasure Island!

2009-12-08T19:03:00.006+05:30

Was on a day trip to kandy last week. In a specific area it was amazing to see tea plantation, and just parallel a small patch of cloves and pepper.

So this Island of ours has a gold mine of natural resources. Spanning from tea, rubber, gemstones to spices. In spices you get a variety like no other. Cloves, Black pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Mace. As if this wasnt enough we can also trade in coconut and cashew nut.

We also manage to produce some of the worlds brands like gap,M&S,Victoria secrets and Next to name a few.

I think i have not done justice to many other things that the country is blessed with. Hopefully the future will be bright and we will tide over our economic and political dilemmas in the coming years.

Naming and re-naming!

2009-12-08T12:44:00.004+05:30

Its almost the year end. What a horrendous year it has been and am i glad its over. In the end of last year after an astrological meeting my mum made me add a h in my name. My mom is with the astrologer every week like a hobby trying to figure out the betterment of our life. He is full of ideas and the last bright idea was changing my name.

I laughed it off and ignored it. Mum was in argument that she named me that she could change my name. She had rights. I argue that i am an adult that nobody but myself should change my name if i chose to. Anyways whatever u do u know how mom is always right.

In a moment of sheer desperation i added an H in my name and complicated it. Was teased enough with everyone huffing with H in my name and pronouncing it wrong.

H was suppose to bring me harmony, happiness, health, hope and a home. For all those who are laughing (i am laughing too so its ok u can laugh), i added the H thinking i will find it.

Yesterday i was feeling helpless, hopeless and a lot of hatred with life(horrible too if i may add). It was a light bulb moment. I decided to take off the H. I did not huff about it i silently took it off.

If u are adviced to add an extra e in your name for excitement,energy trust me u will end up feeling like an eejit in the end of it.

Mums changed her name too and it sounds all wierd. I am not going to upset her by my announcement of dropping the h. It was silent when it came and it shall leave with a blog post in honour of it..

Getting Made up!

2009-12-04T19:50:00.004+05:30

So there I was at a family function and saw my brother walking right past me and asking a cousin where I was.

The cousin said why she is here. Brother looked at me startled and said hi and had a chat and went off. Poor B he must be losing his eye sight thought I. In a growing wiser moment i was wondering how we are going to find him a bride with the eyesight going too.

Later this week the pics were up in face book. So i was looking at the cousins and there was a woman i did not quite recognise. Why on earth have they tagged me as her. Whats happening with the world i wondered. After two whole minutes i realised all the picture of the woman were tagged as me. Holy Cow it was me. Damn damn i was made up to the nines that i could not recognise myself. I looked like a prize cow. Ok ok not a cow should not put myself down. I had a ridiculous amount of make up on, like the whole salons worth of face powder on me.

Then i realised in the hurry of getting ready i had taken off my contacts and gone tp the salon got myself made up. Checked it in bad lighting with no lens. Decided i looked a right babe (but om true sense blown it by looking like jojo the clown). Paid money for this crap. Never in my life am i going to get made up at a salon again!

By the way trust me when your cousins say oh u look great with that fake smile dont trust them. Always check the mirror befor u step out with your glasses on.

Making Mistakes!

2009-11-30T09:21:00.003+05:30

Why is it that the human mind does not get alerted to signals of mistakes?

I have been doing the same muddle some mistakes over a period of time knowing that its not going to get me to a higher level. When the mind presses the alert button its like jumping a traffic light and going ahead anyways. Regret comes later but then its too late.

So how do we stop the mind from making mistakes. Do meditation (mind cant anyways stay at one place so that's out). Mediate (I am no Eric solheim and look where he went?). Patience(that's one character i was not born with or not going to develop in the near future). Learn from the mistakes (i think i learn and then do my own thing anyways).

I have come to the conclusion that my writing a post at least its out there in the open that I am in fact not perfect (as i have been assuming to be) and maybe someone will come out with a profound solution for my dilemma?

So whats your take on the mistakes u make ?
Do u learn or let it be.
Or are u also in a delusion like me that i am so right!

Me and my Id!

2009-11-19T10:45:00.006+05:30

Was having coffee with some friends, I quickly took my handbag to go to the counter.

Friend : why are u carrying your bag leave it..

me : My id is in there, I hardly leave it around

Friend : The things you tamil people have to worry about.

It made me think, yes i am so very obsessed about my wallet. What if it goes missing and i lose the id. Infact, i did lose it trying to do some charity that is another story alltogether.

My obsession with the id started as soon as i got back to colombo from college. I panic if i get into a car and i dont have my wallet. If you lose your id it is a long tedious process to get another one.
Although i am disorganised with everythign else and forget stuff, when i switch hangbags like three times a week i always remember the ID.

I think if there is an alarm or fire i would grab the kids and my id, maybe my passport too.

I think its an identity crisis! So my prized possesion is an id (thats so very sad!)

The Letter!

2009-11-18T14:00:00.012+05:30

Thanks Scrumpy for the tag...

Hey there,

I know u love getting letters and beleive in ghosts. SURPRISEu this is a letter from your 33 year self. Dont throw it away, rolling your eyes since u think u will never get THAT old. And no i am not the ghost u are looking for, to give a sign that u should kill yourself.

The thought of death and suicide will come to u many a time in the coming decade. Except for the bit where u swallow some piriton tablets in your twenties and dont die, u are going to be ok.

Your family will be cuckoo as it is now, they will grow into older cuckoos in the years to come. Nope your mum and dad wont settle into a happy marriage anytime in the next few decades but they are going to be ok. Try to spend more time with your grandma.

Your best freind and you will stop talking for about 6 years. Yeap thats going to happen and dont worry u will get in touch on and off in the later years and reconnect thanks to facebook (no i wont even go into explaining what that is u will find out). U will meet M and P in college and they will be two great supports to call to in your later years.

Remember the new senior(who happens to be from your community), u do a double take and run out of maths to check out from the stairways. You will be seeing quite a bit of him in your future years. I know its so very exciting, but trust me u are in for one long parachute jump.

Dont drive the car to show off to the neighbourhood boys, u will cause "immense damage". They are not even worth it, they are losers! Concentrate on your A levels even though things are bad at home. Dont throw away the letter yet i am going to tell you about your boyfriends.

Oh yeah you heard me right. Your non existant social and love life will flourish and u will learn some lessons out of it. With all the heartbreak and tears u will be ok. In the years to come u will realise it is always better to love and lose than not loved at all.

The short time in college will be the best time of your life literally cause the years to follow will take a toll on you. The nerdy guy from your community, in college, u should give him a chance. Later in your life you will run into him and he would have turned into mr.charm and lost his nerdy self. U might hit yourself but thats not right since u will be married.

Marriage hemm what advice can i give u about that. Nothing is going to prepare u for that jump and u will fall into this big puzzle which u will try to figure out in the coming years.The period between 22 to 30 u will have temporary amnesia and become a door mat(refer dictionary). Its ok cause M n P will pull u out of it when u meet them a good decade later.

Your priorities of a big house with a swimming pool in the states might become a distant dream cause u wont be making that kind of money nor travel to the states ( or learn swimming).

you will re assess your moral values later in life and learn that you will be tolerant of anything.

Chose freinds wisely in your twenties cause u will find out that they can be big time B's in that crowd. Its all not a lost cause and strife. U will have some happy and funny moments.

Go easy on the shopping you wont have space to fit all that in your wardrobe and it will always be messy. Dont use the hair dryer to scrunch dry so much and do not chop your long hair off.

Whatever you do dont forget to be the woman you are! Smile a bit more, laugh heartily and live life.

Although the rules are only to tag two i have to tag four because my sixteen year old self would have done just that

I tag : Indyana, Lost soul, Lady Divine and Surani.

For some reason this was one of the hardest posts which made me think quite a bit. I for one wish i had a time machine and could have gone back there and given a hint. But what is life if not for all the surprises it holds...

Tamil movie and song!

2009-11-08T11:23:00.004+05:30

Watched aadhavan at cinecity. Cousin said its kid friendly. At the start of the movie and was wondering what the hell was she on about. Was worried since i had taken five kids on tow. Sometimes u cannot take kids to tamil movies.
With vadivelu taking over as second hero it was hilarious. My seven year old niece was up and clapping away. Kids are so cute at times. movie was so so. Can watch once.

The song of the week that i have fallen in love is this, some songs make u go down memory lane.

Malai neram in ayirathil oruvan sung by the heroine andrea... the lyrics are so beautifully written...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS0-qn6dd6I

Halloween With the Kids!

2009-11-08T08:12:00.006+05:30

Last Saturday while I was busy doing something meaning sleeping but pretending to read. Where u are lying on the couch with a newspaper on your face. The kids announce they want to go trick or treating.

"Its Halloween mum, we have to go trick or treating"

Quickly did a check of the neighbours around. My up stair neighbour might have entertained the kids a bit and given them the sweets. The next door aunty G cant stand kids she always starts talking a few octaves higher when she sees anyone below three feet in height!

The front house has a Tamil family who always bang the gate shut whenever they see me, or run in with their kids when i step out. And for those who were wondering I am not Godzilla's sister.

The next house down the lane has an old man who is mentally unstable. The ones before i mentioned are quite sane infact. He always pretends he is in court and when he sees me always makes it a point to shout " She is guilty my lord". Again I am not a convict.

The ones behind might just decide that the beggars are dressed strangely and chase us away.

Now i did not want to dash the spirit of the poor kids. I did not want to risk being tricked. Kids can be smart and u can get into one or two sticky situations that u cant get out of. I told them we can trick or treat with the cousins later sometime. D is smart she wanted to fix dates. I was vague, i am smart too.

Later in the evening it was pouring like crazy so told them some spooky stories. Got caught out again with them since they started writing Santa's letters. D does not believe in Santa but writes a beautifully decorated letter without fail every december. She was cheeky to tell me that Santa might be busy with his job so she is sending it off earlier.

last year mrs.claus was not happy getting a letter demanding for the latest kids gadgematic two days before christmas. Mrs. Claus who was broke due to excessive shopping and had to spend her savings yet again to keep two kids happy.

Yes its christmas next month odel has started the decor with red carpet and all. On another note facebook was full of kids dressed in cutesy outfits trick or treating and visiting pumpkin patch in states and some other countries.

The hunt continues..

2009-11-07T07:56:00.003+05:30

The next morning we are suppose to leave to Chennai, the phone rings. Its my dad again. He advises us to leave immediately and visit another temple and get back to Chennai quickly. Since he thinks the girls father F is going to turn up and stop us leaving the town. The family has been watching too many Tamil movies.

Again the phone rings its F

F : I want to know what your brother spoke to my daughter.

Me : Uhm i think we should just drop it and we will see later

F : NO i want answers actually I came in the morning to meet your brother but ended up meeting Uncle insteadNow the brain was in high alert, this guy has turned up in the morning and i have somehow missed it. Did he come with the goons and swords or something. Am i never leaving this village oops town ever.

I rush to find my brother its like losing him in a village carnival. He was there all right with a now what look in his face.

Quickly explain that we have to leave that F is not going to take a NO. B is in better moods and laughs and says this is indeed a circus now. Then go in search of the uncle who takes ages to come out.

F had turned up and demanded to see B, luckily ended up with Uncle character. Uncle had said I think you should check if your daughter is ready for this. F had argued and anyways to put it in short version. F was not a happy man.

Now F in the past weeks had become good friends with my mum and been calling her his long lost sister and crap. Mum seemed to have got carried away too. Mum was like a rabbit caught in a headlight scene. Not her fault i mean how was she to know this but this man was trying to convince her that B did not understand Tamil and got the story wrong.

The girl could not speak much English but B can speak Tamil and she had clearly told her love story to him so there was no miscommunication going there.

On our way to another temple for an hour. F called us so many times telling its a communication error and we should fix it.

In a way now I feel sorry for the girl, because F is a nutcase and he would force marry her to someone else by January. He would do it just to prove us that he was right. Parents being too strict can also cause issues like this.

When I was small i was brainwashed into the belief that it will only be an arranged marriage i think same goes with B. With my kids it never came up but recently my ten year old has been asking me so many questions in this whole system, caste and stuff. I explained and told her when the time comes that is when she is twenty five she can find someone herself. She says she wants to get married the way we all did. I think this is a culture which gets into you as a child watching others....

AM 3

2009-11-06T16:15:00.009+05:30

Now i cannot really call tuti a village anymore after discovering that a few bloggers are actually descendants from the city. So taking all that back in respect of them.

B comes out in about ten minutes of chatting. Yes folks thats all we get ten minutes of prime time to chat and make your decision. Actually you are lucky if u get that much cause usually they dont allow this private meetings in traditionaly indian arranged marriages.

After another few minutes of chit chat it was time to leave. So we are leaving i quickly waved to the grandma i really liked her. She seemed to have got fond of me also big smile again.

We get into the car and its just six pm quick decision to visit the world renowned murugan temple. Its a one hour drive so we are all inside the car. There is pin drop silence I am jumping up and down making frantic gestures of shall we ask him. B is safely in front with the driver. If he saw me acting like a lunatic he chose to ignore. Uncle showed the eyes to tell me to keep quite. My mum poked me. So We were quite.

Off we were in the rainy foggy roads on a one hour drive to see the gods. For some reason was having notions of me dying on the crazy road. Yes Lost soul the roads are better but the accidents are famous. While my imagination was going crazy. B turns around

B: When we get to the temple I want a promise from all of you.

Me; Promise? Mum : promise? Uncle : promise? Aunty : (Ennathuuu) Whattt? (in tamil)
(the family is famous for repetition)

B : When her dad calls tell no, She has a boyfriend but we cant mention it.

Me : Boyfriend? Mum : boyfriend? Uncle : Boyfriend? Aunty : (ennathuuu) Whatt?

Driver : WHATTTT ???

B : driver promise u wont repeat this

Mum had recovered from the shock and bursts out crying. I was upset. Good lord we had come a long way and i was not ready to get back to colombo to give this story. I was upset for B to whom it must have been difficult. I was pissed at the girl for not telling the story earlier.

B : do you all promise

Me : No i break the blooming promise, her dads going to call us and what am i to tell him

B : tell that i dont like her simple dont tell about the love affair.

Now b is a nice guy, We are not that nice my mum was making mouthing gestures we have to tell, I had decided to tell ( yes when it concerns my sibling i can be a cow) Uncle was looking dejected. aunty was looking lost since we have to explain it all over to her again. Driver looked shocked. Wow what a story to spread in the grapevine.

The phone rings, mum takes one look at it and throws it at me. Its HIM. Thats my dad we have to give him the explanation and he bursts out laughing. I get a text from d and dh. Quickly text them its a no go.

Again the phoen rings its him the other him her dad. He goes " I want to come and fix dates since everything ok for us"

Me : We are going to temple and will be back really late so can I call u tomorrow.

He : No I am coming whatever time u are back we have to fix date now.
The man sounds mildly threatening...

Me : No we will call u afer we finish our prayers which might be very late like ten thirty so i shall call you tomorrow..

I hang up. now there is a debate going on about we should tell him the truth to B being adamant that we make a promise when we go to temple to him.

I get off near the temple and say i make a promise i wont promise u anything. I dont give a damn about a stranger that we met only for ten minutes. I realised why i was more angry. It was disrespectful to get down three elders who were her parents age to come from far away if she had someone else in her mind. Whatever her situation was for me at that point it was selfishly obvious whose side I was on.

Village Bride -2

2009-11-06T10:29:00.010+05:30

So off we went to the house and were welcomed by the parents and old toothless grandma. I was busily signalling the grandma, poor B was confused. I did not want him to mix up that to be the bride. I meant chaperon check. So we were seated and making small talk. There is this old Indian saying that u can judge a girl by seeing her mom. The brides mum was slim and very beautiful. They must have got it wrong with me and mum since there is no resemblance going there.

Getting back to the story. The Brides dad was talking non stop. I looked at B, he was looking pained. I mean this man was droning on and on about anything and everything. Quickly scanned the living room and saw more photos of the girl. She looked nice. Kept signalling to B again. Sadly grandma was seated with the photos and B was looking confused. Grandma big toothless grin again. After a good half an hour the bride came.

She was beautiful and so innocent looking. I looked at B could see he was impressed. Looked at my mum she gave me this So proud look of i have done it,at last found her. And I was planning out the wedding in my head.

Anyways uncle asked permission if they could talk. Brides dad was all jumping up and saying yes of course let them talk in the next room. We must of course let them decide. While the girl and B were being ushered the brides father gets up and says " you should please accompany".

There I was looking at grandma and rolling my eyes to B to say chaperon coming up when i realised B was telling me to come.

Wait the lines are all wrong. They were sending me as a chaperon. What about grandma? Another toothless grin from the grandma.

Suddenly I hear a soft voice is it from my head. Nope it was the Bride.

Bride : Dad I will speak to him alone

That's settled then B and the bride are off for a chat...

The Village Bride-1 !

2009-11-06T06:41:00.004+05:30

The long search took us to the deep village of India to see a prospective bride. Viewing of brides is strictly after horoscope match, photo viewing and checking the family references. Almost like a job but a different take altogether.

B was coming after like 20 or more years, and I was going after seven years. Village has turned into city and everything was lush and green paddy fields. Not. It was all dry zones all over and loads of wild trees which had not seen rains for months but looked like years. The minute we stepped into the long car drive it was pouring, good sign i thought.

I was only a one night stop and the bride visit was that evening. I gave my views to B that he wont be allowed to tall to her alone, they would most likely send an old grandma to chaperon.

B Looked a bit put off that he has to be chaperoned. These were all guesses mind you. I mean although India is developing and blah blah. There is a small percentage which still goes for arranged marriages inclusive of my family. I was busy doing a probability chart for B to show him what percentage would agree to this and came up with a fraction where he would be chaperoned to talk to the girl in a village. Doing fractions with a kid at home helps. I can give crazy statistics probability charts in a minute and convince people.

After giving B some wierd stories about crazy girls in the bride hunt that other cousins went to which were true stories but need a separate post and scaring him I was lost in thought.

B : U know its done i am going to say yes

Me : what ? we have not seen

B : After listening to your stories I am more scared than ever we cant be travelling all the way. I think we should wrap it up I will say yes. You have been spending too much time on this so its the End.

Poor B sounded dejected like a traveller who had walked a 100 miles uhm not really but u know what i mean.

Just before going that evening I was lost in thought, I was not really happy with this pick. Who am I to judge a person i had never met. I felt sorry for B that he was just saying yes to save us the hassle of travel.

On another note so many of my friends have been asking why cant he just find someone. B seems to be caught up in the fascination of arranged marriage and all the works. Recently I have discovered that he seems to respect our tradition and culture more that I ever did. I have also come to discover he is a better person that I am.
B also wants to make my parents happy by agreeing to have them search someone.

People watching -1 at a seminar

2009-10-21T10:25:00.003+05:30

Went to a seminar last week and made these random observations.

1. I counted the number of people attending the seminar, there were 40 women to about 162 men. What kind of fractions is that?

2. I think only 1/4 of the lot were really paying attention and the rest were there cause office sent (including me)

3. Some people get up and ask questions thinking they are so clever but ask real dumb ass ones. why is that

4. In colombo if u go to any different type of seminar u are bound to run into someone u know.

5. before they wrap up the seminar about 3/4 of the people walked out although there was no delay whatsover.

6. a man seated in front was just turned and staring for the after interval part of the seminar. not flattering to oneself since it was stalker like stare. old uncle in front was looking this way that way this way and that way.

Rags To Riches- The play

2009-10-19T11:00:00.003+05:30

Went to punchi theatre last week to watch the above play. It was actually three plays rags to riches, monkey man and riches to rags. This was at the punchi theatre. First time i have been to punchi theatre and to neluka silvas production. Punchi is small alright, but its charming and I was totally fascinated by the whole interior.

The actors and actresses were 8 to 14 year old kids. It was a wonderful evening which made me laugh quite a bit. To be frank I walked in after a long tedious horrid day. Was so glad went for it cause was totally relaxed after watching the play. Have watched many kids plays in the past few years this was one play where i found she had really triedn to bring the kids acting skills to stage really well.

By the way my kids are not in her drama school, went cause wanted to take D There is not much entertainment for kids in colombo.

On the topic of kids, looks like swine flu has made its way into schools here. Oh well it was bound to happen i suppose.

This Deepavali!

2009-10-17T17:47:00.003+05:30

Obama seems to have made the world aware its deepavali today (like in Ireland cause my Irish friend wished me for the first time).. Obama is the one who gets mentioned most on face book status i think. Last week it was Obama and Nobel prize. This week its Obama and deepavali. In a good way this deepavali business is my opinion.

To quote M(NRI) on face book status : I finally know what Diwali is! Thank you Mr. Obama

The sweet was so soft,melting, delicious and i think i am the next tarla dalal(Indian domestic goddess)NOT. It was a disaster with a big D. I did not have time to make nothing else so did the keasari and prayed and went off to visit the relatives.

There was aahing and ooohing about all the dishes cousins had brought. I just left what was had ordered, lets face it i should not be competitive is the new mantra(whatever).

To sum up its been good deepavali new clothes, too much food, could not watch a new movie, but i am off to light some sparklers. Maybe not if there are crackers there..

May the festival of lights bring happiness to you!

Sweets, savouries and what nots..

2009-10-13T14:26:00.003+05:30

Its Deepavali this Saturday. My cousins, in laws and all the women relatives call me to check how i am. Not that i am ill or that they miss me. Its a usual scene where they check what delight i have tried cooking up. Give them a standard answer of nothing. They express understanding that i have work, no maid and normal routine of life. Ya right, although they are murmuring some understanding noises i can feel the sense of what a failure not making sweets.

All of them have started frying up murukus and the works since yesterday. What nonsense is this they should not be frying up a storm since its not healthy.Called up mum in India to ask what she is doing. She sounded a bit dazed and strange. knowing mum she is probably stocking up from the ready made sweet shops to bring it here and palm it off as homemade. I have a theory it could be genetic that i am not bothering too much about cooking deepavali delights.

Last night Dh mentions that his mum has started making deepavali sweets n savouries. So are u just making keasari (rulang sweet) for the prayers and he smiles. (maybe i am reading between the lines). anyways i got all annoyed that he assumes i am not making anything or maybe the fact that mil has started making stuff and i am not even doing nothing.

Suddenly felt all righteous and like i would fail the all Indian test of deepavali celebration or whatever. I have decided to make almond barfi and pakodas. Maybe the added fact of the kids saying, oh we dont make anything my mum buys it from this aunt who makes it, could have been another hit to my pride.

After browsing the net i have found the said recipes. Hope i don't burn the vessels too much...

Oh yes i have never made the barfi nor the pakoda. But nothing like trying :)

(argh i still have to order the sweets to be sent to relatives, nope i am not sending the stuff i am going to make, its only for my house purposes)

Rooster Tales!

2009-10-09T11:04:00.002+05:30

Was happily sleeping when the power went off last night. I guess we were the lucky ones who got it back again for about ten minutes and no power until just a few hours back. The mosquitoes were having a field day. Was drenched in sweat as if working out.

Tried to convince myself not to complain for power failure for half a night and be spoilt and to think of the people who dont have power all the time. After convincing failed since i am spoilt, was lying awake and counting mosquitoes i mean sheep.

Spot on at five twenty our neighbours rooster started crowing (i think thats the word?)

DH : what the hell is that

Me : our neighbours rooster

DH : when did the neighbour get a rooster

me : He has had it for ages it crows every morning at five thirty.
(god men i tell u they dont even notice the rooster call in the morning since they are snoring and fast asleep)

Rooster was crowing non stop like for half hour. I think he was really affected by the power cut, not Dh but the rooster.

DH : I am going to throttle the rooster, tell it to shut up.

Me : i cant speak rooster language. U cant throttle it since we are vegetarian and we cant kill animals ( except mosquitoes that does not count anyways)

Dh looked ready to throttle me, it was time to get out of bed. Peeped out the rooster crowed a bit more when it saw me. Surely it could not have got frightened?

New Shop on Ward Place!

2009-09-24T22:49:00.004+05:30

So latest buzz is there is a new place opening up in ward place which is going to have a flowershop, a coffee shop, a saree shop, jewellery, and house hold stuff like i guess artsy furniture coming up in october...

A new age life-style store is what i heard ( no not the lifestyle store in india but u know what i mean)

There is this big hype about it.. lets sit back and see whats on offer (at least window-shop if not anything else )

The BIG Saturnal Change!

2009-09-24T22:44:00.004+05:30

There is a big astrological change on this saturday that is tomorrow! So all those who beleive in astrology and stuff (i.e DD ) this might be the big CHANGE we are looking for. ok i better stop i am beginning to sound slighly demented.

But yes the stars and signs that we are born in play a major role in how our life takes its course. I used to question it, believe it, then go half half. But this one on saturday is what i am having all my bets on for cause its suppose to be really good.

yes many times i have seen changes happening in stars and nothing profound in my life but somehow trying to be positive about this.

My dads been anticipating this saturnal change so much and is so very excited about it (yes it runs in the family!).

B will get hitched at last after this it seems (but then again last year they said the same thing but never mind he can celebrate his 25th Birthday in peace this year)

Me hemmm i hope to be going places well if not anywhere far at least to odel to just be happy about it..... (havent been there in ages, i think i am turning over a new leaf)

With the cops!

2009-09-24T21:57:00.005+05:30

“If you saw ME in a police car what would you think I got arrested for?”
thanks to chaar it seems i have been arrested for suggestive gestures and disturbance of law and order in the colombo traffic... a very likely situation....

Well Basically this is the tag, three stories on bloggers who would be found in a cops car for various Crimes that they are about to or could or would commit ...

LD : for being too kind, she would quite possible in the police car only to help someone out or accompany a person.. no arguements there...

DD : For loving his paradise ardently (paradise = sri lanka)

Kingducky : with a header like that she is asking to get arrested :)

U guys have to continue this tag.. if confused what all this is about check out chaar-max's post......

Chennai Circus 1 !

2009-09-17T19:27:00.004+05:30

So with the backpain and slipdisc prolapse all the works we took off early saturday morning. Anyone with the above pain can take a risk cause flying srilankan in and out will slip the disc right back to where it was. Take off was like on a roller coaster (gone wrong) landing was rain clouds (like this bumpy car ride).

I was in so much pain when we landed and was the last to walk out. B was wondering why i was walking like an aachi but was worried by the time we went to collect our luggage.

Yes i forgot the bit in the morning where my dad freaked out when he saw the size of my suitcase for two nights. it was big just in case u know there is an emergency or whatever...

Just after i landed the kids were missing me and crying for me and demanding me back (thats also part of my dream). They did call me that was only to insist that whatever happens they need a gift back each and were more well behaved than i am around. It was kind of wierd being without the bag and baggage (kids and DH). Just being with my brother B was painful for him since i was being difficult.

Chennai was hot dusty and gave this feeling of being back home but not really there. I always get that feeling when i land there. Went to temple and was accosted by the beggars and B was busy giving money and I ran off cause they can get violent and can grab your hands off. B called me wicked and bad. The beggars were chasing him all the way to the car even after giving them money...

Bride Watch!

2009-09-11T12:50:00.002+05:30

As the hunt has been going on for ever we seem to have found some probable brides at last. Then comes the part of the groom and bride meeting. So i get a call from my mother in law that they are going to see a bride for the brother in law this weekend. Soon after i get a call from mom that they are going to see someone for B.

No really it couldnt be the same bride, as if there is not enough drama.

after a mix up of calls and conversations where i did not get half of what anyone was saying no its two different brides and blah blah

this bride watching is not like a bird watching but boring. A bunch of relatives go to the brides house and see her and eat vade and drink coffee. Then the bride and groom get to talk to each other with chaperoning or without... (depends on the moods of the people)

should be an interesting weekend and the circus begins.......

Books that make u Cry!

2009-09-09T15:39:00.003+05:30

First they killed my father by Loung Ung. It was terrifying to read but kept me awake to finish the book.

Genocide by the khmer rouge army in Cambodia, A kids narrative of it all..

Have decided pain becomes bearable when u think of some people surviving different levels of pain...

a friend who visited Cambodia mentioned that some of the taxi drivers there were kids and had seen it all. To think that it was not really that long ago...

So it breaks!

2009-09-08T15:02:00.003+05:30

Last weekend i wrote a post about love and said something like going through pain...

The same night i set out to do the weekly shopping, get back home and bend down to pick up a bag. A shooting pain shot out from my back to my leg. I could not walk stand nothing. The severe pain was comparable to child birth (it was that painful). Quickly hopped and managed to take an ibuprofen and get to sleep. I was twisting and turning cause it just would not give. Woke up in the mornign to find my face swollen like a gorilla (no offence). Thanks to ibuprofen which i am allergic to.

Went to the doctor and he had diagonosed the beginning of a slip disc and put me in an awful lot of painkillers. its been a hard two days of physical pain which scares me. I made the kids meals and went into my room and cried in pain. It was terrible. I felt like my world had come to an end (yes i can be a tad dramatic). of course he has said no to aerobics, yoga, bending, twisting. He has said yes to walking but not right now.

LD has given hope that it does get better and i can start all activities after two months.. right now it looks hopelessly bleak..

Love is.....

2009-09-05T12:20:00.002+05:30

Thanks DD and LD for tagging me ( i love getting tagged yes i know i have told many times)

So here goes :

Love is

your parents hiding their tears at your wedding...

Crying like a river and my grandma Telling me to shut up and get on with life at my homecoming....

Holding your newborn and thinking how on earth was i capable of creating this miracle..

Your Daughter introduces you to every single friend at school and says this is my mom and she is so cool...

when your brother calls you up randomly to ask "how are you really"

Best friend from school being able to continue your friendship from where u left it off so many years ago.. (through face book hurray to fb)

Talking to M and P and telling all the bad things i have done and them not being judgemental..

when you both look at each other across a crowd and you know that u are going to work it out somehow...

My six year old sitting on my lap everyday for five minutes before he goes to school...

kids kissing you good night...

spending your saved handbag money to buy him a gift....

sacrificing dreams and beliefs just to be there for your love..

going through the pain and heartbreak just to make it work...

I dont think i have even done half of what love is... cause its a subject which can run into so many blog posts...

I tag : Chaarmax, Serendib Isle, the one who eats cookies, scrumplicious, lost soul, eppie, bimal and whoever else reads this post :)

I want to add more to this but there are four kids pretending to be red indians and i might lose the bit of love i have left...

Thought For the Day!

2009-09-04T19:49:00.002+05:30

after a long skype conversation with Australian M, the conclusion is ....

" You can never be too thin nor too rich"

School, flu and the blues

2009-09-03T14:51:00.003+05:30

I am so paranoid about this swine flu business getting into schools here. I know as sri lankans we should be more worried about the dengue business than swine flu. But then again so many kids have been travelling and on vacation. school is a place where kids can easily pick it up. What with india having cases in large numbers should we not be a bit more alert about it. or am i worrying about the unknown as usual?

then of course this busines of the lady who had gastric bypass and died. I was so upset after reading it. No i was not booked for one, but i did think i will get a tummy tuck once i save all that money (trust me the tummy is never the same after child birth). yes i know u have to work out and not take the easy way out under the knife for a bit of vanity . It is tempting since I suspect most of the flat tummy yummy mummies have done it.

Back in Shool!

2009-09-03T13:12:00.002+05:30

So the kids are back in school after two whole months of vacation. S who is going into year two is a bit unhappy since he has got two strict teachers.

collecting his new books he could not temporarily see anything i was panicking about his eye sight but it was just a shock of a different sort.

S: mum they have given the wrong books

Me : they have (check the book it seems ok)

S: yes they have given me year seven stuff i am only in year two

Went to pick him up after his first day and a bunch of other moms asked him how his day was

S: Bad very bad

oh dear i think we have a long year ahead!

Various......

2009-09-02T11:04:00.004+05:30

The past two days this week i have been chased by two buses overtaking each other and making my life miserable. (my car was in between these two buses) . I cant seem to get rid of them until we reach some sort of junction.

So when today a bus gave way to turn i did a double take and was looking around to make sure it was me that he was giving way for... Then the bus driver winks.. (yes its u i have bestowed the honour of not running over today.)

Speaking to M the college friend
M : My life is a treadmill
Me: U mean u have been working out nonstop
M : I have been walking all the time, its like walking and walking and more walking. Though i would ride a bike for a change and tried to run over an eighty year old woman.

(M just moved to australia to do her masters.)

I was laughing so much after talkign to her..
only excitement i had in return to tell her was how i got home from work , cooked dinner and fell asleep on the couch. Pathetic..

Hurray that we got the long weekend..

Perfect Marriage?

2009-08-28T14:36:00.003+05:30

I get a text this morning while driving to work from a friend

Friend : Is there something called a perfect marriage?

Me : Nope

Friend : so whats the point

While trying to not get run over by the 178 bus guy while driving and texting i was thinking for a minute did i give the wrong answer. I cannot generalise and answer no but my answer might come from my experiences. Quickly think of my immediate circle of relatives and friends and No i was right on there. I could not think of a perfect marriage. Since there is no such thing as a perfect person?

again she sends me the same text: whats the point ( she needed quick answers for which i am a bit clueless)

At traffic light quickly send the answer of " THe kids"

i dont know if she was convinced by what i said but she replied back " yeah i guess u are right"

Felt kind of bad maybe i should have texted some cheesy positive things but i gave my opinion.

Texted back saying "it will pass..." ( i must say i come up with profound answers NOT)

Maybe i should read up some books or something since this is the third person asking marital advice this week.

Sound of Drums at three am!

2009-08-27T15:12:00.002+05:30

Fast asleep and i slowly wake up for the steady sound of drums being played. Quickly grab the alarm clock and its exactly three am. I was slightly confused if it was the burglars again for the fifth time or am i hearing things. Lie back on the pillow and there goes a different drum beat. Maybe someones having a kind of late party or what...

Then suddenly get panicked what if its the tsunami alert or something. I have no idea where these ideas come from. I dont know how an alert sounds but this was wierd surely this must be it. Quickly wake up DH who is like a polar bear in hibernation but how to blame him its three twenty.

me : " Do u hear the sound i think its a tsunami alert"

DH : "no no thats the korean drum beat while they are praying, its prayer time for them"

( i kid u not i was worried about the mans explanation what the hell, what korean drum beat)

Me : What there are no koreans in the neighbourhood

Snore snore ( the man is sleeping again )

God thought i will sort this out and decided to check it out. So open the balcony and wow there is loud drum beating like a perahera carnival sort of thing and lights. This is on main galle road i think. Since i am awake i thought i ll get the security of the apartment to check what it is. Peep down and the fellow is fast asleep. Call him like five times and he does not wake up. Great this is the guy who is going to save the apartment and wake up and warn us if there is an alert or fire or anything.

Get back to bed and count sheep...

Shopping for the vacation!

2009-08-04T12:39:00.003+05:30

I am away on vacation which was a bit suddenly planned last week. Going on vacation meant new clothes. Made a promise to myself that i wont buy anything when i am in europe since all the clothes go from here anyways only to find out what if i do find something from brazil or mexico that i might need, i might buy. (tough life so promise broken while made)

Found a nice pair of ballet flats to wear on vacation with the brand name "nothing else" only to find they give nothing but pain. I am not wearing sneakers and look like an american tourist in europe. ( might regret once i land there since the feet are already killing me)

Unnecessarily told DH i wont shop. He kept asking are u sure, are u sure like ten times. once when someone asks this so many times u are bound to get confused. browsed the net and was horrified to find out that bags cost the whole of our ticket to fly return. logically thinking i am sure there are places where people buy unbranded stuff so shall try to discover.

oops the whole point being is going on holiday to bond with the family and look at new places and visit museums and eurodisney and not be vain and buy new clothes...

I Miss..

2009-07-24T13:51:00.002+05:30

I miss the

Kids stories
The book reviews
The tamil videos
Hongkong update
general update

I miss Indyana...

The Family Portrait!

2009-07-20T13:00:00.003+05:30

Send the little one forcibly to art camp last week. He came back with this family portrait which had four aliens.

I think i looked decent (if i should say so myself) except for the bright orange outfit i was wearing which gave a traffic cone gone wrong effect ( should get rid of all those bright orange outfits soon people might mistake i am some sort of guru) S himself was a stick alien.

DH and D seriously need some boot camp. Their legs and hands were big and pudgy and they were like big chubby aliens let lose.

Pointed it out to DH and no surpise he did not find it funny...

Pigeon Island - Trinco Diary

2009-07-14T13:06:00.002+05:30

There is this tiny island that u can see right across the sea from nilaveli beach. The resort has its own boat but there are some private guys having their own boats u can negotiate a reasonable amount and make the trip. Early morning around eight is ideal time to get there. Sadly there are no pigeons only crows (wonder why its called pigeon island). u can walk around the island climb rocks and snorkell.

Snorkelling is best done on the other end of the island which is like a small walk. Since the end you get off is always having people being dropped off. I cant swim at all but I did try my hand at snorkeling and it was amazing.

There was so many coloured fish and beautiful corals... wow... Nothing like the hikkaduwa in the glass bottom boat. There are beautiful shades of corals. Nearly had a heartattack when there was a huge fish which appeared right at my face. I think the sea life looks huge with goggles. I screamed spluttered water and i think the fish had a fright too...

There was this one fish which i cant get out of my mind pure white and glass like. somehow stuck in my mind...

Had to stop the bit of snorkelling after friends started discussing different deaths in the sea.......

Koneswaram Temple- Trinco Diary

2009-07-10T13:04:00.003+05:30

Thirukoneswaram Temple one of the oldest temple mentioned in a thevaram by the nayanmars( prayers sung by special poets). It is of great historical value.

Its situated in a beautiful rugged hill (which also has some history with relation to ravana) not really sure about the story.

Temple was full of people who had travelled from far away tangalle, matara, matale adn so on. I felt blessed to be there at this so powerful temple. Outside the temple we could look down at the sea. Boats going out to fish would come near this huge rock and break coconut to the temple and start their journey. I think the ten minutes I was there looking down at the sea saw many boats coming and leaving.

Monkeys were running around freely and grabbing things if not careful. Was worried that my bag would be taken away and clutched it tightly. Saw deer and almost screamed and scared the poor fellow away. He seemed to be enjoying the attention and was very close.

at the bottom of the hill we saw loads of tamil inscriptions on rocks and a fish symbol. Read up the history of it and it was very interesting..

Another temple where hindus and buddhists come in large numbers and pray together.

Nilaveli - Trinco Diary!

2009-07-09T12:36:00.003+05:30

If someone talks about nilaveli beach dont think they are exaggerating.
White sands, green blue water (no justice to the colour) , pure white shells and maldives island locally. Thats what its all about...

Again a contrast in nature nothing like our beaches downsouth. You will find a difference in the way the waves hit you and the currents (which are pretty strong i must say)

Nilaveli beach resort- rest and recreation in one package. They light these bonfires by the beach and thats about it. There is no music or dancing or u know the party works. Very laid back and all about having a quite evening.

The resort is fully booked in the weekends.

The food is ok but the chefs are very friendly and willing to help us out if we need something made.
Everyone has access to the nilaveli beach right next to the resort. There are busloads of people coming in from colombo, matara, matale and so on. When u step out in the morning there is no body and then in a couple of hours its a load of people (literally thousands). They are littering the beach like no tomorrow (very worrying).

Kantale - Trinco Diary

2009-07-08T11:22:00.004+05:30

Wow. Is all I can say about the beaches in trinco. The travel time is not bad but the roads from Habarana onwards are being done. I guess in the next six months when the carpeted roads are ready the travel time will be shorter. Did not see any wild elephants since road works going on they dont venture i guess. Loads of monkeys some deer and birds were all that i saw.

Kantale - stretch is amazing. One side of the road is the huge kantale dam and right across the road is amazing paddy fields. I mean the scenery is such a beautiful contrast in colour and nature. Blessed we are for such a scenic island.

More on trinco, nilaveli later....

Night at the Museum- 2

2009-07-02T22:20:00.003+05:30

Took the kids to watch the movie at liberty. I think the nine year old and I enjoyed it so much and laughed too much. Six year old was a bit blank he really not get the jokes ( he laughed and then looked pretty confused why he was laughing)

Watching the historical characters and listening to their dialogues was hilarious and cute. The theatre was a handful of families with kids and quite an amount of couples making out as usual. Six year old was more interested to watch the couples than the movie. Fascinating stuff indeed...

I think i liked this as much as i liked the part one......

Black Clouds!

2009-06-19T19:32:00.003+05:30

The black clouds have settled over wherever i go! Bit worried that they might break open a torrential downpour. But dodging as best as i can... (should take up some sort of dodging game)

Will the misery ever end? or is this how life is cut out for? it gets better last summer was fairly more depressive (is that even possible)

all the cousins and friends have been asking what is the treat for the birthday if only anyone had a clue of the black clouds that have settled...

This Flu Business

2009-06-17T12:02:00.003+05:30

Get a call from the school that the six year old S is sick. For some reason they did not have my mobile number (which has been clearly writted a hundred times to the teacher) and they call up DH. I was with DH at the time and could hear him having a long conversation with someone from school. with random questions thrown in to me like "is it ok to give piriton?"

While i was making frantic gestures like give the phone to me or should i pick the kid up. He hangs up and says no they say its ok to leave him. Get home in the evening and take the kid to the doc. i have to dedicate a whole post about the paediatricians who have no sense of time (and the gynos)in colombo.

get him some medicine and get home to have a call from DH u know they have detected swine flu. I think we should not send the kids to school.

( arent we being a wee bit too careful) i laughed it off and said we cannot keep them under lock and key they might still catch dengue or anything.

Wake up this morning and get call from Bestfriend " God that swine thing is here what do u think?"

Me : well dont worry the flu will run when they have to attack us. and only the good die young or get serious diseases we are safe.

friend : what do u kow about this case

so i update her what i know and she thinks i know these people personally. I read it in the blooming papers. God!

friend : I think we should be careful and not take the kids out much.

Right another one who thinks the same.

DH calls : we should put off our vacation till this is sorted.

me : what sorted ? u mean to sort out where we are heading

DH : no till the swine flu is under control.

arghhh there goes the vacation postponed by a month with destination nowhere.....

All in a days Work!

2009-06-06T07:29:00.003+05:30

Last evening was meeting up a bunch of people on some work. I was absolutely tired and worried that i was missing the aerobics lesson (ya my foot) and was not my usual alert self. The day starting off with getting in the wrong car as it is.

Go to the ladies and find a man in there with his back to me . It was definitely a waiter and i was like what the hell is this guy doing in the ladies toilet. What kind of a pervert. Now did not make a sound because i did not want him to turn around and do something wierd. (never mind). Quickly notice there were urinals. Why are they having urinals in the ladies. Now i must have been there for a bit anyways turn around to see this cute guy walking in. Stops and gives big smile. Holy shit i must be in the wrong toilet.

So i run out quickly and get to the opposite toilet. I quickly check the picture in it and turn and look at the mens its the same Picture that they had drawn. What the hell. Ok they had specified male/female but i looked at the picture definite male wearing a skirt. Now cute guy is still smiling. Can the floor open up and gobble me soon. rush inside and put my head in my hand and shout arghh. look up three posh girls staring at me and shaking there heads. (posh cows they should go into the mens and no what it feels like)

I come out and again cute guy is there with smile and trying to catch my eye. Look the other way and run to my table and he is walking behind me. OH lord is he going to try have a conversation or make a complaint about me.... (no nothing excitiing like that)

Jack point had commented about my absent mindedness. Looks like the brain is temporarily out of order...

Wrong Turn!

2009-06-05T10:17:00.000+05:30

Stepping out of school it started pouring this morning. Luckily saw the car approaching me and quickly get in behind to find someone else in the drivers seat. A moment of “()*$)(“*(.
Me : Who are you?
Driver : Thilakasiri
Me (god i am getting kidnapped, really thought that. Felt very worried, but then he wont be smiling and telling me his name righ t... Ya right my foot whose going to waste their time kidnapping me)
Tooting of horns behind and the guy moves forward with big smile and stops few yards away.
Now i am trying to open the door and jump out its locked.
Thilakasiri : Wait me open door. U car there. (points with finger cant see anything in the rain)
Oh god i had got into someone elses car and taken a drive without even realising until thilakasiri told me in his English. After a mumbled sorry get off to see the owner of the drenched car walking up and looking pissed.
Shouted sorry and went to my car parked some place else where driver was having a good laugh.