tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174794716101581492012-02-14T02:53:24.655+05:30Spilling thoughts from an overcrowded mind, stopping to reflect on this and that, rabbiting on about everything else...suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.comBlogger3541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-26808833024507621172012-02-14T02:53:00.000+05:302012-02-14T02:53:24.665+05:30

I forgot to mention that I brought the food tray down, to use as a table, to write. This was one of those thoughts that slipped past me, as new came tumbling through. It has revisited me now and I can write about it. I am a little worried that while I do that, there will be more ideas that will disappear before I can catch them. I am going to have to let them pass. What I do not know won't

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-66496582258795765832012-02-13T03:32:00.000+05:302012-02-13T03:34:04.439+05:30

The scenery outside has changed now. The floaty, wonderland look has disappeared. I don't see any clouds around me any more. Oh, there they are! We have flown way above the clouds now. Down below me, the clouds form a desert-like appearance. It looks like an expanse of white sand with bluish-grey (or greyish blue) shadows of the little dunes everywhere. It is picturesque in a way that only

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-10755113465183583142012-02-12T03:56:00.000+05:302012-02-12T04:00:02.053+05:30

We are flying above the clouds now. Actually, we are flying through the clouds. It is a sort of white all around and a little grey. Every now and then we pass through the clouds. It gets misty and whitish. Of course, we do not feel a thing because we are in a plane but each time we pass through a cloud, I mentally prepare myself to feel cold and wet. My imagination must be working overtime. In

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-58284961826058022952012-02-11T09:13:00.001+05:302012-02-11T09:28:53.256+05:30

It is imperative that I forget at least one thing when I pack. That is why I make a list. The trouble with a list is that if it is not on the list, it will not go into the bag and consequently, what was forgotten at the time of making the list are items that missed the bag. Once I, Miss Villager, got on the plane, I reached the point in time where, not only could I not retrieve what I had

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-61555886321283814822012-02-10T09:11:00.000+05:302012-02-11T09:16:35.845+05:30

Once I got off the bus and entered the airport, I headed to the screen which announced flight times and status. I scanned the display for my flight, without really knowing my flight number. I assumed I would be able to figure it out from the airlines and the destination. I was forced to pull out my ticket and get the number, when I could not see my flight on the list. That was a little silly

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-66425371862151635072012-02-09T12:25:00.001+05:302012-02-11T09:06:21.179+05:30

It was a really long journey to the airport, taking over an hour by train, followed by 45 minutes by bus. Thankfully, the bus would drop me right at the airport. All I had to do was step through the door and get in line to pick up my boarding pass. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth going through this, in order to save a few bucks. In exchange for $20 - $30, I was using up 2 hours of my life, to

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-88148920105968043902012-02-03T08:59:00.000+05:302012-02-03T08:59:49.584+05:30

I recently found out that music grows on you, when I borrowed someone's 5 favourite songs to listen to, while I worked. I did not quite get it the first time I heard the songs. As I listened to them again and again, I found that I liked them. Especially one of the songs.  They say that the kind of person you are can be determined by the music you listen to. I tried to figure what kind of a

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-70960867612786858192012-01-26T14:00:00.000+05:302012-01-27T12:44:32.988+05:30

"I hate my house! I hate it. I hate it. I hate it!", she yelled.  It was strange to hear her go on like that because she used to love it. At least that is what she used to think, I think. When she was moving into the house, she had said that she picked this house because it had felt right. Of all the house places she had seen, this one was by far the most expensive one but it had felt right

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-65608479488935102582012-01-25T14:02:00.000+05:302012-01-25T14:02:56.155+05:30

I have been slack. It clearly shows in the appearance of my blog page. There are too many colours. The fonts vary across posts. The template is too splattered. Most importantly, the formatting of each post is haywire. In other words, I need a makeover for my blog. As it is apparent, I have not been making time to write a post, let alone work on the blog itself. I have noticed that it is much

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-57615805323991520052012-01-18T13:47:00.001+05:302012-01-26T08:47:41.143+05:30

"Somewhere in the midst of the changing seasons and overbooked events, there will be time to read and write" Those are words from my last blog, at the end of last year. It has taken me 18 days to get back to writing my first post of this year. Obviously, it has not been that easy to make time to write. I will admit that I may have had the opportunity a couple of times but I have been lazy or

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-51773199530226629502011-12-30T08:26:00.000+05:302011-12-30T08:26:04.421+05:30

The month of December has been rather exciting. There have been too many parties, too much food and far too many bottles. It culminated in two fabulous Christmas parties - one of Christmas Day and the other on Boxing Day. Then, everything went quiet. The silence was almost deafening. Two days of no real partying, no going out. In fact, the two days at work were stunningly quiet too. In reality,

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-54202442928928028232011-12-21T13:48:00.002+05:302011-12-30T08:36:27.800+05:30

The excitement of watching cricket in the stadium is just fantastic. The adrenalin rush in a stadium far surpasses the feeling when you are watching a match on the television. The Brisbane Heat Vs Melbourne Stars match last night was no less. Apparently, one of the highlights of the match was the presence of Shane Warne. He played for Victoria, which meant that the chances of them winning the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-83854265789708507782011-12-19T16:00:00.000+05:302011-12-20T13:02:19.677+05:30

I watched a film last week. It has to be one of the most poorly made movies I have ever watched! Initially, I thought that direction and editing was bad. The picture was probably meant to be cheesy but in an attempt at making it cheesy in a funny way, the director had failed miserably. The film revolved around a girl (Reshma) who wanted to be an actress and ended up being an 'item girl', going

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-21743751687481521882011-12-09T13:14:00.001+05:302011-12-09T13:22:17.677+05:30

Bank rate cuts are old news now. The Big Four were in the line of fire while they 'reviewed' the RBA's decision to chop the interest rate by 25 basis points. Once the banks decided to fall in line and pass on the entire cut, the news went cold super fast.  If the banks, or even one of them, had with-held any part of the cut, the fire would still be raging. As they say, good news is no fun. 

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-44670656171060484742011-12-08T12:49:00.001+05:302011-12-08T12:51:43.966+05:30

Taking photographs when the sun is up and shining bright, is probably the easiest. An automatic point-and-shoot camera is all a photographer needs and even the worst ones can manage a few good pictures. Most amateurs prefer a sunny day to say, a cloudy or rainy one, for this reason. I have discovered that all of this is bullshit. Mostly, if not entirely. Sunlight means shadows. Partial

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-51605473470755069112011-12-07T04:01:00.001+05:302011-12-07T04:02:44.439+05:30

Appearance is important. That is one of the most important lessons I have learnt since arriving here. I have noticed how, all around me, people are so keen on appearances. In my note a couple of days ago, I mentioned a performance at a community school event, where the teacher was showing the children what to do so they look good on stage. That is just one of many examples. It is not a bad

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-15469887783234386842011-12-03T15:10:00.001+05:302011-12-03T23:37:56.061+05:30

As I kid, I remember coming home from a day of play and telling my mum about it. I used to tell her about the friends I made and the fun I had with the friends I already have. That still happens. It seemed like the most natural thing to me, until now. I go out, make my friends, come home and tell my parents about them. What is unusual about that? Right?  I have been hanging about with a few

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-34438358148435880392011-11-17T13:38:00.000+05:302011-11-17T13:39:00.293+05:30

Alert: Poor attempt at writing today. Too many distractions, mentally drained and not well-fed - those are my excuses. My multi-tasking skills were put to test today. The morning started off pretty simple. I didn't have to pack my lunch box or get my Krav gear in order. All I had to do was shower, grab my bag, my keys and take the train to arrive at work in time. I spent my free 3 hours

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-10195867546227623632011-11-16T13:58:00.001+05:302011-11-16T14:00:18.969+05:30

When you wake up in the morning and know you have 4 hours to go before the day actually starts, it is supposed to feel good. At 5.10AM this morning, I woke up feeling hungry. A coffee, that's what I needed. Once I've had that cuppa, I would go for a run and then make a list of other things I could do to kill the four hours. The rest of the day would go smoothly, till 5PM, when it was time for

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-36834605958577148922011-11-15T10:18:00.001+05:302011-11-15T10:33:16.085+05:30

I have seen him roam the backyard a number of times. He arrives at the beginning of spring and stays through to summer. I have no idea what he does during the rains. Maybe I should be more observant. He has never been in the patio as far as I have known, but my paranoia forces me to leave the patio door closed. Just in case. In the last couple of weeks, I've occasionally left the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-26187876452855946762011-11-12T05:26:00.001+05:302011-11-16T14:03:06.674+05:30

I am so over strangers telling me what to do with my life, through the stupid monitors I peer into twenty million times a day!  My Gmail crashed 5 times during an email that might have otherwise finished in 5 minutes. The Chrome help page says I should disable my anti-virus and do a few things before I turn it back on, to fix the issue. I'll be damned if I stay connected to the vast world of

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4709331 153.0235024-27.4850216 153.0037614 -27.4568446 153.04324340000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-58263022615300699122011-11-09T03:04:00.000+05:302011-11-16T14:02:28.695+05:30

Moving houses can be a daunting task. When you’re in a different country, away from family and friends, even the modern technologies of developed countries do not make the task any more fun. Two of my friends were in various stages of the moving process. One family has been looking for a house in various suburbs, without any luck. I cannot help but wonder why someone would be rejected for

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-74444300399287398162011-10-30T17:00:00.000+05:302011-11-16T14:01:51.736+05:30

As a compulsive list person, it is apparent that one of the first things I do in any new environment, is make a list. I arrived in Australia last year and settled myself in. Then I made a list. A list of things that would go on my pseudo-bucket list. Let me call it the wish tree. I don't really have a name for it. Maybe I'll think up one soon.  One of the things on the list was to do a

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-15375413294785096602011-10-29T07:15:00.000+05:302011-11-16T14:00:59.978+05:30

Queen Elizabeth II was in Brisbane on what was being touted as possibly her last tour to Australia. Nobody said why they thought it was her last tour. I cannot help but wonder if anyone realized it sounded like she was going to die. Somehow even thinking that seems blasphemous.  From the news stand, I gleaned information that she is the only reigning monarch from The Royal Family to visit

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1South Bank, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia-27.4819254 153.0230107-27.4836864 153.0205432 -27.480164400000003 153.02547819999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-48791155447331516462011-10-22T12:59:00.003+05:302011-11-16T14:27:40.492+05:30

There is nothing like lying on the grass, by the river, under a mildly cloudy sky, with the sun peeking ever so often. Twenty minutes of napping in a continuum of time and space like this is more relaxing than 5 hours of night sleep under the covers in the comfort of the bedroom. Warm and soothing. The occasional drone of the helicopters, the squawking gulls, crowing birds and speeding

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-53845974737947842522011-10-19T17:01:00.000+05:302011-10-19T17:01:40.744+05:30

The book started off well and the author managed to keep it up for a little bit. Soon, he started to lose me. He began to repeat himself here and there, cloaking the same points in a different garb. How about cutting to the chase, Stuart? He does not seem to have a focal point for the book either. 'Stay on the course’ he says but does he? It’s not clear till the end whether this book is

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-52646214250005669462011-07-09T06:58:00.001+05:302011-07-09T07:05:57.557+05:30

A dear friend of mine, who I stayed with during one of my travels,introduced me to Sri Lankan cuisine. One dinner was all it took to getme hooked. Hops and curries! Coconut Sambol. Finger-licking yummy.I've been craving for Sri Lankan food ever since.There is a great degree of similarity between Sri Lankan and SouthIndian cuisine. It is a fine line, so it's easy to confuse one withthe other. The

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-65992149015528068312011-05-18T02:29:00.000+05:302011-05-18T02:29:56.021+05:30

Movie: Umrao Jaan Singer: Asha Bhosle In aankhon ki masti ke, aah aah aah aah In aankhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaaron hain Mastaane hazaaron hain In aankhon se vaabasta In aankhon se vaabasta afsaane hazaaron hain Afsaane hazaaron hain In aankhon ki masti ke Ek tum hi nahin tanha, aah aah Ek tum hi nahin tanha ulfat mein meri rusva Ulfat mein meri rusva Is shaher mein tum jaise Is shaher mein

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-46821049510612177232011-05-09T03:49:00.000+05:302011-05-09T03:49:25.409+05:30

What do you like to do when you are in a new place? Are you there as a traveller or a tourist? A tourist is there for pleasure and just that. The experience is what life has inevitably thrown at the tourist. A traveller, on the other hand, is there first for the experience - the reason for arrival may be any, even not self-induced. A tourist fits into the realm of a definition of a traveller but

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-87954554289768885922011-05-03T17:47:00.003+05:302011-05-03T18:18:01.020+05:30

She was already there when I entered the train, occupying the entire square of 4 seats to the left of the door. Dressed in a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a chocolate brown singlet (that I later found was open at the back, save for 4 buttons that held it up), a coffee brown scarf and dark brown boots, she was reading. Her handbag and shopping were strewn on the aisle seat while she sat at the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-69872649317256779672011-05-03T15:13:00.000+05:302011-05-03T15:13:02.497+05:30

I was at Max Brenner the other day, digging into the most heavenly piece of chocolate I have ever had. Chocolate Souffle. Soft yummy crumbs hiding a gooey mass of melted chocolate inside. I was not even embarassed or ashamed at the "Mmm Mmm" noises I was making.  As I waited for my chocolate souffle, I looked at all the people queued up. For that sinful taste that brings joy like no other,

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-60870529323606321642011-05-03T03:27:00.001+05:302011-05-03T18:05:02.351+05:30

Osama Bin Laden is dead. This was not how I heard the news. I turned on the television, hoping to find something to watch that would help kill my time. The news was on. The news reader was stating, quite nonchalantly, that there were concerns of retaliation due to the killing of Osama Bin Laden in a fire fight with the US forces. I frowned and checked myself from switching channels. He was dead?

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-7605021181390207482011-04-25T10:00:00.091+05:302011-04-25T10:00:00.187+05:30

She knew she had to do it. Self-motivation was not an easy thing and she had pushed it for over 6 months. Struggling to find another excuse today, she finally opened the door to the garage and looked at the shiny blue bike. She could not remember the key to the number lock. There was an excuse lying right there, waiting to be picked up and relished. She refused to give in. She called her husband

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-91219649946622608252011-04-24T08:21:00.000+05:302011-04-24T08:21:37.815+05:30

The little fellow's eyes opened wide as saucers when he saw it parked outside the door. He smiled and ran to hug his parents. He turned 5 at the stroke of midnight last night, while he was busy dreaming of riding and falling, bruises all over his limbs that he scarce noticed. Is that bike for me, daddy? She clapped the back of her palm against her mouth to stop the noise that had emerged from her

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-62456621882465847582011-04-24T08:05:00.000+05:302011-04-24T08:05:55.333+05:30

He stepped inside. It was an empty room with white walls. The walls were so white that there was no need for light even in the darkest hour of the night. As he got used to the glare, he noticed a box at the far end of the room. It was hard to tell how far, squinting against the brightness as he was. He walked towards it & stopped inches before he reached it. It's beautiful! It was an old trunk

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-26024479765612809042011-04-23T16:56:00.000+05:302011-04-23T16:56:31.793+05:30

I had made the poor guy wait half an hour. Yet, when he saw me, he gave me a wide smile and cheerfully said, "You made it!". People who carry such positive energy enrich your life simply by being in it for a few minutes. By the time Marcelo Paiva was done showing me the ropes to Abseiling, I was convinced there was no way I could do it. He insisted that I should try. I would rather have pushed

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-28507409925899716372011-04-23T09:51:00.001+05:302011-04-24T02:43:41.768+05:30

All of you who have fear of heights, please raise your hands. Since you cannot see me, let me tell you that my  hand is raised. It used to be worse before. I used to feel mortified at great heights.  As part of various life experiences, I ended up in various places where the view from atop was breathtaking. I am a sucker for "views", so much so that when booking my flights I always want a window

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-76843982066838940432011-04-17T15:35:00.000+05:302011-04-17T15:35:49.635+05:30

There was everything about the environment that an exam should have. The students in uniforms waiting outside the institute, some chatting and some reading from sheets of paper, some too nervous to say anything. Checking your name on the list, signing-in.  Finally the doors opened and we streamed inside. Again, the instructions - go straight to the hall blah blah - were all business and exam-like

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-16180270397938369142011-04-08T03:44:00.001+05:302011-04-08T03:49:06.340+05:30

There are times in life when you suddenly decide you need a change. I have times like that all the time. So, last week I decided that I needed to pick up a sport. This was in addition to plans to learn a new language, join Zumba classes, cover all the Theme Parks in the next few free weekends (do not see one in sight for another few but I'm sure there will be one), preparing for my Martial Arts

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-72065906869946339352011-04-03T11:14:00.002+05:302011-04-04T03:10:41.535+05:30

I heard the happiness in your laugh and your excitement. You sounded like a child. The word that came to mind was 'glee'. The term 'pure joy' made sense. I smiled. It came naturally.  Mary J. Waldrip said, "A laugh is a smile that bursts". When you laughed, a speck from the burst hit me.  I know what I said then. I heard it myself. I insisted you go easy. Maybe I was trying to sound worried.

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-45078468151316448032011-03-27T07:00:00.000+05:302011-03-27T07:00:42.633+05:30

I read a blog post by Scott Adams today and was pleased to read some of the reader comments. I do not hate Scott Adams. In fact I love reading his blogs. Some of his arguments can be quite stimulating. There is the occasional streak humour or an insightful piece. Not to forget the follow-up discussions from readers that are an important aspect of his blog - a must read. Then there are ones like

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-46409776223538563852011-03-07T17:38:00.001+05:302011-03-07T17:39:37.917+05:30

Some kids grow up believing Santa Claus exists. At some point in their lives they wake up to the horror that he doesn't. What about the other way around? Some of us grow up "knowing" Santa doesn't exist. What if we find out one day that he does? Ouch! Those of us who don't believe in Santa also don't believe in some other things. Vampires. Unidentified Flying Objects. Pirates. Etcetera. At

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-87486628630974562712011-03-01T18:11:00.000+05:302011-03-01T18:11:07.175+05:30

I announced yesterday that I was going to take a Facebook hiatus. FB friends cheered me on. They must be really sick of me in that part of the world! The one person that challenged my ability to do that does not even get on FB or ever read my updates. Doh! So, I went to a comedy show today. No, not because I am off FB. Doh! I went because I love comedy, I love shows, I love the stage and reasons

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-18475841836054548352011-02-28T02:51:00.000+05:302011-02-28T02:51:43.508+05:30

I'm sitting at my laptop, staring at the screen as I wait on one of the numerous breaks the husband takes during a 10 minute conversation on messenger. A cold breeze suddenly passes by I seem to have started this blog a while ago (7th Jan 2011 to be exact) and never got further than that. I wonder what I was thinking. I cannot seem to imagine where this story went that day. For some strange

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-24266625162539986742011-02-27T04:56:00.001+05:302011-02-27T04:58:30.510+05:30

With the advent of Facebook, the line between the real and virtual world appears to be thinning real fast. Some complain about how fake it can get, with people lying about their statuses & locations, not to mention their details. Cut to the real world. Does every person you speak to tell you the truth? You get the point. With experience we learn to differentiate between the truth and the lies. Or

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-38255415343400133882011-01-10T03:09:00.000+05:302011-01-10T03:09:49.905+05:30

As I awoke, I wished for more sleepUntil I heard the pitter-patter outside the windowA smile curved on my face and sleep walked off A sight to behold was this rainThe shiny leaves and dripping barks of wet trees,The earth with a melting chocolate bar appearance The colours of nature getting unstainedThe thirst of the soil being quenchedAs curtains fell from the skies to this planet The music of

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-7061442697101395382011-01-10T02:35:00.000+05:302011-01-10T02:35:09.571+05:30

Choosing a path meant having to miss out on others. She had a whole life to live, and she was always thinking that, in the future, she might regret the choices she made now.“I’m afraid of committing myself,” she thought to herself.She wanted to follow all possible paths and so ended up following none. After her first romantic disappointment, she had never again given herself entirely. She feared

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-37283602684607002362011-01-09T11:31:00.001+05:302011-01-09T11:32:44.792+05:30

I'm missing the IPL drama back home. The news, discussions, slapping each other back and forth, the spicy bhel puri that is dished out every time the term IPL pops up. Unable to bear the ignorance anymore, I googled for an update on the teams, as one after another friends and family vented on Twitter and FB.  Cricket, glamour and money have always been the main ingredients of IPL, not necessarily

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-79339229112673638342011-01-05T13:58:00.001+05:302011-01-05T14:15:17.730+05:30

The first thing I did when I got home from work today was this. suholla suholla  Fuck YOU! And you, you, you and you too! #fb13 minutes ago Favorite Reply Delete Seriously, it's unbelievable how many things can go bugger all in one day.  My new sunscreen. It claimed 4 hours of protection, water-proof, sweat-resistance. All I did was run 20 mins in cloudy weather and when I walked into the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-41667724272452114702011-01-04T16:03:00.000+05:302011-01-04T16:03:25.062+05:30

I'm in a rather pensive mood tonight. Three friends, one offended me and two others made me happy. I find myself clinging to the heartache rather than rejoice. Why does a negative emotion cut so deeply even as joy bubbles over? For one in such a state, I naturally turned to PC's rather reflective blogs. Suits the mindset, you see. The below is another of PC's writings. Click here to find the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-727813533546254152011-01-04T14:53:00.001+05:302011-01-04T16:07:01.100+05:30

A friend sent me this for New Years. Makes a rather interesting read. Click here for the original. One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-15296504366977057632011-01-03T14:45:00.000+05:302011-01-03T14:45:21.075+05:30

As one of thousands of people who leave their homes and travel to other countries to gain experience, knowledge and an improved lifestyle, I crossed the seas and arrived at this island. As is human nature to adapt to current surroundings, so did I. I went a step ahead and ensured I remain busy so I don't remember what I'm missing from where I arrived. I had so much fun being "a Roman in Rome"

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-1766415165139733802011-01-03T06:38:00.000+05:302011-01-03T06:38:50.230+05:30

How has the new year been so far? Well, it has been all of 3 days and nothing has considerably changed from last year. Unless you count the fact that I haven't worked at all this year and yet expect to get paid for these days. That's just me being cheeky there. Ignore me and read on.  The day trip I spoke of in my last post turned out well. The weatherman said there was possible rain on New Year

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-31704293511769575622011-01-01T02:45:00.002+05:302011-01-03T05:34:50.486+05:30

I've been slack on the blogging front. I think up stuff to write, I have the material and then I get lazy. After a blissfully beautiful Christmas, which I insist on calling "the traditional Aussie Christmas" even though people tell me there's nothing traditional about an Aussie Christmas, I made up my mind to blog about it. The draft page remained open on my Chrome for a week before I shut it

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-67424954167119248892010-12-14T02:53:00.000+05:302010-12-14T02:53:08.241+05:30

It's been a while. I've had atleast 3 blog ideas and content to write but never made the time. Some of us have to earn a living, no matter how much we detest the means to the goal. Then there's all the extra things one needs to do to fit into that horribly expensive dress one bought or the pair of shorts that one is hoping to buy. Many and such excuses later, here I am. Back to my beloved writing

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-33950604224128060552010-11-07T06:03:00.000+05:302010-11-07T06:03:37.104+05:30

Let me steal a few lines off a page that warns people off of magpies in Brisbane, to start off. "You know it’s spring in Brisbane when you see cyclists with bristling spikes on their bike helmets, or children wearing upside down ice cream containers on their heads. No, it’s not a fashion statement. It’s a sign of magpie nesting season, when the swooping can be a little too close for comfort. Many

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-80598600087272263452010-11-06T03:17:00.001+05:302010-11-06T03:24:49.461+05:30

I'm standing in the queue at McD's for an early brekkie. It's a little after 6.30AM. Allow me to explain. I've been out since 5.45AM and that was three quarters of an hour after I woke up this morning. I have just taken a bus to the city from a girlfriend's place, where I had a girls' night out and sleepover, leaving her a note that I'd see her later today. Everyone else around me look like

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-56686730034741857572010-10-16T03:09:00.000+05:302010-10-16T03:09:58.600+05:30

It is easy to see why gambling is addictive. It is a win-win situation for the house, may not be so for gambler but he returns nevertheless.  If one is running through a streak of bad luck, there are two things that will bring him back. A hope that the luck will turn someday and one will at least make the money back that one has lost, makes one want to return. The reasoning that if it were the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-60316515250284223732010-10-03T05:55:00.011+05:302010-10-04T02:28:06.906+05:30

Watching your car hurtling down the road, straight into the back of a stopped car, is a nightmare. For a few seconds, it is like being on a giant Ferris wheel, as the your cage plunges downward. You're plummeting towards the capsule in front of you and there's the adrenalin rush but in some brave corner of your mind, you know you won't hit it. Only, in the case of a real car on a real highway,

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-49681484049960051502010-10-01T03:31:00.000+05:302010-10-01T03:31:43.311+05:30

I heard the verdict on the long-standing Ayodhya issue. It was pathetic, if nothing else. No offence but why did it take this long to say something I could have said right back then? On the surface it sounds like a reasonable decision. Except that, it is not.  If Hindus and Muslims could live in harmony, sharing the same ground, why have they not already? Maybe most Hindus and Muslims do not

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-15108830396171765852010-09-30T02:38:00.000+05:302010-09-30T02:38:07.256+05:30

I love reading Paulo Coelho. I have found his writings profound, more often than not. One of my favourite blogs is his. Here is a piece I found rather interesting. (I would provide a link to it here and leave it at that but decided to copy the contents so it is easier to read than have to click and go) The men she had met since she arrived in Geneva always did everything they could to appear

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-23742818700444320542010-09-27T04:05:00.000+05:302010-09-27T04:05:17.752+05:30

What are your first thoughts when you hear the word 'ballet'? In my mind's eye, I see a horde of little girls in white tutus, prancing around, on their toes, in the most graceful and light-footed moves in an elegant form of dance. If I drew the curtains a bit further back, I might include a lithe dame or two, again in the pretty white and translucent ballet dresses, gliding across the floor...

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-85472814546557351592010-09-26T14:46:00.000+05:302010-09-26T14:46:23.928+05:30

It has been a fairly popular joke since years ago and continues to be - There is no place in the Universe that you cannot find Mallus. You can go to the moon and have chaya where you get off your aircraft, for there will be a Mallu with his tiny chayakkada already there.  As I travelled outside of India, I noticed the same about the 2 most populous countries in the world. Wherever you go, you

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-8908860994776762792010-09-25T06:26:00.000+05:302010-09-25T06:26:20.015+05:30

If you have used (or still use) Microsoft, you know about the innumerable patches they seem to force us to download every day or other, threatening that the current software would not work otherwise. One such day incident interrupted my beautiful life. There is this little blue chip flashing at the bottom right corner of my screen, saying "Hello, look at me, click on me, get your updates. Do it

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-18868541085668933122010-09-25T05:19:00.000+05:302010-09-25T05:19:23.056+05:30

Originally written by Rabindranath Tagore, reproduced in Paulo Coelho's blog and now, again, by me. Where the Mind is Without FearWhere the mind is without fear and the head is held high;Where knowledge is free;Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;Where words come out from the depth of truth;Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection:

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-36397742907942804382010-09-24T03:21:00.000+05:302010-09-24T03:21:47.881+05:30

As a strong advocate of dreaming, whether one hopes to realize the dream or not, I have had a number of dreams over the years. In time, the list grows longer. Sometimes they get archived in the head until they are recalled by a trigger of some sort. Sometimes, they drop off the edge, never to be realized or remembered. Then there are those dreams that are fresh and oozing with hope. Not to forget

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-56676517377478471282010-09-22T17:22:00.000+05:302010-09-22T17:22:21.042+05:30

Marathon-Photos.com Blackmores Sydney Running Festival

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-76461994539690507942010-09-12T06:04:00.002+05:302010-09-13T17:45:12.414+05:30

"Cheap tattoos are not good tattoos and good tattoos are not cheap tattoos", said Jon to me, as the plumber-turned-tattoo-artist, who said he was Aussie but he spelt his name like a French, set about getting his instruments in order. I'm pretty sure that was not the case with the tattoos on his arms, though. He explained that his colleagues and he did that to kill time on slow days. I saw 2.5 yrs

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-14038269330072163242010-09-11T06:15:00.000+05:302010-09-11T06:15:35.842+05:30

I finished my book, finished my blog and was about to log off after a quick check of my emails. I heard leaves rustling in my backyard. I figured it must be a possum. It sounded a little less heavy but it was definitely the sound of a short sprint. I turned to find a giant black and white lizard. He took a quick sprint, like a little puppy and stopped, looking upwards at the sky. I grabbed my

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-27402886750368036092010-09-11T05:12:00.001+05:302010-09-11T05:20:50.787+05:30

If you have not read Matthew Reilly's Scarecrow series and intend to, watch out for ***Spoiler Alert*** and skip those lines of text until you hit the next blank line. It is as if Reilly has a load of these 'ideas' and can't decide which to use in his book, so he uses them all. Each one is better than the last one - faster, bigger, whackier, whatever. Every one of his books, including the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-45999410500373734802010-09-07T03:01:00.000+05:302010-09-07T03:01:32.063+05:30

When my dad decides to buy something, he walks into a store and looks. For a very long time. He walks out without buying. He goes back later - maybe the same store, maybe a different one. He looks some more. He does this until he's satisfied, before he finally buys something. For some reason I always found that annoying (tch tch). So, it is rather amusing that I've been to the tattoo parlour

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-72765024891621183672010-09-04T16:45:00.000+05:302010-09-04T16:45:23.129+05:30

Finally, the much-hyped RiverFire is over. The show was spectacular, as one would expect one of fireworks to be. From Kangaroo Point, we had a view of the fireworks from five different spots - in front of us and either side. It was a beauty to watch the fireworks in sync across all five points, and with the music on station 104.5 The first dump-and-burn was the longest and most spectacular! To

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-26575090859427414652010-09-04T10:09:00.001+05:302010-09-04T10:15:16.522+05:30

9K Endurance Test #1: Managed a non-stop 10k run in approx 75 minutes.  The plan was to just see if I can last an hour. I was hoping the weather would help. Slathered on sufficient sunscreen for good measure, anyway, laced up and headed out around noon. The weather was rather pleasant. I stuck to the riverside, just to be sure. The sun peeped in occasionally but was rather well-behaved.  Got a

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-43800435916346472852010-08-29T09:17:00.000+05:302010-08-29T09:17:11.242+05:30

Unlike back home where the papers are all abuzz with celebrities running (Deepika Padukone and Rahul Bose for the Sunfeast World 10K run, Gul Panag and others at the Mumbai Marathon) where that's all one gets to see - i.e. pics of celebs encouraging one to run and after the run, pics of them having taken off - this was different. When the flyers in my goody-bag said Adam Gilchrist was the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-12489280977916843722010-08-22T06:35:00.000+05:302010-08-22T06:35:36.605+05:30

I logged into the JB Hi-Fi online store this morning, to check their opening times. The screen that flashed before my eyes took my breath away. The background colour and the enormous fonts come leaping at you, with a startling effect. Offers, discounts, yada yada yada, buy from us, the screen screams. As for me, all I wanted was store timings for the store at Albert Street. Look as I might, I

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-64845022307073311482010-08-22T06:31:00.000+05:302010-08-22T06:31:28.613+05:30

Election campaigning in Australia is nothing like it is back home. No blaring noise on the streets, no traffic jams caused by campaigners, no posters splattered across the city and most importantly, no frenzied preparations for security on election day to stop offenders. You might think then that it is easy to move from one day to another without even noticing that the elections are here. Not so.

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-48241431342996889812010-08-18T19:57:00.000+05:302010-08-18T19:57:24.019+05:30

Marley And Me. Life and love with the world's worst dog. Straight on the shelf of my all-time favourite books. This is not a book review, although God knows it's a must read for everyone, dog lovers and others alike. It adds to life's beautiful memories! John Grogan has amazing writing skills. In Marley And Me, he brings his story to life, right in front of your eyes. I never felt like I was

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-58648799749948712032010-08-07T14:38:00.000+05:302010-08-07T14:38:34.713+05:30

I've realised that it is not so much the driving in India that is the problem but the drivers. After a 30-minute near nauseous bus drive to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary today, we finally arrived. Indian driver. Sad. Expensive as the entry was, one can easily spend a good half day with the animals. Our first encounter was with this little advertised pony. Then we met Mr. Little Kangaroo. The

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-59464789305642671522010-07-27T15:26:00.000+05:302010-07-27T15:26:32.748+05:30

In an article I was reading recently, the writer talked about how much of precision is involved in a chef's job. He has to come up with a really good dish, as quickly as he can and he cannot afford to make mistakes. He cannot afford to have bad days. He cannot afford to slip up on time or taste. He has to be perfect and efficient every hour of his work.  That got me thinking. I've always believed

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-78753664083088842192010-07-25T18:36:00.000+05:302010-07-25T18:36:38.627+05:30

My meticulous calculation had ended in at least a couple of hundred dollars for the trip. The actuals were $30. Yes, that's right. Talk about savings! Of course, we decided not to do the Theme Parks this time. Then the husband had a brainwave (uh-oh). We took the gorgeous beast sitting in our garage for a second outing. The "poor man's Harley Davidson", as the owner calls it, licked the roads of

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-8912849281127119012010-07-25T04:25:00.001+05:302010-07-26T03:17:30.302+05:30

When I had to give up my OCD a fair deal, I wondered how I would cope. I could not. I hated it but hell, life never promised to be fair. There are some bits I've tried to cling on to just so I can identify myself when I look in the mirror. That seems to work fine, for the moment. With so many things changing, it feels like the beginning of a new life. Maybe it is. Do you know what that means? I

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-88338072363351057022010-07-18T11:41:00.002+05:302010-07-18T11:41:29.828+05:30

I'm known for taking my time getting to the point, as is the case in most of my blogs. Keeping that in mind, I'll start off by making a note of something my mum said to me back home, every time I had to say goodbye to a certain phase of my life. Funnily enough, it was a thought that occurred to me but I dared not voice.  "When you leave a place and go (after you've been in it for a while), the

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-61210884295455469902010-07-18T05:01:00.002+05:302010-07-18T05:01:49.615+05:30

When I was much younger and not so bright (actually, I think I was way brighter then than I am now but let me not go into hard facts right now), I used to love those connect-the-dots activities. You start at one point, feeling very confident, get confused every now and then until a brainwave hits you and you just know the next correct dot to take your line to... half a day later you emerge from

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-1936254757501734942010-07-16T03:16:00.000+05:302010-07-16T03:16:17.930+05:30

It was one of those hectic days. It is amazing how much paperwork is there to get done, especially around the end of the financial year. I decided that I deserved a nice long ride in the cold wind and we took the mo-bike out for a spin. Gorgeous beast, that one, I must admit.  For the first time in my life, I wore a closed helmet. And did not choke. Or suffocate. Or panic. Not even when little

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-18701451975462413912010-07-10T16:48:00.000+05:302010-07-10T16:48:14.710+05:30

Some years ago, I developed a technique at work, where I could just write down things I needed to work effectively, so that I could clear the clutter off my head. Not only did I not have to worry about remembering things but I could work effortlessly on my bad days because it was all out there, I did not need to rack my brain. I've worked efficiently using that technique for a long time. Like

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-66612216984140784102010-07-10T15:21:00.002+05:302010-07-10T16:49:56.717+05:30

According to the plans I made in my head, we should be able to simply move into the new apartment, no hitches. Except that I might miss the old place, the convenience of a serviced apartment being no match to a rental one. So, there was this list of things I had to buy, so we could get started. Lists actually, there was the Friday shopping list, Saturday shopping list, Sunday shopping list and

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-72819775079587999342010-07-08T15:17:00.000+05:302010-07-08T15:17:01.209+05:30

When I came home this evening, the husband made me a nice hot cuppa with a dash of chocolate. It's great to have an occasional day like that. If I rewind, I find that today is a day of niceties.  A friend changed his travel plans, just so he could meet me in 3 weeks. When I later apologized for I could not make it, he was real nice about it. And called me to say it might still work out. Thank God

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-55477321840728976452010-07-06T17:39:00.001+05:302010-07-06T17:41:01.796+05:30

The Kookaburra River Queen - I can never get enough of water and the views. My first river cruise. Wow!  The weather is getting warmer, it's disappointing. It's too early, come on! Hmm. I wonder if I'll say the same in 3 weeks. I'll cross the bridge when I get to it. Third week and third team outing. Each one different and special. Like RH said, the precedent has been set, I need something every

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-49854022402762762982010-07-05T16:32:00.000+05:302010-07-05T16:32:56.508+05:30

I join the organization and within a week, they take me to an Indian restaurant. For someone missing Indian food and wondering if there are any authentic restaurants around, the Punjabi Palace is fantastic. When it's free, nothing like it. Some NZ wine to go with it... white wine... and there begins my affair with wine in Australia. Now I know what people mean when they say wine is 'cheap' in

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-35877039488700767162010-07-04T05:51:00.000+05:302010-07-04T05:56:23.450+05:30

When I walk to work every morning, all I can see around me is men and women in black. An occasional white or grey or maybe even navy blue but black black black everywhere it is. A rare sight of red or blue is a treat to the eye. I wonder if I ought to feel overdressed in a dash of colour but I refuse to be. We go out in the evenings and there more black, grey, white, dark-as-the-night blue with a

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-48639097470017076072010-07-04T05:32:00.001+05:302010-07-04T06:12:48.781+05:30

After 3 weeks of saying I would do it, I finally made it to South Bank yesterday. (Dean, are you listening?). We walked to QPAC and were about to head towards the man-made beach and the markets, when the husband pointed to me a building with a large butterfly on it. The Insectarium level of the Queensland Museum at South Bank. Off we went to check it out. The Mutt, thanks to wikipedia We

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-79460839292467567392010-07-02T16:30:00.000+05:302010-07-02T16:30:04.977+05:30

If anything can go wrong, it will. We don't need a Murphy to say that but since he did (or so say scores of websites on the internet), we'll give him credit for it. So it did. One thing after another. Hell, some good came of it. Now what? Can we still call it 'wrong' or should we go soft on it and not call it 'wrong'? It was not 'right' though. I mean it has not still be 'right'-ed. Yet. And

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-76634022800704001992010-07-02T16:15:00.000+05:302010-07-04T05:56:23.459+05:30

I was told "Even if you hate it there, you will be better for the experience." That refrain has been the basis of my decision. I am a sucker for experience. Everything else, 'get in line'. It is like stepping into a giant wheel (roller coaster ride, they call it?). I can live without it, I don't really need to do it, eh? A slight push. Are you sure? Are you scared? Maybe. Maybe not. Dunno. I

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-16835074293382368402010-06-24T16:06:00.001+05:302010-07-04T05:56:23.463+05:30

We've all seen graffiti on the walls and back of doors of public toilets. Off late, it appears to be common practice to put up notices - posters, print-outs - appealing to people to keep it clean, flush the toilets, etc. I even saw those in Singapore which is, by far, the cleanest city I've been to. That's understandable... public toilets are used by so many people, some of them think it's "

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-15350116598469434462010-06-16T13:56:00.000+05:302010-07-04T05:56:23.467+05:30

After holidaying in Singapore for 4 days, it was time to head to the new place I was going to call home. Having been through the 'new country experience', this should have been easy.  Plus, I was being pampered. I arrive at the airport to a warm hug & a cup of coffee, a friend I hadn't seen in ages, a bag of grocery, a sleep-in at a friend's place till I could check-in, maps and directions, not

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-10597781755543880912010-06-16T13:45:00.000+05:302010-06-16T13:45:31.224+05:30

When I arrived in Singapore, I was confident that I'd get used to the place quite easily. It came as a surprise to me that I was a bit taken aback when I walked into a  new world of different looking people, speaking in a different accent (some of which I struggled to understand) and an entirely different lifestyle.  It took me a bit to absorb all the strange things around me but once that was

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-35900018122138624242010-06-08T08:49:00.000+05:302010-06-08T08:49:13.310+05:30

My first day in Singapore. Arrival at Changi airport.  It was raining when we landed and drizzled lightly at various times through the day. The weather remained lovely, nevertheless, no sweat nor humidity. Welcome to raining Singapore Breakfast at McDonald's at the airport. I had the Sausage McGriddles while the husband had the entire breakfast tray. Hotcakes with maple syrup, McGriddle,

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-15703101158576340892010-05-25T13:03:00.000+05:302010-05-25T15:28:27.984+05:30

Is it odd that this totally bothered me at the stadium the other day? Creating Opportunities for VULNERABLE Children While we're at it, can someone define 'vulnerable children' to me, please? Are we.. er.. uh... they all vulnerable?

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-25414669594348430652010-05-25T12:28:00.000+05:302010-05-25T15:28:27.990+05:30

What is in a name? One of the most cliched questions. In my opinion it is the silliest too, because we all have found atleast one name to be fascinated about, at some point or the other. How many people would pick a random name for their children, without a second thought? Well, here is one man who named his 7th child, No. 7! How many of us have wanted or met some who wanted a different name

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717479471610158149.post-5694363809877213602010-05-25T09:24:00.001+05:302010-05-25T09:34:30.615+05:30

So I did the run again this year. The Sunfeast World 10K Bangalore (2010). It was an adventure, compared to the 2009 run. That was a run-walk-walk-run that ended in a photograph of me and a colleague in one of the local newspapers. This was a different story altogether. The Women's World 10K Runners It started off just like last years did - catching up with friends outside the stadium, checking

suhollahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684385411669124998noreply@blogger.com1