Heal the World

Cannot pass this one !

On a vacation on my favourite city last month, was visiting a lovely family as I always do. I get free food, accommodation and play time with two of the most lovely little ones I have ever known which obviously makes the city so close to the heart. So with the weekend passing on eat, play and be merry ideology it was no wonder the time to bid adieu came so soon. As I always do and love to do, I offered to drop the youngest one in his school that morning as tradition.

Setting off in the direction of the school(with two children in tow) we cut through a small clearing calling out to birds around, a Tarzan's act of sorts. We raced each other, jumped over dead branches and danced all the way...!

I stopped bringing the rest to an abrupt jolt. 'Dandelions..' I cried and we ran into the green to pick two(which I concede were all that was!)
"Save the rainforests, save the Earth, save us all... " muttered the first one with an unquestionably sincere tone. Would love to see if the G20 are half as genuine as this seven year old in their concerns for a greener planet and if we can talk less and do more about recycling..
"I wish aunty stays here forever.." - the four year old, with eyes tight shut and clutching the fragile flower as hard as he could. Not hard to imagine I stopped in my tracks(again..). As the children opened their eyes and blew their respective flowers, I dropped on my knees with very moist eyes and hugged them both hard for reviving my trust in this world.

The few unadulterated emotions that are still around in this world are from the young and innocent I s'pose ! Of course, it's also not difficult to see why parenthood is a huge responsibility which should be taken up by only those who can live up to it, like me friends just proved they had !!

Meet the Parents !

When a good friend plans a vacation home it's time for a happy smile. If the good friend taking a break hails from the same city it's time to rejoice - after all, you can send stuff home and receive for free :D !

So while helping my friend with her shopping last week, we landed here looking for an iPod. Standing next to the catalogue rack and browsing while she goes off to pay and collect, I noticed a little boy arguing with his mum. He seemed absolutely upset at his wishes not being granted and scowled every time his mum said NO, a little louder. Running a house is no simple task, so she leaves him alone to attend to more pressing issues while the child unhappily watches few customers collecting their PSPs and walking out in excitement. Overcome by sudden grief which lugged and tugged at his little heart, he reacted by succumbing involuntarily(???) to a berserk moment by lifting his tiny leg and KICKING ME !!!!!!!!!!! Dropping the Mothers Day catalogue which no more attracted any interest, I turn to face this child. I looked at him sternly as he continued to scowl warning him of consequences. He seemed least interested in my sermon, so decided it's time the mum was brought into picture. I walked over to her and explained her sons' action as well my reaction. She was quick to apologise which kind of eased the situation but then let her son go without reprimand.

What is it that stops us from pointing the right from wrong to our children ?? Agreed, we are all under pressure from external factors, more than our folks did but does it justify in anyway when we fail parenting ?? No wonder we see children all around us with access to state of the art luxuries but lack even a decent amount of courtesy and respect ! So, who is failing whom ??!!

In dependence is Independence !

Not all Fridays bring a smile it seems as was the lesson learnt last week, not to mention of the one too many life has been teaching me graciously for a while now :o) !

Whoever coined the phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbikam must be as old or near extinct as the language itself. Or perhaps again, it's a distinct disadvantage of proudly belonging to a country which has been for centuries fuelling the economies of so called great nations. All the same, Visas are a dreaded nightmare reoccurring my way often for my liking in the recent times. Ah, but we can endure all and more for friends !

So there it was, a rise and shine early Friday morning that saw me check re-check arrange re-arrange documents for a visa interview scheduled in the City to be followed by a non-stop hop off and hop on routine on public transport to reach my workplace far away from City, made worse by an over booked outlook calendar :( ! Is it a surprise at all if am to mention my absolute detest for rush hour traffic especially on the Tube which has now taken a political turn with Leaders chiming in chorus about the ambitious expansion plans in their kitty to ease commuter inconvenience if elected.. ah, as if we ever would fall for such a silly gimmick ! Well, packed in the carriage of this train where opening my newspaper seemed an atrocious act of space grabbing, was fighting to stay near the doors to make a quick exit when a fellow-desi struggling quite like me moved over with a smile. Time has caused the cautious in me to be more active so haltingly I return half a smile. "Mallu..??". Thought quite didn't catch that until he repeated loud enough for my senses to decipher this time, "You are Malayalee, right ??". Squaring hunched up shoulders with my trademark folded-arms-stony-glance I respond, 'No, Indian.' What followed was amusing - he shrugged muttering 'that's ok..', relocated to other corner of the carriage until we pulled into a station where he alighted walking past me like I existed but invisibly.
And we blame the British for their Divide and Rule policy !!

Heal the World !

Uh..been away a bit, haven't I ?? Blame it on dog days at work which a coolie grins and bears to receive some meager wage rewards. Afterall, there is more than one mouth to feed..

So this evening happens to be yet another one where the mind is thinking of those numerous lines of code which produced a simple result - error; the eyes peering out of the bus window yet not registering; the body crying out silently still hoping to be heard of it's disdain at having to sleep irregular hours on account of the mind not being able to fix the code. Predictably it's a Bridget Jone's mood !

As the bus pulled over at a stop and passengers alighted/disembarked on journies, my eyes wandered and fixed on a figure, slowly bringing the old lady into sharp focus. She was panting but still ain't no quitter. Carrying her shopping bags, half buckling under their weight, she hastened towards the bus with every ounce of energy her slender frame could muster. I could make out the lines on her face, her wrinkled skin and her desperation to not miss this bus - probably she had a reason to try so hard.

Just as she nearly made it to the bus, just as she came up to the big swinging doors and slightly lifted one leg to try and board, the driver slammed the doors shut. They looked at each other for a brief moment - stoic, stony glance versus an indignant yet pleading eyes. The bus moved on..leaving her behind.

I simply cannot understand people.. the indifference, uncompassion and the insensitivity the soul is capable of ! Probably I should give myself some rest, might wake up to see a world somehow better(am I to believe my own words ??) or atleast a resolution to something 'BUG'ging me..

Glory be..

Sacrifice.. always thought this to be a powerfully sensitive word until I happened to read this article which proved me wrong and shattered my misconception. The author has made his point, loud and clear and Bips has done it again - hogged the limelight for her unselfish self !

AND to think there are soldiers in the army actually sacrificing their lives but do not get mentioned any place..what a bunch of losers!! Well, such is life I say !

What's the CONnection ?

I was told -

"Bending rules is not quite the same as cheating.."

is this true or am I naive if am to believe it ??

It's ONLY words

..or is it just me so assuming ?? Is anyone else out there as put off by the Xmas ads everywhere, big and bold; small and smooth adverts alike are making this word sound a cliche !

Delivery ONLY £5.99 claims one..

Canon & Nikon price crash - from ONLY £379 shouts another..

HD ready plasma set ONLY £1299 screams yet another..

Book before Xmas to grab our bargain offer of ONLY £240,000 is splashed in a local news paper, the price being quoted for a 2 bed apartment..

What a trite ! Who is to define the limits here..and does the advertiser realize I only earn as much and only never save ! No wonder maximum financial bankruptcies are filed only following Xmas..

One for the road ??

Not sure if this is the greatest song ever written.. but it certainly made a 5 yr old by the aisle dance non-stop and got me interested(in the song of course !!)

03 - Ye Ishq Hai -...