A look back at 2010

The year 2010 was in many ways a good year, but in the end the single most defining moment would be the birth of V. All the major ups and downs of this year revolved around S’s pregnancy and him.
I am thankful to god that the pregnancy by itself was quite smooth even though we had a few anxious days at the end due to the slight premature birth of V.
But in the end it was all worth it.

Little V was a teeny weeny bundle when he was born. Under S’s care, he has rapidly grown into a little brat.

My other blessings in 2010 include my second niece S, promotion at work and a new friend that I can count upon.
So, all in all, thank you 2010. Rest in peace.

London Calling

I have been asked to travel to London on business and it is with mixed feelings that I return to the city that I lived for close to two years.

Having been fed a steady diet of Robin hood, King Arthur, William Wallace, Wodehouse and James Herriot, living in the United Kingdom has always been a childhood dream. When I finally got a chance in 2007, I packed my bags and off I went.

We found a beautiful semi in Bromley, in a very quite neighbourhood. It was an old house and it showed its age at times, but it also had a lot of character. Later we moved to a modern apartment in Reading, which was right in the middle of the town centre. Two extremes, but with their own set of conveniences.

Travel to work was by train, which was by itself a pleasant experience. And then there was London, it lived up to all its hype, beautiful, romantic, awe inspiring and full of history (our office being right behind Buckingham Palace) and then some.

My major gripe was with the weather. Having lived in sunny Florida, scorching Arizona and tropical Singapore for close to nine years, I don’t do cold or bleak. The summer was glorious, but with winter came the short days and freezing temperatures.

The next major problem was the apparent lack of safety. The newspapers were filled with stories of murder and violence and it was there to see in plain sight too. Nowhere have I seen adults afraid of kids. The yob culture was pretty scary.

So there you have it, if you could combine London’s appeal with the weather of Florida and the safety of Singapore, there would be not better place on earth to live.

But I am excited and looking forward to my trip, as I will be meeting some of my close friends and my god daughter. It would have been better, if I could have taken the missus along.

The one that started it all

The below Haikus were the inspiration to start writing again. These were written in 2005 on/immediately after a trip to Coorg with Ajoy, Anindya, and Sudhi.

Mist shrouded winding path
amidst coffee plants; Four Friends
All alone all together

Starry skies
Feeling lonely
Crickets agree in unison

Sun battles the dew
Smell of Coffee -
Crushed under elephants feet

Yawning sun on the Horizon
People going to work
Another day another race