Go figure!

To add to the looooong list of blogger friends I have met, I met one from down under - the cheerful  VJ! We managed to meet over wada and rava dosa at Saravana Bhavan in Anna Nagar, Chennai. She is actually pursuing a course during her vacation in Chennai,  which could become an exciting career option. I was totally inspired VJ!! Thanks for the lovely bags you got the girls.

Back in Blore, we had a lovely family get together of just the cousins and it was NOT a case of too many cooks spoil the broth or in this case pasta, lasagna, pizza party. So what if it all began at 9pm and the first course was ready only at 11 or so! Made from scratch , led by my SIL and Navy, supported by 4 boys who have grown into strapping men....yummy as Anush put it.

If you happen to go on 100 ft road, you will be shocked or should I say delighted to see every outlet has a sale on. It would be the same in Chennai but preceded by the word Aadi. The Levis one was like a fish market so Wrangler it was.
Here is Anush's first collage ( done by herself) on the theme I gave her- Fruit.

Oh yes, just when I thought I had it all figured out, our flat in Chennai is most likely falling vacant and we need to hunt for new tenants. Yet again.

Merry Christmas!!

Took off on Christmas eve to be with Anush for a couple of days. Also need to exhaust lapsing CL.

We went to Ashoka , Egmore for breakfast- very good and simple South Indian fare

Went to the main Cooptex at Egmore/ Nungambakkam and was amazed at the types of cotton saris available in South India itself. Picked up a paavadai chattai on sale for Anush from Apco- a mos friendly stall owner just the opposite of the Gurjari guy there.

Went to a few eyewear shops for my mother and could not find a classy yet trendy pair of goggles for her age group. Hope to find them in Shoppers Stop now.

Did get one pair of sunglasses for Anush though, which was checked and surely not going to affect her eyes as per the sales girl and going by the price I would have to agree.

On Christmas day Anush's gifts included a Kids sewing/ lacing kit and a Pinocchio jig saw which she attacked with gusto. We re- gifted the laptop given last Christmas by my cousin in the US as well.

We took her to Jumbo because Gajini with her was out of the question. Even Jumbo was a little didactic and violent but on the whole she enjoyed it.

Navy and I saw Maharathi which was an awesome movie. In teh genre of Johnny Gaddar.

Saw "sprouted" coconuts for sale on the roadside- never seen them before an did not know they were a delicacy

Horrors of many kinds

The first time that we will celebrate our version of Halloween.

Step 1- got the pumpkin yesterday.

Anush gleefully picked it up and carried it around saying" See i am very strong!" She has been asking me since morning when we would makes eyes and smile for the pumpkin.

Drona was really an odd movie but it was not as boring as was made out. Navy calls it my die hard allegiance to anything with Abhishek in it.

Saw an unheard of movie Ru ba ru- Randeep Hooda and the heroine is I think the same as Arjun Rampal's wide in Rock on. I thought it was brilliant but for some parts of amateur acting and a morbid end.. Randeep Hooda is the next Irfaan if he gets good roles. Anyone listening?

The Assam violence had left a bad taste. When will all this stop? Rather than be afraid we need to make the best of each day. Who knows where we will be trow....

On to better things- The Hindu's friday review music festival promises a lot of good ear candy. Shubha Mudgal, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Bombay Jayshree, Krishna, etc . Go here to learn more.

A Wednesday Weekend

I asked for tickets for Rock on and the lady at the counter said "I have only for Wednesday. "
I was shocked- Rock on is sold out till Wednesday- In Chennai??
edited to add- She meant she had tickets for "A Wednesday" the movie

Well and that is why we went to watch this movie.



A Wednesday is hard hitting, thrilling, inspiring ...it rattles you and surprises you in less than 2 hours.


The casting is fantastic, the acting realistic, the dialogues are brilliant. What else can you expect with Naserrudin Shah and Anupam Kher in a movie.


I cannot mention anything more without being a spoil sport.
JUST GO SEE IT!!!


My father had a small surgery to get rid of a cyst. He is back home now. Anush behaved as if the hospital was a resort/ hotel when we visited. After wanting a reassurance that her thaathu would be fine soon and figuring out why he was on drips.


Other than that , we lost an ailing grand uncle to cancer. More on that later.

Serviced

Karadi Tales was really accommodating and prompt with handling my complaint
I had got the Wrestling Mania cd and found it defective- the new copy is on its way home already!

Higgnbothams has a children's book exhibition on- nothing very radically new but you can still pick up some CBT and Ladybird series books. The counter staff was very polite despite the quantum of work they were faced with

Sundari Silks T nagar has a person who ushers you in and out with an umberella to shield you from the sun. I find it very ugghh ...

BSNL broadband connection was also a pleasant example of prompt customer service.

I went to Parrys to pick up some mirrors for the new house and found it so similar to Crawford, crowded, dirty and oh so exciting. It is also very primitive the methods used to transport glass... when labour comes cheap and is available is such large numbers i suppose one just continues with such methods.

Hafta end

Some pics from Blore trip

A very eventful weekend. . . in no particular order

Got a better raise than expected( thank God my boss does not read the blog)

Made sandwiches road side style in a "hand toaster"

Inaugurated the crate of Alphonso mangoes from Mumbai- the first of the season

Anush exclaimed Amma I am very excited now'", just as we were leaving for a drive.

She also said " Umaachi wearing dupatta " at a temple"

Luggage from Mumbai arrived and shifting the Chennai luggage to the new place will be a WIP.

Anush was bathed by her Appa single handedly for the first time ever

Navy's paati passed away this Monday morning.

Am off to Coimbatore trow on work trow.

Book Pulse

We went to the Dosa festival at Sanjeevanam. A let down since the more exotic ones( ragi dosa/ adai) were not available as early at 9.15pm. Had to make do with rava dosa and such.

Pulse polio was on 6th Jan, Sunday and I was surprised to see NO other baby/ child at the center we went to. I hope this was not the state at all centres... Anush willingly opened her mouth wide in imitation of the goldfish in the fish tank she was looking at when the drops were being administered!

The 31st (?) Chennai Annual Bookfair 2007-2008 is on at Ponnamalle High road in St George's school. It has really huge grounds.There is ample car park space and the entry fee is only Rs 5 per head. With multiple entry/ exits, the announcement system works just fine in case you lose friends or family in that maze of stalls, books and people. A good collection but not the best way to buy books if you ask me. I like to spend time, enjoy a little quiet, have the books neatly classified, etc etc. But Anush could not get enough of the atmosphere and yes, we found From Volga to Ganges by Rahul Sankritayan and The Essays by Bacon finally ! They also have a blood donation bank and readings by authors apart from soem contests to lure crowds.

Was sad to see India lose and sadder to see Australia win the cricket test. Winning is such a habit with them.

Saw Desperate Housewives without any guilt or distraction since Anush was asleep early. I wonder if there is a DVD collection I could hire somewhere. This is the only serial I really look forward to in terms of soaps. ( I know at least oneperson who will judge me for this:-)) )

An update

Visited GRT's new showroom and got Ansuhka's ears pierced with a gun shot. No problems so far and it was done well too. Took her to the play area they have in the premises to distract her immediately after. A truly well thought out plan this new showroom has. (We had had her ears pierced traditionally with the aachari during her star first bday in blore but it was off the mark and also there was some infection. So we let it heal and close.)

Celebrated Navy's birthday in big style- Tag Heur watch, Polaroid sun glasses, tonnes of outfits and RK Narayan. Last year he was on an official cruise and Anushka and me sent him a cake there. This year it was fun to have him around.

Anushka has learnt to do namaskaram and does it 3-4 times in a row- true blood Iyengar girl she is turning out to be.

Her thaatha and my paati were in town and she is a huge Thaatha fan- wanting him to see all her antics and following him everywhere.

Took a great photo of four generations this weekend- from my paati to Anushka.

Saw In pursuit of Happyness and Little Miss Sunshine- both gorgeous feel good movies with lovely little kids who are not over the top like the KKHT types.

Incredible- I saw Kapil Dev in flesh and blood and did not take an autograph or pose for a photo- such self control on my part I must say.

I really wish to spend more time on the blog and most importantly visit all of you but am facing a time crunch. Will remedy this in a week or so.

Namma Bengalooru

Was in Bangalore yesterday. I always felt that Bangloreans are a kind and peaceful people, welcoming towards guests. In India. we are brought up to share and the minimum courtesy when you have guests is not to refuse water. Well....Being a dodger, I move on things that struck me on this trip.

Jet airways welcomed us with heart shaped cookies. Bow tied and all that. Nice gesture. Would have been better if eth cookies had been from Cookieman.

Just found out that Nilgiris and MTR both have sold out of the founding family. Saving grace being that the MTR restaurant remains in family custody.

The National Polio drive is so good. There are volunteers( college girls/ girl guides?) who sit at the airport and catch everything that is on two feet and less than 10 years of age and ask if they have been vaccinated- I was pretty impressed by their perseverance even amidst the rows of trolleys that come in the way

Traffic in Blore is a nightmare and I just mean the approach to the airport from the main road. I rushed out of the cab and made a run for it. Just five minutes ahead of take off time but enough time to receive a few condescending looks .

Am amazed to see the development on the route to Sarjapur road. And i do think the residential apartments at Blore are the best looking of all the metros

Missed meeting up with my old buddy whom I hardly stayed in touch with. Plan to meet up next time. Was good and coincidental to talk to him on Valentine's Day.

For all those who believe in it- Happy V day and for those who do not it is another excuse to proclaim your love for all your dear ones.

Finally behave as if everyday is a V day, as Navy says.