Giggly, tickly, happy new year!

The new year is here

and I must confess,

I haven't prepared

for it's focused hastiness...

32 weeks of little life

safely moves inside of me,

Fear, anxiety and delirious excitement

make me blush bright pinky!

Opposites are the flavours of the season...

hot and cold, sweet and sour,

I have taken leave of sense and reason,

so close, ah! but still so far!

Sitting, sleeping, eating, drinking,

All I think of is you,

you jumpy little thing who

loves to play knock-knock with a kick or two!

Is that a foot?

Is that a knee?

Surely that's the head, can't you see!

Unseen, unheard, unknown as yet

we'll fall in love for sure, wanna bet?

cold cold day

Temperatures have dropped with a vengeance. I remember looking forward to the winter, cosy evenings, warm cups of tea and jammy scones. And I still love the cuddling up in front of the TV with a hot, post-supper drink or meeting up with friends in the warmth of the fire/heating in the evenings. But what is one to do with the dreary, dull, grey and intensely depressing day?

I know, I know, you are going to come right back and say well, the day is for working, for earning the rewards of the evening. But every once in a while, one needs that much needed break, a peek out of the window or a stroll by the street. And when all you see around is bare, icy coldness, you do think, inspite of your firm resolve to love the winter, just for a split second, 'oh! where did the summer go?'

Favorite things

The year is tip-toeing to an end. I cannot believe with what incredible speed 2008 appears to be flying past. It's been a great year in so many ways, and a disappointing one in so many others. Perhaps no year can be truly great for everything - no that would be too much to ask for.

As we grind to a halt for the holidays, and wish each other season's greetings, I am delighted to share with you the little bundles of deliciousness that make my days happy and contented!

Sparkling spidery webs

Lights on Regent Street, London, this year.

A surprise of a shower!

I am given to understand that baby showers are not as popular in Britain as in America and India. In America, the mum-to-be's best friend organises the shower, and in India, the vallakappa ceremony is organised by her family. But what if you are lucky enough to have best friend and family rolled into one? And they decide to treat you to a surprise baby shower, full of fun and games, as well as a traditional ceremony? I'd say, a girl couldn't ask for more!So that is how I spent my Sunday evening. I was told that we were going to some friends' place for a pre-Christmas get-together. So it was rather surprising to see all my buddies gathered around a lovely fire with cheeky grins on their faces! Great spicy Indian food, lots of games, loads of laughter and cute presents - one of the best Sunday evenings I have ever had! And I have to thank my best friend, my wonderful hubby for it. I have some very pretty green and red bangles to show for my evening of fun! Really, I couldn't ask for more!

Must say just this

I have been horribly busy juggling work, ante-natal classes, the sense of urgency that arrives with the beginning of the third trimester and a back that is incapable of supporting the increasing weight of the bump. And I am sure that everyone else is occupied with their hectic schedules of life, dropping kids to nurseries and schools, handling irate bosses, dealing with the financial crisis that has hit absolutely everyone, and just keeping life on track. We have no time to stand and stare, to worry about politics, religion, ethnicity and the like - we are too busy dealing with life.

And then this happens.

By this I mean what is happening in Mumbai. And what has happened before in Delhi, London, New York, Madrid, Karachi and so many other cities around the world. And when this happens, you stop in your tracks, and wonder, WHY?

What on earth is going on in their minds that prompts them to do this? What gives them the conviction that they can wage 'war' on innocent people, who are busy minding their business? Is this the new form of warfare, where anything and everything goes, where each one fends for herself/himself, where parents leave for work every morning not knowing if they will come back home to see their children?

We have become an insensitive, hardened mass of people. Every time something like this happens, we talk about it for a few days, and then get on with life. When it happens in a country far away from us, we dismiss it as the 'usual' stuff that happens in 'that part of the world'. We don't care - not really.

The one thing that has come out more than anything else for me from this episode of unimaginable tragedy is that human beings are a selfish, parochial lot. We try very hard to convince ourselves and those around us that we are 'civilised' and 'world citizens', but deep inside, we care only about ourselves. Not just those who are unleashing this terror - they are obviously doing it because they care only for themselves and their beliefs - but each one of us, because we just couldn't be bothered enough, since it is happening to someone else.

We are happy that we can still continue to discuss the weather.

And the financial crisis.

And the irate boss.

Not to forget, the ante-natal class.

Me is...

falling in love with petit filous

guzzling clementines by the dozen

dreaming of daal makhni

very tired, and very excited

unable to focus on inedible stuff

perpetually running to the loo

imagining patterns in stretch marks

supposed to have glowing skin and hair

wishing I could see glowing skin and hair

pampered a lot by loving hubby

looking forward to the mat leave

wobbly and walking like a duck

completely off balance in the underground

very nervous about the birth

very excited about the birth

again thinking of something to eat

bending over dangerously to see my feet