tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724874101140412062024-02-08T01:42:56.050+05:30Random Thoughts- as and when they occurNishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-489728019434821902023-06-03T01:59:00.005+05:302023-06-03T01:59:36.154+05:30Of Little Trips and Great Learnings<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The other day, we (some staff, volunteers and service users of <a href="https://www.maryseacolehouse.com/" target="_blank">Mary Seacole House,</a> Liverpool) went on a day trip to Llangollen. This wasn't the first time I accompanied them on a day trip. In fact, this must have been the third or fourth time I am going on a trip with the group since February 2022. Whenever I go on a trip with the group, it fills me with endless joy. It is not just the fact that I love travelling, but the fact that these trips give me an opportunity to know the people around me better. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLyAeUM_PNEWMd4pTub8YN3f5SZQG4KD5HLSf2eod55yOOV9lPkv-aK_Dc8GeaMVDhAIalSmEaCppQ_qoTrk3EVsYuN3utMJeWFCDkZbxnmsb-DtwE-zCVdVJcdkPwqT0Al-b6bHsTbGFd0t2Jp7pYSIh1n-3fSBn6dUy51o187le0JXFoUrZq5SF/s1440/IMG_20230531_113317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Group of people" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLyAeUM_PNEWMd4pTub8YN3f5SZQG4KD5HLSf2eod55yOOV9lPkv-aK_Dc8GeaMVDhAIalSmEaCppQ_qoTrk3EVsYuN3utMJeWFCDkZbxnmsb-DtwE-zCVdVJcdkPwqT0Al-b6bHsTbGFd0t2Jp7pYSIh1n-3fSBn6dUy51o187le0JXFoUrZq5SF/w400-h190/IMG_20230531_113317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For most service users, these trips are new experiences. Many of them don't get an opportunity to travel out of Liverpool. They spend all the time cooped up in the hotels/hostel after returning from classes/activities organised by MSH. And if someone gets an opportunity, they don't usually have the money or resource to fund their trip. For almost all of them, these trips are avenues of escape from the harsh realities of life. It is something to look forward to and remind them that despite all the difficulties, they are valued and cared for, at least by us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For us, as service providers, it is an opportunity to help them improve their mental health and well-being. Although we are mostly cash-strapped and have to depend on small pots of funds/projects, trips like these are ways to offer the service users a much needed respite from the daily gloom. It is a holistic way to provide them with enriching life experiences with positive impacts on mental health.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After getting back from our recent trip to Llangollen, I reflected on it and realised a few things that these trips did: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Strong community and social connection: </b>All our trips brings the community closer as it fosters better social connection with each other. A vast majority of our service users often feel isolated and lonely. The trips that we take them on gives an opportunity for people to come together, relax and support each other. It helps forge meaningful connection with oneself and others who share similar experiences. As such, a sense of belonging sets in, which goes a long way in boosting self esteem, reducing isolation and promoting overall well-being.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9MzIf7qgd2cA15S25qtTmXCLSYrD8PwvhAHSihR_P4j-c-RJAyUkGneyYiBSqNEoHePOZg7q6zsNaNSt8LdBIpc9I8Y61Ijso28N0n8boDACb-8lF3HuViMLSeZk_OkF1wpvoyzhyQ3XqXZySmfpuJj2Gm2GZrluPuAgUnCKYJKxcZzQnI037jSy/s1440/IMG_20230531_120017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9MzIf7qgd2cA15S25qtTmXCLSYrD8PwvhAHSihR_P4j-c-RJAyUkGneyYiBSqNEoHePOZg7q6zsNaNSt8LdBIpc9I8Y61Ijso28N0n8boDACb-8lF3HuViMLSeZk_OkF1wpvoyzhyQ3XqXZySmfpuJj2Gm2GZrluPuAgUnCKYJKxcZzQnI037jSy/w400-h300/IMG_20230531_120017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Better physical and emotional well-being</b>: Although the trips are far and few in between, they nevertheless include physical activities and outdoor adventures. It offers an excellent opportunity
for service users to engage in exercise and explore the great British outdoors. As we all know, physical activity has a positive impact on mental health as it releases endorphins and reduces stress levels. Furthermore, time spent in nature has a calming effect on both body and mind, which in turn help alleviate symptoms of anxiety
and depression. So, the trips
are not just us ticking a few boxes, but a truly powerful therapeutic tool that promotes well-being and better mental health.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTYFrgHiu0ouuFeggPmfnaWsgsdkB-o8UGuka9MAaxEZp3t1XEhHggHBy2l1pByUZjOGq9UdjT5wzRMpX9RmkWD7kTxPWAKOSGFlR9n3cgMdt-WLnlnYWPBAC0cpai0iIjpmmUkm1D1CLywu3GiLjhpjVG37bZAOFTPwF2HEFym2xYETV7RIxJ8qM/s6960/IMG_4589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTYFrgHiu0ouuFeggPmfnaWsgsdkB-o8UGuka9MAaxEZp3t1XEhHggHBy2l1pByUZjOGq9UdjT5wzRMpX9RmkWD7kTxPWAKOSGFlR9n3cgMdt-WLnlnYWPBAC0cpai0iIjpmmUkm1D1CLywu3GiLjhpjVG37bZAOFTPwF2HEFym2xYETV7RIxJ8qM/s320/IMG_4589.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Build skills and resilience:</b> Trips are great ways to develop and enhance skills and resilience. This is true for both service providers and users. Engaging in new activities/experiences and stepping out of the comfort zone can feel like an intimidating task. However, being in the company of people you know & trust, while trying out new experiences in a supportive environment can work wonders for all. Learning new skills and successfully navigating unfamiliar situations can boost self esteem, confidence and mental health. People feel empowered and resilient as a result of better mental health. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Break from the routine and chance for personal growth:</b> Daily routines can feel repetitive and boring, resulting in a feeling of stagnation and poor mental health. Organising trips helps the service providers to break free from the daily routines (which, in our case, isn't monotonous). For the service users, it is a chance to understand the cultures and places of the country better. Trips often stimulate curiosity, broaden the horizons and facilitate personal growth. Often people find a change in their perspectives, discover hidden talents and find a renewed purpose and excitement in life. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQq9euwMt4jIYi9xsQ8ofnIHYzvGDV4Dw8KDua121r_JfkIt1HKu-nAaKFJwIN7AM7ZW4jYH1GEGkChFGbJptGx9SEbslY_wn-8731twpMYF_7EHfYaernVxbMID2-3gVTyOJqWODDtVdYBZyYI9ssj2pZxEaM3wN3PrRqx0rkmc5Tsefa4lenmuFR/s6960/IMG_4588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQq9euwMt4jIYi9xsQ8ofnIHYzvGDV4Dw8KDua121r_JfkIt1HKu-nAaKFJwIN7AM7ZW4jYH1GEGkChFGbJptGx9SEbslY_wn-8731twpMYF_7EHfYaernVxbMID2-3gVTyOJqWODDtVdYBZyYI9ssj2pZxEaM3wN3PrRqx0rkmc5Tsefa4lenmuFR/s320/IMG_4588.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Emotional connect</b>: Often, trips offer opportunities for people to open up and build emotional connection with one another. Journeys are opportunities for an open and accepting atmosphere where individuals can discuss their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. It is a chance for people to reflect and renew themselves by drawing on the positive experiences from the trip. It also helps in creating a sense of collective understanding, empathy, and support among all those travel together.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYf6rNAX60raGqIw_eCrm0VBw_fcuGh4Wt4lkvLXZZ4WixS0IWTKia8FUlF5WE2wh-uyiaZNNrj1dgR87MptDaf6iYnAWdE4ea6DkxPpKS620XwL5-SKmsB0cf2ZlMfYr9LtgZlmFzZEOpeX6RjsA36v5ew5v-up0yY0gTmfmLj1fJnSXoyqFiOWy/s6960/IMG_4592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYf6rNAX60raGqIw_eCrm0VBw_fcuGh4Wt4lkvLXZZ4WixS0IWTKia8FUlF5WE2wh-uyiaZNNrj1dgR87MptDaf6iYnAWdE4ea6DkxPpKS620XwL5-SKmsB0cf2ZlMfYr9LtgZlmFzZEOpeX6RjsA36v5ew5v-up0yY0gTmfmLj1fJnSXoyqFiOWy/w400-h266/IMG_4592.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is more to each trips that we go on with our service users. We travel together, we eat together, we see and explore new places together, we know and understand each other better. Invariably, on our way back to Liverpool, we sing songs together and have loads of fun. As I listened to the lovely vocals in Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Persian and Arabic being rendered that evening, I realised that </span><span style="font-family: arial;">just like in music,</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mary Seacole House too speaks the universal language of love. What better message can we rely to the world in these troubled times? </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXIaoriEpgrh-xlZEa3ldYlOW_YtojEEeEpyC6DCdICiPsM3svXKBB21573EF1Ru5aM_IveuOp-uMNDktj8BdJ_17ymoNVsBEjw662jqqSUADhKu2rvYbwNM__Aw5ozNY3aVtGB5vk4uD-ak4N-vIu4fhwW2y3TLeAD4YGc_VGhyCHnhOPn2N0rEN/s6960/IMG_4555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXIaoriEpgrh-xlZEa3ldYlOW_YtojEEeEpyC6DCdICiPsM3svXKBB21573EF1Ru5aM_IveuOp-uMNDktj8BdJ_17ymoNVsBEjw662jqqSUADhKu2rvYbwNM__Aw5ozNY3aVtGB5vk4uD-ak4N-vIu4fhwW2y3TLeAD4YGc_VGhyCHnhOPn2N0rEN/w640-h426/IMG_4555.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-20835930737334243072023-05-18T16:11:00.007+05:302023-06-05T13:44:02.562+05:30How Volunteering Improved My Mental Health <p></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">A year and a half ago, I was pretty content with my writing gigs, sketching & drawing, and doing things I thought made me happy. As the world returned to normalcy, I slowly emerged from the stress and misery I felt during the pandemic. Although my work and hobbies had kept me going through those dark days of social isolation and loneliness, a strange feeling of void continued to nag me all the while.</span><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Each day found me struggling to find any sense or purpose to what I did – life was becoming more and more mechanical. Even the things I enjoyed the most in the past, drawing and writing, started to feel more like a boring task I had to complete. No matter what I did, I found myself getting frustrated and unhappy.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio_zqJwO8EXKZhvnPooct4b9G_R8bhv3-Ylq2UyHXpNGHBUl5rTgaSOIamkef-TXsPLM9xmbsINOos6pzvWT_2dQ_SwUigLNaN_MNCbOVA_MYlJieK7dUlz0mn_Lj_2WDgXodSdRJEX6r64sr6hsIfLZ12_JDF-dhK9tmjGRW9at02bKUd9-qJpsc/s1920/lonely-gd798d796e_1920.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><img alt="A lonely woman" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio_zqJwO8EXKZhvnPooct4b9G_R8bhv3-Ylq2UyHXpNGHBUl5rTgaSOIamkef-TXsPLM9xmbsINOos6pzvWT_2dQ_SwUigLNaN_MNCbOVA_MYlJieK7dUlz0mn_Lj_2WDgXodSdRJEX6r64sr6hsIfLZ12_JDF-dhK9tmjGRW9at02bKUd9-qJpsc/w320-h213/lonely-gd798d796e_1920.png" width="320" /></span></a></div></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At that
time, I was living in a self-imposed bubble, and had minimal contact with
people outside my family as I didn't feel like talking to or meeting with friends or
socializing in any way. Of course, I enjoyed the <a href="https://wanderscapes365.com/" target="_blank">trips with my family</a>, and
perhaps that was the only thing in life that made some sense to me then. Everything else felt like pre-programmed activities I had to do, whether I enjoyed
them or not.</div></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>Then, one day, I reconnected with a friend when she phoned me out of the blue. We hardly spoke to each other since the pandemic started. I was happy to hear from her, and among other things, she asked if I would like to volunteer with the organization she works for. My first instinct was to say no. But then, I didn't want to disappoint her and so I said: 'let me see'.</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I was in two minds – I did want a change, but I wasn't sure if I was cut out for volunteering. I like to help people whenever I can, but I haven't volunteered with an organization before. So, I gave my friend a half-hearted yes that day thinking I'll find some excuse for not going.</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I had made up my mind not to go. I had tons of excuses lined up – my work, my hobbies, the nasty weather, the distance – the list was quite exhaustive. Luckily, on the day I was supposed to start volunteering, my friend messaged saying that the event/activity scheduled for the day was canceled due to bad weather. I was relieved and happy.</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But my relief was short-lived as she called me a couple of days later and asked me to visit the organization and see things for myself at least once. Perhaps, on </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">that day</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> I had no energy to say no to her or I couldn't find a plausible excuse, or just because it was meant to be, I decided I would go.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">So, on a cold, windy, and gloomy day in February, I went to volunteer with Mary Seacole House, Liverpool. I didn't know what to expect or what to do when I got there. But the moment I stepped inside Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre, where all the activities of MSH take place, I felt something different. And how that decision changed my life!!!</span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRj4DFC8MoJfkOfOkYaz0mCCpLTeH5aWUUy58Von4KGh04wAI0IVWahuZuzBMV4QE82G1ME0Q4c56M106T8uYoJzSiUhSdskCj15TSYWHth9CSy2Oyn2kdn9mWHrzB3J2mCmPXdJZ0kG3n6H6NeucVpvPiGDQet3RMU6nNuEgmdZ5F9ii39xfTZsv/s1920/volunteer-ge1b35ef12_1920.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img alt="An image saying volunteer" border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1920" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRj4DFC8MoJfkOfOkYaz0mCCpLTeH5aWUUy58Von4KGh04wAI0IVWahuZuzBMV4QE82G1ME0Q4c56M106T8uYoJzSiUhSdskCj15TSYWHth9CSy2Oyn2kdn9mWHrzB3J2mCmPXdJZ0kG3n6H6NeucVpvPiGDQet3RMU6nNuEgmdZ5F9ii39xfTZsv/w320-h221/volunteer-ge1b35ef12_1920.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I was drawn into the buzz – several activities were happening simultaneously. English class for non-English speakers, peer support group, mental health activities, & whatnot! It seemed like I was transported from a vacuum into a buzzing world of non-stop activities. Contrary to my fears, I wasn't intimidated by it. Despite the chaos around me, I felt strangely at home.</span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I took it all in, and before I knew it, I started working as a volunteer there. I was assigned the task of helping a group of people to learn English. Some didn't even know the English alphabet, while others could understand the language reasonably well. Most of them couldn't speak well, so I had to help them speak and learn English. Thus started my volunteering journey.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /></div></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">That day, I went to Mary Seacole House just to see what it was all about, and I ended up agreeing to volunteer three days a week. I was assigned to help run women's and men's peer support group, through which MSH run several mental health and well-being programs for women, men, and families.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Several of the service users were migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They all needed help to learn English. ESOL was one of the significant needs, so we offered all the help we could so they could learn English to improve their life in this foreign land. I also met several people who had been living in the country for years but had very limited or nil social interaction until they started coming to Mary Seacole House.</div></div></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zne6L1KoE0s9wCqWQl1VkaVzjMQL-Pnukyu32hrqKoXa5w7tKG8RZABcU1jO5lVQc-jCWc9Vyb6pqy_fQot6GA-8UcasaP2RJOwTsIid-2Gf21uHSafl_yKVXFih9RE2qIhIyvdvCj3O8pvZiqNMevzbKHCIoohpBt7jUTxi91afY619_AGtfCkg/s1920/people-g36d4e80d0_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img alt="Art depicting diverse people" border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1920" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zne6L1KoE0s9wCqWQl1VkaVzjMQL-Pnukyu32hrqKoXa5w7tKG8RZABcU1jO5lVQc-jCWc9Vyb6pqy_fQot6GA-8UcasaP2RJOwTsIid-2Gf21uHSafl_yKVXFih9RE2qIhIyvdvCj3O8pvZiqNMevzbKHCIoohpBt7jUTxi91afY619_AGtfCkg/w320-h117/people-g36d4e80d0_1920.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>MSH aims to help all these people as they all suffer from social isolation and hence, some kind of mental health problems. What makes things worse for them is that even talking about mental health is still taboo in most communities.</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I soon became a part of the MSH family, helping with everything in any way I could. Looking back, I am happy that I didn't say no to volunteering that day because it made a real difference in my life. Volunteering gave me a meaningful purpose in my life. I thought I would be offering my skills to improve other people's lives, whereas, in reality, the experience has enriched me. I discovered the transformative power of volunteering and its positive impact on my mental health.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I am writing this blog to share my experience and the valuable lessons I learned as a volunteer. There are several benefits to volunteering. Allow me to list a few for you.</span><br /><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /></div></div></span></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It Gives A Sense of Purpose</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="clear: right; color: black; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="pic of hands" border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1746" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ8BDrrJdaL16dXaoK21s06XJFRfzjwWe-bvR0WEA1n3BDZKTjTSPzgg65xtKhj651ybEwK_CYBtOZ6F0R1zOIMov4LieKCXkCdmoL8VtheBeRFfRSBDQFjKUKqu_67wAhbuRRSD_YXTiFGntpZY3EjHXGBvW0G1cmDV_8ujBcs4nmrR_8AjclPWM/w157-h184/hands-g1e3ff2392_1920.jpg" width="157" /></span>Personally, the most significant benefit of volunteering is the sense of purpose it provides. Engaging in meaningful activities that contributed to the well-being of others gave me a renewed sense of purpose. Before volunteering, I often felt adrift and disconnected from the world. But as I started devoting my time and energy to a cause I cared about, I found a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose, which I didn't know I was lacking.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It Connects You with the Community:</span></h3></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Volunteering opened doors to new relationships and connections. It allowed me to meet like-minded individuals who shared my passion for making a difference. I volunteered with a group of people who genuinely cared about the causes and worked for the well-being of the service users. It was an opportunity for me to forge new friendships and connections that helped me overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation I felt throughout the pandemic. Being part of a supportive network boosted my self-esteem and provided a sense of belonging. Through volunteering, I got a family away from home…</span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Gives a New Perspective and Instils a Sense of Gratitude</span></span></h3><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Volunteering exposed me to different perspectives and life experiences. It was a humbling reminder of the challenges others face and has helped foster empathy and gratitude within me. Witnessing the resilience and determination of those less fortunate made me appreciate the privileges I often took for granted. This shift in perspective helped me develop gratitude for the blessings in my own life, and it significantly improved my overall outlook.</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><h3 style="text-align: justify;">It is a Stress Relief</h3></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu4lw8TW6OQgcRKeL_at3TFFRpFijfvOEZIKQIBRDX4hWB_kyRbyI8H1J2dpDvvpQgnk7MNvxRIvUqFgiXF2JhBwgPuE_gGJxZTiQGNPV5KMesDjUn_bElPZQtrMinFWl7F4bXnyoKJbjYdHc3YBJYfRiCsWjFvUqJReqHlqH6ZNgeJK6Zl-zZzmE/s1920/meditation-g761e882c7_1920.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br /></a></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu4lw8TW6OQgcRKeL_at3TFFRpFijfvOEZIKQIBRDX4hWB_kyRbyI8H1J2dpDvvpQgnk7MNvxRIvUqFgiXF2JhBwgPuE_gGJxZTiQGNPV5KMesDjUn_bElPZQtrMinFWl7F4bXnyoKJbjYdHc3YBJYfRiCsWjFvUqJReqHlqH6ZNgeJK6Zl-zZzmE/s1920/meditation-g761e882c7_1920.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Meditation" border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1920" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu4lw8TW6OQgcRKeL_at3TFFRpFijfvOEZIKQIBRDX4hWB_kyRbyI8H1J2dpDvvpQgnk7MNvxRIvUqFgiXF2JhBwgPuE_gGJxZTiQGNPV5KMesDjUn_bElPZQtrMinFWl7F4bXnyoKJbjYdHc3YBJYfRiCsWjFvUqJReqHlqH6ZNgeJK6Zl-zZzmE/w320-h200/meditation-g761e882c7_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a>Engaging in volunteering activities has been a healthy distraction from personal stressors. When I immersed myself in volunteer work, I found that my worries and anxieties took a back seat. Although I was never a habitual worrier, I slowly became one. However, focusing on helping others allowed me to break free from the clutches of worries and unnecessary stress. Moreover, it allowed me to gain a fresh perspective. I had read about studies showing that acts of kindness and altruism can trigger the release of endorphins, promoting feelings of happiness and reducing stress. Volunteering helped me experience that.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></blockquote><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It
Facilitates Personal Growth and Skill Development</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Volunteering gave me a unique opportunity for personal growth and skill development. By stepping outside of my comfort zones, I have acquired new skills, gained valuable experiences, and even discovered some hidden talents. Through volunteer work, I further developed leadership skills, improved my communication abilities, overcame my reluctance to socialize, and learned to adapt to diverse situations. These newfound skills boosted my self-confidence and proved valuable in various aspects of my life.</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6nX_CXHA7TOwCfFsGKWeAOd_wFc7uQEw59AVGmkEscNhJHh4gN2tQi_eVJGxGMJ9dMXVMZaO0Yhdca8X98Y-2qs0e_8xjqpmnVyiBXKcrBS9B0hEL2p9-VLBg_yisO3NWd2AIQQtMpqOnJ1qrwGPIyMh3cRDZwl_QWjYYvM6PbKCzMRNCVa7y-e3/s1920/skills-geccdbc379_1920.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img alt="Skills" border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1920" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6nX_CXHA7TOwCfFsGKWeAOd_wFc7uQEw59AVGmkEscNhJHh4gN2tQi_eVJGxGMJ9dMXVMZaO0Yhdca8X98Y-2qs0e_8xjqpmnVyiBXKcrBS9B0hEL2p9-VLBg_yisO3NWd2AIQQtMpqOnJ1qrwGPIyMh3cRDZwl_QWjYYvM6PbKCzMRNCVa7y-e3/w320-h156/skills-geccdbc379_1920.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">Apart from that, I also attended several formal training in health and safety, food safety and hygiene, TEFL, PTLLS, and more. Learning is a never-ending adventure, so I grabbed every opportunity to learn new skills and brush up on my abilities during my stint as a volunteer.</span><br /><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last but not least, volunteering has incredibly impacted my mental health journey. It made me realize how miserable and lost I was – perhaps I would've gone into depression or suffered from anxiety and stress if I hadn't taken up volunteering. Often, when people appreciate me for my work, I remind myself that I have received more than I gave, which makes me feel blessed and humble.</div></span></span><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To all of you reading this, consider volunteering if you're feeling lost or missing a sense of purpose. Find a cause that resonates with you and dedicate time to making a difference. The benefits you'll experience may surprise you. Remember, by helping others, you're also helping yourself.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">So, why not embark on a journey of transformation and self-discovery through volunteering? Your mental health will thank you for it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.maryseacolehouse.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to know more about Mary Seacole House, Liverpool.</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-54491066588170847632020-10-11T04:15:00.005+05:302023-05-18T16:11:56.626+05:30Driving from Edinburgh to Isle of Skye through scenic roads- Amazing Scotland<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmCaE54vB4okT8Dx2wVwtqml1lH9Ee-WDae7782zzEXBxG3Dl1DlwL9gAU70QBv_JiToUXQ5x0yLF5Gq4gXTQIptcBosEIjpBCO2KkJinGxHeclsDXcEHjCPSi73vqQqICDu_TncGbso/s4338/IMG_20200903_103538.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="4338" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmCaE54vB4okT8Dx2wVwtqml1lH9Ee-WDae7782zzEXBxG3Dl1DlwL9gAU70QBv_JiToUXQ5x0yLF5Gq4gXTQIptcBosEIjpBCO2KkJinGxHeclsDXcEHjCPSi73vqQqICDu_TncGbso/w593-h66/IMG_20200903_103538.jpg" width="593" /></span></a></p><p><span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this episode of Amazing Scotland series, we invite you to join us on this scenic drive to Isle Skye from Edinburgh. There are several routes to Isle of Syke from Edinburgh. We have travelled through some of those highlands roads during our previous visits. This time, we decided to take the most scenic routes of them all which will take us through Cairngorms National Park and Snow Road. You can see the video of our trip <a href="https://youtu.be/XVxPRtGwSUA">here</a> </span><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118)"> </span>(if you liked what you saw, please subscribe the channel and show your support)</span></span></span></p><p><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1jta6gi4I-32MydUgeQxs3S_SMukjdfyPRookvPOq2lZebRPYDX4x6WrdgHHL2dh7BNquGJnB28eNWFvx8UKSjSPqDn64ZOfNQaD3IC9n-pFevMCOCp_7s_8K7cN53DOUPaKUbOeYk8/s2771/IMG_20200903_103447.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2771" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1jta6gi4I-32MydUgeQxs3S_SMukjdfyPRookvPOq2lZebRPYDX4x6WrdgHHL2dh7BNquGJnB28eNWFvx8UKSjSPqDn64ZOfNQaD3IC9n-pFevMCOCp_7s_8K7cN53DOUPaKUbOeYk8/w596-h164/IMG_20200903_103447.jpg" width="596" /></a><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The 90 mile stretch of Snow Road is said to be an amazing sight in the winter. We read that it is no less beautiful during the summer as well. As we are never tired of beautiful sights, we jumped at the opportunity to see new sights and explore new routes.</span></div><p></p><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You'll see that our decision was right. As we left Edinburgh behind, we were treated with some amazing scenery - it was literally feast for our eyes and soul. We couldn't have asked for more (except, perhaps a better weather :) )
On the way, we passed through some lovely towns and villages. Stopped a couple of times to enjoy the views of Cairngorms National Park. Breathing in that fresh crispy air felt heavenly. The heart was filled with joy. </span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D59-Z4VLXmcqGg5MXbMcWKr3ivQXsfvUytJfwy9Z-EyH4MYO1qYAVWtfVcblJ84149iAB4q4eF9SoqXR0MqUTGMp1pzEBEUs41VEzbxvK1I1uaHL-3PhQTzMbmeXMZH8zj0nPuokmsU/s3386/IMG_20200903_103509.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="3386" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D59-Z4VLXmcqGg5MXbMcWKr3ivQXsfvUytJfwy9Z-EyH4MYO1qYAVWtfVcblJ84149iAB4q4eF9SoqXR0MqUTGMp1pzEBEUs41VEzbxvK1I1uaHL-3PhQTzMbmeXMZH8zj0nPuokmsU/w564-h110/IMG_20200903_103509.jpg" width="564" /></a><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
We drove on through the valleys, enjoying the sights of small rivers and rivulets flowing by, clouds kissing the mountains, rains making it all disappear and sunshine bringing rainbows. It was a rollercoaster ride of a different kind. Nature can be such a good entertainer...
We stopped near Balmoral Castle gates and enjoyed some views befitting the royals. We knew we couldn't get a view of the Queen's private residence even from afar. We would've loved to get a glimpse of it at least from far. But her majesty was in residence there at that time and so there was no way we could have managed that. </span></span></div><div><span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLN1aNdyqM9WiVAFt-LFQ3J44yC14J6PWrg-F7WoRMyzXNPFfn28dAn_2eC-XLJZGKZHCe_1G-V7bEAqfgzEXZZ7OezdVLjRvlwLDDMi87kc8bNrcyatb1rbjvnBBoe33zCvIPPKPgMM/s2580/IMG_20200903_131546.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLN1aNdyqM9WiVAFt-LFQ3J44yC14J6PWrg-F7WoRMyzXNPFfn28dAn_2eC-XLJZGKZHCe_1G-V7bEAqfgzEXZZ7OezdVLjRvlwLDDMi87kc8bNrcyatb1rbjvnBBoe33zCvIPPKPgMM/w557-h189/IMG_20200903_131546.jpg" width="557" /></a><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Spending some time by the side of River Dee was refreshing. It felt really nice to be able to see and feel nature up close. It was both a poignant and relaxing moment at the same time. </span></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCOB0o60f1_qZVy75CoKzPtNTRlSNZ3efdcT7xOO97wp5q64z0sPiT33C-UJHjAbtQQ8yHL3d-g6WoyUclvmem9xNOkxpksjzlboXBqWh4Tc778kUjMx1KmQPTKCUuR_8rTzvGk7_HtU/s2580/IMG_20200903_132707.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCOB0o60f1_qZVy75CoKzPtNTRlSNZ3efdcT7xOO97wp5q64z0sPiT33C-UJHjAbtQQ8yHL3d-g6WoyUclvmem9xNOkxpksjzlboXBqWh4Tc778kUjMx1KmQPTKCUuR_8rTzvGk7_HtU/w557-h189/IMG_20200903_132707.jpg" width="557" /></a><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
We then went on to the next item on our itinerary for the day - a distillery tour. You can catch the details of that visit next week. Stay tuned...</span></span></div><div><span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinAGB4F0SpKJ9kV-fOhAz5s6M5Qr80KrTeVsjHLB2eYUerQ542EHJoOzLwL3Yr74NEN1019kUz7bP151uJ8UwjADWrD8r3SEF7ZuI09oNFwof7WAIiK47-5KZ4wqM-EOMmz1QHoS9Az0/s2580/IMG_20200903_133011.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinAGB4F0SpKJ9kV-fOhAz5s6M5Qr80KrTeVsjHLB2eYUerQ542EHJoOzLwL3Yr74NEN1019kUz7bP151uJ8UwjADWrD8r3SEF7ZuI09oNFwof7WAIiK47-5KZ4wqM-EOMmz1QHoS9Az0/w574-h189/IMG_20200903_133011.jpg" width="574" /></a></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>
</span><br /></span></div></div></div>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-4625617440524181222020-10-02T23:51:00.005+05:302021-10-21T18:02:57.636+05:30Royal Mile Walk Part -2|| Edinburgh || Amazing Scotland<p><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If someone asks us 'what to see in Edinburgh Scotland', we would say 'Royal Mile without any hesitation. Well, you want to know why, check out the earlier blog <a href="http://www.randomthoughts.co.in/2020/09/royall-mile-walk-part-1-edinburgh.html">here</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is the </span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/rwJfPCxO5eE" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">second part of the Vlog</a><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where you can enjoy these sights on our YouTube Channel Wanderscapes. Don't forget to <a href="UC01YXTn-pIFJ4GkM9CDZp6Q">subscribe</a> and show your support while you are there. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this second part, we continue from where we left off last week- we bring sights from the Edinburgh Castle (https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/). Although we didn't go inside this time due to the pandemic situation, we had been inside a couple of times and so we know what's inside. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTpyXiOdf972SopF8g2Ja6pGCvE6E-FeNzBefvMjxL2pPO4w3H3vL5u0DoMfJ7YLKbHsivlK5twvQ3LvQ1-OHzIf9dUyH7VPeglkFV3_tzP-vx7r3wxt1nXhc7Y3KmJZcdTZJ9Y-qgK0/s2580/IMG_20200902_160853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTpyXiOdf972SopF8g2Ja6pGCvE6E-FeNzBefvMjxL2pPO4w3H3vL5u0DoMfJ7YLKbHsivlK5twvQ3LvQ1-OHzIf9dUyH7VPeglkFV3_tzP-vx7r3wxt1nXhc7Y3KmJZcdTZJ9Y-qgK0/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_160853.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edinburgh Castle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />If you are in Edinburgh and go in, make sure your time your visit to see the daily gun shot which happens precisely at 1 PM. This happens daily, except on Sundays, Christmas and Easter. </span><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other attractions include the Scottish Crown Jewels - the crown, sceptre and sword used during the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots. There are several towers, museums and a small chapel. A detailed visit will take 3-4 hours. The view is fabulous from the top - a rewarding sight once you climb up the small hills. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you've seen everything the castle has to offer, it is time to walk back. As you go down Castlehill, you may try the Scotch Whiskey Experience (https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk) to understand how whiskey is made. Enjoy the tasting session and you can even buy some whiskey if you liked what you tasted.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_5tXS6oA461iknVaul2sgY6sI4dmfsYO3aAVk6Um0589EpPPAaP1PCcrNlaZSvGKzLRcrH0htKN5KpXYhKiLfRQIpfZoSalLIL19T5mtUOC2a_x34SE8_yohO1nLtNZOr0gESS5_FgI/s2580/IMG_20200902_162723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_5tXS6oA461iknVaul2sgY6sI4dmfsYO3aAVk6Um0589EpPPAaP1PCcrNlaZSvGKzLRcrH0htKN5KpXYhKiLfRQIpfZoSalLIL19T5mtUOC2a_x34SE8_yohO1nLtNZOr0gESS5_FgI/w151-h320/IMG_20200902_162723.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagpiper</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinngm5xjc0J2qleqpr1n3-UQjcrGI7K9nJloo_GIBTAHXVciHAFQ8v8uOMg3OcoV5Ie3e2NvS9Lvv2RJLv5M80vny7PZm6fa7QrIpgJrLEq-GUhbuPb6R4Dw4BZPSWb8Y5XlehKYnUtvw/s2048/IMG_20200902_164147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinngm5xjc0J2qleqpr1n3-UQjcrGI7K9nJloo_GIBTAHXVciHAFQ8v8uOMg3OcoV5Ie3e2NvS9Lvv2RJLv5M80vny7PZm6fa7QrIpgJrLEq-GUhbuPb6R4Dw4BZPSWb8Y5XlehKYnUtvw/w400-h300/IMG_20200902_164147.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Harry Potter connection</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you walk down the castle hill, you will see and hear the bagpiper stationed at the bottom of Castlehill playing the bagpipe. Listen to him and enjoy the Scottish music to your heart's fill.
</span></span><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Lawnmarket, take a diversion towards the George IV bridge for some unique views of the city. marvel at the architecture of this elevated street. It is really awe inspiring to see the buildings on the so called bridge, including the Scottish National Library. And as you walk past the Scottish National Library, you'll find a small cafe painted in red. Harry Potter fans, that's elephant house (https://elephanthouse.biz) for you - J K Rowling spent many a days writing Harry Potter in this small cafe. If you go in, don't forget to visit the toilet - the graffiti on walls by Harry Potter fans are said to be very interesting.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you walk further on towards the candle makers row, you will see the Greyfrairs Bobby. Somewhere in the vicinity is the graveyard from where J K Rowling is said to have got inspiration for the names used in Harry Potter series. </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA-km7CXuZ4Ye3NpiNwj0rC3FDCnoJlDIhcOk-baBURJGeViEcpLk6w4-dSSI8Jz0Xj4tgoSShIdiA3TCH-9P8eDbgXtnK-HALnHp9uxAO0RFXJjAA3sqhonE8rZd2Dhx5scRGgSyXNE/s2048/IMG_20200902_170903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA-km7CXuZ4Ye3NpiNwj0rC3FDCnoJlDIhcOk-baBURJGeViEcpLk6w4-dSSI8Jz0Xj4tgoSShIdiA3TCH-9P8eDbgXtnK-HALnHp9uxAO0RFXJjAA3sqhonE8rZd2Dhx5scRGgSyXNE/w480-h640/IMG_20200902_170903.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Smith's Grave <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Walk to the opposite direction, towards the Princes Garden. There, a tall structure would attract your immediate attention. That's Scott Monument, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott. This 200-feet tall structure is said to be world's second largest monument dedicated to a writer. (https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/scott-monument)
Back on Royal Mile, pause to look at the Heart of Midlothian. It was the site of a prison in the old days and so don't be surprised if the locals look at it with disgust. One you look around the place again, enjoy the stroll back to Canongate - this might be a good time to remember all those famous Scots - Alexander Fleming, Alexander Graham Bell, James Watt, Arthur Conan Doyle, R L Stevenson, Adam Smith, Sir Walter Scott and others.
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At Canongate church, you can visit the grave of Adam Smith. Further down the road is the house he lived in. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUJh4oeS9MwAOWveI-OVQcZbMoLOpK_7n0-jTdCAqd6n8zWXJ1bbpH-wysTCoCDNu6hN7O9mlsTAzWztzXXJfdgPOUZ6m_H0xOJQkaH269t632GH_N2UrWFm37-NgIbIPabDvA_7DkIA/s2580/IMG_20200902_171934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUJh4oeS9MwAOWveI-OVQcZbMoLOpK_7n0-jTdCAqd6n8zWXJ1bbpH-wysTCoCDNu6hN7O9mlsTAzWztzXXJfdgPOUZ6m_H0xOJQkaH269t632GH_N2UrWFm37-NgIbIPabDvA_7DkIA/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_171934.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queens Gallery</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Soon we will be back at Holyrood after experiencing the unique sights and sounds of Edinburgh.
There is more to see in this beautiful city. We shall leave those for some other time, shall we? </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>#wanderscapes #amazingscotland #royalmilewalkmalayalam</div>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-67516108658148278702020-09-26T15:05:00.001+05:302020-09-26T15:09:28.543+05:30Royall Mile Walk Part #1 - Edinburgh - Amazing Scotland <p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Royall Mile Walk Part #1 - Edinburgh - Amazing Scotland </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Ok, so before anything, let me lay down the cards - this is a travelogue based on our trip to Scotland. We are making a vlog series of it. So, if <span style="text-align: center;">you would rather watch it than read it here, </span><a href="https://youtu.be/20AWvsA0MPk" style="text-align: center;">click here</a> to watch on our YouTube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC01YXTn-pIFJ4GkM9CDZp6Q">Wanderscapes</a> (and while you are there, consider subscribing to the channel too) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHVLjA725GOdNolkpDWc8e2XkVwzxomB5adhC0yOdNLTwBoohtfEIuQRa8OWpWS3kHPibST2JhmDz8RR4qrM4qTH6QqWknrNkkgAtZiJMzf_CQpRSbBk-MGm7MmfMR2ChMriIQcfn_T8/s2580/IMG_20200902_155814.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHVLjA725GOdNolkpDWc8e2XkVwzxomB5adhC0yOdNLTwBoohtfEIuQRa8OWpWS3kHPibST2JhmDz8RR4qrM4qTH6QqWknrNkkgAtZiJMzf_CQpRSbBk-MGm7MmfMR2ChMriIQcfn_T8/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_155814.jpg" title="Royal Mile" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Mile<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now, this is the second episode of our Amazing Scotland Series. We have just reached Edinburgh. In this blog, I tell you about some of the must see sights of Edinburgh. In the video, you'll get a glimpse of Holyrood Palace and Scottish Parliament before we go on one of the amazing walks through the city. Since this blog is about Royal Mile, I don't intend to go into the details of the palace and parliament. </span></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem5FWCchY_mIRMVdwMyCvlFnKG5IL_SKhB0d-rCXLKFX9aep_EfNVb6KzPy44EROZno48QmQAW3mRiUCfy73eqNzsXbeByWZw9pGRqwyVnfkRclSFokZOHkwFMTLgvDx_IsYgZoKHxwk/s2048/IMG_5160.JPG" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem5FWCchY_mIRMVdwMyCvlFnKG5IL_SKhB0d-rCXLKFX9aep_EfNVb6KzPy44EROZno48QmQAW3mRiUCfy73eqNzsXbeByWZw9pGRqwyVnfkRclSFokZOHkwFMTLgvDx_IsYgZoKHxwk/w640-h426/IMG_5160.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holyrood Palace - Front View<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Royal Mile is a one mile stretch of road extending from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. </span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is a collection of five streets - Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Stand. Royal mile is the busiest and most favoured destination of the tourists. Royal Mile walk is a favorite activity of tourists visiting Edinburgh. </span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This walk is like no other. Here we can see an amazing blend of the old with the new. As we walk along the clobbered street after a quick look at the symbols of both monarchy and democracy, we are ushered into a magical world - truly one of its kind. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSbR9a6kPYpiEB1j3p-mJzqwBpRiIFGCO4O9G4cwVl8V9FHkKfWJeZggoD7qFCh-f6Lt4-7S0U5YOyBLhwcL2i5Z50oLlzWj3E7iQgNMgzf9hmKIbU_VT8GL9PHBPghFP4SUoqfIM2dY/s2048/IMG_20160827_151003.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSbR9a6kPYpiEB1j3p-mJzqwBpRiIFGCO4O9G4cwVl8V9FHkKfWJeZggoD7qFCh-f6Lt4-7S0U5YOyBLhwcL2i5Z50oLlzWj3E7iQgNMgzf9hmKIbU_VT8GL9PHBPghFP4SUoqfIM2dY/w640-h480/IMG_20160827_151003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Scottish Parliament <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, we see the 'close's and 'wynd's and learn the reason behind the strange names. Close was closed to the public - as it led to private, gated properties which could not be accessed without permission. Wynd was a thoroughfare used freely by the public. As we descend thorough the closes and wynds we will be astonished to find unexpected sights - it is like discovering a world within a world. For, beyond the steep descend, sometimes through steps, we will find homes, streets, offices, garden, park and what not. Climb down the unsuspecting flight of stairs to land in a completely different set up. You'll feel you left Royal Mile and entered another world altogether.</span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXbuxFah_nygbYb3zwC0-HTzWumMMoQjoB4_PnArEQytQTRO9N-8LoyCvuXnckunWQAceqz7uP440S-EdOQvzLMghJ5U63XSOIA0cPLEbdL-DF0rS24g-g_m6GPOJq8IqqqD46gBU3w/s2580/IMG_20200902_155003.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXbuxFah_nygbYb3zwC0-HTzWumMMoQjoB4_PnArEQytQTRO9N-8LoyCvuXnckunWQAceqz7uP440S-EdOQvzLMghJ5U63XSOIA0cPLEbdL-DF0rS24g-g_m6GPOJq8IqqqD46gBU3w/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_155003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Wynd'ing down <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you have explored enough closes and wynds that they cease to be a novelty (although the temptation to walk down a close is too strong to ignore), proceed along the royal mile to enjoy some window shopping. There are dozens of shops selling curios, mementos, gifts and other little (and big) things you would love to take home as a reminder of your visit to this amazing city. </span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9L7fFcTsxLyc_BrDqgmKszMxK4NwGvDWU0dkjtowD35-IU2A4zjQ-bXZsIu9xoFyvKNceyjPQF_TN4Kw0hdxLvi811Ow2i3znSiKcj9kkpLuDZcpyPeX-WgzzTEXrVEhgwvmh1JC49E/s2580/IMG_20200902_155819.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9L7fFcTsxLyc_BrDqgmKszMxK4NwGvDWU0dkjtowD35-IU2A4zjQ-bXZsIu9xoFyvKNceyjPQF_TN4Kw0hdxLvi811Ow2i3znSiKcj9kkpLuDZcpyPeX-WgzzTEXrVEhgwvmh1JC49E/s320/IMG_20200902_155819.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> What a view!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNven5BRMQVVMd2Z9f8lOQrmnmIU1Z2tJdf_mPi6XXHCh8JZSmEAK8vof6G2pjOH28GJ4DnXIHqzVL-IC_3DQxScYLvwIC0hYmKQzRFpQ_BMt7uI7GIf6ejWrJuEnXVaH9G67qj685ZA/s2580/IMG_20200902_152344.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNven5BRMQVVMd2Z9f8lOQrmnmIU1Z2tJdf_mPi6XXHCh8JZSmEAK8vof6G2pjOH28GJ4DnXIHqzVL-IC_3DQxScYLvwIC0hYmKQzRFpQ_BMt7uI7GIf6ejWrJuEnXVaH9G67qj685ZA/s320/IMG_20200902_152344.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A road to somewhere<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you feel you need something to energise you, pop in to one of the numerous eateries along the way. Better still, pop in to one of the pub or tavern to enjoy a drink or two along with some fascinating stories of its origin. Some, like Old Tolbooth Tavern are rumoured to be haunted - look up the stories and enjoy some good old tales.</span></div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Not into myths and tales? No worries - there are numerous museums to quench your thirst of knowledge and facts. Visit Museum of Edinburgh to know more about this fascinating city or pop in to Museum of Childhood - first of its kind in the whole world- to satisfy your urge to know more. Writers museum, People's museum and if you don't mind wandering off a bit from Royal Mile, The Dynamic Earth and the National Museum of Scotland is worth a visit - say hi to Dolly the sheep from us if you happen to visit the national museum :)</div></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebtpUQEDJBpcVS7amrJgoVuM-M2G4Ojrm46ryWECVb3oCd7tx8QT9sVPZxOX6yg-Rcd8YlxgEJu4g2rAsnHoVLqgRGqbajnjgq7kiiJG3hp1XMvybLcXbWZgd5MiuxKT6ySTjwbbGCBE/s2580/IMG_20200902_153726.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebtpUQEDJBpcVS7amrJgoVuM-M2G4Ojrm46ryWECVb3oCd7tx8QT9sVPZxOX6yg-Rcd8YlxgEJu4g2rAsnHoVLqgRGqbajnjgq7kiiJG3hp1XMvybLcXbWZgd5MiuxKT6ySTjwbbGCBE/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_153726.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nether bow Wellhead with a view of Royal Mile at the backdrop<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you looking for some traditional clothing? well, there are so many shops specialising in kilts and tartans that you will have trouble choosing. You can buy some tweeds, cashmere and more from some of these iconic and long standing establishments.</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are low on energy, head to fudge house and enjoy some of their delicious fudges - they have a wide range of flavours from traditional to some innovative. If you are a chocolate lover, the milk chocolate one is a must - our chocolate loving son couldn't have enough of it!</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hey, don't rush off - that's not just a random collection of stone in front of you - it is the oldest surviving well head. People used to line up here to collect water for their daily needs. If you were rich enough, you could pay the urchins to collect water on your behalf - that way you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to collect precious water. </span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEvGBNoIWZ2fKqOTCRovprzJk0lTCCUFnmjNF6vVR1mc9MRqhWm-dw3_ny6LXPx3-b4zQnHOtxhg3E-1Or3B-TGNfh_-g8iVqOxd-owHVHxtlmwvZggoV7zmkaQSzGPglwK_DgUjLZn8/s2580/IMG_20200902_151301.jpg" style="font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEvGBNoIWZ2fKqOTCRovprzJk0lTCCUFnmjNF6vVR1mc9MRqhWm-dw3_ny6LXPx3-b4zQnHOtxhg3E-1Or3B-TGNfh_-g8iVqOxd-owHVHxtlmwvZggoV7zmkaQSzGPglwK_DgUjLZn8/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_151301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mouth that quenched the thirst?</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moubray house is the oldest residential building and John Knox house is not so new either. Both have stood the test of time. So make sure your pause and take a good look at them. </span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJn_L9YxGxAP5naTiS05NYWn1RV_Ham9Q5PYF5YZsrgId21tPjqY4cISfo0ZXQB3wHcbF9nwZBm37D1Eyzmqzf1A2AZ0uLu2fBPKWNWoJRn-zt4T_jpweOggCYIZNStydyx6cOW-32d8/s2048/IMG_20200902_152019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJn_L9YxGxAP5naTiS05NYWn1RV_Ham9Q5PYF5YZsrgId21tPjqY4cISfo0ZXQB3wHcbF9nwZBm37D1Eyzmqzf1A2AZ0uLu2fBPKWNWoJRn-zt4T_jpweOggCYIZNStydyx6cOW-32d8/w480-h640/IMG_20200902_152019.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Knox House<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is never too early to do Christmas shopping when you are at the Nutcracker Christmas shop. </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tardis, you said? Nah, that old police box is the ticket counter of Edinburgh City Tours. Not a cheap box though - someone paid more than 100000 pounds for that! Can you believe that? </span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHrJ4hjIKSID8ABr4H0nuyVMNw41B8FBVSa0NhL70cOjZTXLswMYoWIMXcB0-BQx4Dp2we0W1wYPyYLPlrbwJNOrElx7UyMFjSo70ITAjZ-EW69Rz5CS9h-N7QjUXa3X467zvFmkdP58/s2580/IMG_20200902_154835.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHrJ4hjIKSID8ABr4H0nuyVMNw41B8FBVSa0NhL70cOjZTXLswMYoWIMXcB0-BQx4Dp2we0W1wYPyYLPlrbwJNOrElx7UyMFjSo70ITAjZ-EW69Rz5CS9h-N7QjUXa3X467zvFmkdP58/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_154835.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Giles Cathedral</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stop at the St Giles Cathedral to admire the building - the inside is even more pretty. Don't forget to see Adam Smith's statue near by. Explore the premise and you'll find more interesting stuff here. </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IDSIrK7N4XOfVoxv2tcG8LkcY3eDjpSLT9NYJF-aT8Li7wd0eLmjo3IJkRyq6m77bGzCPF_m36xfgEdwpX_0h5askZ6DjV7Cihyphenhyphenw00GPI838lUh0GdtDRBfkND5FJadd5dCtCMPxT-k/s2580/IMG_20200902_160202.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IDSIrK7N4XOfVoxv2tcG8LkcY3eDjpSLT9NYJF-aT8Li7wd0eLmjo3IJkRyq6m77bGzCPF_m36xfgEdwpX_0h5askZ6DjV7Cihyphenhyphenw00GPI838lUh0GdtDRBfkND5FJadd5dCtCMPxT-k/s320/IMG_20200902_160202.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camera Obscura<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7w4XebsA9whYL7d3nisvSsf3YK64wfkCHMZzwSxWe0nzoL2wlvJ907eHIbcqkHfRY3gRJDktoevzfr7W5-FeWI1lG9HJJhO7bE0-I4VoAO7uZr2ALBqjX3siirYuvU2wT480stnZy-Q/s2580/IMG_20200902_153835.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7w4XebsA9whYL7d3nisvSsf3YK64wfkCHMZzwSxWe0nzoL2wlvJ907eHIbcqkHfRY3gRJDktoevzfr7W5-FeWI1lG9HJJhO7bE0-I4VoAO7uZr2ALBqjX3siirYuvU2wT480stnZy-Q/s320/IMG_20200902_153835.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Smith<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok Ok, time to walk ahead - no that's not a church. It is the Hub. Yes, it is the highest point in central Edinburgh.</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, Camera Obscura is a must visit. At least have fun looking at those installations outside...</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And finally, go on and enjoy the awesome sight of Edinburgh castle perched upon the hill. Worthy of royalty, isn't it?
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</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">#wanderscapes #royalmilewalk #edinburgh</span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnib9Rs0VppJe9s-HBkEcbNFRuLrY-Y3Bui8NfOxaBG4xl7MD_J8wOsOg-SvieSlsN4mH3hh-F4EJSr29Z09RjA8tA5LPoh9LhngVcTy7CA77JJdWZ4UBO-cAB_axEx4_1Kvv6j4E-V0/s2580/IMG_20200902_160705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2580" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnib9Rs0VppJe9s-HBkEcbNFRuLrY-Y3Bui8NfOxaBG4xl7MD_J8wOsOg-SvieSlsN4mH3hh-F4EJSr29Z09RjA8tA5LPoh9LhngVcTy7CA77JJdWZ4UBO-cAB_axEx4_1Kvv6j4E-V0/w640-h302/IMG_20200902_160705.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edinburgh Castle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnib9Rs0VppJe9s-HBkEcbNFRuLrY-Y3Bui8NfOxaBG4xl7MD_J8wOsOg-SvieSlsN4mH3hh-F4EJSr29Z09RjA8tA5LPoh9LhngVcTy7CA77JJdWZ4UBO-cAB_axEx4_1Kvv6j4E-V0/s2580/IMG_20200902_160705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></div></div></div></div>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-18971935708675480502020-03-17T14:34:00.004+05:302020-03-17T14:34:35.048+05:30Books I read in 2020 #8 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Update on Weeks 8, 9,10<br />
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As it is obvious from the lack of posts here, not much reading happened during these weeks. All I read was a bit from Ivory Throne, which is progressing painfully slow. So, there is not much to write about on the reading front.<br />
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I had been busy with other things like my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC01YXTn-pIFJ4GkM9CDZp6Q" target="_blank">Vlog (Wanderscapes</a>), which turned one recently, my drawing pursuits, writing and more. Sadly, reading has taken a back seat in all this. But I hope to bounce back in a week or so.<br />
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Until then, keep reading and discovering joy of letters... Cheers! </div>
Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-54378321045545965862020-02-25T03:18:00.003+05:302020-02-25T03:18:35.968+05:30Books I read in 2020 #7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week also saw me reading less than I had wanted to. A lot was happening around me and the week was one wherein I couldn't do everything I set out to... </span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the good news is that I finished reading Heads You Win and did speed reading of another book too. Here's a quick round-up:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogt4yr7H_d3en4XrjwNMmQR4OgVq4b_6b5GjRXKq6j39EVjKh90nOANEl_QLkwODdsZrjzNIxaKMIRB1xOILNkpDkXtCjxYBoAa-PGYbYvH9p4DjE84Irra9nJj0Tizp8UMOF1_GnXQ8/s1600/download+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogt4yr7H_d3en4XrjwNMmQR4OgVq4b_6b5GjRXKq6j39EVjKh90nOANEl_QLkwODdsZrjzNIxaKMIRB1xOILNkpDkXtCjxYBoAa-PGYbYvH9p4DjE84Irra9nJj0Tizp8UMOF1_GnXQ8/s1600/download+%25286%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heads You Win – Jeffrey Archer</span></strong></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, this was a typical story by Archer - the underdog making it big in life against all odds. If I remember correctly, all his protagonists are ordinary people who rise above others and become extraordinary.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What makes Heads You Win is the parallel narrative, which he seems to handle quite easily. The same character with different lives in two different countries. After reading Archer's short stories, which by the way I rate higher than his novels, I am not surprised he can tell the two stories convincingly. If he had to come up with a few more versions, I am sure he would have done that with much elan.</span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was nice to follow Alex and Sasha to their different destinations - while they wonder what would have happened if they had climbed into the other crate, the readers don't wonder about it. The writer lays down the two different lives that leave no room for asking what if...</span></span></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guessed the identity of the childhood friend and it was oddly satisfying to know my guess was correct. </span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although this cant be termed as the best of his works, Archer definitely keeps the readers engaged and amused. A good read, to say the least.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1uhi7eSHAgzJgUruHqqXEoxuJ6YREyKFBjIHo46wqW0Z3CzCc2IwpLvPLzapwL2NIGHpEYI9LyNm3NZpoEeH5q1MOtlmBRo5A7kiQWAl_-NIGB-jPWFMv3Upmc_t8T_Ejr3QG-FG624/s1600/40601527._UY630_SR1200%252C630_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1uhi7eSHAgzJgUruHqqXEoxuJ6YREyKFBjIHo46wqW0Z3CzCc2IwpLvPLzapwL2NIGHpEYI9LyNm3NZpoEeH5q1MOtlmBRo5A7kiQWAl_-NIGB-jPWFMv3Upmc_t8T_Ejr3QG-FG624/s320/40601527._UY630_SR1200%252C630_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do it Today - Darius Foroux </b></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was kind of reading in bits and pieces for me. I read this book in between my chores and other free times I managed during the week. This is not a book I would have read from cover to cover at one go.</span></span></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was good to read - I am a procrastinator when it comes to some tasks and it was interesting to read about the reason for such behaviour. I should say the author is right. Will it help me overcome procrastination? I am not sure.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are few other insights that I received from this book and I think overall it made a nice read. I love to read personal development books and this one has its merits. The language is easy and understandable - no jargon or wordplays. That for me made this a good choice for some light reading.</span></span></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And thus ended another week of not so much of reading. I have not been able to catch up with the Ivory Throne this week because I didn't feel I had it in me to invest time and attention for serious reading - so probably I will come back to it at a later date.</span></span></div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-50227054188795868742020-02-18T00:14:00.004+05:302020-02-18T00:14:47.672+05:30Books I read in 2020 #6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, this week I literally read very little. All I can say is I have read a few more pages of the <b>Ivory Throne</b> and started reading a book on procrastination (which is halfway through) and finally started reading <b>Heads You Win</b> by Jeffrey Archer.<br />
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I enjoyed reading all of them and I hope to write a better review of these books next week. <br />
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Although this was one of those weeks where I couldn't get enough reading done, I can't say I am hugely disappointed. On the contrary, I am at peace with myself - I knew a slump will occur sometime. Especially when I read non-fiction and on days when I am really busy with work, I knew reading would take a back seat. However, I don't intend to leave it there and so, this is not a failure or disappointment.<br />
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The main thing to remember is that like life, reading is also a journey - sometimes up, sometimes down. The key is not to remain stationary or think it is a lost cause. So, in that sense, this week has been a learning experience too.<br />
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That's all for now. Hope to be back next week with a better performance :)<br />
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Until then, you enjoy your reading journey... </div>
Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-53812986729303888602020-02-11T03:51:00.003+05:302020-02-11T03:51:43.241+05:30Books I read in 2020 # 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>February </b><b>Week #1 </b><br />
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The first week of February saw me reading a little less than I would have loved to. Yet, I read a couple of books and continued my tryst with the Ivory Throne.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVaN1QPm75t8DZ6OP8VKyrzGVReNorTyQmnZkmyyCvoWiZ7XYEnSr1Xkf506vC2TgbA-CyAaomdQkt_3adcy4WwLq4NxznpukhUC5JHiya-7UdVJ5sn2Tb6jpWqyB9hidK2R89EaIogk/s1600/1447252292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVaN1QPm75t8DZ6OP8VKyrzGVReNorTyQmnZkmyyCvoWiZ7XYEnSr1Xkf506vC2TgbA-CyAaomdQkt_3adcy4WwLq4NxznpukhUC5JHiya-7UdVJ5sn2Tb6jpWqyB9hidK2R89EaIogk/s320/1447252292.jpg" width="208" /></a><b>Tell Tale – Jeffrey Archer</b><br />
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I had taken this book on loan from the library and loved reading it. I enjoy reading Archer because his writing is easy and enjoyable. Yet it stands out from the ordinary because of the way he treats every storyline/subject. I enjoyed almost every book I read and Tell Tale was no different. I particularly enjoyed the 100 word short stories and the three different scenarios he presented in the story – a holiday of a lifetime.<br />
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‘A Road to Damascus’ was a profound story and so was the ‘A Good Toss to Lose’. The way Archer portrays the characters in the story is wonderful and one can picture them in one’s mind. ‘A Gentleman and a Scholar’ made a unique read and ‘Who killed the mayor’ was intriguing, to say the least.<br />
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The beauty of Archer’s writing is the clarity and simplicity he brings to the board. And yet, the stories are captivating like a thriller or so. Needless to say, the flair and command over writing are excellent. I have enjoyed all of his books – except perhaps ‘First Among Equals’, which I read when I was too young to understand UK politics and the way it functions. Ironically, it was one of the books I took ages to finish and was relieved when I finally read the last pages. (I don’t remember the story well and so, I might re-read it one of these days). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQMclgqdvpYbsi-VemMkCqAmgw7bTWgubjkgRPTd5II3qX5OQzr-2B5A6mWX0f21-LD1DiVfgFotteGQ4KoI2JynmZB6ABxCiydqx_ewNcu7RdhK3PDmd9spGVbpo3TpoQW2jQ1UYoI4/s1600/515GtFrkrpL._SX326_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQMclgqdvpYbsi-VemMkCqAmgw7bTWgubjkgRPTd5II3qX5OQzr-2B5A6mWX0f21-LD1DiVfgFotteGQ4KoI2JynmZB6ABxCiydqx_ewNcu7RdhK3PDmd9spGVbpo3TpoQW2jQ1UYoI4/s320/515GtFrkrpL._SX326_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="210" /></a><b>The Essential Collection For Young Readers – Ruskin Bond</b><br />
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I love to read Ruskin Bond. He is an amazing storyteller and I absolutely enjoy reading his stories. That’s why I re-read this book now. It has a lot of stories – The Room of Many Colours, Last Tonga Ride, The Girl on the Train, Coming Home to Dehra, Four Feathers, Blue Umbrella and many more. It fills a certain degree of nostalgia in the reader.<br />
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Again, the language and premises are as simple as they can be. The characters are portrayed vividly and the story is told in such an endearing fashion that the reader feels one with it all. Also, the agony of losing the only parent who cared for you, the pain of losing friends, and such things never fail to touch you deeply. Your heart aches for the little boy…<br />
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I particularly love the way he writes about the nature around him and also about the people in and around Dehra. A delightful read without any doubt. Ruskin Bond is one of the few writers even the children can read and enjoy. His language is simple and easy to understand. More importantly, it connects you with the story and the storyteller. If you have a child at home that you wish to initiate into reading, gift a few books by Ruskin Bond. It is highly likely he/she would be hooked.<br />
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That’s more or less what I read this week. Apart from finishing the Dead Man’s Shoes and progressing very slowly through Ivory Throne, I haven’t read much. I hope to start Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer sometime this week and finish it soon as well.<br />
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So, that’s all from me folks… until next time… enjoy reading! <br />
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Image courtesy: Google </div>
Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-29749840075453019532020-02-03T17:01:00.001+05:302020-02-03T19:10:42.126+05:30Books I read in 2020 #4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Books I read in 2020</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Review of Week 4 ending on 29/1/2020</span></div>
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This week saw me reading lesser than the past two weeks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3z4pFJh0-eXh6jPPK0qgZvakVxuLAdZOZ64DA8-ckCPwO3CYRayv6eL9yj-7E2d-oriZc5QE7JKcAlzxRoDbZn1wPn4jH4BO8h9D-4_RZmpe8SEekoBo-kCMHH8nyLO31Lm0aOYTMFzg/s1600/Ivory-Throne_-Chronicles-of-the-House-of-T-Manu-S-Pillai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="631" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3z4pFJh0-eXh6jPPK0qgZvakVxuLAdZOZ64DA8-ckCPwO3CYRayv6eL9yj-7E2d-oriZc5QE7JKcAlzxRoDbZn1wPn4jH4BO8h9D-4_RZmpe8SEekoBo-kCMHH8nyLO31Lm0aOYTMFzg/s400/Ivory-Throne_-Chronicles-of-the-House-of-T-Manu-S-Pillai.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<b>The Ivory Throne - Chronicles of the House of Travancore – Manu S Pillai</b></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I had heard great reviews of the book from many corners. It was on my wish list for a long time but could manage to find a copy only now. I knew it was going to be a long read because reading non-fiction is always time-consuming for me. </span></div>
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I have managed to read only about 20% of the book in the past week because of the nature of the topics. I absolutely loved reading the history of Travancore, of which, I must confess, my knowledge is very poor. The book helped me understand the Kerala society of the earlier times better and I hope that by the time I finish the book, I will be better informed.</div>
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The author has taken a lot of effort to research and validate his writings and it shows in the writing. As far as I know, I don’t think there are many books on Kerala history with such an in-depth portrayal of people and events. Although it is too early to say, I think all the characters are portrayed as they are and without any favour or opposition.</div>
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I have often wondered what would be the state of the world if we lived in a matrilineal society instead of a patriarchal one… I got a glimpse of it while reading about the Ranis and their reign.</div>
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<b>Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies – J K Rowling</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmWVK3G3d0yuBiW3xBBpPrZfuvsBPasYhrWX2SagwCdC6yNo6kipSQKZudWZfUgM0hcBZD0F14s5QbFmu89sg2iKOq5MZQ3hLCSPwgsf8cG7VEz834doOs9EVP3ZtsSXd7ZaoVbSpkc4/s1600/51iUja25evL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmWVK3G3d0yuBiW3xBBpPrZfuvsBPasYhrWX2SagwCdC6yNo6kipSQKZudWZfUgM0hcBZD0F14s5QbFmu89sg2iKOq5MZQ3hLCSPwgsf8cG7VEz834doOs9EVP3ZtsSXd7ZaoVbSpkc4/s320/51iUja25evL.jpg" width="213" /></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It must have been almost twenty years since I read Harry Potter for the first time. Since then, I have re-read the books, seen the movies many times and been fascinated by what I saw and read. I watched some of J K Rowling’s interviews too. In those interviews, she mentioned how she developed each character with their own backstories.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">So, it was interesting to read about the other sides of the normally impassive ‘Prof. McGonagall’, Remus ‘Moony’ Lupin, ‘dramatic’ Sybil Trelawney and ‘reckless’ Silvanus Kettleburn. </span></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Although the Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies was published some time ago, I read it only now. I loved reading this short book and hope to read the remaining books in the series in the days to come.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This certainly was a quick and light read, and it was a welcome change from reading the Ivory throne.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaNDC55vTu5hQYLdQ1FcyEbc__8DGbC02w6TtQNL0KvE1duwmvirDLrVjceyOgTgSoX94ZtNMm1b5LqmeLFO8T7e0N9HW4EL7Garht_irXGq30NQJD3NfPLmXzSSLn7D9K9X9COTTPUU/s1600/36599712._SX318_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaNDC55vTu5hQYLdQ1FcyEbc__8DGbC02w6TtQNL0KvE1duwmvirDLrVjceyOgTgSoX94ZtNMm1b5LqmeLFO8T7e0N9HW4EL7Garht_irXGq30NQJD3NfPLmXzSSLn7D9K9X9COTTPUU/s320/36599712._SX318_.jpg" width="243" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<b>A Dead Man's Shoes: and Other Strange Tales - C.J. Wright</b><br />
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I had downloaded this book on kindle thinking it was a detective story or something like that. Instead, I found it was all spooky stories. It dealt with mind, spirit and all the supernatural stuff.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I can’t say I particularly enjoyed reading them. But as a book that offered an entirely different subject, the book was a welcome change. I haven’t finished it yet though. </span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Of the 13 stories, I liked the first, A Dead Man's Shoes and Lay Me Down To Sleep better. The story Love Bite reminded me of Dracula, although there is nothing similar in the content other than the vampire.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I think I have two more stories left in the book, which I might finish at leisure.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">So, that’s it for the week. I don’t think I have read as much as I liked. Still, I am happy that I have been able to keep the wheel running… I paid a quick visit to the library and have borrowed two titles by Jeffrey Archer, who is one of my favourite authors. I look forward to reading Head you win in the coming days. The other book, Tell tale is a collection of short stories and I have finished a couple of the stories by now. More on will follow in a detailed review.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">So, that’s all folks… I hope you all are reading loads of books and enjoying them. Until next time, keep reading!!!</span></div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-79433260608482674202020-01-27T17:53:00.000+05:302020-01-27T17:55:55.113+05:30Books I read in 2020 #3 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Review of Week 3 ending on 22/1/2020</b><br />
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Week 1 review can be found <a href="http://www.randomthoughts.co.in/2020/01/books-i-read-in-2020-1.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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Week 2 review can be found <a href="http://www.randomthoughts.co.in/2020/01/books-i-read-in-2020-2.html" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Ok, so I finished the book, Scion of Ikshvaku this week. The feeling is
mixed. As mentioned earlier, I liked the premise of the novel, but can’t say I
was too thrilled to read.</div>
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One of the things I felt was that the author was superimposing the events
of the present into the narrative. Especially the killing of Roshni after cruel
gang rape led by a minor and the accused being spared by law because he was a
minor alludes to the infamous rape case that happened in Delhi a few years ago.</div>
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Also, mentioning of Vyomkesh (undoubtedly referring to Byomkesh Bakshi,
the famous fictional detective created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay) also was so
unnecessary. It didn’t add to the narrative, I thought.</div>
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Although the book, much like the Shiva trilogy, we can see reference to
actual places of today. And yet, the very concept of India was much different
then as compared to what it was in those ancient times. It felt a bit forced –
like a conscious effort to tie the past and present together.</div>
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Having said that, the idea that Ram wasn’t the favoured child was indeed
a bold premise to develop the story. As expected, it depicts the protagonist as
a normal human being (with idealistic views and ways) who elevates himself to a
higher stature through his words and deeds. Of course, we will have to wait and
see how it all ends…</div>
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<b>Sita – Amish </b></div>
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This can be
termed as Sitayana or the journey of Sita. Much like Ram, she is also troubled
with many things – her birth and status as she grows up. Amish advocates gender
equality in his books and hence his Sita is not the typical all enduring,
servitude type woman. Instead, she has a will and opinion of her own, which is
one of the reasons Ram falls in love with her. He bows his head to her with
respect and admiration.</div>
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Their union is much of completion of each other - unlike a usual marriage
where the husband is the master and supreme power, and the wife is nothing but
his glorified servant catering to his needs. One is not entirely surprised by
this treatment because it was seen in the Shiva trilogy too where Parvati was
portrayed as an independent person. </div>
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Although the author tries to reveal the underlying layers of the society
and the characters, most of the time he comes up with a justification why
things are the way they are – or at least that’s what I felt.</div>
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This was a quick read because many of the passages were sort of
repetition from the first book – the story being told in a linear narrative
from the point of view of the three main characters, Ram, Sita, and Ravana.</div>
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The constant reference to Vayuputras and Malayaputras gets a bit too
tedious – I don’t know why the author needed to explain who are they now and
then. Likewise, the presentation of some of the central characters (as well as
the absence of a few) like Hanuman, Jatayu, is so entirely different from the
original that the reader is somewhat curious to see how their story develops.</div>
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I had trouble visualising the elaborate settings of the places described
– the Mithila bee quarters, Agastsyakoodam mountain, etc being some of them.</div>
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<b>Ravan – Amish</b></div>
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I could finish Sita a lot quicker than I expected – thanks to some extra
reading during bedtime – and hence proceeded to the third book of the series.
Ravan is usually portrayed as a villain and it is not easy to write about
someone like him in a positive light.</div>
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Even so, it is not surprising to find that a troubled past led him to
what he became in the future. Although the author wasn’t justifying or
glorifying the protagonist, one couldn’t help thinking of numerous instances
narrated in history where troubled childhood has been stated as a reason for
someone turning into the beast they’ve become later in life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The premise sounds common – a child walking out of his father’s home with
the pain and grudge for the constant ill-treatment meted out to him by the
parent. The only difference here could be that Ravan was forced to flee with
his mom, newly born brother and uncle to save their lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Life was hard and although he loved his brother Kumbhakarna more than
anything else in the world, Ravan was more of a loner all his life. There are
parts of Ravan’s mind even Kumbhakarna couldn’t reach. The brothers shared a
very strong bond and at times it felt like reading a modern TV series on two
brothers because it is difficult to picture Ravan and Kumbhakarna as bosom
buddies… however, Kumbha was to Ravan what Laxman was to Ram.</div>
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Having read the two books of the series, it was easy to guess where the
story will lead to. The undisclosed love of Ravan towards Kanyakumari and how
that urged him to be the best version of himself, how her death changed him and
made him worse were all on the expected lines. Even the so-called suspense
ceased to be – I could rightly guess the identity of Sita and Kanyakumari even
before the author revealed it. </div>
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As with the earlier books, the author seems to try to intertwine present
with the past. The mention of Sabarimala and the traditions associated didn’t
add any value to the plot, I felt. Why did the author feel compelled to use a
burning topic of present times (this book was published recently, after the
Sabarimala verdict and all the controversies around it) to the story of Ravan?</div>
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Of course the portrayal of Ravan, the protagonist was good as with the
protagonists of other books. The reader feels for him when he suffers. Most of
his actions could be justified too. However, the portrayal of Kumbakarna was
more interesting and intriguing to me. The way he changes – from
hero-worshipping his brother, to helping him achieve his greatness and then to
try and put some sense in his mind when he chooses the wrong path – all these
are layers of the character which I haven’t seen before. There is more to
Kumbakarna than his usual portrayal as a giant that loves to eat and sleep all
the time.</div>
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And yet, overall the book wasn’t that exciting to read. I found it tiring
and boring to read the same passages for the third time (of the instances
common to all three books). So, I am not waiting for the next book with bated
breath. I still might read it if I happen to come across it. But, I am not too
excited about it.</div>
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So, that’s the end of the week and I have already started reading Ivory
Throne by Manu S Pillai and you can hear from me about it in the next blog.
Since it is nonfiction, I am sure it will take me longer to finish. Yet I hope
to finish it at the earliest and go on to read the next book.</div>
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Until
then, enjoy your reading and share your thoughts too…</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-46128720079211885412020-01-21T01:11:00.003+05:302020-01-21T01:11:41.379+05:30Books I read in 2020 #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Find the previous post <a href="http://www.randomthoughts.co.in/2020/01/books-i-read-in-2020-1.html" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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<b>Review of Week 2 ending on 15/1/2020</b></div>
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1. <b>Jim Corbett Omnibus</b> – Jim Corbett – Ok, so the omnibus included some of the stories I had already read, such as the Maneaters of Kumaon. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the book as much as I had enjoyed reading the stories for the first time. I absolutely loved the chapter on Robin, the author’s dog.<br />
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[<i>I had, a long time ago, fantasised myself as a forest explorer and used to wear my father’s old discarded raincoat (with two big pockets) and search for clues in the thick bushes around my home. I had my revolver (fashioned out of old newspapers), currencies (leaves of a wild plant), old canvas shoes from the previous year of school, a discarded Click-III camera hanging on my shoulder to add to the effects. I remember carrying the ‘pazhampori’ made by my mom as emergency snack in those pockets while I carried on my role of explorer. A dog to follow me and track the beasts of the jungle would have completed the picture, for by then, I had managed to add a discarded cap too, to my wardrobe… Thankfully, I did all these role plays while the elders enjoyed their afternoon siesta or else, I would have been ridiculed or told off in the least – such pleasures of life!!!]</i></div>
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I was instantly transported to that magical time when I read Corbett. Of course, I would have not had the courage to go into a real jungle with or without a dog at my heels. So, Corbett feels like a hero even to an older me.</div>
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Other titles in the book were all so interesting that I was spellbound once again. I wished I could walk along those jungles with him – not to shoot or even sight a tiger, but for the simple pleasure of being able to be in the lap of nature.</div>
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After reading Corbett, I could sense that he felt no pride in trophy hunting – even if he had hunted for glory at the beginning. As soon as he understood life better, he saw the worthlessness in hunting for trophy. A keen observer and learner, he derived much pleasure in being a part of the nature and not in killing the animals for fun. He understands a tiger or leopard takes to eating man not out of choice, but of compulsion. In most cases, the reason such animals turn man eaters is man himself. Man is not the natural prey of these big cats and so they turn man eaters only by compulsion of old age or wounds that make them incapable of hunting their natural prey.</div>
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Even if you are not a wildlife enthusiast, reading Corbett could be beneficial for you. It will give you a better perspective of nature and why it is important for us to protect nature and be a part of nature and not work against nature.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADm7TEy3Ttm0xlcQtXifQbHYbgfHIVzH1XWMap9s5hckJhrYNGwcUXjSGiTQ_Cspq0X9DzCz9Tigg2OD2s-fw8FDE43Wx0R0VQpQbDaJoJZm4CrlGOeNdpaON0ACSbYWoxkk3o7mKW44/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADm7TEy3Ttm0xlcQtXifQbHYbgfHIVzH1XWMap9s5hckJhrYNGwcUXjSGiTQ_Cspq0X9DzCz9Tigg2OD2s-fw8FDE43Wx0R0VQpQbDaJoJZm4CrlGOeNdpaON0ACSbYWoxkk3o7mKW44/s1600/download.jpg" /></a><b>2. Time Management </b>– David Tracy – I started this book in the earnest because many a times I find myself staring up a mountain of tasks each day. It is not that I take up things I cannot handle, but it is mostly my inability to manage time to do the things I take up.</div>
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Although I have an idea of time management and follow some methods, sooner or later I find myself reverting to old ways - procrastinating and struggling with time. So, from time to time a refresher course like reading helps me to be back on track and this book is one such attempt. </div>
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This book took me longer than I would’ve liked to finish. Not because it was hard to read but because I had a very busy week and could read only during bedtime on most of the days.</div>
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I didn't start the books I thought I would read next, and I think those will be put on back burner as I have started with the Ramachandra series by Amish. I had read his Meluha series years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the first book. The second one was ok and the third one I endured because I didn’t like leaving the series unfinished. On the whole, I loved the premise and presentation. I hope I would like the Ramachandra series too- I read a sample from the book sometime ago and although wasn’t so excited as Meluha, I was encouraged to go on. Somehow, it didn’t happen and so here I am, trying to read it this week. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWc9Sv1frLqnrRcOUzzDxmKxmgKNx6bGUR5Yby0muw-Vx8FA0Oghz3szWq9i_Sc56oCpvIyoWz336uZLsQgdksin_4sqRHjBSJxCYzus7pS4zOfvQBQ9YONueRpsJdTnBxwgEedVxUHs/s1600/24709327._UY474_SS474_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWc9Sv1frLqnrRcOUzzDxmKxmgKNx6bGUR5Yby0muw-Vx8FA0Oghz3szWq9i_Sc56oCpvIyoWz336uZLsQgdksin_4sqRHjBSJxCYzus7pS4zOfvQBQ9YONueRpsJdTnBxwgEedVxUHs/s320/24709327._UY474_SS474_.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>3. <span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Scion of Ikshvaku</b> – Amish – This is a novel
based on the epic Ramayana and it tells the story of Ram in an entirely new
way. As in the case of Meluha, I am impressed with the freedom and courage the
writer took to take such a popular story and give it an entirely unusual
treatment.</span></div>
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Of course, there are different versions of
Ramayana as numerous writers had written the story from their perspective.
However, in this modern age of intolerance and limited artistic freedom, it is
nothing short of a wonder this book (for that matter the Meluha series too)
didn’t ruffle some delicate feathers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, I hope to finish at least the first
book by the end of the week. Until then,
enjoy reading… <o:p></o:p></div>
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Notes: I had a busy week with a lot of editing for our vlog and so reading has been a casualty. In spite of that, I had used some time in between to read some Malayalam blogs and to respond to them. I have also been able to meet my weekly target of writing at least a blog and so, overall, I am happy with the outcome. And yes, I also managed to read a short poem or two from Kumaranashan’s kuttikavithakal sometime during the past week.</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-4544008849688146222020-01-13T17:12:00.002+05:302020-01-13T17:18:47.582+05:30Books I read in 2020 #1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Preface:<br />
<i>This year, I am making a conscious effort to read more. I love reading - right from children's book to serious books (although history and non fiction makes my reading a bit slow paced). Even though I like reading both English and Malayalam (can read in Hindi too - might read Munshi Premchand one of these days), I have difficulty in accessing Malayalam books here. So, most of my reading is and will be English books. But I am reading a bit of Malayalam via blogs and FB posts and also some books I could download on Kindle. </i><br />
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On that note, let me get on to the <b>Review of Week one ended on 08/1/2020</b><br />
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<i>Here, I hope to keep a record of the books I read this year.
My target, although I am not very sure it is achievable, is 100 books this
year. I have started in the earnest and seems to be on the right track because today
is just 8<sup>th</sup> of Jan 2020 and I have already read close to five books.</i></div>
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So, without much ado, let me make a quick note of the same.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukY_7FdXZ3TpGRaY89g69mSztB1ttviWNLRNOU0Y4rSBjFTMeDKohkGSR-wHsyp-WoqiOsFx0QQu_735c6WHqE6Y8nX74AuCfCFlXc9OkZ1nWZN2W1PmxaMvGubTb-it9Va5AWOhjUGc/s1600/speed+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="340" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukY_7FdXZ3TpGRaY89g69mSztB1ttviWNLRNOU0Y4rSBjFTMeDKohkGSR-wHsyp-WoqiOsFx0QQu_735c6WHqE6Y8nX74AuCfCFlXc9OkZ1nWZN2W1PmxaMvGubTb-it9Va5AWOhjUGc/s200/speed+reading.jpg" width="135" /></a><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Speed Reading – Justin Hammond</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> - I don’t know if
this qualifies as reading in the true sense of the word. But when my kindle
unlimited suggestion threw this up, I downloaded and read the book. Can’t say I
gained much from it, other than revisiting some of the facts I knew. However,
it did help me confirm I am sort of a speed reader – definitely not a slow
reader – and I guess for that fact alone, I am happy to have read it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS5KumUVv_xysa3SJoy9nFb0lFBjbMxpPGxCuZL-QL3HP_efT-1NZw6iDRnVcAL44SjcBzH5bSWFp-3h3ixAkgs32nuM9XdKecddAKaO4pWRNUpqHS9AJg0-WYDGdJdfGZGIHptSMWUc/s1600/my+india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1041" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS5KumUVv_xysa3SJoy9nFb0lFBjbMxpPGxCuZL-QL3HP_efT-1NZw6iDRnVcAL44SjcBzH5bSWFp-3h3ixAkgs32nuM9XdKecddAKaO4pWRNUpqHS9AJg0-WYDGdJdfGZGIHptSMWUc/s320/my+india.jpg" width="208" /></a><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">My India – Jim Corbet</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">t – I become a fan of
Corbett ever since I read the Man-Eaters of Kumaon a couple of years ago. I
remember feeling scared for him especially while reading about the man-eater
that stalked him. I can’t remember the specifics of the stories, but I can’t
forget how thrilled and enchanted I felt walking along the Garhwal forests
along with him.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In My India, Corbett paints a picture of
India that few of the new generation might know or can imagine. Although
growing up in the south, more specifically in Kerala, I was immune to most of the
sufferings of the people of the North, I have a fair idea of the different
world out there, thanks to the few years I spend up North.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this age of division and alienation, it was fascinating how a British man could
identify himself with the locals and understand their problems more than
someone from another part of the country. I would recommend this book to
anyone, at least to appreciate and understand the country better – for he has
very clearly painted a picture of India, which is seldom overlooked by most of
us. Of course, the stories from the jungle are welcome bonuses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQyw4JyYA9pbdYWM8hgbhgzrbxx_fjcoqL2NJILe00XAGCH0irp_n2a5TM4dbRi1p3zcty4GcrBhD8w9nKeQd56AeemL90fLWPf6JMB1KrAN8f-uNFo_3RQmA1Y2VqXOPAH8z5WusGSM/s1600/temple+tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1029" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQyw4JyYA9pbdYWM8hgbhgzrbxx_fjcoqL2NJILe00XAGCH0irp_n2a5TM4dbRi1p3zcty4GcrBhD8w9nKeQd56AeemL90fLWPf6JMB1KrAN8f-uNFo_3RQmA1Y2VqXOPAH8z5WusGSM/s320/temple+tiger.jpg" width="205" /></a><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Temple Tiger and more Man Eaters of Kumaon –
Jim Corbett </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">– Now, I think I have this habit of continuing the same genre of
stories – whether books or films- when I start with something. So, it is not
surprising that I chose to read more of Jim Corbett as soon as I finished My
India. This book is mostly about the man eaters, but it definitely paints a
picture of India of those times,</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">the
socio-economic-cultural fabric of the country is vividly presented in the
stories. I think I can safely assume it was not a deliberate attempt on the
part of the owner, but after having spent so much time in and amidst India, it
is only natural that he imbibes a lot of it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course, I am not forgetting the
fact that he was born and brought up here and spent a large part of his life in
India, and had led a privileged life of a sahib. But I guess that didn’t stop
him from loving the country – or at least its wildlife – as much as any Indian.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I loved to read about the
landscapes, the birds and the behaviour of the animals and I couldn’t stop
admiring the way he intertwined everything – much like life itself. I don’t
think I will be bored to read this book again in future.</div>
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<br /></div>
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By the way, I am almost
three-quarters through the Jim Corbett Omnibus – with a forward by Ruskin Bond,
another of my favourite authors. Hope the review will join this pages soon.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQas8BqVjaeOJ-JuBskTYE8P_S4sClpVWZ3KjklrTdMuFYcew70LFavFfjtwLxNmXNk1KPJ-nPo2KBoZ7SuHlxOwqKCQA5idW2YIhmys2PYBKs4pZAscbZ88FrOU286_1mkSkOkopV7JA/s1600/agatha+investigates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="335" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQas8BqVjaeOJ-JuBskTYE8P_S4sClpVWZ3KjklrTdMuFYcew70LFavFfjtwLxNmXNk1KPJ-nPo2KBoZ7SuHlxOwqKCQA5idW2YIhmys2PYBKs4pZAscbZ88FrOU286_1mkSkOkopV7JA/s200/agatha+investigates.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Agatha Christie Investigates – Alison Joseph </b>–
Anything with the name Agatha Christie on it is an attraction for me. I
downloaded this book out of curiosity – the author actually uses Agatha
Christie as a character solving the crimes. Although I was amused by the
premise in the beginning, I think I didn’t enjoy the book as much as an Agatha
Christie creation. That, I think is quite natural because the author is trying
to solve the cases with Agatha as the protagonist, but without the flair,
expertise and craft of the writer Agatha.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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So far, I have read only one story from the
series – I think there are three stories in total – and have stopped reading as
soon as I was through with the first novel. I might read the other two as well,
but truth be told, I am not exactly looking forward to it.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Notes: I have a couple of books in Kindle – A dead man’s
shoes and other stories, as well as one biography on Ambedkar. As someone who
loves to read thrillers and detective stories, I might start reading the dead
man’s shoes before I start reading the book on Ambedkar. This is also because
of the fact that the latter book requires more serious application of mind and
cannot be read as light reading or for recreation. Likewise, there is a book on
Tesla, a workout book by Rujuta Diwakar and a few old Malayalam poems, which I
may read for leisure in between.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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NB:I hope to update this journal next week or so. It
will keep me on track and I will be able to keep a record of my reading history
as well. As they say, well begun is half done. I hope it is really true in
my case. I want to read as much as I can and enrich myself. Hopefully it will
give me the courage to write and publish too…<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Pic courtesy: Google</b></div>
</div>
Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-92005100953176218392019-11-19T01:40:00.000+05:302019-11-19T01:40:19.469+05:30Practice makes progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is that time of the year again when I brag about my progress in art. For all those of you who don’t follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or who don’t know me yet, this post is about my artistic pursuits. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">So, the gist of the story is I started drawing daily from 18th November 2017. For the past two years, I have never missed (although one day I almost did - that story can be found </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.randomthoughts.co.in/2018/11/where-there-is-will-there-is-hard-work.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">here</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">) doing my daily drawings. Like last year, this year also I had done few one-minute drawings or some ‘too simple to call a drawing’ kind of drawings. Especially on the days I travel or the days I was ill, the task was difficult to undertake.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yet, persist I did and today completed two years of daily drawings. As you can see from the pics attached, I have vastly improved - my skills and understanding have become better and better. My strokes have become confident and I have finally started feeling I can draw and paint anything I want to. I have grown immensely during these two years and I am sure I will get to my goal sooner than later.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzO1dGurapLzC3Z4CR03ym7PKEXj2c1_zU7ZFH5yqlWdQ8otbRLpBJaToEsYfMcNT0WBjGujUpRlKBEp2rlwVNlJNCNcm2M0cKiCnRCdqQhyphenhyphenONkeCaKqI3NjpYTyfIA7NglcAjIfRMHc/s1600/Collage+2019-11-18+17_44_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzO1dGurapLzC3Z4CR03ym7PKEXj2c1_zU7ZFH5yqlWdQ8otbRLpBJaToEsYfMcNT0WBjGujUpRlKBEp2rlwVNlJNCNcm2M0cKiCnRCdqQhyphenhyphenONkeCaKqI3NjpYTyfIA7NglcAjIfRMHc/s320/Collage+2019-11-18+17_44_17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were the ones done earlier this year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This year differed from last year in many ways. First, </span><span style="color: #1c1e29;">daily drawing became a habit. I might skip eating one time, but I don’t skip drawing any day. Second, as I started, I was unsure if I will reach somewhere - that feeling is gone now. I know I will. Third, and perhaps most important, my effort have been a motivation to others.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_GDCtRQKq8VrV0V78JaSCvcM3lFVmz1togfYUMOAdJShMRryZ_OsBUQ0JRfXq9iL-UX0BQCjz75agbEX2cHKhGSJ-jSPrupUC-hepx6uz-tRKxtAuZ03iVtgVXbufox5p6aA5Y1EbW0/s1600/Collage+2019-11-18+17_48_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_GDCtRQKq8VrV0V78JaSCvcM3lFVmz1togfYUMOAdJShMRryZ_OsBUQ0JRfXq9iL-UX0BQCjz75agbEX2cHKhGSJ-jSPrupUC-hepx6uz-tRKxtAuZ03iVtgVXbufox5p6aA5Y1EbW0/s320/Collage+2019-11-18+17_48_23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">As days passed, I got better<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">A cousin, a friend. a niece, a friend’s son - all have been motivated by my efforts to take up things they wanted to or stopped doing a long time ago. The list might seem too short and nominal to you, my reader. But for me, this has been the best reward for my efforts. Mind you, I didn’t embark on this journey to set an example or anything. It was a personal pursuit and now it has taken a bigger dimension of which I am too happy and proud. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I can hear some sneers - oh, she can do it; what’s stopping her - she is a housewife, she don't have any other commitments, she is the master of her time, etc, etc.... For the record, just because I don’t work outside my home, it doesn’t mean I am a housewife (nothing against the housewives - they often do more work than office goers). I work from home, and most of the time, it is difficult than working from an office because very </span>often the roles/times overlap. </div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yes, to a certain extent, I am the master of my own time. Not because I don't have any other commitments. If you need a list, I can give you many. Of late, our vlog ‘<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC01YXTn-pIFJ4GkM9CDZp6Q" target="_blank">Wanderscapes</a>’ is the most time consuming project of ours - we put in hours of hard work and dedication to offer good quality videos to our viewers. And yes, we enjoy the whole experience. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">What little time I have after the household chores (which is the first casualty if something important comes up), my writing, blogging, Vlog and drawing, I use to add value to myself - I use various platforms available to me to study new things or to refresh my knowledge. To keep learning, I have done/doing various courses offered by online learning platforms during my free time. And there are people who do much more than I do everyday. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I don’t like bragging. But at times, you’ve to set the records straight. So, all those trying to belittle my efforts, the joke is on you. You need to get a life!</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkrllWfdEisDOaucsDJOTdF-8cB6682H8SPPh0VS9h_11R6Gw-ILFi4W09DR6-ci1sEeOVBfYWJINZH3qNarrAfnRkFV_fdDs33ccoQYg_yKwvF0i5t6y3Ks-zWGu3HQpn2uhH-kvh8c/s1600/Collage+2019-11-18+17_52_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkrllWfdEisDOaucsDJOTdF-8cB6682H8SPPh0VS9h_11R6Gw-ILFi4W09DR6-ci1sEeOVBfYWJINZH3qNarrAfnRkFV_fdDs33ccoQYg_yKwvF0i5t6y3Ks-zWGu3HQpn2uhH-kvh8c/s320/Collage+2019-11-18+17_52_26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And better<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">To come back to subject, I have been able to complete two years of daily sketching and drawing only because of my passion and commitment to the task. Of course, I have received immense motivation from many people - they never let go an opportunity to tell me how far I have come and how good I have become - but ultimately, it was my self motivation and commitment that saw me achieving this.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">My humble suggestion to all of you out there is this - if you are truly passionate and committed to achieving something, no one can stop you. People will try - in all the way they can - to pull you down, But so long as you keep your passion and determination alive, no one can pull you down. They will soon realise they can’t stop you and will move to the next person. So, don’t give a damn about those nay sayers - they have done nothing worthwhile in life and feels no one can either. The poor souls are taking their frustration of not achieving anything on you. Offer them your sympathies and move on.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And even better as of now</td></tr>
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My thanks to all the people who stood by my side with ‘katta support’. I am not mentioning names here because you know whether you have supported me or not - I know it too. Whether or not the world knows it, doesn’t matter. What matters is when I needed it the most you gave me your support. Sooner than later, you find that it was a worthwhile effort. I hope to make you all extremely proud of me one day, if I haven’t done so already.... Until then, keep up your good spirits and help spread the goodness. Much Love,</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-3957875928369936242019-01-24T18:06:00.000+05:302019-01-24T18:52:46.419+05:30Kindness <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The other day, my son came home, eyes all welled up - he was struggling not to cry. When I asked the reason he looked so upset, he couldn’t control himself and amidst sobs, he told his friends made fun of him for playing ‘old’ games. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. I simply hugged him and told it’s ok even though I knew he wasn’t ok.<br />
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I let him cry for a couple of minutes and then spoke to him to find out what really happened. It turned out they were teasing him for playing outdated games (gaming is one topic they talk non-stop at school, I guess) while they played ‘cool’ games on the mobile. He was upset also because they were trying to annoy him even though he tried to move away from them and avoid the situation. They kept on teasing and later tried to make up - even when he was not interested in talking to them. He ended the narrative saying - I would not talk to them ever!</div>
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I listened patiently and told him if that is what you want to do, it is ok with me. Try not talking for some days and see how it feels - if you feel ok not talking to your friends, then don’t talk. But, if you are unhappy not talking to them, perhaps you should talk to them. People act silly at times, they get carried away - it might not be that they want to hurt you. So, while you are right to feel sad at the way they behaved with you, if they are sorry, you should have it in your heart to forgive them - I said.</div>
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I asked him whether he was happy playing ‘old’ games. He said he liked them. So I told him - then it doesn’t matter if someone thinks you are uncool for playing those games. You do what you enjoy doing. You don’t have to stop playing those games because they think it is old or outdated. If you are happy, nothing else matters. Everyone has different tastes and interests. It is ok to be different.</div>
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I told him it is entirely up to him if he wants to be friends with them. However, if they are sorry, he should forgive them. Because holding a grudge will harm us more than anything. It may not be easy to forgive and forget. But, if we hold on to unpleasant things, it will make us bitter and unhappy.</div>
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A couple of hours later, one of the friends texted him to say sorry and my son told me he has decided to be friends with that boy again because he reached out. But, he was adamant he won’t forgive the other friend who didn’t reach out. He felt wronged and couldn’t forgive him (yet).</div>
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This morning, as he left for school, I told him it is ok if you don’t want to be friends with the other boy. But if he says sorry, he should accept it and move on. People make all kinds of mistake and might regret them later on. So, we should be gracious enough to forgive. If we don’t, we are no better than the person who hurt us. He nodded his head in agreement and left to school. I hope they makeup and have a great time in school.</div>
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I have tried to bring up my boys as people who are sensitive and kind to others. I think it is important to feel empathy towards others. So, whenever my son tells me he helped someone, I feel happy. I know he is a kind boy and would help others in any way he can. At the same time, I know he gets hurt when he doesn’t receive that same kindness from others. But I keep telling him that is all the more reason for him to be kind.</div>
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Anyway, this incident got me thinking. As I reflected, I knew I too was unkind many times in the past - sometimes through my silence, sometimes through words and often in my deeds. Of course, most of them were unintentional or due to my naivety. But that doesn’t mean I can redeem myself. And yet, I understand it is important to forgive myself because the more I hold on to it, the more I will be sucked into the whirlpool of negative emotions and low self-esteem.</div>
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So, as I tried to dispel the gloom of self-reproach and feeling terrible about the unkind things in the past by forgiving myself, I felt a weight lifting off my heart. As on a cue, the weather outside slowly turned sunny…</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-31947108243179255712018-11-19T18:06:00.002+05:302018-11-22T14:45:40.048+05:30Where there is a will, there is hard work and result <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrASfR8lR3h_C_AzB3a1k94tMcIfG1Gls-5HFd_QK6XYs7j7QqAZJi_B77ts6kvi1auMLyywgGk8B8bGG45sq-Sl_g35Oga4uJY2cADjuXynoz7cPgp12V3nP-BajUlgxank6dz2B_cY/s1600/Collage+2018-11-18+23_06_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrASfR8lR3h_C_AzB3a1k94tMcIfG1Gls-5HFd_QK6XYs7j7QqAZJi_B77ts6kvi1auMLyywgGk8B8bGG45sq-Sl_g35Oga4uJY2cADjuXynoz7cPgp12V3nP-BajUlgxank6dz2B_cY/s400/Collage+2018-11-18+23_06_23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A year of daily sketching! Yes, I did it!!!</div>
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When I started sketching daily a year ago, it was just as a committment to the word I gave someone I'll do daily sketch no matter what. Apparently, that person saw a potential in me as an artist. It is one thing I am still struggling to believe unconditionally, even as I complete a year of daily sketching.</div>
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Yes, the journey was tough. Some days I enjoyed the drawings more than anything. On others, it was just a chore I had to finish before I hit the bed and called it a day. On a few days, I even questioned myself - why am I doing it at all ..<br />
Nevertheless, I stay put. Why? Mostly because I gave my word to someone who believed in me. My theory was if someone believes in me even without having me proven my worth, I should at least show my gratitude by not giving up. Also, I wanted to prove myself it can be done. So on I went with my tryst with lines.</div>
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I think slowly it became a habit. I couldn't go to bed without drawing at least for a minute. I remember one time we went on a trip and, after a particularly tiring day, I went to bed all exhausted and fell asleep. And then suddenly, I woke up with the realisation I didn't do my daily drawing. I could sleep no more. I got up, took my sketch pad and pen, went to the bathroom (because my entire family was tired and sleeping peacefully) and did my daily sketching there. Did I draw a great picture? Probably not. But I felt good. Despite the tiredness and exhaustion, I felt happy and satisfied.</div>
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And that's my takeaway from this whole exercise. A new understanding of myself. I was always envious (still am) of people who could draw well. I am amazed by the talent I see all around me. The veteran artists and upcoming artists make me feel so inconsequential... It was like I was nothing & could be nothing. I thought I can never be like them.</div>
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And now I know that is the truth. This year of sketching has made me aware of it. But the most important lesson I learned is - I DON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THEM. Yes, I have finally realised the competition is not with anyone else. It is with myself. I can't be anyone else. I shouldn't be. Some of them are inborn artists. The others might have spent years learning and shaping their art. What was I doing then? Just wishing to be like them and not doing anything about it.</div>
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In the past year, I understood I have been unfair to myself by comparing me to others. They are what they are because they worked to be what they are. I am what I am because I worked (or didn't) in my particular way. This is my journey. Good, bad or ugly, this is my art. My thoughts and lines tell the story my way. It doesn't have to be any other's story or style.</div>
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Perfection is not what makes a good artist. It is the journey that allows one to understand it is ok to be imperfect. No picture is bad because it is not a perfect depiction. It is good because while trying to create it, you got in touch with your soul. At least for a few moments, you forgot everything and revelled in the joy of creation. There was nothing to stop you from being happy to draw that simple line on the paper or dab that particular colour on the canvas.</div>
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This year was a journey of self-discovery too. Of forgetting limitations and taking new steps. I know that it is not the joy of acceptance but fear of rejection that had dictated my actions earlier. I couldn't take rejections. I always felt I was not enough. My efforts were not enough - whatever I did wasn't enough. Or so I thought.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR7y_0UCJCzarHDXam3CduiilIsgmTrcGE2IYK3sfhphuzO0Dqpbr9cmyCnQY8fy-cEjUz8OmmU_hbWkcxOXDIrdNfvwYbkElPrfUm8DVlBnXXeKlZULIkocAyg_SVul-Q6-fXJg7Ybc/s1600/Collage+2018-11-18+23_32_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR7y_0UCJCzarHDXam3CduiilIsgmTrcGE2IYK3sfhphuzO0Dqpbr9cmyCnQY8fy-cEjUz8OmmU_hbWkcxOXDIrdNfvwYbkElPrfUm8DVlBnXXeKlZULIkocAyg_SVul-Q6-fXJg7Ybc/s320/Collage+2018-11-18+23_32_23.jpg" width="320" /></a>But, the reality is, you can't please everyone. For every person admiring you, there could be ten saying you are not good enough or would never be. The trick to grow is shut your ears against naysayers. Ignore them. Hear your soul speak to you. More often than not, it will tell you where to go and how to go.</div>
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I am glad that I have finally realized my worst enemy is myself. Self-doubt and undue comparison along with a feeling of not being enough is what stopped me going ahead. Now, as I know my path is my own and I have to create my own legacy, I experience a strange peace. I am here to compete with myself and to better myself. My struggle is within and once I truly master myself, I know nothing can stand in my way.</div>
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After 3-4 sketchbooks and an amazing year, I can proudly say I have made the start. I am confident of going ahead and reaching the goal I have set for myself. But before I go on, thanks are due to some special friends and dear ones for believing in me (even when I didn't believe myself) and helping me see clearly. I hope one day you will be proud to have known me, as I am proud of you. Thank you!</div>
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Here is a small sample of what I did. Some you have seen before. Some you haven't. Some are good, some are just lines.... I didn't want to share only the good works because there were some really bad ones too. Accepting that has been a huge step towards growth. A few digital drawings are also included - these are essentially results of the shortage of time...</div>
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PS: I hope at least one person reading these lines would be inspired to do something they always wanted to but didn't attempt because of self-doubt. Remember, it is ok to fail and fall. You are not defeated until you stop trying. Also, success is not always about earning money or praise. Sometimes, a smile on your face and the content you feel inside is the best reward. Try it - you'll like it better than anything.<br />
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-74555128789297400412018-07-19T14:06:00.000+05:302018-07-19T14:06:31.002+05:30A time to bid farewell and say Thank You! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two years ago, when we came to Liverpool, my younger son wasn't very keen on the move. The main reason for his reluctance to move was the friends he didn't wish to part ways with. But then, life doesn't work according to one's wish always. So, he had to pack his bags and start a new phase of his life in a totally new country and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once we reached here, we had two choices - a school (literally) across the road where we lived, and another one, a bit far. Although the latter seemed to have better facilities in terms of a bigger playground and other infrastructure, we preferred the school nearby. This was mainly because most of our colleagues' kids were attending this school and during winter months the less you have to walk in the cold, the better. But, when we first enquired, no places were available. So we thought we would have to opt for the other school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, the luck turned in our favour as one place came up. So, my son started his first day at school barely after ten days of reaching here. There was hardly a week left for that academic year to end. But the school authorities thought it would be a good idea for him to attend the school for a few days before my son actually started school during the next academic year starting in September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And what a wonderful start it was for him - he joined his class for a trip to the zoo on the very first day of the school. Needless to say, he enjoyed every bit of it and it didn't take him long to make new friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When the school reopened in September, he was in Ms. Davey's class. She helped him settle in. The transition from the Indian schooling to the British schooling was a delightful experience for him - there was no pressure of exams, tests and homework. Here, learning was fun. Soon, he overcame all his inhibitions and started loving the school and friends as much as he did back home. Every day, he came home with loads to share about his day at school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He would tell me what Ms. Davey taught them on the day, what fun activities they had, what games they played on the school ipads, what he and his friends did and so on. Soon, names like Ms. Hodges, Ms. Bannon, Ms. Cresswall, Ms. Sheilds, Ms. Calderwood and Katie, all came up in his narratives. And I started matching the names with faces every time I went to pick him up from the school. Before long, I also became familiar with the teachers and other staff at the school. The after-school clubs were informative and fun. All in all, the school was a wonderful place to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then came the day when the parents were called to the school to give a review of their child. We had the first opportunity to look at the workbooks and get an idea of what the child is learning. (Unlike in India, the kids here don't carry a heavy load of textbooks and notebooks to and from school. All they have is a small book bag to carry their homework sheets and reading books if any). Parents play a passive role in day-to-day education at the primary school level. Most of the learning is practical and happens at school, as the children don't have to mug up things. Instead, they do and learn things - so the learning stays forever with them. (For instance, while learning about World War, the kids were told to make a gas mask. This made them understand why and how gas masks are made/used. No amount of reading could have made them understand it better.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back home, I dreaded parent-teacher meetings on the open day. I knew the teachers are going to complain about how restless and hyperactive my son was; they were never satisfied with the effort he put in, always told me I should make him sit and study more. So, it was with a bit of apprehension I went to meet Ms. Davey for the first parent-teacher meeting here. I was not prepared for what happened next. I was told so many good things about my son - how wonderfully he settled in, how kind he was, how polite and sensible he was and so on. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Never before in my life I had this experience of a teacher telling me my child was a wonderful person worthy of praise. I could hardly believe this was happening in real. I was so overcome with emotion that I had to struggle to keep my eyes dry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That was one of the most moving experiences I had as a parent. Before that, I never knew teachers could say such kind and positive things about children. And it is not because my son is some extraordinarily good person. I know they have this positive approach towards all children under their care. As a parent, I felt happy and proud of my child as I got this feedback. It also helped me to look at my child in a new light. I suddenly understood that with a bit of positive reinforcement I could help him be an even better person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, the school experience was thrilling for me as well. I tried to give back something by volunteering during class trips and other small ways. It was a pleasure to help in any small way I could. And, a year went by in a blink of an eye. Soon, my son moved into year 6, the last year of his primary school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This time he was in the class of Ms. Griffiths. I had seen her daily while picking up my son the whole of last year and what struck me was her smiling face. It is remarkable the teachers have a smile on their face every day despite the challenging job they undertake. Year 6 is when the children take their SATs (Standard Assessment Tests). As such, it is a very stressful year for the children and their teacher. But Ms. Griffiths always had a smile on her face and good words for her students. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">During this year, we had regular meetings with her and she gave us a clear picture of where our son stood and how he can improve in certain areas. She gave the children practice tests as well as tips to overcome any SATs jitters they might have. Thanks to her encouragement and motivation, the kids were never under any pressure, but they had the confidence to do to the best of their ability. (And they did, I was told, when the SATs results were out last week). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The SATs didn't stop the kids from having fun or learning about more things. They had their share of trips to the library, theatre as well as other educational trips. It was learning as usual even with the SATs around. I had the good fortune of accompanying them in a couple of these trips and I found that the teachers and kids shared a great bond of love and care. There was this boy from Poland who knew little/no English. I was amazed at the way the teachers patiently interacted and communicated with him. The understanding and kindness they demonstrated was again a lesson for me not only as a parent but also as an individual. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every day, my son would come home excited about the things he did at school. He would go on and on about his friends, Ms. Griffiths, Ms. Dunlop and other members of staff. The class was like a second home and family for him. That's why the news of his teacher expecting a baby had him thrilled. I got the feeling that all the children suddenly had this big brotherly/sisterly feeling on hearing the good news. I am sure they all are looking forward to meeting the baby even though they won't be at the school then. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I think Ms. Griffiths has one of the toughest jobs in the school. Not only because of the SATs, but also because of her class moving out of the school, into the bigger world of secondary school at the year-end. Goodbyes are hard. I still recall seeing the teary-eyed children hugging each other and their teacher on the last day of the school last year. In a couple of days, my son would also say bye to his friends and his school. I am sure he will miss his friends and his teachers, Ms. Griffiths, especially. I know I will miss them too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I know my association with the school was rather short. But the memories and learning I gained in this short while will last a lifetime. I wish the teachers and non-teaching staff at Holy Cross the very best in life. May you continue to brighten the lives of every child that comes to your school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, here is a big Thank You to all the wonderful teachers and non-teaching staff at the Holy Cross School. Thank you for taking wonderful care of my son, making him feel welcome and happy. Thank you for all the joyous moments he had at school and the learning that made him a better person. Also, huge thanks for letting me be a small part of it all. I too learned a lot through my association with the school and I am sure I will look back at those moments with gratitude and happiness. Like my son, I will miss you all...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Special thanks to Ms. Griffiths and Ms. Bannon for the kinds words you had for Rithvik. As a parent, it filled my heart with pride and joy to read them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank You!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-35953245077905501032018-06-22T13:35:00.001+05:302018-06-22T13:59:55.431+05:30Life's teachings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Life is a great teacher. One moment it makes you smile and the other, it brings tears. But, whether it is smiles or tears, there is always a lesson for us. Wise are those who learn from these and emerge stronger from each experience.<br />
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Yet, sometimes you pause or look back at the life and find yourself asking - why did it happen to me? The answer is perhaps you needed that learning. I have come to believe that behind each experience in life, there is a learning. Thankfully, you don't have to go through all the experiences in life to learn a new lesson. The beauty of it is - you can learn from others too. However, if you don't learn from others' experience, you may have to learn it all the hard way.</div>
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So, as I look back at my life, I do regret some of my decisions and marvel at how stupid I was to make them. But, at the same time, the experiences those decisions gave me are priceless. Yes, you gain some wisdom as you grow old. And yet, the greatest wisdom is not to lose the child in us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg33oArkKXJ6XcwpMhE3ddp9-_RlBuNmrxnYAboYt94GIolFMCLX53rRiXCG3PPAjmX27Zv6voh3T2qQl98KYhIU23R12Y0QiraDhE_Ny2P8I0Kd2WQAT_eeZpnIfgbARE7dUp6TzFmQ/s1600/IMG_9342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg33oArkKXJ6XcwpMhE3ddp9-_RlBuNmrxnYAboYt94GIolFMCLX53rRiXCG3PPAjmX27Zv6voh3T2qQl98KYhIU23R12Y0QiraDhE_Ny2P8I0Kd2WQAT_eeZpnIfgbARE7dUp6TzFmQ/s320/IMG_9342.JPG" width="320" /></a>The greatest happiness is not in big things. It lies in small things. Sometimes a mundane thing as a flower in the neighbour's garden or a bird appearing out of nowhere can bring you a flash of happiness. Likewise, hearing from a long-lost friend or rediscovering the joy of a long forgotten hobby can bring a fresh life to you.</div>
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As for me, I am trying to look at life and what it offers me with an open mind. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't. I learn a lot more from my failures than from my success. Its life's lessons learned the hard way that stays on with you.<br />
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Each new day is a gift - what we do with it is entirely upon us. We can cherish it and use it in the best way. Or else, we can just waste it and regret later. Although very few people ever realise it, the truth is, to a great extent the power to be happy or otherwise remains with you. If you choose to be happy and positive, not many things can deter you from it.</div>
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Also, each people you meet in life comes to you with a lesson. Whatever they brought you, you needed. Be it friendship, love, happiness or even sorrow. Next time you feel low, take a deep breath and tell yourself: 'It is ok, this happened because I needed the learning. Let me learn my lesson and move ahead." When you do this instead of wailing in self-pity and sorrow, you'll find that life is not as bad as it seemed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00evRmznqPyhjKYoLqw3mjKoyE11LYmRpGpg2d5YChZdhtnffQqdIynSiVrCfeoKztAZewFXJahYECiLD1BRPd9qEclclyCcRdBihCs2QqG0X_jDDOdYItTKZYJLxZWyZJg4QgX_pyFQ/s1600/IMG_20180622_080542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00evRmznqPyhjKYoLqw3mjKoyE11LYmRpGpg2d5YChZdhtnffQqdIynSiVrCfeoKztAZewFXJahYECiLD1BRPd9qEclclyCcRdBihCs2QqG0X_jDDOdYItTKZYJLxZWyZJg4QgX_pyFQ/s320/IMG_20180622_080542.jpg" width="320" /></a>Try to find happiness in small things - even a wildflower can fill your mind with joy - only if you open your eyes and heart to it. Likewise, be thankful for the little things you have rather than worrying about things you don't have. An attitude of gratitude can make a lot of difference in the way we look at things. </div>
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To make a difference, all you need is a smile. Give yourself your prettiest smile and tell you are an amazing person. Believe in yourself and you'll soon find the world believing in you. As the pieces begin to fit into the puzzle, you'll discover the amazing picture called life. When you do that, live it to your fullest. Everything you need is there - it's waiting to be discovered. Go ahead and find it!</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-88283091170810464322018-06-08T16:12:00.001+05:302018-06-08T16:23:50.776+05:30Of compliments and appreciation<p dir="ltr">While growing up, I had often felt that the elders around me didn't believe in complimenting the youngsters much. Their policy was just to acknowledge the achievements and keep the kids grounded to reality. I think that they believed too much appreciation and compliments could go into one's head and could spoil the child altogether. This policy was religiously followed in the case of one's own child. But in the case of other children, the rule was a bit lenient as they were showered with some kind of praise and compliment. Mostly, the praises were reserved for others and not one's own people.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I don't remember my sisters being showered with accolades when they brought home numerous prizes and certificates of merit. I need not tell you that the few certificates I got were also welcomed with the same lukewarm appreciation. Only later could I read the pride and joy of our achievements from their faces. I could see their eyes brightening up when we did something worthwhile. Yet, words and actions of appreciation remained elusive...</p>
<p dir="ltr">When I became a parent, initially I too followed the policy of less appreciation because I didn't want my kids to think their achievements are the greatest, and stop trying to do better. But then, I observed my kids' friends getting much more appreciation for lesser achievements. It was an eye-opener. I was reminded how I longed for some special appreciation from my people when I was young. That changed my perspective.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I started appreciating and complimenting them for their efforts. Of course, it was tough for me to say 'well-done' or 'good job' when they performed beneath my expectations (to be fair to them, like a typical indian parent, I had my expectations set high). I could see my words working magic in them. For one, they were happy to be recognized. Secondly, it brought in them a feeling they can do it. They knew even if they try and fail, they'll still have a mom who'd welcome them with a smile and a pat on their backs for the effort given. So, I saw for myself how a small change in my attitude and behavior made positive changes in them. I know neither they nor I are perfect. But for me, that was ok. I wasn't searching for perfection. </p>
<p dir="ltr">By complimenting them on their achievements and effort, I could show them the positive side of it. And of course, I too started getting compliments for the little day to day things I did. Boy, didn't that make me happy?!!!!</p>
<p dir="ltr">The other day a friend asked me 'you seem to like getting complements a lot, don't you?' This was soon after I thanked him for his appreciation of something I did. I replied: 'I think when someone gives me a genuine compliment, I should accept it wholeheartedly and thank that person. Yes, I am happy to receive compliments from you because I know you are not saying it for the sake of it. Being a subject expert, your words have a greater imapct on me and I believe I should thank you and let you know how genuinely happy I am.'</p>
<p dir="ltr">This incident made me think. In general, we are not used to giving and receiving compliments. If someone give us a compliment, we don't accept it with a thank you and move on. Instead, we try to tell him/her why we are not worthy of the praise. If it is about the dress we are wearing, we will try to say it is because of the color, material or even the place we purchased it that it is looking good. We take pains to explain why we aren't worthy of the compliment. </p>
<p dir="ltr">We should have just said thank you and ended the matter there. But, as we are not used to receiving complements, we feel it is wrong to get one and we try to find excuses for not deserving one! That is the saddest part - we can't even take some genuine appreciation for what it is. Instead we will go out of way to prove why we aren't worth the praise.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, the next time someone give you a compliment or praise you, accept it with a smile and a 'thank you'. Believe me, you are worth it. And, as you discover the joy of accepting compliments, start giving compliments too. That is also as good as receiving one. To see the unexpected smile and happiness on the other person's face is one of the greatest rewards you can ever ask for. Start giving genuine compliments. You will find you are happy doing that instead of bottling it up inside you.</p>
<p dir="ltr">To end, let me say this as well - if at all you feel you have to give some constructive criticism to anyone, do it personally and in private. But if you want to appreciate someone, do it in front of others. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Start giving compliments - to your kids, friends, families. Soon you'll also receive your share of compliments and will cease to feel embarrassed about it. It is a wonderful world out there if we appreciate and acknowledge the goodness in others. </p><p dir="ltr">Why not make a start now? My comment section is waiting 😊<br></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s2ZxZocuGXj2qWTBtNX0PBuy0p4OyLPzfPhvo0i7_foBH_lUBktP22sImSY9el85USNIHBMsEcYL6ZNYuyWvcUVaG6xtMEfLFBwy4eGf5TqmJx8MK7RBAKhkzCLFw5ZnLXIvNSbApHI/s1600/Congratulations-Well-Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s2ZxZocuGXj2qWTBtNX0PBuy0p4OyLPzfPhvo0i7_foBH_lUBktP22sImSY9el85USNIHBMsEcYL6ZNYuyWvcUVaG6xtMEfLFBwy4eGf5TqmJx8MK7RBAKhkzCLFw5ZnLXIvNSbApHI/s640/Congratulations-Well-Done.jpg"> </a> </div>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-79257134535914624682018-04-21T23:00:00.001+05:302018-04-21T23:00:30.838+05:30Springtime<p dir="ltr">As the daffodils bloom,<br>
And cherry trees blossom<br>
Arrival of spring brings me<br>
A hitherto unknown glee...</p>
<p dir="ltr">The icy winter and bleak days<br>
Have vanished behind warm rays;<br>
The sun is shining bright and hot<br>
There's nothing to be moody about.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Birds have taken to the sky -<br>
Spreading their wings high...<br>
O! What a beauty is to behold<br>
The mother nature unfold!!</p>
<p dir="ltr">My joyful soul is rapturous<br>
To know a bliss like this<br>
I feel light-hearted and hale<br>
Like the song of a nightingale..</p>
<p dir="ltr">Rejoice and revive like the nature,<br>
Forget the sorrows you had former...<br>
Breathe in the crisp and clear air <br>
For life is nothing but a fine reverie!!!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJ0BpqWmJLOadzTHXQSIhu6Kt_sp75DX8yUQdEm3wetVM9ZLuFj_HSzimyNQ2SyrD8llUipZUUxaLn5ZPIcsvGF0aB5a2C3UtKWwMIyRw2CDQOr4vf31XBo1aqJV1pKqaTRWc2SIUKHM/s1600/IMG-20180421-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJ0BpqWmJLOadzTHXQSIhu6Kt_sp75DX8yUQdEm3wetVM9ZLuFj_HSzimyNQ2SyrD8llUipZUUxaLn5ZPIcsvGF0aB5a2C3UtKWwMIyRw2CDQOr4vf31XBo1aqJV1pKqaTRWc2SIUKHM/s640/IMG-20180421-WA0003.jpg"> </a> </div>Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-56110718190879894132018-03-19T23:44:00.002+05:302018-03-19T23:44:14.360+05:30My Sunflower<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Long ago, while travelling through the interiors of Tamil Nadu, I came across the sunflower fields. That was one of the most magnificent sights I ever saw. Acres and acres of sunflower field spread before the eyes - until it reached the horizon, it seemed. As we passed through one field after another, I felt I should take a piece of this beauty with me. I wanted a sunflower plant for myself.<br />
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Ignoring the advice to pluck a flower from one of the fields (it was so vast, no one would notice or mind if someone plucked a flower or two), I waited impatiently. When it was clear that no one would be seen in the field during that hot and sultry noontime, I reluctantly accepted the fact I won't be getting any sunflower for myself.</div>
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As I sat dejected, my eyes fell on two figures far ahead amongst the sunflowers. I urged the vehicle to be stopped and got down from the jeep as soon as the driver hit the brakes. My sister and I ran into the fields. Seeing this unusual sight, the figures in the field got alarmed, and they started running too. I began shouting 'stop' in my broken Tamil and running even faster. They couldn't hear what I was shouting, and they assumed the worse and started running with urgency. Still shouting at the top of my voice and leaving a panting sister behind, I ran with all my might.</div>
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Soon, I closed the gap between those ladies and then seeing I was nothing but a harmless child, they finally stopped. I tried to communicate my need to them in broken Tamil and half Malayalam and with lots of gestures. Thankfully they understood all I wanted was some flowers and/or seeds to take home with me. That realisation brought a huge, innocent smile on their faces and they handed over a bunch of flowers to me.</div>
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I accepted them with the feel of someone winning an award and turned back to see that my sister finally caught up with me and was trying hard not to laugh at my pathetic communication skills. Finally glad that the drama is over, both of us walked back to the jeep and got it. All around me, the sunflowers turned golden yellow and the leaves, Emerald Green. I had to endure a fair share of leg pulling ever since for my invention of new words in Tamil... But, I didn't care! I felt on top of the world when I got those flowers.</div>
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Back home, I planted those seeds and soon, a plant and eventually a flower came out of it. As those flowers stood smiling at both sides of the gate and near the courtyard, I was overcome with a sense of pride and happiness. Every time I saw those flowers, my mind travelled to that vast sunflower fields, and I remembered how kind and helpful those ladies had been on that day. I had asked for a flower and they gifted me an entire spring!!!</div>
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Now as I pen these lines while battling with a rather long, cold and depressing winter, the Sun made its appearance in the sky. As I was doing the finishing touches to my picture of the sunflower, I was once again transported back in time to that beautiful field of yellow and green. Suddenly, the sun seemed lovelier than ever. I felt it came just to see my Sunflower.... and to fill my heart with the warmth of spring! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN-LfkpBOXu6_RPNGwgt-Z90djBqFJz9h4HaMXLOz2QxxET8JVAaPVIP9j5LJ0PFyYwCDlvghUQDfz3z6sTtRNBV0MvlqN1KHCJMCbIYoSUNXYF8ugb45MD3jkpkQNJ4jfwOlsVU4Cek/s1600/29356489_10216002653036598_4171192441677807616_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN-LfkpBOXu6_RPNGwgt-Z90djBqFJz9h4HaMXLOz2QxxET8JVAaPVIP9j5LJ0PFyYwCDlvghUQDfz3z6sTtRNBV0MvlqN1KHCJMCbIYoSUNXYF8ugb45MD3jkpkQNJ4jfwOlsVU4Cek/s320/29356489_10216002653036598_4171192441677807616_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-33434322347834998782018-02-20T02:21:00.001+05:302018-02-20T02:21:58.497+05:30Living life - learning all the way... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Once, during my early years in the corporate world, I sent a mail to the HR department asking for clarifications regarding some issues it had raised. I neither remember the issue nor if it was solved. Yet, that mail was a learning experience for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHPvIuIz0uFif0IMqon9xluSGl090aTMem1V2bfDT9cKxqr0x2cMlKmXg7DWDiGuFIm62KJJifsu-qlhmdXmXl9T58CHHgI53Jte2hrK8Umh6mb3oM3w31NA-w5ENZ20S-10k38CpbN4/s1600/student-849825_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHPvIuIz0uFif0IMqon9xluSGl090aTMem1V2bfDT9cKxqr0x2cMlKmXg7DWDiGuFIm62KJJifsu-qlhmdXmXl9T58CHHgI53Jte2hrK8Umh6mb3oM3w31NA-w5ENZ20S-10k38CpbN4/s320/student-849825_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a>As far as I can remember, my concerns were genuine and I expected a reply, which would clarify my doubts. Instead, what I received was a rebuke. Apparently, the mail I sent was received by a very senior person in the HR department. That person was offended because an employee of my stature wasn't supposed to speak in that tone with a senior official of the company.<br />
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I was a bit shocked to receive the mail rebuking me for my insensitivity and lack of judgment. After receiving that mail, I was pretty sure my mail was the perfect example of how not to write to a senior/HQ. Anyway, I took no offense and sent my sincere apologies for the mail, along with my assurance such things will never happen again in future.<br />
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That incident remained with me for two reasons - first, one has to be careful and mindful regarding the recipient of letters, especially while dealing with official correspondence. The hierarchy of power has to be respected and nothing else matters at times. I felt worthless and small, even though the feeling was momentary. A lesson learned the hard way.<br />
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But, the second lesson was even more profound. It taught me that no matter how high a position you hold, you should not let go of humility. It is possible that the other person is just seeking information. Give him the benefit of the doubt - at least for the first time. He/she wouldn't have thought of questioning you or offending you even in his/her wildest dreams. If he/she is indeed wrong, you can point it out gently and not as if he has committed the greatest offense in the world.<br />
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The greater the power, the greater should be the responsibility. Our big fat egos could take pride in having admonished a hapless junior. However, we fail to realize that we have fallen in their eyes - forever. Even today, I don't hold any grudge towards that senior officer, but I sure don't have much respect either. Respect once lost is hard to regain.<br />
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Fast forward to present. Again, maybe out of sheer impulse or even stupidity, I reached out to a very accomplished artist. To my surprise, I got a warm response from her. That simple act from her made my day and I am sure I will cherish that moment until my last breath. I felt so special and motivated that I took up my brushes, palette and colours to actually paint a picture after a long time.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ7UHeXVbRiKysvZZrHTlwNMc2_ARF97XbgS3jXWp-hYDBGfFuoNmZq8jqdJ9xxevTfSoVBvi0ZMBoSEVycJ_DU9JIZH9VVDt9ABXHYO6smvAjpWoCJIV2jw1_jCI76ZUL597PJaRmG4/s1600/27972275_10215696119733457_4634382930866299903_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ7UHeXVbRiKysvZZrHTlwNMc2_ARF97XbgS3jXWp-hYDBGfFuoNmZq8jqdJ9xxevTfSoVBvi0ZMBoSEVycJ_DU9JIZH9VVDt9ABXHYO6smvAjpWoCJIV2jw1_jCI76ZUL597PJaRmG4/s320/27972275_10215696119733457_4634382930866299903_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I don't claim to be someone without flaws. On the contrary, I have made numerous slips and have fallen many times. But, I try to learn my lesson from them. When I look back at incidents where I feel I have fallen short, I try to learn the lesson and move on. Of course, being human means you are prone to committing mistakes. However, if you repeatedly make the same mistake, it means there is something you're missing. You haven't really learned your lesson.<br />
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Things get complicated when other people imply things. Sometimes the words you say or write would be misinterpreted and people could take offense. In all fairness, you might not have even thought of things that way. But, if someone feels offended, the next step is to have an open communication and try to sort it out. In most cases, a heart to heart talk could put an end to misunderstandings. And if you are wrong, there is no shame in accepting it and apologizing.<br />
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And despite all your efforts if someone still holds a grudge, it's his problem. You simply have to move on. For, it is easy to feel dejected and depressed. On the other hand, to be positive even when things don't seem to work well requires a lot of self-belief and courage. No matter what you do, some people are bound to disagree with you. With time, we can train ourselves to take those rejections as a part of our journey and move ahead.<br />
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No matter what, there is something good in all of us. Just because we haven't discovered it yet doesn't mean it is not there. Don't let others fool you and make you believe you are less worthy. Believe me, none of us are... Let's believe in ourselves and let's try to help others believe in themselves too. The world needs some kindness and understanding for sure.<br />
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-77026020728020133092018-01-06T02:19:00.000+05:302018-01-06T02:19:53.378+05:30प्यार के नगमे <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
हाथ थाम के तुम जो चले साथ में<br />
लगे सारी दुनिया है मेरे क़दमों में<br />
गर तुम कभी साथ न होते मेरे<br />
फिर यह दुनिया किस काम के||<br />
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चलना हैं कदम से कदम मिलाके<br />
दुनिया से हर हसीन पल चुराके<br />
यह सफर सुहानी खतम न होते<br />
तुम्हारे बिना जीवन प्यारा न होते||<br />
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जी चाहूँ खो जाऊँ तेरी आँखों से<br />
झलकती हुई प्यार के सागर में<br />
पनाह लू तेरे पलकों के आँचल में<br />
बसने दे मुझे वहाँ जीवन भर केलिए ||<br />
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कोमल कली सा ये तेरा चेहरा<br />
मेरे दिल को है ख़ुशी से भरा<br />
तेरी आखों में मैंरे दुनिया बसी<br />
तेरे आँचल में मेरी खुशियाँ हसी||<br />
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तेरे आँसू मेरे आंखों से बहने लगी<br />
मेरी हसी तेरे होटों पे खिलने लगी<br />
तन्हाई में याद सिर्फ तुम आयी<br />
मेरे दिल को छूकर गुज़र गयी ||<br />
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-21107333726048488322017-11-13T03:57:00.002+05:302017-11-13T03:57:35.779+05:30इंतज़ार <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0u2XbnLP4rmOv3xAh2SDfFgkmhyeS5gLRlPBkFr_r6ap1dMwzBJJLwL2zMmWIxfpBqpRvILCKtH3QK0dadIot06qxrYKAx6AUmszOQD6X4li9SWBBueZMvM3kBNhJlnu7BTAQS0eA44/s1600/nature-2883133__340.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0u2XbnLP4rmOv3xAh2SDfFgkmhyeS5gLRlPBkFr_r6ap1dMwzBJJLwL2zMmWIxfpBqpRvILCKtH3QK0dadIot06qxrYKAx6AUmszOQD6X4li9SWBBueZMvM3kBNhJlnu7BTAQS0eA44/s320/nature-2883133__340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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ज़िन्दगी के हसीन पलों में</div>
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साथ थे मेरे कितने अपने</div>
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दोस्तों की हंसी से खिल उठी</div>
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मेरे जीवन के हर पल मीठी</div>
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आज तन्हाई की चादर ओढ़े</div>
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खडी हूँ मैं उन मीठे यादों को समेटे</div>
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बेचेनियाँ दिल की मैंने छुपायी</div>
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एक मुस्कान में, जो थी थकी हुई</div>
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दिल की आवाज़ किसी ने न सुनी</div>
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थी सूनसान वह पुराने रस्ते भी</div>
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काँटों भरी पगडंडीयों ने पेरों को नहीं</div>
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मेरे टूटे दिल को हैं घायल कर दि</div>
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आँसू भरी आँखों में क्यों दिखाई दिए</div>
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फिर वही चेहरा, जो मैंने भुला दिए</div>
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दिल की पनाहों में छुपायी यादें</div>
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बिन बुलाये दस्तक देते आगए ||</div>
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मन को संभलते संभलते थक गयी</div>
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कोई सहारा मिले यही आस लगायी</div>
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आज भी बैठी हूँ अपने चौखट पर </div>
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उम्मीद लगाए कि तुम आए इस पार||</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172487410114041206.post-11848620362802756242017-11-04T19:55:00.001+05:302017-11-04T19:55:57.667+05:30An Eye Opener<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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They say travelling broadens your horizon. I can't agree more! Every little bit of travel I have done in the past has added something to my life. If not anything else, the sheer joy of seeing new places and clicking a few snaps made it worthwhile. I was comfortable and happy with a set pattern of life a couple of years ago when a change came in the form of relocation. This time it wasn't just packing our things and leaving to settle down in another city across the country - we had to cross the seas and settle into another country altogether.<br />
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I was aware of the need to adjust - new country, rules, climate, people, culture - everything was drastically different from what I had known all my life. Of course, any new experience brings with it a new learning. Slowly, I too adapted myself with the new way of life and the different surroundings.<br />
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The thing I missed most in my new life was my birding - back in Kerala, I was lucky to be surrounded by abundant birdlife. Not a day passed without seeing or hearing those magnificent winged beauties. The barbets, Orioles, Magpie Robins, Crows, Koels, Treepies, Babblers, Woodpeckers and Sunbirds chirped and fluttered around adding colour to life. And I ended up in a place where at best I could see a handful of gulls flying around. The occasional sighting of Magpies, Wood Pigeon, and Blackbird did not enthuse me. I was still gloomy thinking about the birds I left back home. I spend hours peering at the photographs and reminiscing the good old birding trips.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCPfyzWN_s7MbxgzkbvLXUJ7vhRhHVQyN0bhavpb74NH4q9b9Tw9MfpbQ5ceODjl3w4-mnhUne62AN03HeZPerJLmQ1aShlAZAcENfX9X3L7skqs8nJkUVs8w86ed8a4uqwONUOZZ568/s1600/Collage+2017-11-04+14_15_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCPfyzWN_s7MbxgzkbvLXUJ7vhRhHVQyN0bhavpb74NH4q9b9Tw9MfpbQ5ceODjl3w4-mnhUne62AN03HeZPerJLmQ1aShlAZAcENfX9X3L7skqs8nJkUVs8w86ed8a4uqwONUOZZ568/s640/Collage+2017-11-04+14_15_19.jpg" width="451" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the winged beauties @home</td></tr>
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And then I came across Springwatch - rather Autumnwatch - a program by BBC where they showcased the British wildlife. The format and presentation of the program was entirely different from what I had seen or known until now. It had me hooked right from the first episode I watched. It was an eye-opener for me in the real sense of the word.<br />
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Before I took up an active interest in birding, all my trips to the forests and woodlands ended in disappointment as I innumerably failed to see any of the big beasts (leopard, tiger, bear and so on). Every trip to the jungle ended up with sightings of hundreds of deer, monkeys and in some cases, elephants. What can be more disappointing to a person whose dream is to see tigers and leopards roaming in the jungle???<br />
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Birding changed that perspective. Once I started birding, I started seeing the forest as a wholesome environment rather than a puzzle with the tiger or leopard pieces missing. Instead, I started spotting incredible birds and hearing sweet chatters at every nook and corner of the jungle. Suddenly, the forest became the magical land it always was...<br />
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Springwatch took this perception to the next level. While birding gave me the eyes to see birds and the big picture, springwatch helped me see the butterflies, moths, other creepy crawlies and even a seemingly small creature like the earthworm in a new light - the bigger picture!!! I realised the bugs and insects too play an important role to make nature the beautiful place it is. The world is made up of every beautiful, weird, incredible, magnificent and enchanting creatures you can imagine. What's more - there are even more undiscovered/lesser known beauties underwater.<br />
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Thanks to Springwatch and its spinoffs, I will never make the mistake of looking at nature the way I did. Now I know why the gull in the park stamps its feet in a dancing style, I have better understanding why certain birds feed the way they do, why butterflies and moths aren't just beautiful creatures... There is so much to know and understand. And when you start to realise the vast scheme of things planned by nature, you can do nothing but bow your head in admiration at the alter of the supreme intelligence which designed these in the most amazing way. When you realise how little you know, how tiny you are in the big picture, you'll just be awestruck and humbled by the knowledge... <br />
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Yes, I do miss the constant 'Kuttr... Kuttr' of the White-cheeked Barbet in the background, but I don't feel sad about it anymore. Now, I hear the chirps of Robins, Tits, Blackbirds, and Magpies through my window. Although the gulls constantly call out harshly, I don't find their sound offending as the beginning. And I look forward to seeing everything in nature with an open mind and a wondering eye!!!</div>
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Nishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14929794638674106552noreply@blogger.com2