COOKIES AND CREAM - THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES#BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023

 Ten years ago, when our daughter got married, one of the questions playfully thrown at her at her reception was, “Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

Her answer seemed hilarious at the time. “I will have two dogs in my house.” Her husband did raise an eyebrow at the time, but he went along because he knew how much she loves dogs.

Ten years later, part of the dream is true… she does have one beautiful though slightly inane golden Labrador named Bronn at home. Along the way, however, came two adorable children, Z and S, and a dignified grey cat named Tyrion who unfortunately passed away, but not before he added immense joy to all our lives.

The ten-year anniversary is supposed to be a diamond anniversary, according to whoever sits down and has the patience to create such lists. Apparently, the list was read at length by our son-in-love (law) because our daughter was thrilled when she received a diamond ring from him. To say she was zapped would be an understatement, and we, of course, were ecstatic at the beautiful gesture.

Tradition has it that any special occasion merits a meal out. “I feel like something spicy,” translated to a restaurant called Mohavi and off we went to have authentic and spicy Thai food.

Mohavi was a quaint little restaurant which boasted of a spa as well. There was a tiny pond alongside with large ornamental fish which would have cost a fortune. The décor was rustic, and the tables looked out at the pool.

It was time to order. Noodles and fried rice for the little ones, Phad Thai, crispy duck, pork… all steaming hot and spicy enough to satisfy our palates.

As we cruised our way home, replete after a delicious meal, we noticed ominous rain clouds scudding across the sky. It was going to be a stormy evening.

Evening saw us all sitting in the patio before a braai that shone red hot in the darkness caused by the constant load shedding that has become part and parcel of Johannesburg. There was a nip in the air and we literally ate off the braai stand, as our MasterChef son-in-love patiently created magic – boerewors sausages (typically South African) and steaks accompanied by garlic bread and salad (our daughter’s touch). The children ate their pizzas, the adults sipped on their wine and whiskey, their faces glowing in the dim light.

It was still dark when the cookies and cream cake was brought out… the tenth anniversary cake that was quite delicious and went well with the rest of the spread.

No prizes for guessing who enjoyed the party the most as he cavorted around with a pink balloon. :)

All photographs courtesy Deepti Menon

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z2023.

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THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES - BUILD A BEAR - #BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023

With our little Z’s seventh birthday in two days, what better gift could she get from her parents than ‘Build a Bear’ at Toy Kingdom at the Fourways Mall. So, off we went, one excited child, two happy parents with an over-excited grandma in tow. Nana had gone for a one-day cricket match.

 When we got there, there was already a crowd of children, chattering for all they were worth, as it was a birthday party treat for another little girl and her friends.

The whole store was filled with not just bears, but all kinds of toy animals which could be stuffed, along with their clothes and accessories. Children could choose the animal they wanted, get it stuffed and then the arena was open… T Shirts, dresses, tutus, trousers with fancy shoes, hair bands and the like.

Our Z chose a limp multi-coloured rabbit with floppy ears. The smiley saleslady stuffed her up with fluff (cotton stuffing) and suddenly, there was a well fleshed out rabbit waiting to be dressed up. Z strolled around and found a pink Tee and a bright lacy skirt with silver shoes, and voila, Snowflake was born, two days before Z’s special day.

It was time for Snowflake’s birth certificate to be created. Z typed in the details with a bit of help. The colourful certificate was printed out and presented to Z, stuffed with love from her little brother, S. Then Snowflake was ceremoniously presented to Z, after which she was placed in a special box to be escorted home.

It was a most enjoyable experience, albeit a trifle expensive. But the smile on Z’s face was worth every penny. As we walked out of the store, I looked back to cast one last glance at the happy space we were leaving behind.

Snowflake, Z's Newest Friend!

It often takes only the kernel of an idea to create a spark which finally ends in sheer brilliance. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought.”

‘Build a Bear’ was also one such spark that set out to ignite creativity among children, and also to kindle their ability to make choices, resulting, of course, in the joy of taking their creation home.

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Albert Einstein again! 

This post is a part of #blogchatterA2Z2023.

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THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES - ANTICIPATION - #BlogchatterAt2Z2023

 

Welcome Home!

Photo Courtesy - Priyanka Menon Rao

Excitement personified – that is what we were… two eager beaver grandparents off to Johannesburg from Thrissur, Kerala, all set to see our daughter and her family. The flight to Dubai, and then onward to South Africa seemed interminable. We were looking forward to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that moment when we would see our adorable little ones, their parents included.

The security check at Dubai was surprisingly easy this time… normally we have ended up removing everything electronic, leather, liquid, chargeable and wearable! I often wonder how people wearing leather belts to hold their pants up weather the brief period of frisking. This time, we did not even have to take our laptops out.

At Johannesburg, it was a whole different story. It was as though we had entered Zootopia, with a special sloth behind our counter. The official was determined to be stern with us, his façade slipping at moments when he would turn and crack a joke with his colleagues, hopefully not at our expense. I have never seen a slower gentleman, and the new biometric system did not help in the least. We were all thumbs, pun intended!

Pinterest - Zootopia

Finally, we came out only to be avalanched in hugs as the little ones came dashing towards us. God was in His heaven, and all was right with the world! Isn’t it true that with grandparenthood comes a whole new level of love which warms the cockles of the heart?

                                                              Briana Thomas

Back home,  we found several thoughtful gifts placed on our bed, which my daughter termed as ‘necessities’, including my Gummy Bears and Grandpa’s chewing gum! 😊 The highlight was the two cards drawn by Z and S, with a precious message welcoming us with loads of love.

(No prizes for guessing which one is which! :))

Precious Keepsakes by Z and S

The holiday we had waited for so eagerly over two years had begun. The nippy weather, the intense storm clouds, the pelting rain and the load shedding (which is a staple here apparently) did not take away from the warmth of the occasion. As we all sat around, clad in warm clothes, enjoying the antics of Z and S, and exchanging notes about folks back home, I felt my eyes closing in languor, with all the excitement and the ANTICIPATION!

Tomorrow would be another day.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z2023.

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THE NAANI DIARIES BY RIVA RAZDAN - BOOK REVIEW

The first thing that you notice about ‘The Naani Diaries’ by Riva Razdan is the evocative cover that is reminiscent of a Japanese print in pastel shade of blue and gold. The pink diary unveils its significance right from the very book title itself, revealing another brilliant cover from Harper Collins.

Radhika Anand is a young millennial at the top of her form, a twenty-nine-year-old impressing clients at McKinley Global Consulting with her efficiency. When she gets the chance to choose a trip to Provence in France or good old Bombay, there are specific reasons why she opts for the latter. Her boyfriend, Siddhant’s parents live there which makes it all the more tempting. For her, Bombay is “the city for real romance”.

Another compelling reason is that her grandmother, Gayatri Khurana, an erstwhile IAS officer, lives in Bombay as well. Radhika discovers the older lady’s lace-bound diary, and once she begins to delve into it, she is drawn into the intrigue and the romance that had been part of her grandmother’s life. The diary reveals the routine of a twenty-three-year-old Gayatri, who had landed up in Bombay which was her first posting and met the debonair Jairaj Anand. Their romance fascinates Radhika who is hoping for a similar relationship with Siddhant.

Unfortunately, Siddhant backs away and breaks up with Radhika whose life turns on its head. Never having had a bond with her ambitious psychologist mother, Dr. Mangala Anand, who is a fierce feminist with a ‘questioning spirit’, she turns to the one person she considers her haven – her grandmother, Gayatri, whom she feels will understand her predicament.

The story veers between Radhika’s tumultuous life and her grandmother’s perfect romance, “a story so gripping and beautiful and real” which comes out in the latter’s diary. It is this diary that gives Radhika power and keeps her afloat even as she comes across interesting characters like the enigmatic Zain Rajan, the nephew of Badrinath ‘Birdy’ Rajan who was a close friend of Gayatri’s and the fastidious Dr. Kabir Sehgal. At one place, Radhika even confides in the reader. “Friendships, on the other hand, lasted a lifetime. You were both implicitly committed to having coffee and sharing conversations, so long as you were within walking distance of each other.”

Radhika decides to give matrimony a chance and immediately gets embroiled in the intricacies of the big fat Indian wedding where she is expected to toe the line and behave like a demure bride, even though she is not enamoured by the rites and rituals that she finds downright inane. Especially when she is introduced as ‘the Sehgal bride’ by her overblown mother-in-law to be, Dolly! However, she hopes that somewhere down the line, she and her fiancé “would be able to build a loving relationship. That over the years, there would be trust and acceptance.”

However, there is a bombshell waiting for Radhika that makes her rethink her entire life and philosophy. As the blurb of the book goes, ”A large-hearted novel about love and family, this book has it all: from witty banter and clever observations to a big fat Indian wedding!”

The book deals with various issues like substance abuse, alcoholism, marital discord and parenting pitfalls.  However, there is no doubt that this is a heart-warming read from cover to cover. The characters are etched from real life, and my favourite person is Gayatri Khurana who is not only an adorable grandmother but very much a woman of the world as well, with a nature that draws others towards her.

Author Riva Razdan has a writing style that seems pleasing and effortless. The language is simple, and there is a beauty that reveals itself, especially when Gayatri waxes eloquent on the city of Bombay.

“…during the day, everyone here seems immersed in a rhythm of relentless life that resembles a jazz melody. It is slow and lilting in the beginning, like the scribbling of my filles and ledgers early morning, which abruptly erupts in a burst of saxophone-like excitement at noon when I open the wide windows of my musty cabin, overlooking the colourful street of Kala Ghoda bustling under the bright Bombay sun.”

‘The Naani Diaries’ is a book that entertains and instructs, even as it maintains a style and a tempo that make it a pleasurable read.

 This review is part of the Blogchatter Book Review Programme.

CHILDREN DO SAY THE CUTEST THINGS! #BLOGCHATTER #WRITEAPAGEADAY

                                                                        Amazon.in

Being a teacher and educationist is often the best kind of life one can lead! It is a calling that keeps one young, physically and mentally. Every day brings a new kind of learning, sometimes tender, at other times funny, often fraught with anxiety and fulfilment, sometimes both at the same time.

This afternoon, when I was doing my usual rounds in school, peeping into classes, keeping an eye out for unusual sights and talking to teachers and children whom I encountered along the way, I suddenly paused before a classroom. It was the 5^th standard and the door was shut. However, there was a little chappie who stood outside with a strange expression on his face. He did not seem particularly upset about being there, but the moment he caught sight of me, he straightened up, a hint of alarm in his expressive eyes.

“What are you doing outside, young man?” I stopped to ask. “What period are you missing?”

“Music period, Ma’am,” came the prompt reply.

“And why are you outside?”

“Ma’am, we were rehearsing a prayer song. I have a big voice and the others have small voices. So, Sir sent me outside.”

I hastened to enlighten him on the difference between ‘big’ and ‘loud’. The next question was trembling on my lips.

“Are you sure that you were sent out only because you sang loudly? Did you do anything naughty?”

“No, Ma’am. I didn’t do anything.”

He looked the picture of innocence. I nodded, and strolled on to the next class. However, I couldn’t resist going back because I was feeling rather sorry for our young champion.

His eyes widened when he saw me coming up to him again.

“Tell me, child, why were you singing so loudly?”

He paused for a split second and then answered, “Ma’am, it is a prayer song. If I don’t sing loudly, how will God hear me?”

The moment held its breath. I did, too. I stared at him in genuine astonishment, an involuntary smile spreading over my face. He stared back at me, and below the mask, I could see the trepidation in his eyes change to one of slight embarrassment, and then a twinkle appeared.

                                                               QuoteHD.com

I knocked on the door of the classroom and listened to what the teacher had to say. As I had expected, our little friend had done more than just sung loudly.

“He is very naughty, Ma’am. He was disturbing the others,” the teacher explained to me. “I sent him out for five minutes to teach him a lesson.”

I bent closer to the young one who looked back at me solemnly.

“Do you know that God is not far away up in the heavens? You do not really have to sing so loudly. God is there in the wall right next to you. Even if you whisper, He will hear you.”

                                                             Quote Master

We smiled at each other, and as I walked away, I felt all over again that I was in the right place at the right time. I silently blessed that little boy for having made my day brighter with his opportune comment.  

Children do say the most heart-warming things!

                                                                VinceGowman.com

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CANDY IS DANDY: OGDEN NASH #BLOGCHATTER #WRITEAPAGEADAY

 
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Ogden Nash’s poetry brings a smile to the faces of all those who delve into his poetry. His comic verses have been relished over the decades, known for their irreverence and their eccentricity. They are meant not only for lovers of poetry but for all those who want to savour moment of sheer fun and frolic.

Starting with one of his most famous poems ‘Reflection on Ice-Breaking’

Candy

Is dandy

But liquor

Is quicker.

When COVID-19 wreaked havoc bringing the world to a standstill, it took vaccines, sanitizers and masks to bring down its effects. Ogden Nask spoke not about a virus, but about a germ.

THE GERM

A mighty creature is the germ.

Though smaller than the pachyderm.

His customary dwelling place

Is deep within the human race.

His childish pride he often pleases

By giving people strange diseases.

Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?

You probably contain a germ.

Nash was often impudent and downright hilarious. His spellings often disarranged themselves just so they could ensconce themselves comfortably in their niches within the poems. One such poem brings a twinkle in the readers’ eyes.

THE FIREFLY

The firefly’s flame

Is something for which science has no name.

I can think of nothing eerier

Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a person’s posteerier.

                                                                 Poem Hunter

The last word is an example of Nash’s unique spelling.

Two poems that are fun to read are also about living creatures that populate the world. The first one has the rules of grammar all wrong, but that is purposefully done by the clever poet.

THE OCTOPUS

Tell me, O Octopus, I begs,

Is those things arms or is they legs?

I marvel at thee, Octopus:

Is I were though, I’d call me Us.

The second poem again boasts of a word never heard before, much akin to Roald Dahl’s vocabulary that has been added in the Oxford dictionary. The poem goes as follows:

THE WASP

The wasp and all his numerous family

I look upon as a major calamity.

He throws open his nest with prodigality.

But I distrust his waspitality.

The last word is Nash’s invention and yet, it explains the nature of the wasp as no other word possibly could. There are so many more poems which contain little gems like these, and it is therefore no wonder that Ogden Nash continues to have his fan following. Since it is next to impossible to put down all his poetry, here is one last example to bring a smile all over again.

THE FLY

God in his wisdom made the fly

And then forgot to tell us why.

                                                                       Pinterest

Thus, for all those who enjoy a bit of sparkle in their verses, here is the ideal book for them.

                                                                Amazon.in

And to end with another beauty:

                                                                      Pinterest

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THE ISSUES OF VIOLENCE! #BLOGCHATTER #WRITEAPAGEADAY

 

                                                                       AVC Movies

Sometimes, there comes a movie which clicks for all the right reasons. Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey is one such offering written and directed by a newcomer Vipin Das. The main roles are essayed by Basil Joseph as Rajesh and Darshana Rajendran as the beleaguered Jaya.

What makes this a must-watch movie? True life issues are dealt with here, but with a dose of healthy humour which soften the aggressive bits to an extent. 

a. The movie starts with girls having no rights. Jaya does her B.A. Malayalam, just because she is not allowed to go far away from home. No Anthropology for her, because she is anyway going to get married in due course.

b. Her teacher, played by Aju Varghese, is a modern man who talks about women’s liberation and their rights to live life on their own terms, ideas which turn on their head when he turns possessive about Jaya. Gaslighting raises its head for the first time in the movie.

c. Rajesh, Jaya’s prospective husband, reluctantly agrees that she can continue her studies after marriage. The amazement on his mother’s face is as palpable as the broken chairs and items in their house that Jaya notices when she walks in for the first time. Someone, obviously, has an extremely bad temper.

d. The cracks begin showing, one by one. The first slap and the first half-hearted apology are in tandem. Thereafter, every bout of violence is followed by a grudging treat where Jaya has no say, even in the choice of the menu at the restaurant. Rajesh’s “Happy alle?” (Aren’t you happy?) gets more and more ironic when the violence escalates.

e. Little nuggets of advice pop up from all quarters. When Jaya speaks of her unhappiness, her mother says, “It is for women to adjust. Give your marriage time.” The father adds later, “That’s life!” At a stage later, her mother-in-law defends her son. “Don’t men get angry and hit their wives?” That’s seemingly normal.

f. What is abnormal is what happens when Jaya finally reaches the end of her tether, according to her mother-in-law. How dare the girl retaliate? Isn’t she meant to adjust, after all? Jaya calculates the number of slaps she would have to endure over forty years. That leads to a strained reconciliation.

                                                         The News Minute

g. What is the best way to control a wife who has proved that she can protect herself by turning aggressive? Tie her down with a child, and keep her within the four walls of the house. Pertinent advice from a wily male relative.

What stands out is the subtle humour that keeps the movie running along its rails. Gaslighting is a real problem, and when Jaya decides to take matters into her own hands, or in this case, feet, the audience gets its money’s worth. The message is crystal-clear. Treat people with respect or else you will end up with regrets, possibly broken bones as well.

Brilliant acting by Basil Joseph and Darshana Rajendran, and kudos to Vipin Das for his deft direction! The music is noteworthy too. This movie deserves the accolades it has received.

 
Spiceonion.com

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