tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21607790975152991982024-02-08T11:56:59.148+05:30Zesty oranges and winter afternoons- by Payal MukherjeeOrange zest, the very thought brings back memories of childhood! Of life when it was more simple and innocent. Reminiscence. Love. Colours and joy!Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-62497515493746901942022-04-28T11:36:00.002+05:302022-04-28T11:36:53.774+05:30Am I already talking of ageing?<p> I lost three people to cancer in the past twelve months or so. And I am about to lose more. People gone before their time, gone in their prime, mothers with teenaged children, people who their families and friends had taken for granted and will now never see again. </p><div style="text-align: justify;">When I reached forty, my worldview changed suddenly. Mortality, which was just a distant thought yesterday, suddenly lurks at every corner, chasing when you're not looking, waiting to catch up. You try to outrun it somehow, start exercising, start eating healthy, look at the kids with new eyes- my older one is grown already, too old to hold and hug. My younger one is growing fast...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And yet time does not let you rest. It is said, and so truly, that 'time' is the only asset we have. So it leaves me with that terrifying thought- What if I never end up writing that book? What if I never end up finishing my PhD? What if I never end up travelling to those places in the world that I would love to see with my own eyes? Or read the many books that I would love to read?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Time is such a fleeting thing these days, at this age more than ever before. Once you step into your 40-s is when it hits you. You're never going back to your youth again. You are never going back to dreaming to do things. It is the last chance to act. It is the last decade when you can still travel around the world without worrying about health all that much. Before the hot flushes and the mood swings... I realise I have to get ready for those as well. Isn't it lucky that I will experience them though? So many are gone before they can.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On social media I often see photographs of my friends, men and women who are my own age, whitened and smoothed away to perfection. I smirk at them, till I post a photo of me on a social media site and when I open and see it- my god- are these wrinkles around my eyes??!! I ask my daughter. She says- 'Don't worry, they are laughter lines.' Sage words from the 14 year old who cant yet turn her jeans the right way when she dumps it in the laundry. Anyway, I don't have any paid apps to smooth away age-signs, so I go to a free app and run the little blob around my eyes and mute the lines a bit. That version looks a tad better, not much difference but at least the lines don't point to my age so starkly. Am I ageing gracelessly? I ask myself. Am I already asking the A-word??</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then after a few days I see a photo of another college friend, she who was the cynosure of all eyes, the college babe. Everyone, including me, was in love with her at one time. And I see her hot photo, red flowing low cut dress and all, arms perfect, shapely body, not an ounce of fat! I see her face. And I see the lines, same as mine. Only she didn't bother to iron them out digitally. Oh the confidence of beauty! It does not change with age then. She is my new hero now. My next photo will go up without alterations, well, much alterations definitely. I shall be graceful in accepting that I am about to age now and no force in the world, except the plastic surgeon's scalpel which I cannot afford, can stop it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have also started feeling an emotion which I have never felt in my life before. Loneliness. Being an introvert helps in a world where no one has time for you. I have always been my own best company. For years I have lived a life where I have needed very little else than my own family, my books, the few friends I have (can be counted on the fingers of one hand, literally) and my work, not always in that order. But recently, I have felt lost sometimes, not knowing what I should be doing, whether I am doing enough, feeling too tired to do anything, and feeling guilty for doing too less. I need others to tell me that I cant humanly do anything more. That yes, I do need my rest, and I do need to sleep more. That I do need me-time, the odd massage, the gym hours... so few say these things anymore. They are all busy earning money, and I am not. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I try to justify myself in my PhD topic. I think, let me work on career success, and lo! I have friends here. Career success is not about money all the time. It is about how you feel. And hence I am successful because I am satisfied in how my life has shaped up, money or no money, proved by peer reviewed research, and nothing you can say can change that any more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Age will do things to you, young one! It is not right to think you are invincible. The only thing one can do is to ride the waves and try to find ones own path to satisfaction. Satisfaction is NOT death. Death is death. Do be satisfied primarily that you are NOT dead. There is so much more still to fight for, live for, so many books to read, a book or two to write, children to see grow, God willing grandchildren to bring up... I am just thankful if I get to do all that, ageing notwithstanding. </div>Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-47904096255313151132019-12-01T12:18:00.002+05:302019-12-02T13:59:00.645+05:30The modern man's anthem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh look, she speaks<br />
She has a voice<br />
What a wondrous amazing thing<br />
<br />
She moves out freely<br />
She's started protesting<br />
She's started taking all our jobs<br />
<br />
We need to stop her<br />
Need to control her<br />
We have to silence this new voice<br />
<br />
But she's not stopping<br />
She keeps on working<br />
The bitch wants more and more and more<br />
<br />
At home let's beat her<br />
And subjugate her<br />
But that just does not keep her down<br />
<br />
So on the road take her<br />
Abuse her and rape her<br />
Hit her where it hurts the most<br />
<br />
Big man or small man<br />
Hold my hand brothers<br />
We need to nip this in the bud<br />
<br />
We've got to stop her<br />
We have to crush her<br />
If need be kill her and burn her down.<br />
Hunt her and burn her down.<br />
<br />
Payal Mukherjee, 30th November 2019</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-31101531897072427072017-11-21T20:21:00.000+05:302017-11-21T20:21:05.701+05:30Short Story published on Siya Woman: No Distance As Far Away As Yesterday by Payal Mukherjee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p> </o:p>It takes ten minutes to reach
Anwar Shah Road from my house in Tollygunj even now. Since 1992 very little has
changed on this stretch of road. From Bangur Hospital, behind which I used to
stay, I would walk down to the Tipu Sultan Mosque, my 14 year old trusty legs
carrying me there in no time. There you could turn right into Anwar Shah Road
and walk along till you reached Nabina Cinema. That is where my friend
Mahjabeen used to meet me. <i>The Strong One</i>,
Mahjabeen stayed in one of the run-down buildings in the colony in that area
with her parents.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
They were not very well to do,
her folks. Her father was a stenographer and her mother used to sew clothes for
a living. She had an older brother but he had already passed out of school and
had moved to Mumbai, probably with dreams of becoming a film hero, but instead
ended up working for a cloth merchant, in a place I’d not heard of at that time.
And yet she used to study in the quintessential middle class Bengali medium
school with enough respectability in that era. They managed that for her.</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The school bus of Kamala Girls would
drop her first, since her stop came before min. But my mother was a working
woman, and I an only child. So though I could not get down with Mahjabeen
because the bus Dada would rat on me- I knew, I would get down at Bangur
Hospital, my stop, and run all the way back to her stop where she would be
waiting for me. Then, knowing we were breaking a thousand rules, we would
giggle all the way to the phuchka stall, cutting through narrow lanes, huffing
and puffing as we gobbled those spicy, tangy, watery globes of delight- our day
was made.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I would, of course, have less
than two hours for such mischief, but I was the school athlete at that age, and
had unending energy. I would run all the way back and reach home before 5 pm,
well before my mother rang the door-bell and started asking me about school. My
parents were hard working, well educated folk. My father was a civil engineer
with one of those companies which was doing very well building roads in the
city at that time. My mother was a telephone operator with one of the bigger
Marwari companies in central Calcutta. My parents were the good moralistic
Bengali Brahmin couple, who brought up their daughter to be independent, with
the right amount of stress on music and art, like every good Bengali girl. My
parents were very religious, and they held Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja in
the house, with the mantras chanted by my own father, the local kids and myself
sitting in a semi circle as the fragrant smoke from the dhup dhuno made us
heady and sleepy at the same time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My parents did not know about
Mahjabeen.</div>
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*</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
School was a different kind of
place though. No one cared what kind of names we had or what community it made
one belong to. No one cared what our parents did. We all wore the same uniforms.
Purdah among Muslim women and girls was not common in Calcutta in that time. We
all looked the same. All brown limbs and white socks and black Cherry Blossom shined
shoes. Hair neatly parted at the center with two pony tails or plaits. There is
a certain strength in the innocent equality of the school uniform which makes
the wearers invincible to the twisted power of the political mind. We truly were
the incorruptibles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
December was pretty mild that
year. All sunshiny cool. One spends December afternoons sprawled on sunny
verandahs, dozing off as the warmth envelopes the body ever so subtly, like a
coy lover. Not for Calcutta December the bite of the cold or the pinch of the
sun. Our school afternoons didn’t provide us the luxury of a nap, of course,
but we would lounge during our tiffin break in the molten sunshine on our
school field and talk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Younger girls play, 14 year old
girls talk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We sat around this particular
afternoon, and talked amongst other things- like where to get good scrunchies
for our hair in Gariahat and our impending second terminal exams- about
Ayodhya. We lazily moved from one topic to another and gently landed on this
one, with the easy camaraderie of childhood, without a thought about what
religion meant to the adults. That did not matter in our little slice of
Utopia. Little did I know then, in the safe warm hands of authority and
schoolgirl-hood, that this would be one of the last days of life as we would
know it, as <i>I</i> would know it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Those days, a lot of us were not
allowed to watch TV at home, but we had read in the morning newspapers of the
Kar Sevaks who had entered that city in thousands, hundreds of thousands. Most
of them did not know why they were there. But trouble was brewing, and even we
knew that this kind of trouble was like a long line of dominoes lined all
across the country, north to south, east to west, poised, ready for that one
little push. Mahjabeen never talked much in company, she preferred to stay in
the shadows but that day she repeated hearsay from her neighbourhood. People
were afraid she said. She said “people” but what she really meant was the
Muslims. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Was she starting to get afraid as
well? Even while being surrounded by us, her closest friends, was she beginning
to feel the strain? Had she started seeing us differently already?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
That afternoon, on the way back
home, I got down with her at her stop. Bus dada shouted at me but I said I had
work and my mom was informed. He shouted ‘I’ll ask her’. ‘Yes’, I said, ‘you do
that, dada’. Laughter bubbled out of us even as we tried to be serious. Then we
ran off giggling into the lane which led to the phuchka stall. Down the road, close
to the phuchka stand, was a straggly grass plot which went by the name of
“park”. We had time to kill that afternoon. I had saved almost half an hour by
getting down at her stop. We sat there and talked. I don’t remember now what we
talked about. She had always known how to make me laugh, but that day I laughed
so much, I almost rolled over from the bench to the ground. She looked radiant,
a glorious smile on her face, the kind of smile of a friend who knows what
makes friendship work, and is successful in doing just that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was Saturday, the 5<sup>th</sup>
of December, 1992.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sunday dawned like any other day,
but it was a day which would be marked down in the history of a nation. It was
the day when a handful of men would start something horrific, something which
would spew so much hatred, for so many days, in every corner of the country,
that it seemed unbelievable till that moment. From 6 am, madness reigned
supreme in the city which was supposedly the birthplace of one of our most
revered immortals known for his righteousness. By 5 pm, the dust finally
settled on the rubble of what was previously an obscure mosque, to loud cries
of “Mandir Yahin Banaenge”. And thus started a cycle of destruction around the
country which would take lives, which would break families and friendships and
hearts. All for a few piles of bricks and stones. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Lives lost have no religion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In distant Mumbai, one day later,
a young boy of 17 was trying to reach his workplace in Bhendi Bazar when he
found himself suddenly surrounded by a large group of people. He got carried by
the crowd for some distance and then slowly started to move away. He wanted
nothing to do with the mobs. He was there to work and he wanted to just reach
the shop and start his day. As he started to get some distance between him and
them, he suddenly felt as if his skin had caught on fire. He screamed. He
clawed at the left side of his face where something came out in his hands. It
took him a few excruciating seconds to realise he was pulling out his own
flesh. The fire spread down his neck and on to his left arm and stomach and
groin. He had been drenched in acid thrown from some distance- an acid bomb
which had gone haywire, which hit him, just as he was about to get into his
shop. He collapsed screaming in pain on to the pavement, writhing in agony.
People were screaming all around him, running in all directions, he could hear
everything, he could feel feet pounding the pavement by his ear, even his acid
burnt ear. The sounds seemed to recede slowly, much too slowly, into the
horizon of his consciousness. He had passed out.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Later someone had brought him to
a hospital. He was alive but severely burnt on one side of the body. Gangrene
had set in on his left arm. As the doctors argued whether to amputate, the 17
years of son, brother, collage of dreams, collection of hopes, just ceased to
be.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I learnt some new terms in the
winter of 1992. “Curfew” was one of them. “Section 144” was another. The latter
meant I couldn’t meet friends. The former meant school was closed. It also
meant being home bound, an uncalled for holiday, I couldn’t decide whether to
dislike it or love it. We didn’t have a phone in the house yet. And even if we
had, Mahjabeen would definitely not. So it hardly mattered. How I missed
phuchka, I was addicted to the sourbomb in a way only a 14 year old could be.
But things were bound to get back to normal sooner or later.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When school restarted in January,
I couldn’t wait to go back to our old routine. Curfew had been lifted during
the day, life around us was limping to normal. So when I didn’t see Mahjabeen
on the bus the first day I thought, perhaps she was ill. Or maybe her parents
were the over cautious sort. By the third day I was worried. When curfew lifted
completely and still she didn’t come, I knew something had to be very wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What could I do though? I had
never been to her house. I didn’t know her address. It never came up, the need
to know each other’s houses. We already had our meeting places, our clandestine
rendezvous point. I went there after school, waited there many a day. Desperate
for some news, I finally ended up at our phuchka stall, asked the man if he
knew where my friend lived. He pointed toward a cluster of homes; he had seen
her walk that way. With that information I went snooping. Finally someone
pointed out her house to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The one storied yellow building
was nudged between two similar houses. Its tiny front door opened right on to the
road, no gardens for the poorer sort. It was green once upon a time, now it was
just blistered and brownish with green paint flaking at the edges. There was no
doorbell. Instead, a large round iron ring hung on the double doors. I held on
to it and tried to shake it so it would make a sound, but it just ended up
creating a dull thud which didn’t even match up to the way my heart was
beating. But someone was moving inside scuffling towards the door. The door
opened and standing there was Mahjabeen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What can I say about how she looked?
She was wearing a salwar kameez, her long hair open but straggly as if she
hadn’t found the time to wash it for weeks. She looked grown, her face drawn,
like a woman who had had her share of fights with life and it had defeated her.
Her eyes had dark circles. Her skin which used to be so flawless and the envy
of all her friends was blotchy, and looked so akin to sand paper that I reached
my fingers up to touch her cheek. She flinched. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Why are you here, she asked me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You’re not coming to school, I
said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
How did you find the house.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You know how much I like Tintin,
I did some detective work- I tried to make a joke. My laughter died on my lips
even before it had started. Her dry chapped lips did not move a bit into the
smile I had anticipated. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What happened Mahjabeen, are you
not well? I asked then. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She came out and closed the door
behind her. Let’s walk to the park she said. We sat on the bench, our bench. Or
she sat, and asked me to sit. The shy girl, who would be led into everything,
was now doing the leading. I could not believe it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My brother is dead, she flatly
said.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The phuchkas stopped. I would
make it to her house when I could. The silences between us were unbearable. I
would go. She would come out. We would walk to the park and sit. I would try to
tell her about school. She did not even feign interest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I would come home and cry. She
was my best friend. She had shut me out completely from her life. It was like I
didn’t exist for her anymore. Yes I was selfish in feeling left out of her
mind, but I was a child then and what did I know. Now I wish I could have done
things differently. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I wish I had listened to her
more, spoke a little less. I probably would not have lost a friend then. Or
maybe I would have, no matter what I did. Perhaps, by then, she had already
removed herself from me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If ever I could go back and stop
to turn a moment into eternity, it would be the day I defied my parents to
spend some extra time with her. The day she made me laugh so much that my
stomach hurt. I wish I could freeze time right there, me doubling over with
laughter, looking up at her, she looking down on me, with that satisfied,
angelic smile on her face, knowing she had just given her best friend a memory
to cherish her whole life long.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There is no distance on this
earth as far away as yesterday.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The last time I met her, I asked
her when she would come back to school, she finally told me she would not. And
she said she could not meet me anymore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Why I asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I cant do this anymore she said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Why why why, I shouted at her. I
did not kill your brother. Why are you punishing <i>me</i>, I cried.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This whole world killed by
brother, Gauri. She said. And you are part of this world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Then she got up and walked away.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-28100884869865289482015-08-10T19:44:00.000+05:302015-08-12T13:06:13.448+05:30A Pokemon Birthday Party for Eight Year Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
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This year I had hoped to skip the birthday party thing altogether but NOOOO, the little monkey not only wanted a party, she wanted a "POKEMON" party, which I realised in a few short moments, was one of the most difficult to plan for. There is very little on the net on Pokemon parties, and even less in the market. So no party theme decor, or plates or even return gifts. </div>
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Even worse was, she wanted a PINATA.</div>
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<b>Pikachu Pinata:</b></div>
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Now pinata is not an Indian thing and is not available cheap in India. Online one can get it at exorbitant prices. However, there are tutorials on both youtoube.com and on the web one can follow and even if one is not crafty (I am not, believe me), and you are desperate enough to make one, you can make it quite easily. I will post a full tutorial on the pinata soon but here I am giving a brief on how to prepare a Pikachu Pinata which looks (almost like!!) Pikachu. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXchYH4QYKym4nVQ9H7tHcftHM5wRvn6pYTFa_mbjgfE_02NqKmr8oyMUkfpfG2eLkwGQI55azJD3B_hZin9TiRunjaCV68a1Fa_Btv_BmHZEACnuE6OKgPIqaC_ju7ZixfVNbWiMN02K/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXchYH4QYKym4nVQ9H7tHcftHM5wRvn6pYTFa_mbjgfE_02NqKmr8oyMUkfpfG2eLkwGQI55azJD3B_hZin9TiRunjaCV68a1Fa_Btv_BmHZEACnuE6OKgPIqaC_ju7ZixfVNbWiMN02K/s200/IMG_1142.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKUsx3aMIul_AkT3WS0M4c7mcw0BfBxUszFnGSD7W4zpEXrilxyX6p12q7_2FMhT10ZXasTc1Mo9xEh8TuKvG9VAuBgsYkDr4j_8bedyWxbiE57jWoXSQ5SKOLrs9griHQv7f7FwatK5W/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKUsx3aMIul_AkT3WS0M4c7mcw0BfBxUszFnGSD7W4zpEXrilxyX6p12q7_2FMhT10ZXasTc1Mo9xEh8TuKvG9VAuBgsYkDr4j_8bedyWxbiE57jWoXSQ5SKOLrs9griHQv7f7FwatK5W/s200/IMG_1143.JPG" width="200" /></a>
<li>You need- A balloon or inflatable ball, newspaper, flour and water for glue, yellow crepe paper, black red and white chart paper. Plenty of candy and knick knacks for fillers. </li>
<li>I used a balloon, but for either Pikachu or for a Pokeball Pinata, it is better to use an inflatable beach ball or a cheap plastic inflatable ball to get a round shape and because the balloon may burst before the casing dries. </li>
<li>The first thing is to prepare home made gum from atta/ plain flour and water. Just mix at 1:1 proportion and heat it up to mix well. Then cool it down. Change consistency if required adding more water. Make sure it comes to a glue consistency. </li>
<li>Tear newspaper into strips. On the balloon/ ball, paste the strips lengthwise from the tied end to the round end, after dipping them in paste. Make sure the strips overlie on one another, there should be no gaps. It is a messy affair so make sure you are sitting on the floor or in a place you can clean easily and on plenty of newspapers. Put two-three layers of strips. Let it harden overnight. My balloon burst twice. The first time the strips were all wet and the casing didnt stay, but second time, it was almost dry and I just put another balloon inside and blew it up to keep the shape. </li>
<li>Once the casing is dry just burst the balloon and take it out.Where there were gaps I put sellotape. It wont be seen so you need not be worried about looks at this point. </li>
<li>Then I cut yellow crepe paper into strips and cut fringes. The fringes went around the casing. Then just stick eyes and mouth and ears, according to Pikachu pictures on the net. </li>
<li>String ropes or strong string on top to hang. Our Pinata did not survive the pulling by the children and no one got to beat it up, so make sure you have at least 3 layers of paper, if not more and make the holes for the string extra strong with tape. Dont worry about looks, it wont be seen and it will be down in no time anyway.</li>
</ul>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>The Invite:</b> </b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
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Came from an online printable. There are a few good one available on the net and this one had the means for me to print out the name and address etc directly on the laptop.</div>
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<a href="http://halegrafx.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/free-pokemon-invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://halegrafx.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/free-pokemon-invitation.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Decor: </b></div>
was very generic. Plain or polka dotted yellow and red paper plates and glasses, and napkins. An old black bed sheet used as a table cloth and red, yellow and black balloons. I didnt want to waste too much printer ink on the banner so I bought a general colourful birthday banner. I also prepared some cut out pokemon characters from chart paper, after printing them. The little stuffed Pikachu was bought for the "Pass the Pikachu" game.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4po11YkijyZefheNvSktYUSfPGdvoWrd2FCQGP2eCpQzhtNwdkizcueZ2PysXd6Csl7t4htrTHhAdGxHV6Fi9VsvjoVlZPlsOPsJn3JbHyIS5AvjL2_3zNh24iPZlgYMj962m-VT2jXqh/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4po11YkijyZefheNvSktYUSfPGdvoWrd2FCQGP2eCpQzhtNwdkizcueZ2PysXd6Csl7t4htrTHhAdGxHV6Fi9VsvjoVlZPlsOPsJn3JbHyIS5AvjL2_3zNh24iPZlgYMj962m-VT2jXqh/s320/IMG_1152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlcxBLiDuyNuJv8jSqTSVDp1uNXiPjs3U7yQ7KHeDXRgFss32URvsy3wFmOwcAyRNaMA7Cknmr_Plx65rWwy6G9HD7P28xd11vSFiVsYzDTVB-0hNkfacIFhDmaUVCFJKZjrsT58poxcj/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlcxBLiDuyNuJv8jSqTSVDp1uNXiPjs3U7yQ7KHeDXRgFss32URvsy3wFmOwcAyRNaMA7Cknmr_Plx65rWwy6G9HD7P28xd11vSFiVsYzDTVB-0hNkfacIFhDmaUVCFJKZjrsT58poxcj/s200/IMG_1151.JPG" width="200" /></a><b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><u>The Games: </u></b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<b>Count the Pokeballs: </b>At the entrance I had a case with pokeballs which the children and to count. I made note of their number on a paper. During dinner I announced the winner (there were two who counted correctly and made an exact guess). I made the pokeballs by buying small plastic balls in the market and making the pokeball symbol on it by black permanent marker. It looks better if one does it with ping pong balls. I did not get ping pong balls. You will get tutorials to make pokeballs with ping pong balls on the net.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Colouring pages:</b> I had put out some Pokemon colouring pages, prints I had taken from freely available printables on the net. What I didnt foresee what that some of the colouring pages would be a hit and there would quite a demand for them. So have a variety ready. This works to fill the time when all the kids are not there for the party yet. Keep crayons and colour pencils handy. For smaller children this is also a very good way to start off. They usually enjoy colouring and some of them are quite knowledgeable about Pokemon characters. Keep extra to stuff into their goody bags. Makes for cheap (free actually if you dont count the paper and the ink) return gifts.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItxGCpqn77MJHWfCd6q8RbgQjkEqjKQsou-23uz3ab19-9mu-PRtLHE0KLnOyM1QZocKVphbQ-k_asVmudDaBNzeP1RSfhen-Ee8J-vJUv8k2p0cGaWIqZ5pMsNJNwgDLHv1wAWnoPy8e/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItxGCpqn77MJHWfCd6q8RbgQjkEqjKQsou-23uz3ab19-9mu-PRtLHE0KLnOyM1QZocKVphbQ-k_asVmudDaBNzeP1RSfhen-Ee8J-vJUv8k2p0cGaWIqZ5pMsNJNwgDLHv1wAWnoPy8e/s200/IMG_1155.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>Pin the tail on Pikachu:</b> This is a very fun game for children of all ages. I pasted yellow chart paper on black in the shape of Pikachu and added eyes and other details. Cut out tails for all kids and wrote the names on each tail. The kids were then blindfolded and asked to pin the tail. Closest tail won and farthest tail got a consolation prize!<br />
<br />
<b>Pass the Pikachu:</b> Required- a small stuff toy Pikachu. The children sat in a circle and I played music on my phone for this game. With rowdy kids one needs to keep a bit of discipline, but otherwise this game is a lot of fun for kids of all ages.<br />
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By this time it was time to cut the cake, and the pizzas had arrived. The cake was also Pokemon themed of course. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB16lRj0VyhBjW0m-Li4t1ujJpQK7iDqNVxonS0Y72LlRt0nVI2nJvVryD_xoZBYdEvuN3g_R6CXb1YH-ga74927-AkAmjWOQIPH7YCCsZW3JD-cSySVGhaCkBAH-LXBwyZiTmoR8xQHvK/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB16lRj0VyhBjW0m-Li4t1ujJpQK7iDqNVxonS0Y72LlRt0nVI2nJvVryD_xoZBYdEvuN3g_R6CXb1YH-ga74927-AkAmjWOQIPH7YCCsZW3JD-cSySVGhaCkBAH-LXBwyZiTmoR8xQHvK/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD05-JE4X9b4fziXCWnBx1Rw4VKbp5ooB9LaEaIe5l_Yfs78iQVxIPHVzoUXnWPs8jsRiWte0DbyLbxFUSjUdpqsDO0CNxvGhgrwtq1UDzzqtwAVmAyLrcDgf0uo6q07O7NfEMeiNliIqg/s1600/IMG_1154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD05-JE4X9b4fziXCWnBx1Rw4VKbp5ooB9LaEaIe5l_Yfs78iQVxIPHVzoUXnWPs8jsRiWte0DbyLbxFUSjUdpqsDO0CNxvGhgrwtq1UDzzqtwAVmAyLrcDgf0uo6q07O7NfEMeiNliIqg/s200/IMG_1154.JPG" width="200" /></a>After dinner, it was time for some active games which would have the kids up and expending their energy. So we had the Pikachu Stomp, where we filled the floor area with balloons and the kids had to stomp on them to burst them. This will not only get the children to jump around, something they do best, it is also one of the favourite games and tried and tested last year too. Get ready for a lot of noise and shouting, especially if you live in an apartment. Best to have some music and keep doors closed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg9N9Oh_rhNBuB6uYwBKsjuIG6r5N8eJV8vx_UzQ7SxAslMQ8mrVli6RaQCFKDfLTiF407CBk63eL8CYUXf2HMryOPcAyOuPsKdqWp2pyI4Sx27kxxz-kjkOAi1-cvXdEY3sJl5iV8JB5/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg9N9Oh_rhNBuB6uYwBKsjuIG6r5N8eJV8vx_UzQ7SxAslMQ8mrVli6RaQCFKDfLTiF407CBk63eL8CYUXf2HMryOPcAyOuPsKdqWp2pyI4Sx27kxxz-kjkOAi1-cvXdEY3sJl5iV8JB5/s200/IMG_1177.JPG" width="150" /></a><b>Pokemon Bowling:</b> I have a longish corridor in the house and I also have an old toy bowling set of my daughters, which served as a perfect tool for a bowling game. Which child does not like bowling. Just to make it relevant to the theme, I printed and stuck the evil Pokemon on them. What was supposed to be two rounds of bowling, turned out to be never ending, until I had to stop them because it was getting late and the Pinata was still left.</div>
<br />
We ended with the<b> Pinata.</b> As mentioned earlier, the moment it was hung up the children started pulling and pushing at it and before even one child could raise a bat, it was down and torn. When you have a pinata, be ready for the rush when it breaks. Have enough candy and dont keep anything segregated inside the pinata. Keep things anyone can grab and everyone can get some of.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAtd7SXeQImG9pW484VWeARk1xcG08LABgBGeE5h7vDy9THQppnG5kjNN5YeM3VWpjUXXikKrLr00R8JLMIIrNeGCfGHL-SguXoZ497oUrUdgyiXlZSpPS87jqSKZMyfBM6f3LuI6_UNg/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAtd7SXeQImG9pW484VWeARk1xcG08LABgBGeE5h7vDy9THQppnG5kjNN5YeM3VWpjUXXikKrLr00R8JLMIIrNeGCfGHL-SguXoZ497oUrUdgyiXlZSpPS87jqSKZMyfBM6f3LuI6_UNg/s200/IMG_1148.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>Gift Bags/ Goody Bags/ Party Favors: </b>I didnt get any paper bags in the market, so I got plastic bags and painted them with permanent marker.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://thispartystarted.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/POKEMON-BOOK-MARK-FAVORS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://thispartystarted.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/POKEMON-BOOK-MARK-FAVORS.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In it went<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>All the candy and toys from the pinata as well as prizes from the games (fun stationery, badges, etc)</li>
<li>Some stationery, stickers, home printed and laminated bookmarks, home printed coloring pages </li>
<li>Sketch pen sets </li>
<li>Water bottles (frozen and spiderman, children could choose). This was of course because I didnt get any Pokemon theme bottles, but then who does not love Frozen or superheroes.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cost in Rupees for 12 children:</b></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_RQDS-7gUWxC4M0DFc1JmNKyAnFuJL1nneN2EEBZBoiQOzMqNUnNeQRaAoHacjd3AGbm1a42PkRd3ULRSSyYrxZ4tJISLayPxAIU9DLieVElc6HB-4kcTXfrJjbC7Zb1GmKVom6yNJ-f/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_RQDS-7gUWxC4M0DFc1JmNKyAnFuJL1nneN2EEBZBoiQOzMqNUnNeQRaAoHacjd3AGbm1a42PkRd3ULRSSyYrxZ4tJISLayPxAIU9DLieVElc6HB-4kcTXfrJjbC7Zb1GmKVom6yNJ-f/s200/IMG_1153.JPG" width="200" /></a>Food and cake: 6000 (Pizza, drinks, chips, garlic bread, ice cream) We had adult guests too, so ordered extra food.<br />
Return gifts and prizes: 5000<br />
Candy and decor: 4000<br />
<br />
<b><u>Total cost: Rupees 15000</u></b> (approx, maybe a thousand or so more)<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-342949392319580312015-07-10T16:03:00.002+05:302015-07-10T16:09:33.829+05:307th Birthday Pirate Princess Party Treasure Hunt: Indoor Treasure Hunt (in Apartment)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As the dreaded time to plan for another birthday party approaches (monster is turning 8 next week) I dip into my resources and realise I have not written about the Treasure Hunt I had planned on monster's <a href="http://smellingorangesonwinterafternoons.blogspot.in/2014/07/how-to-throw-princess-pirates-party-for.html">7th Princess Pirate Birthday Bash</a>!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndsjGjiYnOZ9bjROaq7yufQ1wZYlYCkmk83_FiAdKjZm8tAabk-8-Xdki159oxTr64TSMC-UqTBo0Zt-htKhD33RjBjXBU4KC0V7FnZbqUtwAFlhjy1HITuQtnYD0KWBXt0j_5QcRkHLf/s1600/IMG_0805%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndsjGjiYnOZ9bjROaq7yufQ1wZYlYCkmk83_FiAdKjZm8tAabk-8-Xdki159oxTr64TSMC-UqTBo0Zt-htKhD33RjBjXBU4KC0V7FnZbqUtwAFlhjy1HITuQtnYD0KWBXt0j_5QcRkHLf/s200/IMG_0805%255B1%255D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
And I did promise to put it out there, more so because it was ingenious (if I may say so myself), held in a small apartment (in fact, perfect for a small apartment and 8-10 guests), and the kids enjoyed and remember it to this day! (Its true, on this year's invitation, one child actually asked me if I would arrange another treasure hunt like last year. God Bless you kiddo!)<br />
The first step to creating an indoor (or outdoor) Treasure Hunt is to determine your clue hiding places. Mine went like this:<br />
The kids were not divided into groups since there were only 8. They were to work as one team, and the TREASURE CHEST held all their goodie bag treasure!<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Here is the list of hiding places in order: Bookcase- fridge- cupboard- mirror image- sink- shoebox- microwave- bathroom- stairs- map to treasure chest hidden by the bed!</li>
<li>The first clue was one half (THE RIGHT SIDE which had no real graphics to speak of) of the TREASURE MAP and a Clue Card hidden inside a book on monster's book shelf. It was only one book shelf, so I left it to them to find the right book. The book shelf was a mess afterwards but it was worth it. More time spent and less time to plan other games in.</li>
</ul>
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<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBk5fopO1UExsDGDZp1HpJjaRVAo-TR7BJzqO17Wh5YAGx44m2h9Ni-Np8XCFRFOVLhvvwOz4nn3vmA9_4ox5Etnj_EPoiz-pnZRJBX9LhQtxG71NU8EqvGKUboUA505I2sPA12Bz_lgW/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBk5fopO1UExsDGDZp1HpJjaRVAo-TR7BJzqO17Wh5YAGx44m2h9Ni-Np8XCFRFOVLhvvwOz4nn3vmA9_4ox5Etnj_EPoiz-pnZRJBX9LhQtxG71NU8EqvGKUboUA505I2sPA12Bz_lgW/s200/map.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Clue 1:</b></div>
<div>
"The map is incomplete, just half</div>
<div>
Lets see if you are that smart</div>
<div>
Where it is very very cold inside, is CLUE 2</div>
<div>
This is only just the start."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Clue 1 from BOOK SHELF led to the FRIDGE of course!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Inside the fridge I had kept the <b>key to the clothes cupboard</b> in the bedroom tied to a clue card. They had to try the key in all the locks to see which cupboard would open!</li>
</ul>
<b>Clue 2:</b><br />
"You have found the key<br />
To the secret place<br />
To give CLUE 3<br />
So off you race!"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uFUrJD4Hy-dQ59tCeQadtrylERrybXQGu33KRHrAtKn6k_4koewc-DX5_oDGi_g24chIUcnq0od9u13_iD5NJ8hc6cFuCGr1C6ySYsj60Bc7YJWd5vtpN2OaoVUpD9od32FLtW876SiF/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uFUrJD4Hy-dQ59tCeQadtrylERrybXQGu33KRHrAtKn6k_4koewc-DX5_oDGi_g24chIUcnq0od9u13_iD5NJ8hc6cFuCGr1C6ySYsj60Bc7YJWd5vtpN2OaoVUpD9od32FLtW876SiF/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
It led to the CLOTHES CUPBOARD<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The CUPBOARD had the chocolate coins for their goody bags and Clue Card 3 which was a mirror image and had to be read through a MIRROR. </li>
</ul>
<b>Clue 3:</b><br />
"Mirror on the wall<br />
Will give to you<br />
The hiding place<br />
Of your next clue"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnM_Z_924-1bB6mSv7hGP3OTM2PYEpaeXt0OlLNqFXkdh6VJIHhUssYn6Kt3294HLp4CB01NMwicKAHkO1KPsUGKm9LgyWyEfJDIJ4atF4IdJBAhLeH3XJzmdOJPM6yeAyQcJ1gjQuleu/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnM_Z_924-1bB6mSv7hGP3OTM2PYEpaeXt0OlLNqFXkdh6VJIHhUssYn6Kt3294HLp4CB01NMwicKAHkO1KPsUGKm9LgyWyEfJDIJ4atF4IdJBAhLeH3XJzmdOJPM6yeAyQcJ1gjQuleu/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a>The text below read "under the KITCHEN SINK." (Of course the clue cards were much better made. This is just the planning page and one year old at that. Do excuse the poor photo quality due to the crumpled pages.)<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The KITCHEN SINK which also had a bag of chocolates, led to the SHOE RACK. It had a small picture puzzle.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Clue 4:</b><br />
<br />
"Solve the puzzle if you dare<br />
Your next clue is hidden there"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-9s8rjHmNTB9pRRk6UJWpWW4RnhtKPyAwC9_P0cZaOQqYtjmSHKH_iwI_niMsU8b6NEvwS9ReGjl-dF7Zc0CVvUr1falXXDZHmoSuAWwChCqPvxFjH0jwzRVMGoPE0PIPJMhLrYYQ5Lu/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-9s8rjHmNTB9pRRk6UJWpWW4RnhtKPyAwC9_P0cZaOQqYtjmSHKH_iwI_niMsU8b6NEvwS9ReGjl-dF7Zc0CVvUr1falXXDZHmoSuAWwChCqPvxFjH0jwzRVMGoPE0PIPJMhLrYYQ5Lu/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The SHOE RACK had temporary pirate tattoos for their goody bags and </li>
</ul>
<b>Clue 5:</b><br />
"To get to your next clue<br />
You have to work a bit<br />
Cross all the 'X' and the 'U'<br />
And see what is left"<br />
<br />
The clue card had a word puzzle with 'X's and 'U's to be crossed out to reveal the word MICROWAVE<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYtswx1MxVXA18YvETFi7R3MYYjX-GAj1C_oKK85p6WyqGbgzf-TtxcCIkzDLogLKCtB6S5kurnxwL8LtWgp5oLT2k3i4NR61zHBa0HJMpVQ_tfevmgIvC_m_Oj4NQNRnno2CdFJ_M6la/s1600/IMG_0813%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYtswx1MxVXA18YvETFi7R3MYYjX-GAj1C_oKK85p6WyqGbgzf-TtxcCIkzDLogLKCtB6S5kurnxwL8LtWgp5oLT2k3i4NR61zHBa0HJMpVQ_tfevmgIvC_m_Oj4NQNRnno2CdFJ_M6la/s200/IMG_0813%255B1%255D.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>In the MICROWAVE along with bookmarks for their goodybag had a code to work out. Numbers were given to alphabets and they had to work out the word.</li>
</ul>
<b><b>Clue 6:</b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeojsyApvsuyMvRB56uo4NTgOa2Y7ps6DmdV-yRf7vMHHPxldPyj2_DTNj9gaSIolyQHdOqUFb9yyNmXBaa3HiO2OKjuSpcgYPNoGarV20u3XCH_TdsZRt0HJ1obwK7h-pNiPJfr4rJc6/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeojsyApvsuyMvRB56uo4NTgOa2Y7ps6DmdV-yRf7vMHHPxldPyj2_DTNj9gaSIolyQHdOqUFb9yyNmXBaa3HiO2OKjuSpcgYPNoGarV20u3XCH_TdsZRt0HJ1obwK7h-pNiPJfr4rJc6/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
"Use the code<br />
Dont be slow<br />
This is where<br />
The waters flow"<br />
<br />
The code spelled out BATHROOM of course, and the brighter kids got it even without working out the clue, so I should have made it a little less obvious.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The next clue under the BATHROOM SINK led outside the apartment to the STAIRCASE</li>
</ul>
<b>Clue 7:</b><br />
"The treasure map is still incomplete<br />
The second half has to be found<br />
Go OUT and look in the place<br />
Where people walk UP AND DOWN"<br />
<br />
This clue had no graphics since it was self explanatory!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtZWWE2tJYqV7Z0Nmw_Q5TyeDH63HnaToZ85yqLQsdDJWgiRg5JMWgfN_DgpqKiz7ruTd3jvWG5FPrBi5609HwpjYOZYVE8dOMsMkDEyhUgLxoNjqh4Ik2WsTmWYg4ocKQO1duorlQEIK/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtZWWE2tJYqV7Z0Nmw_Q5TyeDH63HnaToZ85yqLQsdDJWgiRg5JMWgfN_DgpqKiz7ruTd3jvWG5FPrBi5609HwpjYOZYVE8dOMsMkDEyhUgLxoNjqh4Ik2WsTmWYg4ocKQO1duorlQEIK/s1600/map.jpg" /></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The STAIRCASE banister had SECOND HALF of the TREASURE MAP tied to it</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The kids had to read the map and reach the hiding place of the TREASURE CHEST (a simple basket with goodies inside) on one corner of the bedroom, hidden cleverly by the bed!</li>
</ul>
<div>
There, my masterpiece of planning!! Hope you enjoyed it as much as the kids. Whew!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-18270889480441611302015-05-18T12:03:00.002+05:302015-05-18T12:03:40.652+05:30Book Review: The Book of Fate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is what I look for when I read a book from an alien culture. An insider look into the culture, the people, the politics, the daily struggles of the common man (or woman), the pawns in the hands of the politicians.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/entertainment/books/2013/08/05/the_book_of_fate_by_parinoush_saniee_review/bookoffate_coverhr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/entertainment/books/2013/08/05/the_book_of_fate_by_parinoush_saniee_review/bookoffate_coverhr.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
Massoumeh is the common Everywoman. All the men in her life, unfortunately are decision makers who are on a higher moral ground by dint of not just being her father, or brothers, husband or sons, but because they are representatives of the forces of "Government". While the realm itself is a force to reckon with, playing with her loved ones, playing with her life at every step, at every turn.<br />
Westerners are appalled at the treatment the teen Massoum receives at the hands of her brothers. They perhaps do not know that in many countries, Muslim or Hindu or otherwise, girls are still property, held in the fathers house under the protection of father and brothers to be transferred to the husband on marriage. At least Massoum's father was on her side. Many girls do not have that. Honour killings are still heard of (and maybe some not heard of) in many outlying areas in this part of the world.<br />
While she marries into a household which encourages her to study and become independent, her husband, so modern, so enlightened, is still a representative of another type of government, maybe a revolutionary with ideals, but ideals which would not change anything once they come to power. At the end Massoum feels what is true for every common person, it does not matteer who comes to power- the ground reality remains the same. And even with vaulted ideals, one group would not stop from decimating the other group. This is what massoum does not understand. Hers is the understanding of a bright young mind, unaccustomed to politics.<br />
While the book is gripping till the end, the last few chapters is a let down. It becomes too predictable and then the conflict between mother and sons are not well etched out. At least the son who has been exposed to western cultures should have said something different. But he still says the same thing as the traditional son does. Also, why does Massoud, the sensitive, kind hearted son, not understand his mother more? It is not quite fathomable. It is as if after building all the characters for 9 tenth of the book, in the last tenth part Sainee lets go of what they stand for. Massoum however, does not disappoint. I would be more satisfied if she took the decision on her own accord, rather than be bullied into it by her sons. She ends up being the pawn even at a personal level and not just on a metaphorical level.<br />
However, it is a book which everyone interested in different countries and cultures should read. And this cover does not suit the book... a different cover showing a landscape or rebellion or even a painting should have sufficed. Massoum is not a face, especially not this face.<br />
<br /></div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-80629579454941010192015-03-11T11:19:00.001+05:302015-03-11T11:19:03.560+05:30I am India's Daughter and this is MY story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Today I read a blog with the same title and thought, why not continue this like a chain. Let every India's daughter have a say... good or bad. We all have experiences that count to make it the country that it is. I also read today about how an Indian student was not accepted to a research course because he comes from the "Indian rape culture". I also read today about some money exchange between Leslee Udwin, the Ford Foundation, the rapist on death row etc. I have been reading for some days stories from both sides of the coin- the people who believe the documentary is all well and those who think it is, even if in part, unfair to Indians to be portrayed thus to the world. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Cant say I care about the ban. The ban means anyone with access to social media can watch the documentary, but the man (or woman) who, may be, needs a mirror put up in front of his/her soul, will not be able to watch it and be shamed. The victims parents deserve to have their story told. The victim deserves to be known as a symbol of the modern Indian woman stepping out of boundaries to face the world with head held high. The growing tree cut down too soon, brutally. The ban is totally misplaced.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
What is required is a balanced counter view, to say to the world that the documentary is one sided. Very one sided. The story of the friend who got beaten up, and stood by the victim till help arrived... who tried everything he could till the end, that didnt catch the world's imagination. He is an Indian Man too.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
So this is my story.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
I am the elder of two sisters. My grandmother, a double MA, taught me there was science behind every tradition, whether it is fasting, or not entering the puja room during ones periods. Only we make a tradition into a hard and fast rule, is what I learnt. Once one sees the base science behind it, one can make a decision about following a rule or not. My grandfather was the one who told me, an idol is a doll till it is worshipped and life is breathed into it. Again, this gave us sisters the freedom to choose to follow our own spiritual paths; even though our family is very religious, we both turned out to be black sheep in this respect. Not that all was rosy, my grandparents were huge traditionalists. But they gave us enough brain fodder to question those traditions ourselves.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
My parents were not trying to bring us up like sons. And neither were they trying to bring us up like daughters. We were just children, and not once did I feel otherwise. We were taught to play sports AND to sing. To cycle AND to draw. It did not enter our minds till puberty that we were girls and should or should not behave in a certain way. We were groomed to become engineers, only neither of us wanted that.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
I had cousin brothers with whom I played rough and tumble from childhood. My elder cousin taught me to ride a bike... in secret, so he wouldnt be scolded. When I fell and scraped my knee and his bike was dented, we cooked up stories and laughed about them. My younger cousin brother knew I was better than him in writing and knew he was better than me in chess. My elder brother who joined the army is still my hero, who always told me the world was my oyster and I should never 'settle'! There was never any sense of privilege in any brother or sister as we grew up. We were all equal in each others eyes. At least I never felt otherwise. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Growing up in a coeducation environment, I have had friends who were boys, from my childhood and I still do. Never once did I feel unequal to them. The competition was fierce during exams between close friends. If one got better marks at one subject I had to get better in another. And no, math or literature was not part of that equation. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
My college friends were as much there to smoke together in the common room, as they were to protect us returning very late at night from the college fest. My boss right now runs a company overridden by women, and has always championed equality in the workplace.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Today I have a daughter of my own and I feel hurt when I see her surroundings so full of sexism and chavinism. We strive to tell her every day that she can do whatever she puts her mind to, NOT whatever a boy can. We dont want her to realise she is a girl till she attains puberty. She should play football as well as with her barbie dolls. Maths is her favourtie subject.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Today I just work part time to take care of our child in an alien city. My husband would be happiest if I were the bread earner and he could play a more inclusive role in his daughters upbringing. By the way, he would never enter the kitchen, but he never asks me to, either. He does not wash his clothes but he does not want me washing clothes either. It is not my JOB to do the housekeeping or the laundry. Its just the roles we have assumed because his career went way better than mine. He would suck at housework, I do very well in it thank you. And in our long time together, there has been no discussions about what clothes I wear, where I go for work or to unwind, or about changing my surname. Not once, not ever.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Only when I am late, he wants me to call and tell him how i am returning, give him the taxi number and details. In school, my dad threw a fit if I returned after 9 pm. As a young woman, my male friends I would be out with, wanted every girl to inform them of the taxi or auto registration number and sometimes the drivers name. Every male friend would walk me to the bus stop and see me safely inside the metro. My boss would never allow me to go home in an unregistered cab even if it meant I would have to wait till midnight till someone was available to drop me.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
Which brings me to the point of the documentary. There are people out there who we have to stay safe from. Any woman who travels by public transport would have at least one horror story to relate, as have I. They are there in every country, every city. In a male dominated society, where most men see their women being mistreated from their childhood, economic hardships mean they become hardened criminals with inhuman, twisted, abnormal mindsets. Maybe this country has hundreds of men like that.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
But there are also hundreds of men who protest in the street shoulder to shoulder with their female counterparts in Delhi or Mumbai. There are those men who wear skirts to show solidarity with women in Bangalore. There are students in Kolkata who overthrow deans in protest against their friend being molested. There are those men living in slums who work double shifts to educate their daughters in English medium schools (yes, my maid's husband does). For every man who beats his wife there are five who encourage them to finish their education.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
It is not that we should not weed out the scum. Shame the wrong doers, the wrong thinkers, punish them. Hang the monsters out there twice over. But for the sake of my father, brothers, male friends, husband and thousands like them in this country, dont create propaganda that says, even covertly, every man is like THIS or like THAT. This country does not need another ban. This country needs to change mindsets, one chauvinist-misogynist at a time. This country needs to weed out the thought that a daughter is ill fate, that a woman not in the house is a threat to their manhood and power, and that requires not just education... that needs upliftment of a whole section of society from the degrading poverty they are living in.</div>
</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-90608368782019028722014-11-13T23:08:00.003+05:302014-11-13T23:08:41.151+05:30Letting go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It is easy to go on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Just place one foot in front of the other</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Walk on by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The stars shine more brightly tonight</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My work here is done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You may think you are broken but you are whole</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You are the eagle soaring high above every living soul</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You are above, you are below and all around, encompassing everything</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You are the laughter of a child, the tear of a bride, the wrinkle on old skin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You are beauty, you are truth, you are light</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You are love. There was nothing ever more bright.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It is easy to carry on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A kind word should not bring tears to the eye, but that will take time</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Curling up into a ball feels just so right</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Get up from the bed, look in the mirror and actually see yourself</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Are you hiding your cry? Oh you do that perfectly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So what if your eyes betray your pain after a few hours</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The sun will shine tomorrow but now it brings rain showers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The flowers have wilted, those flowers which were supposed to bloom</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On that abandoned tree which survived anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I had come to bring you home</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lead you through a path strewn with petals and dreams</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My feet, they have bled from treading on thorns</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But they look as beautifully red as the flowers I have walked on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I had come to make you whole</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You, who had led your life in parts all along</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I held your hands even when you let go</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And now I see you are getting ready to fly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The stars shine more brightly tonight</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My work here is done.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-18928985474512512622014-11-03T10:19:00.000+05:302014-11-03T10:23:11.997+05:30Thoughts on Depression<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I was reading out the first chapter of my supposed novel out to my husband and he says that I am very negative. I cant write happy stuff. I had a look at my poetry posted on this blog and I find them all dark. In the very first job interview, the HR head of a company had asked me what I write... I had told him two of my short stories and he said- you write very sad stories. Someone who does not like me might even comment that I seem to be perpetually depressed.<br />
Well I do seem so, dont I. But truth is, I am basically a very happy person. Very pessimistic but happy. I am happy in my own company, which very few people can say of themselves. I am a thinker. I used to be a brooder, but with age, I have less reasons to brood and more reasons to worry. So the things I think about are mostly like- what would be my Booker acceptance speech. Which is to say, I am ambitious in my thoughts if not in my actions. And that I am not even always pessimistic.<br />
Being pessimistic also gives me an unique advantage. If good things happen, I have given myself the leverage to be pleasantly surprised. If <i>bad </i> things happen, I am always in a position to say <i>I knew it!!</i><br />
Truth is, I have stayed with depression almost all my life. However, every time, I think of depression as some kind of maze which I have to find a way out of. It is a challenge but I keep trying. Maybe that has been possible because I have never been acutely or severely depressed, It is more of a sense of extreme sadness and hopelessness when I tend to let go of my perfectionist nature for a bit and sleep all round the clock. But there had come a time in my life when I had needed medical intervention. The pills the shrink gave me, which I took for 3 months, I call them my 'happy pills', did a lot to accelerate the process of coming out of my maze. Then I decided to stop taking the anti depressants and I have not needed them since.<br />
I have often wondered about how people commit suicide. What is that darkness which makes them think that it is better to head towards the absolute unknown, to cease to exist, to jump into a chasm with no end in sight. It is like standing on a 1000 foot tall chimney ledge, with just enough standing room and strong winds, where you cant see the ground. Your situation is unenviable, no doubt. On the outer side you have a ladder. You can climb down in precarious conditions. It is hard, but the ladder will take you to the ground you cant yet see. On the other side you have a jump into darkness. You know nothing of whats inside the chimney. It is pitch black, it may take you infinitely down once you jump. But you prefer to jump anyway because you dont want to take the trouble to climb down into the light?? I dont understand that.<br />
I have often wondered if killing themselves, for some, are not about their ego. I know of someone who had tried swallowing pills once. She was taking professional help dealing with her schizophrenia, but she was a student who was doing well, had friends and was not in a stage of life where it poses big problems. She survived, but it set me wondering why she would do it, other than to gain attention. That I suppose is also a big reason. Like you hear of Lady Diana throwing herself off stairs, cutting her wrists etc, and surviving at the precipice every time. It is a call for help, it is a call for attention. It is a sign for worse things to come unless help is given or taken.<br />
I am glad to say writing... <i>and </i>reading... helps. Even googling 'depression' and reading about it helps. We should try that more. We should help ourselves when we feel the world is not helping. One thing is clear. We must never never ever waste the light to choose jumping into the darkness. The light is too dear, too joyful, too hopeful, to give it a miss for the one last time... every time.</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-50805108746127099892014-09-09T09:10:00.000+05:302014-09-09T09:10:06.601+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There it is.<br />
In the white glittering skin of twisted emaciated bodies.<br />
Hanging from silvery trees<br />
Swaying gently in an icy breeze<br />
Death<br />
As it came to me in my dream that night.<br />
<br />
And then in the cold feet of the old man<br />
As I touched one last time unable to find<br />
The man I knew just half a day ago.<br />
<br />
In the life that went before it arrived<br />
Known only by me, felt only in me<br />
Left. And left devastation in its wake.<br />
<br />
Death. Black Death. Absence of all light. All around me now.<br />
Every child taken is mine<br />
If not mine, seen through these eyes, become mine.<br />
Cant escape anymore the swaying ashen bodies of my dream<br />
Keep running into me whichever turn I take<br />
Death<br />
Following me faster than I can flee<br />
I can feel its cold white hand almost upon my shoulder.</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-88967789489949265512014-08-22T16:37:00.001+05:302014-08-22T17:41:25.097+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Toss a coin in the fountain of wishes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put a lock on the bridge of love and drop the key into the
Seine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watch it sink slowly, to find its place with hundreds of
lovers’ prayers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t love you like that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hold hands as we walk on the streets <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steal a kiss behind a tree, a sly snuggle by the lake<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Immersed in each other as the world goes on in this mad
rushing city<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t love you like that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gasped for air when you left my side, gasped, for I drowned
without you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lost in a crowd, lost in the desert, lost among a million
faces, searching searching for one<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dreaming with eyes wide open, smiling, laughing at memories,
maddened by memories<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved you like that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shouting screaming hair wild eyes wild hitting out in the
air<o:p></o:p></div>
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Passion in my anger jealousy love love passion in my kisses
on your face on your lips in your mouth<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will leave you I will never call you I want you need you
desperate without you I will die without you<o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved you like that<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is how I loved you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Till you went away, till you decided that my way of loving
did not count, till you told me so<o:p></o:p></div>
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Till you bared me to the world, stripped me naked and made
me stand out in the cold rain<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you left you killed me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you left <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You made me not fear death anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></div>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-5642263868360942852014-07-16T12:05:00.001+05:302014-07-21T11:01:08.844+05:30How to (and how NOT to) throw a Princess Pirates Party for a 7 year old, within Rs 11,000/-<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dont plan a birthday party for a would-be 7 year old and you might have to deal with a grumpy face for the next 365 days. And while I would run at the idea of a party, leave aside throwing one in MY house, 7 is the age when they start to become mini adults, and hence starts the tantrums, the grumpiness, the expectations. And the judgements! My god! Cant we just leave the "you are the worst mom ever" to the teenage years!? But really, after all these years of just cake and a dinner, I think she deserved a small party at home.<br />
Glad to say, apart from a couple of small hitches (excusable, this was my first time), I did it. And it was even proclaimed by one child as "The best birthday party I have ever been to." I kid you not! My chest just swelled 10 times in pride and utter triumph at this comment!<br />
Here goes... what I did, and more important, what I didnt do, and should have done. Learning for next time.<br />
<ul>
<li>Forget about months in advance, unless you want a whole lot of kids attending. If you have a list of about 7-8 kids or less like I had, you can start 2 weeks prior.</li>
<li>I asked my daughter to name her good friends in the building. It was a weekday anyway and it did not make sense to call any school friends at this age. The school is far away, the friends are scattered all over the city of Mumbai in the rainy season. Indians dont believe in RSVPs and moreover, I didnt want frayed egos in school. Neither did I want to call 20 children. So building friends it was. She named about 8 one day and probably had a fight with a couple of them in the next few days, so about 10 days prior, we settled on 6 friends. Two boys and 4 girls.</li>
<li>Monkey wanted a princess party, but with two 7-8 year old boys coming in, I suggested we make it Princess-Pirate, which she was very happy with. Also, children are particularly partial to popular cartoon themes, so Jake and the Neverland Pirates seem to be a current winner right now.</li>
<li>A home party planners best friend and worst friend? Pinterest. While it gives you amazing ideas on themes, decor, food and gifts, the alpha moms there can set the bar just a teeny bit high. My plan was to take ideas though, and do it in my own scaled down version. Still I ended up doing a lot and it cost me sleepless nights and a back breaking day!</li>
<li>Lots of free printables on the net. Any google search with "pirate princess party free printables" threw up scores of options. I made the invitation cards from two printables, one princess and one Jake and the Neverland pirates, taken from the Disney page. </li>
</ul>
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<li>These are some of the resources I downloaded from various sites. Disney free downloads are very useful. Many come in PDF files which I cant paste. All you need is a printer and ink cartridges, I spent Rs 2000 on the printer ink alone.</li>
<li>I racked my brains on the return gifts. Since this was her special core batch of friends and just 6 kids, I decided to go all out. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<ul>
<li>A Disney tiara-wand-jewellery- comb-mirror collection which cost Rs 700 a piece for the girl. This came in cute back packs. </li>
<li>A pirate kit with swords, mask and one pirate earring for the boys (Rs 300, from www.babyoye.com, http://<a href="http://www.babyoye.com/h/Role-Play-&-Pretend-Play-Toys/Tool-Kits-&-Gadgets/Ollington-St.-Collection-Pirate-Set-With-Two-Swords/p_BP10028529?ref=block">www.babyoye.com/h/Role-Play-&-Pretend-Play-Toys/Tool-Kits-&-Gadgets/Ollington-St.-Collection-Pirate-Set-With-Two-Swords/p_BP10028529?ref=block</a>) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>One Ladybird Classic Treasure Island, available on Flipkart or Amazon, free delivery, and Amazon also offers nice discounts. Check both sites to choose the best offer on any book. <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Treasure-Island-Ladybird-Classics/dp/1409311287/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405492686&sr=1-5&keywords=the+treasure+island">http://www.amazon.in/Treasure-Island-Ladybird-Classics/dp/1409311287/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405492686&sr=1-5&keywords=the+treasure+island</a></li>
<li>One eraser set each, from a shop in Dadar, Rs 35- 40. </li>
<li>One sticker set, Rs 25-35, Dadar.</li>
<li>One home made book mark, printed from free printables, (princess and pirate), and laminated at Rs 10 a piece.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<ul style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>One home printed notebook. Pages are free printables from various sites.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Along with that I also added printable colouring pages, available dime a dozen on the net.</li>
<li>Also added small printed thank you notes, 5 stars (which were gold bars) and chocolate gold coins, which were part of the pirates loot.</li>
<li>I got small Rs 8 bottles from a shop in Dadar, and wrote on them 'Pirates Ink' with permanent marker. This was filled with lemon juice, their "Invisible Ink". Everyone got to take home one bottle.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I spent maximum amount of money on the take home return gifts. Anyone looking to cut their budget can easily do home made printable crowns, tiaras, wands, pirate hats and card board swords. Thats a savings of straight Rs 4000 odd.</li>
<li>Food was home made fruit skewers with cheese and juice for snacks, Pizza, Garlic Bread, Juice, Coca Cola for dinner, and ice cream for dessert. I had planned to get mini dough nuts which kids love, but couldnt get it in time. </li>
<ul>
<li>For fruit skewers I got pineapple, cherry and cheese cubes (cut into 4 pieces each). On toothpicks skewer the fruits and a cheese. Some kids just loved this. </li>
<li>I made my big mistake in the ordering of the pizza. With children this age it is always safe to just go with plain cheese pizza maybe with a topping of tomato. I ordered only one cheese pizza and two large chicken pizzas (since the group was predominantly non vegetarian). However they became picky about the chicken pizza, all wanted the cheese pizza and I ran out of it soon. One kid left her chicken pizza untouched. I had to call her mom and say that she hadnt had dinner!</li>
<li>Second mistake. Less garlic bread. I ordered two servings. But kids just love garlic bread and I should have got one more. I ran out of garlic bread while they were still asking. </li>
<li>Third mistake- dont listen when a kid says I will eat nothing. Once everyone eats, they will too. I would have ordered one more cheese pizza only if this one girl had not come and specifically told me she had a stomach upset and would not eat anything at all.</li>
<li>I got Amul vanilla ice cream and Hersheys chocolate sauce and the kids loved it. No need for fancy ice creams. Simple works best. I could have topped it with nuts and Gems and sprinkles or raisins, but who had the time. Learning: keep these things handy! However, they loved it with the chocolate syrup which is anyway tasty.</li>
<li>Chocolate cake always works for most kids, but some will be picky and it is best to keep some cup cake or dough nut options handy. Thats my fourth mistake in foods. Learning: Get cup cakes and doughnuts one day early. </li>
</ul>
<li>I had planned plenty of games. Two hours were divided into 10-15 mins slots (keeping 30 mins for food and cake cutting) with games in each slot.</li>
<li>Kids nowadays are used to professionally managed birthday parties with games planned and arranged. I had some kids ASKING for games constantly. I had made a poster of Jake the pirate, and the kids played blindfolded- put the eye-patch on the pirate.</li>
<li>I had a childhood set of 9 pins of my daughters. A narrow corridor in front of the rooms got converted into a bowling alley.</li>
<li>We made Invisible Ink with lemon juice. I had already pressed some lemons and kept, and some were left for the kids. They had fun squeezing the lemons and getting the juice out. They wrote their messages with a paint brush. </li>
<li>I had arranged for "walk the plank" with cardboard strips, but there was no time to play.</li>
<li>With lots of balloons, the kids went crazy playing balloon volleyball. This was unplanned but they had such fun, I started fearing the neighbours would complain!</li>
<li>I planned a Treasure Hunt. Now this is what the kids were super excited about. I am so proud of my treasure hunt. They played in one team and the treasure was all their goody bags. This was a roaring success and the kids went mad running from one clue to another. More about the treasure hunt in my next blog.</li>
<li>I had bought face paints and tattoos but they didnt get used.</li>
<li>I bought black cloth for Rs 80/mt, 2 mts and cut them to make bandannas for each child. Home made eye patches with ribbons also were a huge success.</li>
<li>Cost: </li>
<ul>
<li>Erasers and Stickers- Rs 500</li>
<li>Pirate set (2)- Rs 598</li>
<li>Tiara-wand-jewellery princess set (5) - Rs 3300</li>
<li>Bottles- Rs 50</li>
<li>Lamination of bookmarks- Rs 160 for 16</li>
<li>Books- Rs 1183</li>
<li>Bandana cloth- Rs 150</li>
<li>Cake- Rs 1700</li>
<li>Pizza and garlic bread- Rs 1500</li>
<li>Juice and Cheese- Rs 300</li>
<li>Ice cream- Rs 200</li>
<li>Cherries- Rs 100</li>
<li>Chocolates- Rs 400</li>
<li>Decorations, balloons, streamers, ribbons etc- Less than Rs 900</li>
<li>Total: Rs 11,000 or less.</li>
</ul>
<li>I am leaving out the printer ink- That was Rs 2000.</li>
<li>I am also leaving out the face paint since it wasnt used. That was Rs 1500.</li>
<li>Dont buy the princess and pirate sets (Rs 4000 approx) and straight away the total amount goes down to Rs 7,000.</li>
<li>Shopping areas- </li>
<ul>
<li>Dadar for small items like erasers, stickers, cloth, bottles, fruits.</li>
<li>Crawford market for all party decorations</li>
<li>Hamleys for the girls return gifts, face paint and tattoos</li>
<li>Online for the boys return gifts, books. (babyoye and amazon)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-30408721811733083572014-05-02T11:08:00.001+05:302014-05-02T11:09:20.403+05:30Rejection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You promised me a brave new world<br />
See<br />
Here I am<br />
With a heart wide open<br />
Wide as my arms, when I asked you to hold me<br />
My mind wide eyed<br />
Waiting<br />
Only waiting for a sign<br />
To believe.<br />
<br />
You promise me, my love wont be unfounded<br />
Look<br />
Here I am<br />
Loving you with my finger tips<br />
Feeling your beauty seep into my skin<br />
As you reject my touch<br />
Smiling<br />
Only smiling as my heart suddenly withered inside me<br />
Unbelieving.<br />
<br />
It took you a withered heart to realise<br />
That I have starved for rain.<br />
It took you my lifeless body, to see<br />
How I tried in vain to breathe you in.<br />
It took you a broken soul<br />
To start to want to mend<br />
While I had started to look away into the unknown<br />
Reaching out my hand to the heavens even as you mourned over me<br />
Wondering if only the darkness held my dark lord.</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-49411239958665652542013-10-01T11:50:00.002+05:302013-10-01T11:52:42.602+05:30Book Review: Jhumpa Lahiri The Lowland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgeMynnW9AEvLMKVrfsOdJZO4Hii8uuBCtz8J6lT2YZsZ66LFF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgeMynnW9AEvLMKVrfsOdJZO4Hii8uuBCtz8J6lT2YZsZ66LFF" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Booker short-listed 'The Lowland' by Jhumpa Lahiri is another one of her Kolkata-USA transitional novels, the kind she specialises in. Two brothers born in pre-Independence Kolkata, through the troubled naxal revolution times. Then one brother (Udayan) becomes a Naxalite, and the older brother (Shubhash) moves to study in USA and hence, their heretofore joined-at-the-hips lives develop in completely different ways. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Obviously, tragedy strikes when the younger brother is killed and then starts the journey of Subhash with his brothers pregnant wife, who he marries to save her from an uncertain future. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">But it does not stop here. Bela is born and raised, and then she has a child and it goes on and on. And on.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Which brings me to my problem with Jhumpa Lahiri novels. They dont seem to end. Her short stories are works of genius. Pithy, hard hitting, and perfectly simple, they are a joy to read. But her novels tend to meander along heavy slow routes, le</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">aving their original course, getting into unrelated territory, never seeming to end. So goes this story. Bela's mother is an intelligent woman but cannot love her daughter. It is never clear exactly why- because she loved Udayan too much? Or because of what Udayan did before he died? Why did she leave? Bela turns into a hippie of sorts, has a child out of wedlock, but comes 'back on track' and gets a boyfriend in the end. While Shubhash's life goes on, with and without his parents, with and without his wife, with and without his daughter (not really, his brothers daughter), with and without his friends and colleagues.<br />Now to what the novel started with, the Naxal revolution in Bengal and Kolkata, the first part of the novel, the part which actually is interesting, heart wrenching and close to home. I have been brought up in Tollygunj, where in my growing up years, the Naxal revolution was still clearly remembered, deeply felt. There were still parents left who had lost their children. Trees under which someone was murdered by the police, fields where someones son or brother had been asked to flee, escape and then gunned down mercilessly. Just like Udayan. Ive met people who have seen such things. I lived by the Tolly Club, and we, as kids used to enter the club through a hole in the wall, and play inside. My mother had done the same when she was a child... and she and her rowdy group had been caught by a guard and given a couple of hidings. I basically lived in the Lowlands. The Technicians studio is close to my house, and the mosque, the lanes, are just as Lahiri describes them. It was so close to home that I was a bit angry to read her, it was as if she had entered MY territory, "I" am the one who is supposed to describe it, "I" live there. I have studied in Presidency, my closest friends were in Jadavpur University, College Street where Udayan and </span><br />
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Gauri's love blossoms, was second home for 3 years.<br />
"I" know the people, the stories... and yet, she is a Booker nominee for having told my story! <i class="_4-k1 img sp_a85onw sx_5813ba" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yU/r/j4j4KGyCaRg.png); background-position: 0px -2048px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><br />
But I wish she would stay with the Naxalites, not go into so much detail about Shubhash's life, Bela's life, 4 generations... why? How does Udayan's death affect the fourth generation? I didnt get that. It affected Bela's childhood, and that's it.<br />
So much possibility... its a piity.<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">My verdict... or my bet, however you put it- the Booker for Lahiri? Not this time.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Also see: </span><a href="http://kolkatacitydiaries.blogspot.in/2013/10/my-kolkata-in-jhumpa-lahiris-lowland.html">http://kolkatacitydiaries.blogspot.in/2013/10/my-kolkata-in-jhumpa-lahiris-lowland.html</a></div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-28445879771542730132013-09-10T14:12:00.002+05:302013-09-10T14:12:33.232+05:30Book Review: Salvation of a Saint<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From the wonderful 'The Devotion of Suspect X' to the intriguing but bland-ending 'Naoko', the fall was quite wide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">However, I was excited about the second English translation of this Detective Galileo series, as it is called. Keigo Higashino is Japanese and allowing for some loss in translation, this is still my favourite detective series currently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Salvation of a Saint has an amazingly tricky pl<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ot, and with new additions to the main plot in between, one is left guessing till the very end. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">What I loved about this book is, the murderer is announced at the very beginning, yet the reader is second guessing throughout, not just about the murderer, but the motive and the method. Ultimately the detective work is about the method, but the motive itself is in question till the end. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">When you get to the point where you can guess things, it becomes so exciting, so intriguing, that the pace of the book itself seems too slow. Your brain will work much faster than the climax of the book, and that is the only thing that can be complained about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">For any detective fiction lover, I suggest this book as a not-to-miss.</span></span></div>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-66123502851005421222013-09-10T14:09:00.002+05:302013-09-11T18:16:31.477+05:30Book Review: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.arbookclub.com/covers/mothsmoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.arbookclub.com/covers/mothsmoke.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just loved the irreverent humour and the innovative style of Moth Smoke, similarly the experimental style of Reluctant Fundamentalist interested me, and I loved the story line. So I HAD to read his third novel. This is also an unique tone, addressing the protagonist as "you", the narrator being the writer explaining to the protagonist who is the reader of the 'self help' book, how to get rich.</span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was left skipping pages and often felt bored of the narrators tone. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 12.727272033691406px;">The parts where the story emerges are interesting, but it is not much of a story after all. And in the end, one dies inevitably, so whats the point of being filthy rich. Wait... was that the point? Who knows!?</span></h5>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-73600521252957731002013-09-10T14:05:00.000+05:302013-09-10T14:05:25.693+05:30Book Review: The Cuckoo's Calling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQD1gULcI8_948MxW-xZ8ciXrD8VCMm3ykZ6sp2TrPbutR68rw-" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQD1gULcI8_948MxW-xZ8ciXrD8VCMm3ykZ6sp2TrPbutR68rw-" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm a sucker for murder mysteries. I used to be called Miss Marple in school, and not just for attempting to solve mysteries like 'who stole the pencil'. I've read too many to not have guessed the murderer in this one. Its almost Christie-esque in its solution and that fills me with glee. For I love being proved right about a murderer!<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When no one knew Robert Galbraith as J K Rowling, someone comme<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">nted about the description of clothes and fashion in this book to be feminine. I find this rather amusing, this point about if you realise if a man has written a book or a woman. Its a moot point. Only rarely does it not show... yes this book is very much written by a woman. And not just any woman, one who surely, is one of the most brilliant minds of this age.<br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">The story starts with the introduction of a new (Yummy) detective, Cormoran Strike (Cant wait for the next Strike mystery now), the war veteran with a checkered past, just broken off from his supermodel girlfriend. (The only 'male' point of view here is that Strike gets to date only supermodels!!). Then comes Robin, the trusted sidekick, as every detective worth his salt should have. (Robin is also hot.) The victim is also a supermodel who apparently committed suicide and Strike is hired by her brother to prove that it was a murder. Anything else I say may turn out to be a spoiler so I desist.<br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">My only complaint about this book is, it should have been limited to maybe, 300 pages. Agatha Christie is still eminently readable, again and again, simply because they are that pithy, thin spined and easy to finish in one day, flat! The Robert Galbraith in JK Rowling should plan to write 20 more Strike mysteries and make them short enough to finish, with complete satisfaction, on a flight!</span></span></div>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-34301208793749664462013-09-10T13:59:00.001+05:302013-09-10T13:59:31.174+05:30Book Review: Bring up the Bodies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/booksMantelHbringupthebodies-195x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/booksMantelHbringupthebodies-195x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The second of the proposed trilogy by Hilary Mantel is much more lucid to read. And took a lot less time to finish! <i class="_4-k1 img sp_g9a1u4 sx_ecd5a7" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yu/r/ARuuQNOJWj-.png); background-position: 0px -2166px; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cromwell has made Anne queen and Henry has already started the break with the pope. Here Cromwell is at the peak of his power, in the king cannot do without him, and he is building strong enemies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bring Up the Bodies starts with Anne at the helm of her own powers, as a queen who mi<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ght still give England an heir. If only she could, history would have been different. But either the king's accident (he fell from a horse and was unconscious for a long time) or his relationship with Jane Seymour, already in the reckoning, caused the miscarriage of a 3 month old pregnancy, supposedly of a male fetus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> The king is already enamoured of Jane Seymour, a polar opposite of Anne Boleyn, quiet, calm, meek, where Anne was quarrelsome and bold. After this miscarriage the king, with the help of Cromwell plots the downfall of Anne, with a web of stories, lies, deceits, until Anne is finally executed for adultery and high treason. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">The language takes one back to the era and it is as if one can see it happening in front of ones eyes. There is a sense of vindication, as Cromwell avenge the death and degradation of his one time master, cardinal Thomas Wolsey. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Tight woven, descriptive and clever, this book deserves the booker as much as Wolf Hall did.</span></span></div>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-4193469394234375142013-08-01T08:44:00.001+05:302013-08-01T08:44:04.800+05:30Wolf Hall- Hilary Mantel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Maybe I have read Indian writing in English a tad too long. Yes, I heard my sister say that it is a tough book to read, but I thought, how tough could it be. And then I spent one month ploughing through of this vast tome of historical fiction. And the one reason I didn't keep it away is that, I couldn't- the story is itself riveting. The language of the book has often been critiqued as too dense and confusing. But I feel, given the period that has been portrayed, the archaic language brings out the historical validity of the novel. While the story starts with Cromwell's childhood, probably less material makes Mantel move quickly to adulthood. However, I wish there was more on that time of Cromwell's life. Its a pity.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">First, the title. Wolf Hall is where Jane Seymour was born, the third queen, after Anne Boleyn... and the house itself does not feature in the novel, nor does Jane in any significant role- yet. I am guessing she will have a bigger role to play in 'Bring Up the Bodies', the second part of the proposed trilogy. However, we all know the history, and Anne's ambition to be queen, as held against the impending disaster she will face makes the title itself like a death knell for her. </span><br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg/220px-Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg/220px-Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="167" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">But this is neither the story of Wolf Hall or Jane or Anne Boleyn or even Henry VIII. This is the story of the rise and rise of Thomas Cromwell, a commoner, blacksmiths son, int</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">o the highest echelons of the English court, a favourite of Henry and a trusted aide of Anne herself, who he later brought down cruelly. Cromwell have been written in countless novels and studies in countless shades, cruel, sharp, ambitious, cut throat... and here, we see yet another side to him, not normally seen. The family man. The husband and father and uncle and good Samaritan. Who not only rises fast in court and becomes a king's favourite for his charm and diplomacy, his skill as lawyer and law maker, his acumen with numbers, but also one who thought rationally in an irrational fanatic world. On the one hand he reveres Thomas More, for his capabilities and power of mind, on the other, his hatred for More's methods (where he tried and executed countless intellectuals for heresy) are evident in the novel, towards the end, when it is Cromwell who tries More and brings about his execution.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I have always loved historical fiction, and this satisfies every requirement on my list. The characters are varied and numerous, and only a very skilled storyteller like Mantel, will be able to bring every character to light and draw them into the plot. I never liked Cromwell much, especially since his loyalties were always suspect... he helped Henry divorce Katherine and gained Anne's trust, and then brought the downfall of Anne without much of a qualm. This book brings out where Cromwell's loyalties may have laid- in his King and his Country. </span><br />
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<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2009/10/6/1254861174810/Booker-prizewinner-Hilary-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2009/10/6/1254861174810/Booker-prizewinner-Hilary-004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Lastly, the oft repeated point of a woman writing from a man's point of view... this is truly an example of such a book where the gender of the writer is not evident in the writing. It is strong writing, it is a male point of view, Cromwell's point of view. And you will never once think of the sex of the writer WHILE you are reading... the prose is just too perfect, too tightly bound and you,as a writer will think, I will never be able to write like this, construct like this. Read this one for the history, for the story, for the language, for the characters, and my favourite in any court drama- the sexual politics. I already have Bring Up the Bodies in my hand, and cant wait to launch right into it</span></div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-30943283802544376302013-06-12T12:10:00.002+05:302013-06-13T13:45:45.571+05:30Fathers Day Gifting: home made gift ideas for different ages<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> Fathers Day is on Sunday, 16th June. Some super ideas to make gifts at home for our super dads.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A collage
card (From toddler to teenage)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Card Paper or A-4 size sheets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Sketch pens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Craft paper in different colours/ or you can colour them yourself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Glue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Scissors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Decide on a pattern to make: you can choose flowers, boats, kites,
fishes, hearts or anything that dad loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2160779097515299198" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Take the craft paper and cut out small shapes of decided pattern.
You can cut white paper and have your little one paint them in different
colours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Fold any A-4 size sheet into two to make a card shape or take your
card paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Stick the patterns on the paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Write inside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Hand
painted Coffee Mug/ Soup Bowl: (From toddler to teenage)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://meowchie.snydle.com/files/2013/05/fathers-day-gift-ideas-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://meowchie.snydle.com/files/2013/05/fathers-day-gift-ideas-10.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Solid colour coffee mug/ soup bowl. You can even use plates or
glasses for this if you want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Permanent Marker/ fabric paint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Decide on a pattern (Polka dots, hearts, the message “DAD” or
“Worlds Best Dad”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Take your mug (or any other utensil) and paint with the permanent
marker. (Your toddler can just write “dad” or scribble anything on the mug.
This is a fathers day gift, not a fine china set!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Add the year and write “Happy Fathers Day” in small letters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Image from </span><a href="http://meowchie.snydle.com/fathers-day-gift-ideas.html/fathers-day-gift-ideas-10">http://meowchie.snydle.com/fathers-day-gift-ideas.html/fathers-day-gift-ideas-10</a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A hand
printed book (8-12 years and teenage)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A few A-4 size sheets in white or different colours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Scissors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Colourful pens or sketch pens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Photographs you can cut out and use<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Tape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Design the cover of your book and create a title “The book of Dad”
or “Dad the Greatest” or “My Dad and I”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Second page will contain name of the creator “Made by …”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Rest is mostly up to you. Here are some ideas. You can start with “My
favourite things to do with Dad”, then go on to favourite books, places to
visit, things you want to do together etc. Older children could make it Dad’s
life story with pictures, like an album. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Staple pages together and tape over staples at the edge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A pen holder for Dad’s office desk (From toddler
to teenage)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">An old plastic cup/ glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Fabric paint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQm0OuIma7Z2etIiJyhG8HjpmU4ADSz0xwG6hlaG7pAc7Jhe4IdTg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQm0OuIma7Z2etIiJyhG8HjpmU4ADSz0xwG6hlaG7pAc7Jhe4IdTg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Craft paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Old photographs you can cut out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Strong glue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Sketch pens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Get any old plastic cup, ceramic mug etc. Use fabric paint to
paint it an even black all over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Cut craft paper half the size of your cup and wrap all around at
the center. Glue to stick. You can use more than one photo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Take an old photograph you like and cut it in shape. It should fit
into the craft paper strip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Stick with strong glue till firmly in place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
Image: Supermoms 360<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> Palm print poster (From toddler to teenage)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
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style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:325.5pt;
margin-top:4.35pt;width:171pt;height:228pt;z-index:1;visibility:visible;
mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.fatherdaypictures.com/wp-content/uploads/1369674756-homemade-fathers-day-gift-ideas-handprints---free-fathers-day-photo-cards-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.fatherdaypictures.com/wp-content/uploads/1369674756-homemade-fathers-day-gift-ideas-handprints---free-fathers-day-photo-cards-2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Poster colours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Desired size of chart paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Paper plates (to pour colours)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Sketch pens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Pour out the desired colours into paper plates. You can use any
number of colours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Take your chart paper and cut into any size you wish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Dip your hand on the plate so that your palm is evenly coated with
colour. Press on to the paper till the colour is evenly transferred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Make designs, or use as is, with a message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">You can make trees, heart shapes, birds etc with your palms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
Image from: <a href="http://www.fatherdaypictures.com/homemade-fathers-day-gift-ideas-handprints-free-fathers-day-photo-cards/">http://www.fatherdaypictures.com/homemade-fathers-day-gift-ideas-handprints-free-fathers-day-photo-cards/</a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">World’s best Dad medal (From toddler to 8 years)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOozky4OYuiuIjTuHbgYBbnwiV1dS1ecHRzjmTuRwKfTGt6Fib" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOozky4OYuiuIjTuHbgYBbnwiV1dS1ecHRzjmTuRwKfTGt6Fib" width="173" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Card board<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Scissors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Sketch pens/ permanent markers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Ribbon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Cut the cardboard into any small medal shape. You can make a
circle, hexagon, square, star or any other shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">You can thicken the medal by sticking two pieces together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Draw border with dark sketch pen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Write “Worlds Best Dad” or “No 1 Dad”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Punch a hole on top and string in the ribbon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Image: macaroni Crafts</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">DAD photo frame (From toddler to 10 years) <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/kids/2005Q2/ft_sum05msk30_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/kids/2005Q2/ft_sum05msk30_xl.jpg" width="161" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Cardboard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Scissors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Blade <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Old photo you can cut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Sketch pens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Trace out the word DAD on a cardboard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Cut two pieces of the same shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Leave one as it is. On the other, trace out the central portion of
the D, A and D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Cut them out with a blade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Paint in bright colours or make patterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Stick your and dad’s photos <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Take a bit of cardboard and stick at the back to make a stand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Image: </span><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274629/fathers-day-crafts-for-kids/@center/307033/spring-holidays">http://www.marthastewart.com/274629/fathers-day-crafts-for-kids/@center/307033/spring-holidays</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Love you Dad heart shaped car ornament (From
toddler to 8 years)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What you will need:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Card board<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrOEhETvrYV0KIsf_KF0DENE8bFBG4hYagKxDSGXbMSO2cAjQ3eQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrOEhETvrYV0KIsf_KF0DENE8bFBG4hYagKxDSGXbMSO2cAjQ3eQ" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Ribbon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Paint <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Sparkles/ glitter <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Scissors <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Draw the shape of a heart on the cardboard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Cut out two pieces of the same shape and size and stick together<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Colour in bright red and scatter glitter or sparkles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Punch a hole on top with a paper punch or needle and string in the
ribbon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.818181991577148px;">Image: Zazzle.com</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-82593034715567956652013-04-13T12:34:00.005+05:302013-04-13T12:41:20.041+05:30Top 10 places I will miss in Chennai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I leave namma Chennai here are the list of top 10 things I will miss sorely in any other city. I am sure Mumbai will have a lot to offer, much more than here, and some say you are moving from a village to a city... but I have come to love Chennai and especially these...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgh_uB0XpY1ZfhATqBaN9OCJ-3b7FrmID2VjaGxBRhnPFOQwKDy-gbYUT_7_pxERvWdZ1kN7vQn0txBGw8VMK7Hx5CvOyJh1BKvq5yEkzavUImTA4lZbQdYI5eU0kKVSX-hadYJFvIz626Mn3-o3LN7voCKF46cfJBgDxU=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgh_uB0XpY1ZfhATqBaN9OCJ-3b7FrmID2VjaGxBRhnPFOQwKDy-gbYUT_7_pxERvWdZ1kN7vQn0txBGw8VMK7Hx5CvOyJh1BKvq5yEkzavUImTA4lZbQdYI5eU0kKVSX-hadYJFvIz626Mn3-o3LN7voCKF46cfJBgDxU=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">I will miss the clothes shopping in the cheap shops by Elliots, I will miss chili cheese fries at </span><a href="http://chennai.burrp.com/listing/funk-jazzs-donuts-and-hot-dogs_besant-nagar_chennai_fast-food-shops/19315443316" style="text-align: left;">Funk Jazzs</a><span style="text-align: left;">, the doughnuts at Donut House, the stakes at </span><a href="http://www.mashrestocafe.com/" style="text-align: left;">Mash</a><span style="text-align: left;">, and ice cream at Ibaco (erstwhile Arun Ice cream). The whole beach face is serene and lined with restaurants and clothes shops. Costa Coffee is also opening its doors, there's KFC, there's Subway, there's Thalapakatti, there's Murugan (which deserves separate mention) and the ubiquitous Cozy's.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>1. The Elliots Beach: </u></b>Two minutes from the house, this beach has been my savior, my friend, my go to place for all things relaxing for the past 4 years. So many evenings my daughter has enjoyed the rides on the beach, some of the cheapest thrills you will get in the world. For the past 3 years, every evening, for one hour I have walked to lose some weight, right here. My favourite place in the whole world!<br />
<b><u>2. Murugan Idli shop</u></b>: <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhUiRKrniAbos2Ng8zfyK5WFBOZtp0yh6dvt6QhzmVrcC262p9Fo03kVlfIGPVwenXwYFnJQAcKBPJrGtMQXxsAgv65cjrrkoc64ksHFaoNRC975GYe0aYrDYIRe7IrNhqtg-Abj6HVU9klyqQA9ry4Foa4QdtTH4Mh4-YMj9cs8PCkhDENwP9fJundbbZzOAniRgw=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhUiRKrniAbos2Ng8zfyK5WFBOZtp0yh6dvt6QhzmVrcC262p9Fo03kVlfIGPVwenXwYFnJQAcKBPJrGtMQXxsAgv65cjrrkoc64ksHFaoNRC975GYe0aYrDYIRe7IrNhqtg-Abj6HVU9klyqQA9ry4Foa4QdtTH4Mh4-YMj9cs8PCkhDENwP9fJundbbZzOAniRgw=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">This is my breakfast heaven. I love hot piping idli and no other restaurant gets it just right like Murugan does.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaOZIXNDcXWrc7gwZZZqRM0ah8ce8AztQZEwhlA9t-d767SsV5Fw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaOZIXNDcXWrc7gwZZZqRM0ah8ce8AztQZEwhlA9t-d767SsV5Fw" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Oh, how I will miss the soft as clouds fluffy as air white as love dumplings, with their coconut chutney! And their sweet pongal... warm gooey mass of temptation on a plate.</span></td></tr>
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Chennai may argue which is its best idli-dosa joint, but my vote is always and forever yours.<br />
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<b><u>3. Amethyst Cafe: </u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3Vt3NMoMhaI0w7ueKCXNoBOaRHfmtvBbAE-0RaFlQls3OHAi_" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3Vt3NMoMhaI0w7ueKCXNoBOaRHfmtvBbAE-0RaFlQls3OHAi_" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lovely garden setting, lots of greenery, perfect for the kids to play while you enjoy their coffee and food.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSxXEwPyGhlm3DKPd3PphEUbU9daB1UyYJBVJZz-Pf6aASCU7tg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSxXEwPyGhlm3DKPd3PphEUbU9daB1UyYJBVJZz-Pf6aASCU7tg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Strawberry white chocolate cake, in fact if you have a sweet tooth, try all their pastries. Their breakfast platter is really good, so are their pastas and pizzas.</span></span></td></tr>
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Women beware, their jewelery collection upstairs is addictive, to say the least. You can spend a whole morning here, just lounging, reading magazines and shopping for trinkets to your hearts content. And parking is easy, important in Chennai!<br />
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<b><u>4. Tryst Cafe, </u></b>beside Gatsby on ECR<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8VhUGWWvGRhwcdvzM_WSmOQHMhNFKEhG8slNbGpqlrIXFh39hYIN7W-DdA1EjE488Oy9d1Bt5R8xzD24jnKKnJNWIGUDbxun_ZiKd_2ALGzlnOUsfWW8tqkeIIiMn7wrckFKURhT-HZ9/s1600/2013-03-10+20.52.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8VhUGWWvGRhwcdvzM_WSmOQHMhNFKEhG8slNbGpqlrIXFh39hYIN7W-DdA1EjE488Oy9d1Bt5R8xzD24jnKKnJNWIGUDbxun_ZiKd_2ALGzlnOUsfWW8tqkeIIiMn7wrckFKURhT-HZ9/s1600/2013-03-10+20.52.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The best pastries ever. Love their quiches too. And the ambiance is lovely for a nice chat with friends or family or even a business meeting over coffee.</span></td></tr>
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<b><u>5. Bella Ciao</u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEicSn96MM0WxeecN_FxdFYsxaz9nGNES_U36J7bqU5eNlO7SF1-qeauXJLUs7N-2fviCWB8nJ36_Vx1bbTYHKOYUzsVBGKJkrmSIMXfmSB7khJSMQxTxJsjhBTC5MqnTkBSq4pYckdnE0_JYxhdC3IYxfiD-KwcITNPpLuEwZn6uhgKAKzAruMq2A=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEicSn96MM0WxeecN_FxdFYsxaz9nGNES_U36J7bqU5eNlO7SF1-qeauXJLUs7N-2fviCWB8nJ36_Vx1bbTYHKOYUzsVBGKJkrmSIMXfmSB7khJSMQxTxJsjhBTC5MqnTkBSq4pYckdnE0_JYxhdC3IYxfiD-KwcITNPpLuEwZn6uhgKAKzAruMq2A=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can sit inside or out, in the garden... make sure to carry mosquito repellent for the kids if you do.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjAj3YOlswlp7gny_ie0cNImbrWrwnhR-0KgW34kSGuqmyVbK-4XgIYmQd1KbCvIBUgXLM2s8pFM8GTAZ2y8WurkkjAp4wCrLrBjTXOlaaRaFMKcwpWpRBtY9dQ6Xrdws0-b5yLwogYvGn3-sG7AsgimE1QuW0o_Di8vw=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjAj3YOlswlp7gny_ie0cNImbrWrwnhR-0KgW34kSGuqmyVbK-4XgIYmQd1KbCvIBUgXLM2s8pFM8GTAZ2y8WurkkjAp4wCrLrBjTXOlaaRaFMKcwpWpRBtY9dQ6Xrdws0-b5yLwogYvGn3-sG7AsgimE1QuW0o_Di8vw=" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Great pizzas, and you get Breezer here!!! Lovely dessert too.</span></td></tr>
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<b><u>6. Tuscana:</u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgK06xm5e2iNER8USWY2oitB1PVrZzP1zgOs0Uh_jYLD_vg6RPK8h_zg97iZprGEEqaEZBthSGQhJVXLNqZnuqL1MtkE05tro2tv-bhqy2IpeA_eBY5ZfXkKiQyL5pssTWB8jhb49U1efnHdzMtTAOIV_NY9Gs2F51Ji2OA50py8ZuT2l4pgc57KA6v04qzqw=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgK06xm5e2iNER8USWY2oitB1PVrZzP1zgOs0Uh_jYLD_vg6RPK8h_zg97iZprGEEqaEZBthSGQhJVXLNqZnuqL1MtkE05tro2tv-bhqy2IpeA_eBY5ZfXkKiQyL5pssTWB8jhb49U1efnHdzMtTAOIV_NY9Gs2F51Ji2OA50py8ZuT2l4pgc57KA6v04qzqw=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Italian at its best. Their attached cafe is a must visit... have the profiteroles there.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2gxW1yef4DsjM44vhA3G9er3CgtFvyFZtVlvkIm8HsQRJK48_" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2gxW1yef4DsjM44vhA3G9er3CgtFvyFZtVlvkIm8HsQRJK48_" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My choice, the mutton pizza with their strawberry mint drink and this... their heavenly berry panacotta</span>.</td></tr>
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<b><u>7. Chennai Children's Park:</u></b> No its not the best park in the country, but its got an amazing bird cage. But what I will miss about this place is the deer which roam free.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh3Szvjbji9gp7892CjsV2qtVKG_MWhhBy9u1NkOQe9stOzAuVHqGBgqwCuaZ7dVd8flCmLzNksJQEFX_84w8YojfqI_PtKDGDYoYqQWHmdz-elYamRH360ZpeLui4-ClFnHHU6bmGjfNM1BYmFWKOZRucmM8RLDZmrEP2IXnbhFsl0lAJ5bkWobsAqMkMX5fku7sJFtldWktGAjDZGpSfwHbbwmN-dHeOwJjNC1ONlXiBBCseUsj3GfBo8mDhHZ7imTDv2kd10Vk27AULxIiu6iGIuOZNU5EF3aQ=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh3Szvjbji9gp7892CjsV2qtVKG_MWhhBy9u1NkOQe9stOzAuVHqGBgqwCuaZ7dVd8flCmLzNksJQEFX_84w8YojfqI_PtKDGDYoYqQWHmdz-elYamRH360ZpeLui4-ClFnHHU6bmGjfNM1BYmFWKOZRucmM8RLDZmrEP2IXnbhFsl0lAJ5bkWobsAqMkMX5fku7sJFtldWktGAjDZGpSfwHbbwmN-dHeOwJjNC1ONlXiBBCseUsj3GfBo8mDhHZ7imTDv2kd10Vk27AULxIiu6iGIuOZNU5EF3aQ=" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u>7a. Crocodile Bank </u></b>near Mahabalipuram: The best place to view hundreds of crocs of all shapes and sizes. If you are lucky you can catch the giant croc JAWS.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JAWS the giant croc which is rarely seen.</td></tr>
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OK now the places Ive been near Chennai which I wont get anywhere else. Goa or no Goa, these places have their own charm.<br />
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<b><u>8. Mahabalipuram</u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgtPUD99KPYM79rC406p1aIAEHYAkqGkvs9MjsxfPtPIN853KleVz2DQKXjr5c41e5kIyAwTkZY5YzuWHpUvHbXqae7GJ6LfybpSJSSxUeSNnYOM7CwpD7DUA_jxapOSoFxYeXqQObEtELinbyYp9-TXFmd5Eyn0RuNKZh-55SIpaSQUa5y07C76mX1U9uUeDKgk5HlDdQ8N6hS=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgtPUD99KPYM79rC406p1aIAEHYAkqGkvs9MjsxfPtPIN853KleVz2DQKXjr5c41e5kIyAwTkZY5YzuWHpUvHbXqae7GJ6LfybpSJSSxUeSNnYOM7CwpD7DUA_jxapOSoFxYeXqQObEtELinbyYp9-TXFmd5Eyn0RuNKZh-55SIpaSQUa5y07C76mX1U9uUeDKgk5HlDdQ8N6hS=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rock carvings all around this tiny town is breath taking. Visit all the temples and do some rock climbing to visit the caves. Its worth it. Definitely go after 4 pm in summer months or early morning. Closes at 5.30 so dont be late. The summer heat can be killing, to say the least, so go prepared with sunscreen, umbrellas, hats and lots of cool water.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Must visit for sea food lovers, they serve drinks including Breezers. Their prawns are quite lovely!</span></td></tr>
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Got some money to burn, stay at the GRT or Radisson. Great resorts.<br />
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<b><u>9. Pondicherry: </u></b>Been there so many times but I will still miss going there. Auroville is worth <br />
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visiting, for its ambiance, the matri mandir, the cafe, and the general feeling of bonhomie with the citizens of the world. This is a separate country btw. Stay at any of the modern resorts and make use of their swimming pools, or lounge in the heritage hotels. In the cooler months of October- February you can go church and temple hopping. In summer, go out in the evenings, the afternoons will kill you. We visited and enjoyed Coffee.com, La Terasse, Madam Shante's, Rendezvous, Le Club and Le Cafe. But if you are expecting a Goa ambiance you will be disappointed. The food is good, just enjoy the sea food and the drinks.<br />
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<b><u>10. Kanchipuram:</u></b> For its grand temples, and sarees. Plenty of saree shops, we went to Prakash. No great place to eat, try the GRT for passable lunch. It is good for a day trip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The temples range from breathtaking grand, to awe inspiring old. If you are an archaeologist or historian at heart, you will love this temple town.</span></td></tr>
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Working Mother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSUt2njnCOhfFlLHax9mG8LR2LrKFKtKXTj4Gdek1xlyu56BvVTA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #015782; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSUt2njnCOhfFlLHax9mG8LR2LrKFKtKXTj4Gdek1xlyu56BvVTA" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a>Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer is again in the news for having scrapped the work from home policy of her company. Earlier she had returned to work days after delivering her baby and got panned by women’s groups for setting the wrong precedent. She now runs WiT, Women in Tech, a volunteer group that helps talented women enter and stay in the workforce. </div>
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Indira Nooyi, CEO PepsiCo, in a recent interview, confessed that she would not have been able to concentrate on her career if not for the help and support of her husband in childcare for her sons. In contrast, the Mumbai local train ladies coup is a revelation. </div>
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On a return trip from work, while a group of girls chatter about college, the older women have work to complete,<i>before</i> they reach home. Some of them catch up on much needed sleep, they hardly get 5 hours a night. One woman has the rice out, sifting through it, readying it for cooking. She will bring out the dal next. And some even have vegetables out on their laps, slicing and cutting them for curry to be cooked at home. They reach home too late to cut <i>and</i>cook the dinner.</div>
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Welcome to the world of the Indian working mother. More and more companies are waking up to the daily travails of the woman at the workplace in spite of the 12 weeks maternity leave provided by the Indian Government, and now realize one of the main cogs in the wheel to keep women in the workforce is to address the issues faced by the working mother.</div>
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India traditionally, has had low economic activity rates. Even now, a woman with a high level of education drops out of the race because they are overcome by the pressures of handling baby and work. </div>
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A 2011 Nielsen study showed that 87% Indian women are stressed most of the time and 82% had no time to relax. The pressures of dealing with childcare without the accompanying support system of family or husband or proper infrastructure in the country in the form of nannies or crèches, adds to the stress. And still the number of working women has doubled in the last 15 years. There are about 5 % more women in senior levels in 2009 as compared to 2008 in Indian companies while Indian MNCs have seen a 15-20 % increase, a study by WILL, Women in Leadership forum has showed. </div>
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However the problem lies at the mid level, where women, mainly in their 30s are seen leaving the work talent pool. Studies have showed that one of the main factors preventing women to return to work was childbirth.</div>
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What are the difficulties faced by the working mother</div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Childcare and proper support during periods of illness of the child</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Stress of balancing motherhood and work, additional stress of domestic responsibilities</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lack of exercise or proper nutrition leading to health problems</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lack of support from family</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lack of infrastructure in childcare</span></li>
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Companies are trying to bridge these gaps where they can. </div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">A lot of companies like <b>Wipro, Infosys and HUL</b>, have <i>day care centers</i> and <i>crèches</i>where mums can leave their children and come and check in on them at intervals. </li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Various firms, including <b>Vodafone and Mahindra and Mahindra</b> have begun focusing on getting more gender diversity at senior leadership positions. This includes giving these women <i>availability, location and role choices</i>, as Ashok Ramachandran the HR Director of Vodafone India has said. The thought is that women bring plurality and different thinking in leadership style and values. Vodafone, which has 6% of their workforce as women, now plan to raise it to 15%.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><b>Cisco</b> is concentrating on developing business practices that <i>reflect Indian culture</i> and that <i>include sense of family</i>, while <b>Sodexho</b> believes in <i>providing work life balance</i> in order to win their search of good talent and hire women in leadership positions. The trend is to provide the opportunity to work <i>part time, work from home, or telecommute </i>by which employees can work from home 1-2 days a week. Other measures include <i>relaxation rooms, lactation rooms or special car parking privileges</i> to new mothers or pregnant employees. </li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><b>Zensar</b> adopted such initiatives which have showed them remarkable results, increasing the percentage of women returning after maternity leave from 15 to 89%.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><b>TCS </b>global HR Head, Ajoy Mukherjee concentrates on increasing the presence of women in their global work force. He is proud that 11% of senior management in the company comprises of women. This has come with the flexibility offered by the company in terms of role by <i>job rotations</i>, and by <i>not breaking the service record</i> of women who take a sabbatical due to family pressures and want to return after a period of time. <i>DAWN or Diversity and Women’s Network</i>, a TCS initiative focuses on inclusion and helps women grow in their profession in the company.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><b>PepsiCo </b>has set up a <i>Female Talent Council</i> where women come together to share their experiences and provide help and support to each other. PepsiCo’s core senior team of 15 comprises 30% women. </li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><b>Accenture</b> has an <i>Hours That Help program</i> by which their employees can donate their leave hours to their colleagues who need additional paid leave for any reason, including child birth and caring for a new child. The company provides <i>medical cabs and escorts</i> for expecting mothers.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">While <b>Google India </b>offers <i>insurance for all delivery and new born health</i> related matters, IBM arranges workshops to <i>train in house nannies and ayahs</i> in order to provide better care for children at home while their mums are at work.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Companies are even taking into account couples who adopt babies by including “<i>adoption leave</i>”. The employee gets 3 months paid leave when they adopt a child. Google also takes care of the <i>adoption expenses</i>, including legal fees.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><b>SAP India</b>’s VP HR Bhuvaneshwar Naik has talked about the clear association between benefits to the working mother and retention. In 2007 19 of 61 women who went on maternity leave, came back to work. In 2012, the number was 128 out of 134.</li>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQvli3tBeg9PlGK2UkjwGY5sdCrDPo7sZaazlIT6r1IEb7QoHCu" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #015782; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQvli3tBeg9PlGK2UkjwGY5sdCrDPo7sZaazlIT6r1IEb7QoHCu" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a>This goes to show that if a company shows that it cares about its women employees and makes it easier for them to work after childbirth, more women will be interested in coming back to work and concentrate on their careers. While more can be done, like mentorship programs for new mothers or paternity leave, for instance, these companies have shown the path in terms of best HR practices which actually retains talent where it is lacking most- middle and senior management of the company. This is not just a fresh change in the Indian workplace but also great news for mothers who would like to continue working or return to work after having children.</div>
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Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-71926246058526247842012-07-20T17:55:00.002+05:302012-07-20T17:55:46.659+05:30Camilla Lackberg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Camilla Lackberg is the best selling Swedish author specializing in crime fiction. The specialty of her books are that all the books are in sequence. The characters develop over the years and over her books. Not all her books are available in English and even less in India at present, but hopefully that will change, for finally, after Agatha Christie, I find myself loving a series in this genre again!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">How is this series different from most other Scandinavian crime writing? Say for eg, Stieg Larsson? Lackberg, like Christie, uses domestic settings for her crimes, friends and neighbours, local police, local detectives, the snoopy neighbour who provides clues. Even when she goes beyond the immediately domestic, say, in :The Hidden Child" where she deals with the Nazi threat on Sweden in the 1930-s and 40-s, it is still rooted in the characters surrounding the locality.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The books available in India are- The Ice Princess, The Preacher, The Stone Cutter, The Stranger, The Hidden Child. (The Drowning has not yet come to India).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Though domestic details abound in her books and some of it is plain distracting from the main mystery, it is nice to see how the characters and the life stories develop over the books. However, it can be really a dampener when you are dying to know if your suspicions about the criminal is right. I confess I am guilty of skipping pages at a time while reading many of her books. Not quite the next Christie or the next Larsson, but definitely worth a read if you are a crime fan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33333396911621px;">Her protagonist is Erica Falck and her partner Patrick Hedstrom who slowly takes over the action as the sequence progresses and Erica gets relegated to the background as his wife.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/15900000/The-Ice-Princess-Camilla-Lackberg-books-to-read-15936464-300-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/15900000/The-Ice-Princess-Camilla-Lackberg-books-to-read-15936464-300-300.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This is the first of the series and of course it is a joy to see how the events she has been talking about in her next books start off here. Erica's parents have just died in the accident and her mother is talked about, the mystery of her aloof motherhood is finally solved in "The Hidden Child" of course. She meets Patrik and by Hidden Child they have a one year old child and another on the way. Anna- Erica's sister, Dan, Mellberg, Annika, all these characters develop over the course of her series and it is wonderful to see how they were conceived. It good to see how well planned the series was, or did she just stumble upon ideas along the way. As I have said before, there is too much domestic detail in her books which can, frankly be skipped, and does not necessary increase the value of the mystery. But there are people who like the pictures of domesticity, for them, this is a double whammy. The mystery is well resolved in the end. Lackberg has often been compared to Steig Larsson, but I have felt that she is more akin to the style of Agatha Christie, the food-home-nosy neighbour troubles rather than politics and the outside world.</span>
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<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Preacher, The Stone Cutter and The Stranger are all mysteries which break the peace of the quiet town again and again and Patrick manages to get to the bottom of every mystery. The Preacher deals with the murder of young girls both in the present day juxtaposed with many years back and that makes it interesting. But there is too much details about superfluous characters and the language seemed a little lost in translation. The Stone Cutter has a lot of issues like ADHD, Autism and child abuse/ pornography stuffed into it and is quite dark in its cruelty. The Stranger has a very scattered plot which does not quite make sense in the end.</span><br />
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<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWU6S4tVJB5xbOSmPKs0K_WDVDI2VlOvZyE1Sc_PNBWAenFEvf5GyYf3pO" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWU6S4tVJB5xbOSmPKs0K_WDVDI2VlOvZyE1Sc_PNBWAenFEvf5GyYf3pO" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Oh yes, after reading so many of her books at one go, this is the exact thing I was waiting for. Have Lackberg move out of her modern Fjallbacka and go back in time to a more interesting era, to some history, historical crime. In all her other books, I have skipped parts where she goes to much into domestic details or into the lives of characters quite unrelated to the mystery at hand. Anna, Erica's sister for example, is not important as part of her mysteries in any of her books till date, but her life is dealt with in great detail from her first book. In this too, her moving in with Dan and the troubles they have with their sets of kids, especially Dan's older daughter is not in any way connected to the main plot of the book. However one has to remember, she is writing a series where her characters develop over time. Just like her parents, especially her mothers lack of love towards the sisters, and its reason is finally dealt with in this book, who knows, one day, Anna may become one of the pivotal characters in her next mystery.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Also read my blog on gender issues in her books at </span><a href="http://spearheadintersearch.blogspot.in/2012/06/book-review-camilla-lackberg-study-of.html">http://spearheadintersearch.blogspot.in/2012/06/book-review-camilla-lackberg-study-of.html</a></div>Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-85044815008958793782012-07-20T17:36:00.000+05:302012-07-20T17:36:41.199+05:30Man of a Thousand Chances<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/276513_121056054658720_6570574_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/276513_121056054658720_6570574_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I started reading this book without knowing much about the author, including the gender. I was under the impression that the author is male and hence, while reading the book, mid way, I was surprised at the depiction of domesticity. It is true then, women write differently, and one can make that distinction, at least in this case. </span><br style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">That said, its good Chennai writing, replete with local lingo and what wonderful true-to-life depiction of dusk on the beach. If one has not seen it, one will not fully appreciate the beauty of that scene, of fire flakes showered in the sir from corn, merry go rounds, fortune tellers etc. However what could have made it great, that touch of fate, of indeterminate pull towards a karmic solution to the whole conundrum, is absent. The fortune teller- what wonderful chance it was to showcase a touch of the occult, it was used but without any enthusiasm, makes it almost without meaning. Karma- the story hinges on it, and yet, what is the cause and what is the effect? The lost boy, the daughters marriage, which is concluded successfully, the theft of the precious historical artifact, from which the protagonist is forgiven too conveniently... it seems the pawn broker is the one who had sinned... Karma seems to have lost its way somewhere. And the characters- apart from the protagonist, none of them come to the fore as totally explained. I would form half a view about a character and then change my mind in the next chapter... they dont build in natural progression, especially that of the coin collector.</span><br style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: #fffcf5; color: #0d0b0a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It is a good book which could have been great if the situations were tweaked and used, but the prose is eminently readable without being prosaic, the bane of Indian writing today!</span>
</div>Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2160779097515299198.post-1030821379447757382012-06-04T15:55:00.000+05:302012-06-04T15:55:01.044+05:30The importance of having and not having a diary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A weekend of spring-cleaning in a flat I have left almost 4 years back and am not coming back to for some time yet, threw up some interesting stuff, old books, old cards, letters and an old diary which had about ten entries. This was 8-9 years back, from 2003- 2004, when I was yet to be married, and had crossed through a rough patch, coming out of it relatively unscathed apparently, but scarred in my mind, and I didnt know then, forever.<br />
At that time I was still fresh from my 2001 accident, still coming out of the eternal cycle of treatment and hospital and pain. Personally I was going through a rather rough patch where my wedding date had to be rescheduled to a later date. Thus my original wedding date of February 2004 went unnoticed, by all but me. The poems I wrote at the time are full of heartbreak and a type of agony I cannot associate with anymore. I was so lonely. Every minute I spent at home was full of a sense of hopelessness. That has come back in phases like depression usually does, but then you pick up the pieces and move on a stronger person.<br />
And you forget.<br />
And then if you have written a diary, after a decade, suddenly it is brought back to you in very great detail, what every day was like. The hurt which people caused you, you go through remembering every tear, the pain of missing teeth, the helplessness of not being in control of a situation, the angst of your younger self, when you cant go back and advise, do this, dont do that...<br />
So is it worth it, keeping a diary? Do I need to re-live all those moments once again? When we dont keep a day to day account, with our memories turning hazy with time, we remember the overall good or bad feelings of a stretch of time. Do we need to remember the details of the bad? If there has been any bitterness, do we remember the gory details of the source of that bitterness? Or is it fine to have an overall sense of negativity without much detail?<br />
Maybe it is therapeutic? Probably going through all that again would heal deep wounds?<br />
I still dont know.</div>Zesty oranges and winter afternoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122877981861297454noreply@blogger.com0