Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu by Laurence Bergreen

To elude corona, was virtually travelling into the most exotic of places and time; then it started raining in an extravagant tantrum...What the world encounters is stranger than a fable, indeed. 26th of 2020; this was with me, at least for the last six months next to my pillow - but someother book always overtook her or should I say him? One reason for delaying was - I wanted to give it time, and go deep into it; as it was a mix of my favorites - history, travel, and Biography. Having started re-reading today the 6th of May; do not know how long it would take to complete.

When Genoese jailed Marco after war with Venice, he not only survived there, but thrived. Rustichello collaborated with him to bring out the work on "Description of the World"; as experienced by Marco Polo, which came to known as 'Travels'. Marco knew well the use of adversity, and had been turning them to his advantage during the whole of his extraordinary life.

Divided into three parts - Book One (Europe); Book Two (Asia) and Book Three (India); each have further engrossing, fascinating, mesmerizing, illuminating stories.

VENICE - Seductive, Byzantine and water bound - most important centers of commerce and culture in 13th century Europe. (Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey, it was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 CE and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate. Under the name Constantinople it was the Ottoman capital until 1923. The capital was then moved to Ankara and the city was renamed Istanbul) For Venetians, the world was modern and flat way back then, they were globalized. The Polos were not the first merchants to travel from Venice to Asia, but Thanks to Marco Polo's exploits, they became the most celebrated. The combination of the doge's (leader's) secular power and Mark's spiritual authority imparted a sense of political destiny to the Republic - a secular destiny, despite everything. The age of faith was also an age of peril, turmoil, and war. Splendor first has always lead to disarray/turmoil. The triump of Christianity was not a sure thing then; Rome was fighting against Islam, Mongols, Greek Orthodox church and even itself. At the time of his birth Marco Polo's (henceforth called as MP) father and uncle - Niccolo and Maffeo Polo had left towards east. Natural hardships had made the travel difficult, and thought they wanted to return, then kept going further; through the silk road, until they met Kublai Khan, who promised them the Golden passport.

Moghols captured and destroyed Afghanistan, Genghis Khan, established Tenggerrism - the worship of heaven as the official religion of Moghol Empire and appointed himself as it chief representative. Then, globalisation seeked to connect the whole world, including one God  - called Natigai. Genghis Khan's grandson Hulegree killed Caliph in 1258. His grand son Kubli Khan and his cousin Kaidu were never at peace. With Kublai's grand son, Thymur,  Yuan dynasty ended, and lesser Khan's embraced Islam. 

Different life style, places enroute Silk route among others and rituals during wedding, birth and death across places have also been described. Almost a year was delayed due to ill health of MP - which was healed by going up on the mountains of Afghanistan. What medicine was used, is not described, it could be opium. On meeting Kublai Khan, MP's father and uncle dedicated his service to Kublai khan. 
 

There have been conflicting views, as to whether MP, actually reached China, or was this written from his readings. 

Trade and religion has to be kept separate. Common essence of internal relations, is that it transcends political system and religious beliefs, all of which are self-limiting. Only absolute is power of belief itself. 

A Hobby and what it does to me - Dunja

A HOBBY AND WHAT IT DOES TO ME - BY Dunja - Sharing with her permission.

I am not sure if you have had this moments in your life when you are sucked into one of your hobbies from which you think it is your area, only yours - where you are the specialist, the all-known person until you meet someone who is far more of an expert than you are. Well when it comes to this point – I would not have a hobby because I am not an expert in anything. It is not even that I pretend to be an expert – I don’t like people who show off with their personal expertise on topics nobody really needs to know like for example who invented the ball-bearing of Jane Fonda’s roller skates while I have to say I don’t even know if Jane Fonda has ever been an owner of roller skates. Probably not, rather an owner of these pinky – kinky American Aerobic suits which were kind of fashionable in the 80’s. Not where I grew up. We wore cotton pants when playing handball against the enemy village and you were always afraid that - during a handball match where we were not allowed to drink any water because our overweight trainer had thought that only pussies would drink any liquid while playing the hardest game of your life – one of the opposing team members would pull down these cotton short pants out of anger because you had shot more goals than they did.
When I saw Jane Fonda the first time in one of these magazines you shared with your friends because mum would not allow to buy one (too costly) I was sure – the reason of wearing one of those kinky-pinky suits was because she had also been afraid (like me, so I had something in common with Jane) that someone would pull her costume down in public. I could not see any other reason than this. Why else would someone wear what make you look like an idiot? Top of the body almost nothing while feet where covered with leg warmers. I felt always sorry for her and all the women who copied her. Today I know, I had not understood the concept of physical attraction by that time. But I do know now. We all have our hidden secrets.

My hobby is sewing. Recently my husband, a mid-life-crised torned engineer, bought me one of these fancy Overlock sewing machines. When you sit in front of this machine it feels like being in one of these movies where the airplane is about to crash, the captain shot and a passenger is taking over the steer in the cockpit not knowing which button to press first to make the plane land safely

That is how I felt when I opened the box of his wonderful present. Engineers are different than other human beings, they want to improve the world, make it a better place for all of us. They invent a brush holder for a bathroom with an individual hole for each brush (I use the word hole, the correct word is according to my husband brush stem holder) and take it personally when your adolescent children ignore that invention and throw the brushes in the drawer below. So I had no excuse when my husband whispered that he had booked a training session for us. Yes, you read it right.

Coming back from rehab I was not able to remember the next day more than the two words US and TRAINING. That meant – he and I . I don’t know how many men in this world join an overlock sewing machine training class with their wife – I believe not many. Well my husband had thought it is a very normal thing to do.

To be honest – when I stepped into the store it felt like a daddy-and-me session in one of these places where fathers go on a Saturday afternoon with their toddlers to potter for mummy something creative like a dinosaur-shaped vase, colored in light green. Not that I would not have liked that but the presents I received for mother’s day where going more in a technical direction (we will touch that topic maybe later..).

Anyway the timing was a bit unfortunate because I had been really really tired and unfortunately (again!) – carried the wrong glasses with me in my self-sewed bag. (You have to send the right signals right from the beginning) . So my husband had to take over the steer in that training, exchanged technical knowledge with the young, pretty trainer while I was nodding my head hoping that the session would be over soon. To stick with the picture I had been able to close the training session but could not remember one single thing the next date even my husband had made notes but you know how that was in school or in university. Notes from other people are not useful if you don’t understand the content at all, they are like additional miracles where you think that is exactly what is written in the book (or in this case in the manual) so why has she/ he written the whole stuff again by hand - on a notepad. I must admit – I am a well-known-first-grade-ignorer of handbooks. Have you ever read a handbook of a toaster or a hair dryer? I bet you have not - at least when you are NOT an engineer. The world is divided into handbook readers and handbook ignorers, I belong to the last group but while a toaster is not so difficult to make it to function as a toaster an overlook-sewing machine can be a real challenge. I think you get the idea - . I had no choice but to read the handbook. I think it was the first handbook I have ever read in my short life and that from page 1 to page 54.

For people who belong to the first group (in case you have forgotten: that are the ones who actually read the manuals/ handbooks) it does not leave them with any particular feeling. But for people like me who ( I help you here again in case you have forgotten to which group you belong by now) never read handbooks – reading 54 pages and following on top also the instructions – it feels like being an expert, being in heaven – a sewing machine heaven of course. You got the point? I hope so. And this is not a lie. It worked, believe it or not – I am now able to use the machine and that made me very happy and it put me on a higher stage somehow, didn’t it? The feeling of belonging to the group of one of these experts was crawling from my feet to my heart. And now, after three pages I come to the point:

When using my Ovi (the community does not use the term Overlock sewing machine, the community says “Ovi”…. it obviously always needs abbreviations to belong to a certain community) I start to drift away …. I start to see myself standing on a stage with red curtains in the background, in front of a big but very quiet and highly concentrated audience and beside me a young, beautiful lady in a long shiny dress and professional make up, this young lady helds a microphone in her hands, starts to interview me and - there is that big, striking, colorful poster behind us which screams in the camera “Dunja , Designer of the year 2022”. In this special moment there is not much of a difference between the real Dunja who just started to understand her new Ovi and Dunja, the designer. I am only a breath away from reaching that stage and that makes me smile in front of my machine until my niece calls up asking me: When will you finally send what you promised a year ago?

And that is what I like about hobbies. They put you back on earth quite fast. But you have these tiny little moments just for you, for yourself where you think or feel: well - it COULD happen, couldn’t it. And don’t tell me you don’t have that. I have asked my sister: and she has these thoughts, too. That is evidence enough.

My sister presented me her first short-story which was about our cat Jimmy. In these days we called ourselves still being an owner of an animal (we both grew up on a farm, by that time divorce was a no-go and you still called yourself an owner of a pet without hurting any feelings) means that was by the time Jane Fonda’s kinky-pinky suit became fashionable. You see, life is a place where all winding paths meet. Jane Fonda almost met Jimmy in my home town - so to say.

Well, the cat was always stealing cold cuts from our kitchen table until my mother made this horrible, loud, fizzling sound with which she scared away our Jimmy. To make a long story short – my sister’s short story was about Jimmy’s cold cut trauma and we discussed over a glass of red wine that I will of course take over the accounting and managing part with her publishing house but that my only request would be that she needs to mention my name – and if only for one time - when she will give that interview to the NY Times while being appointed as THE new German author ( we could see the headline, literally feel the number of comments from readers …!) Even she belongs by now to the group of the political correctly named silver agers. She does not like that expressions as she dyes her hair.

She has – when she sits on that stage to mention the following – and she promised me to do so when we had that bottle of red wine - “my manager is my best friend and btw it is my youngest sister” – Only after that I let her go to find her place in the same row like Herta Müller, Hermann Hesse, Goethe or whoever has been on that NYT bestseller list (we will also touch that topic later, I am not an expert yet on literature)

So my sister has it, my friend Suzann has it, I have it. That is enough evidence for me .I don’t need to be a scientist to tell that each and any of us carries at least one of these dreams. Only difference is, some dream of brush stems, others of being a nobel prize winner. You take what you get J

Trials during Tribulation - Besin and Kanji

Patties:
Just mash boiled chole n aloo..then put sum masala..like garam masala..aamchur...coat wid rusk poder if poss..n I just roast it on tava wid spoon of oil..

Home made bread:
Same like cake..just different mould.. lesser sweet n wheat flour



Kanji Halwa:
2.5 cup kanjivellam
500 gram jagrey
Half cup rice powder
Fried cashew and coconut if desired
Ghee
Pinch of salt
Cardmom

Mix ricepowder with ricestarch, strain the mixture, 10 minutes keepstirring and heating,
When semiliquid add a pinch of salt, Cardmom
Jagrey syrup, when thick add cashew and ghee, when this do not stock vessel, pour it into a glass bowl, applying oil.

Khandavi

https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/khandvi-recipe-how-to-make-khandvi/

Cooking this smooth batter of the gram flour and buttermilk batter is one tricky part. If you get this right, then more than half of your problem is solved.

To make khandvi, the proportion of gram flour/besan to buttermilk is 1 : 3. 

The recipe yields 25 to 30 khandvi rolls

Add ginger-green chili paste, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt. If using fresh yogurt, then to add the sourness, add about 1/2 tsp of lemon juice. Add gram flour also known as Besin,Pour this batter in a saucepan or a broad frying pan. Switch on the stovetop and keep the flame to the lowest. Begin to stir.Spread oil on plates or boards or tray. Large steel lids or thalis work very well. You can also use the back of a large baking tray.  A suggestion would be to use your kitchen counter top, if you prefer. Then you just spread the whole cooked batter on it and can spread it in your own pace. A large wooden or metal tray would also be good.Stir & stir and exercise your hands. the batter also should not be allowed to stick at the bottom nor lump should be formed. So you have to stir continuously.it took me 17 minutes to get the correct consistency on a low flame. The timing will vary depending on the intensity of the flame, the thickness/thinness of the pan and the size of the pan. Just do the plate test and when you can form the rolls, then the khandvi batter is ready. If the batter becomes too thick, then it becomes difficult to spread and you don’t get thin layers in the rolls. In this case, still spread the batter. You will get thick slices, but still they taste good.Quickly pour about ½ to ⅔ cup of batter on a large plate and spread thinly & evenly with a spatula. You have to be quick with the remaining batter too. Since even a bit of cooling and the batter becomes likes blob, difficult to spread. If you use a large tray or a parat, then its much easier as you don’t hurry like a harried woman here and there.

Cut into equal sized strips.Gently roll each strip tightly. Then place them in a serving tray or plate next to each other or stack them neatly. If the tray or plate is large, then you will get large khandvi rolls. In this case after you finish rolling half,  just cut horizontally and make a second roll.

Can fill it will coconut/coriander leaves.

 

Tempering For Khandvi

 For the tempering, heat oil and crackle the mustard seeds.Then add curry leaves, green chilies and fry for a few secondsThen add curry leaves, green chilies and fry for a few seconds. You can garnish it with some more coconut and coriander leaves, if you prefer. Serve khandvi with coriander chutney or coriander mint chutney.

Mixed Dhokla/idli

First ..you have to layer a container with idli batter of one inch thick ness ..cook it for two mins ..then apply green chutney (corriender) ...n then a layer of khanan dokla layer ..steam it for 6-7 mins

For khaman dokla 

    Take one bowl of besan , add salt to taste , little oil , little haldi , one small.spoon of citric acid granules ..add water to make a batter ..keep it for 5 mins .. .when u r ready to pour that time add half spoon of baking soda .. mix it well ..u we'll get a fluffy texture .pour this on green chutney layer .

Instead of citric acid n baking soda u can use eno. .try it 👍🏻

Normal Dhokla

Sieve 1 cup Besan, make buttermilk( 1/4 cup yoghurt+ 3/4 cup water) mix both and leave overnight to ferment. When fermented - add 1 teaspoon oil, grated ginger, finely chopped chilly, salt and sugar . Mix well. Add 1 sachet Eno fruit salt. Mix lightly. Transfer to greased pan and steam for 15 min. When cool temper with mustard/ cumin/ sesame.... add some wTer to this tadka when cool- pour over dhokla- garnish with coriander

You can use khatta dahi, leave a small bowl of dahi outside overnight so that it turns sour. Use it in the batter and if possible use a hand blender to mix the batter, 

gives a very fluffy texture

---

Many of you keep complaining that we can't find vegetables during lockdown; then I thought let me share this Gujarati Vegetarian Recipe which Jains eat -Sev Padelu Shak - I have modified it slightly to suit tastebuds of other parts of the country. But this is what Jains eat during Paryushan festival where there are no vegetables; and this Sev Padelu Shak is made from Besan and Buttermilk.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup besan (chickpeas flour)

Salt

1 tsp Haldi (Turmeric powder)

1.1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder

2 cup buttermilk

2 tbs oil

2-3 garlic cloves (optional)

A pinch of Asafoetida (Hing powder)

Some coriander for garnishing (optional)

Water

Method:

In a bowl, Take 1/2 cup Besan (chickpeas flour)

Add some salt

Add 1 tsp Turmeric Powder and 1.1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder

We will be making this in 2 cup buttermilk; so masalas are very few

Now add 1 tbs water and make a dough- should be thinner than Paratha dough but not too runny; it should be semi solid-semi liquid.

Make sure there are no lumps of besan flour left in the dough- it should be like a smooth paste

Keep buttermilk ready; it should be sour for better taste. If it's not sour then u can add few drops of lemon to make it slightly sour.

Heat up a deep pan; add 2 tbs oil

Now add some garlic chopped cloves 2-3 should be fine

Add a pinch of hing powder (Asafoetida)

let it cook and then add 1.1/2 tsp red chili powder

Kathiyawadi food is slightly spicy

Now add 2 cups of buttermilk (make sure it's not too thick - should be water consistency)

Keep stirring the pan so that buttermilk and water dont get separated

Add some salt

Wait for a boil and then slow down the flame

Take a strainer and apply some oil on the surface of the strainer

Keep stirring the pan

Now take the besan paste we made earlier and rub it on the strainer

cook till sev comes up; now stir gently

Again follow this process; sev coming ip means it's getting cooked.

Finish the process till all paste is over and you get a boil

That's it Sev Padelu Shak is ready.

You may add Coriander on top.

Enjoy with Rothi or Rice.

The Weekend - By Bernhard Schlink

Henner, Ilse, Ulrich with his second wife and their daughter, Karin with her husband, Andreas, Margarete, Marko, Ferdinand, Christine and Jorg - the 13 of them meet on Friday evening at the country home of Christine and Margarete at Brandenburg. Old friends and lovers, a journalist, a vicar, a lawyer, a businessman, a teacher/writer, and the terrorist now reunite but this is not ordinary. After twenty four years Jorg a convicted murderer and terrorist has been released from prison on a pardon. As the weekend unfolds, old jelousies simmer, and unanswered questions surge to the fore. In the hope that at least one of them can help him, guide him back to life, Christine Jorg's sister, who had been a mother to him, gathers hisold friends. As the friends meet, Ilse is writing, about another friend, who's husband committed suicide or was it to break from family life and become a terrorist? Jorg who then contempt Jan's act, now said Jan was the best?

Bernhard Schlink in 'The Weekend', probes the shadowlands between guilt and redemption, present and past, experience and youth. In haunting prose he distils both the pain of a nation and the abiding possibility of hope. People get locked in their perceptions and ideas. Sometimes the world needs a shock to come to its senses. Among other things we get a sneek peak into who is a terrorist and why terrorism, how they are treated and what becomes of them, their family and dreams.

Started as 27th of 2020 but finished before MP; the 26th is half way through. So Unstoppable, gripping and quick, it took less than 24 hours to finish reading; as much as the book, loved the smell of it. Was looking for 'The Reader' By Bernhard Schlink, but 'The weekend' was very entertaining; ended up getting this. Hope to get hold of The Reader soon, as Dunja keep saying 'The Reader' is an excellent book. ( Will post her writing's in the next blog)

Amma - Mother

As always, after work discussion, in our official calls; we do discuss the festivals, weekend plans etc. As a part of which, the question popped up asking, what was the plans for the mother's day? Every Second Sunday of May, is celebrated as mothers day, and this year it falls on the 10th of May. In US children go to visit parents, with flowers, cards and gifts. Roots of the origin of the day lies in the time a woman called Anna Jarvis had held a memorial for her mother when she passed away in 1905. She did that at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, the same place where the International Day shrine is held. It was also her who had started a campaign to recognize Mother’s Day as a holiday in the United States.Even though her efforts were defeated and the request to observe the day as a holiday was denied, she persisted. In 1941, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation after which the second Sunday in the month of May was declared as a national holiday to honor mothers.The day is celebrated at different places on different dates. In UK, it is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of March commemorating the memory of Mother Church on Christian Mothering Sunday. In Greece, however, it is celebrated on February 2, linking the day with Eastern Orthodox celebration.

Team India's unanimous answer was, every day is mother's day for us. In India we do nothing special this day; and we honour and remember our mother's daily. The importance of mothers needs no retelling. Our lives are stitched with their presence, both visible and invisible. There is none of us without our mothers, and there is nothing wrong in either celebrating her everyday, or have a single day for her. The most unconditional love that one would see anywhere is that of a mother for her Children; if there is anything more, it could be in some cases to her grandchildren. But that is more of caring.


Remember having written about Amma some years back, and how all mothers are crazy, and pat came back fire; saying how dare I call mothers Crazy - it's because I do not understand them. Well so could be, so could be not. It most do take a mother to appreciate another. Mother is a verb as well as a noun, so is she. Some people had great mothers but lost them, some had or have mothers, who are very dear to them, and some have mothers who never mothered them or stopped mothering them for some reason. I was fed; I was washed; I was clothed; I was taught; I was cared; I was guided, I was scolded, I was nurtured, I was protected, I was done and taken care of by mother, in all the ways she could and more. We have had our ups and downs, and still do. But I know deep down, there is no one who would love me, care for me, irrespective of my flaws, as she does. And I do have her in me - though I have always claimed, that I am more like my father. So quick fixes, in cooking, or dressing. Her dreams had been my dreams. A very independent person, she is so very efficient, capable, and do so many things in parallel, it is difficult to comprehend. Not just me, she was and is a mother to so many who are in need; as she is a daughter to so many around. Very few could be like her; for most of them would love their family - but it takes some extra heart to consider every human from the service providers, and the unknown - not only our kith and kin as our own.

Universally - Covid is special this mother's day. A Very hard Mother's day: Seattle man loses mom, 2 sisters to coronavirus - It was a hurting article to read; so also there are many; who would be missing their mother's this mother's day - not necessarily because of Covid. This includes Rajesh, given his mother passed away in August 2019.The loss is irreplaceable, and something that cannot be described or quantified. For each their own. That is one living mother, who gives birth, or brings us up. But, in parallel we do have many more mothers that brought us up and keep us going, and if we be the same to those around us,

Let us cherish, and Thank our mother when they are around, and pray for them, wherever they are. Let us imbibe in us a living lesson on unconditional, unspoken, Universal Love!

From 'The Maria Goretti Corner'

My mother taught me ..
All that I am..
Everything I do ..
She was strict ..
She was kind..
She did not have riches ..
But was rich ,of a different kind ..
She taught me not to waste ..
She made me slow down ,when I was in a haste ...
She told me , not to be in a hurry, to date ..
I will find what .has to be mine ..
Somewhere ,in this life time ..
Just wait ..
She taught me to have faith ..
To have immense hope..
To never give up ..
To work hard..
To not hold grudges..
To always be kind..
To not talk about anyone , that’s not right ..
To mind my own business..
To stand up for what is right ..
I have seen her struggle...
I have seen her cry ..
I have seen her go to work in heat and pouring rain ..
And also mend my shoes ,make me pretty dresses, garden, climb trees and put clothes out to dry ..
She taught me how to knit, crochet, cross-stich and darn..
She always did her best ..
And always kept us from harm..
And prayed that we always , would be happy in life...
At the end of the day ..
Our Mothers just love us, even if we may turn out , not all right !
.
And when we turn Mothers ..
We understand them better ..
And then we try and make right , where we went wrong ...
But we all have our own paths ..
And that’s where , we will tread ..
Just remember , you are you , because your mama was brave enough to never give up on you ..
With all, that she did and said ..
.
I wish I knew how to be a mom ..
But I’m learning through my mistakes et all..
Sometimes when I look at myself , through my kids eyes..
I see a dragon, all claws and fire , snarling outside ..
But inside all I want ,is that my kids turn out fine ...
That they are kind, brave ,strong and stand on the side of goodness , most of the time..
That they are happy ,from their insides and have enough to laugh about ..
And want to hug me , as long as I’m around...
And when my circle comes to an end ..
They remember me with laughs ..
And say , “God ! What a dragon she was , but loved us , as crazily as a bear who would brave stinging bees for honey !
Crazy kook Mommy ..

Sisters

Blessed are those who have sisters as their siblings. There might be many sisters around the world; but having one who is always there for you, to accept you as you are; to bear all your anger and short temper; and yet love you the same, is indeed a bliss. It makes me good and feel very proud to have a sister like you.

I might make fun of you when you keep telling, sit let us talk, but I am really glad, I have someone to tell me that. I might say 'shey' when you want to give me a hug many times, but I am really glad, I have someone to give me that. I might not say always, but I am so proud to have a sister like you, for what you are. Normally younger sister's follow the older ones, but it seems, here I have been following you; first to Chennai, then to US, then getting married, and the journey continue. Thank you for all the support and guidance.



You are one of the most important people, and I think I tell you first, almost everything that I have to let go. As kids, we lived together, we laughed, we cried, we fought, we suffered, we went to school together, we spend our vacations together, there is so much I learned from you. You let go, all the pranks I played on you. One of the best gifts, I had from God was having you. The best thing, is you are always there, a back up for everything, I would have to do. Your love for mom, make you do things by default. Seeing the pic of Neil, in your hands was a bliss! Can't forget that day, that moment.

“Side by side or miles apart we are sisters connected by the heart. Because I have a sister I will always have a friend. Our paths may change as life goes along but our bond as sisters will remain ever strong. Sisters make the bad times good and the good times unforgettable.”

There is no better friend, than a sister, and there is no better sister than you. Wishing you worlds best, Now and always!

Building roadblocks or bridges

Whatever you are feeling, or doing, or not feeling, or not doing - you do not need fixing, you are perfect – just as you are.

“See, all of us are born perfect. Then we grow up and try to be perfect for others; People should realize it’s perfectly fine not to be perfect”.

We all have a choice to take all that we are and use it to build roadblocks or bridges. Even in this time of lockdown.Pick up something small and unbreakable in your hand. Close your hand tight around it. Now, choose to expand your hand imagining the object is getting bigger as you do so, now try to keep a hold of the object at the same time. You can’t. At the point of expansion, you must let go and the object falls away.

In our business, we will all have things that we don’t like to do. Perhaps it’s finance, perhaps it’s marketing, perhaps it’s sales, perhaps it’s admin, perhaps it’s a client who’s phone call you just dread!

Here is where we have a choice. We can allow those things to become ‘demons’, to grow and take root, getting bigger and ultimately turning into a roadblock that halts us in our tracks. OR we can choose to explore the thoughts and feelings we have, letting them expand - and as they do so, and we let them go, we choose to use them to build bridges into that new expanded perspective.

Sound simple? I know it’s not and I’m not trying to be flippant. I know that sometimes it’s easier to escape into ‘chick’ fiction, or whatever you use as your mechanism, than it is to face challenges.

My challenge to you today is to simply be conscious of your choices and take responsibility for them.

Know that you are choosing to hide and that's ok; or know that you are choosing to run and that's ok; or know that you are choosing to take a peak into the abyss and that's ok; or know that you are choosing to spend time with your concerns and that's ok; or know that you are choosing to build roadblocks and that's ok; or know that you are choosing to build bridges and that's ok.

Simply own your choices, without judgement. Life is not happening to you. You are happening to life!

Keep shining
✨Sharyn with a WhY ✨
Holistic Business Strategist

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Bridges and Walls have always been a favorite topic of mine. A lot has been said and written about this, and will continue to be. 

Lessons of Life : We build walls to protect a house we call home. We build walls between people and us to protect our vulnerabilities. We build walls behind which we hide from ourselves. So afraid are we of ourselves. Caged behind so many walls, do we know who we are anymore? - Shekhar Kapur.

Some cage our sorrows and grief, behind the walls. They are good, if they protect us, and not just keep emotions caged to be burst at a point in time, later.  Some build them to assert individuality, and preserve them for the future generation, 

Achan

Indeed 'A better man', that I have known, reading the book; did make me think of him more - and Rishi Kapoors interview with Simi Garewal, and Devi's blog on Fatherless added icing to the pain. Do every Child try to be like his father or want to be better than him?

Like Mukundan in 'The better Man', or how Rishi wanted to maintain a distance with Ranbir as he was with his father Raj Kapoor? Then like Devi who blogs at http://deviharidas.blogspot.com/2020/05/fatherless.html#comment-form ; I too wonder:

How do you get used to a father gone from your midst? The grief first shrouds you, then pulverizes your soul and finally drills a gaping hole that would never get filled..it remains there as a reminder of what was lost and what can never be found.


And it reminds you everyday of the joys and bonds of being a daughter – being a princess to your father – with a father’s death, the ‘daughter of a father’ also dies. It tells you of the smokescreen life that we lead – all the materiality in the world and the flimsiness of it all – it takes but a moment for all this to come crashing down – it took but a few moments for his laughter to end and his presence lost forever. And then I think of the callousness of my complaints – my job, a worthless promotion, a verbal spat with someone and an endless list of troubles…Troubles I call them? How does it even equal in the greatest grief of all – of a parent gone and never to return?


And life changes forever – every silent hour is deafening, absence more prominent than ever before – not a musical note that I can appreciate without tears in my eyes, not a laugh that I can end without thinking of him, not an art performance that I can breathe in without thinking of the man who introduced me to all the art and artists of the world, (the greatest epics of Ramayana and Mahabharath; was wondering who would introduce it to Neil - Thanks to Covid - DD did). And perhaps he left behind a bit of him in me – and each musical note, each chore at home and each rational (and irrational) thought brings me closer to his being.

Perhaps I honour him with each pure thought, each kind word and each rational act and I owe him my unbiased upbringing, my anti-extremist views and the will to never merge into the ‘crowd’ – for with his life he showcased the simplicity of a good life – all it needs is unconditional giving, a will of your own, fair thinking and the grit to live by your own ethos and principles.


And what remains is me and the zillion moments of beauty that he introduced me to for who am I without him – perhaps an extension of him and all I can ensure is to live by his tenets, continue the web of relationships that he spun to perfection, fight for the equality that he always ‘did’ than ‘said’ and continue my journey for appreciating art for simply being art and never anything else.


So I ask myself again - how do you get used to a father gone? The answer is never…

The better Man by Anita Nair

25th of 2020, the book in five parts, the back cover of the book narrates part 1 and 2.


Nothing in life comes free, everything has a price tag, in one form or the other. Including love. Everything has to be paid for. Every man has a price. All you need to know is figure out at what price principles begin to erode.

Was the mind a piece of knitting held between two needles, age and thought?

Every man is guided by a force that is individual and unfathomable. Man can heal, but a little. Man can aid self-discovery, but only a little. No man is the master of another man's destiny.

Paying of dues, finally take Mukundan on a path, will he be a better man than his father Achuthan Nair?

C2C - Rishiji.....

Thank you, Good Bye, RIP ----The Journey continue, with followers.....Covid with mass illness and deaths on one side and on the other side another set of daily nightmares - One tragedy after another. Not fair Universe. Let this pass away soon. Can we have a better 2020? Life is highly unpredictable, We're not promised a tomorrow .

First seen in a song in the film Sree 420, as a child, followed by Mera Nam Joker, and then as a lead actor, in Bobby Oh my goodness gracious. The Bobby hero, Rishi Kapoor, goes.He died on 30 April 2020 from complications of bone marrow cancer (Some mention as leukemia) , aged 67. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2018, he underwent treatment in New York for almost a year. In September 2019, he returned to India but was rarely seen in public since.

Born Rishi Raj Kapoor, in Chembur, Bombay, in a Punjabi family, he was the second son of actor-director Raj Kapoor and grandson of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. He appeared opposite his wife Neetu Singh (married 1980) in twelve films between 1973 and 1981, they got married on 22 January 1980. "I had a horrible first meeting with Rishi Kapoor. He had a habit of bullying, so he would comment on my make-up and clothes, and I'd feel so angry. He was actually a brat who would bully everyone and I was very young at that time. I used to be furious with him," said Neetu.

The couple had two children—actor Ranbir Kapoor, born 28 September 1982, and designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahani, born 15 September 1980. Rishi Kapoor's autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, was released on 15 January 2017. Kapoor wrote the book along with Meena Iyer, the same year he won number of award as Best Actor in a Comic Role for Kapoor & Sons; though there were few more movies, enacted even after that - a notable one being 102 not out.

"People often ask me what institute have I been to. And I always tell them that I've graduated from the University of the Kapoors. I've learnt everything in this school. It is here that I learnt to overcome failure, hurt, pain. My experiences have taught me a lot," Rishi had said. "I'm sincere to my work and to my family because I've experienced a lot from the lifestyles of my grandfather, my father, my uncles, my brothers. I've deliberately stayed away from things that could possibly affect my family life. The only thing that I haven't been able to stay away from is alcohol. I don't know how that has happened. Maybe because my father too was a big drinker, I guess," he said. I am reminded of Raj Kapoor's funeral - what a crowd it was! Rishi's family was by his side when he breathed his last and his funeral will take place at Marine Lines Chandanwadi near the hospital. Rishi Kapoor was hospitalised in Mumbai's Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital after this condition deteriorated. His brother Randhir Kapoor had shared the news that the actor had been kept in ICU as his cancer has relapsed. His children would miss the funeral, 20 people who got permission to attend are:

Some of his last tweets were:

An appeal Folded hands to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don’t resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

It was actor Amitabh Bachchan who has shared the news of his friend and co-star Rishi's passing away. In his tweet, he wrote, "T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed !"

Both deaths - unfortunate, a big loss for film industry. From Cancer to Corona to Cancer. One at 54, another at 67 - Sridevi also passed away at 54. Hope they have met in heaven, and Rishi and Sridevi are dancing to the tunes of Chandini.

Writing Tips

Was wondering, what it takes to write a book and how to get it published; and here was the response from Pattabhi Ram Sir - "Love, Laziness, and Long hours. As in love for writing, laziness (As defined by corporate guys who think the office revolves around them), and ability to put long hours on the writing effort. You try out with main stream publishers or go to independent publishers"

Eric Karl Anderson the lonesomereader, with his blog, you tube and Instagram, has been an inspiration and great recommendation. – My Bibliotherapist. The Novel cure. The fact is, one cannot read all the books that exist. And the more you read, the more your are tempted to write. Just like breathing is complete only when you inhale and exhale.

In his essay Why Write?, Sartre explores how a writer uses literature in order to “manage his escapes and conquests.” He describes how each writer “has his reasons: for one, art is a flight; for another, a means of conquering.” Such motivation as based partially in the writer’s belief that they are “essential in relationship to the world.” Giving permanence to an experience of our world through writing is a consequence of the writer imposing unity between their mind and the things they depict. “The operation of writing,” Sartre proposes, involves “an implicit quasi-reading which makes real reading.” An author does not see the words he writes as a reader sees them, as the words existed to him before he wrote them, while the reader’s perception of these words is unique.

Margaret Atwood's Top 5 Writing Tips; she says don’t know where ideas come from – but when it comes, working out of it, structure, pacing is important. Something has to happen, and it has to be a surprise. Some of it will be draining, as you cannot go from one happy scene to the other. Show how the character is dealing with it. Mere act of writing is an act of optimism – it will be finished, publish, will have readers. And the tips –

1) Have note book – write down
2) Read Critically – decide what you like and what you don’t; how languages are handled.
3) Pay attention to your posture – it will catch up to you as you get older – exercise.
4) When you get into a block – go for a walk or go to sleep.
5) Don’t be afraid to throw things out – when you are writing, no one else is seeing. Put out, and then decide what needs to go to the waste basket

Create, Analyse , Forecast

How to Write a Book: 13 Steps From a Bestselling Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Have you ever had a book idea so captivating you just knew it would finally push you across the finish line?
1. Establish your writing space.
2. Assemble your writing tools.
3. Break the project into small pieces.
4. Settle on your big idea.
5. Construct your outline.
6. Set a firm writing schedule. (Firm Deadline).
7. Conduct your research.
8. Write a compelling, reader-first, opener.
9. Fill your story with conflict and tension.
10. Turn off your internal editor. (While writing).
11. Don't quit during the Marathon of the Middle.
12. Write a resounding ending.
13. Become a ferocious (aggressive) self-editor.

If you have several ideas, pick the one that is the most emotional because readers remember what moves them. Excellent advice. If it seems boring to you, your reader is asleep . “You Can edit a Bad page, but you can’t edit a Blank page”

So how do writers really write? Shorn of all technical details, here is what Revathi Krishna think happens when a writer sets out to write ( https://revathikrishna.com/how-do-writers-write-the-journey-of-an-idea-from-conception-to-completion/ ).
Phase 1: Germinating:
Phase 2: Solidifying:
Phase 3: Thinking:
Phase 4: Outpouring:
Phase 5: Editing

Finding joy | Life In Lockdown - The R's of Me

As the saying goes, "After every storm, there is a rainbow"; with most of us locked inside our walls, without a chance to step into the outside world, it was a moment to take sometime out of our busy life, be Thankful, explore our interest and bring out the passion. It deffered from people to people - from gardening/horticulture, painting/drawing, photography/videography, reading books/watching movies and so on. Has God really answered the prayers of the people who grumbled having no time to do certain things in life and wanted to? Novelists, critics, artists, and journalists have put words to the feelings many are experiencing. The result is a first draft of how we’ll someday remember this time, filled with uncertainty and pain and fear as well as small moments of hope and humanity.

Though thought this would be the time, I can finish off the pending books on my shelf, time even here had other plans; so ended up: Remote connection with team, reconnect with nature, reminisce the past, rejuvenating self.

Working from home, brought with it benefits as well as the unique issues not only for self, but for the team as well - resolving it became a priority. Extended family and friend with social distancing and unable to meet own friend and family - Nature, birds and animals took over their space. The vacation was a sneak peak into past. It helped update and clean up the blog a bit as well. Finally with all these, the little time I used to spend on myself was also lost. Reading did happen, but at a slower pace; with the heat, exercising was next to impossible, but did give a little brush up to cooking. Cleaning by default had to be done, realizing smaller the house the better.

Lessons of Life : and it took a virus that threatens our existence to remind us. That beauty lies in simplicity .

When someone says we can accomplish something but we must pay a price, do not rush to applaud. One day you may become the price that is paid. "When the stick hits my own head, I finally understand the pain — and why some others once cried out of pain."

"We human beings are all unique bound by a common thread of humanity. Irrespective of whoever, where ever, whatever we are. We do design for high-value housing and provide in the slums the residue. We should be ashamed because we have the image we want to project of ourselves and there’s a part we want to hide. We are offended when people criticise it, but we have social responsibilities as architects and builders. The corona issue is a wake-up call of what beholds us. What our concern is that it turns around and bites us,” - Ratan Tata

Irrfan Khan - Amma has come to take me

Today morning, a sudden tweet by filmmaker Shoojit Sircar left everyone shocked.

"My dear friend Irfaan. You fought and fought and fought. I will always be proud of you.. we shall meet again.. condolences to Sutapa and Babil.. you too fought, Sutapa you gave everything possible in this fight. Peace and Om shanti. Irfaan Khan salute. "

Born in 1967, though wanted to be a cricketer, he could not make it due to financial difficulties, took up acting classes in 1984, joined Television, slowly moved into Hindi films, side roles, and then became a lead actor, his first Bollywood lead role came in 2005 with film Rog; then there was no looking back. . Not only in Bollywood but joined the world film industry, acting in not just one but a fair number of good films. Was he in a hurry or was he trying to make up for the delayed recognition?

In February 1995, Khan married writer and fellow NSD graduate Sutapa Sikdar. They had two sons. In 2011 he received Padma Sri under the category of arts. In 2012, he changed his name from Irfan to Irrfan; he said he liked the sound of the extra r in his name. He later dropped Khan from his name because—according to a 2016 interview—he wanted his work to define him, not his lineage.

Wo aye the #PaanSinghTomar bankar jo behtar #Jazbaa k dhani th,

#MumbaiMeriJaan thi. #Haider dili s #Hassil kiya tha uncha mukam. Looks m wo #TheKiller the.

Jinke abhinay ke kya #HindiMedium, #EnglishMedium wale bh diwane the. Apni zindagi ke #LunchBox mai #ApnaAsmaan lekar chalte the.

No doubt he was #TheWarrior & became a #SlumDogMillionair of millions of #AMightyHeart who were #QaribQaribSingle in his love.
He lived a #Chocolate, #LifeInAMetro,

#MagarYeSaliZindigi, #Madari ki trh unk saath khrl r thi #Talvar Lliye humare #BilluBarber ko #BlackMail krri thi.
There was #NoBedOfRoses from past 2 years in the #Karwan of his life.

Ye kesa #Rog laga unko jo ab uko #Qissa bna gaya or #KamalKiMaut dekar hum sab ko #Puzzle kar gaya. Shayd uparwale ko bh wo #Maqbool the.

Par wo itni jld chale gaye k na unko #SalamBombay kah pai naa duniya unko #ThankYou

& this was the #LIFEOFPI

Your Fan
Bhumika Bhagyashaly
#KRAZZY4 U

Indeed he was gone, when he had so much more to give!

An actor that every director wanted to work with. A human being that gave his best in every role. Indian film’s most succesful export to Hollywood. A man loved by all. Sad to see him leave us, after what we thought was successful fight against cancer.The official statement confirming Irrfan's death reads, "I trust, I have surrendered”; These were the some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heartfelt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer. A man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen, Irrfan Khan passed away.

Goodbyes hurt the most when the story is not yet finished. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal. Finding reasons in the death will never give us any answers. I look at his passing as a door to eternity and a beginning of new life for him.

He wrote a letter in 2018, which is his own obituary.

I reproduce excerpts from that;

“It’s been quite some time now since I have been diagnosed with a high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. This new name in my vocabulary, I got to know, was rare, and due to fewer study cases, and less information comparatively, the unpredictability of the treatment was more. I was part of a trial-and-error game.”

“I had been in a different game, I was travelling on a speedy train ride, had dreams, plans, aspirations, goals, was fully engaged in them. And suddenly someone taps on my shoulder and I turn to see. It’s the TC: “Your destination is about to come. Please get down.” I am confused: “No, no. My destination hasn’t come.” “No, this is it. This is how it is sometimes.

The suddenness made me realise how you are just a cork floating in the ocean with unpredictable currents! And you are desperately trying to control it.”

"In this chaos, shocked, afraid and in panic, while on one of the terrifying hospital visits, I blabber to my son, 'The only thing I expect from ME is not to face this crisis in this present state. I desperately need my feet. Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable'.

“That was my intention. And then the pain hit. As if all this while, you were just getting to know pain, and now you know his nature and his intensity. Nothing was working; no consolation, no motivation.”

"As I was entering the hospital, drained, exhausted, listless, I hardly realised my hospital was on the opposite side of Lord’s, the stadium. The Mecca of my childhood dream. Amidst the pain, I saw a poster of a smiling Vivian Richards. Nothing happened, as if that world didn’t ever belong to me.

This hospital also had a coma ward right above me. Once, while standing on the balcony of my hospital room, the peculiarity jolted me. Between the game of life and the game of death, there is just a road. On one side, a hospital, on the other, a stadium. As if one isn’t part of anything which might claim certainty – neither the hospital, nor the stadium. That hit me hard.

I was left with this immense effect of the enormous power and intelligence of the cosmos. The peculiarity of MY hospital’s location – it HIT me. The only thing certain was the uncertainty. All I could do was to realise my strength and play my game better.”

“This realisation made me submit, surrender and trust, irrespective of the outcome, irrespective of where this takes me, eight months from now, or four months from now, or two years. The concerns took a back seat and started to fade and kind of went out of my mind space.

For the first time, I felt what 'freedom' truly means. It felt like an accomplishment. As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it. My confidence in the intelligence of the cosmos became absolute. I feel as if it has entered every cell of mine.
Time will tell if it stays, but that is how I feel as of now.”

“Throughout my journey, people have been wishing me well, praying for me, from all over the world. People I know, people I don’t even know. They were praying from different places, different time zones, and I feel all their prayers become ONE. One big force, like a force of current, which got inside me through the end of my spine and has germinated through the crown of my head.

It’s germinating – sometimes a bud, a leaf, a twig, a shoot. I keep relishing and looking at it. Each flower, each twig, each leaf which has come from the cumulative prayers, each fills me with wonder, happiness and curiousity. A realisation that the cork doesn’t need to control the current. That you are being gently rocked in the cradle of nature.”

Irrfan Khans letter. 2018.

He wrote his obituary himself. Says it all.

Though people spoke of or preferred one of the three Mega start Khan's and the large audience was divided among, the three; most had a common silent liking to this Khan who was less spoken with words, but more spoken with deeds.

Having acted in Bollywood, Hollywood, may be he was eager to act in Heavenwood.

Just a few days back, Irrfan's mother Saeeda Begum passed away and the actor was not able to attend her funeral due to the lockdown. Before Irrfan passed away, these were his last word... "Amma has come to take me." This and his fight is what prompted me to update this blog. Is it true that when you are about to die, you see your dead loved ones?

A brilliant actor, a fighter, a prolific contributor to the World of Cinema .. left us too soon .. creating a huge vacuum ..... You will be missed Irrfan Khan 🙏😔💕💐

Sweet Delicacies

Kalakand
3 pack milk boil till become half ...Keep stirring till milk become thick. Add one lemon juice keep n sugar
Put ghee n nuts in a plate n add this milk mixture..keep to cool in room temperature..then some time in fridge..nice to hv cold one. Milk, lemon and sugar Sugar 200 gm. Dont add water at all in milk.


Sukhadi
https://veggiefoodrecipes.com/sukhdi-recipe-gud-papdi-recipe/

Only three ingredients looks interesting but of all jagery is tricky. How jaggery was added to ghee flour mixture? How do they mix well. Need to keep stirring..that's trick...switch off d gas then add jaggery..



https://youtu.be/hcCt0R8Dq_0
Cake with no maida and with water...

Instead of cocoon you can add coffee powder also. No need instead add coffee powder
Instant coffee powder will do.....chicory is just a blend used. Filter coffee cNt be used as it needs to be brewed. My thought, incase u want to used the coffee decoction then reduce the water measure

Diamond Cuts

One bowl ghee, one bowl sugar, one bowl water n pinch of salt.... get it to boil
Once cool... mix required flour to make the batter..... it should b soft... roll to make balls 🎾... make chapatis ... not too thin or too thick.. heat oil... from the chapatis cut to diamond shaped or square shaped cuts n deep fry in oil.Tip is to make it immediately after making the batterAs ghee in it shud dey n get cold

Curious Pursuits by Margaret Atwood

A grab-bag of occasional pieces; priceless collection of essays, reviews, speeches and some obituaries by Margaret Atwood, divided into three parts; was 24 of 2020. We might have had no clue about the people , books and incidents that the author is writing about, nevertheless we will enjoy it to the core. Her writing style is easy flowing; at times we feel she is talking to us, or writing this as a letter to us. “Why is this book called Curious Pursuits? ‘Curious’ describes both my habitual state of mind – a less kind word would be ‘nosy’ – as well as the subject matter of some of these writings…….’Passionate’ might have been more accurate; however, it would have given a wrong impression, and disappointed a few men in raincoats. As for 'pursuits', it's a noun that contains a verb. What can you ever do with reality but chase it around? You can't expect to capture it in any final way, because the thing keeps moving. ” Part One covers 1970-1989; part two covers 1990-1999 and part three covers 2000-2005 and includes politics.

“I don’t review books I don’t like, although to do so would doubtless be amusing for the Ms Hyde side of me and entertaining for the more malicious class of reader. But either the book is really bad, in which case no one should review it, or it’s good but not my cup of tea, in which case someone else should review it.” Well this is just the beginning,

Some inspiring thoughts are -
1) How wrong we were about the brave new world, we were about to enter. (Introduction) "I don't review books I don't like, although to do so would doubtless be amusing for the Ms Hyde side of me and entertaining for the more maicious class of reader. But either the book is really bad, in which case no one should review it, or it's good but not my cup of tea, in which case someone else should review it."
2) Judgement and connections comes from inside and that's pretty much writing, an exploration of where I live. Exploiting resources and developing potentials are two different things, one is done from without may be with money; the other from withing, by something we called love. (Travels Back)
3) Words are purpose, words are map.(Review of Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich)
4) Men and women to take turns and be human, Women are neither angel nor evils. (The curse of Eve)
5) Two qualities needed to be a writer are cloak of invisibility to follow people and listen to what they are saying and ability to teleport to somebody else's mind. (Writing the Male Character - This is a chapter to be re read when you feel life is too much)
6) Utopia, a book I had been trying to get hold of since quite some time but was unable to - but loved reading about it here, which increased my quest to read Sir Thomas More's original. She also describes about Dystopia full of tyranny, while the actual world is neither of these but somewhere in between - so her novel .
7) Writing should have economic force, public events, personal details, geology, cultural refrence. It is out of such individual particulars that fiction is constructed, so is autobiography. (In search of Alias Grace: On writing Canadian Historical Fiction). 17th Century revolved around faith, 18th century around knowledge, 19th century memory. Nostalgia for what once was, guilt for what you once did, revenge for what someon else once did to you, regret for what you once might have done, but did'nt do - how certain they are of the previous century, and how depended, each of of them is on the idea of memory.
8) "But no one succumbs to a temptation they find unattractive. What is it, this compulsion to scrawl things on blank pages? Why this boundless outflowing of words? What drives us to it? Is writing some sort of disease, or - being speech in visual form - is it simply a manifestation of being human! (Introduction 2000-2005)"
9) Reverberating silences - Pinteresque.
10) Curiosity is their driving force, vengeance is their goal (Introduction to she)
11) Some books have to wait until you're ready for them. So much, in reading, is a matter of luck. And what luck I'd just had! (Or so I muttered to myself, putting on my floppy old hat, going out to fool around in my unfathomable garden.....)
12) Who knows, if there is going to be an endemic, alongside or at the end of the present Pandamic, it's important that people realise the importance of victory gardens. Was reading about how victory gardens were promoted during 2nd world war and situation now is no different. This is aikin to a third world war. Some mortifications are after all self-inflicted. Tomorrow is another mortification. Life has become so unpredictable, all we have to do is just be nice.

To Quote Poet George Meredith:
.....In tragic life, God with,
No Villain need be! Passion spin the plot;
We are betrayed by what is false within.

13)Gardens are educational, teaching as they do many lessons. Food grow in the ground, not in supermarkets: air, soil, sun and water are the four necessary ingredients, today's children need this skill.
14) God is'nt finished with us yet, because these things are sent to try us. Where there is blushing, there is life! - Mortification (great embarrassment and shame.- "they mistook my mortification for an admission of guilt")
15) What if we continue down the road we're already on? How slippery is the slope? What are our saving graces? Who's got the will to stop us?
16) Favorite books are 1984 by Goerge Orwell and Wuthering Heights.
17)The toursit is part of the landscape of our times, as the pilgrim was in the Middle Age.
18) There are those who despise us for writing the news before it happens....Quite a few things happen only because we'we written them up first. I am because I narrate.
19)Ten ways of looking at 'The Island of Doctor Moreau' by H.G, Wells- Elios and Morlocks, signs of the times, scientific, Romance, The Enchanted Island, The unholy trinity, The new woman as catwoman, The whiteness of Moreau, the blackness of M'ling, The modern ancient mariner, Fear and Trembling.
20)
He prayeth well, who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast.
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things both great and samll;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.

Parallel Life

This title - Parallel Life has kept echoing me - I wanted to write something about it - Had come up with one as well. But then, something happened, which reverberate the title. One thing is certain in life. Just when things are going well, soon after they are certain to go wrong. We had life with it's routine, going on; and suddenly the world has come to a stand still, or do I call it topsy-turvy?

It take years, efforts and lot of people, to nurture and grow something - and each one of us are unique in who we are, how we do things, and what we expect. If this is true for an individual, an organisation, how vast and cumbersome it would be for a nation like India? Our country has come a long way, freed or relaxed from the clutches of slavery, poverty, unemployment, with the efforts of lot many people. With a mix of people, from various ethnic group - we find unity in diversity, all around. It was indeed an uphill task, to have such a country managed, not that we are the best but neither are we the worst; we have significantly worked very hard and have come a long way.

How pity it is that when whole world is fighting against corona threat we Indians are fighting over Arnab Goswami Sonu Nigam Islamophobia hinduphobia.Everyday something communal is trending.We talk so much of Ramayana and this's what we learn #ArrestAntiIndiaArnab #ISupportArnab



Goswami's communal rant on Republic Hindi on the Palgarh lynching was hurting. I think he needs to see a shrink. No sensible person will approve the lynching just as no sensible person will endorse his filthy abuses. Was so agitated when I saw him blaming Sonia, and before going off to sleep had mentioned to a friend, if he is gone insane, to shout like that; morning she sends a petition for me to sign saying, sign this petition - investigate the attack on Arnab Goswami to save freedom of press and freedom of speech. Mr. Goswami was maliciously attacked by two miscreants on a two wheeler in the night of 22nd April 2020, when Mr. Goswami was returning from his studio in Mumbai in his private vehicle, just a few hours after his live show where he spoke freely against the Indian Congress Party and their alleged role in the recent killings of Hindu saints in a nearby region of Palghar, just 75 Miles north of Mumbai. About 500 meters before their residence, Arnab’s car was allegedly overtaken by bikers, and hit. He and his wife Samia was in the car. When ink was thrown on Arvind Kejriwal, Arnab Goswami ran hashtags “Ink Drama”. So it’s funny to see him hopping mad like he has faced deadly terror attack when ink was thrown at his car For a man who fought VVIP racism including security cover from 'tax payer' money, and out of turn midnight hearings by courts, it's amazing that he enjoys Y security and his case is being heard by the highest court within 24 hours. Good some press is respected, when we had the like of Gauri Lankesh killed and no action taken. Arnab Goswami Moves Supreme Court Seeking Quashing Of FIRs Over His Comments Criticising Sonia Gandhi by Swarajya Staff. Sonia is not innocent. If yes, she would not have survived in Politics this long. But when some incident occur, how can you call names on an individual, and ask that person a question, when that person is neither the PM or HM?? At least two FIRs (First Information Report) have been filed against the Republic TV head Arnab Goswami for his alleged derogatory remarks against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and for deliberate inflammatory statements.gical fact is, if somebody is insecure or speaking something which is false and claiming it to be true, tend to over act and be loud to camaflogue their faults and simply accuse others.Not just that. He has a tendency of being uncivil, keeps saying "shut, shut." These are not what people are taught to behave. If we begin to like that type of conversation, we are slipping up as a human race. Simi Garewal was a marvellous anchor in her time. It's really inspiring for a new generation. Can we have the likes of her ever again?


We all are childhood friends, we are mature enough, we respect each others point of view,and we should ,this attitude brings us close to each other .....Ruthna manana hota hai ,hamara hakh bhi hai but itna bhi nahi ke hum ek ache khase dost ko kho de ....lets again all cheer up ,dance ,enjoy ...because these days will not come again ...again hamara group hasta khilkhilata rahe ...hum sab sath hai ....sath mein rahenge ,kisiko piche nahi chodege ..; ..in fact all are wonderful in their own aspects ..but humare dost humse khafa ho ye nai ho sakta ...We had created a school group, and it was agreed that since there would be unknown people - a check of the people admitting to the group had to be done. Since one person could not do it, more admin's were added to the group - to check the validity of people in the group. Suddenly one day - one person come and say - we have decided that we would remove people who are not active - Fair enough. Some people thought it to be cool, as it's unfair, to be just there and not write, or wish people, many people were removed. Was their consent taken before removing as a matter of courtesy; or were only they removed who were never active? Soon after people started asking to be added in the group, which were done. Was there a sense of respect towards them? A couple of days later, when inquired about another person at around mid-night, as I could not recollect, I said so, and suggested that we could call and check the next morning, as it was too late then. A couple of minutes after this, the girl messaged saying, someone removed her from the group, and asked that she be added back. On telling the person to add her back, she said - she would add her later, it was a shake up exit! Now what does that mean? Some people just like to shake up everything. We need to check peoples validity, people might be busy, we have work from home, not all will be able to participate in group activities, it looks rude deleting people. Just because they don't participate don't mean they are not schoolies. Every one is part, you cant pressurise and make decision, if person is not active, call them find the issue. I feel it's getting into bullying and bossing, am sure many who are not in group would want to be part of it. Hope all understand! For this the response was, firstly it's not about activities, it's about overall participation in the group. Not even a singel Hi or atleast an emoji. Secondly I am not working from home, I go to office with all the household work also. You might find it rude but there are also many people in the group who agree with us. So please think before accusing people of bullying.. presurrizing, we as friends were trying to wake up schoolies. I could have responded saying - unnecessary chat is unnecessary emission of carbon black, causing environmental hazard, working for home, working from home, going to office, all have its own pros and cons. I did not accuse anyone. I just said "I feel it's getting into bullying and bossing" ; every word has it's own meaning, and how it is interpreted vary. Well who is this we, who have made the decision? A separate decision making body? A secretive sub group created within the main group, who took upon themselves the entire admin rights without even consulting the whole members of Admin team? And ha if the desire is to shake up the group, and waking them up, that was not the purpose of creating the group, it was to bring all together. When the purpose no more exist, there was no question in my remaining, and I quit with message to her saying, if anyone ask why I left the group, say if non active members can be removed without verification, active members can quit without intimation. Please don't add me. Got a response saying Sorry, she would not say anything in the group. It seems as desired, Sunday there was hungama in the group - as per the desire of those who wanted to shake up the group. And for me, it was a blessing in disguise, as I had always been for peace and resilience. Also it helped me to have some me time, social distancing, the task PM asked us to do, and also to know who really cared and were true friends. There were messages and call, and to every one I just said, need a break. This helped me know, understand and ponder on how people differ, what priorities are and who real friends are.

The verdicts are still pending. Groupism, nagging, blaming are all bad. We need to stay united, especially during these trying times. .All are gone nuts. Even during these trying times, people fail to realise priorities, and get involved in petty Politics, religion without realising we are all one. God Bless Mankind. Wishing for safety, joy, happiness and peace, Always - Everytime, everywhere, every one. It feels good to know that at least a few of them can understand. Life has become so unpredictable, all we have to do is just be nice. Some mortifications are after all self-inflicted

To Quote Poet George Meredith:
.....In tragic life, God with,
No Villain need be! Passion spin the plot;
We are betrayed by what is false within.

Mental Health Awareness

Good mental health is where, every individual realize his or own potential, cope with what life throws at you, play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends.

Mental illness includes :
Stress
Depression
Anxiety disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Bipolar
Schizophrenia
Addiction
Eating Disorder

Signs of stress and depression:
Performance falls off
Take unexplained sick days
Timekeeping degrades
They become moody and unpredictable
They lose energy and enthusiasm,
They start to make poor decisions

3 WAYS TO LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Personal effectiveness skills – Time management, positive attitude, Assertive communication
Building resiliene – Emotional control, Solutions focus, Flexibility
Work/Life Balance – Purpose, Wellbeing, Networks

Supporting colleagues – Reach out, encourage conversation, Keep an open mind, professional help, keep the door open, look after yourself.

Be Patient, keep your door open.

Show your support. This is even more needed during these days of being indoor.

Th The Equality Act prevents discrimination in the workplace based on a disability. If someone's mental health issues are classified as a disability, they will be protected under the Act.
The Health and Safety Legislation protects employees from the risk of stress associated with their work by ensuring employers assess that risk and take steps to control it.
e Equality Act prevents discrimination in the workplace based on a disability. If someone's mental health issues are classified as a disability, they will be protected under the Act.


SRI BHAGAVAN: "You should not live with emotions of depression, anxiety, sadness, and irritability that are interfering with your natural capacity to enjoy life. Most emotional imbalances have been found to be the result of unmet nutritional needs, malfunctions in our brain/body chemistry and unquestioned perceptions.

Science has shown today that every emotion has a corresponding chemical reaction happening in the brain. When you experience emotions like fear or stress, the hypothalamus releases chemicals and complex amino acids called neuropeptides, which thereafter are pumped into the bloodstream.

These neuropeptides reach the various organs through the blood. They reach the cells and get locked up in the cell receptors. Once this happens, these cells become immune to any form of nutrition and nourishment. These cells further multiply to create similar unhealthy cells.

That is why people with prolonged, rundown emotions often prove their doctor’s failures. No medication or treatment works for them.
The body, by nature, has been designed for experiences such as ecstasy, love and bliss. And it also knows fear and the struggle for survival. Going into these challenges we are only triggering that chemistry of the brain that deals with emotions such as fear, loneliness and frustration.

The result is that your brain is exhausted and brings forth an imbalance of transmitters and hormones in the limbic system. Hence, you become emotionally reactant.

However, it is possible to activate those parts of the brain that deal with love, skill and solutions. Research on deeksha is now revealing that deeksha is activating certain areas of the brain that would not other-wise get effected even after years of meditation.

Deeksha is proving to be a very powerful tool in returning the body to a complete state of health, and the mind to a state of relaxation and rest."