Random Ramblings

It has been raining heavily the last few days- north east monsoon winds set in. My mother could not take Anush for the Nalandaway events due to this.

But we have had bonus holidays from school- Friday and Today have been declared off.

Unlike with Anush (I was forced to go on a 2 hour outing without her only at 3 months) went without Aditi to the restaurant Sampoorna in Velachery.Better opt for home delivery or take away if you go at peak time. The food was good and really fresh and wide in terms of variety.

Anush has taken a liking to The Magic Bus series of books which I thought were too advanced for her - we have done rocks and solar system so far

She has also begun on origami with Navy, who is very patient and adept at it unlike me. Pics will follow shortly.

Aditi had her review and a couple ofvaccines and was a really brave kid. But the pain surfaced later at home when I had guests from office to see her. She is good now.

I have just embarked on Two States by Chetan Bhagat.

Anushisms
Anush at breakfast "Mr. Superman is coming here"
Navy came in. "See Mr. Superman amma"
I confirmed with Navy and found that he had NOT coached her to say that. Anushka is slowly beginning to worship Navy in terms of his physical ability and thinks he can trapeze like the artists she saw.

Anush- " Aditi and me are only going to be superheros when we grow big"
"What do super heros do?" I asked
Anush- " They lift mountains and fly in the skiy and eat breakfast, sleep and then go back to fly"

Me" Are you getting susu Anush?"
She said "Moochaa- that is susu in malyalam!!"
This led me to teach her to say " I need to use the restroom"

Our global head is in town and I have been requested to join up trow for dinner. I never thought I was that important ... and here is Anush adding her two bit on the subject-
"If you go to office, then who will give dhudhu to Aditi? She will get angry na?"

And finally , introducing Adittys
Coo
Kaa
um-mum-mum- ma

Life's unexpected twists

B uncle to Anush was a dear friend. He was our friendliest and probably most effective driver for Navy a year and after a gap another year for me.

He quit in December last year, without informing us and that left a very bad taste and I told Anush that he was a stranger ( fear and paranoia set in since I had heard of so many kidnappings in the media by known people)

Yesterday Anush asked me after a long time about him and I told her he had become a star.
She did not quiz me. Children move on.

But I am forced to recollect that flash of smile, the roguish good looks and demeanor and the bravado.

While I was angered by the way B left us, I am really saddened by the way he left the world.

Heard that he committed suicide a month ago. Love Failure is what a friend of his matter of factly said. Never thought that such a thing could happen to him!

SAHM and enjoying it

It is nice to be a non working in office mom at least for a change. As always, I feel saying non working would be wrong since most SAHMS do more work than I would want to.

People ask me how I manage to pack in so much into my day. I am not sure if I do, but these could be the reasons if indeed it were true-

1. I have the comforts of a driver, a top work maid, a cellphone. And I have a spare 8 hours that I spent at work earlier.

2. Having my mother around makes me even more indulged. ( . kala tikka) eg. I take Anush for a regular daily walk to give her exclusive time since I am reassured by my mother's presence at home with Aditi

3. My being a fairly organized multi tasker, not a big fan of sleeping, not very particular about TV, leaves me enough time to read and blog and do stuff with Anush and slowly with Aditi.


Nalanda way's children's festival sounds very good. Do visit if you can. Since I am not allowed and to be fair would not wish to expose Aditi to crowds and germs too soon , I enlist my mother's help now to take Anushka here and there.

I am reading a fabulous book by Bill Bryson called Notes from a Big country. It is an amused look at some idiosyncrasies of nations by an American who has spent a large part of his adult life in the UK and has returned to the States. I am sure those who have lived in the UK OR the US will enjoy it even more. But you can relate a lot to the anecdotes even otherwise.

It is tattoo time at anushland- she loves them- painted ones, mehendi ones, mehendi like paisley motif stickers, freebies and even timepass home made ( by yours truly) stickers:

Gemanastics

Anushka's mother is extremely fond of viewing gymnastics on TV or live if possible.

When she came up on the ad for Trapezia at the Citi centre she decided that Anush had to go and see it. Paati took Anush and boy, were they mesmerised.

" Amma they did so much gemanastics. One aunty and uncle went up and down a curtain and turned- like this and like this ... like they were flying in air...then one uncle or aunty in a skirt went round and round and danced so long... round and round ....i enjoyed myself amma!! ..... you kept any surprise ready for me at home??...."


I have seen Tanura the Egyptian dance which leaves u in a trance like state but not the rest from Hungary and Belgium. The latter reminds me a lot of the our desi mallakamba and rope yoga .
If you are a Chennaite, do catch it.

Anush has promised to take me to it later when Aditi grows up.... in a few days!
I forgot to give a camera to my mom and Anush. Next outing of theirs I will remedy that.


Pics courtesy google and Thehindubeta

The weekend that was

Last year we had carved a pumpkin for Halloween. This year we just had plain simple fun as a family. went for a party and surprised Anushka with Navy coming home early when Anush was on the phone with him.

We attended the famous blogger twins' birthday and this was also Aditi's introduction to social dos. Aditi was a doll but slept right through.

Anush had a great time and mentioned that she would not have the Tom and Jerry cake since it was not Mickey or Minnie Mouse.

She also noted the flute glass visual on the Appy drink and wanted to know if it was Cheers!!

The candle was wonderful and this is the first time I am seeing one like this. It kept lighting up as the kids kept blowing it out!

It has been ONE year since Mister Muthu came into print. This Nov issue has been illustrated really well. Those of you who can pick up please do so and the others who read it online- I guess will have to wait a couple of months for it.

Metro mela

Chennai
"Thursday Talks" are being held in various Montessori schools in Chennai on the last Thursday of every month. They are intended to cover subjects that relate to various aspects of child development. Yesterday's talk titled ‘Language development in children – from birth to twelve years of age’ was delivered by Carla Foster, Norway.

My mother attended it and found it reinforcing most things that most parents follow. It touched upon humour and sarcasm as a child sees it and how we must not thwart it. Also the lecture was delivered very effectively by the speaker without any visual aids!

The Hindu's November Music fest has been announced and the Korean band and Osibisa sound inviting.

Nalandaway which has really nice ads on air, is sponsoring a Children's fest this November first week.

Mumbai
The Kala Ghoda festival where handicrafts abound is on the anvil. Hope Blogeswari will bring us an update soon
There is a Children's film fest as well in Mumbai for all you mommy bloggers there

Delhi
There is a kids theatre fest which I am sure adults can also enjoy- I do wish I was there in Delhi right now

Paper boats etc

Anush is adept at making paper boats ( I learnt to make them only a couple of years ago!!) and fans. She is learning to make rockets as well and specs ( like the four cups we would make in school- anyone remember that?) . But formal origami is something that she has not yet taken to. I think that can wait a while.

Kreeda had organised a cool event with a coffee pub in Chennai. Of course I missed it. If any of you made it, please update!

While on papers, just started buying the paper Mint. It is refreshingly different from The Hindu. Do any of you read it or do you prefer BL or ET or FE?

Have resumed reading aloud some random newspaper article daily to Anushka. I think she is just the right age and usually asks some questions and picks up words as well. Earlier she did not have the patience to sit through them.

Go green articles are often accompanied by a visual of Vidya Balan carrying a Tulasi plant- all nice but did she have to have a plastic pot instead of a clay/ mud/ terracotta or even a ceramic one??