tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17330821616508077152024-02-07T05:16:08.387-08:00Those Middle AgesMost of the running is done to slow down to a walking pace and there is time for lots of books, movies good and bad, friends new and old ,and thoughts that find their way in and linger and grow until they are expressed here .kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-49104725478045751332011-01-21T21:20:00.000-08:002011-01-21T21:24:26.970-08:00You are InvitedYesterday, when a doctor I met casually in a nursing home heard me through the usual rigmarole of how I was going to come home one day soon to invite him and said casually ‘no formalities, just hand it over”, I could have hugged him. I did. Hand the card over. <br /><br />Im beginning to realize (a little late) that the wedding invite is the most crucial part of the wedding, next to the food, maybe.<br /><br />Its not the card – which no one really cares about except oneself in the light of the many hours put in, designing it .One in a 1000 people will tell you it looks good.<br /><br />It’s the way you invite people that matters. And the biggest mistake is to take people close to you for granted. Of course Im so so guilty of this and that’s why I am impelled to write this to help other less prepared mortals in what lies ahead.<br /><br />I used to think, rather mistakenly, that the connection with people is already there so you send across a card and they come or don’t come depending on how strong your bond is and the convenience of travel. But that is not how it works. What matters is how you relate to them right now when you present the card.<br /><br />Top of the list is actually turning up in person with the card at their home, not office. Then everyone feels good about themselves and you and feels obliged to come. On this occasion, you have to mention all dates and times and functions and feasts, cutting across stories of their children and activities. <br />A new addition to be mentioned is accommodation. Traditionally people just landed up in the wedding house and made themselves comfortable in whatever way they could. Now rooms and hotels have to be mentioned and booked and since many people only make up their minds at the last minute to come; it becomes a little tough because Indian style, everyone expects to be feted anyway for having traveled this long way<br /><br />If you live far away and can use that as an excuse, then you can send the cards by post. And follow it up with a phone call. Right now, I am the black sheep of the family for having broken ground by inviting people by this method. But I’m sure, people in the family hosting the next weddings are going to be glad.<br /><br />It’s gladdening when someone says, do send me an invite I’d so like to be there. <br />But when people say, send one to my brother in law, father in law, sister or other people who are important to them but you’ve barely met ,because that person would love the attention, then it feels a little crazy. In some cases, people come along to enjoy the place or as an interesting experience.<br /><br />Be sure that young married couples and even little twirps living away in college are invited separately. This can lead to much friction, I assure you.<br /><br />Next is email to all those who live overseas. It is hard to write an email inviting people insincerely to a wedding you are sure they are not going to attend. Some may be cousins you hear from once in 5 years. Yet you do.<br /><br />When one of them calls and says, ‘thank you for thinking of me’; then it really is worth it. Because each invite does carry a piece of you. Each person is on one of your lists and you do make an effort to discover addresses and phone numbers, email ids. If some one gives you a feedback, it does feel good.<br /><br />Im as guilty as anyone else of ignoring the majority of wedding invitations. But now I do realize, somewhere someone is thinking of me/us and it is good to respond in whatever way I can.<br /><br />In an ideal world, you wouldn’t hand out invites at all. Those who feel connected will turn up. But till then invitations reign supreme. And you ‘d better make them sound sincere.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-35717002538704132502011-01-21T21:18:00.000-08:002011-01-21T21:20:35.095-08:00It's been a WhileIts' been a while since I posted here but now it seems time to take up this blog again. So many issues seem to need my insightful slants. Or I just need to let off steam and thoughts into the world. So, this is my place once again.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-31014302206907072712009-11-24T06:11:00.000-08:002009-11-24T07:58:08.434-08:00Making Lemonade!Schools were closed for 10 days during the rains and after. The kids naturally, had a blast! cycling ..., <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWH3q_Gk6ah3EP7k_hl7PDDMtSt3Je2RNjAiXsNBhTwgDHBrevjFEMzmX6d0fTouFVEKUjCFaixmHzVrnTLLfs_k_ECe97qEC1nYXOPR35fS8dSqH_aEmhgCcFj9eUYzis2xUAfkcLXvU/s1600/independence+day+104.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWH3q_Gk6ah3EP7k_hl7PDDMtSt3Je2RNjAiXsNBhTwgDHBrevjFEMzmX6d0fTouFVEKUjCFaixmHzVrnTLLfs_k_ECe97qEC1nYXOPR35fS8dSqH_aEmhgCcFj9eUYzis2xUAfkcLXvU/s320/independence+day+104.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407699468976488610" /></a><br />Cricket...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ91CmU0Xakh5J7Z0VErrplMCfrRBSp713idAxClpCbY9scXRj7mhB9k2xVNFUn5FH1zFOyApUVxpV85U8dxEtzgqoo7T_2hJJPXTD6carqws-6_xsVH_oGKp869VZmZ9re1iv1hSJ98/s1600/independence+day+107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ91CmU0Xakh5J7Z0VErrplMCfrRBSp713idAxClpCbY9scXRj7mhB9k2xVNFUn5FH1zFOyApUVxpV85U8dxEtzgqoo7T_2hJJPXTD6carqws-6_xsVH_oGKp869VZmZ9re1iv1hSJ98/s320/independence+day+107.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407698914390014978" /></a><br />The stands....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMPBF3TpvEORQw8Ys17XuN0HoQBzfFYTDsyKBP3C0aC5RMWMWpXuxYNSLAe4zUPs-eI6qH8OL0f4RXW39bvx__amkC_cR623lAGib-NBenLB1FVLb6n5jaZKEHJNukmb2Ko3nCTgfACw/s1600/independence+day+106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMPBF3TpvEORQw8Ys17XuN0HoQBzfFYTDsyKBP3C0aC5RMWMWpXuxYNSLAe4zUPs-eI6qH8OL0f4RXW39bvx__amkC_cR623lAGib-NBenLB1FVLb6n5jaZKEHJNukmb2Ko3nCTgfACw/s320/independence+day+106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407698917464184178" /></a><br />and a form of country sledding with home made 'vandi's or sleds.These are made with three sticks, a few ball bearings , string and enthusiasm. They come apart after a couple of rides, but the kids fix it and trudge up the hill again for that wonderful, bone shaking ride downwards till they land up laughing, breathless thrown up on a grass bank and the contraption under them comes loose again.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFRCPpFIFudTYtMRADuleW403WcjAIXp19_j4fapHY_F-S1TJ6HQHglx6I0Z9tkdTufchFmXXV7RIYR0nEoI-l9ryVUcLY4efND2OfvNMCMenfKygTo2WbrRploGLlcqXjtgl7BxMe2c/s1600/independence+day+109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFRCPpFIFudTYtMRADuleW403WcjAIXp19_j4fapHY_F-S1TJ6HQHglx6I0Z9tkdTufchFmXXV7RIYR0nEoI-l9ryVUcLY4efND2OfvNMCMenfKygTo2WbrRploGLlcqXjtgl7BxMe2c/s320/independence+day+109.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407697824955103154" /></a><br />the engineerskalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-34826678152719784862009-11-24T06:03:00.000-08:002009-11-24T06:09:52.147-08:00Weekend Hideout in OotyHere are a couple of reasons why you should think twice before you buy that little weekend bungalow in Ooty, especially from developers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC-W8JEqj3gXRJv0WP3SHTL0xcOeJI_VtGxCpaSKotfCGigHEW20XnxL3_mm5973rcyjjh-mmlRoNOhN5G6WDYHGjjfZ28N9_k-ZVhbZq65mitGPWjzUrxVCZEMGsMSqRJqs10xZOsyU/s1600/independence+day+100.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC-W8JEqj3gXRJv0WP3SHTL0xcOeJI_VtGxCpaSKotfCGigHEW20XnxL3_mm5973rcyjjh-mmlRoNOhN5G6WDYHGjjfZ28N9_k-ZVhbZq65mitGPWjzUrxVCZEMGsMSqRJqs10xZOsyU/s400/independence+day+100.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407671936907398626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh411xl57a2YxQ40QwqzrGwXUXeUPgmuq38i0ZcZewJdy-4hwEvkQJmBTV-Mg5FmJXVZW4eZ9RGEYX2Ef6IKG1IGNmVghL7-hnKTwHmckQZtbtOIFtXNCmm18bp4XarJMxdG6B0VXnu-QM/s1600/independence+day+101.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh411xl57a2YxQ40QwqzrGwXUXeUPgmuq38i0ZcZewJdy-4hwEvkQJmBTV-Mg5FmJXVZW4eZ9RGEYX2Ef6IKG1IGNmVghL7-hnKTwHmckQZtbtOIFtXNCmm18bp4XarJMxdG6B0VXnu-QM/s400/independence+day+101.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407671927508343954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFuDMNKWL8JVr6Qwy4JMSd7qyvhStUd9ZkZH3j-_rN19Bnaz8jzE_nJ-3D2siNcy4jmSB24nfJviFaAm-2flC779fdFmMQZTea_CY-V5Cz7cKoAqXBWqKKkaAoLCU3stXED0Ws8et3Ig/s1600/independence+day+098.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFuDMNKWL8JVr6Qwy4JMSd7qyvhStUd9ZkZH3j-_rN19Bnaz8jzE_nJ-3D2siNcy4jmSB24nfJviFaAm-2flC779fdFmMQZTea_CY-V5Cz7cKoAqXBWqKKkaAoLCU3stXED0Ws8et3Ig/s400/independence+day+098.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407671917287604914" /></a><br /><br />These buildings sunk a few feet below road level.And are hanging onkalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-28730969206353369122009-11-18T19:58:00.001-08:002009-11-18T20:02:30.259-08:00Devastation in the Nilgiris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SwTDSMHJULI/AAAAAAAAAyI/ruK5FFERDYE/s1600/DSC00979.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SwTDSMHJULI/AAAAAAAAAyI/ruK5FFERDYE/s400/DSC00979.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405660170007695538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVpCUTMLC3FVbg7c0LrahnUB3DSpu9Zk-HIsAEA0PNF-13_YiuPnzmBp_Q7bzAJOZ1aJ7zYQ7KeWYpJtFmwdB5GP8DVEjPcffWQOkHRtgt3Uz3B6evDXML1pZ7qvURkKgCes8Dm2gaFA/s1600/DSC00998.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVpCUTMLC3FVbg7c0LrahnUB3DSpu9Zk-HIsAEA0PNF-13_YiuPnzmBp_Q7bzAJOZ1aJ7zYQ7KeWYpJtFmwdB5GP8DVEjPcffWQOkHRtgt3Uz3B6evDXML1pZ7qvURkKgCes8Dm2gaFA/s400/DSC00998.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405660164786624898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgHztfc9dy058WDT9NAwUEtW19NSvPHblAnmM4-iWJZt61iV690CGAELLsmOMELEstvj5WT5aNBu-1XViUscp7xuYQqmMyLjb7pqNRRPx-yLHZDE-f7Bo74XYYVW6W0oYdGQ49E1EESk/s1600/DSC01001.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgHztfc9dy058WDT9NAwUEtW19NSvPHblAnmM4-iWJZt61iV690CGAELLsmOMELEstvj5WT5aNBu-1XViUscp7xuYQqmMyLjb7pqNRRPx-yLHZDE-f7Bo74XYYVW6W0oYdGQ49E1EESk/s400/DSC01001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405660165549392034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBMCymgi7xRsI-FwSwxhDBez5z9A1NszolEL6LUNsDiPnDqPrnWcnhpD99PIZh_cGLxjRY1c7cben0wctKONlKZ3mOtaBdfoPSRJGTucQBYCETxPg69LKwP01AwB0fun6lcQsyAViGic/s1600/DSC01039.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBMCymgi7xRsI-FwSwxhDBez5z9A1NszolEL6LUNsDiPnDqPrnWcnhpD99PIZh_cGLxjRY1c7cben0wctKONlKZ3mOtaBdfoPSRJGTucQBYCETxPg69LKwP01AwB0fun6lcQsyAViGic/s400/DSC01039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405660158847352114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L2PGYzK_Ac6Mid-2-1Ooqf-eHmnjXv45618u_r9wWClNO9KVBcpJSDDnGyW4wvRIAss7iqtV2wilxll6RVTS8U5DU3hPD-KzU-wEiMYb8x4GYNvZCX_wOoCN5VVDqnDP0V5Axtq86As/s1600/DSC01047.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L2PGYzK_Ac6Mid-2-1Ooqf-eHmnjXv45618u_r9wWClNO9KVBcpJSDDnGyW4wvRIAss7iqtV2wilxll6RVTS8U5DU3hPD-KzU-wEiMYb8x4GYNvZCX_wOoCN5VVDqnDP0V5Axtq86As/s400/DSC01047.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405660151165537634" /></a><br /><br />(courtesy Prince Patrick)kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-88077943699672794872009-11-17T05:14:00.000-08:002009-11-17T05:19:29.717-08:00The Difficulty of Doing GoodA record breaking amount of rain in the Nilgiris.<br /><br />Reports of people being buried under landfalls and houses that crumbled under the onslaught of continuous rain and wind and mud that came suddenly sliding down trickled in by word of mouth because power lines lay broken as trees crashed everywhere blocking off road access for many hours. We didn’t have access to radio and were spared the sights on TV news channels for a few days. <br /><br />But even looking around the school in our area where as many as 200 people were housed in 3 rooms tugged at the heart. <br /><br />I thought since it was on my doorstep I should go see what was happening. Harassed officials were slowly getting a semblance of order. Food was donated by several charitable organizations and delivered by the hoteliers associations. A couple of plastic tanks supplied water. A medical team came everyday to attend to any signs of spreading disease<br />.<br />Everyday was spent waiting for the minister to come and solve their problems. After three days, his PA turned up and gave them Rs.2000 each. Later a blanket was supplied. <br />Of course, it all became a matter of survival of the fittest. It is really tough in this kind of situation to impose any kind of discipline. Sifting the genuinely-in-distress from the hangers on who were there to see if they could get any freebies is a sensitive issue. In that short space of time, officials can hardly visit the affected areas and identify the people who have lost the most. They rely on the area ‘s leaders who are not too reliable. Given the politics of the situation, I think the government did a great job with immediate relief. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEXG7GPje8lo95b74bvCbWNYEMmCpknr6Ej3TC3q_vWRINXtqEC7z9HPf9HP-xoSlb9UZVA2WgQXrO2z5ImEksCAUfLELaL7fU7GpI1dRw8ejtHKoGVJGqX-tWtLLvczN16AXhkt4GF0/s1600/IN12_VSS_NILGIRIS1_J_11971e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEXG7GPje8lo95b74bvCbWNYEMmCpknr6Ej3TC3q_vWRINXtqEC7z9HPf9HP-xoSlb9UZVA2WgQXrO2z5ImEksCAUfLELaL7fU7GpI1dRw8ejtHKoGVJGqX-tWtLLvczN16AXhkt4GF0/s320/IN12_VSS_NILGIRIS1_J_11971e.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405060895136490626" /></a><br />(pic courtesy: The Hindu)<br />Still people had many wants and demands. A few friends and I collected some used clothes and took them there in a hurry. But the officer in charge was loath to distribute them. Every time some kind of relief appeared, numbers seem to double magically. And fights escalated. He didn’t want any more trouble than he could help.<br /><br />Now the school has been emptied. Some people have gone back home and hopefully to their jobs. The truly displaced and the jobless are housed in another location. They wait in hope for more hands and relief measures to help them.<br /><br />We have become a nation where we wait for someone to help us out. But can we truly blame people who are so poverty stricken that they have to grab all they can?kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-42308019402007302042009-11-13T05:39:00.000-08:002009-11-13T05:40:33.067-08:00Zapping the GapOnce you stop writing; it’s difficult to start writing again. You wonder why you should.<br />But maybe it’s a habit that doesn’t let go off you so easily. <br /><br />So here I am again.<br /><br />Woken up by the torrential rain and wind that hit us in the Nilgiris, so hard. Leaving so much devastation. I took my camera to take some pictures but somehow it didn’t work. Probably it meant that we shouldn’t be getting voyeuristic pleasure out of other people’s distress.<br /><br />But people were anxious to show how much they’d suffered. .Cracks in the walls, roofs, broken walls, damaged floors, mud hanging over on the pitch of the roof,. <br /> Hoping that we’d help in some way .The pathos of a new house for a new young couple with just a window frame left standing over the rubble; the roof blown away. <br /><br />After a while, you are not absorbing anymore of the sad scenes because life is going on around you . <br />Five small kids sitting around a carom board in the watery sunshine on a ledge above a road half covered with mud and stones. <br />That picture stayed with me and helped obliterate the others a bit.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-80267524888900560072009-08-17T21:02:00.000-07:002009-08-17T21:07:28.330-07:00Lessons From Living - People Savvy<span style="font-weight:bold;">Getting along with the people we share this planet with </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoooZ_BBQoI/AAAAAAAAAwY/sqaTfwfQqps/s1600-h/WESTF04733.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 114px; height: 170px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoooZ_BBQoI/AAAAAAAAAwY/sqaTfwfQqps/s200/WESTF04733.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371149932470289026" /></a><br /><br /><br />Be nice – Ravi (45)<br /><br />Treat others the way you want others to treat you –PC (55)<br /><br />A simple smile works wonders though its your enemy. <br />Accept the people the way they are and not for the way you want them to be.<br />You are never right always to comment and judge other people _ Haru (20)<br /><br />Love your enemies – Janet, (49)<br /><br /><br />Don’t open your mouth in the wrong place. Someimes, its better not to show you know something even when you do –Girija (35)<br /><br />One thing I learnt however is to keep my mouth firmly shut when others are voicing their opinions about things and people close to them. You are damned if you agree and damned if you don't !!!! Raji Muthukrishnan (62) <br /><br />To keep smiling always. To take things light. And to shut my big mouth though I feel am right. Gitanjali (25 and newly married) <br /><br />I leant not to cheat anybody – not to believe anybody – enjoy a little without crossing any limits- believe in gods, -there is nothing in the world without them- whatever you do- keep in your mind that everybody are watching- us.<br />Forget the past try to be the best in the present – <br />Take life as your challenge –and reach your destiny – Girija<br /><br /><br />'no matter what its the skill or knowledge one has speaks' –Rajesh ramanujam (35)<br /><br /><br /><br />Listen to your elders – swarna (32) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoooZjRZq6I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/lqMyu7wKN8k/s1600-h/CRF01309.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 113px; height: 170px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoooZjRZq6I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/lqMyu7wKN8k/s200/CRF01309.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371149925022804898" /></a><br /><br />When in one trouble one approaches the person with willingness and the ability to solve your problems – <br />I realize that when people come to you in trouble, all they want most of the time is a listening ear.<br />BJ Krishnan (63)<br /><br />The one lesson that I have learned and have realized is that balance is the essence of life. Too much of anything, including good things like being too nice is harmful :).<br />Oswin Samuel (25)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Real everyday stuff that works –</span><br />Getting up earlier than your family so you have time for yourself is a great start<br />-kallu<br />An early morning walk in fresh air even if its only 5 min to get the milk is a great start to the day -kapu<br />When you are really desperate; turn to your family even its only to fill up lifebuoy questionnaires -sind<br />No matter how bad the situation, Happiness is just a bar of chocolate away –Dachu (25)<br />80% of the work is done by 20% of members in a team- sindhu (22)kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-91158497974903609812009-08-16T21:29:00.000-07:002009-08-16T21:34:48.855-07:00Lessons From Living -III<span style="font-weight:bold;">Qualities that help along the way!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/Sojdb4RFaFI/AAAAAAAAAwI/ao3Ee2Pqux4/s1600-h/j0341802.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/Sojdb4RFaFI/AAAAAAAAAwI/ao3Ee2Pqux4/s200/j0341802.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370786026669566034" /></a><br />To achieve our greatest part of endurance is "COURAGE" –Aristotle –contributed by Kumari (44)<br /><br />Patience-Ramkumar(30)<br /><br />Gain or learn by experience –Goutham<br />It is always better to make life simple and uncomplicated as possible. –Anita N(40)<br />Attitude and individuality matters a lot. - Haru<br /><br />Money is the deciding factor. Better to realize it late than never –Anandhi (45)<br /><br />Lost opportunities in money making deals are my only regrets – so don’t be afraid to take risks – Ramesh (45)<br /><br />Must say that the best thing I have learnt would be that I am going to lose as much as I can win, so I take both as well - however, I hate not having competed - so, try and compete - win or lose is not that big a deal ! – vijaykanth (53)<br /><br />Get to the bottom of the problem" - be it professional, personal, national... - mahendran (49)<br /><br />Expectations hurts. (ouch! That hurts) <br /><br />Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one – Newton (49)<br /><br />Work hard..no substitute for hard work ..Sheela (45)<br /><br />The big results can be achieved by altering the small things – Babu (29)<br /><br />To accept changes and to be a lot more humane –Geetha (45)kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-34635335084620553352009-08-12T23:39:00.000-07:002009-08-13T00:03:37.932-07:00Lessons from Living!! -II<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Happy people about happiness! – The (B)Right Attitude </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoO6q_646TI/AAAAAAAAAv4/6-kf2xqh2wk/s1600-h/happiness.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 93px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoO6q_646TI/AAAAAAAAAv4/6-kf2xqh2wk/s400/happiness.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369340428631468338" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">`Always look on the bright side of life ... Babu (age 50)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anything may happen anytime.. people will change … so enjoy life.. dont take things seriously why kavalai??? – Sajit (age 15)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Happiness lies in what you have got. And not in what you feel have lost. –Kalai (50)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Be happy with what you have while striving for better things-Kapu (43)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That every day is better than the rest – Banu (49)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Do what you deem right within the bounds of reason – Jyothi (25)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">live life to the fullest and for the moment only. –Sastha Prakash (30)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Highly philosophical </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoO59ygoHOI/AAAAAAAAAvw/Ctem6PcMSmc/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 117px; height: 105px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SoO59ygoHOI/AAAAAAAAAvw/Ctem6PcMSmc/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369339651937541346" /></a><br /><br />In life nothing is permanent. so making far fetched plans ahead can be redundant sometimes. Life itself is only a phase that we pass through so as long as we at are it, I believe we live righteously.<br />In short love and be loved. Goutham (48)<br /><br /> We always searching for something in our life which exists and not exists but need to have space for everyone and everything in our life.- damu (35)kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-75794719982125268202009-08-06T23:33:00.000-07:002009-08-06T23:48:24.187-07:00Mystery story WritersOne of the things that add such a huge Zing to my Life I've discovered is a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Well- Written-Mystery-Story</span> I go about with such a glow the whole day, its worth it to read lots of these:-)<br /><br />A recent addition to my list of Favorite Authors is :<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Josephine Tey</span>- Elegant Prose - I can't reveal any more mysteries.<br />Other favorites :<br /> PD James - <br /> Sue Grafton - the A is for ... - lady With a zingy, irascible detective Kinsey Malhone<br /> Mary Higgins Clark - though Ive mostly given up on her.. too horrifying<br />Ruth Rendell - Macabre but a scholar<br />Ngaaio Marsh - I've read only one but it was great <br /> Mary Stewart - Unbeatable for mystery undertinged just slightly with romance<br /> Agatha Christie- where one begins<br /><br />Male writers:<br />Dick Francis - a very intelligent mind<br />Lawrence Sanders - though his Commandment books are good, his madly gay detective Mcnally really holds<br />Raymond Chandler - Style<br />Giovanni Guareschi's Don Camillo - tho this isnt detective fiction actuallykalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-76953151788149447182009-08-06T22:58:00.000-07:002009-08-06T23:33:10.994-07:00Lessons and ThoughtsOne of the lessons I learnt over the past few weeks is:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">If you want to write about a movie you've just watched or about a book you are reading; you should do it NOW. </span><br /><br />Otherwise, the urge to inflict all those shades of thoughts and reactions on the world passes. Later all those shades are muddied and you may still write it all out anyway creating something which is not quite fresh and true.<br /><br />So here goes in random order, impressions of weeks past that have lingered, as short as I can make it.<br /><br />Two movies remain in my head and remind me that there is a story in each one of us. People who live ordinary lives, in poverty and want yet each find something - a dream - to cling to that lifts their lives out of the misery of want and makes their lives rich. <span style="font-style:italic;">Mari</span> in <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Poo</span></span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Vedachalam</span> in <span style="font-weight:bold;">Kanjeevaram.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Poo</span> is about Mari; the girl with the heart of a flower. She is consumed with love for her cousin brother but is too shy to express it. The blossoming of a young girl as she tries to express her love in different ways ; her tribulations which are told in a gentle humorous way. Her gentle heart which can never bear to see him hurt.<br />Poo is about Mari and actor Parvathy justly deserves all the awards she has been accumulating with her sensitive face. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SnvHsTgzJJI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/RSEfXDktmMw/s1600-h/Poo_Parvathy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1YPXDwPH5g/SnvHsTgzJJI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/RSEfXDktmMw/s320/Poo_Parvathy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367102944908092562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YpTOYiL55-CNj1Oszde7cH91ccn4XO1U3N_25PE54DkF8lNsz26ffn_HNPiToxP888nGb4K2dcY2rOZI8k77Wg_O5pzmFiFbZrBbrJCviyfc3potuEofX-EQb_fYx0-G3GomYyfJbTk/s1600-h/Poo-Stills-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YpTOYiL55-CNj1Oszde7cH91ccn4XO1U3N_25PE54DkF8lNsz26ffn_HNPiToxP888nGb4K2dcY2rOZI8k77Wg_O5pzmFiFbZrBbrJCviyfc3potuEofX-EQb_fYx0-G3GomYyfJbTk/s320/Poo-Stills-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367102935938047634" /></a><br /><br />The sepia tones Of Kanjeevarm linger long after. It’s a movie of superlative visuals with great attention to detail paid to the sets depicting a style of life of 60 years ago. The sharp beauty of Shreya Reddy stands out as well as the vigor of Prakash Raj in every scene.<br />What keeps this poor weaver, <span style="font-style:italic;">Vedachalam</span> going is his commitment to weave a saree for his daughter's‘wedding from silk - a Kanjeevaram which he can never afford in his lifetime and how he finds the means to this end. His broader visions – the rights of his community of weavers to better pay and conditions makes him a man of stature and how his ideals grow and bend are party of the story.<br /><br />His sensitivity – when he sees his daughter crying; he doesn’t look at her directly or take her in his arms. But in the Indian way, stands apart and tries to address her problem. It seems more authentic than the father in <span style="font-style:italic;">Abiyum Naanum</span>. Or is this a generation apart?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2Fp9-VcRDjM0t_k9hoeIK5fLZEugxJGfeEAylGVtOce-t47hfIroswsZLIS9SsqEKO4lmPWIbpvJtIw5B3Oqyx_sEA9HmhXTh1KVxGTBIIQ7T78zftRCtdcXjDcwFJHetPn2-2o4zx4/s1600-h/Kanjeevaram_Prakashraj.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2Fp9-VcRDjM0t_k9hoeIK5fLZEugxJGfeEAylGVtOce-t47hfIroswsZLIS9SsqEKO4lmPWIbpvJtIw5B3Oqyx_sEA9HmhXTh1KVxGTBIIQ7T78zftRCtdcXjDcwFJHetPn2-2o4zx4/s320/Kanjeevaram_Prakashraj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367106112083576274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4gIIwNADGvq77z1IUaeTY_g8CtIWQy7htbHDobqYPpu0UR0zLHEPuuZU_zrDFgbO-9hvX3lZck32yFsijmShsYYsYUkI6AuXvGhqxIatWy6pRx4prDKo23gYe17-dJjmgiC6RCMxfzI/s1600-h/753524jpmovie.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4gIIwNADGvq77z1IUaeTY_g8CtIWQy7htbHDobqYPpu0UR0zLHEPuuZU_zrDFgbO-9hvX3lZck32yFsijmShsYYsYUkI6AuXvGhqxIatWy6pRx4prDKo23gYe17-dJjmgiC6RCMxfzI/s320/753524jpmovie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367106105671366786" /></a>kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-30829789328988246732009-08-02T21:14:00.000-07:002009-08-02T21:58:16.505-07:00Lessons from Living -IThis morning I realized two lessons about life:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">1) I have done a lot of living and and now its time to listen to my body and take more care - recovery is much slower<br /><br />2) I may be bursting with plans for the day but I can put them aside and do other things which are as gladdening - I just have to spend a little time and thought</span><br /><br /> <br />Both are interconnected of course. Yesterday, I had done more cooking than usual because my brother in law turned up; started a new painting on one bit of wall and made some changes in the garden which involved shifting some pots.<br />I went to bed with the happiness that I would be doing all this and more today- the monthly shopping; some more sorting out of books and so on.<br /><br />But this morning I found I could hardly use one arm and leg. Obviously, I had been doing things I shouldn't yday. And now I can't be doing things I should. So take-it-easy day .<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">unfinished business</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">that can wait</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42hNvP8uOoI8IoI5k8XIUZ3dYud9sJP8VcE2yFMLeAWX5Zh4aa3SlDtp6JQWIBJKj6NjzaKsDYmqYhOBo9T7xwb0dubU52DmrUjSp6bjBECrZ00uOuVPss8FuOQ6f3qx9P3JPlrdUDXo/s1600-h/new+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42hNvP8uOoI8IoI5k8XIUZ3dYud9sJP8VcE2yFMLeAWX5Zh4aa3SlDtp6JQWIBJKj6NjzaKsDYmqYhOBo9T7xwb0dubU52DmrUjSp6bjBECrZ00uOuVPss8FuOQ6f3qx9P3JPlrdUDXo/s320/new+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365595264852358866" /></a><br />Im adding a pic to give the idea of unfinished work that hangs over our heads when we can't do it but we can happily gloss over when we can do it.<br /><br /><br />As I was making idlies with the left hand - its really very clumsy; one should use it more often- I was thinking of the lesson its teaching me . And suddenly the idea came to me that I should ask other people too what lessons they've learnt.<br />so I started sending out sms' and got some replies which cheered me up immensely.<br />In the process the idlies got a bit overcooked but never mind.<br /><br />The replies in the next post... But please whoever is reading this send in yours too.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-48331865698865208972009-07-19T21:58:00.000-07:002009-07-20T08:12:33.882-07:00They are here - Rain and Wind GodsIt's that time of the year.When we can never stop talking about the weather. Even though it is our favorite topic of discussion during most times; now it occupies a special place of importance. <br /><br />I think its mostly due to the shock of the monsoon sweeping in after the glorious days of summer. We can't get quite used to being shoved off so abruptly from the top slot on the list of Places-to-Bask-in-During-this-Hot-Summer. And our smugness over living in beautiful Ooty gives place to 'Is this the right place to live in after all? - God, show us a little mercy. And throw some sunshine in. While you are at it, cut that wind a little.'<br /><br />Just when we'd finally gathered the courage to discard our sweaters - only in April do Ootyites get that much courage - we are back to being bundled in two or three layers and socks. And battling gamely with damp shoes,umbrellas and drips down the neck while we make shopping trips to the market as short as possible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1OskapjAJ-H1MQb7H2mUabJLa76h_eUE3mcjAULspSsbVv9ZWu1j0y3piIAYdEWzGWuA_qmj1nXnU3m3-HzJaDmRI62SJIpI4KH4NJNhH6MPfqwKQOsIr6-U7WehCoL5mhRnGoROAZc/s1600-h/new+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1OskapjAJ-H1MQb7H2mUabJLa76h_eUE3mcjAULspSsbVv9ZWu1j0y3piIAYdEWzGWuA_qmj1nXnU3m3-HzJaDmRI62SJIpI4KH4NJNhH6MPfqwKQOsIr6-U7WehCoL5mhRnGoROAZc/s320/new+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403934783682802" /></a><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">view from my window </span><br /><br />One way to battle the cold is to bring the flowers in.. they are all drooping anyway. These are my home grown gladioli... easiest to grow and most glamorous. <br />Bright spots in a cold world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoa7QrgJqKdxPv8P0lQUlj41Iln8sDpKkikOBm2iG0qaYuOobugihhmmPJ7YOUIGHRN5w0aqyEzReKyFlF8uFDnbVurmd1uKs8YeMH2gipTUchFM7RHvA1yUs0UP2zBYJ2oaxppD3zc0/s1600-h/new+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoa7QrgJqKdxPv8P0lQUlj41Iln8sDpKkikOBm2iG0qaYuOobugihhmmPJ7YOUIGHRN5w0aqyEzReKyFlF8uFDnbVurmd1uKs8YeMH2gipTUchFM7RHvA1yUs0UP2zBYJ2oaxppD3zc0/s320/new+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360402524587178946" /></a>kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-18193522966090289902009-06-23T20:51:00.000-07:002009-06-23T20:55:21.142-07:00In One PlaceThe morning has been almost perfect. Unhurried. Rising after the sun has come up; without an alarm, no guilt. Coffee over the newspaper. A few comments. Getting lunch ready. Some stretches. There are no phone calls ; well only one . And the doorbell rings only once. But the morning remains unshattered by harsh words- thoughts, demands. Bright, unfolding into promise,rich with life. Breakfast and he’s gone. I eat my oats , slowly with Binnie Kirshenbaum. I feel a slow pleasure come over me. A writer I know I’m are going to like. She brings calm and a slow unhurriedness and a liking for life that is contagious.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-55881521545499221432009-06-23T20:43:00.000-07:002009-06-24T03:19:39.193-07:00PasangaAn unassuming film with actors who seem perfectly natural; a story that is not going anywhere. Its more than a slice of life with a philosophy behind that does reach one. There is a cuteness about it; a film about kids can hardly do without. But this one doesn't jar. The love interest too is refreshing. Little unexpected turns maintain interest. <br />People have said that it lags a bit; but for each person its a different stage. <br />But, everyone says - lovely film. And so do I. I don't want to give the story away but do watch it.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-80644291839747881372009-05-31T21:20:00.000-07:002009-06-02T09:32:24.730-07:00Oldies but GoldiesThe Vintage Car Rally marks the end of the 'Season' at Ooty. We do have a month long program of events which include a Boat Regatta, Dance and Music, Photographic Shows and other events which are never well publicized; which means besides the organizers and participants, very few people attend any of these programs. <br /><br />The popular events are the Flower Show, the Dog Shows and the Races. These are held during the weekends when the locals don't go out if they can help it because traffic and crowds become so horrendous.<br /><br />But the Car Rally was something I had to go to, because my friend Geetha was exhibiting her Morris 8 of 1947. She'd spent the last few months getting it painted and polished and reupholstered. Geeth said there was not one bit of rust on the 60 year old car.<br />I know the great amount of effort she puts into sourcing original parts. And she was rewarded this year with a prize for Best-Original Car. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFgSwXzBhaS_6ySxJqF42emn9t9QmrEkq1ZyJ00ucjTQv0lhdTobcLo5lNuqE7a93jmTVMZyTvSKGrAQPqgGcZWCmV7yUn0IneibwmP28S6NWtmkLz3NAUTrzqCrG60kUHWw-usBnotc/s1600-h/car+rally3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFgSwXzBhaS_6ySxJqF42emn9t9QmrEkq1ZyJ00ucjTQv0lhdTobcLo5lNuqE7a93jmTVMZyTvSKGrAQPqgGcZWCmV7yUn0IneibwmP28S6NWtmkLz3NAUTrzqCrG60kUHWw-usBnotc/s320/car+rally3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342209446242059602" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITQY6SCEpfTipC5eo17QgzzwAYYmLDuJLnz1yeYUZCr_R14rE-6i59-Z52NoU73QPJr6r2Lropuk-FoRhzfbLBlhATZbsBVNUMEDzMfTtAZvJxoEqXPo170knq5dkL-YGsaZdvdLlWO8/s1600-h/car+rally5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITQY6SCEpfTipC5eo17QgzzwAYYmLDuJLnz1yeYUZCr_R14rE-6i59-Z52NoU73QPJr6r2Lropuk-FoRhzfbLBlhATZbsBVNUMEDzMfTtAZvJxoEqXPo170knq5dkL-YGsaZdvdLlWO8/s320/car+rally5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342209444211106146" /></a> Grand old ladies get a day out!<br /><br />This year included an exhibition of old scooters and bikes too.<br />The car fanatic is a special breed. And these hobbyists certainly find a reason for living. For them , this was a great day displaying their beauties and hob nobbling with people who prize their cars above money.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-13347972624164367102009-05-30T07:41:00.000-07:002009-05-30T08:04:54.602-07:00Way Down Upon the BackwatersLast weekend was our short getaway-from-Ooty trip to Aleppey, sailing down the backwaters. Initially, meant to be for four of us, in the Velcro-effect in our family, numbers grew and grew till we were 12 and we had to hire another boat.<br />After the efforts of organizing the trip and coordinating everyone's schedules and travelling the 300 km from Coimbatore to Allepey besides babysitting 8mth old to 80 year old father, it was bliss to get on the boat and just be. <br /><br />Im just putting in pics in the hope they say it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrAqA7PJqYjvDHBtM2rbBYjsgG38-hbCjs1CC2Fy9paNduMEpR3OKoJuhmuqdnaGPNSS48jqTgGXS-9L-5CvacwKvl8L2AdfoSl9h0lBE4EE3702jvAWfKgKV7Qw42pkLuBODHKlvkLI/s1600-h/dhruv+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrAqA7PJqYjvDHBtM2rbBYjsgG38-hbCjs1CC2Fy9paNduMEpR3OKoJuhmuqdnaGPNSS48jqTgGXS-9L-5CvacwKvl8L2AdfoSl9h0lBE4EE3702jvAWfKgKV7Qw42pkLuBODHKlvkLI/s320/dhruv+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341628050380681922" /></a> My niece Gigi with her son . Rebel-teen nephew Sajit, happy to be away from parents. And EAT all day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCSv56tzKazzSyp4Gtr39SBa1HOIoC_1yerzLaHGlRUGeruZwjc5D61NrHY8r2TlYlrIeuNyvCew3iVpcneKCICK7sXA3O2FezAjsFXZaQxwgBXSNzzco66Qtn_e8b88oORXvPvsq5B0/s1600-h/dhruv+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCSv56tzKazzSyp4Gtr39SBa1HOIoC_1yerzLaHGlRUGeruZwjc5D61NrHY8r2TlYlrIeuNyvCew3iVpcneKCICK7sXA3O2FezAjsFXZaQxwgBXSNzzco66Qtn_e8b88oORXvPvsq5B0/s320/dhruv+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341628054398211346" /></a> Sindhu and my niece, Haru. Happy to be away from college.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomQ4LpdprKgTrErnglGXqcoUrqMJY8AKYLP9AcXAxFOi2qcq6lWlz94Lov0oAqrllxrwZry8y_EqYCBjoC1a0ursJ-B130VLVbKF8fEjuqO100pFKJLUCCMkXmOtRshW3NMobtjtuSz0/s1600-h/dhruv+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomQ4LpdprKgTrErnglGXqcoUrqMJY8AKYLP9AcXAxFOi2qcq6lWlz94Lov0oAqrllxrwZry8y_EqYCBjoC1a0ursJ-B130VLVbKF8fEjuqO100pFKJLUCCMkXmOtRshW3NMobtjtuSz0/s320/dhruv+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341628062695352386" /></a>Junior nephew Sanjay - his parents were the trial- constantly calling to find out how he was. Blisffuly, signals became very weak.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCIOIStOReCMHdNNI6VfT656U1RgUVn3TOx-BnfBQt86LQupDgXaLVseVZ9bN5EY7QYWwMu0B1RoypzQoR2qgr6yff7UcUyctOxuh2nk3tqax5SJPOHZ4Dx-cmWvRxz5JVGROXWDjOcM/s1600-h/dhruv+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCIOIStOReCMHdNNI6VfT656U1RgUVn3TOx-BnfBQt86LQupDgXaLVseVZ9bN5EY7QYWwMu0B1RoypzQoR2qgr6yff7UcUyctOxuh2nk3tqax5SJPOHZ4Dx-cmWvRxz5JVGROXWDjOcM/s320/dhruv+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341628064254824930" /></a><br />More people on the other boat. Cousins displaying unseemly 'Titanic' spirits; to the horror of their kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MuXEoo7G78dXybQ1epRevoeDA1YyHyNtkiFBItCzfBvXSc21G8Pw0L-P5_2LJT-ZtD1-XIhRSVT-jAIwr9Cqb87sIOiEX_9NVwSShvYFAfgAqb5rWFB4ip1Y8SX_pOjnOnvLhiEJSfQ/s1600-h/dhruv+016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MuXEoo7G78dXybQ1epRevoeDA1YyHyNtkiFBItCzfBvXSc21G8Pw0L-P5_2LJT-ZtD1-XIhRSVT-jAIwr9Cqb87sIOiEX_9NVwSShvYFAfgAqb5rWFB4ip1Y8SX_pOjnOnvLhiEJSfQ/s320/dhruv+016.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341628070341492994" /></a> <br />The very comfortable deck.<br /><br />Meals are provided. You don't have a choice of menus. You don't have 'something to see'. Just drift down and sleep and eat. Heavenly holiday.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-50846518698365497902009-05-18T06:41:00.000-07:002009-05-18T06:50:36.084-07:00Narayana GurukulamMany many years ago, when Darshini had just started school while Sindhu went to nursery ,we were living in a little flat of 4 rooms totaling 400 sq ft. on Upper Bazaar Street, right in the centre of Ooty town. One day we had two visitors. They had been given our address by my sister Karthy who was working in Trivandrum. One was her house owner and the other, his friend. They’d come to look around Ooty. Their easy assumption that they would be staying with us, took my breath away and with it my words and the objections that rose in my mind. <br /><br /> Two memories have stayed with me.<br /><br /> I had a collection of 20-30 pots on the tiny balcony of which I was rather proud. My idea of gardening then was to buy pots from the market, fill them with mud from the side of the road, get some small cuttings from friends ; plonk the pots on the balcony and water them assiduously. There was green enough for me to think it was all working well. Till this gentleman from green Kerala pronounced ‘not one healthy plant among them’. Since my plants are still not winning prizes, I can’t say I really learnt a big lesson from this..<br /><br />The other was that the visitors wanted to go to the Narayana Gurukulam. I had never heard of the place in the Ooty chukker of Boat-house-garden-Doddabetta. Well, being enterprising people they found their way there without any assistance from me. I was intrigued that people from so far away knew something about Ooty that I hadn’t heard of.<br /><br />But, it was a couple of years later that I got to visit the Narayana Gurukulam after I acquired a Keralite friend. Narayana Guru was a saint, sage, social reformer who did much to transform the caste ridden society of Kerala. He established several temples and educational institutions. His disciple, Natarja Guru established the Narayana Gurukulam at Ooty. His successor, Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yeti stayed here for long periods. People talk of him as larger than life and a man of great intelligence and zest for life. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to interact with him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0I1KIgq10yBFMPXQ6WFlrlAiDpmSoBoTKloWHKa6Gy62IVQI9UulWOfQ6WutREdZzKgk0MizP3jxpGnhatFKz88tmJI0eNgMbs6uD8pDG0luppXXWq2LC4-FuloBKYvMnr0XXleYhuw/s1600-h/Picture+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0I1KIgq10yBFMPXQ6WFlrlAiDpmSoBoTKloWHKa6Gy62IVQI9UulWOfQ6WutREdZzKgk0MizP3jxpGnhatFKz88tmJI0eNgMbs6uD8pDG0luppXXWq2LC4-FuloBKYvMnr0XXleYhuw/s320/Picture+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337160175854566514" /></a><br />The Gurukulam is a place which seems to have bridged the gap between the spiritual and practical, with an air of peace and acceptance. Small buildings are scattered over the campus; there is a beautiful shrine to the gurus filled with light and silence; a Zen maze where one walks to find solutions to problems (you walk through the maze all the while focusing on your problem and you should come out with the answer or the beginnings of one in your mind), the house where Guru Chaitanya Yeti used to live, a hall for programs and housing for the monks and guests.<br /><br />After a long gap, last week I was at the Gurukulam for its annual function to celebrate the birthday of Narayana Guru . Prayers and talks are followed by ‘annadhanam’ and then a program of dance and music. This time, a friend of ours was the speaker. Mr. B.J.Krishnan, a lawyer and keen advocate for the environment and conservation spoke on his pet subjects. It was a bright sunny day and the function, held among the trees and graceful buildings, was so peaceful. The audience listened in absolute silence to the speakers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY8UCNjIgzd2syEp1Q6E2BdcHxEkYm94myhK6lFoPYUxGZtsHy1omjBl9dbh7nHZDU3WVAGrlseMZTfBRwumcxgZJYRKfPC4_eI_fbGgtHWHSGBUi569LAbQJb9JVqxhvWJeJ5bALXB0/s1600-h/Picture+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY8UCNjIgzd2syEp1Q6E2BdcHxEkYm94myhK6lFoPYUxGZtsHy1omjBl9dbh7nHZDU3WVAGrlseMZTfBRwumcxgZJYRKfPC4_eI_fbGgtHWHSGBUi569LAbQJb9JVqxhvWJeJ5bALXB0/s320/Picture+023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337160182521450498" /></a><br />Lunch followed – served on long benches set out under the trees. Without the usual hustle and pushing; it was so good. People had to wait for empty plates – each one had to wash his own – and there was no sign of anxiety or hurry.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_SInJ4OjD0yY4j5NR8u3QOEpwmWiep1txzKrd_PX-ZJb5qZxB5cSvQnEBR3i8B8WljxTQ_d9XxZjYqilHLozRGFE9U_WVVboNzdtSA_5zt4ldWOw044knorBNTSdL0IoThZ9s9glPWg/s1600-h/Picture+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_SInJ4OjD0yY4j5NR8u3QOEpwmWiep1txzKrd_PX-ZJb5qZxB5cSvQnEBR3i8B8WljxTQ_d9XxZjYqilHLozRGFE9U_WVVboNzdtSA_5zt4ldWOw044knorBNTSdL0IoThZ9s9glPWg/s320/Picture+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337160186924157570" /></a><br /> In a flight of fancy, I wished that Sindhu’s wedding could be conducted in similar style, without excessive formalities or tension and people relaxing and enjoying just being there.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-3496741774317602972009-05-13T06:45:00.000-07:002009-05-14T05:27:25.222-07:00Option E: None of the Above<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Indian voter has an option to say ’I don’t wish to vote for any of these candidates’.<br /></span><br />If you are dissatisfied with the candidates on offer in your constituency and think they don’t deserve your vote; then by provision 49- O, you can go to the polling booth, confirm your identity, get your finger marked and tell the electoral officer that you don’t wish to vote.<br /><br />Recently, a campaign has spread awareness of this rule through mail and SMS and pamphlets. <a href="http://www.jansamachar.net/display.php3?id=&num=38939&lang=English">See this link to know more about the campaign in North India. </a><br /><br />To strengthen the case for voting 49-O, the mails say that if the number of '49-O' votes polled are more than those of the winning candidate, then the poll will be cancelled and re-polling done. Furthermore, the contestants will be banned from the re-polling for their life times.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this is not true. 49-O is merely a rule for negative or neutral voting.<a href="http://49-o.org/ ">The exact Rule can be found here.</a> <br /><br />When I first heard about 49-O, I thought what a waste of public money! to hold a re-election. We might as well make the best choice of whatever ( or whoever) is available to us.<br /><br />But, last night when I went through the list of candidates for our constituency, I was stumped to come up with the right or best candidate. Of the candidates from the three major parties, one is corrupt, one is terribly terribly corrupt and the third has 3 criminal cases pending against him. None of them are from our district. The remaining dozen people are absolutely unknown. What chances do they have on a national footing?<br /><br />So I thought I would use the 49- O option. Not an easy decision to make or execute. First, I queued up in a booth with early birds all going off to work. Then they couldn’t match my voter ID. I was sent off to the party people to find my number. This took 45 minutes and I was escorted back to a different booth by our ex-Councillor who was happy to use this opportunity to spew abuses on the ruling party/govt. for the poor organization of voter lists. <br /><br />After all the trouble he took, I was a little loath to turn in a null vote. But I did say “ I want to use the 49- O" loudly enough to create a furor. At first no one understood my request, then the chief officer made me sign in a book and wrote ‘Refused to vote’ which has made me rather sad.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-80746407885428514982009-04-14T06:40:00.000-07:002009-04-14T06:47:27.005-07:00Some Things Do ChangeOne of the joys of middle age is letting go. Of so much baggage, fixed notions, of an image one oneself. and being open to new experiences, ideas and new ways of doing things. Not that one is completely transformed but it seems delightful when little events show up different ways of thought. And wackiness amuses instead of being disturbing.<br /><br />This morning my husband was content to usher in the New Year with just a lighting of the lamp. It all felt very light and nice to let go of rituals which usually brought a great deal of tension when they had to be done before he left for the hospital. I had cooked a few special dishes and we were happy to enjoy the eating .Before I used to think we were doing it all to maintain some sort of continuity for the children. Now who was I kidding? <br /><br />But the evening found me participating in the ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">ther</span>’ of the Mariamman temple. This is huge event for the whole district and the town is absolutely crowded, roads are blocked street vendors are out, noise levels are high and it lasts for 24 hours. All good enough reasons for me to avoid it altogether. <br /><br />City living, parents who believed in ‘rational thinking’; convent education which wasn’t countered by a strong religious base as in many Indian households, I’ve never been a temple goer. Associated rituals like the ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">ther</span>’ never figured as important to me.<br /><br />Today strange chance, found me part of the queue waiting to throw salt on Mariamma to say ‘ <span style="font-style:italic;">here I am , bless me<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span>’. And the crowds, the noise the colorful displays on the street side shops all seemed so wonderful.<br />I wished I had a camera to capture it all. But then a camera separates you so much from what is going on. You become a spectactor; so I was glad I was there more to enjoy it all with myself than to record it.<br /><br />My friend and I looked keenly at every display of bright articles. We wanted to buy something but what? She wanted a kaleidoscope. I wanted a watch from the man who could make it out of pink striped candy on a stick. I never could buy this when I was young because it was forbidden and I was the ‘good girl.’ ‘ How much of life gets wasted because one is trying to be good’ she said with regret. You can’t go back and things pass you by. <br /><br />Yesterday I went to buy fish for the small new pond . Last week, the man there had said, he would be getting some great fish which was better suited for the outdoors. Yday he said ,' oh new pond, you have to first try it with some dam fish and then if they survive, you graduate the pond to a more delicate species. I didn’t curse him for not saying all this on my last visit which I would have done some time ago when I lived my life in a series of things to do. Now I have more leisure and the spirit to appreciate him saying that all the fish needed to eat is lots of ‘dirtys’. <br />And time to check on the fish often.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-49155181462197215592009-04-10T05:53:00.000-07:002009-04-10T06:46:56.155-07:00Some Things Don't Change :-)Yesterday I was in Coimbatore, for what was hopefully, my last visit to the dentist for a long long time. To celebrate, I met up with a childhood friend who happened to be in town too and we went out together. <br />Promptly, at 8.p.m. she received a call from her mother asking, when are you coming home. My friend told her Mom, that we might be late as we were having dinner outside. A little disapproval there.<br />Then I called my father to tell him the same. He said, get back home fast.. don't be late.<br />We had to reflect that our kids were out somewhere till 10 p.m. but we had to be back home early. But things have changed a little in 25 years. Curfew seems to have moved from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. :-)<br /><br />The crazier part is we couldn't even tell our respective parents where we'd been. Nothing illegal or 'bad' about it but just somewhere they wouldn't like. We thought it better that they didn't know about it. <br /><br />What are our kids keeping from us??? Do i want to know??kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-31193879507295178582009-03-24T21:17:00.000-07:002009-03-24T21:24:51.313-07:00Bling<span style="font-style:italic;">A green pavadai of some synthetic material that billed out and stood stiffly and was covered with gold glittering embroidery. White slippers with plaited straps and heels that looked lovely in the shop window and probably horrible on my dirty brown feet. </span><br />Still I was in love with them. They must have been bought for me by some indulgent aunt; my practical mother would never have let me buy something so unsuitable. <br /><br />When I try and look back on distinct joyful memories of childhood, then these come up first. Later memories are more to do with events and people. <br />Childhood is all around Bling when we don’t know what is supposed to be ‘good taste’. Parents are horrified over their children’s’ choices but grandparents go with it. And enjoy it all – mittai pink frocks and golden shoes. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MPvuB6lvgE3pUqvh-__fWi3PiiaCvqoEjrVVr-HCU9ZSXYsg-t6L4-UsNcO0trCHXpm7137JwIWqu-nQAY4TPX9dpaJ6qkKxgzXOl5vTmofPQ0scvtM7i7pZDHI1cWV2-UQKKJfbhoU/s1600-h/Picture+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MPvuB6lvgE3pUqvh-__fWi3PiiaCvqoEjrVVr-HCU9ZSXYsg-t6L4-UsNcO0trCHXpm7137JwIWqu-nQAY4TPX9dpaJ6qkKxgzXOl5vTmofPQ0scvtM7i7pZDHI1cWV2-UQKKJfbhoU/s320/Picture+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316975328299369330" /></a><br />I took this motley crowd out to our Botancial Gardens last week. They’ve never been before so it was a joyous occasion. Their first car ride too. I’ve never examined each tree and plant of the Gardens so thoroughly before this . We kept it short and simple so it was good for all of us. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nzHT5GXEoCkwWXZHPsXwSDnJKpb9cog77uawBowuiVdB9e4piqXVf1gg7_yYVbwYKqRBpgge-Dt6UzTbt1sqTweQT-oIB0zw7RvFoLjuXvBwOIKGpic-SALAlvOyw_Lzub3HzO5wVg4/s1600-h/Picture+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nzHT5GXEoCkwWXZHPsXwSDnJKpb9cog77uawBowuiVdB9e4piqXVf1gg7_yYVbwYKqRBpgge-Dt6UzTbt1sqTweQT-oIB0zw7RvFoLjuXvBwOIKGpic-SALAlvOyw_Lzub3HzO5wVg4/s320/Picture+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316975682727185746" /></a>kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-45120923768168838802009-03-09T07:24:00.000-07:002009-03-09T07:59:45.093-07:00The Time has to ComeLast week was my 'miracle week'. So many good things happened, some problems hanging over me for months got resolved out of the blue. <br /><br />The big one was an electricity problem- after months of lights blowing, appliances hardly working - the EB people finally admitted that it might be their problem and fixed it. It took six months of knocking at their doors every week. Now, its such a relief that I can touch water taps without a shock ; lights glow bright , the microwave works, heaters heat and the computer after crashing has been restored. <br />The fault was with someone in the neighbourhood who had been tapping current and miswired his motor. ( this in case something like this happens to you) <br /><br />Dachu's PAN card was traced after 3 months to a courier in Coonoor who was happily sitting on it without taking the trouble to inform us. <br />Other minor things kept happening everyday. Some of my teeth got fixed:-)<br /><br />But what did occur to me was that if I had gone to visit a temple/saint or done some special prayers just before, I would have believed strongly in whichever that was. That might have given me more faith and strength. But it didn't happen.<br />I just have to believe that things happen only at their own pace. <br /><br />Of course, when I thought that the good time was here; I tried pushing the library. I do owe an explanation to all the people who have been supportive of this venture with cash and books and encouragement. <br /><br />We have been trying to find a suitable place - criteria being central location, low rent and nominal advance. When I put up the appeal, there was such a place but the owner backed out - not so clearly saying no but promising it 'in 10 days', every 2 weeks. Alternatives are too costly to afford on a long term basis. But leads and hope are there and one should materialise soon.<br /><br />In between, Ive tried other things. Like reading <span style="font-style:italic;">Secrets</span> and sending out energetic messages desperately. Visualising the library.Only it got bigger and brighter each time.Prayers. <br /><br />I guess, everything happens in its own time. And this library will, Im sure sometimesoon. Even today I got promised a space. All the good wishes and good will of people have to make it happen.kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082161650807715.post-41730680584745263422009-02-19T04:41:00.000-08:002009-02-19T04:43:29.004-08:00View of the TajSeeing the Taj Mahal left me a bit confused. Like reading Adiga’s White Tiger- I wasn’t sure what my reaction was or even is weeks later.<br />The book is not particularly well written. There is nothing especially new about the events outlined – we have at least second hand or third knowledge of such things. Yet I read the book non stop. He is a good story teller and the characters linger on strongly.<br /><br />The Taj is exactly like all its pictures. Is this all? is one reaction. The sheer size is astonishing though. The beauty is in its simplicity the whiteness, the perfection – the attention to every detail. And the grace of it all. You can just stand there and keep on looking at it. <br /><br />And of course click a hundred pictures. It is picturesque from any angle. And that’s the sad part of it. The thousands of people milling around are more busy getting themselves photographed with the Taj rather than looking at it. And so did we:-) <br />Except that we missed out ‘the bench’. <br /><br />One has to see it at least once in a lifetime. We went in a tour coach ( I do recommend Panickers except for its shoppers stop) and it took us first to the Agra Fort where we got the sad history and were in a suitable frame of mind to appreciate the thought behind the Taj. Although Darshini did keep saying ’ why is this guy going on about honeymooners and romance? What is so romantic about it all?’ I guess the thought about undying love is difficult to really imagine in these cynical times and less so in those harder times. Mumtaz seems to have been pregnant for most of their lives together too. How did a husband stay madly in love even then?kalluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.com4