Namma Bengaluru

I recall being very much in the know of what is up in Chennai.

Did not feel that aware in Bangalore initially. But we have come a long way now- almost 2 years here and the evidence in the piece done at Womens Web.

Do visit and leave a comment if you know of other cool places for kids.

********

Yesterday went to Ambara, near Ulsoor lake- must go for the Blue Mango( ex Theni) and other soft toys of an ethnic fabric kind that they sell. Look out for the nursery and the restaurant Rogue Elephant as well.

Therapy

The Retail kind

Went to Samarkand a few days back. Good kebabs, but most of the unique items such as Baklava were not available. Khyber in Mumbai and Kabab Factory at Chennai get my vote over this.

Mc flurry our favourite dessert on our tight budget Europe trip had come to India but is not as good as the memory.

Maiyas has opened a snack branch in Indira Nagar

Went and got some cool traditioal outfits for the kids and did I mention T To teens in Ulsoor. A good place to shop.

Anush made some lovely greeting cards for school from some stuff from etsy and her own ideas.

And Music Therapy

The Airforce Orchestra will perforn at Manekshaw grounds on 29th again.

Mela on the Menu

My SIL from Boston has never visited an exhibition on her trips to des in the last decade!! Priority has only been family/ friends.

This time we finally mananged to take her and she got herself a beautiful Sanjhi paper cutwork piece among other things and spent some exclusive one on one time with Anush who adores her.

Bishoon meetha

I had fun shopping at Just Casuals at Chennai and at Garuda mall ( Mustard and Allen Solley) - updated my wardrobe with some cool western wear and was thrilled to find a demi curve Levis that fits me!!

Anush had fun at a magic show hosted by Kids Kouch, a good kids activity place.

We attended a birthday party where the only game/ activity was balloons and that was more than adequate source of fun for the kids.

We visited Rang Shankara finally and wow is it beautiful and inviting. The cafe reminded me of Prithvi back in my college days in Mumbai. There is a nice restaurant called Adithya or Aditi across as well.

Bhancharam has opened next door in Indira Nagar. Yummy mishti dohi and all things sweetly Bengal. And yes, here is our attempt at Bengal. Sue had given Anush her first Bong sari.

Nashik and back

Went on work to Nashik via Mumbai. Nice place though it is less scenic than I had expected. It was wonderful to hear the Marathi there.

Bought Chivda at both Kondaji and at the more interesting Madhavji chivda. Also visited Haji for sweets.

On the way back via Mumbai, I had some time to kill. Anyone in Andheri west, near the station, last evening, would have seen a woman, completely gleeful, going bonkers shopping and carting unwieldy bags around. On a whirlwind nostalgia trip- I was at Merwans-a Cake shop, Jains farsaan/ snacks, a Titan showroom ( yes I know we have those in B'lore as well), a Pani puri stall and Honesty a small kiddy clothes shop in NATCO. What fun!

Needless to say- my purse was light and me- I felt even lighter. What a high!

The weekend flu by

All at home down with flu.

Still managed a quick trip to Kala Madhyam on Sunday. After so many Dastkar and Dilli haat kind of melas, I felt it was the usual suspects. But my prized purchase was a long desired mural ( Kerala style). Also got to see a bit of the Leather puppet show. Could not manage the Sattva fair- guess it must have been interesting.

Last Friday, in between client calls, in Chennai, I also went to the new public library - supposedly the largest of its kind in Asia. Absolutely awe inspiring. Not yet ready but they have good staff and great plans. The Braille section was amazing. The kids section is largely dominated by Oxford University Press but it is still a work in progress. The reading area is very cheerful and well lit.

Events galore!

Missed the Christmas Bazaar at a St Mark's church .

But there is Kalamadhyam, Studio Sattva, both on and to be done!!

Discovering Bangalore!

After the Book Fair, last week, we discovered some more wonders of Bangalore this weekend.

The Strand Book fair was not as exciting as the one in Mumbai but still a good destination. Lovely service as always. We passed by a lot of Warli Art on our way to meet Abha's newborn.

Any baby is a miracle and a wonder to behold! Abha jr is very cute and I thought relatively, Aditi is grown up indeed.

Went to the Kadalekkai festival at the Bull Temple. Lovely Village Fair feel. And no there were no monkeys despite the abundance of peanuts. In fact we overheard someone saying the prices had doubled on account of the fair. We saw groundnuts from AP, TN and Karnataka. It is held on the last Sunday and Monday of the Karthikai month. Today the Nandi will be adorned by a peanut garland we were told.

Ate at Halli Thindi down the road where the Avarakkai upma proved to be yummy.

Also acquired our first Sanjhi work and saw an artist in action at the Hundred Hands initiative. And the much desired Chumbak for our fridge magnet collection.

If all that was not enough excitement we also did some fun art and craft that you can see on the side bar and here....blue ice/ block print/ tea-house....









And do catch the most updated episode of the online Mister Muthu on the side bar.

Art of the Matter

I shudder at dirty walls- scribbled on by kids/ paw marks. Lucky for me Anush confines her doodling to paper and slates. Never had to discipline her or anything.

Am not sure Aditi will do that.

But this young lady made me wonder "Why not?" Especially if the kids will bloom into artists of her calibre! Go here for a truly refreshing interview with Nancy Raj


Will try to visit the Strand book sale at Basava Hall and the Handmade collective event this weekend

Girls in white dresses

While I love the cotton summery frocks that end above the knee, I think all girls must have one of the frilly lacy variety as well. After all they are unlikely to be able to wear them later in life.

Discovered a little shop called Little Flowers or some such tucked across Just Casuals on Sterling Road, Chennai which specialises in Frocks from Thailand. Really pretty , not over the top dressy stuff.

There is also a customised frock shop in Kormangala opposite Not Just Parathas in Bangalore.

BTW, the above frock is not from either.

Chennai and back home

Unwittingly we still say Chennai is home and Navy had even gone to the queue for Chennai at the Mumbai airport. It is indeed good that my work takes me to Chennai weekly once and this is likely to increase ( to my dread -overnighters away from the kids)!

Was in Chennai yesterday and passed through Velachery- a huge Krishna Sweets and a Sangeetha as well as a couple of clothes outlets called Sketch and Born Babies were the new sights I noticed. Why would anyone term it Born Babies I don't get it...?

And yes for my old friends back in Chennai, there is a book release by Amma's Tales in Chennai at Vanilla place and some cool stuff at Dakshin Chitra as well. Did any of you do the Nalanda Way Art Attam ... shows this time?

Why can't Grand sweets and some good off beat handicraft place like Chamiers, a nice bakery, a good parlour, even a dentist open shop at the Chennai airport? You will have a captive, SEC A audience which anyway likes to frequent your place!

On to my current home town-
There are some interesting kids' plays in Blore in the near future- Bal Bhavan on Sunday has Khilona doing three and on Tuesday there is a Korean puppet tale. As if that is not enough, there is a Strand sale as well.

But none of this for me on the weekend. Will let you know how it turned out on Monday. Happy Weekend.

Enjoy these 'endooring' images by an old favourite and a new one introduced by Patty.

Little fingers, little frocks and Bondapalli

Got Bondapalli and Little fingers at Full circle in Chennai. I still find it easier to shop in Chennai despite the whirlwind trips.

Got Anush and Aditi really lovely clothes from Fashion Hut. Where does one get good Mother care/ etc kind of rejects in Blore? I do not believe in shelling out too much for clothes which get outgrown in a couple of months....yet I like the smart cut/ prints that these brands offer.

Met with Uma of Adya fame and also my inspiring ex boss turned mentor and friend. Gifted him the Looking at Art series from Tulika. He was zapped.

I find not many people are aware of Tulika's good work. Girl, are you listening?

Half a year goes by

Aditi turns 6 months today. Here are some pics to mark that

Bubbloorani- you have brought new meaning to all our lives! Thank you.

I splurged at Cotton City at Shrishti and Half Ticket on clothes for the girls. Both at Velachery. Completely worth checking out. Thanks Uma!

And for the record here is her Anna Prasanam ceremony pics done towards end March.

Action Weekend

Finally availed the Lifestyle coupon and got cute lehengas for Aditi.
And lo behold we were given 4 dupattas kid size with them !! Truly a clearance sale.

Relaxed our rules on toy guns and swords and got Anush a thermocol/ felt sword.
She herself said she would not fight anyone but mosquitoes with it!!

Went for two movies over the weekend!!
Goa , a let down from the Venkat Prabu stable and Avataar , again not as excviting as I thought it would be. The philosophy and teh langauage of the natives seemed very Indian to me,.
Anush on Avatar, looking at the counter ticking away- " The numbers are moving so fast but the movie so slllllloooooow amma!"

Here is my review of the most talked about book for kids in the Indian mommy blog realm as of now..

Art with a heart

Went and splurged at the Dastkar Haat at Kalakshetra on just one item- got a black and white large Kawad katha- one side Krishnaleela and the other side Ramayana

The artist recalled my request of two years ago and got in touch over phone. He moved me ( manipulated me some say at home) by saying he refused to sell this piece in Dilli and in Bangalore where he exhibited his works recently.

You may recall I had bought a small typically colourful Kavad last time. This one is B& W but the stories it tells are full of colour- detailed and clear.

********

For those of you in a position to visit, there is:

The Mylapore fest,

The Dhrupad fest and

The equestrian show at OMR

Another year is born

We celebrated my mom's birthday on Dec 30 in Delhi. After about 20 years , almost her entire family was there for the occasion- the last time we had been to the Taj Mumbai. This time it was at home. The latest additions, Aditi and Anush were also there now. Anushka made her a couple of pretty craft items and we got her the best eggless cake any of us have ever had along with other gifts of course.

Finally visited Dilli Haat ( the Dastkar fest had just been inaugurated) and got some cute knick knacks but stayed clear of other stuff since I need a new house to be able to accommodate anything else. Just kidding.

Visited Bikaner in Gurgaon and had awesome chaat.

*********

Good bye 2009- you have been wonderful to us.

Family

Aditi completed our family. Gave us all new titles- me a mother of two, Anush - a big sister.

We lost a dear maama of Navy's and we saw some of his cousins marry- life goes on.

Anushka
She delights and amuses and being a big sister suits her

She is warm, talkative, imaginative and rarely incorrigible. But she is exemplary at school ( touchwood) and has extended school hours now

Her clinginess to me and her cough - we are still working on

We kept trying to start her off on learning keyboard, music, swimming, dancing, art- gave up after the second session itself since she was not ready for any of them. She wants only me to teach her anything.

Home
This year we were a caravan - shuttling between both homes given my pregnancy, my father being away, etc


Professionally
More than achieved targets and all set to reap the benefits . Was even missed during maternity break by some clients

Chandamama contract for Mister Muthu continues and is online as well

And I have just begun contributing to Saffron Tree.

Travel

Australia is evading me!! Passports updated but need another for Aditi!


Friends

Could have done better on this but in touch with some through FB

Self
Have lost some weight post pregnancy and still working on the temper bit
Read a lot and watched a few movies.

Blog

Made some new friends in the blogging world- clocked 2Lakh visitors & crossed 700 posts - was blessed with pre and post baby meets and even two in Blore

Thanks to all who made 2009 memorable - Aditi, Anushka, Navy, family, friends...

Welcome 2010!!

A locker(r)

As a teenager, young adult, I hardly used jewels since I did not like the idea of having to be careful about them. That however did not mean I did not enjoy the desire to have any.

My mother generously gifted me a lot at my wedding and over the years -thinking I might change.

Soon enough we got a locker where in they all sit and rest. The rare occasion when I want to use something grand, I am so lazy to visit the locker that I do not bother and use some 1gm/ pearls / stones which are at home.

Now that I have two young ladies of my own, I hope that the jewelery will get aired at least.

Anush already wants to know which are hers!!

Another Deepam

Happy Karthikai.

To the non south Indian readers, it is a celebration of Lord Karthik and is also our equivalent of Raksha bandhan

Among my favourite festivals, it is a quiet version of Diwali and is gorgeous .

Anush went dressed in a new ethnic outfit to school- one of many my mom got her from Mumbai- at appealingly and appallingly low prices

Aditi is here in a new frock , similar to one Anush had as a baby.

And me I am awaiting yummy appams!

Navarathri special

I took Anush to my office golu on Saturday. She was fascinated not just with the dolls, a lot of which I was proud to note that she could identify, but thought my room was "amazing" though my boss's room was bigger. She enjoyed the joolah in our office aangan as well and was wondering why my friends were not around.

We visited an organic veggie shop near Infosys on OMR and she discovered that Navy likes green tomatoes.

Sunday we managed another golu courtesy Minka's apartment which puts up a great show- truly grand with performances by kids and teenagers and a pretty cosmopolitan crowd

Saw Unnaipol Oruvan, a Tamil remake of Wednesday. It did not capture our interest as much as the original- possibly because we knew what to expect. While Mohanlal was better than Kamal, Shruti Hassan's music score was good and the two mid level police guys were very handsome and competent.

Chandamama website recently updated the Mister muthu episodes- 3-4 new ones there- pl do visit and catch up....

Velachery update
Brown tree( a shop like Nuts and spices) , Tapas ( a coffee pub) , The chocolate shop ( on bypass road) have all opened in Velachery as also a veg restaurant called Krishna ( on Taramani rd) and The Rock( opp Adyar anand bhavan). Not yet been to any of them and unlikely to do so in the near future.... let me know if you visit them.

Yestersday .. .

Went to the hospital and had a look at the room I intend to have for the delivery.

Post that, had a check up last evening. All is well, except for some water retention and an unsightly skin problem both of which should go off post delivery.

Enjoyed some yummy chaat and vada pav at the new branch of Mansukhs.

Chanced upon a Garden sale and bought some fabrics for Anush for frocks for old times sake

Shantis- a favourite shop when Anush was a baby- got revisited for some basic essentials

Visited the CP centre for the golu exhibition- but it was a let down.

Since I am not keeping golu , hoping we will get called to a few at least for Anush to enjoy herself.

Trow, post my boss' s return, I go off work ( i should specify office work) till year end!!