For a change

It is vacation time. During my school days, my maternal grandparents were in Chennai. Every year when my vacation started, they came down to Kerala and took me with them to Chennai. I used to spend atleast a couple of weeks with them there. It was happiness unleashed. As everyone knows, grandparents know only to love and grandchildren almost always know how to make use of that weakness. ;) I used to get away with all my whims and fancies with them. I made them take me to all the beaches and amusement parks I loved. I made sure that I got all my favourite food to eat and anything I wanted to play with. That used to be the royal days of the year.. :)

For a change, it was my grandparents' turn for a small summer vacation. They came down to Bangalore last weekend. I cooked for them, took them around and made them as comfortable as I could. It was nothing compared to the happiness they have given me, but still, it was something.. At the end of their short stay, they were happy like little children, happiness well deserved.

Ellavarkkum Vishu Aashamsakal

Vishu is the festival that is closest to my heart. I have very fond memories of so many Vishu's as a child. All of us in the family; aunts, uncles, cousins.. all used to sleep side by side in a room waiting for the dawn. I used to be so excited that I hardly used to sleep. By 3 in the morning, elders would start going one by one to see the 'kani'. I used to eagerly wait for my turn holding my eyes tight. Then finally when I got my chance, I beamed with joy seeing the golden hue of the 'vishu kani'. Then came the part of getting all that 'kaineetam' from elders which used to be my money reserve for the next year. How can I forget the fireworks part.. Lots of sparklers, flower pots, the more dangerous bombs. And of course there would be a grand 'sadya' at noon. All in all, it used to be a day which was full of fun & prosperity.. And it brought hope that the full year would be the same.


This year it was different. We celebrated it in Bangalore and it was just the two of us. I did miss the fun of old-times, but it was a different kind of joy this time. We took a day off and spent the day at home. I prepared the 'Vishu kani' myself. This time also, I was eagerly waiting for the dawn.. Not to see the 'kani' myself.. but to see the expression on my husband's face. And that was priceless!



We went to the temple. We also had a small sadya including sambhar, avial, koottu-kari, thoran, pappadam & payasam. This was also the first sadya that I prepared myself which made it special.

Thus ends Vishu on a beautiful note and hopefully the whole year ahead will be like that too. :)

And it rained today...

I am not a classic rain lover.. I never dream of curling up under a blanket with rain flowing down my window. Instead I am the kind who loves a warm bright day when I can get out of my house and have some fun.

But today I realised what a scorching summer can do to people. Today, as I heard rain pouring outside, a wide smile came right out of my heart to my face. I ran along with many others to the nearest window. All of us just stood there for a good ten minutes till we saw the rain and heard the thunder to our heart's fill. The little more adventurous of our lot ventured out into the rain. Must say, that was tempting. :)

Anyways, I hope it rains more to bring down the heat & bring up the water level, to bring down the power cuts and bring a little joy in our parched hearts!

Looong time...

Such a long time that I have been thinking of penning down a few words here. I have a colleague who keeps pushing me to write. And I give a standard answer, 'This weekend, definitely!" And that never happened until today. Better late, than never. Ain't it? ;)

So, lets see.. Quite a lot happened in my life after my last post..

I got back to Bangalore, got married, we booked a flat, I flew to US 3 months after my marriage, spent a never-ending 6 months there, my hubby flew to Switzerland, I came back, then he came back just in time to celebrate our first anniversary together, we set up our home and are now living happily & hopefully ever-after too. :)

Wow, that was such a quick recap! Now I feel that I am update with my blog & I am going to genuinely try not to give up this time. I owe this to myself.