My Gift conundrum

Gifts for every occasion whether it’s birthday, mother’s day, father’s day or New year is quite a task at hand. I am quite bad at shopping for gifts and pacing dawn the road means ending up not buying anything, except getting the coolest of Greetings cards.

The perks of being single saves me the times and stress of buying mushy and romantic.  Valentine is just another day flitting like dust and skipping the hard work. Let’s play a bit:  Imagine I am in a relationship with someone and come V Day or her birthday, I may just end up giving an audio CD but the hitch is that in this age of download, people hardly listen to music albums.  An expensive chocolate or perfume with flowers may save the day. Don’t ask me about trying for creative gift buying for I am clueless about this whole gift idea so much that it makes me in awe of people who can come up with some amazing creative ideas to woo and be a real charmer.

On Mother’s Day, I ended up gifting maa yummy Indian food. That was the gift after scratching the head and not that mom expected something but we can always make a small effort in bringing a smile on the face of our parents. My idea of gift is books since they not only adorn my shelf throughout the year but the fact of being a voracious reader myself. Books are a constant companion to win hearts. The moment you shower me with books, we make for eternal friends. Gifting a child is easy and it’s offering money treat.

I am always spoilt and surprised with the hot favourites ranging from chocolate, book marks, novels, wine, tee shirts, tea, perfume and scotch whiskey. It’s a shame that I am yet to give a close and childhood friend a birthday gift which I promised when he treated me with expensive food and was caught off guard. See! How much I suck at giving gift! Not that I am a stinger but unsure whether the other person would like my choice.  

Hello August!

There is something beautiful about August, intriguing and the myriad hues from the wind stars in the sky and cloud lending an exquisite charm to it like falling leaves and sighted moon.

The phone flashed on the first day of the month. It struck my senses for some reason or the other. A sheer belief that extraordinary things will jettison and can feel the strong vibes conveyed through this medium called smart front. I can sense the powerful energy.  

On the work front, it's been pretty interesting beyond the drudgery of the routine tasks since there are super interesting projects lining up that will help me grow my wings by dabbling into hospitality and real estate features. I always love experimenting that way by writing on various and new genres to test the might of my pen and overcoming limitations through words. I am mulling on registering a name for a company which always wanted to start by offering editing and translation services. In today’s time, there is a need to diversify the income if you want to stand on your own and plan for the next couple of years.  

The past month has been pretty much laid back like the still water with the usual things going on and not too much drama on my platter, not that I want some filmi climax of kicking people in the groin. Tons of books to read and there are eight of them, including plans to re-read The Sacred Games what with the hoopla surrounded the sit-com. Some of them, I got for free at the Book Nest in the park where I jog regularly and it’s quite a novel concept of reading and sharing where you can pick a book for free and drop one for book lovers.  I picked two novels and once done with them, they will find their place back to the nest so that it is not confined to the shelf but sharing with people as part of this circle to encourage reading.  

August is the shopping therapy month for me that works wonderfully and the heart flutters with happiness to get some bare essentials like couple of shirts, socks, two pairs of new shoes to update the wardrobe. Finally, after initially resisting the temptation, I have decided to enter this world called Net Flix and going with the basic plan for USD 7. Not a bad deal with so much of sitcoms to spoil my senses. The last time, tried to register but failed with the bank account not being recognized for ludicrous reasons and as it is been planning to change my bank for the third time this year as the present one is quite fucked up with the net banking facilities. It feels spooky and entering a labyrinth with password and then some OTP.  Sadly, some banks system are as good as living in the stone age and there is something called being customer friendly which they don't get. Once the entire thing is sorting out and looking forward to the entire Net Flix experience.

Personally, it’s been a constant struggle to keep the self off sweet which is quite a hot temptation to resist. Tomorrow never comes with me. A cheat day will be kept every Friday and high time to look for a better alternative like raisins or dry food. Packaged snack is another grey area and not that I munch on them regularly but would be good to forget or wipe them from my eating senses.  It’s so easy to be tempted by the fast food which I don’t take now and a plus point because it’s unhealthy and nothing natural about them with all those artificial stuff flooding the market.  

I need a pat on the back for the novel is being revived for the second consecutive time after forgetting about it for six months. The best thing about engagement on Facebook with writer friends is that they can push you to write creatively and help chuck out the mental blocks that ail creativity. An over thinking mind is screwy and how it creates a mental blockage to make your shit difficult while it should be simple in the first place. Hope the writer in me doesn’t end up being unproductive and keep working on the book until the first draft is finished. As it is, will keep two days a week doing just that and forgetting other things. Raring to see the progress made with the novel when August says bye. 

Love

Vishal

2011, the year in review

Just how I was complaining how the year started slowly and whether it's gonna end in beauty and prose. Here, we are at the end of 2011. Indeed, it started at a slow patch and how much I vented on the blog. It's been a great year professionally, set backs there were but not much. 2011 was quite a departure from 2010 and I wonder how things changed positively for my own state of being. The setbacks gradually waned away towards the end of June and I am indeed finishing 2011 in beauty and stepping in the new golden era,2012 in beauty. Two days of work for 2011 and as from 20, holidays and Mumbai, Pune, Lavasa and Goa, here I come.
January hit on a slow note and quite badly as I had a conflict with one of my relative. He is a bloody loser and was acting so stupid perhaps because he has money and gave the impression of being quite arrogant on that matter. I choose to ignore him and could have replied to him. Neways! He's a cheapo. On the professional front, I was struggling and was counting till June so that I finish one year at work. I was planning to leave after that. However, things took a u-turn and drastically improved for me. Relations and bonds were not only strengthened but cemented after that gestation period. The relationship with my boss improved and all of a sudden I was on the upswing. Conflicts lessened. The icing on the cake: I embraced a new challenge and ventured into reported and towards the year end I turned into a film critic and a full-fledged reporter. It was a large improvement and suddenly, I was enjoying my job. From sub-editor to report, I must admit that I find the desk job quite boring. However, I found true fulfilment as a news reporter and must admit that credit goes to boss who not only pushed me but encouraged me in what she thinks I am good at. She tapped the potential in me. It's been a new challenge and learned so much in the media business. Finally, I am happy doing my job. It shot up my self-confidence and gave me the upper hand.
I must admit that prior to that I was actually counting days till June arrives. I am happy that I took the decision to stay on the job. It was a great decision. On the personal side, I remained and stayed single. Not a happy scene though coz I am looking and longing for a relationship. Hmm! Let's hope for a change as 2011 comes to an end and as we usher in 2012. I am hopeful coz 13 days remains and the table may turn in my favour. One brownie point: I struggled to reduce smoking and so far successfully failed to do so. Once I was able to reduce smoking but in general, it was such a disaster. Better luck next time!! Guess, I am not psychologically prepared.
Read lotsa stuffs and books like Twilight, 40 rules of Love, Time's Traveller's Wife, Grisham, Harry Potter as well as self-help books such as Stephen Covey's 7 rules of Highly Effective People made my joy. Wrote some short stories which was clearly not enough and need to stick myself to the plans of writing. I need to put some discipline in my life.This is what is lacking in life.

new kid on the block celebrated one year on November 20  and stay tune and a brand new post will be exclusive devoted to the post which has more than 100 posts, some comments and around 600 views. Not bad as the slow and steady wins the race.
Finally, I will be able to afford holidays and indeed my year end leave was approved. I will go back to my home town, Pune and my adopted hometown Mumbai and will visit Lavasa, Goa and perhaps Gujerat. In less than 72 hours I will be officially on holidays as I look set to board Emirates plane where I will stop at Dubai airport for three hours before landing in the city that never sleeps Mumbai on Wednesday. Simply Mumbai!!!! What better way to end the year and kick start 2012 in beauty and style. I took the decision to travel out of the blue and stick to it. There was nothing on earth that could have stopped me and thank the Great Almighty for that. A prayer that was never unheard and fulfilled.I am already making plans for 2014 world cup in Brazil and have every reason to save and manage my money. I will drop and shop towards the year end as 2012 will have very less scope for shopping. See! I gotta save my money for world cup 2014. I look forward for a great career in 2012 and where I shall cross the seas and oceans so that I am back home.
Have a great year end 2011 and a rocking start to 2012.
Will update on travel.

"And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
Love

Book fest, intrinsic joy of reading

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Over the last two months, there's been several book fests to celebrate the World Book Day which took place sometimes back. The idea is to encourage more people to take interest in reading since many of the young minds are too much stuck in their academic books in a bid to score high marks and become toppers. It's an irony considering the definition of an educated person is that he is someone who learn about intellectual, spiritual and physical development and the learned soul has a fair amount of knowledge about culture. Books is an answer to the cultural part of education. It's a sad fact that the last book someone read was at the time they were doing their graduation. It is a sad fact.
It doesn't apply to countries like India where people are exposed to reading books, novels and non novels where books are sold like like peanuts. There is the hunger to read and learn and new budding authors are coming and trying to connect with the new generation. I am speaking of Mauritius where I am currently based. True it is a small market and people are not exposed to the reading culture so much. The education system has been built in a manner where emphasis is being laid too much on academic education and there is no real effort on the part of the government to promote reading. There are timid efforts. In some places, books are overpriced and it is one particular bookshop which is spearheading all efforts towards reading. Sad! They need many more bookshop like this one who sell books at an affordable price to encourage reading. Reading is bliss.
They held two such book fairs and I bought some books on my first visit. Decided that I will not buy any next time I visit but boy, I ended up buying books worth Rs 1,500. Boy!! The temptation is too luring to resist. A book exhibition is being held today at a place call the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre. Thought that I will skip this one. Later, realized that I love books too much to give it a miss. It is very attractive since there will be international authors and publishers attending the event as I look forward to meet some of them and click some pictures A book lover like em cannot afford to miss the event. Hopefully, I shall meet some publishing houses and discuss about mu collection of short stories that I am currently writing.
I know that I have been slacking with my writing and I need a desperate push to renew with my writing. I am looking forward to the month of June since I have quite a few interesting off days.Lotsa Sundays and Friday and it's boon to pen my stories. I shall rush to the event now and will let you guys know how it was. With photos of course.
Enjoy the ride and read beautiful books. Next week, I shall start with RK Narayan's Bachelor of Arts and Shobha at 60.

Life z good

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Hey gals and guyzzzz, wots up? It's an early morning and have 20 minutes to blog, then get ready for work and here I am reaching out to my truly global audience on the blog. I have started reading V S Naipaul's India-A million mutinies now. Early, I was hesitating to read Naipual because I have heard that he can be quite crazy describing India with prejudices and all. But, till now he has been fair in his approach unlike the countless Non Resident Indians with their prejudices. In fact, if you are interested in travel blog, decribing a particular landscape or city, Naipaul is your man. He got a knack of description.Post that, planning to jump on with Shobha@60 and me got also Rushdie's Fury. So, good going till next month. I have got plenty to read.
In three weeks, I am going to celebrate one year in my job as a sub-editor. So far, it was not easy as I had a tough time adapting at the workplace. It took me a while to understand people and get used to them since they were not really my kind of crowd. Plus, I had problems with the production of pages. I struggled with the software since I am very bad with all these computer softwares. I learned it on the spot, with no formal induction or training. I mean I still struggle since I don't know everything related to the technicalities. So, on a positive note, I learned stuffs which I would not otherwise learn. 
There was a time when I was fed up of working in the environment and that I was surrounded by lotsa negative people. I really wanted to leave the job and to be on a sabbatical for a few months. I was in fact counting days on calendars as I was planning to leave in April, then May and June. Thank God, things have stabilized and I am on.Me planning to stay on the job perhaps for a few more months and learn something new. The job of a sub-editor is hell lot stressful and it actually teaches you to manage stress and there were time where I would freak out. I still do it. Freaking out comes naturally to me and it's in my genes since Dad was like that. It's not that I am planning to stay on the job for long but till I get something interesting I shall stay. As it is by nature, I cannot stay in a place for a very long time and I believe in shifting between new jobs and places. 
If on one hand, there are manipulators, liars , frustrated beings on the other hand there are also cool people who give out good vibes and positive energy on the floor. It is one of the reason that I am still on the job and of course, the salary. Till something new crops up and of course,looking forward to go back to India for a month or two towards the year end. The trip to homeland has been eluding me and it's terrible.
On Sunday, I watched Sex and the City-2 and the second half of the movie is quite cool and it moves at a fast pace. Though I find the first half so and so. I particular love the Abu Dhabi location which has been marvellously shot. It's been long that I haven't watched a movie at the Theatre. It's so unlike me and the last flick I watched was Game.So,June I shall make an effort to watch at least 2 flicks. Till then, bye bye, taa-taaa
Have a wonderful Tuesday.
Angel wish and make a Wish.
Lotsa Love.