My Daily Bread

I love the private time that I spend with God every morning. Oh, its a PAIN to wake up early - I always get the urge to hit the snooze button and sleep a bit more. But I miss greeting Him, so I haul myself out of the. The 1/2 hour that I spend is so precious - I make a cup of coffee and sit with my Bible. I love reading the Bible. I consider it blessed that I live in a country where I am free to read the Bible, attend church and worship God. Not all people have this opportunity. Not everything that I read in the passage will make sense to me. But I persist. And then there will be something or the other that will make me pause, reflect and think a bit. This is what I love the most - when I get to understand a bit more about God and His character.

I hope and pray that I continue this habit all throughout my life.

Sorry blog!!! I know I've been neglecting you for the past few weeks... so sorry!! Not intentional - just been busy (I know, same old excuse!)...

So what's been keeping me busy?

1. Had cousin and family visiting - it IS lovely having family over. I cooked a great deal (they said the dishes were spectacular, but who knows if they were really that great or merely being polite??!) and it was nice to put in an effort and feed people whom you love but get to meet only once in a while. Made me yearn for my parents and sister to visit Melbourne one day... sigh!

2. Have been reading "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe - Had no idea about the existence of writers from Africa writing in English. Stumbled upon a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adeche whilst selecting a book for a friend and its from one of her interviews that I heard about Chinua Achebe. I liked "Things Fall Apart". Its written in a very simple manner, but very profound... I dont want to do a book review here, so lets it at that....

3. Am in the process of making amends with a couple that I intently disliked.... The husband is H's friend and his wife works in the same office that I do. H wants to be "chaddi-dost" with them and I cannot stand the though. H and I are going through a rough patch in our marriage and one of the things that I know he wants me to do is to be friends with them. Now the wife is not that bad - is a bit of a "know-it-all" and has no sense of tact or being subtle. So very often I am left absolutely flabbergasted and by the time I have collected my senses and have come up with a witty (at least in my opinion!!) retort, the moment has already passed... anyway, am learning that marriage is all about compromise and having to bear somethings with a grin whilst cringing inwardly.

That's it from my side for the moment!!

IIM, Facebook, Break up

Read about a young girl committing suicide over a relationship break up. It has been given a lot of attention due to these words - IIM, Facebook, Break up.

While the media has (again) gone overboard with comments, discussion groups, break up etiquette etc, spare a thought for what this young girl must have have been feeling to take this drastic step. How I wish someone had been there to talk to her... hold her hand... console her... and to tell her that "THIS TOO SHALL ALSO PASS"....

May God help her family to cope with this tremendous loss...

And the young man... think of the guilt he is suffering from and what he has to live with for the rest of his life.

Weekend...

Weekend is over. Sob! Back to work and the usual routine.

Did a bit of gardening on Saturday. Also did a bit of spring cleaning on Sunday - jhadu-pocha, swept the cobwebs and made the patio look a bit presentable.

H and I did a bit of furniture shopping on Saturday. We had our eye on a wooden yuyu chair for some time now and had been debating on whether it would fit in our lounge room. On Sat, we took an impulsive decision to go ahead and buy... and guess what, it looks bee-yoo-ti-full! Dont care whether it fits in with the rest of the furniture... we are happy with it!

Happy that is 27 degree celsius tomorrow... spring is in the air!! Small things give so much of pleasure...

Yeh kahaa Aa Gaye Hum

One of my all time favourite songs... I dont have words to describe the beauty and the melodious rendition. And the chemistry between Rekha and AB - priceless!

I was so thrilled to find lyrics at http://www.hindigeetmala.com/song/ye_kahaan_aa_gaye_ham.htm

mai aur meri tanahaai, aksar ye baate karate hai tum hoti to kaisaa hotaa, tum ye kahati, tum vo kahati  tum is baat pe hairaa hoti, tum us baat pe kitani hasti  tum hoti to aisA hotaa, tum hotI to vaisaa hotaa  mai aur merI tanahaai, aksar ye baate karate hai  ru ru ...   ye kahaan aa gaye ham,  yunhi sAth sAth chalate   terI baaho me hai jaanam, mere jism-o-jaan pighalate - 2   ye raat hai, yaa tumhaari zulfe khuli hui hai ye chaandanI hai yaa tumhaarI nazaro se, merI raate dhulI huI hai ye chaand hai, yaa tumhaaraa kangan, sitaare hai yaa tumhaaraa aanchal havaa kA jhokaa hai, yaa tumhaare badan ki khushabu  ye pattiyo ki hai sarasaraahat, ke tumane chupake se kuchh kahaa  ye sochataa hun mai kabase gumasum ki jabaki mujhako bhI ye khabar hai, ki tum nahi ho, kahi nahi ho magar ye dil hai ki kah rahaa hai, tum yahi ho, yahi kahi ho     tu badan hai mai hun saayaa, tU nA ho to mai kahaan hun  mujhe pyaar karane vaale, tu jahaa hai mai vahaa hun  hame milanaa hi thaa hamadam, isi raah pe nikalate  ye kahaan aa gaye ham   merI saans saans mahake, koI bhinaa bhinaa chandan terA pyaar chaandani hai, meraa dil hai jaise aangan  koi aur bhI mulaayam,  (merI shaam dhalate dhalate - 2)  ye kahaan aa gaye ham    majabur ye haalaat, idhar bhI hai udhar bhi  tanahaai ke ye raat, idhar bhI hai udhar bhi  kahane ko bahut kuchh hai, magar kisase kahe ham  kab tak yunhi khaamosh rahe, aur sahe ham  dil kahataa hai duniyA ki har ik rasm uthA de  dIvaar jo ham dono me hai, aaj giraa de  kyo dil me sulagate rahe, logo ko bataa de  haa hamako muhabbat hai, mohabbat hai, mohabbat hai  ab dil me yahi baat, idhar bhI hai, udhar bhi     ye kahaan aa gaye ham, ye kahaan aa gaye ham 

1. What curse word do you use the most?
- A***H***
2. Do you own an iPod?
- No!
3. What person do you talk to on the phone the most?
- My mum!
4. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?
- I unfortunately do. I wish I would not remember.
5. Do you remember where you were on 11/9/01?
- Holy cow! Of course I do.
6. What was the last movie you watched?
- Chaapa Kurishu (Malayalam movie)
7. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
- Nope.
8. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?
- Nope.
9. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
- ehh at the risk of sounding like a broken record, nope!
10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
- Whether he is articulate.
11. What are you looking forward to?
- Am looking to complete 4 things - 1. Get a new job 2. Get a dog 3. Get a certification (IT stuff) 4. Make new friends (before that I think I need to learn how to be a good friend!).
12. Do you own any band t-shirts?
- Nope
13. What will you be doing in one hour?
- Rushing home
14. Is anyone in love with you?
- My parents and sister and H (I think!)
15. Last time you cried?
- Last Sunday. I was deeply hurt.
16. Are you on a desktop computer or a laptop?
- Desktop.
17. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
- Yes (piercing only).
18. Would you ever date anyone covered in tattoos?
- Never, ever!
19. What were you doing before this?
- Trying to look busy at work!
20. When is the last time you slept on the floor?
- Dec 2010 - My parents were in town. H and I had a fight. I didnt want to sleep next to him.
21. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
- 7
22. Do you eat breakfast daily?
- Yep.

Australia - my home!

Oohhh... my 2nd post... am getting excited!

I arrived in Australia in 2006 and I live in Melbourne. I love this country. While people rave about its beauty and abundance of natural resources etc etc and even though all of that is true, I am not going to go there... my love comes from the fact that this land offered me refuge and freedom and perfect anonymity at at a time in life when I was struggling to establish myself and was looking for an outlet escape from bad, bad memories. This land has given me so many opportunities and I have embraced them all. Oh the freedom to wear what you want... the freedom to walk down the street with no fear... the freedom to study, work... and the concept of fairness... and knowing that if I worked hard ALL my dreams would come true.

I was born and rought up in India. I am proud of my identity as an Indian and extremely happy to be known as a Malayalee. But as an educated, single young working woman in her 20s in India, you are invariably presented (sometimes "forced" upon) with this scenario- 'tis time to get SETTLED (read as 'get married, have a baby within 1 year of marriage'). OH MY GOD! It seems that there is an age (between 23-26) when a girl HAS to be married. I have no idea why this age bracket is considered to be PERFECT. If you are over 26 and still not married, then heaven help you!! In my case I said bollocks to all of that that and just plainly refused to get married at that time. Reasons were many - I felt I hadn't achieved anything (professionally or personally), had personal issues to sort out and in general disliked the whole 'pati-parmeshwar' concept. So I turned 26 and here I was - single, educated, independent young woman - but I was not "complete" in society's eyes. The fact that my friends (male and female) were getting married and having babies as if there were no tomorrow did not help matters either.

Looking back what I was struggling with was the fact that I was stuck in a medicore job when I knew that I could do better. I was willing to work hard. But the opportunities were few. And Australia came through as a god given opportunity. I am so thankful that my parents gave me the courage to take this step forward. I dont know how I managed everything. Packing up and selling everything in India and moving here. Australia beckoned as if to say "here's your chance... come and grab it"... And grab I did! And I've never ever looked back.

God bless you Australia! Being Indian is who I am but you are where my home is!