Dhan Tana Tana Na………

Vishal Bharadwaj has his own fan following. I’m one of them. I don’t want him to execute a romantic comedy – we have Karan Johar and Yash Raj for that. I don’t want his films to have the conventional heroes – we have SRK for that & the super glam dolls – we have enough of that don’t we?

He is one of the few intelligent movie makers in this industry who refuses to follow the norm. Take Makdee, Maqbool and Omkara. (I’ve not yet seen Blue Umbrella – but I did read that it is a lovely film) These films had nothing in common with the usual fanfare that Bollywood films are known for. His latest offering Kaminey is no different! The film has Vishal’s signature written all over it. If he is going to make such films after a 3 year break- I’m ready to wait, it’s completely worth it!

Kaminey rocks period. Maybe it is not “THE FILM” but it will go down as a classic, as a cult film and very difficult to emulate.

It’s fast paced , it’s slick, it requires you use your brains to follow the film(unlike many bollywood flicks which require no brains to understand what’s happening!) and it keeps you hooked from the moment the first reel opens.

I’m not going to review it in detail or list the storyline – suggest you catch it at a theatre near you at the earliest.

It might not set the box office ringing but it is the best so far this year in terms of content. The movie is dark just like his previous films. It focuses on reality and on real people. Not one scene in the movie has huge mansions, lavish sets or designer costumes. Heck Sweety wears a Westside Kurta (Damn it, I’ve a similar one and recognized it immediately). That’s how real he keeps it.

Shahid as Guddu and Charlie is outstanding – acting and the little dancing he gets to do. Priyanka surprised me with her simple Sweety and she steals the show in 3 scenes – at her marriage, at the police station and then in the climax – she is so suited to be a Bhai’s sister!

But it’s the unknown characters that rock this film, Amole Gupte as Sunil Chopper’ Bhope, Mikail and Inspector Lele (He has refined the famous ‘C’ word – catch that scene in the police station) set the screen on fire!

I’m not so sure the Indian audience will hail this film cause we are yet to mature – we still need the mushy romantic ones where everyone lives happily ever after! Sigh, but I enjoyed it immensely as it is different – different from the norm!

The music is outstanding – Fatak, Kaminey, Pehli Baar Mohabbat and Raat Ke dhai Bhaje keep you entertained, but the winner is no doubt Dhan Tana Tana. It has to be the song of the year. I’ve not heard any whistles as appreciation in Dubai Theatres (as we are used to in Mumbai) and I heard them as soon as this song hit the screen and they continued till it ended. Proof enough for its popularity. Sukhwinder and Vishal Dadlani have hit the highest notes and have recorded a mind blowing number – probably their best till date. Mind you, this one will be doing the rounds of all discs for a long time. Vishal first gives us a ‘Beedi’ and now Dhan Tana Tana – Sir, we take a bow!

Go watch Kaminey and rock to the tunes of Dhan Tana Tana.We need movies like this once in a while just to separate the intellectuals from the commoners!

GO HAVE FOME FUN….

P.F: Thought of writing the review in Charlie’f language but then held back, finfe thofe who have not feen it yet might not figure out what I’m writing. Fay what??

That time of the year again…

Every year post Jan ‘06, despite being inactive since May’06 , the blog has witnessed maximum hits as 15Aug and 26Jan approach!

The reason is this post – Patriotic Fervour

I get back to my school days when we would eagerly await these 2 days so that we could go all out to sing these beautiful songs. Anytime, any day these songs are top on my favourite lists. Here is getting nostalgic again. If I’ve missed out- please add in yours!

A very Happy Independence Day in advance to all of you!

 

P.S: The most searched song is “Hum Sab Bhartiya Hain”which remains my favourite till date, of all the songs we learnt at school!

Swine Flu and Aids – The Irony!

I really liked this forward I received in my inbox today. The pic says it all – I’ll keep mum for a change

Forgetful and Me?

I can be really forgetful about the important items like mobile, wallet, car park access card , car keys, my office i-card and even my office laptop. Add to it I've butter fingers so clumsy is my middle name.

MDH is constantly on the lookout if I'll topple something or break something or forget something. I dread to look at him if I commit any of the above crimes.

My closest friend in office N says she can't believe her luck that she had to meet me who is an exact replica of her husband in terms of nature & habits.

I press the panic button the moment I can't see my important items in their regular places. I have not lost them cause the mobile has slipped under the keyboard, the card is in some other pocket in the purse, the wallet is probably in my office drawer and the keys are buried under the pile of papers on my table. But since I cannot see them when I need them, I get extremely hyper. Earlier MDH and N would get worried but now they do not even react, cause they know I'll find it later.

Well, last week the entire team decided to go out for a quick lunch. I did not want to take my handbag hence dumped my mobile, wallet and i-card with N. I must've confirmed and re-confirmed with her thrice till we reached the place. While we were getting out of the car I realised one of my footwear had gone missing in the car and started looking for it frantically. I asked N if she had seen it and she promptly replied,

" No, Sadly I did not keep that in my Bag"

Yeah, my sarcasm is rubbing on her fast!

The First One…

Sands sent me this one and I’m flattered! Absolutely flattered. I’ve known her for a month now only through her blog. I like her blog simply cause she writes straight from the heart, a quality I immensely admire! Also she has opinions surprisingly very similar to mine.

Keep the great work Sands and I do not have words to thank you for this one!

This is my first one in the blogging world. It’s a great boost after coming back to this space after a hiatus of 3 years from the blogging world!

So now I must complete what is expected as a recipient of this award.

And here is the tag that goes with the award…

1. What is your current obsession?
Cooking (Especially making breakfast), Reading interesting blogs and blogging, Writing Tags on Blogs and FB, Bejeweled Blitz and Zuma (The games are stupid but addictive) and My Papa’s Princess’s Wedding in August.

2. What are you wearing today?
My office formals

3. What’s for dinner?
Aloo Palak & Roti

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Fuel for my car yesterday evening!

5. What are you listening to right now?
Arziyaan from Delhi-6. The song is soothing

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
She is super awesome( The phrase is borrowed from another friend I made last week – She too is Super Awesome). I get to know bits and pieces of her every day from her blog. I hope I get to meet her someday and btw she has lovely eyes – See the bride tag on her blog!

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
London, UK. I am absolutely in love with that place.

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Sleeveless tops, cotton kurtas, shorts, linen skirts, my slip-ons, glares and deodorants

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
To Mumbai, our princess is getting married, her wedding preps on in full swing and I so want to be there soon!

10. Which language do you want to learn?
German – Completed Level 1 at Max Mueller and never continued it:-(

Tamil – I have a decent collection of A R Rahman original Tamil songs. I’ve seen Kandukondain Kandukondain, Thevar Magan and Anjali in Tamil with English Sub-titles and loved them in their original form.

11. What’s your favourite quote?
Win as if you were used to it. Lose as if you enjoyed it for a change - Ralph Waldo Emerson

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
If God would permit – My Papa

13. What is your favourite colour?
Two – Blue and White (Most of my wardrobe comes in these 2 colours)

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?
A lovely white kurta mixed ‘n matched with blue chudidaar and crushed chunni!

15. What is your dream job?
Exactly what he does. I tried in 2004 for this but as luck would have it, I did not get past the city rounds:-(

16. What’s your favourite magazine?
None at present – do my reading online!

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
That is almost AED 400 – On some nice SIA Jewellery to go with my new Saree for our princess’s pre-wedding party!

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
I’ll borrow this from Sands since she summed up my feelings to a tee – “Wearing clothes that don’t suit you even if it is the latest craze.”

19. Who are your style icons?
My friends – They have an excellent dressing sense

20. Describe your personal style.?
Whatever I’m comfortable in and makes me look good;-)

21. What are you going to do after this?
Sleep!

22. What are your favourite movies?
Too many to list but will list some

Hindi:

DDLJ, Andaz Apna Apna, DCH, Lagaan, Chak De, MunnaBhai Series, Chup Chup Ke, Golmaal (old one), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Masoom, Sita Aur Gita, Mr. India, KHNH (sentimental value – MDH told me the story was all about me! So how can it not be on my favourite list). KKHH (Only only for Kajol), BluffMaster etc….

English:

A Few Good Men, Ocean’s Eleven, Transformers, The Incredibles, Catch Me If you Can, The Hangover, Speed, A walk in the clouds, All HP Films, Lord of the Rings, All Superhero films, Little Miss Sunshine

Tamil:

Anjali, Kandukondain Kandukondain, Thevar Magan,

24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can’t live without?
Olay Day and Night Cream, Revlon Lipstick, & Dior Perfume

23. What inspires you?
Super –achievers, out of the box thinkers, exceptions to the norm! People who dare to question and stand firm when they are right no matter what!

24. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
If I have the time I go shop, else I mix ‘n match and produce something not tried before!

25. Coffee or tea?
Both. Coffee in morning and tea in evening

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
MDH and S (My Rock of Gibraltar) are at the receiving end. Talking to them helps me get back to normal

27. What is the meaning of your name?
I’m not so sure. Some books say it means small fish while a Sanskrit dictionary I have says it’s a precious gem.

It was given to me so that it rhymed with my cousin sister’s name( She too was an only child like me!). I don’t think her or my parents gave it too much of thought in terms of the meaning!

28. Which other blogs you love visiting?
Check my blogroll and bloglines listing – You’ll find the answer there.

29. Favourite Dessert/Sweet?
Triple Dare Chocolate Cake from Coco’s – Dubai It is delicious.

30. Favourite Season ?
Winter here in Dubai

31. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
Sad that it is Shravan and I cannot make my famous cheese omlette or egg bhurji if you decide to drop in suddenly, if you give me time I would’ve cooked my famous Prawns Green Masala & Chicken Curry with Roti and Fried Rice

Since it’s Shravan and I’m a Veggie: Quick Fix – Thikhat Shira/ Beetroot Cutlets. If told well in advance - Palak paneer, paratha, cauliflower-potato-green peas-kala masala veggie, dal fry and rice

32) What’s your current mood?
Restless – can’t wait to get to Mumbai!

33) What’s your sun sign?
Aquarius

34) If you get to be one person(alive) for a day whom would you choose

Indra Nooyi. I would love to know what it is like to be a CEO of such a huge MNC!

35) If you could travel back in time where would you like to go?

To the time of Shivaji Maharaj and follow his and his mavlas achievements– Maratha history always always fascinated me!

The rules are:
Respond and rework – Answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own.Then tag eight or ten other set of people.
I would like to share these awards and tag these wonderful bloggers:

Absolute Lee, Sujatha, Mary, Sunil, Uma, Aditi, Radiance, Sakshi, Shoefiend, Megha.

P.S: I’d award Sands again but the tag says “öther set” set of people:-( Sands nevertheless – the award again to you from me:-)

How Dubai ensures I Don’t Miss My Mumbai

I haven’t blogged much about my expat life in Dubai. I never wanted to live abroad; I still don’t, but here I’m spending my 4^th year in Dubai. I don’t know how long MDH and I plan to be here. I don’t want to decide, things never work out when I decide, so I’ve learnt my lesson and now I take everything in my stride.

This place has slowly and steadily grown on me. I still have my cribs and complaints, but it’s a nice place to live in. Here are some of the ways in which this place ensures I don’t miss my Mumbai as much. (I cannot stop missing Mumbai. How can you? When you have spent a quarter of your life in Mumbai!)

Family and Friends

This place has helped me meet a vast array of people with completely different personalities but who gel with each other exceptionally well. MDH and I have been fortunate to have had such lovely people around us right from the time we stepped in. They say it’s tough to make friends at work, but my best friends in Dubai come from my workplace and so do MDH’s. I’ve known them for only 3 years but it feels like they’ve known me for a lifetime.

MDH’s cousin lives a building away from our old place and has been with us since my first day in Dubai. Her two little adorable brats (About the elder one read here) ensure that we have our hands full. Add to this extended family, are my bhauji’s (brother-in-laws) close friends who are now our own family.

And the best of all are my neighbours P & A from my old place. In Dubai people rarely get to know who lives on their floor, I was fortunate to have met them on the second day I moved in and we hit it off. Their little angel has kept MDH and me busy in the evenings for the last 3 years!

On all occasions to be spent with my family I always have these wonderful set of people to turn to. I do miss my family back home but they all help me miss them less.

Food

MDH is from Goa and therefore is an absolute seafood freak, loves non-veg and in general food. I’ve developed my food fetish from him! His profession has helped us experiment at the best places that Dubai has to offer. I’ve been to most 5 star restaurants and tasted out all cuisines – Arabian, Iranian, Lebanese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese. From a meal costing AED 30 for 2 to a meal costing AED 300 for 2, we have tried out all! Each one with its own speciality, own taste and wanting us to go back again and again. I will put up a food post on this blog – our friends and colleagues always consult us if they need to try out a new place. I’m often called “Time-Out Dubai” at my workplace cause I keep introducing new restaurants to them. They tell me, when it comes to food MDH and you know the best! Yeah we do;-)

The Roads

Dubai has excellent roads. The internal city roads are wide and well divided with atleast 3 lanes on either side. The highways have atleast 5 lanes on either side. The directions are excellent. You will rarely get lost. I’ve driven alone, got lost and found my way back by just following the direction boards on the road. In parts of the city there is chaotic traffic , but that is minimal if I compare it to the entire structure. In short I absolutely love driving around this place

Our Car

In Dubai, cars are a must if you need to get yourself around .It does not have a robust public transport system. They are also the most affordable and hence the spate of luxury cars in this part of the world. I’ve seen every damn luxury car on the streets here. I drive a SUV – A Nissan Murano. It is not a car I would’ve driven in Mumbai even if I could afford it sometime in life. It’s a fuel guzzler and one cannot enjoy a ride in SUV on Mumbai’s teeny weeny roads! Fuel comes cheap, really cheap at AED 6.25 per gallon; so one more reason to own a car here.

Grocery Shops & Supermarkets

Grocery shops function here from morning 6.00 a.m to 12.00 in the night. Some are even open till 2.00 a.m. in the morning and some supermarkets are open 24X7. I know the perils but from a pure consumer perspective it is a bliss. I’m never worried if I run out of the bare necessities at home at odd hours.

The Distance to Mumbai

Total travel time 2hrs 45 mins, including the time difference around 4 hrs. If I want, I can visit Mumbai on a weekend.

Household Help

I’ve a cleaner and a cook who come in daily to do the chores. Not many of my friends boast of that luxury once they leave India. I don’t pay a heavy price for these services unlike other places outside India.

Cleanliness & Greenery

Most of this city is cleaned daily – the roads, the buildings, the parks. The plants are watered daily, and the gardens maintained beautifully.

There not many parks but the few they have, are huge and well maintained. This place is a desert but the city officials have managed to maintain green pockets as much as they can. We even have our own ‘Haridwar’ here! It’s not London or Europe but I admire the fact that such greenery is maintained in this barren desert land

Services

Any service related to the government here, be it getting your visa done, id card done, e-gate card, telephone, electricity, internet, television is relatively easy. If they tell you it will take 2 hrs, it more often than not takes exactly 2 hrs, if they tell you they will do it in 3 days, they will definitely do it in 3 days and if they tell you they do not know how long, well they really do not know how long! They are honest about it.

Dubai RTA

They manage the roads and transport of this place and they do a swell job. The systems are in place and you cannot evade the law. If your car registration has expired you will not get a parking card, if you have not paid your fines, you cannot have your car registered. In short, Dubai does not believe in the law chasing individuals but the individuals having to chase the law. If there is an accident, the process is simple, both cars come to a side, wait for the police to arrive. The police a.k.a the ‘Shorta’ here will inspect. The one who is at fault will get a pink slip, the other a green. The one with the green slip submits it to his insurance company who recover the money from the insurance company of the one with pink slip. No fights, no abuses, no traffic halts – all the chaos that we see in Mumbai if there is an accident. The fines are clearly defined and there is no escape without paying if you get one.

If major constructions are happening around, the diversions and the direction boards are up the very moment so that no inconvenience is caused.

We as humans will still complain but if I look at the bigger picture, the RTA does a super job. They are constantly striving to upgrade the place

Shopping

Dubai has always been known for its shopping and it is indeed a bliss to shop here! Things are affordable and not that expensive. The Sales in summer and during the shopping festival are a huge hit and you get some awesome bargains. Apart from my traditional wear (clothes and footwear both) I’ve stopped shopping back home cause you get better stuff at the same price here

Dubai Metro

Finally the one reason that will bring this place more closer to my hometown Mumbai . The one thing this place was missing which I so dearly love about Mumbai and my next favourite London city. Yes the trains.

Dubai is getting its own Metro service which will commence this 9Sep. On 09/09/09 at 9 a.m. the Metro will have a grand opening. I saw a test run bang in front of my house and was dead excited. I’ll finally get to travel by train to work and back. I only live 2 stations away and both stations are bang in front of my home and office! It will be a fully automated driverless service and hopefully people here in Dubai will appreciate the importance of public transport.

The Brat Pack

2 Adorable nephews, 2 lovable dolls and 1 little angel. These 5 have ensured that I’m fully trained and equipped to handle one of my own! I was never a children’s person, that is MDH, he is fantastic with the kids and these 5 dote on him and so does he on them. They have helped me to handle kids and have fun with them by being like them.

I was always the youngest in my family and hence my nieces/nephews are not that younger to me – so I’ve been more of a sis than aunt. These 5 have taught me what being an aunt is all about! What it is to be a grown-up but yet be a kid when you are with the kids!

God bless them!

I’m not comparing Mumbai and Dubai; where ever I live, Mumbai will always be home, the place where my heart belongs to. I’m slowly beginning to accept Dubai as my second home. It has given me pain but it has also brought me much joy.

More posts on this lovely place will follow.

What’s my TRP?

I’m a complete TV buff. I know loads of people who consider watching TV as a complete waste of time. They raise their eyebrows when I tell them that I can spend an entire day in front of the idiot box , surfing channels and not doing anything else!

I don’t mind a day like that once in a while. To me it is not a waste of my time. Why am I always expected to be reading intellectual stuff, discussing the burning issues, going to art workshops, honing my creative skills (if I have any that is), catching up on the world news, getting the house in order or just winding up chores on a weekend so that the week stays in order! After the grueling work and home schedules, I’m allowed a little bit of nonsense, brainless, mindless viewing once in a while and I enjoy that!

Hence, of all the crap that the idiot box offers us mortals, the reality shows are the last on my viewing list. There are enough interesting serials ( mind you only English), movies and documentaries (Animal Planet and Discovery – once in a while, honestly speaking, but it makes for excellent viewing)to keep me glued in and not opt for reality show viewing be it the American/UK versions or our copied national versions.

However, sometimes the curiosity does get the better of me and I had to see what the big (-ve) hype was all about around the 3 Indianised versions of the western reality shows. The blog post is where I can vent my frustration, so apologies in advance if you are at the receiving end when you are reading this piece!

1) Rakhi Ka Swayamwar adopted from the The Bachelorette - Currently on NDTV Imagine
2) Sach Ka Saamna adopted from the Moment of Truth - Currenty on Star Plus
3) Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachaao adopted from I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here - Currently on Sony TV

Rakhi ka Swayamwar a.k.a RKS
This is a first of its kind on Indian television. Although The Bachelor and the Bachelorette have been running in America for long; India picked up this idea pretty late and only Rakhi Sawant could have made this show a success. The Drama Queen of India ensured that this drama fell in place. I’ve watched episodes of this show and I was in fits of laughter. Seriously, if you missed it, you must watch a few episodes for pure comic relief.

MDH has thrown enough fits at home and on FB (His status messages on RKS have been out of this world. Even more interesting are the comments that followed up) He, despite his frustration, helped the show gain popularity as most hooked on to see what his frustration was all about! I think he was more frustrated with me for watching this mindless crap of a TV show.

Either ways, the show ended as expected, Rakhi selecting the best bet of all – the Canada based businessman but not marrying on prime time national television citing that this was only an engagement and they needed time before they settled down into the holy matrimony. I have not seen a bigger mockery of the institution of marriage and the events preceding in it as portrayed on NDTV Imagine. It’s quite a shame that NDTV of all channels had to resort to such a show to boost its TRPs.


Sach Ka Saamna

I chanced on it a week back & spent the next half hour chewing MDH’s brains as to how can people be so money-thirsty to put their private life on public display!
But then I thought, if the people on the show think it is completely worth it to put their private life on display in full public view, why are we fretting about it ? Here’s what a blogger friend of mine had put up and my answers to her questions below. My thoughts in the same order as the questions she has raised
1) NO but the partcipants on the show think otherwise
2) NO – the show says its courageous to do it – I think its pretty stupid almost hitting the axe on your own feet
3) I think they are, but as with all things this could have flaws.
4) That’s what I meant that the tests can be flawed
5) NOT AT ALL but apparently those who are on the show think it is worth it!
6) BIG YES! See the last episodes and see what made people lose their money!

In India this show will work, it tickles the curiosity bone of the public, it speaks opendly of 'taboo' topics like sex, extra-marital affairs, and most of all it provides good fodder for gossip; as people love to know what is happening in others' lives and not mind their own business.

Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachaoo

Finally, the crappiest of them all. Some little known celebrities trapped in a jungle struggling for basic necessities. I’ve no interest in seeing people eat cockroaches or take on spiders/crocodiles to earn a basket of food, to drown themselves among reptiles and do the creepiest of things! Sorry save me this nonsense, and since this might not work; the producers of the show got the Indian Bahu Sweta Tiwari and the item girl Nigar khan show off their bathing bodies! Is this what national television has come to? And these small –time starlets will do absolutely anything just for publicity.

The 3 shows prove that Indian telly channels will stoop to any levels to gain TRPs, and so will all the so-called celebrities. Earlier it was the crappy Saas-Bahu saga started by Ekta Kapoor now it is the mindless reality show boom.

But why am I surprised? It is after all a sickening rat race and money game ; for the money & TRPs, the channels and the people will do just about anything! It’s not about good clean entertainment anymore. It’s all about the moolah!

If I need some mindless entertainment, I’ll stick to the old formula of a Govinda movie, reality shows are no where close!

Wish the TRP rat race will end someday! Think about the good old DD days when the TRP concept did not exist! Don't you miss the Fauji, Circus, Yeh Jo Hain Zindagi, Humlog, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Meri Aawaz Suno, Ramayana, Mahabhartha, Chitrahaar days?
I do and the song 'Koi Lauta De Mere Bite Hue Din' is playing in my mind!

Q & A

I think I’m getting addicted to this Tagging business. Nevertheless it’s fun. There are couple more to come but we will leave it for some other day!

Here is one I chanced on at Reema’s Blog

1. Q: When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

A: I’m so sleepy!

2. Q: How much cash do you have in your wallet right now?

A: AED 600

3. Q: What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

A: Roar

4. Q: What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

A: The Harry Potter Theme

5. Q: Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

A: There are only 2, one is MDH other is Mom(I just changed my phone yesterday)

6. Q: What are you wearing right now?

A: Apart from my formal office wear – my favourite Prada specs!

7. Q: Do you label yourself?

A: No, I don’t like to give people an inferiority complex;-)

8. Q: Name the brand of the shoes you currently own?

A: Formal – Catwalk, Casual – Pepper Tree , Vinci , Viss, Lush, Sports - Reebok

9. Q: Bright or Dark Room?

A: Bright! I’m shit scared of dark!

10. Q: What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?

A: I don’t know, I just chanced on her blog two days back. Of the first impression – interesting!

11. Q: What does your watch look like?

A: It’s a Longines – Round dial – Silver (MDH’s anniv gift)

12. Q: What were you doing at midnight last night?

A: Sleeping peacefully!

13. Q: What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

A: Message from my friend “yes me /mean agreed” after I wrote “you are mean” . Well we both are two of the same kind!

14. Q: What’s a word that you say a lot?

A: Crap

15. Q: Who told you he/she loved you last? (Please exclude spouse, family, children)

A: My school friend

16. Q: Last furry thing you touched?

A: My tiger Jennie and her cub –gabbar

17. Q: Favorite age you have been so far?

A: Age 15 – last year of school and it was special and fun. Life was so much less complicated.

18. Q: What was the last thing you said to someone?

A: ‘Take care’ to my bestest friend in USA after a 45 mins conversation!

19. Q: The last song you listened to?

A: Am listening to Chor Bazaari (the whole day today!)

20. Q: Where did you live in 1987?

A: At Worli, Mumbai

21. Q: Are you jealous of anyone?

A: Tons of people (Come on, I am human after all!)– in an admiring way!

22. Q: Is anyone jealous of you?

A: Yes for sure!

23. Q: Name three things that you have on you at all times?

A: My sarcasm, my wallet & my house-car keys

24. Q: What’s your favorite town/city?

A: Mumbai – Any doubts?

25. Q: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

A: In 2000, to my cousin brother – he was my only pen pal. (He passed away in 2001- I still have all the letters he wrote to me)

26. Q: Can you change the oil on a car?

A: Nope

27. Q: Your first love/big crush: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

A: No idea

28. Q: Does anything hurt on your body right now?

A: Yes, my neck and back!

29. Q: What is your current desktop picture?

A: My company’s official wall paper

30. Q: Have you been burnt by love?

A : Never

75ym9wa2d8

Of Cricket and Childhood Crushes!

Circa 1992:

Friend 1 : So do you think he is cute?

She : That’s not why I like him

Friend 1 : So you do think he is cute?

She : I like his game, I like his batting technique

Friend 1 : But you really do think he is cute?

She : He is a good cricketer and has the potential to be a great one

Friend 1 : So why exactly are his close-up posters up in your room

She : Because I’m not able to get one with him batting

Friend 1 : So you do think he is cute!


Circa 1996:

Mumma : She has her finals tomorrow, why did you let her go for the match

Papa : She loves the game, let her enjoy. She would’ve been miserable and not studied at all if she was home

Mumma : You have to be little strict with her

Papa : And not let her see our future son-in-law bat? (laughs out loud)

Mumma : Now you don’t start and encourage her!

--------
Papa : So how was the match we enjoyed seeing our son-in-law bat

She : Papa please, he is already married. That’s embarrassing!

Papa : I know, but it is fun teasing my little girl!

----------------
Friend 1 : You actually bought his music cassette?????????

She : Yeah! I thought he has done a decent job

Friend 2 : If only he had done a better one at playing cricket!

She : He was just plain unlucky.

Friend 1&2 : Whatever

Friend 3 : He is okay but I think Kumble’s interview sounds the best

She : We’ll get to your crush later; first let’s listen to the cassette again

Friends 1, 2 & 3 : Do we have to go through this torture?

She : Yes!

Friend 1 : So you do think he is cute!


Circa 2002
Friend 1 : 10 years since you’ve had a crush on him, if you meet him today have you decided what you are going to say.

She : I’m going for A’s wedding , in case you forgot, he is the one who plays cricket now.

Friend 1 : Are you not hoping to get to see him at the wedding? But you have a god damn B- school interview in Pune tomorrow, don’t you think you should leave today?

She : There is no way I’m missing A’s wedding, are you crazy! I’m taking the midnight bus and will reach in the morning well in time!

At the reception

Mom : Did you see him? I think you should walk up to him and tell him that you are a huge fan of his.

She : Are you sure mumma????? Are you my real mom? You hated it when I used to put up his posters in my room

Mom : I still hate that but I know you have adored him, you must tell him

She : He will think I’m crazy

Mom : That’s ok, you can’t hide facts for long

She : Are you my mom at all? Anyways

Slowly steadily she approached him
She :Hi Mr. M, I’m a huge huge fan of yours since I started watching cricket. You were fantastic. I had to tell you this since long, thanks and bye.

And she ran, ran for her life and disappeared from the long wedding queue so that he would not notice her again! What the ^&*$ was she thinking behaving like a teen at 22, an age where her friends were searching for a groom to get married and some were even ready to be moms!

Crushes are embarrassing things. Sigh! Now she knew exactly how it felt like those millions girls who adore cricketers and find them cute!

Growing up with cricket has been a crazy joy ride; it has become an integral part of her life, her oxygen if you may say. The crazy little crush forms a teeny weeny cute memory of her journey with the game. At that point it seemed so embarrassing that she could not tell anyone about it, today she can laugh her heart out at her stupidity and even invite others to do so by putting it up on her blog!

Yeah, as I have mentioned in my Facebook tag on “25 not so random things about me”
“Sanjay Manjrekar was my first serious crush in school and I still blush when my friends recall those days”

P.S:
Absolutely everyone I know has taken my case on this crush of mine, from my friends, my family and my parents. Papa especially loved teasing me! I was recalling this with an old school friend of mine and we thought it would be interesting to relive those memories; which is why this blog post turned up!!

War between Equals - Ashes 2009

As the Ashes commenced this year, I was having a discussion with my Cricket buddies Tugga and PK (who by the way are an absolute authority over this game) as to who stood a chance this year to win the Ashes. A common conclusion was that this was a war between equals – not in terms of strengths but weaknesses.

In my 15 years of watching this game I haven’t seen an Aussie team this weak in terms of grit, talent, sporting spirit and strategy. Ponting is by far the worst captain I’ve seen. He is lost without the talented Gilly, Warne, McGrath, Langer & Hayden. I’ve not doubts on his credentials as a batsman, but he has serious flaws as a captain. He is not sporting enough to accept defeat, he is not brave enough to accept his side’s weakness, he fails to instill any kind of discipline in his team and he himself being such a sore loser is passing on that quality to his team. I’ve been an ardent supporter of the Aussie team since the days of Allan Border and the respect only increased when Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh ran this outfit. That is steadily vanishing with displays of Ponting’s Team, in terms of the game they play and the way they play it. His team sorely misses the stalwarts who hailed from Tugga’s school and kept the side in balance.

Apart from a Clarke and Ponting himself , I cannot see a person who can turn the match around. I’ve watched very little of the new Aussie players in action but of the little I’ve seen I do not see this class coming of age soon.

England for long has been a weak test outfit but the one under Michael Vaughan showed some signs of improvement with some overseas wins and the much watched Ashes 2005 win. Flintoff and Pietersen could pave their way into any world outfit and are match-winners in their own right; making all the difference in my opinion to the English outfit.
If the same side were to play a South African or the Indian team they would struggle. But playing a weak Aussie side gives them all the edge to play it at equal levels and give themselves a chance to regain the Ashes.

There was this interesting article that PK passed on where Michael Artherton compared the two sides man-to-man and I agreed with most.

This is probably the first time that I’ll be supporting the Poms whole-heartedly against an Aussie team. I enjoyed the 2005 series and shifted my loyalties between both teams, but that was purely for the way both teams displayed outstanding cricket; not because I did not like the Aussie team. It was delight for a cricket lover and I can recall every moment of that series.

This time around it’s different and I’m hoping England wins this one. They have sustained the edge as of now. The 1-wicket draw in the first test at Cardiff set the tone for the series where the Poms have begun to believe that they can get this one right while Aussies are being shaken time and again by whom they thought were the lesser teams.

In the last 2 years they have played a total of 23 matches: Won 11, Lost 7 and Drawn -5. That is still a decent record but of the 11 wins – 6 are against the much weaker test teams SL/WI/NZ while Eng (1-0) & Ind (3-2) lead the Aussies in terms of total wins and SA tied with them at 3 wins each. The Aussies are losing more often than before and that is definitely a good sign for other teams and test cricket as well.

I’ve not seen a ball being bowled in this match and hence the shortened version on what I thought of the match. I thought England played exceedingly well to thwart the Aussies and put them under pressure. I full support Strauss’s decision of not enforcing the follow-on, not many teams have dared after the most influential innings of the decade.

Any smart captain would opt the safer way out rather than dig his own grave at the start of the Ashes and plunge his team to further depths. I read in the cricinfo bulletin about Australia’s aspiration for a world record chase. 526 is any day an improbable target considering in the last decade only 6 times have teams won chasing 340 up , the maximum being 418.
With 5 wickets gone on day 4 for 128, not even half the target on board; expecting Australia to chase this one was expecting a wee bit too much or alleviating the Aussie batsmen to heights they are currently not capable of.

Strauss led the way in the first innings and I was quite disappointed that the Brits had only managed 425 when they were at one stage 255/2. Nevertheless the bowlers made up with Anderson starring in the first and Flintoff completing his first fiver in 2 years aided by Swann. I cannot fathom why Flintoff is quitting test cricket but will continue to play ODIs and T20. That will make up for another blog post.
I heard Swann bowled quite beautifully and will catch up the highlights later in the day. Until the next one, England enjoy this one, but not too much because there are still 3 tests to go! Aussies can and will fight back. (I hope so too, at the end I’m a true cricket lover at heart and there is nothing more one wants than a hard fought battle between equals) The battle is won but the war is not yet over lest the Poms forget that!

Go England Go. I’m keen to read Ponting’s reactions now!

And to end, Dubai’s cable service is split into 2 program options– E-Pehla and Orbit Showtime. I’ve subscribed to E-Pehla Silver which is a sports packageespecially for cricket and now the Ashes are being telecast on Orbit. I cannot subscribe to both simultaneously, so you can imagine my frustration currently! I hate following the game on the internet. I cannot comment on how well or badly the teams played as I cannot see them play live. And if you cannot watch a match live, then you are pretty much banking on the opinion of others and building your analysis of the game on someone else’s view point. As a huge fan of the game and someone who loves to have an opinion on the game, it can get increasingly irritating! Either ways I’ll try to catch some glimpses on the net and put in my own views!

Hope you all are as glued in as I am!

The 5 Best Things The Boy Has Done For Me

When I first started blogging in 2005 I was an active blogger. I would pick up interesting tit-bits regularly and put them up, cricket was definitely mentioned on my blog, and so were some random articles. The thoughts just flew. However since my move to Dubai, I am unable to devote much time to this space and surf different blogs, leave my comments and interact with interesting bloggers. (Trust me the interactions help a lot.)

Of late after getting back to the blogosphere, I’m discovering a whole new list of interesting bloggers. I’ve not yet managed to comment on all their posts but continue to visit them regularly. As I said I’m little devoid of original thoughts right now. Hence, when I saw this tag on OJ’s blog , I thought I would give it a shot. If you like it , do take it up!

5 best things the boy has done for me

1. Proposed Marriage and confessed his love:

All those who’ve known me are aware of the tough nut that I’m. I’m fiercely independent, extremely opinionated, forthright, and in-your-face person. I’m not an easy going person at all. I did not even believe in the concept called love! No wonder when he popped the question, everyone including my mom, my uncle-aunt, my sis, my best friends, reconfirmed with him if he was in his senses and knew what he was getting into! Apparently he did and he carries with him all their blessings and sympathies which have helped us in 6 years of a wonderful relationship.

As for me I thank god every day for making him pop the question. I did have a crush on him in college, but because of my stupid ego and inane fundae, I would’ve never confronted him and lost my chance for ever! He pretty much ensures that till date he reminds me of my foolishness:-)

2. Made best friends with my best friends

My friends are an important part of my life. They have seen me through the worst times and been there whenever I needed them. They have been my inspiration and I feel blessed having them in my life. There are a few close ones who will always be top priority in my life no matter what. I was not sure how he would accept that but I’m simply amazed as to how my closest friends have developed a bond with him. He is no longer their friend’s husband but their own friend. The ones dearest to me are dearest to him now. I have my favourites and am not the same with one and all but he on the other hand embraces each one with equal care and attention.

3. Makes the best tea in the world every day

Heads straight to the kitchen after freshening up and serves me a hot cup of tea every single day. He has taken sometime to do it but now it’s a routine. Though I constantly yell at him for not helping me around and never express my happiness over the little things he does on his own; his tea does make up for a tiring day at work and home

4. The London Surprise

Read about it here! I’m awful at giving surprises but he manages to spring one every time! This stands at the top. My friends think I can never match this one and I know I can’t! My girlfriends have given their husbands a torrid time after learning about this and my guy-friends ensure that I pass on the curses to him for setting such high-standards. They curse themselves no less for sharing it with their wives!
(There are tons more – All my birthdays & our anniversaries, Calvin and Hobbes -10 Anniv book , The God’s VCDs etc. Every little love of mine thought about and catered to, just to see a smile on my face! As I said the one above deserved a special mention as it stands high up on the list of millions!)

5. The Gentle Touch

Every single night, without fail he will gently tap my forehead till I’m fast asleep. Ensure I’m comfortable under the quilt and then go to sleep. Every single day, he thinks I don’t notice. I do and I’m miserable when he takes off on his business trips or heads home on family visits (when I can’t make it with him thanks to work:-( )

P.S: Yeah I love him, I don’t express or say it often but I seriously do!!!

Me = 3.78 Earth:-((

Here is an interesting link that my friend has put up on her blog. I’ve got in touch with her ages after we left school. She is a research scientist who puts up some unusual science and technology discoveries/inventions on her blog. If you are looking for some intellectual fodder, hers is the blog to visit!


Though I don’t comment often on her blog, every article she puts up enriches your knowledge and here is one person who really cares about Planet Earth.

So I thought I’d take this quiz up and try alter my lifestyle to do my bit. Apparently I’m not yet doing my bit practically. This is not a good score:-(((((((
I suggest you all try it out.

Have u ‘C’een my little angel?

Shifted houses last week and it was an arduous task for someone who has never moved houses in her entire life. I first changed my house when I got married and all I did was pack suitcases to move into a set house! The second time around I packed the bare necessities to move to Dubai and the rest was set-up by the blokes from the Home Centres, Lifestyle , Carrefours and Furniture marts of Dubai!

I’m still overwhelmed by this whole shifting process. Friends and family are overjoyed with the new house but keep asking me if I’ll miss the old one. I surely will, it was not a lavish one but a sweet home for two which MDH and I had done up just fine. I was reminiscing my first days in Dubai in that house as I kept thinking what it is it that I’ll miss the most about that place. And to my and MDH’s realization there is only one thing, rather one person who makes that place richer and more lavish than all the villas and deluxe apartments of the world.

The first year she would only be friends with me and would run-away from MDH. The next year as she started hanging around at our place more frequently, MDH became her pal, her best friend, her buddy, her ally. He was her favorite as he is with everyone I know. (Yes I’m extremely jealous of him but I’ve resigned to that fact of life)

A bundle of energy, a livewire, loving & caring beyond her age, pretty, naughty, tantrum thrower, rockstar, terrific dancer, shy, talkative, artistic, graceful, obedient, respectful …have I missed out on anything?(P and A please fill me in!)

She has the prettiest smile in the world to greet you, so if you are having a hard day, drop in and visit her to drive the tiredness away. Her awesome tea which she makes with ginger-garlic and a pinch of ketchup is the most sumptuous tea I have ever had in my life. Now she has learnt to make ‘hot corn” and “lemonade” which she will be treating me to, the day I visit her next. She has gifted me the most precious gifts – a bracelet and pendant
(Handmade by her) and a spoon holder for the kitchen (hand-painted by her).

Her eyes lighten up every time one visits her and she has endless stories to narrate. If we think we’ll drop in for 5 minutes she ensures we stay on for another 50 minutes.

Her knowledge and diction of her mother tongue will put anyone to shame, and this inspite of having lived abroad. More than her I’m amazed by A and P. The nicest couple I’ve known till date and the ideal parents of my generation. No wonder she is turning out into a fine little lady.

Bless you little ‘C’, our little angel who is only 4 years old today. I’m yet to have one of my own and someday when I do, I’ll be glad that he/she will have such a lovely idol to follow. If she/he turns out to be 10% of what you are I’ll consider that God has blessed me! I hope and pray that we will be in touch and you will continue to light up the lives of one and all.

May you shine always, your journey has just begun and soon you’ll be sailing through it at thunder-speed. You have brought me more joy and happiness than my real ones have. There is reason when they say you don’t need to be related by blood to be called family. In the 3 years in Dubai, you, P and A have become my family.

In future wherever we will be, we will miss that smile and laughter every single day of our lives but we will thank God every day for giving us the opportunity to have known you so early in life!

Bless You!

Food for Thought

Here is a meme I came by at Sands’ blog. For the original tag you need to go to Nupur’s blog and pick it up from there. I thought it was a very interesting tag since I’ve developed a fetish for cooking and food post my move to Dubai. I suggest all of you give it a shot, I had great fun doing this tag!

So here goes, the gist of the tag is as follows…

• Copy the entire list, along with these instructions, into your blog post
• Bold the foods that you have tried
• Strike out the foods you would never try
• Tell us your score in the comments
• If you wish to, make your own list or add to this one.

So here is Nupur’s 100 with my scores!

1. Ripe mangoes
2. Curd rice
3. Chaat
4. Phulka
5. Puran poli
6. Boiled Peanuts
7. Samosa
8. Stuffed baby eggplants - Tried as kid ( no choice right!), can’t have it now!
9. Aviyal
10. Stuffed paratha
11. Masala chai
12. Tirphal
13. Murukku
14. Curry leaves
15. Banana chips fried in coconut oil
16. Jaggery
17. Vada pav
18. Tender coconut water
19. Paneer
20. Madras filter coffee
21. Boondi laddoo
22. Boondi raita
23. Navratan korma
24. Kokum
25. Masala peanuts
26. A home-cooked Indian vegetarian meal
27. Sugarcane juice
28. Sabudana/sago in any form
29. Horsegram
30. Maggi noodles
31. Podi with rice and ghee
32. Roomali roti
33. Bitter gourd
34. Nylon sev
35. Vegetable biryani
36. Thali at a restaurant
37. Plantain flower - Cooked in my house, but will not try it!
38. Undhiyu
39. Nimbu pani
40. Papad
41. Kotthu parotta
42. Panch phoran
43. Drumsticks
44. Indian “French toast”
45. Sarson ka saag - (Find it too filmy to eat along with gajar ka halwa, hindi films have abused these two items!!)
46. Bhakri
47. Pav bhaji
48. Sitaphal - The one fruit you can make me try
49. Glucose biscuits
50. Sprouts
51. Chole-bhature
52. Amla
53. Tomato “omelet”
54. A wedding feast
55. Grilled corn on the cob with lemon juice, salt and chilli powder – (That’s bliss! To be had in rainy season walking along the beach or my favourite Worli Sea-face)
56. Cadbury’s fruit and nut chocolate – Tried do not like, plain is the best!
57. Sai bhaji
58. Solkadi – Tried do not like – yeah call me crazy!
59. Indian-Chinese meal
60. Jalebi
61. Black forest cake
62. Bharwa bhindi
63. Kashmiri saffron
64. Misal
65. Ripe jackfruit
66. Idli-chutney
67. ‘Tadgola’
68. Bhut jolokia
69. Baby mango pickle
70. Meal off a banana leaf
71. Falooda
72. Moong khichdi
73. Bebinca
74. Daal baati
75. Methi greens
76. Basundi
77. Gunpowder
78. Appam-stew
79. Sweet lemon pickle
80. Ridge gourd
81. Bisi bele bhath
82. Coconut burfi
83. Caramel custard
84. Thecha
85. Rasam
86. Baingan bharta
87. Mysore pak
88. Punjabi wadi
89. Chhunda – Sweet Mango pickle.
90. Dal makhani
91. Paper dosa
92. Gongura
93. Hand-churned butter – Malai never but homemade ghee I don’t need anything more with it! Yummy
94. Pakoda – All kinds anytime!
95. Curd chillies
96. Mustard oil
97. Fresh cashews – This is my all-time favourite veggie dish beats all non-veg dishes hands down
98. Tomato pickle – I don’t like tomatoes! Only use them when forced to!
99. Rajma-chawal - Tried but won't eat anymore
100. Chaas
     

Score – 80%. I’m rather impressed with myself knowing how fussy I’m with my food habits! I’m more of a non-veg freak than veg hence the score surprises me. It’s like getting a century when you were expecting a duck!

Well here are some more I thought I would add to the list above: ( Just realized that listing foods can be an endless exercise – now waiting for more from some of you folks out there)
1) Pithla
2) Khaman Dhokla
3) Kachori
4) Onion Uttapam
5) Kanda Poha
6) Poori Bhaji
7) Aaloo Bonda
8) Kothimbir Wadi
9) Aaluchi Wadi
10) Ragda Pattice
11) Dahi Bhalla
12) Pachadi
13) Tikhat Shira
14) God Shira
15) Kala Vatana usal ( Black peas curry)
16) Kale Vaal Usal
17) Malida
18) Varan Bhaat
19) Molten Lava – Chilli’s
20) Coco’s Triple Dare Cake
21) World Class Chocolate – Baskin Robbins

Life's Little Learnings of the Week - 3

Sorry for the absentia last week! Shifted, moved houses - tiring but fun. Just settling in so regular blogging should pick up soon!

Since I missed posting last week , here is a double dose this week:

I Have Learned That...

• Lord didn't do it all in one day, what makes me think I can - Age 46
• Whenever my mom calls me on the phone to say " Hi", it always makes me smile - Age 20
• When you have an argument with your spouse; the first one who says" I'm sorry I hurt your feelings;please forgive me", is the winner - Age 51
• Learning to laugh at yourself is the surest sign of maturity - Age 47
• Children and grandparents are natural allies - Age 39
• Sometimes just taking a nap can be the best medicine - Age18
• Whenever I'm in big hurry the person in front of me isn't! - Age 29
• I never have insomnia when it's time to get up in the morning - Age 57
• You should never try to ride your bicycle over a basketball - Age 14
• You should never give your brother the squirt gun especially when it's loaded with water - Age 7
• You should never park your new car besides a beat-up car in the parking lot - Age72
• Just one person saying to me "You made my day", makes my day - Age20
• A woman would rather be complimented about her intelligence than her looks - Age 39
• If you want an honest answer on how you look, ask your little sister - Age13

Smile a lot and spread it even more

If this does not bring a smile to your face, you are not normal;-))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Imagine waking up in the morning, dreading to go through the daily routine of work and this is what you are treated to at 8.00 a.m. at the station. I'd die to see this happen to me atleast once in this lifetime!

200 dancers brought the world alive with their phenomenal performance at Central Antwerp Station - Belgium. After I googled I learnt it was a promotional stunt for a Belgium Show.

But, If I ever get to see such an act here in Dubai, I'll be the first to join. Dance and Music brings such joy and happiness. Just see the reactions of all the people at the station and see how many joined in impromptu!!

Special, lovely, just made my day, week, month, year and lots more years of the life!

Do spread the joy around, the world needs it!

P.S: Special thanks to my friend who shared it with me on FB

WC, PAK and Us...

WC'92 -League - Sydney - Indian won by 43 runs

WC'96 - Qfinal - Blore - India won by 39 runs
WC'99 - League - Manchester Ind won by 47runs
WC'03 - Super Six - Centurion - Ind won by 6 wickets
T20 WC '07 - League match - Durban - Match tied - India won on bowl out 3-0
T20 WC'07 - Johansnesburg - Final - Ind won by 5 runs
T20 WC '09 - Lords - Warm-up - India wins by 9 wickets

17 years since we met Pak for the first time in a WC and they are yet to beat us in a WC match - warm-up, league or knock-outs!

I don't see the law of averages catching up with us this year either!
Men in Blue Rock. Period!!!

T20 Preview: Are you glued in?

I think it’s been ages since I blogged about my first love although I do keep having great discussions with my cric buddies (PK and Tugga) of years off-line. I need to put these conversations up on the blog as they will make up for an interesting read for all cricket lovers! Either ways that is for some other day for another blog post.
For those who thought I was off cricket, tough luck! If you think you can survive without water, good for you, it’s not gonna work for me without cricket!

People who know me well, know my love for test and detestation for ODIs and T20. I loathed T20 when it came into force but India’s win in the WC, the scintillating matches against Pak & Aus in the first WC and later the IPL changed it all for me. I’ve not switched loyalties, test cricket remains my first love, the pure and true form of the game.

Test cricket is like your mom’s homemade food, the taste stays on your tongue for years, it takes time to be prepared but beats any hotel food any day! T20 is more like a KFC or McDonald’s burger, tasty as long as it lasts as it helps beat the hunger in few minutes!

I’ve enjoyed every match of the IPL this year, changing loyalties from MI to BRC to DC, and hoping that the underdogs would win as they did last year! Not many gave RR a chance last year and I bet no one would have put their money on DC(last year's bottom team) to win this one!

I admire and hate Lalit Modi, he has made IPL bigger than any ICC cricket event but at the same time he has drowned in commercialization of the game. It worries me that the charm of IPL will be lost soon.

So DC won and had a fair fight from BRC whose comeback was the talk of the tournament. You know the tournament is serving its purpose where one cannot predict a clear winner unlike the international scene where Aussies seemed to dominate for a long time now! Fortunately, that’s changing.

All eyes are turned to the T20 WC in England. I’m glad that the bowlers will have a chance to shine. The conditions are conducive to seam bowlers and all that the bowlers need to do is stick to the basics and bowl a good line and length. South Africa showed us some close matches in IPL and not all were high scoring games.

I rarely, very rarely vouch for India as favorites because we have been an unpredictable bunch for long. I always prefer that India goes in as tournament underdogs rather than favorites, we somehow tend to play better without the weight of the expectations. But, Dhoni’s Dudes are proving me wrong and seem to fare much better when there are more expectations. They have been winning consistently in all forms of the game for the last 2 years, occasional hiccups forgiven:-)

Before I review our competitors, I feel we stand a good chance to defend the title again. We bat right down to no 9 if we field the following team:
Sehwag, Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni, Yousuf, Harbhajan, Zaheer, Ishant, RP Singh
If Dhoni opts for 5 regular bowlers keeping in mind the England conditions, he will drop either Sehwag/Gambhir based on form and field Praveen Kumar who has bowled extremely well for BRC in IPL. Rohit and Yousuf are in excellent form along with Raina. Yuvraj/Dhoni have been out of sorts a bit but then they are experienced warriors who cannot be left out. And even if anyone goes out form, Ravindra Jadeja is raring to go. A couple of shots he played today reminded me of his namesake’s innings against Pak in ’96 WC and the thrashing dealt out to Waqar Younis.

As for the bowling department, RP Singh is in tremendous form carrying from his IPL success. Ishant is a worry but he seemed fine today in the warm-up game. If Zaheer opts out due to his injury we have Praveen Kumar, while Pragyan Ojha is a fitting replacement for Bhajji. As MDH told me today after seeing Ojha bowl in the warm up game, 'Who the hell said spinners will be murdered in T20, see this bloke and see how Warne, Vettori and Kumble bowled in the IPL.' If you got the skill you will excel in any form of the game. Though I felt Nehra was a tad unlucky to miss out, he was bowling as well as he did in the 2003 WC.

The serious competition will be from NZ, we are yet to beat them in a T20 game. Even today we lost. This team is indeed our boogeyman. Ryder, McCullum and Taylor are dangerous blokes who can turn the game single-handedly and Vettori can do the same with the ball. The worst part about this format is that it takes one innings or one over to turn the match and all 4 have the ability to do so. By far it is a team that deserves some serious attention and is definitely in the race for final four.

Australia is the only other team to have beaten us so far but as a team we are far better off. I would place the South Africans with Duminy,Smith, Steyn, Morke, Kallis and Boucher way higher than the Australians. Even Sri Lanka and Pakistan stand a better chance, Pakistan because they are terribly unpredictable and Sri Lanka because they have the seasoned campaigners Sangakarra, Dilshan, Jayasurya, Malinga and good old Murali. I’m not so sure England will get that far, they have decent players but I’m not so sure they’ve mastered the art of playing T20 yet.
Although there is a high possibility of Bangladesh or Windies pulling off an upset, I still feel that the best teams should make it to the final four – India, SA, NZ, AUS/Pak.

Your votes are welcome for the top four but currently India is leading with 66% on cricinfo.com's poll!

It should be an exciting game to watch.

P.S: I’m moving houses on the auspicious day when the WC commences. I hope the new house brings in much luck to MDH and me as much as the day brings in luck to the Indian Team’s WC campaign.
There is a high probability of me not being able to blog about the game till we get the internet connection done in the new house, so I don’t know when I’ll join in again on this space.
Till then enjoy the cup and keep me posted as well!

Life's Little Learnings of the Week - 2

I HAVE LEARNED THAT...

• After all these years I still have a crush on my husband - Age 28
• When bad times come, you can let them make you bitter or use them to make you better-Age 75
• You must fight for the things you believe in- Age 70
• You should never go to bed with an argument unsettled - Age 73
• A sunroof is worth the extra cost - Age 29
• The ache of unfulfilled dreams is the worst pain of all - Age 51
• It's not what you have in your lifebut who you have in your life that counts - Age30

Life's Little Learnings of the Week - 1

I'm not sure if you all have come across the "I've learned that...series" on e-mail/papers. I happened to pick a compilation book of the same when in Mumbai. It is the "Live and Learn & Pass it On". I've decided to share 7 thoughts every week starting today with you all.

The thoughts have been expressed by common people like us unlike the quotes we get from the famous ones; common people across ages from kids to grandparents to teenagers to middle aged couples. So here goes the first of a longggggggg series...


I HAVE LEARNED THAT...

1. I shouldn't call my identical twin sister ugly - Age 12
2. Whatever colour you like the least your mother-in-law will love the most - Age 33
3. Having a boss who makes you sick isn't a terminal condition - Age 47
4. If you die broke, the timing was right - Age 64
5. Flipping through channels is not annoying if I hold the remote - Age 42
6. Although it's hard to admit, I'm secretly glad that my parents are strict with me - Age 15
7. You should never go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back - Age 66

My experiments with cooking

Experiments with cooking continue! Fortunately they turn out just fine and at most times delicious!

I post my recipes here, so do visit and try them out. For now Mumbai Special - Vada Paav and Misal Paav:-)
http://recipesofindia.blogspot.com/2009/05/mumbai-special.html
Enjoy!!

20 random quirks

It has been 3 years of expat life in Dubai! Although I would have loved to be a regular on my blog I could not, as I was adjusting to a new life and a whole new world of responsibilities!
So blogging took a backseat and I’m not going to promise that I shall be regular at it but I will try again:-)

This is inspired from the “25 not so random things about me”! Over the last few years in my transition from a protected only-child to a wife balancing work and home, I’ve developed a few quirks (‘MDH’ a.k.a. ‘My Dear Husband ’ almost treats them as my OCDs). Anyone who empathizes or sees any similarity is free to take up this tag “20 random quirks” and pass it around

1. I cannot stand a dirty kitchen and a sink with overflowing to-be-washed vessels. I need to clean it up before I sleep every single night, even if it takes me 11.00, 12.00 or 1.00 in the night!

2. My tolerance levels for dishelved wardrobe lasts for 5 days max, it needs to be set in order on the weekend, before the next work-week begins.

3. I hate grocery shopping, if you ask me how the prices of onions or tomatoes or potatoes or any other vegetables compare in Dubai to that in Mumbai I do not know and I do not care

4. I thank the creator of “Home Delivery”. Only after coming to Dubai did I realize that lemons and coriander could be home delivered for as minimum as an amount of AED 1/-

5. I dread cleaning up non-veg stuff a la fish, prawns, meat but the time I enjoy in my kitchen is when I cook these non-veg dishes

6. I get absolutely bored cooking any vegetarian meals, snacks work fine!

7. I hate giving my clothes for ironing to the laundry. I have to iron them and I’ve often re-ironed them even though they had come back from the laundry.

8. I have switched off from tech gadgets like mobile phones, playstations, blackberry etc. I use them for their basic functionalities alone!

9. Everytime I redo my wardrobe I find piles of my favorite clothes I’ve grown out of; I stack them in a bag to give them away someday, I still haven’t!

10. I often store important items in a “safe” place and can never remember it at the time I need them the most!

11. I used to hate it when mom nagged me on my room being unkempt, I now repeat the exact same words to MDH and he hates it!

12. I was extremely fussy about my eating habits and mom hoped it would change when I would have to cook for myself; it has now worsened since I get to decide what to cook and how to cook

13. Cooking and driving are now my stress relievers though I’m thankful I do not need them everyday

14. I miss the public transport system miserably (even though I have my own car). To realize the importance of public transport, try staying in Mumbai and London and then shift to Dubai; it feels like someone chopped off your legs!

15. Offices in Dubai commence at 7.30 -8.00 a.m – that’s too early for me :-(

16. I’ve become an avid movie viewer but old habits die hard and I still have to read the review before I go for one.

17. My family thought I will not be able to manage cooking for even one person(considering I never cooked at home!), now I do it with ease for 15-20 people single-handedly

18. They tell me that the first scratch on your car hurts the most , but every scratch on my car small or big still hurts equally

19. I don’t mind the shopping, it’s the part of making place for the new things that irritates me the most

20. I hate staying alone, I dread the days when MDH goes off on his business trips!

Monkey Business

I’m in a dilemma after watching Delhi-6.
So if you’ve been a fool like I was; to see this movie in anticipation of all the hype it carried and riding high on AR Rahman’s super album, maybe you can help me out!
What exactly is the movie about?
a) Roshan – Bittu’s love story
b) Roshan’s discovery of a land he had never visited
c) Roshan’s Granny’s longing to be in her beloved motherland
d) The multi-cultural melting pot that Delhi is
e) The India that has not matured
f) The Ramleela being staged
g) The Kaala Bandar

Rakeysh Om Prakash tries to blend all of the above in one and fails miserably at that.
I actually longed for the first ending (The one where Roshan dies, did I just kill the story for you all? I would have if there was any story!) that was planned by the director; it would’ve been the saving grace for a movie that was all over the place.

A good movie is one with a good story and an even better script. Delhi-6 has none; so I cannot even discuss it. All it has is a super-duper mind-blowing music score by AR Rahman to which the director does no justice whatsoever. More than half the album appears in bits and pieces before the intermission. The songs end before they begin! How can one be so criminal to such a masterpiece?

Arziyan is a delightful sequel to Piya Haji Ali from Fiza. It opens with a picturesque view of thousands praying at the Jama Masjid but does not build on it. Genda Phool is the most entertaining track of the album and what could’ve been a winner ends up as a loser! The title track can give the hip-hop artists of the west a run for their money but is ruined with Abhishek simply jogging on the streets and Sonam changing into the idol look. Even the catchy Masakali is not completely picturised. Rakeysh Om Prakash needs to takes lessons from Mani Ratnam and Rajiv Menon to learn to do justice to Rahman’s numbers

Abhishek as the protagonist falls flat. Aishwarya’s influence on him is clearly showing, plastic expressions and non-reactions! Sonam Kapoor looks ravishing but has little to do.
All others are wasted. The director had a bunch of great actors but does no justice to any character. The most upsetting was Atul Kulkarni, what prompted him to take up Gobar’s role?

A few things that defy logic - what was Roshan thinking of when he donned the Kaala Bandar attire when the whole mob was going mad finding the menace wanting to beat it to death. Despite the allegations and hatred he wants to still continue in Chandni Chowk while the love of his life wants to be free of the place.
What kind of family, especially the conservative one shown thinks of marrying the daughter of the house before the young elder aunt? There is no effort to marry off the young aunt – Rama who is beautiful and efficient as a homemaker.
So here is the deal, look for logic and you’ll find none, you keep waiting for the story to begin and it never does, the last preaching scene does not touch you and there was absolutely no need for the scene with Big B.

If you want to know what the movie is about – pay attention to the scene where Abhishek lands at the Indian airport. The movie begins and ends at that – monkey business

After watching the movie, a friend of mine told me that Swades was all about a bulb, and now I feel Delhi-6 is all about a monkey – only a monkey can understand the mess that Delhi-6 is!

The Prince Bids Adieu

This piece has taken a long time to come. I wanted to pen it down the day he made the announcement; an announcement that did not shock me, but one that made me feel very, very sad. So I decided to hold on and gather my thoughts about this man.

He has always left me amazed. I wonder how I’ve managed to admire him and criticize him at the same time. If I ever put down my all-time favourite lists of cricket players or my dream team, he will make it to that list. Maybe narrowly but he will!
He is the reason for my first ever piece on cricket on the internet. No other cricket article of mine on cricket sites or on my blog evoked such fierce reactions as this one did; and almost 90% of them were comments supporting this man.

For all the wrongs we have accused him of; today when he takes stock of his career, I think he did more right!

His baptism into the cricketing world was harsh. A 19-year old making his debut with another teen sensation who had swept everyone down under in ’91-92 series. He played only one match and was immediately dropped after the tour under the pretext of him being arrogant and disrespectful to elders with an attitude problem.

He returned in not the most pleasant scenarios in 1996 to England, his selection being the most debated issue then. He put his head down (unlike him) and quietly made a test debut with a hundred at Lords. Not many have a hundred on debut in the cricketing world and even few at the Mecca of world Cricket – The Lords. He ensured he had left his name in the record books.
In my years of watching cricket for so long, I don’t quite remember such a fantastic comeback to the game( And to note he made it twice in his career!). From then on began a saga which would carry many twists and turns.

He proved his all-round mettle in the ’97 Toronto Friendship Series against Pakistan. Along with Sachin and Rahul he was beginning to form a batting force in world cricket to reckon with. This was further proven by the trio’s performance in the 1999 world Cup. Remember the magic that he and Rahul wove at Taunton against SL. It rained 4s and 6s that day. His knock of 186 remains the best by an Indian in the World Cup. It even prompted Rahul to say that day, ‘On the off-side first there is God and there is Saurav’.
A statement few dispute. In his prime form, the opposition captain could place all his men on the off-side and yet this guy could manage a four. On the off-side he still reigns supreme for me. It’s a pure delight watching him.

Entrusted with the captaincy in the most turbulent times of Indian cricket; his team reached the finals of the first ever ICC Championship held in Kenya in 2000 beating the likes of mighty giants like Australia and South Africa.

Then came the 2001 Australian series at home; by far the most memorable and cherished moment of Indian cricket; close competitor to the World Cup win in 1983. He may not have contributed with the bat but purely for his captaincy and verbal duel with Steve Waugh, he ought to be given due for that victory. I’ve always maintained that you have to beat the Aussies in the mind and then on the field. He was the one guy who had the guts to take the Aussies head on, get on their nerves and give them back in their own language. It worked, ever since that series India has stunned the cricketing world by being the only nation to beat the Aussies at home and away.

He fought hard for his team, brought in young blood and built that killer instinct and hunger for victory in the team, a spirit that was always lacking in the Indian Teams of past. Sometimes purists argued against it and sometimes they applauded. But he did not care and went about his business his way.

He was termed audacious, arrogant, haughty, but he simply did not seem to care as long as his team was winning and putting up a fight. The Bengal tiger was teaching this team to roar.

And how well they did, remember 2002 Lords Natwest Trophy, remember him flaunting his bare chest in the Lords gallery. Now who would have the audacity to do it at Lords. But the answer was simple, he was giving back to the Poms back in their language. If Flintoff does it in my backyard he better expect the same! Only he would have the guts to proclaim it loud. Not Sachin, not Dravid, Not Kumble, not Kumble, only he!

Remember 2002 test series, remember the Headingly Win! It is one of the finest of India’s wins. India had begun to win abroad. It had finally crafted an overseas win after 15 long years in 2001 in Zimbabwe. South Africa, WI, England, Australia followed. Even the World Cup in 2003 remains Índia's best performance after the 1983 World Cup. India was no longer tagged as tigers at home and lambs abroad.
My most memorable moment of his career apart from 2001 remains the 2003 series down under. His superb 144 at Brisbane set the tone for the series and India did not look back. With a tie we retained the trophy and emerged as the better team.

Then there was the slump in form & captaincy and added controversies. He saw himself in the dark again. He is not a supremely talented guy and he knows that. His attitude and grit have contributed most to his career. He fought hard, went back to domestic cricket, failed and picked himself up again.

He came back in 2006 and had his finest moments under the sun ironically at the fag end of his career. He takes back memories of a double hundred against Pak in ’07, a hard fought ’07 series with Aus down under and a terrific Farewell Series against the same opponent he most loves to beat.

A hundred in Mohali, a fine 85 in Nagpur, a sweet victorious end to a glorious hard fought career. He leaves the field a proud man. The team could not have given him a better farewell, beating Autralia , almost what he lived for throughout his cricketing life!

Saurav Ganguly, I admire him, I envy him, I really do. I’ve rarely seen a guy play till the end on his own terms. Despite all his flaws, all his weaknesses, all his short comings I still like him. He has cared a damn throughout! He has fought it out hard in the mind and on the field. He has made his presence felt and left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. He has led the brat pack of Indian cricket, he has planted the seeds of an aggressive India.
He has given me many a moments to cherish and a history that the younger generation will be proud of.

Though cricket purists will dispute, I won’t and like you I don’t care for them. Hate him or love him, but you cannot ignore him. Think of Indian cricket and you will think of him.

“The Rebel, The Revolutionary, The Prince, The Bengal Tiger, The Dada of Indian Cricket. Such was the man and such is the princely legacy he leaves behind.”

Farewell Dada

So it has happened finally.

Dada bids farewell. The last time the Fab Four were together in a test match.

I don't want to accept it! Watching cricket again is not going to be the same.

So for all the statisticians to get to work; how many players began their career with a hundred and ended with a duck?

Don't feel bad Dada, we are proud of you and by the way you are in elite company. Bradman ended his career with a duck; so you see, there is always a silver lining among dark clouds.

Now, only if India wins he will leave the stage a very very proud man!

P.s: Tribute to Dada has just commenced. Watch this space for more! Need more time to gather my emotions and thoughts!

Of Jumbo and the end of my era

Now that is why Anil Kumble is known to be a man of few words

Kumble had his side of the anecdote that Tendulkar shared. "The first paper clipping that I have is of an under-17 match and the top headline says 'Tendulkar and Kumble score centuries'," Kumble said. "He scored a century for West Zone and I got a century for South Zone and I didn't know who Sachin was at that point of time.

"When we first came into the Indian team, everybody in India said you [Tendulkar] would break all records. You've done that. Congratulations to you. To me, when I first came, they said you won't last two Test matches.

You had the challenge of proving everybody right. I had the challenge of proving everybody wrong."

For the rest of the story go here

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan sums up to a tee my feelings at this point in life! No one could've put it better!

Almost in history!

Sigh!!! I thought this would be it for him. His moment, his ultimate glory; to start off with a hundred and end in one!
Life is not always fair and no one knows that more than Ganguly himself!

India should be winning this one for Dada...one last time!

It’s Time to Say Goodbye…

The eyes are still moist and the mind does not want to accept. The images on the news yesterday will not go away for a long time. I’ve not seen my husband so upset. I’m even more surprised at myself, practical and objective always, I had a tear in my eye when I saw him take the field for one last time since 18 years.

The warrior, the fighter, the pacifier, the real gentleman of this game, Anil Kumble will be sorely missed by one and all; the cricketer, the bowler, the captain, the team-mate and more than anything the wonderful human being.

Calm, peaceful, determined, gritty, he has all the qualities that make us believe that cricket is indeed a gentleman’s game and Anil Kumble is fine representative of that breed which is slowly diminishing away.

But of all the qualities listed above, the one that you identify him with most is that of a true fighter and a committed player. Remember 2002- WI when he took Lara’s wicket with a broken jaw. The image is still fresh in the mind and it only talks of undying love and commitment to the game, to the country and more importantly to oneself. Anil Kumble personified each letter of the word commitment that day.

A rare super role model for generations to come, simply for the way he carried himself in the cricketing world for 18 years.

I still remember the ’93 series against England at home which lifted India from a series of defeats and put Kumble in the forefront of India’s bowling attack. There is no difference between that Kumble and the Kumble today. His thirst for taking wickets has not lessened a bit, he continues to accept challenges, he continues to toil endlessly without showing an ounce of tiredness, he continues to bowl and bowl, and everytime he takes a wicket, he knows he wants more.

Today his body has given away but his heart and mind have not.

He has made a good decision, he has called it quits at the right time and the injury to his hand has only hastened his decision which he might have held onto till the Nagpur match had he not been injured. I had a weird feeling since Ganguly announced his retirement at the start of the series that only more would follow.
The cricketing instinct in me scares me cause more often than not it turns out to be right. Hell, I’ve still not got any feelings about Sachin or Dravid yet and thank god for that!

There will be millions of articles up on the internet and newspapers about Jumbo’s retirement which will list his achievements. He remains India’s best bowler in the history of the game. 619 wickets and only the second bowler in the world to claim 10-wickets in an innings.
He has given us ample to cherish. However, my most cherished moments after the 10-wicket haul come from his batting heroics. His 88 in Kolkatta 1996 in his partnership with Azhar against South Africa and his 100 in 2007 at the Oval in England. He waited for a long time to add it to his kitty and what a well deserved one it was!

Anil Kumble’s absence will be more felt in the Indian dressing room, he was a mentor and friend to one and all. He stood calm and tall against all that was thrown at him and his team. His conduct in the controversial 2007 series down under proved this fact.

There is not a single fan of this game, of Indian cricket,who will disregard Jumbo’s valiant efforts in two decades, his courage, his grit and his dedication. Jumbo leaves behind a great legacy, one that will remain unparalleled for a long time to come. He leaves a path that will be tough to follow and emulate; but he has ensured that he will be there to guide those who try to tread the same. Ask Bhajji , Chawla and Mishra.

Jumbo we will miss you, and it will be tough watching the matches knowing that you will not be there to bowl the straight one, the flipper, and to shut the critics up who said you could not spin!

You leave this game in honor of being India’s best spinner and bowler till date; that has been the best answer to all the critics in the world.

Jumbo we all take a bow!

P.s: Some of the best tributes I came across: Harsha Bhogle, Suresh Menon, Great Bong , Ramesh