fairy tales?

I just read aloud The Pied Piper of Hamelin for the children's bedtime story. This story has always been slightly creepy for me because of how the children get lost in the end. Today's version of the story, however seems to have been written by someone like me, for it has a different ending - the children are reunited with their parents. Imagine the town of Hamelin in the original story... How deathly quiet, how sorrowful, how filled with sobs and deep anguish The agony of losing one's child can be so crippling, imagine a whole town sharing this grief. Each household soaked in their own sadness, with no hope of support from the neighbours... The thought is heart-wrenching. I leave you with that image... A pining mother standing at a window staring into the sunset, and my heart and prayers go out to every mother who has lost her child in any way.

Weather you like it or not!

What is it about one's mood and the weather?

Folks who come from sunny climes feel that Bangalore's famed hill station-like weather is gloomy and depressing. I love it.

So much so that I feel like I come alive totally in this weather. It allows you to go out or stay at home without any problem. You don't have to be weighed down with sunglasses, water, headache medicine or tissues to wipe that infernal perspiration. The only weight you may have to carry is an umbrella, which, given the stylish variety available these days, is a good accessory.

Today is one of those days. Take a look at the weather forecast for today.



The wind and the low temperature and the overcast skies... lovely.

Hello old friend...

Monday morning, and I am already thinking of what I should write about. Now that's a good sign, isn't it?

Today's topic is movies. I am not much of a movie-watcher. Would rather read a book or two in the time it takes for that story to dramatically unfold on screen. But the few times that I do watch a movie, I enjoy it.

So was thinking, why do I prefer a book? One main reason is that reading a book is a very personal activity, it's just me and the book. The other reason is - I can let my imagination soar when I read a book. Am not restricted by the film maker's view of the world. And books have been a part of my life from childhood onwards. The visits to the neighbourhood library, the swaps with friends, delving into my dad's book collection, the rare purchase of a crackling new book... all were magical. And the magic continues to this day.

I hadn't been regularly reading for quite a while. Now am planning to read often. You know what my problem is when it comes to reading? I can't put down a book when I am immersed in the story. And these days, my lil ones need to be looked after, so I really don't have the luxury of doing so. But like all other aspects of life, my reading style too can be adjusted.

Thanks, Anj, for the loan of that fantastic book "Room" last week. I guess that is the book that can be hailed as the one that has yanked me back into the world of serious readers! Hello old friend, the book.

The Start of a Habit

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Well not all agree... read here for the counter-view.

So here I am, publicly announcing that I am going to write something in my blog every single weekday for the next month. That's till the end of June. Something can mean anything. Even a line or two will do. And the topic can be anything.

Will I be successful? Or will this be one more of the many wagons I have fallen off from?

Let time be the test...