The function that did not happen on Nov 19th happened on Dec 19th, that is yesterday. Yes, my dad's sashti aptha purthi went on very well. It was a very small function and it happened at home. Only that varuna bhagawan played spoilt sport and made every place around 'nasa nasa'. I was so happy to see my parents getting married and we were all making fun of dad and mom. Appa was asusual very emotional about the whole thing.

Got home yesterday late in the night to go to office today... Tired and so good nite.

We had an impromptu holiday last month. My dad's sixtieth birthday celebrations got cancelled because of a death in the family and that happened on the day we were about to leave from here. We had plans of visiting Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Thirukkadaiyur, Thirukkarugavur, Sembangudi and Nallicheri. And all those got cancelled. Since we had prepared also so much for this absence at office and Amma and appa were so upset, we decided that we will drive down somewhere and have a holiday.

So I chose Mudumalai from three options - Chikmagalur, Mudumalai and Karwar. Since he will be driving, I did not want it to be anything long which ruled out Karwar. Since we decided that we will leave my parents back in Mettur, and Mudumalai will be closer from both ends, we started our journey on Tuesday morning(Nov 20th) 5:40 am from Bangalore. Stopped at Kamath for breakfast. It was a 224 Kms drive via Ramnagara, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya, Srirangapatna, Mysore, Najungad, Gundelpet, and Bandipur. Till Mysore the road was great. From Mysore to Gundlepet, it was a bumpy drive. Once we enter the forest area, we were back on good roads.

Monkeys and deers were the only wild animals we managed to see in the trip. We took the van safari. As the review in Outlook 32 weekend getaways suggested, it was a bumpy ride and was not worth the money as we did not see any elephant. We did see one, a tamed one in the wild. Kimaya paid attention to the hen that was hanging around the elephant while we were trying hard to show her the 'real' elephant. It was really funny! That apart, it was a great holiday.

We stayed at blue valley resorts at Bokkapuram. (www.bluevalleyresort.com). We were the only ones staying there as it was during weekdays in off-season. Food was made after ordering. Even though the choices were limited, it was good and fresh. There was no TV, phones were not reachable (only BSNL works!). We were surrounded by fresh air and blue mountains. We went for walks, drives, ate, slept, played with Kimaya in the children's play area and played monopoly for hours before sleeping.

Initial plan was to drive straight from there to Mettur via Sathyamangalam on Saturday morning. We realised that Ooty is just 30 kms from Mudumalai and when my mom showed some enthu to see ooty, plans got changed. We checked out from the resort on Friday morning and drove down to Ooty via Kalhatti. There is another route from Theppakkadu (Mudumalali) via Gudalur, but as people adviced that this road is good, we took this even though I was skeptical about the 36 hair pin bends I read about in the week end getaways review. But I was glad that we took that road. It was an excellent drive. Car stopped at two places because he tried to take it in second gear when it was fully loaded. From experience, our advice is stick to 1st gear on the bends. They are pretty steep, but safe as long as you follow the rules.

We visited the botanical gardens and boat house - took the customary walk and the motor boat ride and left from there at 4:30 pm. Had to take a diversion to Kothagiri as the Coonoor road was blocked. Reached Mettur at 9:30 pm taking the Mettupalayam, Annur, Perundhurai, Bhavani route. There were bad patches but overall, it was a comfortable drive.

After staying Mettur for a day, we started early in the morning on Sunday at around 5:30 and reached Bangalore at 10 (Madivala) with a 30 mt breakfast break. It was excellent road all along and we just cruised through.

So all good things (Sigh!) ended and was back to office on Monday!!!!

I think it is tough to be a working mom. Though such moments like the one I have described below are few for me, the intensity when it happens everytime is too much to handle. I know every working mom in the world can associate with me on the guilt part for not spending enough time with the child.

My thought on this was kindled because of what happened at home on Saturday. I was feeding Kimaya her lunch. Normally this is the task which the maid completes in 15 minutes flat – for her, it is just part of her job and she has mastered it… With me or for that matter anyone in the family, Kimaya takes the liberty of running around, jumping up and down, spitting what is fed - anything that would test your patience. She was doing the same and I was elated when finally there were only two spoonfuls left in the bowl and she looked full.

My mom looked at what was left in the bowl and commented– ‘Give it to the maid, she will finish feeding it’. I got really WILD. I tend to ignore such comments normally, if it is said once, but if the same is repeated a couple of more times, then it gets on my nerve. Luckily I did not start screaming or show my anger – I tried analyzing the situation when I cooled down. I could clearly see that my mom’s intention was, in Kimaya’s usual meal two spoons were left and hence she should not feel hungry. For me, it was like telling me that I did not know how to feed my OWN kid!

It is not only this, but I feel bad and guilty on several occasions. Since the world is full of working moms and at work I share my feelings with some of them, I try not to be emotional and take any decisions hastily. Advice my fellow friends also to be patient like meJ. This too shall pass!

Can a day have more than 24 hours? I think that’s what we need in today’s world.

I want to spend time with Kimaya, get deeper into the tasks that I do in office, want to learn music, exercise, finish some household tasks, spend time with parents and grandmothers, blog, get some rest at the end of the day and especially weekends. Time just flies, I’m unable to do justice to even the first two in the above line…

I just run, run and run from doing one to another and the thought on the next thing on my mind pushes me to do an ‘OK’ job of anything I do. I know I can excel and do it thoroughly, but time???

I see that most of us prefer watching movies at home over theatres;twenty twenty matches over tests, buffets over elaborate dinner, tinned foods over cooking - shortened versions of just anything (even prayers) as saving time becomes far more important than the pleasure of doing it the old ways. I feel bad that I don’t even have time to talk to my grandma for 10-20 mts continuously nowadays, especially if I go to her place with Kimaya.

Are we really having a better life than our parents/grandparents? With all the improvements in technology, infrastructure, economy, etc., etc.,, shouldn’t that have been the case? I really really doubt it sometimes...

Travelled from Bangalore to Trivandrum by flight on Wednesday. It was around 4:30 pm when we reached the airport and it was buzzing with activity as lots of flights were leaving that time to various parts of India (in a 15 mt duration there were three flights leaving to Tvm itself.) .

Inspite of being called the IT hub and with so many business people from the world frequenting this, the domestic departure terminals facilities - as I experienced were not even of average standard. We had sandwich and puf after security check, in the waiting area and it was stale. Then was the ultimate - the restrooms - No light, flush was clogging, there was no one to clean - yuk! even now, if I think about it, I feel like puking....

Dont know whether anyone has experienced the same, but i heard from my husband that this airport is the worst!

Long time and lots to write... Where do I start?

"Kuzhal inidhu yazh inidhu enbar tham makkal mazhalai sol keladhavar" Says Tiruvalluvar - Meaning "People who say that flute and veena are sounding sweet and nice would not have heard their babies talk (gibberish stage)". Kimaya's speech (if I may call it that!), reminds me of that every day.

When I come back home, she starts narrating everything that happened to her (I assume as thats what it looks like) with all kinds of expressions and tones, i understand nothing of what she utters - but it is absolute fun. She attempts to speak everything she hears and she even sings. I am so proud of her :).

Just testing whether email bloggin works!