January 2013: when the flu bug visited us

We had a pretty tough start to the year. Literally from week # 2, the kids were sick on Round 1 and then it was hubby's turn, followed by me. Sniffles, coughs, fever, body aches - name it and we had it. 

Then we had one week free in the middle and I was so relieved, even made some weekend plans to go visit the zoo in neighbouring Al Ain. But on the eve of the weekend - guess what? Our older one ended up with a earache and a quick visit to the ENT doctor revealed the stirrings of a ear infection. And the next day our little one began to cough a little too. Blame it on the windy, dusty weather - so bookings had to be cancelled and we were yet again holed up at home.

Having spent most of January indoors, and having had NO life of my own in the past few weeks - I've developed the greatest respect for motherhood which is hands down the most selfless job designations I will ever hold. 

This was the first ever time my little baby fell sick so it was my first time to care for two sick kids at the same time. Being up for most nights rocking the little one to sleep, bearing up with his crankiness - AND taking care of the older one when he was sick and at home from school WHILST being sick myself - heck, yeah I managed. I thank the Lord Almighty for my better half who's been such an amazing dad and the biggest blessing ever for me : Couldn't have done it without him :-) 

Hoping Ms. Flu bug has bade us goodbye for the rest of the year - Bye and Please Don't Come back!

Online communication!

So, of late I've been facing a little heartache when people have been very inconsiderate in the words they have used during online communication (via online forums/chat/email).

That prompted me to put up this post. Well, those who don't care will not care anyway, whether they read this or not. But at least I get to say what I want.

1. Never say anything online; that you wouldn't say to a person's face. This is so important because in face to face communication there are other factors such as facial expressions / tone of voice that would imply if you were joking / sarcastic. But online, there's nothing except smileys. And many people don't even use it, if they meant no offence.

2. Think before you press the 'send' button or 'comment' button. Even though nowadays you can always edit posts online; you can't recall messages sent to an inbox. And hurtful words once said, cannot be taken back, whether they were said verbally or written.

3. Be nice to people who are nice to you. If you have any personal frustrations, try not to vent it on others who have no connection to it. This is a rule even for offline social interaction. It is crazy when someone would do that online, just because the people you are writing it to are powerless to hurt you back then and there.

4. If you have a problem with someone, take it up privately with them. Refrain from writing indirectly insulting and sarcastic comments that are meant to hurt a particular person or group. Be mature and write to them directly instead of beating around the bush.

SO many things to do, and such less time in hand

SO my time is ticking. Literally.

Believe it or not, I have TWO big tasks to complete in 2013. Both of these tasks have been deferred infinitely last year due to my pregnancy and the arrival of our little Sumedh.

The first task is what I have less than 6 months for and that is the last and final exam of my PGDBA. The subject is Business Law. I know I can do it if I assign myself the time and cut out from the rest of the world. Somehow I am too much of a social butterfly to be able to shut myself in for a given period of time. I have armed myself with my textbook and highlighter and hope to set a timetable to study - That's why I'm writing about it here so I know that everyone is reading, and I have enough motivation ;-) I can do it!!

The second task and a very interesting one is getting on with my parking tests and towards my driving licence. Ok I can drive so well but I can't park. There is no way I can practice within the city (stupid Abu Dhabi rules) and I have to go all the way to the driving institute which is 1 hr away and that is just one way. Point to point and by the time I complete a class and come back it will be no less than 4 hours. Only and only when I put Sumedh on semi-solids can I even attempt this feat, and when I can have someone take care of him. So that is for April and beyond :-)

Wish me luck my friends!!

Ciao 2012 and Hi 2013!!

We don't hang calendars at home these days because everything is available at a click of a button on our phones. But I still need a wall calendar on which I mark the days our house help has visited each month in order to enable me to pay him on time. 

It was rather symbolic for me as I took the old calendar of 2012 off my wall and pasted the new one - I clicked some pictures too!

Here's wishing all my blog readers a very happy and prosperous 2013 - May all your dreams come true!!

Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa!

|| Shubh Deepavali ||

எல்லோருக்கும் தீபாவளி நல்ல்வாழ்துக்கள் !!

Wishing all the readers of my blog a very safe, happy and prosperous Deepavali !!

This is the lovely design I made on my palm today :) 

Some more mehndi

I applied some henna after many months :)

Felix gets lauded but Malala got shot?

In a world where a MAN like Felix Baumgartner gets lauded for creating a record by breaking the sound barrier; a little GIRL like Malala gets shot by the Taliban (who mainly comprise of by the way: MEN) - just because she chose to speak her mind and campaign for what she believed in firmly. And it all happened within the span of a few days!

Both Felix and Malala took a step forward to reiterate their commitment towards their goals - and both believed in pushing the limit.

Except for what happened next. HE received laurels and SHE nearly got killed.

Taliban and related groups of MEN who think they are in any way superior to women :

Get It Straight.

No matter what you do - try as you might, you can never daunt the spirit of a woman. 

Malala is just an example and in fact she is just a trial version of what lies ahead.You guys tried to kill her but guess what - she is a survivor and she will come back!

You can use all the weapons in the world if you care but nothing will stop IT from happening. The world is going to see a major uprising soon where hordes of women will come out to speak their minds and mark the advent of a revolution. It is already trickling in as a small stream and the time is not far when it will take the form of an ocean.

So Taliban, stop targeting one woman here and there; and instead, focus on shaking the dust off your pea-sized brains. Watch out for what is coming soon, be prepared to be shaken from the very roots.

I've been reading!

I've been utilizing the post delivery period to catch up on some reading. I had the awesome foresight to order some books for myself and it's been sheer joy to immerse myself in one of my favourite hobbies.

Ever since I got home from the hospital on August 26th 2012; I've read:

1. The two books in the Shiva Trilogy
2. Another Man's wife by Manjul Bajaj

Both the above are EXCELLENT reads..

3. 'Devil in Pinstripes' and 'If God was a Banker' by Ravi Subramanian
4. Fifty Shades Darker (overdose of the kinky stuff, not very interesting)

Didn't find these too great


and now..

I've finally started reading Chanakya's Chant and I am mesmerized to say the least :)

A mother's struggle for her daughter's bright future

The maalish bai who comes home these days for massaging baby Sumedh, is one helluva woman. She shares a lot of stories about her life with me as she is giving me the postnatal massage - and each story is special in its own way.

This woman has been so strong even when life was so cruel to her. When her daughter was 3 months old, this woman found out that her husband already had another wife hidden away. She immediately divorced him and moved out to her parents' home.

She left her daughter with her father [the baby's grandfather] while she took the decision to move here to the UAE to eke a living as a postnatal masseuse. She talks fondly about her daughter's childhood, the moments that she has missed out on. About how she has struggled in an alien land just so that her daughter can have the best education and won't ever need to face the same struggles as she did.

Her daughter till date feels bad that she never got the love of her parents. No dad of course; and mom went away to another country to work. Of course mom wanted the best for her but at what cost? Life can be unfair - very few people can have their cake and eat it too.

From her life story, I am reminded of how much parents can sacrifice so that their children can have a cozy life. Parents always want the best for their children, they always wish for comfort levels and happiness for their children, which is a notch higher than what they have experienced.

When my maalish bai talks, I can hear the glint of hope in the slight quiver of her voice. I can see the dreams she has for her daughter shining in those little black beady eyes.There is something about motherhood that turns women into ferocious tigresses, so immensely protective of their child. There is no limit to what a mother can do for her child and there are no horizons on the sky of her hopes.

 A mother's heart never gives up dreaming for her children.