Beaming

Us in the car park after Anil's very spirited 10k at the British Heart Foundation Charity Run at the Blenheim Palace grounds in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He braved horrendous weather and treacherous little hills to complete the course in an hour and 20 minutes. He makes me so proud!

Very Very Smart

Another Big Year

Happy Birthday my darling Papa.

What a year eh?! We've had so much growing up to do. There have been lots of fantastic happy spells and quite often it has felt like too much, too soon.

When I'm at my lowest, I am reminded of you smiling and gently saying, "man proposes, God disposes."

It helps me see, that no matter what grand plans I hatch, and no matter what dreams I dream of the wonderful course my life is going to take, what has to happen, will happen, and the best (and only) way to survive the storms is to take it one day at a time.

I have learned (the hard way) that there is this huge pool of good karma; you've got to give, and give, and give, and someday somehow, either directly or indirectly, it will find its way back to you; and even if it doesn't in your lifetime, you will have led a rich, full life and be happier for it.

I miss you heaps and I love you bigger heaps.

Sin

The simple reason it is nigh impossible to even try to be good at my office.

To Do is To Be

I meet them every once in a while. People who, for instance, are professors at a prestigious university, doing cutting-edge research, and are also are champion cross-country cyclists and are also very keen (and darned good) wildlife photographers, and so on. It never ceases to amaze me how persons like these fit so much into their lives, and I can't help wondering how I consider keeping a full-time job and maintaining a modicum of order in my home a huge achievement. Thinking back, when, at social gatherings, people ask me "what do you do?", I assume they're asking me about my profession, and they probably are. Unfortunately, in all honesty, I don't "do" very much outside of work.

Escaping the rat race in Mumbai was a huge incentive for me to move to England. I longed to break the endless cycle of going to work early and coming home late, working for most of the weekend, and trying hard to find time for friends and family, and where the only recreational activity was eating/drinking out or shopping.

Funnily enough, I find I did lots more when I was in India. The main out-of-work activity for me was singing. It was my passion and I did a lot of it. I helped out at my local church and in the community, teaching Sunday School and doing youth work. I wrote the odd article. I made the effort to catch up with my friends, snatching conversations on the way to work, meeting up for a quick drink after, going shopping together and the like.

Now, though I have way more time to myself, because of my regular work day, and beautiful, healthy environs to spend it in, I find myself thinking "why bother?" I tried a spot of singing, but gave that up. I am a lazy blogger and an even lazier photographer. I don't exercise regularly, I don't garden as much as I could, I just couldn't be bothered.

When I meet passionate people, who live every day using all the faculties and facilities available to them, I am reminded of the abundance of capabilities I have which I refuse to use. After all, passion feeds itself and most passions are rewarding. You blog, readers comment, you blog more. You exercise, you get fitter, you begin to enjoy it. You get involved in local issues, you make friends, you become a part of the community. You get my drift.

Though I don't make New Year resolutions, I have resolved to get off my backside and do more. Wish me luck.

It's that time of year again

The clear roads. The smiling and tolerant, even polite, drivers. The superquick record-breaking bus journey times. Traffic moving so beautifully, you could well be watching a ballet recital. One week of sheer bliss to look forward to when you can get to work on time and have a cuss-free journey in.

I LOVE HALF-TERM.

Homeschool them all I say.