Celebrating my 100th post...with a vacation

It feels wonderful to celebrate landmarks. And this, officially, and finally, is my 100th post! (I had counted it wrong earlier hehehehhe).

I was reading some of the first few posts I had written over a year ago, and was thinking, damn, did I write all this? But then, isn't that the point of blogging? To be able to put down in words all that you feel in that moment -- capture your moment, your thoughts -- sometimes it's an instant reaction to a situation, sometimes some long-boiling angst that finally brims over. Sometimes a joy that must be shared, sometimes something you just want to tell the world, or just yourself. It's ironic you can do all these diverse things in one space. There's anonymity, there's companionship and camaraderie. There's a singular line of thought -- yours-- and a collective reading and identifying with -- through others.

I've enjoyed this space much more than I thought I would, made more friends that I ever thought I could on the web, I've said things that would otherwise be harakiri, and gotten away with it. And all this while it's been my little private hidden secret (at least I think it still is, except if office spy ware is blipping every word to the BOSS).

I was away on a week's vacation (almost) and it co-incided with what would be my 100th post. I thought I'll blog leisurely on vacation. But Ma Nature decided it was time for a break -- even from blogging and connectivity etc. This one picture, hopefully will be the picture postcard of my secret vacation spot amidst the mountains and clouds, rolling estates and beautiful skylights.

I took this picture myself, haven't touched it up or anything, so its real light, real beauty, real colours etc. Feeling pretty proud of it. It was the view from the bungalow we stayed in ....aaah to watch the clouds pass by in a tableaux as you sip hot morning tea...that's a vacation. And that's celebration.

I must stop gloating to thank all the people who bother to read my ramblings, all fellow-mums who stop by to share, advise, rant, appreciate, identify and disagree. When I started writing this blog, I was naive about the world of blogs...didn't know so many people really interacted in such a space. I was initially writing more for myself, then a bit of consciousness crept in -- ummm... "someone may be reading, so be responsible about what you say" kind.  It made me feel good about my writing. I've stood exposed sometimes, vindicated on others, and overall it's been a most fruitful experience.
THANKS EVERYBODY.

Of course I came back from the mountains and clouds with a thud -- on our return both Sonny Boy and me have been sick as sick can be...but we're slowly boing-ing back into action....so more posts will follow in quicker succession.

Adventures in MIL-land

Or I could call it "My damp squib Diwali and other stories..."
Ok this post is just for laughs (seriously, wink wink). Hopefully I'll laugh at it some day.
Back from mom-in-law's where we celebrated Diwali.

It was an adventure for many reasons, starting with the fact that it's a jungle out there!

No really. It started raining real hard the day before we landed.
The courtyard in the back of the house was teeming with slimy slugs and little shiny black frogs, among other things. And of course a whole lot of slippery green moss.

The loo is on the other side of the courtyard!
So all through our vacation, we were running across the uncovered courtyard to take a leak, mostly in the rain...haha. And I had to traipse carefully, avoiding slugs and trying to keep my balance on the slippery courtyard. And if Sonny Boy wanted to pee, I had to carry his highness across with me -- he refused to step on the slimy courtyard, though he loved watching the slugs and bugs.

The main source of water for the household is a well in the courtyard. Something had happened the day before (very strategic of the well, i was thinking) and the water had gone smelly. MIL insisted nothing had fallen in it (it's an open well and i didn't dare to peep in; no one wanted to consider the possibility of getting the water checked or cleaned!). She cooly told us to add some Dettol into our bathing water and supplied us with two huge bottles! For rinsing our mouth, there was stored tap water (piped corporation water comes once in four days). In Rome, do as the Romans do....

The much-loved and revered ancestral house (over 60 years old) is crumbling. And in the rains, water seeps into the walls. There's a musty smell about the house and a dankness i can't explain. The much-loved and revered house cannot be repaired or re-built because the grandfather built it! There's no running water in the kitchen and it's stayed that way all through...even now. MIL says she doesn't need it. I squirm every time she washes vegetables/greens/coriander.

Due to a small family feud (ahem ahem), I didn't have to cook for the entire khaandaan as expected -- just for the six of us, as against the  expected 11 or 12.

Sonny Boy and I fell sick because of the rains, the wetness of it all, the cold... so MIL said "No curd!" We both sulked so much. :-(

Most of the holiday was spent ferrying wet clothes from the open courtyard into the kitchen and then running back again when even a ray of sunshine was visible, in the hope that the clothes would finally dry!

And in between all this was MIL's don't-touch-me madi phase in the mornings when she would cook for the Gods. So I would do a little dance as i made breakfast or tea, and remember not to bump into her and spoil her sanctity.

Oh and tea! I made lots and lots and pots of that. That's one thing MIL loves to give up whenever I'm there -- making tea. And the family drinks lots of it, over and over again. Fresh. Never from a flask, mind it! I get better and better at brewing tea every time i visit them.

The family also does not believe in vegetables! I mean it. After the first day when we ate sprouts and a side dish with greens, and the second day where there was brinjal/eggplant, there was just LOADS of fried food and dishes with oodles of besan flour. Result: Sonny Boy and I were constipated! And we both developed a throat infection :-(

Ok enough....I've been cribbing and bitching too much. But just to re-live the experiences over and over again, thinking and writing about it, lets me cut free from the cycle of that existence. And to move on with the grind back home.

Of vada pav and wine :-)

Yes, I'm back I'm back I'm back...after a VACATION!
Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee finally

The sun and sand have hopefully worked magic on my mind. (So also MIL's presence ...hahahahaha)
And it's with great back-to-school resistance that I've turned up at work today.

A vacation made of all vague things -- of burying my feet in sand, of drinking fruity vodka, of long walks to the beach in the sultry sun, of making new friends, of laughing at odd things, of biting into cold vada pav and sipping strong red wine while feeding S his dinner, of lots of therapeutic shopping, of LATE mornings spent sprawled in bed with dear S, and watching him suddenly pick up language like a pro. Of brushing teeth in the open backyard looking up at a ridiculous five-star hotel looming large from behind, of trying to read a book while S slept...

Of meals that did not have to be cooked and surprise meals that had to be cooked for the joint family.....oh it was so much...work? Hahaha maybe, but right now I'm just heady and giddy from the holdiay, so it can't all have been bad. ;-)

Need a vacation-staycation

Need a vacation. A real long one. One from which i don't want to return. A vacation to nowhere will be good. But to take a vacation one needs leave.

And to get leave one needs others to come back from leave. That never really happens, does it?

So you wait and wait and wait endlessly dreaming of that dream vacation -- of quiet baches, or dew-soaked hillsides, or a rain-framed glass window overlooking rolling plantations, or hot bhajjis by a moon-lit river... or a cheese-making farm maybe? Anything...where I don't have to worry about tomorrow's breakfast, about stocking up on veggies and stuff. Any place where things just get done by themselves.

But then, i wouldn't want to come back :-)