tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128405652024-03-12T22:30:16.654+00:00Me Time Thoughts, Feelings, Emotions, Opinions & much moreenigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-24166858681568187842015-10-15T13:47:00.000+01:002015-10-15T13:47:52.721+01:00Piku<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-mce-style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; line-height: 1.57143em; word-wrap: break-word;">I watched it... I loved it. I watched it again, I enjoyed it. I watched it yet again and laughed and cried like it was the first time and I happen to watch it once more and I didn't want to leave the comfort of my couch and the movie for anything else. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; line-height: 1.57143em; word-wrap: break-word;">Some films do that to you and Piku was definitely one. I have a few more movies like this which make it to the special list. This movie<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="line-height: 1.57143em; text-decoration: line-through;"> is</span> ( was- as it's taken me months to finish) so fresh in my mind that the thoughts had to be penned down. </span></div>
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Everything about Piku confirms it's my kinda film. I'm a total sucker for simple life moments. Routine can be boring to many, but I can put my hand on heart and say I am comfortable, cozy and happy with routine and in fact the lack of it sometimes can be disturbing. I just crave that feeling of surety that a routine brings. The routine in a common man's middle class life in India is totally relatable to my memories and that is precisely what I got out of Piku. </div>
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Irrfan and Amitabh are in full form with their performances. Who ever cast these 3 key characters has got it bang on. </div>
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I loved how modern the setting was - the conversations, the style of life very rooted, very Indian and yet open and modern. How I wished my family was like that! I loved how Bhaskor just openly says 'there are many reasons for me not to like you' to his sister-in-law. Does that really happen in a family? I am sure we can start a WW4 if that was said to anyone at mine!</div>
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The movie is constantly evolving and throwing something at you non-stop. The story can be a one liner, but the number of aspects of day to day life that it connects and reaches out to cannot be summed up. Whether it's about parents being selfish about what their children should do for them, or being the open-mindedness of a parent to let go and treat their child as an adult who can make decisions of their own, the clash between the members of -in-law families and the detached love and affection people have in nuclear families are well etched in the story. There is something to relate to in every other frame and so this movie, though a movie,an art of fiction rubs a warm sort of feeling every time I watch it.</div>
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If you haven't watched it and if you are one who gets mushy on simple life's day to day moments and mundane-ness go watch it!</div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-86793147329765199332015-08-24T16:57:00.000+01:002015-08-24T16:57:05.228+01:00London Diaries - Time for a Cuppa - Farm Girl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">So..Amma's here and I don't have a clue how the days are running past me. If there's anyone in this world who enjoys strolling through markets tirelessly and can do it over and over again and not complain or get bored, it has to be her. Well, I do know of a few others, but amma's enthusiasm is something else. </span><div style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
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We had reserved one afternoon for a lazy but thorough stroll around Portobello Market in Notting Hill, she remembered the little details of this place from her previous visit but we just had to go there again. </div>
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We left home after lunch as amma still doesn't prefer eating out here as the options offered on the table just don't live up to her taste buds, so a post lunch getaway is what we settled for. </div>
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We walked the entire length of Portobello road all the way from Notting Hill Station, stopping at most shops - Alice was a must, the map shop & the photo prints shop was ticked off too. We did a quick mandatory 'Cake stop' at the hummingbird bakery for the sweet tooth. After about 4 hours of wandering we headed back to Notting hill and was craving for a quiet little place where we could sit down, may be warm ourselves up and reflect on what we did. Yeah... I know that sounds too profound for a random walk in the market, but such places so unique calls for a bit of that.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJG3jdLnjwc/Vds9AmCqYGI/AAAAAAAAG_I/obHuhs5uKBk/s1600/image_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJG3jdLnjwc/Vds9AmCqYGI/AAAAAAAAG_I/obHuhs5uKBk/s320/image_7.jpeg" width="250" /></a>We stumbled upon Farm Girl for 2 specific things - the Wisteria creeper that grew on it's doorway (which is my new found love this season) and the writing on the wall. A bit of a weirdo here, but yes, this is exactly what made me walk in. </div>
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It was a quirky little cafe at first sight, a bit hippieish and spoke healthy, fresh, calm, colourful, everything goes the day you make it kinda place. The green tiled decor gave the place a garden feel which is most welcome.</div>
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The options at the bar were not too many but we just wanted some a warm drink so I picked the afternoon blend for my tea and amma choose a latte - oh yes! we love our coffee with lots of milk. We settled down at a corner table and were greeted to a big pitcher of water with lemon. Any place which offers generous amounts of water without asking scores immediately with me. We really needed that. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6iDQp7UuWc/Vds9j0xCRUI/AAAAAAAAG_w/5w5PXZYGXYc/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6iDQp7UuWc/Vds9j0xCRUI/AAAAAAAAG_w/5w5PXZYGXYc/s320/image_3.jpeg" width="239" /></a><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Just as we settled in I had to get us an almond croissant which won over the banana & coconut cake. No regrets! It was probably one of the best Almond croissant I had in a very long time. The tea & coffee with the friendly smiley staff all went down a treat. We felt rejuvenated from this little stop. All the cutlery were colourful stoneware which was earthly and yet very stylish. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I looked through the menu & it offers dairy free options , including ice creams for the lactose intolerant. I had to tell my friend about this place as she would really appreciate places that cater to those who need dairy free. </span></div>
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It was an expensive place, so on those terms it makes me think I should explore an alternative, but for which it ticks the box for what you'd look for in a coffee shop and given that it's such a quaint one on an otherwise busy street. </div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-79763172176636416952014-12-31T16:14:00.002+00:002014-12-31T16:29:13.396+00:00And another year ends - Revisiting the 2014 List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's time to look at the list of resolutions made for the year. My success rate has definitely gone down from the previous year and I know where my problems were. Nevertheless, I have taken on this task upon me and I need to stand by it. So, here's striking off the list -<br /><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><strike>Make a Daily Habit</strike> </b> - I must say I do keep up to it quite well, however, the past year saw me going through a Love-Hate relationship with books - I want to change the status to a simple 'Like' and want to set aside at 30 minutes to an hour a day to read. I want to make sure I don't have gaps and would like to read everyday. <span style="color: #328712;">Yes! I did it and no one can take this away from me now. I didn't stick to reading only novels which was the issue, Blogs, magazines, key articles, write ups, poetry and you name it, I am so pleased to have managed to keep some time aside everyday for reading.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Don't bank on the memory</b> - Pick up the diary again. Don't write stories (as we know what happens after a couple of months), don't write only sad things (as we know we will never read them). Just pencil in a what happened that day and make a note if something nice or not so nice happened. Come on... that should not be so hard! <span style="color: #e30000;">Hmmm....This has been a Hit-or-Miss. There has been times when I did put in a note and times when I didn't, today I look back and realize that a lot of things sure happened this year but I don't quite remember. Will have to give this one a FAIL</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Get out of the Comfort zone -</b> I could rename this <b>'Conquer a Fear'</b> - All this while I have either been driving people away from me or driving crazy those who stay. I want need to learn how to drive. Enough of laziness, enough of pushing things around, enough of escaping. Need to learn how to drive - and this time in a correct methodical way. <span style="color: #e30000;">FAIL. FAIL.FAIL. All I have today is an application that I have completed for a provisional license. That does not give me any points to get close to striking this off </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><strike>Explore a Passion</strike>-</b> Pick up the camera again and stop being (just) a smart phone photographer <b>- </b>I can't completely say I have discovered my passion but Photography is something I have enjoyed doing. I want to take this up as a project and work towards it. The actual project may take another year or two, but I want to start my work on it. At the end of this year, I should at least have the content, a plan, research done. <span style="color: #ffaf00;">Yes. When I had every chance to be somewhere magnificent, somewhere special, somewhere memorable I had my camera with me and glad with some outcome. The project I took on is not complete, but has taken some shape</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><strike>Be Good with Food</strike></b> - I don't think I eat a lot of unhealthy food but definitely want to keep a check at what's going inside my body and not go too crazy with junk food. One thing I consciously need to act on is not to waste food. I tend to cook too much and the rest is not used or I buy too many things and have to throw them as they have expired - Need to stop this. <span style="color: #328712;"> I haven't been more happy with the type of food I have been buying, cooking and eating. There has been some waste but I can live with it. I will go for a green, but I know this shouldn't stop here. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Change a tad bit of the lifestyle</b> - Wake up Early - something I have 'NEVER' managed to do. The past year was the worst, I slept late, woke up late and ended up at work really late on so many days of the week. I would like to wake up nice and early and have some time to eat my breakfast and not skip it. 7am is the aim now.... would love to make it 6:30! (Currently it's between 8:00 - 8:30am). I would definitely do a lie in every now and then, but I'd want the majority of the days to be an early start. Let's see! This will be hard. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e30000; font-family: inherit;">Oh dear! This did not happen. Though, I have not been too late at work, I can't say that I willingly wake up early on a day when I have nothing to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><strike>(Try to) Give up something</strike></b> - I'm tempted to write no alcohol for 2 months again. But, I would say restrict - may be not have a drink every week. If I can skip a couple of weeks in every month I would think I've done well here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to add a second item - biting my nails :( which has 'NEVER' happened until now. <span style="color: #328712;">Well... I cannot really say I consistently worked on the alcohol bit, but I was not too bad. But, I can say for sure that biting nails in any crisis (or the lack of it) is not an issue anymore.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><strike>Stay Fit</strike></b> - Have enjoyed the gym from the past 3 months. I need to just keep at it and not quit. The Plan is to maintain the 3-times a week workout to stay the way I am if not better it. <span style="color: #328712;">I have done some form of workout for 42 out of the 52 weeks this year which is not so bad I guess. Now, if you don't agree it's ok, but I'd like to see this as a success. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><strike>Do something for someone</strike>-</b> Volunteering has been good but the 10K run was good too. I want to do another 10K this year and enroll in at least 3 different volunteer activities. <span style="color: #fa7a00;">Did not manage a 10K but volunteered at Crisis. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: #222222;">Do something you like-</b><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"> Write, Click and Travel - as fancy as they may sound, I would like to do more of all this and in a way they can be interconnected. Write at least 3 blog posts per month. Write all travelogues till date and the on the new travels (hopefully) I take.</span> <span style="color: #e30000;">Did not do any of this. The flow wasn't there and I did not push myself. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><b><strike>Try something again</strike>-</b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"> I want to grow plants and NOT kill them. My aim is to maintain atleast 5 pot plants which I hope will nourish under my care.</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #328712;">Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh Boy! Am I happy with the result. 2 of my 8 plants died but I have constantly had lush green pot plants and 2 full flowering cycles. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #e30000; font-family: inherit;">Need to work at this one. I am quite ashamed to say anything more about my planning which has been chaotic, mad, frustrating (not just me but the people around) and a failure. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">That's 9/14 - just about fair but I know I could have done better. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">What can I say, it's not looking that good but hey! another year beckons and gives a chance to pick it up again....though I must admit that </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">for once I am strongly feeling that I should not bank on the 1st of January to give me the push. Hopefully a few years from now, I don't need to make a list like this and all the goodness comes to me with no real push. Lets see....It's been an OK year, hoping for the next to be better. Happy New Year folks! </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-59602692761739242382014-12-30T17:06:00.001+00:002014-12-30T17:15:51.969+00:00Christmas Day Walk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas day in London is one of the quietest days, well, for the likes of us who don't celebrate. The husband has been taking on work the last two weeks of December every year which makes me plan a bit more about what I can do with myself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I find it odd when people wish us Happy Holidays as this is the time of the year when we both are very busy in our own ways - he with his long 14hr days of work and I trying to get the year's quota of getting through a 100 things I had in mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Working at the charity during Christmas in the past few years has to be one of the best things I could have done with this spare time I have and this year too I decided to do a few days at <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/cure-crisis.html" target="_blank">Crisis</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I picked Christmas day this year as I knew HE is at work and I will otherwise end up watching a lot of television or browsing way too much and eating more than I should. The catch at picking Christmas day was that as there is no public transport and I STILL don't drive, the only option was to walk back home or hire a cab and I decided to do the former.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A 4km-odd walk on any other day would mean nothing to me, but this day it was going to be interesting. No buses, no shops, restaurants open, everyone either tucked away in their cozy homes or away from London visiting families things had to be different on the streets - funny to think that the 7 years I have lived here I had never stepped out of the house (if I was here) on Christmas Day! (I can still hear my Dad-in-law going there is no point in getting out, no one will be out, nothing will be open and you know the flow)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I walked back after finishing another satisfied day at Crisis. The first sight of a convenience store being open caught me happy. I got my share of snacks almost thanking God...what if the road ahead was hard! I was pleasantly surprised to see the bespoke restaurants open and pretty full. The traffic on the streets too was not that low. The best thing I noticed was other fellow walkers - it was not the usual hurried pace, the rush and push to get to the destination. You could actually see people notice things , stop and have a look and actually observe other people on the streets too. A very un-Londonlike behavior. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">People seemed to enjoy their walks holding hands, giving cuddles and some perhaps were trying to offload a bit of the turkey meal they might have had that afternoon. Passers by smiled at each other and walked on. The Christmas lights, the decorated trees stood still- it was all put up for this big day and yet, they stand alone, all by themselves with no sense of celebration around them. It was great to NOT see the city lights and instead a dark sky with a bright moon. It was surreal not to hear the traffic or avoid the glares of harsh headlights of thousands of vehicles which claim the streets. I am a believer that walks can only do good to us and a walk in one of the most beautiful cities on a day when we can say 'London is closed for Business' is mesmerizing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would definitely relate to this picture on a Christmas day and yes! when London does not work, it gives you an opportunity for one of the best days to walk around. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-26575122894845343892014-12-30T10:13:00.000+00:002014-12-30T10:13:00.086+00:00The Rush<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No, I am not talking about the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_%282013_film%29" target="_blank">'Rush'</a> which by the way I love. If you haven't watched it do so - it's brilliant, it's inspiring, it's sportsmanship at it's best. </span></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">.....It was the end of November and I looked into the <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-list-is-ready-resolutions-2014.html" target="_blank">list of resolutions</a> I made for 2014 in total panic. A month left and I have not been very good this year in keeping up the expectations I set for myself. I started with a total frenzy in order to get things moving with the list - bottom down, what are the easiest ones, which ones can I still save and what will have to move into the next year. </span></span><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days into December not much had changed but for the tone I have set for myself this year, total laziness, getting occupied with one thing and losing the bigger picture and most importantly a serial procrastinator that I have become. If I can say anything was consistent this year it was the habit of putting things off - shamelessly, irresponsibly and sometimes (I need to admit) intentionally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I picked up 3 of the 8 unfinished books and looked forward to relax into it by reading it on my days off just to stand here today with another book added to the unfinished group, those which I started reading and dropped mid-way only to say that they were not interesting enough. Yes! 9 is the number of unread books today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have at least a dozen lists of various things left at different places at home and in the office - the list of things I need to prioritize and get through. Well, looks like I am getting better at making lists and not striking them off. I have unfinished business cluttered all around me and I seem to be oblivious of it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There was one thing I could rescue in my list - a plan to connect to family during a festival by sending hand written notes. I had planned that for Diwali and God knows when that came and went. So, New Year's was my time to get this sorted and I totally went all for it - so much that I ended up writing 2015 as the date on a few cards and only realized it after sealing the envelope. Well! I'm sure those who have that card and open it would have a chuckle and think of how me as a right idiot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In all the madness I feel within me, the one thing I am genuinely trying hard at is to relax, have a sense of calm which was with me for a good part of this year but seem to have disappeared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Trying to calm the beast within me, now, 2 days left in the year and I know I cannot do much, but to hope for a another beginning, another good day, a better plan and no rush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And while I am attempting to relax I still think that 'Pankh Hote tho ud aati re' is the best tune on the flute and I am happily listening to this as I finish another lot of incomplete notes from my lil diary. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-35728619521526552642014-11-13T21:10:00.001+00:002014-11-14T09:05:19.076+00:00The burden of not being ambitious<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coming across as a "not so
ambitious person" in this super competitive world kind of sucks. Sorry for
the use of such language, perhaps for the first time on this blog, but, the
reality is.. it does. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's the career path like? Is
there one in the first place? Where do I want to see myself in 2 years time? I
seriously have no answers for any of this. But, if you ask me, this is how I
have been for as long as I remember. I simply don't think about these things, I
don't have a clue in hell where I'm headed, I have made no plans what so ever
to see where I want/ need to be. Don't ask me about 2 years, I wish I could
tell you where I would be in 2 months time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh! Let's put the whole career
& professional life aside and lets just talk about plain simple
day to day life alright. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do I want a big house to live in? Do
I want the best of everything? What about my vacation plans? Have i gotta
plan about how I am going to be the host to many a family? Have I thought of
all this or aspired for it? Not sure is the answer. Really? As unreal, as
untrue as it may sound, I don't have these big plans made and filed away, all I
have is the routine of day to day life and the joy of day turning into night.
Taking it one day at a time is the mantra and I am the preacher of it.
Hmmm ....did I say the joy of day turning into night ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I notice that I have been
mocked directly or between the lines about being so boringly mundane about
everything I do. I did have to spare a thought about it and hence this post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wondered and questioned whether I
really am this uninterested, un ambitious person and the answer is that I
perhaps am. But reading a quote somewhere helped put everything in black
& white very clearly! I was like, bang on! How true is that , why on
earth couldn't I think of it and put it this way? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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" Inspired by the fear of being average" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes! That is what it is! I knew
there had to be something to get me out of bed every morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> However, I see that this fear
for me is in the everyday things... Cooking, cleaning, hosting family and
friends home or if it's a presentation , the preparation for a meeting that I
put in at work. I want to & strive towards getting all the little things
I get my hands on 'Right' , as 'right' as I can make it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, these small things
just don't matter or are not considered as being Ambitious or having a drive of
any kind. Never mind about the minute life things that make up your day, you don't
shout out that you wanna reach the moon then that's it! You are not much of
anything in the eyes of one too many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Well getting a bit too
philosophical, isn't it? I'll stop with this and carry on being what I am and
doing what I do, if not anywhere, I'll at least get to the next day and if not
for anyone, I'll be happy and pleased with myself! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">... My two cents on this...a rather
weird feeling I keep going through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-34621215438134273412014-05-11T14:22:00.002+01:002014-05-11T18:48:22.667+01:00I follow 'Foodism' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A very common Sunday of mine starts with a nice warming cup of coffee followed by a good south Indian breakfast - either a simple home made uppittu (Upma as it's known) or dosa or most likely a visit to SB, Saravana Bhavan has been our new friend for Sunday breakfasts, one that's almost a brunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We just returned having had our fill on this grey-is-the-colour-of-the-day kinda Sunday. I have made myself another cup of tea - well, the weak type where the tea bag goes in with loads of hot water and a dash of milk which I shamefully call tea but is a lazy substitute for it. </span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I am that person who thinks about what I'm having for lunch and plan for dinner while sipping my morning cup of coffee. I am quite a foodie and off late I see that this is getting into more of an obsession. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today will be slightly different, with a tummy that's so full and a nagging ache in the back, it will be a day when I would give my kitchen and myself a rest (at least for the first half a day) and try to re-live the foodie moments on this page. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe in eating at least one freshly cooked meal every day and that constantly motivates me to try something different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the more home sick I get, the better is the food - in my humble opinion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My mind automatically travels to those days we went to <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-place-called-4th-block-jayanagar.html">4th Block Jayanagar</a> for no rhyme or reason but definitely returned with a tasty palate. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Y9DGA7UXEQ/U29wbeyfhTI/AAAAAAAAGoY/9EyKLCN8g6k/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Y9DGA7UXEQ/U29wbeyfhTI/AAAAAAAAGoY/9EyKLCN8g6k/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">So while I was pondering over the thoughts and memories, I thought my home-sickness had reached it's highest best when I clicked this pic - the joy of filling up the little containers of the masala-dabba which I termed 'South India in a box' defines my upbringing and deepens my roots and connects me with the food I cook. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Home-Made is the bigger yearning than anything else. So I tried giving a go at quite a few things - the itch to get it done was huge and in all this I have enjoyed the journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Iyengar bakery craving is something that might never stop - when the simple masala toast and congress kadlekai which is ideal with the afternoon tea made my mouth water, my kitchen ended up witnessing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's weird how my mind switches from I-have-to-eat-healthy-NO-MATTER-WHAT and I-don't-care-about-the-calories-IT-HAS-TO-BE-TASTY! So, I see myself in making strange concoctions of a kind to fill me up - some work, some don't.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlaES6LLWyg/U29wPXa4aQI/AAAAAAAAGoM/MLZGw8xwjm0/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlaES6LLWyg/U29wPXa4aQI/AAAAAAAAGoM/MLZGw8xwjm0/s1600/image_3.jpeg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
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The healthy being a carrot-ginger-Orange juice drink which I picked from the '<a href="http://www.joejuice.com/site/">Joe and the Juice</a>' bar which names this drink aptly 'Go-away-Doc'. This coupled with cherry-tomato bruschetta went down a treat.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The unhealthy being my 2-cheese Macaroni which was a random craving on another day which had to answered. Tried the mascarpone cheese which was a good creamy add to the nutty cheddar. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">A home-made (yes! I go again) guacamole for the nachos one evening as having the nachos served at <a href="http://www.allbarone.co.uk/">All-bar-one</a> was what my taste-buds demanded this weekend. </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUqlh4wRPhQ/U291SJTqnGI/AAAAAAAAGok/ryfb7Vac9FA/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUqlh4wRPhQ/U291SJTqnGI/AAAAAAAAGok/ryfb7Vac9FA/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Though I have seen myself giving a try at cooking different cuisine, I am probably better and most comfortable in cooking Indian.And I can say that in the past month or so that my kitchen has made it's way to the 'Paratewali galli'. I am pretty much stuffing my chapati dough with whatever I get my hands on. Can you see that just to give the authentic 'Gobi Parata' a twist, I mixed brocolli to it? </div>
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One of other paratas being <a href="http://hungryandexcited.com/blog/2014/03/spicy-onion-stuffed-paranthas/">this</a> which is a food-blog I follow and enjoy! <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynnqnsXnC2E/U29vv3X8wqI/AAAAAAAAGns/iICq7DDrEzc/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynnqnsXnC2E/U29vv3X8wqI/AAAAAAAAGns/iICq7DDrEzc/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" height="224" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Retail Therapy these days is heading straight to the 'home' sections of any store and I am so excited to have picked a couple of utensils, some kind of kitchenware and of course a stop over at the groceries which sums up my shopping trip almost every single time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My most favourite shops have now become the food and grocery outlets - going to Tesco or M&S food gives me unspeakable joy while I spent a couple of hours at a cloth store and got completely bored and irritated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, some of the food blogs have made me drop everything I had got my hands at reading and if you happen to be someone who enjoys browsing through <a href="http://theforestfeast.com/">ForestFeast</a> is highly recommended as it beautifully combines food, photography, writing and painting with the most key ingredient 'Simplicity'. Having given more than a recipe a try, it is my hot favourite now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have no patience in waiting for my food to be photographed -my food travels from my pan to the plate and into my mouth with not enough time for this step called 'presentation', though some may say it's important, it's not high on my list at the moment - so pardon the crappy photos on this blog. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-5587187006234899382014-04-29T13:10:00.001+01:002014-04-29T13:10:16.130+01:00Brand Averse <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember this from childhood that we Indians have been crazy about Brands. Well, for a long long time in life I thought it was just us Indians. Again, I was so so wrong. It is now clear that the 'brand' craziness exists in most of the world. </span></span><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether you as an individual endorse it or not you are constantly surrounded by the brand favoritism that happens all around you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess the first time I became conscious of the existence of brands was back in school and it all started with whether one owned a pair of 'branded jeans' - a Lee, Wrangler or Levis became the claim to fame for every tom, dick and harry. I remember those those who didn't own this covering the waist of the jeans just so they did not reveal the non-existence of a label.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next obvious one to follow was a pair of branded shoes. A Nike, Adidas or a Puma was such a cool thing to have for the teens however the parents didn't understand why and how a pair of shoes would cost as much as it did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The present world has taken the brand favour to a whole new level. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It took me a while to digest the fact that a 'mulberry' handbag that was gifted to a friend had to be serviced every 6-months. A handbag that had to be serviced. Right! And to top that it came at a cost more than a round trip to India. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I sit to write this down on my couch in the living room I look all around me and see how little I possess things that have a label on it. I am NO Saint, I do pick things that are branded, but the reasons why I pick them are not because of the 'name tag' that came with it - it's more so because of the 'price tag' being it's worth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I do own a few things with big names but if I come to think of it. How can I hide the fact that I am still very much in love with my 'iPad' and my 'Canon' DSLR and did I mention the extra lens kit I have with it. They were all gifts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A recent conversation led us into talking about this friend's wedding gown that would take 6 months to be made and is shipped from abroad. What was that was a common cry from all of us. However one of the other friends had to say how not fussy she is about wedding wear/occasion wear and would pick anything straight from the shop -of course like a sabyasachi or a neeta lulla. I had nothing more to say after that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, we seem to be judged by what we own, what we wear and what we are carrying. I look around me now, my photo frames are all collages made by me - some of our travels and the years gone by and the other a huge one of the wildlife pictures we clicked in Kenya. I have a painting made by Amma and all others are made by random street artists in different places. The handicrafts are made by local artisans and were picked from street markets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I don't have much to show, but I am content. Something about the source not having a 'label' makes me more happy and grounded. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-19763803903754487542014-04-26T12:42:00.000+01:002014-04-26T12:42:03.786+01:00There's always a first time for everything<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes, Only Sometimes I am in this state of mind where most things with respect to bitter-sweet life seems perfect. Hold on, I haven't got into the zen-mode yet, but in the past week or so I have noticed this calmness which I am so pleased and thankful about. I wanted to record this hoping that during those crazy turbulent times which by the way happens on the majority of the days in the year, I can read this note and remind myself that after every bad there will be good and after every storm, a calm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is absolutely 'Nothing' happening in my life at the moment. The morning is taken over by mid-day and evening and night and it seems to be on a repeat mode without a shuffle. Well, I suppose you cannot shuffle night to day anyway. Things are 'Not' at it's best - work wise, personal life, plans in life and so on and so on. I have little or nothing to say about my previous day on my daily call to Amma. Days are rolling by at the speed of light and I dont seem to recollect what git me occupied in the past week. The uneventfulness of the situation is written all over and shouts a big 'absolutely nothing happened' to me when i try to remember the past weeks. Yet! There is a tranquility in me which is a rare rare thing. I always thought I just cannot sit quiet, stay calm, be at peace. I was convinced that I was born without the genes that makes one be that way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am packing my days with little things that makes me happy and I am surprised to see these little things had never made it to my list of things that I enjoy. If I ever decide to spell them out, people would be sure that I have lost it and the signs I had shown before were true. Plain simple things are such joy and this has always been my takeaway from life. Who recollects a ponsy moment more than a down to earth one? Not me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For the first time, I didn't panic for not having the flow to write. 3 weeks gone and not a word written didn't make me jump into writing for the sake of absence. I was perfectly at ease, I read many many blogs in this space of time and marvelled the way they were written. All the ones bookmarked are either simple personal blogs or food blogs. Some of them are amazing.....it's made me drop all the books I was<strike> reading </strike>trying to read.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Looking forward to a good hindi movie is something I have done for ever. A couple of days after having watched the movie '2 states', the hubby brought it up all out of the blue in between a random conversation that the movie that we watched the past weekend was 'good'. His words ' I too had a lump in my throat in a couple of scenes ' just cracked it for me. I had a big grin...this was the moment when I could confirm that he is now a Hindi movie convert, from watching none at all to casually asking what's on the movies, to</span><span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> actually liking it and best of all looking forward to the next one. This is a huge success to the huge huge Bollywood buff in me.</span></span><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zumba! The latest thing that has gotten into me. Love the music, the dance, the attitude and most of all love the pain...you know the good sorta pain? That. I admit being a Miss.Two-Left-feet but have enjoyed these sessions immensely. I am also beginning to believe this is doing a better good to my body than just running which I am trying to sneak in at least 1-2 times a week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Beginning to care for the few pot plants that we have started to grow is another big surprise. I was sure that I must be some kind of an expert in killing plants, but these little ones have not only survived me for a couple of months, but are in full bloom. What joy! Like I believed that the advert which said 'plants come to my home to die' was made just for me, beginning to believe I can change that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So...basically I am trying to collect Life's little moments and making it count. 4 days of leave now and for the first time again, I have plans...new ones, weird ones and it's all going to make this 'MeTime' completely worth it....Fingers Crossed. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-64811326140587601292014-04-23T17:29:00.000+01:002014-04-24T11:54:57.733+01:00Empty Streets <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks ago I made an overnight trip to Geneva for a client meeting. I had resigned myself to a trip that would include an evening of staying in the room and preparing for the next day's meeting, going through the documents received and clearing the inbox which was long due. I had looked forward to a short stroll in the city either pre or post dinner to brush against the new place, new streets, new people that travel brings with it, something that I enjoy doing irrespective of where I go. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Little did I know that my hotel was booked in a little town in France that was no where close to the city we are talking about (Geneva borders France and Switzerland). This place, Divonnes les bains in which most letters will be skipped if I plan to pronounce it was at the foot of the hills which overlooks the mightly Alps far on the other side of the spectrum. We drove many miles away from Geneva to reach this place and the closer we got to the destination, the absence of activity, of people seemed to take over the landscape. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I checked into this hotel, well, studio apartment and from my little cold balcony I saw a pristine steam with trees and shrubs and a cute little bridge over it. How picturesque, How Europe! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't think much of it to be honest as I was happy to know I have wi-fi access which worked the first time I tried it! I got busy in my preparation for the meeting, I had 3 other documents in my inbox waiting for my attention. I also caught up with my colleague to discuss the plan of attack ( sometimes planning a pre-sales meeting makes me feel like planning for a win, No! a war...well, you know what I mean!). The colleague was pleasant but clearly disappointed that beer was served in a whiskey glass. Let me not discuss anything more of what his thoughts were or mine :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes! For a non-beer drinker that I usually am and for the German-beer-drinker that he is we both settled for beer in France which is so very wrong!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having completed the 'work' for the evening, I decided to take a stroll in this little town...village? ...the place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A 2-minute stroll to the center of the town got me to a church facing a square and some weirdly random shops around - a boutique, a barber, a sushi restaurant and a shoe shop...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qn0BX-DfImw/U1fdkgjwV5I/AAAAAAAAGmo/xb8d1GQV3Vg/s1600/image+(6).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qn0BX-DfImw/U1fdkgjwV5I/AAAAAAAAGmo/xb8d1GQV3Vg/s1600/image+(6).jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A little stroll from there gave options of a creperie, a patisserie - which got me convinced I was in France.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afh_TPkwRlQ/U1fdq3Jr8zI/AAAAAAAAGmw/1Yf5woasMU8/s1600/image+(11).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afh_TPkwRlQ/U1fdq3Jr8zI/AAAAAAAAGmw/1Yf5woasMU8/s1600/image+(11).jpeg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There also was this token Indian restaurant which I dared not to visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few people - lets number - may be 10 in total were walking about minding their own business, in fact like as if they were in a hurry to catch a train or something. I wondered what was so 'busy' in this little place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was awing on the sight of the perfectly golden crowned, snow covered Alps at a distance and refrained clicking any pictures on my mobile as it would have done no justice to nature's beauty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mY0UdeYGTsA/U1feDzTfv8I/AAAAAAAAGnA/d7Wlq1RIJVQ/s1600/image+(9).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mY0UdeYGTsA/U1feDzTfv8I/AAAAAAAAGnA/d7Wlq1RIJVQ/s1600/image+(9).jpeg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RxkuedV5Mb4/U1fd44hP7RI/AAAAAAAAGm4/r-QPBpTKIT8/s1600/image+(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RxkuedV5Mb4/U1fd44hP7RI/AAAAAAAAGm4/r-QPBpTKIT8/s1600/image+(3).jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took a left here, a right turn there, walked straight ahead somewhere crossing random things. And just in the non-dramatic setting were things like this and that and the most surprising of all - A Casino! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well... I thought the emptiness of the place, it's streets would make my stroll that evening an uneventful one... but the very fact makes me think today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed the quiet of the place which in a way made me hear my innermost fears, dreams , those wants, the needs and the quiet serenity. I liked the silence, the solitude, the tone of nothing, the noise of peace but I also remembered how I can easily go mad without the chaos of day to day life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't help but term this place 'Beautifully Dead'.</span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-9409757400564076022014-03-28T11:44:00.001+00:002014-03-28T11:53:05.236+00:00Having a Business Mind - NOT!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fruit Garden is a little shop near home which stocks Asian groceries, organic and health foods. Every time I wait at the till to pay for my shopping, I can't help but notice the different types of little bites - cookies, fudges, health bars, protein bars, nut bars and so on that this shop sticks and it always tempts me to try one. They are pretty expensive for what they are and this stops me from picking things up. </div>
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A really tiny piece called the 'Indian bar' caught my eye and it was full of goodness as it said on the board - dates, almonds, pistachios and cardamom all beaten up and mixed together - can't go wrong with that combination, can you? This tiny bite was 70p which is a lot for what it was. I started my conversation about this to the shop keeper who is a pal now and he mentioned that it's a very fast seller and though expensive, it is really very tasty. Now, all my resistance in the past months was futile and I had to try it. 'No one can eat just one' doesn't apply only for pringles or lays you know. This bite was indeed quite tasty. I also spoke to him that if I can make it, I would sell the same for 40p and jokingly chatted if he can stock my product - his quick answer being that another Indian lady who frequents the shop had a similar idea and the taste was not quite the same when she tried it. <br />
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During my walk back home, I pondered on stopping by Tesco to buy these ingredients to make at home. But by the time I got home and started getting into the mundane evening chores my mind slowly drifted from the whole business idea - making some to stock it in the shop was a out of the question, I couldn't be asked to make some for myself!<br />
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A couple of years ago, a friend of mine and me did almost of week of research and looked into the paper work to start up a Indian chat stall in one of the markets in London. Well, a Saturday business where we can cook some simple one pot Indian meals and sell it. Though this idea came by for our love of markets, street food and cooking, the thought of starting something up on our own gave us the thrill.</div>
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Of course, by the end of the week when we went through the process steps that we need to go through to get a license, to the logistics issue, to not having a large kitchen and extra space in either of our homes to stock the pots, pans and groceries and to the final thought of giving up the precious Saturday did not look like it was worth the effort. Was it not easier to stop by one of those stalls, buy the food, sit under a tree or on the lawn, or by the river to rejoice the food?</div>
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There were many other small ideas that came and died a silent death with my I-don't-wanna-take-a-chance, it's-too-much-effort, the-returns-aren't-really-that-good or in other words a 'I'll-stick-to-my-day-job-and-do-nothing-more' attitude that runs in me.</div>
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The hubby on the other end is quite an opposite. Though he does have the ' it's-too-much-effort 'problem, he definitely does not have the other traits I have. In the past 6 years, I have noticed him speak and do things that I might not have imagined in my wildest dreams. That thought would have NEVER occurred to me. He too is busy with his day job of being a doctor which is far more tedious and time consuming than mine - so I will not hold him against not really starting anything but appreciate the fact that his passion towards it doesn't die as quickly as mine.</div>
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He mentioned recently out of frustration that he should have been born in a Gujju or Marwari family where everyone is up for doing something on their own. The people who surround him, in other words me and his dad of course lack that drive.</div>
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Someday, I wish I can come around to doing something than just making notes of what I could have possibly done, but for now I understand that I don't really have a 'Business Mind' whatsoever.</div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-85757426023494429422014-03-19T20:56:00.000+00:002014-04-24T11:56:20.803+01:00London Diaries - Green Spaces - Richmond Park <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #010101;">This
post is a bit outdated or perhaps I should call it 'Not in Season'. The
plan was to visit, click and write about Richmond Park in the Autumn
months where the landscape has the autumnal feel and colours to it and when
it's the rutting season of deer. So, in that aspect this post has been a
bit delayed as we are in spring now. Nevertheless, here’s a note about the park
and the deer that it’s known for.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #010101;">Richmond
Park is quite unique to the rest of the parks London has to offer. It
feels like you have gone a long way away from the city to this natural reserve,
a forest area and that’s the best thing about it. You are very much in the city
but so out of it too giving you the best of both worlds.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
first visit to the park was on foot and we realized that we </span>wouldn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> get too
far walking. One look at the map and the scale made us head right back. We made
many trips after that day where we typically visited Richmond Park either as a
destination for a drive in the evening or in the summer months where we can
hire bikes to go around the park which by the way, is great fun. There are a
few little trails that you can pick from and it does make a good day out.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #010101;">Going
on bikes is also perhaps the best way to spot the deer that the park
houses. It’s just amazing to be able to spot deer just steps away from
you in their habitat while you can stop by and watch the scene.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #010101;">It’s
been a long standing plan to visit the park in the Autumn months to see the
colour of the trees turn yellow and brown and also to see this
rutting of deer which only happens in the autumn time. It pretty much has been
a 5-year plan to be able to do that (you know those 5-year plans...like the
ones we studied in school about the Indian constitution). Last Autumn we
finally made it happen. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #010101;">We
managed to do an early-ish visit on a weekend and had a lovely morning out.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We </span>didn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> really see the deer in a lot of action,
but them camouflaged with the drying grass made a lovely sight. Here are a few
clicks. It was one of those grey, dull,
the-sky-is-going-to-fall-on-us-any-minute type of days, but we waited a fair
bit to get some pictures. Unfortunately, there was no blue sky. Take a look....</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-4470913619359310482014-03-14T11:57:00.000+00:002014-04-24T11:57:04.010+01:00Highway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't usually write a review about a movie or a book as I don't think I am worthy enough to publish my say on someone's hard work. This isn't a review, though I am happy to recommend anyone reading this to watch the movie - if you haven't already.
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Highway, is perhaps the first movie that made me think I should write about. Now, let's be clear, I am not saying it is the best movie ever. I would probably not go away and watch it 100 times over like I do with a few other movies, some that I had written about a while ago. I didn't love all the songs, I did think it was slow paced, I thought it could have been shorter, which, by the way, I think about every Hindi movie I watch these days. But, in spite of sounding so negative about it so far, there were enough things in the movie that made me think about it, made me go back to it even when it was over. </div>
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This movie made me connect with it in more ways than one. I could relate with the character, with the free spirit, with the travels and tales that come with it, with taking each day as it comes and mainly with 'NOT having a plan'. It must sound like I live in a fancy fairy tale taking each day as it comes, not knowing where I am headed, just go with the flow and all that. But, in all honestly, when I give it a thought or two, I have been doing that for more years than I care to remember. </div>
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Traveling is something that can catch up with most people pretty easily. It's addictive. You plan a travel, make your bookings and go away for a while and I bet, a few days after you return, you're most likely browsing and reading about the next potential travel if not booking it. </div>
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I love to travel too but my travel needs to have a factor of nature to it. A week in the most expensive beach resort just does not attract me. Instead, tell me we are going for a cycling tour of 3 days for 8hrs a day and I am all up for it. Guess you know what I am talking about. That thrill to experience the place in your own way, by touching it, but connecting it with simple things like climb a hill, wash your feet on a brook, look up at the sky and observe the stars and just marvel at the solid mountain range that stands so strong. Highway brought out that person who enjoys going out and about and relishing the moment - whatever the place and situation has to offer, feeling that place and taking in what it has to offer. </div>
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One of my wildest fantasies have been to hitchhike a ride on a lorry (well... a truck!) in India and voila! the movie is shot mostly on a truck and the road and the pit stops of this journey. The way the cargo lorry system operates in India makes me wonder. It probably is such a lonely job, when you see those drivers take these truck loads to many miles away with almost a week or so on the road and the only point of contact with people, the communication and interaction would be when they stop for a refreshment, that little cup of tea may be. There must be so many stories associated with a travel like that, but it makes me think if they really think about it as an adventure. Do they not think of it as their job? their Bread & butter? Surely, it's hard,being away from family, being on the road constantly without really a familiar place, I bet they do it for a living and not for the kick that the travel gives you for the likes of you and me. This character is perfectly portrayed by Ranveer Hooda in the film. You know that this man holds many stories with him behind that hard exterior one sees. Haven't we seen many such people, many of these lorry drivers taking a little break at a dhaba on the highway? </div>
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Imtiaz Ali, the director, must be a wanderer of sorts. The way he has brought in the music of the road, of the region blend in to the main story makes it so real. The things that Veera, played by Alia Bhatt ends up doing - talking to herself, gape at a hill and the next minute you are climbing it, the many stops for chai, sitting on a rock and just looking at the scenery or should I say the non-existence of a scenery. Something as simple as making Maggi in a little hut up the hill or the fact that she doesn't think about the next day. She's living that moment like she's in a dream world captured me really dearly. </div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>"Jahan se tum mujhe laye ho, mein wahan wapas nahi jaana chahti.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i> Jahan bhi le ja rahe ho, wahan pahunchna nahi chahti.</i></span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #010101; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> Mein chahti hoon ki yeh raasta kabhi khatam na ho."</i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #010101;">These words did it for me. I cannot remember the number of times I have wished that the ride never ended, that feeling of coming to an end and not being able to re-create the moment happens when we reach the destination. All we have left is the memories of the road. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12080.Ralph_Waldo_Emerson" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Ralph Waldo Emerson</a> </div>
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How true was this man saying this? I don't think I agree with this more at this stage in my life. Let's see what a few years down holds for me. But for now, I am happy to stick to this.<br />
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-80461807401372084572014-03-02T13:28:00.000+00:002014-03-02T13:31:29.652+00:00Window Seat <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yes, I have one on my train from London to Nottingham. From the time I remember, I have never said no to a train journey. I sometimes feel like I live in a little fantasy world I have created for myself where the simplest of things gets me thrilled.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">It’s almost a decade ago that I was working in Chennai and made weekend trips back home to Bangalore (Yes… Bangalore and not Bengaluru!). My world revolved around trains, booking centres and train stations. I also had this bizarre idea about working in the train station where I can announce the arrivals and departures in Hindi & Tamil. Something about naming the unknown and faraway places gave me a weird thrill. Like a train from Chennai to Delhi – wow! A long way to go.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">I have to get a window seat, preferably forward facing and no matter how many times the same route is taken, I have to look out for every station called and look outside at the passing landscape even if it was a rather plain non-dramatic scenery. So a night journey was something I didn’t look forward to as much. I couldn’t sleep well – with the restlessness about where we are and how far we have come to the worry of what’s happening to my belongings and finally the Ticket collector nudging you to check your tickets just when you thought you could doze off.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">The trains in the western world are, needless to say, different. For a start, they are extremely clean. They can be cozy, well, if the air con setting is correct, if not it can be quite chilly too. They are definitely fast, so you can really cover a lot of distance is not so much time. However, for me, are 3 things about train rides here to back home that make a world of difference.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">The uneventfulness, if I can say that is what doesn’t make me remember anything special about the train rides here. For a start, there is hardly any form of conversation with anyone, so you see I can sit there typing all this up! Secondly, it’s the food – the cold drinks, cold sandwiches and a few packs of chips (well…crisps as it’s called here) just don’t do it for me. God! Do I miss the fresh hot food coming out of the pantry car – and I am specifically talking about the Lalbagh Express which provided all this and enough entertainment for the rides back home. For a third, it’s the fact that it is so quiet which isn’t a bad thing, you can actually listen to music, read and sleep (if you can) at peace. But peculiar as it may seem I miss that Chug-Chug -Chuk-Chuk sound that is so characteristic of trains.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">I have more stories to speak about my train rides 10 years ago than I have done in the past 6 years – and I know I have done more here than back home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">Nevertheless, the train journeys in the UK make you go through undramatic Rolling Meadows, the countryside is beautiful and can be quite picture perfect on a lovely day, but there is no huge change in the landscape – there is a monotony to it which is actually quite peaceful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: inherit;">Train rides bring out the side of me which often does not surface. It’s one of the few times when I don’t think much, the mind is inactive and just watching the scenes pass by taking in what comes along the journey</span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-35064130495238154902014-02-14T23:01:00.001+00:002014-02-14T23:01:34.066+00:00Have been thinking. May be a bit too much.<div>Ok. So let me face it, I have been quiet for over a month and have had a bloggers block ( calling myself a writer is something I am not ready to do yet).
</div><div>I have had thoughts on various things. Have been wanting to tell the stories of so many different tales running through my mind, but have had my issues to translate those thoughts onto paper...well, electronic paper.</div><div>
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</div><div>Off late I have been asking and prodding on about a 'what if' for almost everything I have laid my hands on. Though this is making me restless, far too much than what I can handle,it's given me an insight into what I am or where I am in my life today.</div><div>
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</div><div>This year I told myself that if I have a chance to do something that I perceive as interesting I will do it. Work took me away to the faraway land of the USA ( funny I still think of the US as far away land). I jumped at the chance I got to visit the nearby sights - Sedona, the Grand Canyon and a weekend in Las Vegas....I wondered if I didn't have that tiny streak of just do it, would I have had the experience of travel? Would i have even taken the leap of what I do today - in terms of work and also personally. I might have been at one place doing the same thing.</div><div>
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</div><div>I strongly believe that some incidents that happen to a person just dies with that person. I have been giving myself a hard time thinking about what if that sort of an incident never happened, would I have been a totally different person? I guess there is no right or wrong answer to it. I also know that there is no point in questioning, that there is no better feeling in thinking it through either...but can't help shutting it out.</div><div>
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</div><div>Why do I have to be grounded to home and all things family? I give/am giving myself immense stress in keeping everyone happy and trying to bring peace for no fault of mine. What if I could put my foot down on one thing - could have kept one person totally happy and the other may be upset, but atleast I might have been sane knowing that I don't have to play this balancing act constantly, without anyone realising how much harm it's causing me...but will this happen....I don't see it in this lifetime knowing the type of person I am.</div><div>
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</div><div>Sometimes I wonder if I could have been this simple girl who had no ambitions,no drive, no aspirations of going and getting something. What if I was just happy and content and in total peace being the girl who studied some degree, got married, had children, stayed home and looked after the family and was busy from morning to night <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">in her world....would I have been all right with this? I am not so sure again. Though it seems like that perfect little world, I can't see myself enjoying it and being happy with it. </span></div><div>
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</div><div>You know, in spite of all the journey of thoughts, 'what if' dear God really knows me better than me and has planned all this out for me just for my own good? Is a beautiful note that settles me. That hope that no matter what the little brain thinks the greater person has thought the whole story through is an unbelievable feeling. It's like going to bed and sleeping just to wake up and see all's in place. </div><div>
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</div><div>Well, well, well.... so as you can see this mind of mine has been going all over the place. Some thoughts have been good, some positive, some totally crazy and some make me wonder whether I am normal anymore( I see myself smiling as I write this). </div><div>
</div><div>However, when it comes to my blog I have stopped doing a 'what if' and plan to complete some experiences in the past few months that are sitting incomplete and put them up here pretty soon. </div><div>
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</div><div></div>enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-41133439927158938202014-01-10T16:42:00.000+00:002014-01-10T16:42:23.204+00:00Cure the Crisis <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Little experiences in life add so much to the way you do and see things. One such event is what I want to talk about here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few years ago I volunteered at this little charity which runs during Christmas for the homeless people - it was a small unknown place and I loved being a part of it for my time there. I remember it as being enjoyable, also a bit frustrating and very exhausting (I know....I am so bad). I thought a bout it as a nice thing to do and left it there. Though the thought crossed my mind that I could do more of this, I never got my act together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This Christmas I picked it up again. Having known that I have days off during the time and not much to do I decided to </span>enrol<span style="font-family: inherit;"> myself with '</span><a href="http://www.crisis.org.uk/" style="font-family: inherit;">Crisis at Christmas</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">' who are perhaps the biggest organization in all of Europe doing work around homelessness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not knowing what I really wanted to do, I put my name as a general volunteer. If you are a professional, you can also add yourself for Kitchen duties, IT Support, Medical Services and such others. A general volunteer could be doing anything from serving meals, to sitting at the information desk, to manning the entrances and exits, to keeping a check at the luggage lounge or the art and craft </span>centre<span style="font-family: inherit;">, the shower facilities and so on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A complete volunteer led group that it is, you could see some really amazing organization of tasks, duties, roles - everything just seemed to have run so smooth. Each of us had another volunteer paired with us for every activity, so it never really felt like you were in it alone. It gives you a chance to interact with all the other wonderful people who give up their personal time to do this and understand why they connect with it. It's inspiring to hear the story behind why they choose to do this, also interesting and perhaps a reality check on how we are so engrossed in our lives that this experience is somewhat surreal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Crisis arranged an induction programme for first time volunteers to give us an idea of what to expect, the do's and don'ts and it was such a well planned presentation that I was already quite sure that the process would be smooth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's amazing to see professionals - doctors, dentists, hair dressers, masseurs, </span>advisers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> provide their services. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The kitchen staff ensuring that the people (our guests as we learn to call) get proper meals - a hot plate of food. The shower rooms are kept ready so they can have a warm shower, the IT room is ready with computers for the people to have a little cyber space, the TV room and cinema is showing movies everyday, the art & craft room is open for the creative lot, sports rooms with table tennis, luggage room to store their belongings, tea & coffee all day long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was great to see the happiness when they had their hot shower and came out all fresh, the excitement to know that they can get a haircut or enjoy a full hot meal with a dessert. They were thrilled to know there was a masseur, Relieved to know they can leave their belongings overnight at a place where they don't have to worry about it being stolen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These were things that are so inconceivable to the normal you and me. How often do we think whether we cannot have that simple hot shower or a meal a day or get a haircut and look presentable ? Perhaps Never? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The worry that you have to carry everything that you possibly own always on you. Can't leave it anywhere....don't have a place to leave it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard to imagine and live knowing that as the night falls and the crowds recede, the shops close, businesses end there is no place to go, that a new footpath, garden bench, parking lot needs to be searched for a place to retire for the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That very thought makes me count my blessings, that I am so lucky to have been born, raised and living a life where everything is kinda normal where my worries seem so small when compared to what some of these people have.</span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-15531653130804231282014-01-02T14:38:00.000+00:002014-01-03T12:13:12.596+00:00The List is Ready - Resolutions - 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started this madness last year where I thought of making a part of my <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/new-year-new-resolutions.html">things to do for the year</a> public - I felt accountable, responsible and it helped me keep a check at things, I am kinda <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/check-off-2013-bucket-list.html">pleased with the results </a>and am taking the plunge again to publicly show off how big an idiot I am (yet again!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As crazy is it may seem I am publishing this again. My list for 2014 is ready and this is it! I have taken it easy on a few things - no hard set goals this time, I had to omit a few out as it's not entirely in my hands - dependency is a bad thing! and I have some items not published here and lets see how well I can keep up to that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to carry over a couple of items from last year and continue working on a few others but have a longish list of new items too. Exciting, Driven and still a little scared about a few of them - Let's see...only time will tell. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here we go....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Make a Daily Habit</b><span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> - I must say I do keep up to it quite well, however, the past year saw me going through a Love-Hate relationship with books - I want to change the status to a simple 'Like' and want to set aside at 30 minutes to an hour a day to read. I want to make sure I don't have gaps and would like to read everyday. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Don't bank on the memory</b> - Pick up the diary again. Don't write stories (as we know what happens after a couple of months), don't write only sad things (as we know we will never read them). Just pencil in a what happened that day and make a note if something nice or not so nice happened. Come on... that should not be so hard! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Get out of the Comfort zone -</b> I could rename this <b>'Conquer a Fear'</b> - All this while I have either been driving people away from me or driving crazy those who stay. I <strike>want</strike> need to learn how to drive. Enough of laziness, enough of pushing things around, enough of escaping. Need to learn how to drive - and this time in a correct methodical way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Explore a Passion-</b> Pick up the camera again and stop being (just) a smart phone photographer <b>- </b>I can't completely say I have discovered my passion but Photography is something I have enjoyed doing. I want to take this up as a project and work towards it. The actual project may take another year or two, but I want to start my work on it. At the end of this year, I should at least have the content, a plan, research done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Be Good with Food</b> - I don't think I eat a lot of unhealthy food but definitely want to keep a check at what's going inside my body and not go too crazy with junk food. One thing I consciously need to act on is not to waste food. I tend to cook too much and the rest is not used or I buy too many things and have to throw them as they have expired - Need to stop this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Change a tad bit of the lifestyle</b> - Wake up Early - something I have 'NEVER' managed to do. The past year was the worst, I slept late, woke up late and ended up at work really late on so many days of the week. I would like to wake up nice and early and have some time to eat my breakfast and not skip it. 7am is the aim now.... would love to make it 6:30! (Currently it's between 8:00 - 8:30am). I would definitely do a lie in every now and then, but I'd want the majority of the days to be an early start. Let's see! This will be hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Stay Connected -</b> I'll take the lesson from mom again 'You do your bit and don't expect the other to do the same for you'. I have realized that my happiness lies in being connected to the people I love - family & friends and I don't want to run into months of not staying in touch. I want to get through the year knowing that I stayed connected and not thinking that it's been 6 months and I don't have a clue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Try to) Give up something</b> - I'm tempted to write no alcohol for 2 months again. But, I would say restrict - may be not have a drink every week. If I can skip a couple of weeks in every month I would think I've done well here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to add a second item - biting my nails :( which has 'NEVER' happened until now. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: orange;">Need to stick to these:</span> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Stay Fit</b> - Have enjoyed the gym from the past 3 months. I need to just keep at it and not quit. The Plan is to maintain the 3-times a week workout to stay the way I am if not better it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Do something for someone-</b> Volunteering has been good but the 10K run was good too. I want to do another 10K this year and enroll in at least 3 different volunteer activities. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do something you like-</b> Write, Click and Travel - as fancy as they may sound, I would like to do more of all this and in a way they can be interconnected. Write at least 3 blog posts per month. Write all travelogues till date and the on the new travels (hopefully) I take. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">Keep the Faith/Keep the Culture-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b>Two Festivals to celebrate -need to really work on this one. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Carrying Over from the Last Year:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><b>Try something again-</b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"> I want to grow plants and NOT kill them. My aim is to maintain atleast 5 pot plants which I hope will nourish under my care.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><b>Better planning -</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"> this is a wide topic. To start with its planning holidays, planning for activities during the weekend, planning my time when I go home - If someone asks me what I </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">did when I last visited home, I dont have much to say - I want to change that. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">That is it! So, I guess it's time to start working now. If you managed to get through till here, Thank you and Wish you a very Happy New Year. </span></span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-1298084715784270152014-01-01T12:56:00.001+00:002014-01-16T09:15:00.079+00:00London Diaries - Time for a Cuppa - Yumchaa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Firstly, lets get this clear. Yumchaa is a chain of tea shops now sprouting up at many different places in London but this one I am talking about is a Yumchaa in Camden Lock overlooking the little food market and the canal and makes you feel like you have walked into one of those quaint little tea stalls tucked away in a little alley in a perfect little town.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stepping into the rugged unfinished walls and decor just makes you ease out and feel relaxed that nothing around you including you needs to be in an orderly way. Just let go, sip tea and be with yourself. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dTpcNokxA2E/UsQRU8XdtPI/AAAAAAAAGHg/B_n6Oi4Mynw/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dTpcNokxA2E/UsQRU8XdtPI/AAAAAAAAGHg/B_n6Oi4Mynw/s320/IMG_0588.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The selection of teas are remarkable. My post, many months ago <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-simple-cup-of-tea.html">on tea</a> was the first one to take me into the world of different teas, but this took me to a whole new level. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can pick from black, green and white (never knew they existed). The tea leaves are places in little mugs which you can smell into and read through the description of what goes into the tea. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQU0DYqfDds/UsQPDTCxqXI/AAAAAAAAGGc/9mW_oc3w-rE/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQU0DYqfDds/UsQPDTCxqXI/AAAAAAAAGGc/9mW_oc3w-rE/s320/IMG_0584.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I picked Wild Rose - the aroma of the rose petals with the earthy flavour of tea was just the thing I enjoyed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You get the rules of working through your tea (well.. nothing too strict) and get one of the prettiest tea pots to dive into the warmth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The selection of cakes and the way they are displayed makes you wanna grab a bite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been there a few times now and would recommend as a stop over from walking around the otherwise <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/london-diaries-market-hop-camden-town.html">busy Camden Market</a>. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-34603991897917960382014-01-01T12:10:00.001+00:002014-01-03T12:18:36.885+00:00Check Off the 2013 Bucket List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, I would say 2013 was my worst year ever. The past year pulled me down every single time I tried to stand up. I was unbelievably rude, disconnected, alone and lost for most of it. Trying too hard to please everyone and keep everyone happy, I have done no good to being sane and happy with what I really want. Juggling away too many things, I don't think I gave justice to anything which needed it's due. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a way, I am happy that the worst is done and it's time for better days. Revisiting lists is good and striking things off the list is better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">About a year ago, I had made <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/new-year-new-resolutions.html">these plans</a> for 2013, it's unbelievable how this year has gone by and we have set foot in a new one. I'd like to take a re-look at this, publishing it here did help me get on with it - perhaps a little better than the other personal list I had for myself. So.. here we go... </span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222;"><b>Try something again-</b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222;"> I want to grow plants and NOT kill them. My aim is to maintain atleast 5 pot plants which I hope will nourish under my care. </span><span style="color: #e30000;">This was a Non-Starter. Though the thought crossed my mind a few times through the year, I actually did nothing about it. A FAIL. </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222;"><b><strike>Stay Fit-</strike></b> </span><span style="color: #222222;">I still detest going to the gym, however the weather being cold I have stopped doing my runs too. The aim is to do some kind of exercise at least 2 times in the week ( tempted to </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="color: #222222;">say 3, but thats the start of things going downhill). </span><span style="color: #ffaf00;"> </span></span><span style="color: #ffaf00;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;">I haven't felt this fit ever before in my life. The ME TIME was used well.</span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> I'd like to give this a yellow as this isn't a destination and it would always be a work in progress </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222;"><b>Better planning -</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> this is a wide topic. To start with its planning holidays, planning for activities during the weekend, planning my time when I go home- If someone asks me what I </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="color: #222222;">did when I last visited home, I dont have much to say - I want to change that. </span><span style="color: #e30000;">A complete FAIL. The one holiday we took was a super bad plan and the fact that I had 8 days left of leave with nothing to do at the end of the year sums up this item on my list. </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222;"><b><strike>Learn something New -</strike></b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222;"> I want to learn how to play a musical instrument. The plan is to learn how to play 5 known tunes on it. </span><span style="color: orange;">Did manage to learn 3.5 tunes on the Flute - still loving the instrument but a long long way to go. </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strike>Do something for someone</strike> -</span> </b><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #222222;">Run a 10K -at least 1 for a charity.</span><span style="color: #328712;"> Managed a 10K for Race for Life Charity with 3 other friends and raised close to £300 for the cancer </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #328712;">research. (Very Pleased). Also managed a day at Crisis for homeless people -What an experience. Hope to do more. </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222;"><b>Do something you like-</b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="color: #222222;"> </b><span style="color: #222222;">Write more- at least 2 blogs per month. </span><span style="color: #328712;">One of the most enjoyable things I have managed this year. Again, would like to keep it going. </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">Get out of the comfort zone -</span> </b><span style="color: #222222;">The Journal - This is a little project I took on myself last year but left it mid way ( like most other things). It's my collection of notes about life and living in </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="color: #222222;">London- need to atleast complete 10 chapters this year. </span><span style="color: #328712;">Changed the plan a little bit, instead of keeping it all too serious, I took the route of writing up my London Diaries - It's going OK, nothing special</span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222;"><b>Keep the Faith -</b> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222;">Visit Subramanya - my most favourite temple on Earth and haven't visited it in more than 5 years. I hope I can manage a visit this time. </span><span style="color: #328712;">Yes! Thank you dear God (and mom & dad and bro) for making this happen.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now it's time to make a new list and I am so looking forward to it in all it's grand silliness. It does help to keep me look forward to something and I get a sense of responsibility by publishing it here. Well, I'm glad you're over 2013, you weren't really my best. </span></span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-49256551754540448522013-12-30T18:50:00.000+00:002013-12-30T18:50:22.687+00:00Come Full Circle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess the long aimless walk is all I wanted to get me penning down a few lines which I have been itching to do in the past few days. My eyes are still tired....for a fact, I have been staring at my laptop screen non-stop for a good part of the past week. </span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to start this one with the quote I had read and favourited. Sometime ago, may be a year now, was when I was feeling down. Nothing seemed to cheer me up, I could not have what I wanted and on most occasions I did not know what I needed. This feeling of 'low' stayed with me for a long long time. I had messed up way too many things, I was losing too many good friends - some for my own fault, some for the circumstances, some because they probably decided I was not good enough for them and some more for they got so busy and pre-occupied in their lives that they just forgot that someone like me existed. </span></span><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had decided then that I am going to keep myself occupied with things...simple as it may be, silly as it may sound but I would have a list of things to do, things not to do and I would stick to that and get so drowned in it that I don't feel as low. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't say I have been entirely successful at this- there are many many times when I miss my friends, miss the company, feel low, down and depressed but the feeling stays for a while and goes away and I go back to my list. The 'peaks' and 'troughs' exist in my life as much as the sun and the moon do, as much as summer and winter does. It's become a part of me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a while now, at least a good year and I have had those 'ups' and 'downs' but now as this year closes down I am back at being slightly on the low but holding up just so I can wait for the peak to happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the year has gone passed there's one thing that I have noticed... I love to have company - be it in new people I meet, old friends, cousins, family, new friends -that is one of the key things I need in life to move on. But I have also realized that all this cannot be wished for as the other person needs to wish the same and as much as I yearn for that togetherness, I can't have it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am learning to be 'ok' with my own company and there are times when I am so comfortable at it that it is worrying.... it's worrying me a lot. I don't want to be this way, but it's just turning out this way...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just like how all this I have scribbled so far is not making sense, this thought of what I enjoy - 'the being together' and what I am doing - 'the being with myself' , the contradiction that it brings is making me go slightly insane.....but, I am positively waiting for the 'peak' again - this time it's been a while since it has met me. </span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-80860555927774076712013-12-18T17:21:00.000+00:002014-01-03T12:23:24.133+00:00London Diaries - Market Hop - Camden Town<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Camden Town is perhaps that one place I have frequented the most in London, so much that if I have missed going there for a while it's like withdrawal symptoms that takes me back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I firmly believe that I would have been a hippie if not for the 'normal' sort of family and upbringing I had. I am so much a hippie in my way of thinking, what I like and enjoy and I most definitely feel that we all have a bit of that in ourselves. Too bad if you don't. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something about the place makes me go back every time. There's always this unexplored part, a new pop-up stall, a new musician that gives me the push that there is a new place to see and a new thing to do in Camden. In fact I am happy re-visiting the same parts again and again if not for the new. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't speak for everyone, but I can say for sure that I have always enjoyed going out window shopping. In fact, more than buying something, I like walking through shops, market stalls, browsing the various items on display. I enjoy the crowded market areas bustling with life. I don't end up getting a lot of things, which is good, as it would purely be impulse shopping and most of the stuff are not really needed. But it puts me to wonder the extent that a cottage industry can go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Camden Market is not just a street market. 'Camden Town' is a huge market place in itself. Camden brings me closest to the 'life of a hippie' fantasy that I have. It's a place with little shops of all kinds, handicrafts from different parts of the world, home grown small businesses selling all kinds of little trinkets, clothes which you don't usually see in high street shops, food and drink of all kinds, a juice bar on a barge, a little cafe under the staircase and organic this and that food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The main highlight of course is the part of the Regent's canal (Grand Union Canal) that cuts through Camden. The Camden Lock being that point where you can see many narrow boats making their way across the canal by operating the locks. It's amazing how the mechanics of this system was designed years before anything was a part of the modern world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The banks of the canal are great to hang out...relishing the market food or just sipping a drink or reading a book. The best thing about Camden Market is that it has a bit of everything in every part of it - Food, Drink Stalls, Clothing, Trinkets, paintings, art work, old antique items, goods made by reusing other things - it's the biggest flea market I have ever seen with a huge variety of all things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember just walking along the little rows of shops getting completely lost in them and suddenly there I see a cafe, once I have had my fill of caffeine I have another set of shops lined up - you can spend all day here! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And it's not a market where you hear a lot of noise instead something you constantly hear from one side of camden to another is Music - whether it's Bob Marley playing or John Lennon or hip-hop or rock, or the classics to the reggae beats there is constantly some music you hear and it seems to perfectly fit the setting of the shops. So very unique!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">When in London a visit to Camden Town is a must, either during the day to browse through the market or for an evening meal or to experience the night life - This is one place not on the tour bus that circles around London. Go find the hippie in you... Camden is waiting! </span><br />
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-65657207669232183712013-12-09T17:16:00.000+00:002013-12-09T17:16:01.460+00:00Random Notes - It's that time of the year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alright, just so we like to write random things about what's happening and what's not with life in general. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's that time of the year.....when you leave work its so dark that you want to hit the bed straight away, wearing a few extra layers still makes you feel cold to the bone, you may have a few too many clothing items on you that one minute you are hot as a freshly baked potato while in the tube or can't feel your fingers the minute you are out on the streets, a day starts and ends by looking into the weather report for the next 24hrs and you'd need another hot drink even after sipping through 6-7 cups of tea or coffee a day...Well, I'll take it that you're getting the swing of things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am being my own moody self and there's no changes on that end. I am uber happy and super excited about the simplest of things on one day and have a completely grey, sulky, sad, cry-at-the-drop-of-a-hat-day just the next time the moon went around the earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's that time of the year which makes me the most emotionally drained when compared to any other time of the year- looking back on things unaccomplished, undone, unchanged in the past year there is a disappointment of some sorts on one end while the other end seems to be alright with the little new pleasures, new thoughts that took shape this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a time to look forward to much more than any other time for that new year, for the new challenges, times and projects that I can take over and get at in the next year to come. It's like another chance in life to do something that you always wanted to, to change that annoying habit of yours that stuck like a parasite to you and to try and correct those mistakes that you repeated ....yet again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The drive to learn is still bubbling from within,the constant go to a new place even if its just a new street in the same city, or click a new picture, learn a new tone,read a new note, make someone happy, a little gesture to change a little thing for someone - This "do something" is what I have heard my inner voice sing to me, shout at me to keep me on the go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The restlessness to keep at something, not getting what I really want is constantly trying to take over me so easily. I am prodding along..... the 'Kat Rahi hai Zinadagi'....feeling, is not keeping me as positive as I would like to be. But I am trying, trying to hold myself together, to stay happy, to think ahead and leave the rest to dear God thanking him for those days when I neither feel too happy nor too sad but count the little blessings and stay just content.</span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-46226821825172607512013-12-08T11:22:00.001+00:002013-12-08T11:22:04.063+00:00London Diaries - Time for a Cuppa - White Mulberries <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Any time is a good time for Coffee - whoever said this (if at all), said it right. I am a coffee person during the day and a tea person during the late afternoons and evenings and would not mind spending a free moment at a coffee shop. Ask to meet me at a coffee shop and I am ever ready.</div>
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White Mulberries is tucked away amongst other cafes, delis and shops bang in the middle of the docks. <br clear="none" /></div>
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Having had a rather heavy meal with a friend this afternoon I decided on coffee and a sweet treat. Flat white was my pick and it was well worth it. </div>
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The simple décor with exposed brick and views over the dock makes you wanna sit there forever sipping the warmth. Ideal place with a book or to browse. </div>
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<br clear="none" />Lunch was not on my mind, so I didn't bother much, though there were no veggie options for the sandwiches and rolls the ones that were displayed looked freshly made and full of fillings - I bet it would be good.</div>
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The staff were friendly, pretty much every one who walked in had a chat with the barista. </div>
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I would definitely go back to this one and oh! I also have a loyalty card! </div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-34996165891637134352013-11-20T20:42:00.000+00:002013-11-20T20:42:08.141+00:00Cheat's Cookery - Potato Cutlets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well! According to me this isn't cheating, but having known so many people back home who prepare every component of this dish at home I'd resign to calling mine cheats cookery as many things are shop bought in my case.</span></span><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok....now that I have got my foreword out of the system I'll write about my potato cutlet saga. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All I wanted to prepare for the evening meal was a simple aloo jeera with a few spices - cumin powder, coriander powder, chilli powder, some turmeric and salt to taste and serve this as a chunky potato side dish. What I however ended up with were overboiled potatoes and so it was a masala mash that ended up with in my pan. It also was extremely spicy - you see I love spicy food so much that I went a bit over board this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought of making cutlets out of these immediately and chopped a whole lot of onions, carrots, got my peas and ginger mince ready. After the prepping up I decided to make it with just the potatoes and not add anything else - mainly coz the quantity was so much that it would have been enough for 6-8 people.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">Potato mix-</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Potatoes - boiled and over boiled works just fine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeera powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Salt to taste</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seasoning - oil, cumin, mustard, asaphoetida </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coriander </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chutneys to serve (the cheat factor) </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Green chutney - mother's recipe's Bombay sandwich chutney has got me completely</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Date & tamarind chutney</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sweet chilli sauce - not a great option but my cutlets were so spicy that I thought. It would help.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prepping the Cutlets-</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Corn Flour - 2tbsp (add water to thin it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Breadcrumbs (the cheat factor)</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How I made it:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I made nice big patties out of my potato mix and dunked them in corn flour, rubbed them against bread crumbs and toasted them on either sides and voila! My cutlets were ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I served them with all my chutneys and as it still was extremely spicy I finished it off with a dollop of curd/yogurt. This made a perfect anytime snack, I had one during tea, another as my evening snack and couple of them for dinner.</span></div>
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enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579029204457275156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12840565.post-84005445060949473722013-11-08T17:17:00.002+00:002013-11-08T17:17:32.642+00:00It's Engineered - Part 3 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a few years into this I can say that I kind of understood what I had to do for the rest of the journey - just don't think, take each day at a time and enjoy the ride. </span></span><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it's fair to say that there is a method in the madness. The <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/its-engineered-part-1.html">Part1</a> and <a href="http://17myworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/its-engineered-part-2.html">Part2</a> shows the zombi-ness with which I was going through the course. I had now begun to somewhat like what I was doing. At least when it worked, it was a good subject to study. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did feel a bit under pressure that I had topped the class the previous semester and wanted to come out with a decent score - you know the one time wonder syndrome was haunting me through the 5th semester. I was scared that I would fail miserably again and this time it will be seen as a bigger thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did notice the attitude of everyone - the lecturers, the HOD, some of the class mates, the lab attendants change in favour of me. They all seemed to think that I am this hard working, good girl and didn't get any nasty stares or comments from anyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The temporary confusion in 5th Sem was the choice of electives that we had. Needless to say, my confused brain had no clue of what to choose, what's good , also what's easy and so on. This was the same for the next few semesters to come as 2 subjects had to be electives. We did make our decision and I didn't have any major issues with any other than Power electronics - <strike>had</strike> have no clue about what this was all about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was comfortable planning my semester and brought about a good study-play balance. I planned to do combined study with a friend of mine who was from a different branch (telecom) and a different college. We made it a point to study the 1 or 2 common subjects we had together. I also had a very dear friend come home every single day from the other end of the city to study together with me. If not for him, I don't think I would have had the interest, the motivation or drive to study anything. In a way owe my marks and my 'doing well with the studies' to this friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The semester was packed with a fair amount of activities. We had a better plan in managing the books that seemed to disappear from the library really quick by getting them from an external library, did better sharing of notes and reference books. Planned to get xerox, yes! the 30paise ones well in advance. Planned little samosa chat outings. explored a few other restaurants, cafes near the college. Made it a point to <strike>window</strike> shop in pretty much every Handicraft sale that was around and had luncheons at each other's place just in the name of studying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over innumerable courses of taste my mom's vegetable upma's to the lovely christmas cakes from another friend to the occassional Neer Dosa treats from another pal's mom we went through the busy days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We now knew all about where to get the cheapest components on SP Road to the books on Avenue Road, also made a point to have a 'VTU Syllabus' book as a backup which was easy to read and digest when compared to the huge reference books. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a few notes in the exam paper about - please-pass-me, I-need-36-to-pass to I-don't-know-the-answer-but-the-answer-is-in-this-book (I wrote this for Power electronics), I managed to pass and pass well. I was the topper for the university, thanks to a friend who told me as her college had put up a board of all university topper's in all branches and their college names. I had reached a stage where I didn't understand the scale of things - how important it was or how it might change my life. I am glad I didn't have a clue as it did not change anything in my life other than happier parents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6th Semester introduces to the world of projects - a Mini project is what we had to complete. Our chance to design, document, implement and build something from scratch that will 'work'. Thanks to my dad who gave us an introduction and some space in his friend's little factory and we were ready with our project - 'Liquid Level Indicator & Controller'. It went down really well at college as we had attempted something that we were yet to study in the 7th sem. But what was a disaster was that we had no clue what we had designed as we took so much help to complete the project that nothing much had entered our brains. This whole project episode introduced us to the world of Electronic City and the travels there and typing an awful lot of pages on the computer where we had to search for letters and do 1 finger typing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was overall a good year and was happy with the 'I got hold of it feeling' and was also enjoying the subjects as I went along. </span></div>
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