400

This is my 400th post here and I have some news... no... no... before you jump the gun.....

Finally after 2 unsuccessful attempts, we have Anush's ears pierced by the local neighbourhood "achaari"- who was so expert and did it with his bare hands and a small thorn like piece

His placement was perfect ( unlike the first time and ear wring also did not happen.)

Anush explains to all who care to hear (or not) " uncle pierced ears in shop/ Kaadu kuthitaar uncle. I cried only little."

She is taken up with everyone gushing and calling it pretty and hopefully she will not pull it off this time or develop any infection. ( unlike the second time)

We have also warned her that she would need to go to " uncle" to get it removed whenever she asks us to remove the ear studs. That seems enough to keep her from fidgeting with her ears.

Fingers crossed, I hope the kiddo will be comfortable and enjoy all the ear rings gifted by loving friends and relatives, that are lying in the locker for her since her birth.

My mother is of the opinion that we could have waited for her to grow up and then do it. I guess no right or wrong in all this as the comments in the last post on this subject show.

Lounge around -baitak style

Always wanted floor level seating- like a baitakh. I have never been too taken up with sofas though one cannot deny the comfort factor of sinking into one of those giant leather ones

Anyway went ahead with my thoughts and the result is the above.

Even those with knee issues can sit at the periphary and drop their feet on the tiled floor for adequate height since the gaddas( mattresses) are pretty thick.

Anush thinks we have beds in the hall and loves lolling on them.
And here is the inspiration, courtesy rang-decor, when I went about breifing the carpentar.

Edited to add- How we did it:
We raised the flooring with bricks itself. Solid, tree friendly and much cheaper too.
We used the same Marbonite flooring and then laid Prego "wooden" flooring- thin ( 2 mm) strips of wood like planks which interlock. As easy as that!

We also finally have a TV in the drawing room contraray to all these years!!

Wonder Why?

We finally had our orientation toward the Montessori system & the way it is used in practise on Saturday at Anush's school. My mother and I went for it. We were the curious ones after all.

We gathered there are 30 students in the mixed age ( 3- 6y rs ) environ that Anush is in now. More than we thought.

The adult in charge is from the US and seems as nice a R chithi who also looks up the kids once in a while.

Anush warned me against sitting on the red circle on the floor mat.

We were way back in the audience but the teacher heard her & used it later to illustrate how rules can be laid and absorbed and internalized.
That attention to detail was enough for me to reinforce confidence in the rather secretive school that Anush goes to
And they also promised to give us some " observation" sessions

The class is equipped with a lot more aids/ props/ stuff than the earlier reception class and explains her need to " I will do it- just me-- pl don't help"

It was amusing to see some parents ask questions which indicate their desire to turn their kids into geniuses or some who think they already are.

Since when has being normal gone out of fashion?

Royalty first but second

Our team - Royal Kings- stood second in the group performance, just as in sports - Silympics.
Overall, we were the number one team but there were no prizes for combined scores.

Ours was a musical "extravaganza" with most of Navy's funky clothes put to good use
A lot of props were innovative by yours truly.
The cliched theme was a swayamvaram with a twist in the tale.
The entire team participated which is what was fantastic.

I played a man( SRK in Om Shanti Om - luckily not Dard e Disco ) since one of the team suddenly could not make it. I loved wearing the huge rowdy moustache though Anush had a tough time accepting it. She is not used to a mush even on Navy.

Our group's prize money goes to a group lunch and hopefully some charity as well.
I also won a gift voucher which will be well spent on who else but Anushka.

Gentle reminders

Anush says on the morning drive to her school" Appa- Just Chill" and smiles as if she knows the stir this comment will cause

She turns to me and says " Must not chew nails. Ve-ry grosss" Exactly in the tone I thought I had stopped using

They are painting the exteriors of our old building and as we step out of home she exclaims- " Wow Nice smell of paint" my occupational hazard has moved on to her.

Chennai Chudaamani

Where does one get props costumes for amateur dramas in Chennai?

There are some seedy looking shops in Vadapalani and a couple in Mylapore.

But so uninspiring and only period drama or extra types! At least what I saw.

Why do I ask- it is family and fun day this weekend and we have skits to perform and it is cut throat competition out there- we are going for the kill as well.

Second in our version of the Olympics, my team is thirsting for first place in the culturals....the prize- we will get talked about till the function next year.

Storytrails- Mango on the Beach

Remember? Not so long ago, I mentioned this outfit called story trails.....

Here is one more intersting initiative from them .

Blog meet and some more

This Blogger meet I was the first to get to with Anush- who was enthusiastic to come -cold, cough and all.

Then Sue who infact got this meet going, joined in with her adorable package of fun and pranks . He gave a couple of clues as to why Sue has such a fantastic body. ( keeping her on her toes)

Resourceful Minka made it after a smart parking move :-)

While we started out at the last blog meet venue at the Isphani centre- Coffee day- the din- oops - the music & conversation levels left a rather cramped feeling and quickly made us switch allegiance to the near by place- I do not even recollect the name- a Pasta and Gelato place with a kids corner and very considerate staff as it turned out ( since we created quite a mess)

Tharini came in with both the kids this time and they were a delight as her blogs indicate. I was amazed at how unruffled and calm she seems always.

Nisha brought her daughter along. The little one was so cute and a silent observer but completely surprised me when she ate the spicy chips.

Anush and Akhil seemed to enjoy the pasta and so did I.

When bubbly IBH made her entry I was delighted since I had been feeling like a giant among all these petite bloggers in Chennai - here was someone who was an equal in height. I wish I could have spent more time with her daughter and got to know her better as well.

Sue observed my footwear and my" corporate" handshake- more on those later.

Sue's father spoiled us by footing the bill and indulged us with questions on blogging and summed it up by saying it was a modern version of pen pals.

This blog meet also left me feeling I had not had much adult conversation. The kids remained the focus as expected and as is right. Maybe next time we shld go to a place with a play area- Vanilla place or Pizza Hut so that we have more sane conversation. But I wonder if that will be as much fun!!

Other highlights
I played Tug of War at our Corporate Sports Day on Saturday and as expected we won!! Could not take Anush along since she had a severe cough.

We had our first guests last night at the new house and we found it is a good place to entertain visitors. But we could not use the large sit out since the swing had just been polished that day.

More supermarket in Pallikarnai needs better service desperately. They have only one operational billing counter!! We saw a couple of non Tamil guys posing with cauliflowers and taking snaps- possibly to send home - to show they have been shopping and cooking!! Cute.

I wish I had attended this- a whistling competition- as a spectator- must have been fun.

Anush's cough is finally on its way out- it really has been troubling her a lot.

I got the new local registration number for the car finally - after 6 months and a few thousands more since the tax has gone up to 8% from 6% since June 2008. Irrespective of when you applied for the new number, if your registration is post June you need to apply the new interest rate!! If the RTO is negligent and causes delay, it still remains your problem .

Anush says

. . .Amma if you water the plants they will feel so excited
she likes word dropping

. . .It is so dark- the sun and moon have gone to sleep- they are very tired- after cooking full day
must have picked that one up from my mom

. . .Amma i open cupboard and put on chocolate brown lip balm
That was my lipstick that she had smeared on!!

. . . Appa, why i am not there in photo in amma appa's college? ? why? WHY?
because baby then they would have expelled us!!

Aasa Dosai Appalam

Here is a very spiritual song inspired by the Golden discs of delight - appalam song and here is Appalam Chappalam and here I give you mine-

This Crunchy munchy treat,
Lifts your spirits when you are beat,
Like a snack some eat,
I think this rhyme should stop and retreat.

Appalams-
Source
Ambika and the local Brahmin street / area contact ( I have one) are the best. Bindu, Dots and Maanmark are the other known brands but i avoid them.
For poppadam go to the friendly Kerala Chips guy nearby or the Malayallee shop in your vicinity

Formats
You have the regular appalam ( which can roasted or fried or microwaved) rettai appalam, appla poo ( flowers)
Popadamas have a low shelf life both raw and fried . They cannot be roasted and are just fantastic with sevai/ avial/ Kerala cuisine

Flavours
You do not find too many variations in flavour in the south relative to the north Indian Papad. You can have a generous heaping of jeera or not.
But you do have alternatives such as the maracheeni ( tapioca/ kappa) appalam ( sometimes tempered with mud!! ) , jackfruit applam and pure rice applam ( neither can be roasted as i know)
Check this very moving blog out while it also brings the magic of poppadam alive

Papad
Any super market sells it. Synonymous with Lijjat for a long time you have other brands now and even the South Indian Ambika makes its Lijjat style papad
Flavours galore- With or without garlic, with pepper, methi, punjabi masala, jeera etc etc
Thanks Alan I visited this site and learnt more- and do NOT miss the jingle of yester years

Vadaam/ Vethal
Cousins of Appalam/ papads, it comes in smaller fritter size protions and eaten usually like wafers or with food.
Made in an assortment of vegetables( okra/ and/ or rice - gram flour. Some can also be fried and used in gravies such as " menthiya kozhambu"

Pots Post

Pots to me have always meant conventional ghamlas - the terracotta- mann thotti kind
I have seen some poorer families use Vanspati tins and some rich ones use Cognac bottles as planters.

Now we have a couple of new options:
- In Chennai at least you see these garish cement ones- supposedly more durable , definitely more colorful but am really unsure if they will let the soil breathe and so on
- The other is this a lovely glazed ceramic one- the paisley Jaipur style motif on it- surely not suited for direct planting given the amount one spends on it but interesting if one were to keep theplant indoors

And now introducing my idea- a discarded vegetable crate....the kind they transport tomatos in- if you paint it - would it not recreate a quanit European window sill flower planter kind of appeal? What do you think?

BTW Anush is one month short of being three and I actually forgot all about it till around an hour back. I am certainly making headway on the monthly b'day thingie- I told you.

Jaane tu ya jaane na

Anush enjoyed Guindy Zoo/ park a lot this time as well. An impulse visit on Saturday lasted a good hour and a half !!

She has for the first time been missing her father who was off to Chintmani and Blore for a few days.

Her father, Navy has been missing luggage. He is truly " the absent minded professor" if there was one. Historically, he has forgotten his wallet at a mall once and his suitcase at the airport. This time he left behind his own bag in Chintamani and realised only on reaching Blore!!

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Jaane Tu - The movie
I was sure I would enjoy this movie despite the average rating it had got from critics. It was more like I wanted to enjoy the movie- so I did.
This movie is better seen with your buddy/ flame from college ( to give it an edge) than the current love of your life- great if he happens to be the same individual.
I find Imraan a young and upgraded version of Joey in terms of looks. Like most women who have had a college romance, I could identify with it. Even the gang was akin to one of my many gangs.
I am waiting to see more of my favorite actress ever Smita Patil's son. I thought the older gen of actors were aptly casted.
And I could not get over the talking portrait scenes. They were a scream.
The girl who lived in the make believe world to get over her parent's differences- very poignant.

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Last couple of days, Anush has fever and seems to be enjoying it!! While she sleeps a little, she keeps jabbering away most of the time about how she will eat kulfi and cold water once she is well ....She also chose mid night to update me on her plans!! But seriously, kids just do not seem to know the meaning of the word rest- be it for themselves or for others.

New pastures

1 minute mehendi - worse than 2 minute noodles

Migrant workers I find a lot at the building site- in particular from Orissa and Andhra and at restaurants and parlours ( Nepal/ Darjeeling- passing off as Chinese)

Now on a recent visit to Panagal Park I saw lots of Mehendi ( henna) "appliers" from Delhi/ Rajasthan - at least 8 of them opposite the old Nallis- on the footpath. Women were flocking to them to get their hands adorned-though how they will manage to shop with that on beats me!

Also came across "toran" vendors for the doorways and pooja areas- with mirrors and rudraksh beads etc - willing to cheat the Tamil consumer and offer huge discounts to the Hindi speaking one : - ))

Chennai is truly becoming cosmopolitan!!

Wonder if I qualify as a migrant worker- but I belong no where- a Tamilian in Mumbai - a Mumbaikar in TN !!

Missing Humour

I am not sure if I have a sense of humour.

I do not relish mother in law jokes- I will be one some day and do not wish to seen as a caricature / a banshee. As if arguments are only with MILs- we disagree with our mothers too, don't we? And still love them....Also when you do not ( and often cannot) treat them as your mother, how can you expect to be treated as a daughter? These jokes doom the relationship even before it begins. Why not confront and sort issues , why resent and keep quiet? And where are FILs in all this?

Marriage jokes- find them sexist often and rather cynical too- why would the institution thrive, if it sucked so much as the "jokes" would have you believe

or Anti- Men/ Anti women jokes- very sad and sexist. Why box in millions of people?

I just wish there were as many nice things being said about these relationships as there are negatives being highlighted. It would even things out. Then I would not mind.

A big cheers to all the great Mothers-in- law ( mine and Navy's included), wonderful Daughters In Law( me leading the pack) , fantastic couples, gorgeous men and women ( all of us) - my heart goes out to you. You do a great job and keep it up.

In the meanwhile, let me go try and find my funny bone.

Law on laundry

There should be a law that bans clothes being dried on balconies...

Why can't some safe and roofed place be provided for each flat on the terrace or the basement for this?

Have you noticed how in Chennai and Mumbai gorgeous buildings look awful with the line of clothes drying in the balcony....Roofed because it might rain and if the couple is working then the clothes cannot be gathered fast, Safe because you do not wish to be rendered clothe- less

But sometimes ( very rarely) laundry hung out looks attractive as well- in photos.

At home in so many homes

Navy's parents returned from the US- Boston last night, after a trip that should have happened a long time ago, when they were healthier and a lot younger. But they seem to have gotten rosier and look fresher after the break.

Anush was so excited . She even wanted to accompany Navy to pick them up at mid night. The cheeky little thing asked her thaatha" What did you get from Boston for me?" ( lots of clothes and a bubble maker)

She was reluctant to go to school given all the attention she received from both sets of grand parents since we had gone to my parents place that night.

But she did ask a couple of times to go to our new place too- children adapt so fast to new places- it is incredible!! I am very glad my little doll is happy in and with all her homes...

Corner Highlight

This corner had to come into the main body text since I needed your input on what you think is on display. . .

Go on take a guess. . .

Pottering about

Yesterday, we began our little garden ( note the adjective)

Anush volunteered to pour water and promptly went up to the kitchen and fetched mineral water in her little glass saying "water for plants to drink, amma"

I explained that they did not need mineral water just normal tap water would do ! ( in India tap water is not always potable) Then she used the mug and very " gently" watered the plants.

Ode gallery was the discovery of this weekend- tucked inside Neelankarai off ECR ( behind Mars software I think) rather expensive and VERY poor on service in the food section, especially with a hungry hubby and impatient kiddo in tow. It is lovely in terms of the collection of paintings, curios, home decor etc from South India, Indonesia and maybe Sri Lanka. A must visit if you wish to splurge on your home. I picked up a buddha face and Salem/ Thanjavur stretched leather picture frames. If interested, pics later in corners of my home.

Nostalgia

I met K thaatha, over 85 yrs now- he knew me when I was Anushka's age and even younger.
He had been my parents' landlord.

It was very warm meeting him after almost 30 yrs. I hope to visit the old house in Thanjavur with him some day. The same house where he had caught me when I fell off the balcony from the first floor and gave my mom a near heart attack.

He told me in 5 minutes flat that I am just as I was and that all "Art.." are naughty and his grand daughter was named after me!!

Queues cues

Went to Barbeque Nation and enjoyed the food. It was unbelievably crowded for a Monday. Anush was very excited despite a cold and asked guitar uncle to play" When I am feeling blue"!!

And the Most apt Anniv present for a couple who loves to travel - Got our new passports after this harrowing experience and another day's wait at the passport office

I thought I would not see queues like that too soon but I have been the last couple of days at all petrol/ diesel stations!! Hope emergency services do not come to a stand still in all this.

P.S. Do check out the little corners of my home and tell me if you have something nice to say.