.... oor pidariya veratithaam - A classic case of this was experienced this evening, when I rode the parakkum rayil. The train was practically empty when it halted at the Taramani station. I climbed in and settled in my usual 2nd row aisle seat, and opened The man-eater of Malgudi. Having set my laptop case aside, I was all eyes on the book, and didn't realize the stations whiz past.
The train slowly chugged into Pasumai Vazhi Chaalai station. I looked up to see that the train was crowded. A lady - uhm not a thin one - nudged me to make space for her, and we were already three in the row. I moved closer to the aisle, and motioned her to squeeze inside. That row could in no way accomodate a 4th member. All of us were aajanubaagu. She first perched on the seat and slowly started squirming.
By the time the train rolled into Mandaveli, I was already half outside the seat - I was balancing on my hands - the huge book, my laptop case, a tupperware lunch case and my duppata which chose that precise moment to slip off my shoulders. The train whistled its way out of Mandaveli and the onda vanda pidari was now successful in ousting the oor pidari. I gathered my stuff and stood up (anyway I had to get down at the next station).
I could feel the lady's glares behind me and that somehow made me feel it was I who sat in her seat.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Knife in the right hand... and fork in the left?
Much has been said about eating etiquette and table manners - and here are some things that I just can't stand - bad eating etiquette.
Yes I relish slurping my rasam sadham and crunching into my appalam. But then, I certainly wouldn't scoop handful of sambhar and put my tongue out and slather the liquid on my tongue at home, let alone a restaurant. Sadly, I got to witness this tearing-my-hair-apart scene at the food court this evening. My colleague who happens to have terrible table manners managed to gobble the dosai and lap up the sambhar. It was at that moment, I wished I rather starved than gone to the food court to eat. Now seriously, what's with putting one's tongue out when placing a morsel of food?
There was this other incident that I can never forget - When the hubby and I had been to Kolkata, we went to this famous Bhojo Hari Manna for lunch. Being a small restaurant, we had to share the table with another couple. The man, who ate his ten-course (!!) meal in no time, was a sheer source of embarassment to his wife. The way he cut the fish and put his fingers into the rice bowl - made me want to run away from the table. Clumsy / Messy are understatements. As he went on ordering, the wife refused to partake more of the food, and she looked at us apologetically. I merely looked down and began to pick at my food.
This other gentleman who works in my office has this yucky habit of strewing food all over the table. One look and you'll know what he has had for lunch. He normally buys 2 packs of rice and 1 pack of some mixture /chips, takes a plate from the shelf and sits down at the table. By the time he's done, atleast quarter of the pack of the mixture would be on the table, with similar proportions of rice. He doesn't even bother to wash his hand after food (no, he doesn't use a spoon). He rinses (mind you - only rinses - doesn't use Pril / whatever liquid) the plate in the wash area and puts it on the shelf. Not once, has he cleaned the mess. Now if you think, this is only at lunch, wait till you see when he comes in to the pantry for tea. Now, I'm not going to explain that.
Yet another friend, opens his mouth too wide to talk while he eats and I simply HATE it. No, I don't want to see how you eat, Thank you!
The list goes on, but for now, I'm just going to continue licking the vengaya chutney off my fingers and relishing the rava dosai. Bon Appetit !
Yes I relish slurping my rasam sadham and crunching into my appalam. But then, I certainly wouldn't scoop handful of sambhar and put my tongue out and slather the liquid on my tongue at home, let alone a restaurant. Sadly, I got to witness this tearing-my-hair-apart scene at the food court this evening. My colleague who happens to have terrible table manners managed to gobble the dosai and lap up the sambhar. It was at that moment, I wished I rather starved than gone to the food court to eat. Now seriously, what's with putting one's tongue out when placing a morsel of food?
There was this other incident that I can never forget - When the hubby and I had been to Kolkata, we went to this famous Bhojo Hari Manna for lunch. Being a small restaurant, we had to share the table with another couple. The man, who ate his ten-course (!!) meal in no time, was a sheer source of embarassment to his wife. The way he cut the fish and put his fingers into the rice bowl - made me want to run away from the table. Clumsy / Messy are understatements. As he went on ordering, the wife refused to partake more of the food, and she looked at us apologetically. I merely looked down and began to pick at my food.
This other gentleman who works in my office has this yucky habit of strewing food all over the table. One look and you'll know what he has had for lunch. He normally buys 2 packs of rice and 1 pack of some mixture /chips, takes a plate from the shelf and sits down at the table. By the time he's done, atleast quarter of the pack of the mixture would be on the table, with similar proportions of rice. He doesn't even bother to wash his hand after food (no, he doesn't use a spoon). He rinses (mind you - only rinses - doesn't use Pril / whatever liquid) the plate in the wash area and puts it on the shelf. Not once, has he cleaned the mess. Now if you think, this is only at lunch, wait till you see when he comes in to the pantry for tea. Now, I'm not going to explain that.
Yet another friend, opens his mouth too wide to talk while he eats and I simply HATE it. No, I don't want to see how you eat, Thank you!
The list goes on, but for now, I'm just going to continue licking the vengaya chutney off my fingers and relishing the rava dosai. Bon Appetit !
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Dress appropriately...
Today was my usual Saturday visit to the famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore. I find solace in standing in front of Her Gracious - Goddess Karpagambigai - and praying to my heart's content. I finished the pradhakshinam, and sat in my usual place, near a pillar. As I observed people who walked by, 2 people caught my eye - both of whom earned my instant hatred.
Lady A: Was walking up and down the praharam, talking loudly in her cell phone. I need not elaborate. If that call was so important to her, she should have taken it outside the temple, not within, and disturb the others. This is precisely why, I don't take my cell phone when I go to the temple.
Man B: Wearing a shorts, that one would probably wear when they have a beer afternoon with friends, trailing his wife and carrying her purse. What did he think when he entered the temple wearing something like that? I wonder, would he wear that for a board meeting, or would he even wear a panchakacham to work.. then why wear shorts to the temple...
All I could do was only grumble today. May be next time, I'll talk to the temple authorities...
Lady A: Was walking up and down the praharam, talking loudly in her cell phone. I need not elaborate. If that call was so important to her, she should have taken it outside the temple, not within, and disturb the others. This is precisely why, I don't take my cell phone when I go to the temple.
Man B: Wearing a shorts, that one would probably wear when they have a beer afternoon with friends, trailing his wife and carrying her purse. What did he think when he entered the temple wearing something like that? I wonder, would he wear that for a board meeting, or would he even wear a panchakacham to work.. then why wear shorts to the temple...
All I could do was only grumble today. May be next time, I'll talk to the temple authorities...
Monday, July 06, 2009
Go Fedex Go....
After what seemed a never-ending but a fitting final at the Wimbledon yesterday, Roger Federer proved yet again, that he is a man of class, grit and determination. A-Rod, no less a player, gave Fedex a run for his money in the 5 set marathon event last evening. Very nicely put by a friend, lessons from the game as below:
Determined. Destined. Delightful. The killer instinct wasnt visible but Fedex outclassed A-Rod. Endurance is the trait of a true champ - Lesson # 1
Not succumbing under pressure and well defined goals - Lesson #2
Trust in God and do your duty - Lesson #3.
Whew - Fedex - One helluva game mate ! You deserve it, every little applause, every little prayer, every little smile !
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A poetic evening.....
So, here I was slogging at work, when a "___ is inviting you for a conversation" popped from the lower right corner of my desktop. I broke into a smile, when I clicked on the invitation and proceeded to chat up a few nothings with a friend, whom I ve known for over 9 years now. He was a colleague then, and a colleague now and we were friends between then and now (we are still friends - is beside the point).
It had been a while since we spoke. So as the conversation progressed, he told me that I was being a welcome break in his super-busy schedule and randomly typed the song "tum aagaye ho.. noor aagaya hai... ". This song fit the situation so well that it brought a smile to my lips. I happened to tell him that, and there he goes again with this poem by Henry Davies
"LEISURE"
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
As we concluded our conversation to get back to a cuppa and then some work, he yet again ended it on a poetic note:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
All this made me hum my favorite poetry from school - Daffodils by William Wordsworth, especially the last line
"And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils...."
Monday, February 23, 2009
Jai Ho !
Congratulations AR Rahman, for making the Indians proud. With 2 more awards added to your collection, you have surpassed all expectations. God Bless you - and as you rightly said "ella pugazhum iraivanukke".
However, it is disturbing to note that, as an ardent ARR fan, this is not his best work. I will rate Roja and Taal as mindblowing efforts. Some haunting, scintillating music from Taal goes way ahead of SDM. But with this, also comes this thought - an Indian, by himself - cannot rise to the level of the Oscars. AR Rahman, although widely acclaimed, was able to achieve something like this, purely because he worked on a Hollywood venture.
I think his BGM in Lagaan was amazing. Yet, it even failed to get a nomination. However, a movie like SDM, not only got him Golden Globes and Baftas but also the most coveted Oscars and not one, but 2.
The sign of true recognition is only when an Indian movie (I shall not say Bollywood or any of those woods here) wins an Oscar purely on its own merit, notwithstanding huge banners or Firungi directors.
Nevertheless, Mr AR Rahman, you have made India proud. God Bless you and May you continue this good work and keep us all enthralled with your divine music.
However, it is disturbing to note that, as an ardent ARR fan, this is not his best work. I will rate Roja and Taal as mindblowing efforts. Some haunting, scintillating music from Taal goes way ahead of SDM. But with this, also comes this thought - an Indian, by himself - cannot rise to the level of the Oscars. AR Rahman, although widely acclaimed, was able to achieve something like this, purely because he worked on a Hollywood venture.
I think his BGM in Lagaan was amazing. Yet, it even failed to get a nomination. However, a movie like SDM, not only got him Golden Globes and Baftas but also the most coveted Oscars and not one, but 2.
The sign of true recognition is only when an Indian movie (I shall not say Bollywood or any of those woods here) wins an Oscar purely on its own merit, notwithstanding huge banners or Firungi directors.
Nevertheless, Mr AR Rahman, you have made India proud. God Bless you and May you continue this good work and keep us all enthralled with your divine music.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Adopted!!!
Ok, Now before you jump into conclusions, I have adopted a word. Yea, you heard it right, a word, you know a collection of letters... :-) http://www.savethewords.org/ is an effort by Oxford dictionaries to save words that are facing extinction.
All you need to do is to adopt a word and use it in everyday language. Now how difficult is that? I for my part, have adopted one word, thereby venustating (making something / someone handsome or beautiful) the English language. Now here is my certificate from Oxford Dictionaries.
All you need to do is to adopt a word and use it in everyday language. Now how difficult is that? I for my part, have adopted one word, thereby venustating (making something / someone handsome or beautiful) the English language. Now here is my certificate from Oxford Dictionaries.
Friday, January 02, 2009
31-12-2008 / 01-01-2009
So, everyone in the blogosphere has been writing about the new year... So adding one more to the lot... What the heck, it s just another day, just another warm winter (er... that s how Chennai is anyway ;-) ). Yet, there is a special charm about it, the cops allow an extended deadline upto 1 am, and people drink and drive (not that they dont on other days, but this day just makes them do it!!).
31st Dec, for most people, seems like an appraisal date - that s the only time they revisit their KRAs, er... new year resolutions, which are, most often than not, forgotten the minute they are made. That s one reason why I dont want to make any, so I dont have to forget anything... Well.. WTF, no resolutions, that s all!!
So, one year goes by and another steps in... as silently as it can, without any hungama - largely due to the recession and the recent terrorist attacks. Having spent 31-12-2007 in Goa, this year was a welcome change - to be spending the evening, quietly at a friend's place. Karthik and Suchi were excellent hosts, but, the best host(ess) of the evening, was their 3 month old cutie pie pug - Kabaleeswari, who held all the attention. It was a beautiful evening, over some wine & dinner topped off with some orange, grape and mango kuchi ice from Saravana (and discussing about Sivitha ice creams near the RK Salai Nilgiris, and Amirtha kuchi ice)
It was a lazy evening and probably the only evening of the year when I go to sleep in the current year and wake up in the next....
Cheers!!
31st Dec, for most people, seems like an appraisal date - that s the only time they revisit their KRAs, er... new year resolutions, which are, most often than not, forgotten the minute they are made. That s one reason why I dont want to make any, so I dont have to forget anything... Well.. WTF, no resolutions, that s all!!
So, one year goes by and another steps in... as silently as it can, without any hungama - largely due to the recession and the recent terrorist attacks. Having spent 31-12-2007 in Goa, this year was a welcome change - to be spending the evening, quietly at a friend's place. Karthik and Suchi were excellent hosts, but, the best host(ess) of the evening, was their 3 month old cutie pie pug - Kabaleeswari, who held all the attention. It was a beautiful evening, over some wine & dinner topped off with some orange, grape and mango kuchi ice from Saravana (and discussing about Sivitha ice creams near the RK Salai Nilgiris, and Amirtha kuchi ice)
It was a lazy evening and probably the only evening of the year when I go to sleep in the current year and wake up in the next....
Cheers!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)