2015 Summer vacation camps ..

Yet another summer vacation for children and as usual all the flyers and hoardings of different vacation camps and schools all around Trivandrum city. Last year vacation we had been to Delhi, Agra and Amritsar for 2 weeks. And we bought a cycle for Esther and had decided that  2015 vacation if possible will send her for swimming classes. As soon as the vacation began we checked out the institute and were told to come after 1 week, and when we went after 1 week were told to check out after 2 weeks ... And by the time we went back to check again they had closed down Registration for swimming... I was disappointed , because this is the 2^nd year we missed the chance , but then on knowing that there are around 70 children in each batch to learn swimming, i thought it is better to wait for the next training session which hopefully would be after 1 month or so .

Walking in the rain –

Looks like monsoon is here … some days back it was very hot and evening it rained for a short while, I told my children to go up at the terrace and stand in the rain , both were surprised but ran to get drenched in rain … .. yes I like rains and walking in the rains :)

My first  enjoyable walk in rain as a grown up was almost 8 years back and it happened unexpectedly. I was in a small city of Brno in Czech Republic in the month of July. The country gets very beautiful and days are very long during those 3-4 months. I was on short term assignment and was the only women in the team of 10-12 people and hence during weekends used to be on my own . my favorite time pass activity used to be long walks and going to places by trams … that particular afternoon I was  on long walk exploring the place when it started raining . initially I waited for rains to stop, but after waiting for 15 -20 mins realized no point waiting and started walking , There was hardly anybody on the streets … it was drizzling and I thought it will be ok , then it started raining, I looked up and liked the feel of rain drops falling on my face , I smiled and decided to walk . Though it is suppose to be summer time in Czech the temperatures were between 17-  25 Deg Celcius. Probably after walking for 15 -20 mins walk I felt my body being warm, and realized I was completely wet and it was my body heat radiating . I  kept walking – surprisingly I was not worried about anybody staring at me or how I looked completely drenched or if I would get cold or any indecent comment or what anybody would say when I reach back home … I was  alone , responsible for myself , happy and safe , nothing else mattered , I would have walked for almost 1 – 1.5 hrs covered around  5-6 kms to reach back my flat at Moravské náměstí  around 6 pm water dripping from my Jeans and T shirt, i was cold ... changed to a comfortable shorts and T shirt , made coffee and sitting in my small balcony watched the  ‘Moravian Square’ were trams passed by .... 

The fact is it is difficult to enjoy walking in rain when people around you either worry about you or  stare at you,  or make comments on you . So most of the time one (specially women) avoids walking in the rain. Unlike all the ‘Barish scenes’ of Bollywood movie, I realized one can actually enjoy walking in the rains when you don’t have to work out too many things (about people, place and above all - self), Last time I saw a lady walking in the rain was 3-4 years back at our office campus smartly dress in western formals and she just walked and enjoyed her very short walk to the open space parking area facing her face up feeling the rain drops .... next time you feel like walking in rain , enjoy ...:)

Where is the Star ?

This Monday Ezekiel got up and as usual went out to varandha and asked ‘Where is the Star ? ‘ We were having our morning tea and I told him – Star will come again next Christmas time .. He kept asking ‘Where is star, I want star …’   .. This Christmas season had been pretty peaceful, and festive at home. One week before Christmas, Esther said she wants to give cards to her teachers and classmates, but teacher has told them that it should be hand made cards and that she needs my help … hmmm, I said ok will do that  … then the next demand, ‘Mummy lets put the Christmas tree ‘ ,  … I said ok  will do that ., then the next demand  , ‘mummy why don’t we put crib ?’ … hmm , I said ‘ok will do that , but after your exams get over ‘ ….

Missing Monsoon ...

Monsoon showers at Aranmula temple

Last 2-3 days in Trivandrum it looks and feels like monsoon time .. .. after coming to Trivandrum monsoon seems to be for few days than few months … Someone who was brought up in North Eastern states of India where major part of the year you see only rains – there was time when I hated rains .. now I miss monsoon . Sometime back while chatting with my schoolmate from Silchar , he asked me “do I ...remember the days spend in school” -- and I said how can I ever forget those days and years spend in school -- Small school Tinned roof – when it rained it was so noisy - we had to close all the windows (wooden windows) and complete dark rooms – we all would make so much noise that it was difficult to make out if the Rain hitting the roof was noisier or children in the classroom … we had acres of agricultural land (ofcourse no cultivation happened ) in front of our school which would get filled with water --- lush green --- can still feel the wet socks and shoes at the thought of the rain and field – and it is pouring here in Trivandrum :)

Vacation

Had taken a short break from daily routine – Esther’s vacation - So many memories attached to Vacation – Unlike Esther who does not have any friends of her age around, I used to have quite good company in most of the places we lived .. memory starts from Arunachal Pradesh (such a beautiful place) … vacation meant running behind butterflies … helping dad watering plants in kitchen garden (chillies, lettuce, beetroot, tomatoes, bhindi , beans my fav Apple tree :)) garden was full of Paper flowers (Ooty flowers), Dalia, Chrysanthemum, Gladiolas , Roses .. playing Hide and Seek in open where we used to climb trees to hide, river roaring just behind our house , our Music sir living next door , he teaching guitar and mandolin .. , watching movies (VCR days) twice a week in Officer’s Mess with all families and friends – arun,anju,sonu,bonu,mum,Swapna,sankalp …. collecting crowns (Gold Spot, Thumbs Up, Limca) , Sundays again in Officers Mess – Thambola, lunch and movies .. , Practice for cultural programs … plucking plum and apples when you didn’t have anything else to do …then after 4-5 yrs moved in Assam, little more older – it was Badminton, football, caroms, kho kho, our own games like Squash with TT bats and ball :) bishu,pidu,amit,puja,rucha,boxy,chotti,nonu -- instead of Plum and Apple it was Guava and Mangoes and Jamun … Vacation was full of running around, playing watching movies with friends (at home VCR :)), making snacks with friends at home , sharing video games (monkey game , aircraft …) … kahan gaye who din …