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July 30, 2017

The Sunday #6

Pre-Rakhi Sunday it was. Not technically but almost. Sigh. (For an Amdavadi, celebrating festivals only on weekends is more than a torture. I meant, Sundays are for relaxation when festivals arrive on weekdays. But well..)

Only when I was happy about upcoming festive seasons, I caught cold. When I say cold, it is a mixture of mucus in tones and sneezing in millions. Gross and painful both. The silver lining? Mr.ISB's cousin S with her kid coming to our place for Rakhi and the lunch. Needless to say, it was everything fun. I was tired due to flu but could manage cooking up a storm with the help of a cook and MIL. (Such days remind me that how dependent I am on my MIL when it comes to daily chores and thankful too!)

Our little nephew does not have sisters and this poor little yours truly does not have any brothers in the town. So, I pitched in and tied him a Rakhi. His smile and the tiny wrist flaunting bigger Rakhi than his face was cuter than he ever was to me.

Pre-Lunch session was more like a chattering session between us - females and it appeared that the pending task of buying matching fabric for some amazing sarees I have, can be ticked off today if I jump in the car with cousin S who was also ticking of her cloth shopping tasks that day. I was tired and sleepy but this was not a moment to miss. Also, we all were free for the day after a long long time, hence we both left for some festive shopping while our Brother-in-law M , Mr.ISB and the kiddo took rest before meeting post shopping session. That too for the dinner. Yay!

The Nakshatras helped us and we both could select some really gorgeous fabric while talking about everything 'Girly' and 'Work-ish' under the sun. It felt amazing to have a like minded person to whom you can always look up to and talking with. It was also a gentle reminder that after my Sister-In-Law's wedding a cousin living close by would be anyway there.

The dinner was North Indian (Guys' choice) and delicious. It took some time for us to realize that the food was surprisingly lighter on our stomach, which is unlikely for Punjabi cuisine. I did not want the day to end even when I was dead tired. Of course, after bath I collapse on the bed just to get up next morning at 6 am.

A tiring but a happy Sunday.

How was yours? 

July 23, 2017

Chai time chitchat #10

Believe me, I want to change the title. It has been ages I had Adarakhwali Chai and for some reasons I have realized, I enjoy it more with certain sets of like minded people. With others, I do have Chai but it is merely a mechanical routine which calms my mind.

Life is floating, if this makes any sense. It becomes a rocky surfing experience and in a few days I would be sailing slowly.

My office work is again a combination of severe work load and chilled out moments. I am afraid of this comfort zone I have got into. May be it is a time to get something more for my career plan before I reach a point of no return. Talking about my office life, a lot has changed this year. Projects, staff, challenges with new recruits, a sense of being more responsible & at the same time, feeling the heart break while handling over the responsibility in the name of the work delegation. Phew.

Monsoons are here and believe me, I crave for filter coffee all the time. I don't think I can ever get fed up of monsoons. Ask an Amdavadi in Mumbai, we can never get enough of it. Can we?

I've started some craft projects which I must say are going good even when some of them resembles projects given to primary school students. But, I love them and I have realized that, it is the only thing which counts. Dancing and craft is more like talking to myself, pampering myself and enjoying. Close to Spa for me. (I can see raised eyebrows here!)

We watched 'Dunkirk' last weekend, and for a world war two junkie I loved the movie. I should give credits to the cinematography and the background score, both were out of this world.

I binge watched all the episodes of 'Rizzoli and Isles'; I could see myself and my frock buddy N in both the lead characters. ( Mathematically none of us resemble any of the characters in totality. It is more like 'Bubblegum+ frock buddy N= Rizzoli + Isles) I do not remember getting a better combination of crime thrillers with just a pinch of chick flick.

I am eagerly waiting for upcoming festivities and the wedding in the family. Okay, the second part would come with a lot of hard work but hey, where would be the fun otherwise.

How have you been guys?


July 2, 2017

To Do Nothing in Kerala

It is very very weird that since months, the frequency of posts on my blog has decreased but then amidst the hectic schedule and my totally messed up state of mind ( I was tired of 'schedule', needed a break) created a big 'creative' block to even do random chatting on the blog! I decided to take a break from the craving of writing something forcefully as well. How awesome such desperate breaks can be- is something this blog post is all about, now that I am back from experiencing it. The break where...

We did nothing.

I, along with Mr.ISB and my SIL had decided a couple of months back to take a week long vacation where the sun would be kinder and so would be the place. Believe me, in April we were struggling to decide on a place even out side India, where we can go for a week. (Europe is my favorite destination but, for a week I barely can breath in, forget feel the place!) When we zeroed down on Kerala, I was sure of the resort and greenery as I had visited the place with my parents, but I was not really enthusiastic about the vacation. One, we planned to do nothing in the name of site seeing- I was okay with it but I was scared that my hyper-self would get bored. Two, secretly I wanted to explore a new country. Little less I knew, I did not need a new place to explore or too many things to do on this vacation. I needed to do nothing!

I kid you not. From the moment we checked in the room - three of us, till last moment kept ourselves busy in doing what we needed. Reading, watching movies, walking, eating, jogging, exploring plants around our cottages, indulging into Spa, playing board games etc. The brother sister duo swam a lot and slept off a lot. (While I read and enjoyed my cup of coffee enjoying drizzling rains!) And not even once we felt bored. I have to give enough credits to the Club Mahindra Resort Poovar, where every single three was pleasant and beautiful. (If somebody from Club Mahindra is reading this - do let me know from where I can get that cane chair and the stool on which I perpetually spent all my mornings and afternoons!)

My hyper-self was unbelievably calm as I had nothing at all do- no mundane stuff like cleaning the room or worrying about the next meal. I slept off every day for perfect seven to eight hours and how. I realized 20% of my stress before the trip was the irritation of not getting enough rest- mentally. Now,I was content. In fact I was worried that the vacation is ending too soon and I would show heavy withdrawal symptoms, but this trip surprised me again at the end of it.

I was all in to work. I enthusiastically and smoothly entered into the hectic work flow.

I am not sure how did that happen but I would recommend this kind of a don't-go-out-of-the-resort vacation once in atleast two years.

For now, you might want to look at the gorgeous place where I almost attained Niravana. (Green Nirava I would say)


Such walkways are witness to my hour long walks and lust for greens


While the brother sister duo swam, I enjoyed my coffee here
Post morning walk moments
The Hammock we all loved
Early morning reading sessions - Do not Disturb please!