Has it been SIX years?

...Often, when people ask me how long you have been married and I count the years, I feel like it can't be THAT long? My darling S, I can't remember how life used to without you ( sounds filmy but true), every happy(iest?) memory has to do with you. Every little gesture of yours shows your love for me...

• When we are both tired from a long trip, and my legs and back ache, you offer to cook and bring warm food with the cutest smile, I am all mushy and feeling so warm
  
• You are so kind, warm and generous that I feel guilty for not missing Amma ( my Mom). I remember telling my mother in the early days of our marraige that he takes such good care of me, 10 times better than you do! ( she smilingly reminds me). That has NOT changed a bit, in fact your love has got stronger over the years...
  
• When we cuddle up and watch a movie and there are loving scenes of happy families, happy tears well up in my eyes coz I have YOU!
  
• You make everyday birthday and anniversary memorable for me, in fact you always remember all the dates and seem a lil hurt if it doesn't ring a bell!
  
• Though we argue a lot about who loves each other more, I secretly revel in the fact that your actions speak louder than my words.
• You were my strong PILLAR of strength during our tough times, holding me together when I was emotionally wrecked when in fact you were equally shattered. My rock-solid support in every sense!
• You have indulged me with all my dreams and fantasies and more...
• You are very romantic ( I never thought you would be!) and even written poetry for me, which i could actually understand
  
• While my geography and topography sucks, you patiently teach me how to read maps and conduct impromptu geography quiz, I am amazed at your patience while I sulk or act high and mighty when you show me how to!
• You revel in my little achievements and proudly proclaim to people about my creativity, cooking, home decor skills like a mother who is proud of her child!
  
• Unlike most men I hear about, you keenly observe my clothes/jewellery and appreciate how smart or pretty I look and it makes me all confident!
• We are a perfect example of 'Opposites attract' and we complement each other perfectly!
• You always manage to bring a smile on my face, whether I am upset or sad or generally 'blink' as you call it.
  
• I like the fact that you know what I am thinking or going to say without uttering a word, which makes me very predictable, you say!
• I like the tickling sessions and the way we play like kids with each other, laughing silly and enjoying ourselves like we have no care in the world...
  
• Above everything else, you are my best friend with whom I can just about say anything without being judged, knowing fully well that you understand me better than I do, sometimes!
  

These are just a few of my favourite things about you :-) ....most of all, I see a big change in you....I see so much of me in you now...and would like to think you see a bit of you in me!

Dear S, I am so glad we are following our tradition of nice, fun and romantic holidays this year too. I am so excited about out trip to Austria/Prague this year, albeit in August, its 2 weeks of just you and me!! How awesome can life be? ;-) I wish you on my blog too so that as we grow old together, we can look back with good memories and smiles...and it's a constant reminder of how lucky i am to have you!

I hope and pray we constantly compete with each other about who loves each other more...every year, our bond gets stronger....Happy Anniversary, my darling S!! :)

Beautiful Belgique!

When S and I met, we decided we would travel as much as possible and we would take at least 2 breaks every year! Boy! I am glad we stuck to it ( one common interest we have!)and every year has been a series of lovely holidays and wonderful memories! Travel exposes you to a different world, gives you a perspective into a different world and makes you feel really small at the same time! You feel you have been a frog in a well, literally!! We y(earn) to travel, that's all we look forward to! Its wonderful to have a glimpse of different people, their lifestyle, cuisines, the lovely locales, clothes, practices...this list goes on and never ceases to surprise me! I believe, you live only once, live life queen size and the way you want to! what say?

Even as a kid, I went all over India, thanks to Maa's passion for travel, every vacation was a new city, Mumbai, Kerala, Sikkim, Varanasi, Calcutta, Shimla, Haridwar-Rishikesh, Bangalore, Delhi....we have had fun times and long vacations! International travel begun after I got married. I travelled to the UK alone and we frolicked in Singapore for 10 days!! I have said enough about Italy here and here and here! We are lucky enough to be in Paris now, and it gives us a chance to travel all over Europe. We just about managed to see a bit of Paris, in about 3 months!! For the long weekend, we made a trip to Antwerp and on a whim, stopped on the way in Brussels too. Some glimpses...















Belgium is quaint and beautiful with an old-world charm....especially Antwerp with its cobbled streets, trams and old towers and big fountains...reminds of a slightly modern Calcutta!

Haute Couture!

Beautiful Clock Tower you can see from any part of Antwerp!

The man lying on the floor is impersonating the statues!

Amazing food at a Thai Restaurant....I was so happy to see Buddha EVERYWHERE!! From the decor to the candle holder!! I am inspired to learn Thai cooking now...very similar ingredients to Indian cooking but with a lot of aroma...

A beautiful ship stuck on the wall, in Brussels!

We welcome people into our home with fanfare and bells!!

Fondly remember...

As I finished reading 'The White Tiger' ( I didn't like it so much, it is a dark story and I felt a lot of negativity. Call me naive, but I like to read positive stories with happy endings!), I wistfully, looked at the light seeping in through the curtains...and the curtains caught my attention. They have moved with me everywhere for the past 6 years, and holds a lot of importance to me. It was the first expensive ( It cost me 5000 bucks which was maybe, half my salary when we bought it)....I had just got married and these silk curtains adorned my new home...my life with S....I have carefully maintained it and guarded it with my life, when we moved....from one place to another! I never trusted the packers with it! I still have it in my home in Paris now, in the living room and it looks as new as it was when we first bought it. Our first home, had brick walls for pillars on the sides...it was a nice cozy home...I have good memories of that place! :-)


I remember, having a doll....as a kid...my mom's friend or someone, i don't remember, got it for me from abroad....she was a pretty doll with long eyelashes and beautiful eyes wearing a pinaform? I had that doll with me for a long time, even in my teen years, I had her! Then, on Holi, all of us were playing in the neighbourhood with colors, and my neighbour V had been splashed with color by yours truly(me)! He came chasing after me and I ran inside our home. He looked for me everywhere and he couldn't find me. In a fit of rage, he took the doll and scribbled on her face with a sketch pen saying 'Happy Holi'. Only kids can be that cruel. I was sooo angry first, and was really very upset later. Maa tried consoling me that we can remove the stains...with a remover or whatever! But sketch pen marks do not go easily....I lost her! I can never forgive him for doing that, to this day! ( I don't have a picture of the doll, am sure my parents threw it away later...she was totally spoilt with the clear big marks on her face, anyway!)

I must have been in III standard, my dad went on a tour to Mumbai and when he got back, he got me a beautiful frock. It was an off-white one with a chocolate brown waist coat. At that time, I had never seen something like it, and I was absolutely thrilled to bits....

On my 15th birthday, as is the ritual in our home, both Maa, Appa and my dear brother woke me up singing a cheery 'Happy Birthday to you...' and voila! I see a big pink teddy bear with a big 'I love you' badge on it. I can't explain my happiness in words. I was elated, jumping with joy...Maa got me expensive pearls... I didn't even glance at it! I still have that bear with me...comes with me wherever I go! My brother was in college then, and he was not earning or anything. So the teddy bear meant a lot to me.Even now, wherever my brother goes, he always gets something really nice for me! :-)

Is any post complete without mentioning my dear S? :-) He bought me a lovely Gili Diamond pendant as our engagement gift. I loved it and wore it for a long time with a thin golden chain my two closest friends, S and K got me for my wedding. It became loose one day and I didn't want to lose the chain/pendant somewhere. So I carefully put it inside my purse so that I can wear it after I tighten the hook. You would think I am smart? No! I lost the purse!!! I can never forgive myself for losing it. S has bought me numerous things from all over the world, everytime he travels...but that pendant was his first gift to me....and I lost it!

I am glad I have so many people in my life, who love me deeply and the gifts are an added bonus. After all, it is the thought that counts! I associate every single gift and gesture with happiness and good memories. Isn't that what life is about, good memories? I choose to ignore the bad ones!

Our very own breakfast table!

My little spring project....

The Masked Man poked his nose in everything,
so I broke his nose into pieces!! :D

The Lavender flowers are amazing to look at, as soon as we get up in the morning!

Real flowers from our very own plants!

Candle-holders for a romantic night out, Dinner maybe? ;-)

Love makes this world go round!

As I get to know people and make friends from different countries...religions...cultures...lifestyles...here in Paris, I realize that we are worlds apart yet similar in some really basic sense! As we discuss our lives, love, upbringing and views about people and life, it seems like we are not so different. There is an underlying common thread that binds us - we all ultimately want the same things, you know - Love and Happiness!

As their( people from other countries/cultures) lives unfold, it all drives down to simple wants - LOVE, to remain in love and to be loved in return and happiness forever! The words seem so simple as I type, but seems like a huge struggle in some people's lives. I guess everyone is not lucky in love. As I listen to my friend's woes and all the hurt and resentment that has ruined her life, I fervently hope the inimitable love is waiting round the corner, and she can feel the snuggly warmth that I experience!

At the same time, a shiver runs through me, and I send a silent prayer for all the love and happiness I am blessed with. I can't feel anything but gratitude. I think maybe I have done atleast something right? ;-) Often, when I enjoy something or feel happy about something, for that matter anything remotely positive or good news, I just can't wait to tell S ( I am counting the minutes to see or talk to him). Now that I have him, I can't imagine what I did before him? I used to give a verbatim account to my Maa. I still do, with elaborate details :-). Come to think of it, I am glad I have someone who shares my enthusiasm and happiness. Of course, these epiphanies happen only once in a while. Most times, I am greedy and want EVERYTHING! :-)

I guess, that's when God says, my dear child, 'Have Patience, I will fulfill all your desires at the right time'. When I feel its the RIGHT time :-). So I am learning to be patient. ( Damn, its difficult sometimes)

For once, let me try to think beyond myself and I say a lil prayer for you my friend, I hope you find warm fuzzy love and happiness in abundance, that will keep your spirits up, when you have your lows! ( Life is full of highs and lows, we all know that! Nothing is constant!)

Voila! Taa daa!!

A few extra big cushions, some precious space left in the corner, girly fashion magazines...

Voila! I have a nice cozy corner to chill with books/magazines!! :-) Nothing matches the comfort sitting on the floor, does it?

A visit to Versailles...

We set foot into the garden...literally!

One of the numerous French Kings in the Chateau...

Musical Fountains...

Paintings - Baby?

Our effort at photography...

Travel treasures and a blog!

My brother went on a trip to Haridwar Rishikesh and took this picture of Lord Shiva! Its a treasured posession for me, for a reason! In my growing years, in my parent's home, there was a calendar of Lord Shiva with the most serene and calm face. That visual has stayed in my mind for years, and I often close my eyes and think about that exact picture when I am feeling restless or upset. I feel much better instantly. Unfortunately, I didn't have the presence of mind to take that picture ( If it was with my parents, the first thing they would have done is to courier it to me!)....

Now, this picture comes really close to that calendar picture! :-) I am in a happy place again and it adorns my desktop! Its breathtaking, isn't it? I feel like the Lord talks to me through this and says 'Why fear when I am here?'

Interestingly, my brother blogs here ( Click here to read his blog) and looks like he has been doing it long before me. I never knew, neither did he tell me...I just found it by a coincidence. I like the fact that he has made an effort to learn and share the significance of many Hindu practices or why we do certain things the way we do! I never knew the significance of Om or the reason why people wear Vibhuti on their forehead. (Click on the colored text to read it). Often, I have seen many people comment on how outdated certain practices are, without taking the effort to understand why we do it. In ancient times, most practices were forced on people, with a fear factor attached to it, so that it was actually practised. I agree, it is not the smartest way to go about it but hey, sometimes only that works! I guess they were not very good at marketing their theories or ideas in a better package!

Yes, sometimes adults do not have the patience or maybe the knowledge, to explain why? But with google, there is so much information available in a click! I am glad that he is doing this in his blog, even his introduction is so profound.

Note: I am not interested in any counter-opinions about Hinduism or its practices. This blog is reflective of MY opinions and thoughts. If you feel differently, by all means, Please do! To each his own, except not on MY BLOG!

Moving on to greener pastures...

Literally!!...(don't get it all wrong!)..I mean, my love for gardening!! :P

As a kid, I remember, my brother and I, had few household chores to do, and I would water the plants sometimes. I would often watch my mom toil for hours in the balcony ( we had a few plants on our balcony coz we stayed in a spacious apartment, my parents still do) digging, watering, manure...the works! I would often wonder what does she see in these plants? When there are so many people here, wanting her attention ( which basically meant her daughter!), why does she spend so much time with these plants? We would often have tomatoes, bitter gourd and other home-grown vegetables in our rasam or curry. Amma would be so excited that it is something she had grown. Now, I understand that feeling! I had written this (click on 'this' to read that post) when we had strawberries at home, when we just arrived in Pune. We brought saplings from Mahabaleshwar and when we had cut strawberries with our cereal or muesli, I had a feeling of deja vu!

I didn't realize then that as a working mom, she had so many things to do! For that matter, I didn't understand that she would need to do something for herself, that gives her happiness...other than the kids, home, husband, work and million other things.

Now, I can't imagine how people can't realize beautiful plants are....or how lovely it is to see a plant grow or a flower bloom. Often, the first thing I do, once I get up from bed, is to see if the seed that I have been watering regularly, has sprouted? half a centimeter more? a new bud? some new petals? I get really excited and drag S from the bathroom while he is brushing groggy-eyed . I ask him to figure out what is the change?...And he is clueless!!! I want him to share the same joy and excitement I feel...

I am totally in love with gardening and I have started working on my breakfast table in the balcony adjoining the bedroom. With spring in full bloom, there are lovely flowers and little saplings available everywhere in the market. ( will post pics soon when it is ready!)

Everytime, S and I go to the market, we come back with plants. S groans and runs in the opposite direction! Another addition to my obsession for cushion covers, clothes and wind chimes!!!

I am amused!

...as I flick through the pages of a Fashion Magazine ( only English magazine I could find!), I see this!

Pic Courtesy: www.elle.com

...I have seen a few women sport these pants in Paris, and often wondered what the hell can it be? I was really amused to find out that they are called 'Dhoti Pants' and of course, they do look like Dhoti!

*For the uninitiated, Dhoti is a long unstitched cloth wound around the lower body, passed between the legs and tucked into the waist, especially in the rural parts of India.

You can rarely see anyone in Dhotis in urban India. Its so great that the Dhoti has travelled so far....from rural India to HI-FASHION!!!!

My first Award!

Homecooked has given me my first award on my blog!!! She is an amazing cook and I often read her blog for some amazing vegetarian recipes. Her pictures speak a thousand tastes! Go have a look!

I am soooo thrilled.....thank you so much, you made my day! She has tagged me as well, which needs some thinking...will do it soon!

Merci beaucoup Homecooked! :-)

I am proud to be an Indian!

...Snatches of conversations in Paris... S and I stroll across the open-air market in Odeon and as we are window-shopping, we found a shop that sold ties. Its an interesting package in a cute box that opens up to hold, a tie, cuff-links and a silk scarf or cloth or whatever people wear on their formal suits. S goes to office in formal suits and he often needs lots of ties ( not that I need any excuse to shop!). So we pick one among them...when the owner, a slightly old man...very excitedly...

Old Guy: Are you Indians? ( with a big smile on his face!)

Me: Yes! ( S conveniently leaves the talking to me, as always) ;-)

Old Guy (skeptically) : You are from the real India, not London?

Me: Yes !! ( amused)

He grabs my hand and very excitedly, shows me all the stoles.

He tells me all this is from your country, very beautiful, eh?

Me: I know! :-)

Old Guy: India is such a vast and beautiful country....He says 'Namaste' and folds his hands and bows!!

I am very pleased and we thank him. *******************************************************************************************
I am ravenously hungry as I have not had lunch so I stop by to have Crêpes, on the way back home from my French class. I spent a long time figuring out how to get there and all the tension to reach on time!! Its a really old lady who is making them and I feel sad as her hands shiver as she spreads the batter.( S and I often disagree with this, I feel sad that old people have to work at this age, instead of having a relaxed life while he thinks its good that they are independant and active!)

Crepe Lady: ( in French) So which country are you from?

Me: ( hearing the only word 'country', I get what she asks...) I am from India!

Crepe Lady (very excited and a big smile on her face!): Big country, lots of people....you speak 30 languages?

Me: I smile and say that there are about 26 states in India and each state speaks a different language! Oui! ( Yes!)

Crepe Lady: (speaks in broken English now)...You are very beautiful...all Indians are very beautiful!

Me: Merci Madame...

Crepe Lady: They are very intelligent too! Indians..very intelligent!

Me( amused): smiles...

Crepe Lady: You know Sonia Gandhi, she is from my Italy! Indian man married her...very intelligent!!!

Me: !!!!!!! ( now I know why she thinks we are intelligent)...LOL!

Jokes apart, I was very pleasantly surprised to know that she knows so much about India and is generally aware about other countries as well. I felt very proud. It feels good to hear such things about our country! :-)

Spring is here!

Tulips...

Tulips...

and Tulips....

From Jardin Du Luxembourg ( Luxembourg Gardens) on a relaxed Sunday evening!

Jewel-Art!

I miss...

...the pleasure of meeting people...face-to-face conversations...Yup, that is the only thing I miss now that I work from home here. I have always been interested in watching people, how they behave, how they react to something! Of course, in the process, I tend to get affected as well. I can rarely be detached about something; I find it very difficult to hold my tongue! I always need to say something...I miss that! I have become pretty quiet except for snatches of conversations with few friends I have here, who don't speak English too well, only language i can communicate in, at least as of now! Hopefully, the French classes that start soon help me learn the language well and to make friends too.

I have always worked since graduation. So i feel strongly about doing something all the time. Even when I quit my job in Bangalore to move to Pune, I started learning glass paintings and went on to sell a few pieces..within a month! I think its very important to be yourself, do something on your own. ANYTHING, but you MUST do something! Now that I am in Paris, I can't look for opportunities immedietly coz I need the Carte De Sejour ( residence permit) to look for work or to start working. Expats don't get work easily as employers prefer to employ the natives and fair enough, me thinks! So I am freelancing and sourcing writing/editing projects since the Internet started working. I have done some freelance work on and off even before when I had a regular job, that helps me a lot now! I used to write so that I don't lose touch and it has helped and how!

I am also learning how difficult it can be, to run a business ( I mean, to do your own thing!). I have always thought its a dream come true to be your own boss, so to speak! In a short while, I have interacted with really different clients with absolutely different needs. Some of them don't clearly explain or elaborate their requirements upfront. So I work hard on it and finally I get really frustrated when it goes kaput. On the other hand, there are good ones too who know clearly what they want. It takes 'all kinds' to make up this world. So I am learning too; to never give up, to be patient, to listen and not to take myself too seriously.

The best part of working from home is that I get to listen to some awesome music in the background, I have been hooked on to Advaitha ( Click to listen to their music!)and take a break to chat with my friends online or play a game on Facebook! I am at ease, take long leisurely baths, relax while being able to do something constructive. I can even speak to my parents everyday on Skype! ...and ask for a third-person perspective from friends on my writing, if it needs to be reviewed...What would I do without the Internet? I wonder...

The music, interesting conversations, the work that flows in, on and off...am learning to enjoy this phase too! I start French Lessons for 3 hours/3 days next week!!! I am looking forward to it...

LOL!

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever!

A visit to IKEA*!

.... makes an interesting center-piece in the living room!










....colorful and aromatic candles to soothe your senses!

more organized wardrobe ( Part I)...

...organized bathroom! ( where you can find it when you want to!)

A cute kitchen table with colorful Masalas!

* IKEA is a swedish home decor store that has a chain across the world! They sell modern furniture and trinkets...mostly decor and interiors :-) They are pioneers in home decor stuff but sadly do not retail in India YET! For me, it was like visiting Heaven!!

Have you ever...

Have you ever felt really happy and upbeat; and in the next hour or so felt really sad?

Have you ever felt your heart will just burst with all the love you feel for him/her?

Have you often wondered how beautiful Nature is?

Have you ever wondered how complex people can be?

Have you ever been able to understand why there is so much conflict or violence in this world?

Have you learnt lessons from something that happened in your life?

Have you ever accepted that you do have a Big Ego?

Have you realized the true value of good friends?

Have you ever felt this sudden urge to be able to see/touch someone you love?

Have you loved unconditionally?

Have you ever thought about your last breath on Earth?

Have you ever considered yourself beautiful?

I have...

Stained Glass...

...Notre Dame De Paris! Exquisite, isn't it??

One of my quirks!

It is already a month since we moved here! Time just flew by, am still waiting for my furniture and all my precious photoframes and knick-knacks to arrive. Till they do, I feel like I am living in someone else's home! Well, I am sort of,...but don't you think these little things that you can relate to, cozy up your home? Like the odd cushion with the special cover you had to argue about buying or the photo collage that reminds you of fun times or a lovely holiday or that lamp shade you insisted on buying!

Note: My current home in Paris, which I shall modify soon with my stuff, will update that pic once I am done and of course, my stuff arrives!

It breaks my heart to accept the fact that some one else is living in my own home. Yes, we found a tenant for our home and my amazing friend took care of everything for me. I know you got to be practical and all that blah, but it is a home ( Click on this link to read the earlier post) we built with a lot of love, effort and utmost detail. But like S says, even if someone else lives there, it is still OUR home! Well, that is indeed some consolation! :-)

I strongly believe that your home reflects your personality; just like how well groomed a person is, reflects an individual's personality. I am not referring to good looks ( that would be a plus, yes, I am vain! Murder me?) here; I mean clean nails, feet, well-groomed hair, that sorta thing. In fact, when I first met S, that was the first thing I noticed. He has absolutely beautiful pink feet and he is very well-groomed ALWAYS!

I personally feel, it speaks volumes about a person ( Please note I speak only for myself and it happens to be MY blog, heard of freedom of speech?!). Just like how a few quirks about someone is endearing, the little things around the house seem to complete YOUR home! I have even named a few of my knick-knacks as if they were real and we often refer to them with their names! Come on, they have been with us for years, you are bound to care about them!

When I think about something, I visualize it in graphic detail. So I visualize my home with all the trimmings; even that slight rip somewhere in the corner of the sofa! Yup, Go Figure! So I can't wait for my stuff to COMPLETE my home! :-) Do any of you have any such attachments to a particular thing?

A moment of epiphany!

Continuing this , I have often come across people who make a generalized statement like 'Oh, Women always gossip' or for that matter ' Men are such chauvinists'. It gets my goat when you judge someone based on their gender or which part of the country they are from! I strongly believe that an individual is an individual. PERIOD. Irrespective of whether you are a male or a female, your personality, beliefs and attributes are strongly influenced by your upbringing and the surroundings you have grown up...

You don't have to be a woman to gossip or a man to be chauvinistic! A few years back, it would have been really easy to provoke me with such gender-specific statements. I would get into a huge argument with the said person. Over time, I have realized that there is no point. Is there anyone who likes to be proved wrong, including me? No! So I have become mature enough to understand there is no point trying to convince someone otherwise and choose to keep quiet. Saves a lot of trouble for both of us, right? However, if I know the other person well enough, I will try to have a healthy discussion, at least get to know why s/he feels that way.

Having said that, I have also understood that it is important to listen, not hear someone when they speak. Often, I am so excited about what I want to say that I never LISTEN. I have to change this trait of mine!

For a long time, I also thought that its so boring to be quiet and found quiet people boring! I am a woman of words; in fact too many words. I have realized it would take a lot of effort to restrain yourself from expressing yourself in a fight or heated discussion with someone. Often, When S and I argue, I have learnt to control myself and keep quiet. Its extremely difficult for me, but I do coz I might say something in a fit of anger and regret it for the rest of my life. So I remain silent. It helps A LOT!

When you are calm and take some time to think; it puts a lot of things into perspective. I know my basic nature will not change. But when you stay quiet, you feel calm and serene inside after some time. Another lesson learnt; its not easy to be quiet AND sometimes its good to remain silent :-)

I have a confession to make! I am not too conscious about what others think of me; I mean I don't bog myself down about what people will say or think! That does not mean I don't care at all...I do care about people I love; rather people who mean a lot to me. The buck stops there. I don't want to spend the rest of my life trying to please EVERYONE. It is just not possible. In fact, I have had some people tell me the most vicious things with a ' I say this with no malice' and I can't help but laugh! :D So there is just no point. Such people just don't matter. PERIOD.

I ALWAYS dream, when I am sleeping. Even if I sleep on the way somewhere for like 15 minutes, I dream! Its so wierd...sometimes the most obscure person features in my dream! Nowadays, if I have a bad dream, I try to think about pleasant things. I realize that I want to control my dreams as well...but it does not work...after some time, it goes back to the bad dream!! I have tried praying too but it does not help. Any suggestions here?

Picture this!

On my kitchen window....

...I have some fresh coriander, want some??!! :-)

Standing tall !!

Today, I went to the bank to open an account for myself, along with S. On my way back, I saw these amazing purple-fuschia ( Its a double color) colored shoes...they looked so awesome, my resolve not to shop is all gone! :P ( Its ok, I can go hungry for a few days!!)

I don't really need heels coz I am pretty tall, I am close to 5-8' , a fact that I am really proud of!! However, as you can see, I have large (ugly broad) feet, I have problems finding good shoes that look feminine more than anything else! So, if I find any shop that has my size, its a moment of bliss! REALLY!!

Amma often tells me its good you wear flats and heels damage your spine and posture and all that blah! All said and done, heels add elegance to your personality and I have always longed to wear them. S is much taller than I am...so I can afford to wear them. I guess, once in a while, its ok!! Thank GOD for that! :) Coz, these add quite a few inches! My brother often makes fun of girls that they walk on stools!! :P

Now, I want to be impartial and fair! So I bought another pair of shoes...not now, long back...coz it was a good deal, they had my size and they are flats!! I am sooooo thrilled, ya, anything new makes me go bonkers!! :P Sharing my newest acquisitions!!

Other than the time difference..

Apart from the time difference of about 4.5 hrs between Paris and India ( back home for me!)...I found many other interesting differences....

People are nattily dressed even to the market

Many people have these toy-like dogs that they bring along everywhere. These dogs do not bark or do anything....you can see them even in shopping malls, little balls of fur...really cute!

You can NEVER see anyone carry their babies or toddlers in their arms. They are ALWAYS in a pram and oh, how can i forget? with a nipple stuffed into their mouth.

You can NEVER see bi-lingual boards on the road or shops or for ingredients. Everybody speaks only FRENCH. Oui?

Most fathers spend a lot of time with their kids and seem to genuinely enjoy their time with their children. Its endearing.

Mostly, it looks like people thrive on cheese and chocolates. Even digestive biscuits have a chocolate coating!

The Internet/TV/Phone takes a minimum of just 2 weeks to be installed!! You have to pay a fortune if you want a technician to come home for installing it! Yeah, you heard me right!

Every street corner has a 'coiffeur' ( Hair styling salon) or two and there is a mandatory cafe at every two blocks filled with people enjoying some wine and maybe cigarettes. No, this is not on a weekend, this is on every single day!!

You can see people jogging on the road at any time of the day. Even if its bizarrely cold, you can see people in shorts. I often wonder how they manage to bear the cold? I have even seen people jogging on the road when we were coming back home from dinner, say about 10.30?

Everybody is thin and fit. ( I guess the jogging is the secret!) EVERYBODY!
Incidentally, I have recently discovered the joy of good music and going on long walks. I feel AWESOME! :) I don't have to fear running into someone, coz I don't know anybody! :P

Edited to add more:

There is 'Pomme' ( Pomme refers to apple) in everything...Pomme de pain, Pomme yaourt, Pomme verte savon..like lime is a flavor used extensively in India, Pomme or Green apple is a flavor used in everything from bath foams to yogurt!

S's naturally curly hair has become straight and my straight hair is now poker straight! :D

Ms.Congeniality!

I am moving on! Yup, I am…instead of brooding about missing my friends and the tiny social circle I had back home in India, I decided to extend my hand…and viola! I have two friends now! S’s colleague’s wife Teresa, a Spanish lady, a lovely person and a mother of three…she came home and we got talking…she introduced me to another girl who is apparently on the same street as mine… she was shopping in the ‘Wednesday’ and ‘Sunday’ Market that happens right below my apartment and she popped in too…and we all hit it off instantly…J I felt so happy that there were other people I could talk to…

Tomorrow, Cristina and I will meet up in the nearby station and we are off to Teresa’s! Not bad, eh? I feel great!

P.S – Teresa got me some lovely flowers and it looked gorgeous and that's the picture! These are posts I had drafted long back when I had no internet!

My appy Birthday was awesome!

I am 29! Yes, I am loving it! This birthday was one my best ever...S came home with a bunch of flowers hiding behind his back, which he cleverly hid ( yeah, right!!)...made dinner for me even before my birthday began!

I was a little upset that I would be alone at home on my birthday and wanted to scream its my birthday!! :) ( Yeah, I am like that, I love my birthday and feel like a princess!). So I expected S to go to work and I thought we would celebrate in the evening, coz its a weekday. Surprise of surprises, S took the whole day off...served breakfast for me. (We had to get a medical test for the social security. So we got that done) ...and just roamed all around Paris...did some shopping...came home, S made lunch for us!! ....Went out again and did some more shopping....went to the Eiffel Tower and had the awesomest view of Paris!! S got me this awesome red coat for my birthday gift that I have been drooling over, as we pass by the store everyday!! :D ( among many other things, which we can discuss later!)

S wanted us to have dinner at the Eiffel, there is a cool place right on the tower. But he found out that they don't serve any vegetarian food. Anyway, it was a good thing...coz we just took the Metro and went to the Notre Dame area and found an amazing restaurant and we had dinner with candlelights and good conversation!

We then found this really interesting lane and washed off dinner with warm crepes filled with Nutella and walnuts! :D It was such a pleasant feeling...really cold weather...the warm crepes....I had a warm fuzzy feeling as we ended the fabulous day!

My parents / inlaws /family sent me an e-mail and e-card, I was pleasantly shocked!!! I did call them and speak to them anyway. I got a lot of wishes from all my friends, thanks to orkut and facebook! :) Thank you all for making me feel so special on my birthday! S, as always, you made me feel out-of-the world!

I celebrated my Birthday in Paris!!!... and the entire day was romantic!! Like my dear friend N says, what more do I want? Dear God, I thank you for this fabulous life and for all the love I recieve...look out for your child. I know you will and you do :)

Edited to add: I just noticed that this is my 201st Post!!! :) Double Century is not bad at all, eh?

I have been productive, I told you so!

A simple yet easy transformation!

My bedroom in Paris! and yes, people who know me personally? I agree, I am incorrigible!! :D

A Grand Entry into Paris!

We arrived in Paris; the trip was uneventful…well, mostly. There was a slight problem about the baggage which was solved by an extra bag that we had to buy at the airport! We made a slight miscalculation in the distribution of the stuff!

It was my first time in a business class and I have to say there is nothing to write home about, except for a lot of leg space and the bed-like seat. I don’t understand what all the fuss is about! REALLY. Since it was an early morning flight, most of us slept for the majority of the time. So I didn’t really feel like it took a long time to come here! :) Incorrigible that I am, the minute I woke up, I watched F.R.I.E.N.D.S again! For that matter, so did S!

I felt like royalty as we arrived at the Paris Airport to take a cab to go to our new home. Listen to this, it was a Mercedes!!! :D I was thrilled to say the least, and S could not stop grinning ear to ear, the little boy in him smiling for a long time :) I felt really happy for both of us. :)

We both prayed silently to God for the smooth flight and everything going well without any hiccups. I couldn’t believe I was in Paris!!!! It was bloody cold and I think I need some time to get used to the weather; I tend to have headaches which I hope I can get rid of, over time! (The only downside, I hope!)

Strawberries and flowers!

We are all packed and the house is almost empty except for the bed and a few clothes! :-) We have had some tense moments, running errands and trying to get things done. Despite the empty home, I have a good feeling that its OUR home! We will come back to it in sometime, anyway, right? right!

I am excited about Paris and have mentally made plans of what am gonna do there! To start with, there is a nursery right below our apartment there which has some really beautiful flowers. So you know where some of the plants will land up? Our balcony, of course! Where else? All my chimes will tinkle and make pleasant sounds when the wind blows...I remember I did a post on strawberries in my garden when we set up home in Pune...it brings back beautiful memories...that sense of a new life, new people, new beginnings...gives me a sense of deja vu...Life comes a full circle, doesn't it?

Will put up pictures of the garden as and when it appears in Paris! :-)

Happy Birthday, my darling S!

My Dear S,

Wish you a very happy Birthday !!!.

I wholeheartedly pray and hope God blesses you with everything you want, give you only happiness and love in your entire life, excellent health, success in anything and everything you do! May all your dreams come true :) I hope you live your life the way you want, happily....live life KING SIZE!

We moved into our home, exactly the same time, last year and celebrated your birthday here with both the parents, do you remember?

Its exactly one year since then, and mostly God has blessed us with lots of good things and happiness throughout...We both thank you God! :) As you embark on a new journey in a new country and a new role that excites you, I know you are excited and you are looking forward to this wonderful new challenge in your career. I wish and pray you get all the success you deserve and you are an achiever! I am very proud of everything you are...

Did I tell you that you are the best thing that ever happened to me? Let me say that again, you are the bestest thing that ever happened to me...

Wishing you many many happy returns of the day, Munchkin! Continue to be the suave gentleman that you are!

Love and Hugs,
J

P.S - He needs all your good wishes. Say a silent prayer for my S, pretty please?

When I go to Paris...

• I can wear boots and not look silly!
  
• I am going to learn French, well i don't really have a choice!
  
• I can get a French Manicure, the real thing!
• I can allot more time towards acheiving my fitness goals as I won't need to rush to work, atleast in the intial couple of months!
• I will keep wondering what is the time difference, and can I call up India now?
• I can( will be) be the maid, the cook, the cleaner and the hostess too! :D
• I will celebrate my Birthday in Paris!
• I will enjoy being sort of anonymous ( not that am a celebrity or anything...but I don't know how to explain better...)

Will add some more or modify this, depending on how we progress...

I swear...by the sun and the moon and the stars!!

A chime that hangs on the window near my bedroom window! Its really cute, I love it! Will accompany me to Paris, among other things!!:-)

How cool is that?

My new home in Paris is going to have a view of....



















Awesome, eh?

25 random things about me!

My friend Sudha, has tagged me on Facebook to do this tag. The rules of the tag are:

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I am never lost for words and make friends very easily.I tend to give the impression that I am close to everyone but in reality I have very few close friends.
2. I am a narcissist who loves to look at herself!
   
3. I love tall, suave and intelligent men.
4. I believe that S is the best thing that ever happened to me. He perfectly complements the 'hyper' me.
   
5. I am a classically trained singer and can sing reasonably well.
6. A highly emotional person, am very expressive about my feelings for everyone.
   
7. WYSWIG ( What you see is what you get).
8. I am an open book; very transparent and easy to read, even to a stranger!
9. Lots of people assume that I am arrogant and over-confident looking at my personality. I would like to think I am confident, definitely not arrogant. So i tend to make an extra effort to appear friendly.
   
10. I envy people who are naturally slim, who don't really need to make an effort to look that way!
    
11. I am very enthusiastic and get really excited about even little things in life and believe that's what makes every day and moment interesting.
12. I strongly believe its important that you love and respect yourself before you expect others to show love/respect for you. So I do LOVE myself :P .
13. Music is a quintessential part of my life and I believe is highly theraupatic.
14. I am a very bad judge of character; I hope to get better over the years.
15. I have understood that I have a blessed life unlike so many other unfortunate people and am thankful for the life i have...Indeed, I am contented.
16. I love the smell of babies; their innocence.
17. I enjoy every phase in my life; be it school or college or now that I am working. I never feel that I want to go back to a phase in the past.
18. You can always find a permanent grin on my face and sometimes, my mouth hurts from all the talking!
    
19. I am a people's person. I love to meet new people and many of my friends come to me for advice. I am everyone's agony aunt! ( I am glad to help in anyway i can!)
20. I am very good with interiors and home decor. I hope to run my own business someday!
21. I don't really worry too much about what others may think if I do or say something. I just say it or do it as long as I am not hurting someone.
22. I love the beaches and can never have enough of it. I love travelling as long as it does not entail hairpin bends and winding roads to the Mountains. ( S, can you read that?)
23. I may forget but I do NOT forgive!
24. I am short-tempered and am very much aware of it. So when I am angry I just keep quiet lest I say something hurting I may regret later.
    
25. I cry very easily; even if I see someone crying...I end up crying without finding out why! I just can't see people sad. So I am good entertainment for people in movies!!
    

Thanks, Sudha! This was indeed interesting and got me thinking. Anyone interested in doing this tag, please take it up. Do let me know when you do it, I would love to read it! :-)

Its all in the mind...

Happiness is a state of mind. Really. Don't you think so? I think it is possible to be happy all the time. I can't believe it that I am saying this...coz i used to think its just that its the right thing to say...but I realize its true!

I am reading this book 'The Secret' as I have been recommended several times by different people and it says 'Our mind picks up frequencies and tunes into that thought, depending on the signal it gets'...and it makes sense too. Sometimes, my past haunts me and I am gripped by fear or uncertainity. It often happens that when you don't want to think about something, that is the first thought that comes up even while you are feeling happy about something. I strongly feel you must make a conscious effort to think positive and focus on the happy things in life, and certainly, you will attract the right things in your life.

For example, the move to Paris...I am definitely excited and happy about moving there, being exotic and romantic locale and all, but I was a lil upset about leaving my job AGAIN and to leave my friends AGAIN and of course, my folks, who I can't visit as often as I would want to...But Amma gave me a different perspective. Look at it this way, you are not tied down by the monotony of living in the same city for years...and you get to see new people, new places and new experiences...for a few years everytime! Who is so blessed like that? And on the flip side, I have made some amazing friends in every city or place I have lived in.

This year, with great difficulty, I must say, I have also detached myself from negative people in my life. I want to stay clear of such people, even at the risk of sounding rude or appearing arrogant. I am aware that optimism or focus on positivity does not happen overnight; but I have made a beginning...sometime back and I must say, it works wonders!