Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Stereotyping…

A couple of days back, I walked over to T’s university to walk back with him after his work, mainly for the exercise.

Now that it’s summer here, I’ve been gleefully wearing my spaghetti tops and sleeveless cotton tops. So I decided to wear a slightly risqué black top. It’s a fine, light, knitwear top with a low-neck which was a little transparent but not overly so. Teasingly transparent, I'd like to think.

We happened to meet one of T’s colleagues at the university and she joined us for a cup of tea.

The next day, at work, T’s colleague (who’s French) asks him, ‘ Did Tarantismo know her top was transparent yesterday?

And T says, ‘Yes, she did’.

To which she replies saying, ‘Oh, I thought Indian women always cover-up their bodies.’

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Thursday, 4 June 2009

money matters

Application for Summer School in lovely Lima – Accepted

Application for funding to go all the way to lovely Lima for Summer School – Unsuccessful

What to do what to do… ? Oh to win that 1000 pound lucky draw…. sigh..

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Crochet time

I was looking forward to starting on some knitting/crocheting after moving to UK given the wide choice of yarn I’d have here. I’ve enjoyed crocheting and have been doing it on and off for a few years now. And T bought me this lovely book  - The Happy Hooker – which has been a huge help in navigating through the mind-blogging array of yarns available here.

I bought this roll of yarn about six months back hoping to work on a crochet project over the Christmas break. 

DSC09754

My crochet projects till now have been handkerchiefs/doilies. This time I wanted to do something bigger. So I decided to go in for a shawl. But I didn’t want anything too complicated, so I finally settled on a very basic ‘Shelly’ shawl.

Work was started in December. I went at it for a few days. Got distracted with other stuff. Assignments started piling up and exams came. So the project took a back seat and it’s only now that I’ve been able to get back to it. And this is what I’ve got so far… 

 DSC09757-1                         DSC09763-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There’s still more to be done. And tassels as well. And then TAN TA DAAAAAA !!!!

Thursday, 28 May 2009

I would have liked to post this in my Facebook page, but then again, I have all my little kiddy  cousins as friends. Well, not so kiddy really, but they’ll always be kiddies to me.
Informative and funny. Enjoy!

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

One year on

L came and went like a whirlwind. And as This Fish put it, she was like a ‘life-raft in a sea of boring’. 

Sunday was also our (T & me, not L & me!) first wedding anniversary. One whole year. Whew !! I’m still getting used to having a ‘husband’ and it’s already been a year.  I still remember reading in Beks’ blog that the first year is probably the toughest year. So I had prepared myself for the worst. But honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. We did have our fair share of fights, but they weren’t as bad as they could have been.

Anyway, this is for T. For making this year so much fun. And for patiently enduring me while I went about the ‘enthralling fun of overhauling you’ (P.S. its not over yet ).

Well after all, Pickering, I'm an ordinary man,
Who desires nothing more than an ordinary chance,
to live exactly as he likes, and do precisely what he wants...
An average man am I, of no eccentric whim,
Who likes to live his life, free of strife,
doing whatever he thinks is best, for him,
Well... just an ordinary man...
BUT, Let a woman in your life and your serenity is through,
she'll redecorate your home, from the cellar to the dome,
and then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you...
Let a woman in your life, and you're up against a wall,
make a plan and you will find,
that she has something else in mind,
and so rather than do either you do something else
that neither likes at all You want to talk of Keats and Milton,
she only wants to talk of love,
You go to see a play or ballet, and spend it searching
for her glove, Let a woman in your life
and you invite eternal strife,
Let them buy their wedding bands for those anxious little hands...
I'd be equally as willing for a dentist to be drilling
than to ever let a woman in my life, I'm a very gentle man,
even tempered and good natured
who you never hear complain,
Who has the milk of human kindness
by the quart in every vein,
A patient man am I, down to my fingertips,
the sort who never could, ever would,
let an insulting remark escape his lips
Very gentle man...
But, Let a woman in your life,
and patience hasn't got a chance,
she will beg you for advice, your reply will be concise,
and she will listen very nicely, and then go out
and do exactly what she wants!!!
You are a man of grace and polish,
who never spoke above a hush,
all at once you're using language that would make
a sailor blush, Let a woman in your life,
and you're plunging in a knife,
Let the others of my sex, tie the knot around their necks,
I prefer a new edition of the Spanish Inquisition
than to ever let a woman in my life I'm a quiet living man,
who prefers to spend the evening in the silence of his room,
who likes an atmosphere as restful as
an undiscovered tomb,
A pensive man am I, of philosophical joys,
who likes to meditate, contemplate,
far for humanities mad inhuman noise,
Quiet living man....
But, let a woman in your life, and your sabbatical is through,
in a line that never ends comes an army of her friends,
come to jabber and to chatter
and to tell her what the matter is with YOU!,
she'll have a booming boisterous family,
who will descend on you en mass,
she'll have a large wagnarian mother,
with a voice that shatters glass,
Let a woman in your life,
Let a woman in your life,
Let a woman in your life I shall never let a woman in my life.

Let a Woman in your Life’ from My Fair Lady

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Friends

There's this concept in economics called Existence Value. It’s the value that you attach to something simply because it is there, and you know it exists. Like the Himalayas or clean green countryside or flying squirrels or Gael Garcia Bernal. You may not really use it yourself, but just the knowledge that it 'exists' adds to your utility.

And I think that's one of the many ways I value my friends. When I was in Madras, I didn't spend all my free time with friends. But the fact that I did have that option was a huge bonus. Having people to make plans with and knowing that if I wanted to go for a movie, or needed company for shopping expeditions, I’d always have it,  is such a comfort. And that’s what I really miss now. The ease which comes with being around people I’ve known for so long. The knowledge that they’re around…

Sigh. Anyway, the weekend beckons. I’ll be done with my exams and better , even better than better, L is dropping by for the weekend, en route to New York. I’m hoping to squeeze in a quick visit to Bath and then lots of time in London, especially Camden Market. Hot chocolate fudge on a cold winter morning, as someone once described L. This is one desperately awaited  hot chocolate fudge !

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

When we were kids, everytime we went to our grandparents' house, we would be greeted by a string of cousins, aunts and uncles. But no matter who or what was there, the first thing we had to do was to go and see our grand parents. We had go and give 'sthuthi' followed by kisses on both cheeks. When we were young, it was more of a task that my parents made us do - 'Go see M.ammachi' , and we'd troop off , a little reluctantly, leaving behind all the cousins and the games they were playing, for a while..

For the last eight years or so, it's just been my grandmom. And as we grew older, the time with my grandmom no longer needed to be forced. Coming back from school, college, we used to look forward to going to meet her, to sit with her and tell her all the news. And she'd eagerly listen to our stories, her face brimming with pride.

Grandparents are your biggest fans. When I was working, my grandmom was so proud of me and the fact that I had a good job. And she used to say, 'yes, let her work and discover things. She should have these experiences'. And when she came to know how miserable I was at work, 'tell her to leave. Why does she have to work at all? There's no need for her to do this. She's got home and all of us. Tell her to come back.'

Thank you for the unconditional love you gave us. For showing me the meaning of grace and wisdom. The thought that the next time I go back home, you're no longer going to be there breaks my heart. That really was the last time I saw you, and I remember at that time, hoping against hope, that when I came back for Christmas, you'd still be there for me to hold your hands and give stuthi and kisses to.