The Kodak sibling moment

Two pairs of siblings, spanning three generations, all piled on to the famous big bed that is constantly host to different people. My mother and her brother (the Chhota Nana) and my two babies, all sleeping around each other. In their own way each set has taught me something about sibling love. Now all I need to do is wait till December and see if Tambi and I can squeeze in somewhere in between to complete this picture!

The other day a friend dropped by simply to sleep at our place because it was ‘peaceful’. And with that he stretched out on our couch, threw all the cushions off, covered his head and slept peacefully while other friends who were over chatted over cups of tea and the kids ran around the living room talking in stage whispers. Hmmm… that felt nice.

PS: He also introduced me to a desi band called  Junkyard Groove that I have a feeling you guys might like. I missed their last gig and I will not make that mistake again.

Oh horror! The domestic horror tag

I’m sure when Maid in Malaysia tagged me she said hah! Lets see if MM can find anything horrible to write about. I took it up with much glee because I was sure I’d find something. I’ve racked my brain and am most disappointed to come up with zilch. And then, just before I regretfully gave up  - I remembered that my beloved husband has given me enough opportunity and more – although this particular incident was a long time ago.

It was 2004 December and I was heavily pregnant and very sickly. The OA had to go to London for a 2 month project and it just wasn’t safe for me to live on alone so I was to be packed off to my parents until he returned. I left a day or two before him because that is the day the train ran and I, knowing my husband well enough, shut down the entire house before I left. Locking cupboards, disconnecting geysers and washing machine, locking windows, putting out dust sheets and putting away knick knacks that might collect dust. The last thing I did was to empty out the entire refrigerator, give the vegetables and fruit and food away to the cook and leave only two eggs there, telling her to fry them for the next two mornings for the OA for breakfast. I told him then, to get her to wipe it down, switch it off and leave it ajar when he left.  And then I left, convinced that even the OA couldn’t screw up something so simple.

Four weeks after the OA left I got a call from the landlady. Apparently her man Friday had entered our house (why he broke in is a story for another day!) and the overwhelming stink had left him swooning. The fridge smelled like it’s innards had been yanked out and left to rot in a puddle of shit.

Knowing no one much in the city I frantically called a friend to go over and check it out. Sure enough, the OA had left the eggs in the fridge because with me gone, he wasn’t waking up early enough to grab breakfast. And then he’d left the fridge as is, and left.

The refrigerator sales guys had to be called and even they tried to beg off. The house was stinking so badly that they didn’t want to enter. Eventually it was decided that the fridge had to be taken away to the service centre to be cleaned – because when they opened it they saw green, grey, yellow goop, worms, fungus and more stuff that I can’t remember being described.

Our friend just cursed. And cursed. And cursed. But did his duty as a friend and got the fridge lugged back and forth and cleaned up.

When we got back we stepped into the house gingerly. Our noses wrinkling up although the house had been aired out. We walked into the kitchen and dared each other to open the fridge door. It wasn’t too bad on the whole but the insides were pemanently stained. It was just too gross to put food into it once we knew what it had gone through. Fortunately or unfortunately ( depending on how you look at it) the OA got his transfer order before we could decide so we dumped it and picked up a new fridge. That one gave us more trouble and I’d written an open letter to Godrej on my blog two years ago! But as of now – MiM – that was our biggest domestic horror!

Flowers and babies bloom…

My garden is in bloom and I can’t help but feel rather pleased with myself. But credit must go to all those who contributed …

…and so I introduce you to my little gardeners. This one in haute couture – Led Zep tee, bloomers and her elder brother’s slippers…

And this one who is a pro. No matter how late they get back from the garden or the park, they do the second set of watering for the day…

And as a result they’ve learnt alot; even being introduced to an earthworm and learning to call it by the hindi word, kechua.

We take green into our dining room…..right on to our dining table,

…with dried and preserved leaves, pressed between sheets of handmade paper, made into table mats and sold at the Aurobindo Ashram..

So – would you like to stop by for a visit and join us for a cuppa tea?!

PS: I hope all of you are voting for me. Go here and VOTE. Please

Look sharp, Martha

You have competition!

This, is a kurta my mother embroidered for me in the good old days when she had the time. The peacock rose out of the hem and came up to my waist, and it was worn with a full, billowing patiala salwar. I recently realised that even my arm was too big to fit into the kurta and yet I didn’t have the heart to give it away. So this is what I did with it – chopped it into a cushion.

Edited to add: So I’ve submitted this post of mine for a contest here at Indus Ladies. Do your bit and vote for me please.

A rather magnetic tag

No Art, I didn’t forget

I’ve always been hung up on a home looking and feeling like a home. And to me that means no minimalist lines. A house chock fullof memories and knick knacks. I grew up in a home where the fridge was covered with magnets and I’d often wander into my kitchen after I got married and wonder what was missing. And then I realised, it was the fridge magnets. Of course I went at it with a vengeance and picked them up every time I saw something I liked. The result is a fridge full of bits and pieces.

And in case you’re wondering – the magnetic frames hold a picture of the OA getting embarassingly amorous while I modestly (hah!) push him away and one of me carrying a few weeks old Brat. The random animals are handicrafts from various countries and for the kids’ benefit. The pedantic sayings – well, I find they are useful to look at once in a while.

Thanks Art – this was nice